Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine, a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder, a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by both said first and second injectors during said start.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising of an internal combustion engine, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the engine, and a control system for controlling the engine and the thermoelectric device during a first mode, supply electrical energy to the thermoelectric device to cause the thermoelectric device to produce at least some heat, and during a second mode, operate the engine to produce at least some heat, where the thermoelectric device is operated to convert a temperature gradient at the thermoelectric device to electrical energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a supercharged internal combustion engine having at least two cylinder groups of at least one cylinder each, both cylinder groups being equipped with an exhaust pipe, and the two exhaust pipes being in communication with one another, and having two exhaust gas turbochargers, the turbines of which are connected in parallel, with their compressors connected in series, and having an exhaust gas recirculation line which upstream of one of the two turbines branches off from the exhaust pipe assigned to this turbine and opens out into the common intake line. An advantage of this invention is that it provides a supercharged internal combustion engine which overcomes the drawbacks which are known from the prior art and can be used to realize high exhaust gas recirculation rates and high boost pressures, in particular simultaneously, in all the load ranges of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A torque transfer case for a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain with engine and electric power sources is described, the electric power source comprising an electric motor and a battery. It distributes driving power to front and rear traction wheel and axle assemblies to effect all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive as well as regenerative power recovery. The electric power source can be used for engine cranking and the engine can be used for battery charging.

Abstract: A multiple contact switch assembly is provided and may be characterized as a four-way rocker switch or as a two axis rocker switch. The switch assembly comprises a rocker body that is supported on a carrier bridge for pivotal movement about one axis. The carrier bridge and rocker body subassembly is attached to a pocket in a bezel for pivotal movement about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis about which the rocker body pivots relative to the carrier bridge. A button face of the rocker body contacts a switch contact dome when the button face is contacted in one of the four quadrants. Contacting the button face between two quadrants is ineffective to make contact with any of the switch contact domes.

Abstract: A multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine having a camshaft-driven valvetrain with a camshaft disposed within an engine block includes at least two intake and/or exhaust valves with multiple valves operated by a common lifter and pushrod that engages a follower having multiple independent lash adjusters coupled to associated rocker arms. The lifter contacts the common camshaft lobe and a corresponding pushrod that engages a reciprocating bucket follower with a compliant coupling to corresponding rocker arms.

Abstract: A vehicle engine is controlled based on a distance between the vehicle and an object other than the vehicle. In at least one embodiment, a system for controlling an engine in a vehicle is provided. The system includes an environment sensor arrangement configured to sense a distance between the vehicle and an object other than the vehicle and an operating sensor arrangement configured to sense an operating state of the vehicle. The system also includes a control module configured to determine whether to start or stop the engine based on the distance and the operating state.

Abstract: A system for an engine of a vehicle traveling on the road, comprising of a first fuel injector coupled to a cylinder of the engine, a second fuel injector coupled to said cylinder of the engine, a compression device for compressing intake air delivered to said cylinder, a fuel tank configured to store a fuel, the fuel tank coupled to the first and second injectors, a fuel vapor purge system for delivering vapors of the fuel to said cylinder of the engine and a controller configured to vary an amount of injection of the fuel from at least one of the first and second fuel injectors as a concentration of said vapors varies, and further to vary said amount of injection based on operation of the compression device.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine airflow, the engine having at least one cylinder, the engine also having an intake manifold and an outlet control device for controlling flow from the intake manifold into the cylinder, comprising of generating a desired engine torque, generating a desired cylinder air charge amount based on said desired engine torque and changing the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder air charge amount and thereby provide said desired engine torque.

Abstract: A method of operating an engine of a vehicle having a powertrain having a transmission is described. The method includes, during a driver tip-out condition where the vehicle is decelerating, adjusting engine output based on a gear of the transmission, and reducing airflow to reduce engine torque output without reducing torque by retarding spark timing, following the driver tip-out, until airflow reaches a minimum value below which combustion may be degraded; and upon airflow reach said minimum value, retarding spark timing to further reduce engine output.

Abstract: A system and a method for dissipating voltage in an electrical circuit of a vehicle. The system includes a power source and an inverter. The power source has a voltage source and a contactor. The inverter is electrically coupled to the power source and includes a device for storing an electrical charge. The contactor is opened to disconnect the voltage source before the device is discharged.

Abstract: A restraint control system (40) for an automotive vehicle (10) is illustrated with a first sensor such as a door cavity pressure sensor (28) and a second sensor such as an accelerometer (30). A restraint device (54) is coupled to a controller (52) that controls the operation of the restraint device in response to the first sensor (28) and the second sensor (30). When either the signal from the first sensor or the signal from the second sensor is above a first or second threshold, respectively, the two signals are compared. In response to the comparison, the restraint device (54) is deployed.

Abstract: A method may be employed to assure that a switch measurement system accurately measures a torque/angular displacement profile for a rotary switch. A procedure may be employed that aligns the rotational axis of the switch with the rotational axis of the measurement unit of the switch measurement system. Also a procedure may be employed that monitors secondary forces to assure that proper alignment and calibration has been achieved.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder group engine system operable in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode a first and second cylinder group combust air and fuel, and where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder group combusts air and fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder group pumps air without injected fuel, the engine system comprising of a first linear exhaust gas sensor disposed in a first exhaust passage to measure air fuel exhausted from the first cylinder group; a first switching type exhaust gas sensor disposed in a second exhaust passage to measure air-fuel exhausted from the second cylinder group; a second linear exhaust gas sensor disposed downstream of a junction between the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage; and a controller configured to validate a reading of the first linear exhaust gas sensor during the first mode of engine operation based on a reading of the second linear exhaust gas sensor when a lean air-fuel ratio is co

Abstract: A photovoltaically powered cathodic protection system for an automotive vehicle uses electrical energy arising from a photovoltaic array positioned upon an exterior surface of the vehicle, with the cathodic protection current being controlled by a controller which is also connected with an electrical storage device and with at least one electrogalvanic cell sensor. The controller and associated sensors function to assure that sufficient charge passes through conductors applied to the body of the vehicle to maintain cathodic protection on a consistent basis.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a plurality of intake and/or exhaust valves associated with each cylinder includes a valvetrain having a fulcrum with a plurality of pivot ball sockets each associated with a rocker arm and pivot ball disposed between the fulcrum and the rocker arm with the fulcrum extending through apertures of the rocker arms and having a plurality of slots, each slot having generally parallel opposing lateral surfaces for receiving and guiding both sides of an associated rocker arm so the rocker arm pivots about the pivot ball in a plane of the rocker arm. The fulcrum can accommodate at least two rocker arms that may operate in non-parallel planes relative to one another and can include bearing and locating surfaces integrally formed to finish dimensions to eliminate machining.

Abstract: A system and method for operating an internal combustion engine include injecting fuel through a plurality of fuel jets of a fuel injector directly into a corresponding cylinder with at least a first plurality jets oriented to primarily support operation in a stratified mode and a second plurality of jets oriented to primarily support operation in a homogeneous mode. The first plurality of jets is oriented to spray fuel generally downward toward the piston bowl and the second plurality of jets is oriented to spray fuel generally across the cylinder toward the exhaust valves. The spray jets reduce or eliminate valve, liner, and piston wetting while providing good mixing in homogeneous mode and good combustion stability for light stratified charge during cold starts to achieve desired targets for feedgas emissions and combustion efficiency.

Abstract: A method is presented for determining an amount of reductant stored in the catalyst by intrusively desorbing a portion of reductant and monitoring the response of a reductant sensor to the desorbed portion. The desorbtion can be performed at vehicle start-up to determine initial storage amount and to adjust reductant injection accordingly to achieve optimum storage. Additionally, a portion of reductant can be desorbed when NOx conversion efficiency of the catalyst is reduced in order to diagnose the component responsible for system degradation.

Abstract: A stability control system (18) for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of sensors (28-39) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors may include a speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a roll rate sensor (34), a yaw rate sensor (20) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (20), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the roll rate sensor (34), the yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) determines a global roll attitude and a global pitch attitude from the roll rate, lateral acceleration signal and the longitudinal acceleration signal. The controller determines a roll gradient based upon a past raw roll rate and current raw roll rate, the roll angular rate signal and the lateral acceleration signal, a pitch gradient based upon a past raw pitch rate and current raw pitch rate the calculated pitch angular rate signal and the longitudinal acceleration signal.