Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Abstract: A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. The push rod extends through an inner pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of outer pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons. The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. Piston stoppers are provided to prevent over-travel of the piston assemblies.

Abstract: A system and method of section cutting and analysis of a computer model is provided. The method includes the steps of selecting a computer generated model of a structural member and locating at least a first cutting plane and a last cutting plane on the model, such that the first and last cutting planes define a cutting path and cutting the model into at least one section along the cutting path. The method also includes the steps of maintaining the section in a memory of the computer system and analyzing the section using a computer aided engineering (CAE) analysis. The method further includes the steps of determining if the CAE analysis of the section meets a predetermined criteria, modifying the section if the section does not meet the predetermined criteria and using the section in the design of the model if the section meets the predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An image acquisition and display assembly 12 for use upon a vehicle 10 and which includes a pair of substantially identical cameras 14, 16 which are adapted to receive images of objects 50, 52 or portions of the vehicular ambient environment 27 located in the front of and/or along the sides 24, 26 of the vehicle 10 and of objects 28, 30 or portions of the vehicular ambient environment 27 located in the rear and/or along the sides of the vehicle 10. The assembly 12 may include a pair of movable mirror assemblies 34, 36 which selectively and respectively communicate with cameras 14, 16, thereby allowing the cameras 14, 16 to receive the desired and previously delineated images.

Abstract: A powertrain assembly for an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine, transmission, electric induction motor, a clutch for connecting and releasing the engine and transmission, and a controller for controlling the state of engagement and disengagement of the clutch and the torque produced by the motor during the launch. The engine increases torque produced by the induction motor during a vehicle launch condition, permitting the engine to be turned off when the vehicle is at rest. The torque multiplication that would normally be available from a hydrokinetic torque converter is replaced with auxiliary launch torque supplied by the induction motor.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine cylinder head camshaft bearing ladder 210, is provided which includes a first body with an aperture to facilitate threaded connection 202 of the body to a cylinder head 2 with a cut out 212 for receiving a cam shaft 67, the first body also having a pocket 218, and a solenoid actuator 220 positioned within the pocket 218 for activating a switchable rocker arm assembly 9.

Abstract: A method for starting an engine uses an actuator, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic pump-motor or an electric linear alternator-starter to move the pistons to a position where the inlet ports are opened. This ensures that air is present in the cylinder in a space where fuel will be admitted and combustion will occur. This strategy compresses, with a minimum actuator capacity, such air to a state that the pressure and temperature satisfy the ignition requirements. The air stores kinetic energy of the moving pistons that partially form the air spring force of the opposite cylinder and partially from the actuator. Accumulation, cycle by cycle, of this stored energy accelerates the piston motion, increases the piston displacement, and increases the compression ratio. The cylinder pressure and temperature increas cycle by cycle until the fuel ignition conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the initial conditions for starting a direct injection, spark-ignition internal combustion engine. Measures, such as adjusting the throttle valve, a varying inlet and exhaust valve timings, operating a secondary-air pump, ensures that the internal combustion engine, when running down, scavenges exhaust gases from the cylinder by providing fresh air into the. Furthermore, measures are undertaken for the braking and/or active rotation of the internal combustion engine so that it is a suitable position for renewed starting, the restarting being accomplished without the aid of a starter motor.

Abstract: A method for controlling a servo for an actuator that applies a force to a piston that reciprocates in a cylinder of a free piston engine having axially-aligned cylinders and a pair of mutually connected pistons that reciprocate in the cylinders. The servo has a first state at which an energy source is connected to the actuator for developing the actuating force. The length of a response period for the actuator force to reach a desired magnitude after applying a control signal to the servo is determined. The length of a period for the piston to reach a desired position where the actuator force will reach the desired magnitude is determined. The servo is switched to the first state when the length of time for the piston to move from its current position to the desired position reaches the length of the response period.

Abstract: A turn signal system includes at least one sensor detecting road markers and generating therefrom road marker signals. A turn signal deactivates in response to a control command generated by a controller. The controller receives the road marker signals, and determines at least one of whether the system is undergoing a turning condition or has completed the turning condition from the road marker signals. The controller generates the control command when the system has completed the turning condition. A redundancy system verifies the control command.

Abstract: A device for measuring the flux received by a specimen in fire test apparatuses has a copper disk or plate of the same dimensions and the same type of surface coating as a typical material specimen, an embedded heating coil and thermocouple, and an insulated sample holder similar to that used for a specimen. The transient response of the embedded thermocouple is measured for several different levels of imposed incident radiation without electrical heating and for several different known levels of electrical heating without any imposed radiation. The principle of Electrical Substitution Radiometry (ESR) is applied, and the transient responses to incident radiation and electrical heating under identical thermal conditions are compared to determine the amount of incident radiation that is actually absorbed by the device while it is being irradiated. The situations are kept thermally identical, thereby insuring that all effects due to heat losses (e.g. convection, radiation and conduction) are exactly the same.

Abstract: A system for electronically actuating valves in an engine. The system includes a first voltage source, a second voltage source, and plural valve actuator subsystems coupled between the first voltage source and the second voltage source. Each valve actuator subsystem has a valve actuator and a switch. One of the actuator subsystems is configured so that current flows from the first voltage source through the valve actuator of the subsystem when the switch is in a first position, and when the switch is in a second position, current is permitted to flow from the valve actuator toward the second voltage source. Another of the valve actuator subsystems is configured so that current flows from the second voltage source through the valve actuator of the subsystem when the switch is in a first position, and when the switch is in a second position, current is permitted to flow from the valve actuator toward the first voltage source.

Abstract: A windshield trim molding is affixed to the peripheral edge of an automotive windshield during the manufacturing process of mounting the windshield on an automobile chassis. The windshield molding incorporates an extruded strip of elastomeric material, such as ALCRYN or RAUPREN melt-processible rubber, at the contact surface of the molding where a windshield primer is applied to the glass prior to the installation of the molding. As a result, the elastomeric material becomes bonded to the windshield glass, rather than the plastic molding. The strip of extruded elastomeric material is softer than either the windshield glass or the plastic molding and absorbs any failure due to differences in thermal expression rates between the plastic molding and the windshield glass, thus preventing spalling at the peripheral edge of the windshield.

Abstract: A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. The push rod extends through an inner pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons. The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. The movement of the inner and outer piston assemblies during engine operation will cause the fluid plungers to pump fluid from a low pressure container into a high pressure chamber as a means of storing the energy output from the engine.

Abstract: A stator blade for a hydrokinetic torque converter, the blade profile having geometric characteristics that improve torque flow efficiency in the converter torque flow circuit, whereby the torque converter efficiency at high speed ratios is improved without significant adverse effects on the converter torque ratio at stall and at low speed ratios.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a control system parameter determine a difference between a desired and estimated or measured parameter value, apply a weighting factor to the difference, and select a control strategy based on the weighted difference. The weighting factor generally reflects the confidence in the accuracy of the parameter value determined by the parameter monitor. The weighting factor may be determined based on one or more engine or ambient operating conditions or parameters, or based on statistical analyses of monitor values and/or control system parameter values, for example. In one embodiment, an engine torque monitor for an electronic throttle control system uses percent torque deviation and rate of change to select an appropriate weighting factor and determine whether a deviation between desired and estimated or measured torque selects an alternative control strategy.

Abstract: A method and system for operating an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is operable in a plurality of compression ratio operating modes. The method includes determining a relationship between a base engine threshold load where the high compression and low compression provide substantially the same engine fuel consumption and engine speed. The determined nominal relationship is modified by a factor, such factor being a function of a condition under which such engine is operating, to obtain a modified relationship. The modified relationship is a function of engine speed and the condition has an effect on knock generation in such engine. The modified relationship and engine speed are used in selecting one of the plurality of compression ratio operating modes for the engine.

Abstract: A method is described for detecting exhaust pressure buildup in an engine's exhaust system using information from an exhaust gas recirculation system having a valve.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes at least one wheel that pivots to define a steering angle, wherein the steering angle is defined, at least in part, by an input from the operator, and at least one sensor adapted to monitor the roll of a vehicle body and a height of the center of gravity of the vehicle. The steering system also includes a motor operatively connected to the wheel that supplements the input to the steering angle, and a controller in communication with the sensor and operatively connected to the motor, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the supplementation of the input to the steering angle based upon the amount of roll of the vehicle body as monitored by the sensor, and adapted to supplement the steering angle when the amount of roll of the vehicle body as monitored by the sensor exceeds a maximum value.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling a device in an internal combustion engine such as a spark plug, a camshaft actuator, an EGR valve actuator, etc. The method and system are designed to compensate for changes in environmental operating conditions of the engine not accounted for in control variable scheduling. A parameter value is determined responsive to one or more engine operating conditions (e.g., ambient temperature, engine oil temperature, etc.). Potential values for the parameter are divided into predetermined value ranges. A schedule of control values for the device is then selected from among a plurality of control value schedules for the device responsive to the parameter value. Each control value schedule in the plurality of control value schedules corresponds to one of the aforementioned value ranges for the parameter. The device is then controlled responsive to a control value obtained from the selected control value schedule.