Abstract: A control system and method for controlling a pump having a fluid passage therein, including a sensing means for sensing fluid flow through the fluid passage wherein the control system controls the actuation period of the pump as a function of a characteristic of the fluid flow sensed by the sensing means. The sensed characteristic is the quantum rate of fluid flow through the fluid passage.

Abstract: A method of controlling the idle speed of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle from a first idle speed to a second idle speed that is higher than the first idle speed in response to a driver originating indication that is independent of the acceleration control of the vehicle. The higher second idle speed is set to achieve a desired level of vehicle creep. When the driver originating indication indicates that vehicle motion is no longer desired, the engine idle speed is returned to the first lower idle speed. The change between the first lower idle speed and the second higher idle speed can be accomplished in a stepping or ramping fashion. In addition, the first and second idle speeds are adjusted in response to changes in engine operating parameters such as engine coolant temperature, changes in engine load, and vehicle speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operation of a marine engine comprising sensing an operator demand for a gear-shift and, in response to the sensing of said operator demand, varying the engine torque profile to enable said gear-shift. Typically, the engine torque profile is required to be varied to overcome forces resistive to gear-shift.

Abstract: An injector nozzle has a body having a nozzle through which fuel is delivered. The nozzle includes a port having an internal surface and a valve member having a complementary external surface. The valve member is movable relative to the port to respectively provide a passage between the surfaces for delivery of fuel in the form of a spray or sealed contact therebetween to prevent the delivery of fluid. A fluid flow control body is located beyond an extremity of the nozzle body corresponding to the location of the port. The control body has a control surface configured and positioned such that the fuel spray established by fluid issuing from the port will follow a path determined at least in part by that control surface. The flow control body is in part hollow.

Abstract: A two stroke internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder (1) with exhaust port means (5), the engine further including at least one supplementary passage (9) in addition to the exhaust port means (5) for allowing gas flow from the cylinder (1), and control means (7) for controlling the gas flow through the supplementary passage (9) as a function of predetermined operating conditions of the engine wherein the control means allows at least substantially unimpeded gas flow therethrough during a compression stroke of the engine when the engine is at least at idle, low engine loads and/or engine speeds, and/or during engine start-up and at least substantially prevents gas flow therethrough when the engine is at higher engine loads and/or engine speeds.

Abstract: Disclosed is an internal combustion engine (20) having a combustion chamber (36), a pre-combustion chamber (38) communicating with the combustion chamber (36), injection means (70) located and arranged to periodically deliver controlled amounts of fuel and air into the pre-combustion chamber (38) in a manner and orientation to direct a fuel spray to pass through the pre-combustion chamber (38) into the combustion chamber (36), and ignition means (63) positioned relative to the pre-combustion chamber (38) and operably arranged to ignite the fuel spray.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the operation of an internal combustion engine including an exhaust system having a catalytic treatment means to treat exhaust gas passing through the exhaust system. The method comprises introducing fuel in a vaporized or readily vaporized state to the exhaust system upstream of the catalytic treatment means to assist in raising the catalytic treatment means to a temperature which allows effective operation thereof.

Abstract: A method of controlling the air supply to a scavenged internal combustion engine having a blower for suppling air thereto and bypass means for allowing a bypass air flow from the outlet side of the blower to the inlet side thereof, the method including regulating the bypass air flow through the bypass means to provide a variable rate of air flow therethrough and regulating the flow of ambient air to the blower to thereby control the pressure of the intake air supply to the blower and controlling a supply of recirculated exhaust gas introduced upstream of the blower by controlling the flow rate of ambient air to the blower such that a requisite pressure is generated upstream of the blower to thereby control the exhaust gas flow rate.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of an internal combustion engine over part of the load or speed operational range of the engine by the use of fluid pressure available from a source associated with the operation of the engine to effect a managed control of at least one operating parameter of the engine such as engine speed or fuel delivery including fuelling rate and timing, or ignition timing. The gas pressure is preferably derived from a source where the pressure varies in relation to variations in the engine speed and/or load or from a substantially steady pressure source, applied in a selective manner to effect the control. Preferably, the fluid pressure is a gas pressure derived from the operation of the engine.

Abstract: A direct injected internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector associated with a combustion chamber; a fuel metering device to meter fuel for delivery by the fuel injector; and a gas supply in communication with the fuel injector such that the fuel is delivered from the fuel injector to the combustion chamber entrained in a gas. The gas supply is vented to atmosphere or a combustion chamber of the engine in response to sensing of an engine operating condition indicating imminent cessation of operation of the engine. Venting may be achieved, for example, by maintaining the fuel injector open or in communication with the combustion chamber prior to the stopping of the engine on sensing of the engine operating condition which may be reduction of engine speed below a predetermined value or activation of a "stop" switch.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine fuel injector having a selectively openable nozzle (10) through which a fuel is delivered to the combustion chamber of the engine. The nozzle (10) comprises a port (12) having an internal annular surface (13) and a valve member (20) having an external annular surface coaxial with respect the internal annular surface. Sealing contact between the valve member and the port is provided therebetween along a circular seat line substantially coaxial to the respective annular surfaces. The annular surfaces are configured so that when the internal and external annular surfaces are in sealing contact along the circular seat line, the seat line is located adjacent the downstream end of the passage for delivery of fuel with respect to the direction of the flow of fuel through the passage. The maximum width of the passage between the annular surfaces is not substantially more than 30 microns.

Abstract: A method of delivering an atomised liquid including supplying a liquid to an admixing chamber (3,34), separately supplying a compressed gas to the admixing chamber (3,34), the compressed gas at least substantially completely evacuates the liquid held in the admixing chamber and delivering the liquid through an atomising device (4,5,60) to atomise the liquid, wherein the quantity of the liquid and the compressed gas supplied to the admixing chamber (3,34) is controlled to thereby maintain a predetermined mass ratio of the liquid and the supplied compressed gas.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising retarding the ignition of a gas/fuel mixture within at least one cylinder of the engine to after top dead center (ATDC) in respect of the combustion cycle of said at least one cylinder of the engine. While the ignition is so retarded, the fuelling rate of said at least one cylinder is increased to a level higher than that required when the engine is operating normally.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a fuel injector (7) arranged for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber, the fuel injector (7) including a nozzle chamber (25) having a selectively openable nozzle (15) at one end to communicate the nozzle chamber (25) with the combustion chamber and including a fuel metering device (14) arranged to selectively deliver fuel to the nozzle chamber (25). There is also provided a gas chamber (10) adjacent the combustion chamber and in communication with the nozzle chamber (25). Preferrably, the gas chamber (10) is located within the cylinder head (1) adjacent the nozzle chamber (25).

Abstract: A pump comprising a pumping chamber (3) for pumping a liquid; at least part of the pumping chamber (3) being formed by a pumping means (6) having a pumping area (A2); an actuation chamber (2) in communication with a source of pressurised fluid, at least part of the, actuation chamber (2) being formed by an actuation means (5) having an actuation area (A1); a connection means (7) connecting the actuation means and the pumping means, so that, at least during those times that liquid is required to be pumped by the pump, variations of the pressure in the actuation chamber effect movement of the actuation means which in-turn effects movement of the pumping means to enable supply of liquid to the pumping chamber and delivery of liquid therefrom; wherein the pressure within the pumping chamber is greater than the pressure within the actuation chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling the air supply to an internal combustion engine having a means to throttle the air flow to the engine comprising determining the air demand in response to a driver initiated signal; determining an initial position of the throttle means in response to the driver initiated signal; determining the actual rate of air supply and comparing the actual rate of air supply with the determined air demand; moving the throttle means to the initial position, the position of the throttle means being adjusted to bring the actual air supply within acceptable operating limits of the determined air demand.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine fuel injector having a selectively openable nozzle (10) through which fuel is delivered to a combustion chamber of the engine. The nozzle (10) comprises a port (12) having an internal annular surface (13) and a valve member (20) having an external annular surface co-axial with respect to the internal annular surface. The annular surfaces being shaped so that when the internal and external annular surfaces are in sealing contact closing the nozzle the maximum width (17) of the passage between the surfaces is not substantially more than 40 microns, preferably not more than 20 microns, in the direction normal to the surfaces.

Abstract: A method of operating a two stroke cycle crankcase scavenged internal combustion engine, comprising selectively delivering exhaust gas from a location downstream of the engine exhaust port to the engine crankcase to be delivered together with air in the crankcase to the engine combustion chamber. The quantity of exhaust gas delivered to the crankcase during each engine cycle is controlled according with engine operating conditions and the rate of supply of exhaust gas to the crankcase is controlled relative to engine operating conditions such as by an ECU managed valve that responds to engine operating conditions such as load, speed and temperature. The exhaust gas is admitted to the crankcase during a period when the pressure in the crankcase is below that of the available exhaust gas.

Abstract: An injector nozzle for a fuel injected internal combustion engine having a selectively openable nozzle for the delivery of fuel to the engine combustion chamber, the nozzle comprising a port having an internal annular surface and a valve member having an external annular surface coaxial with respect to the internal annular surface of the port. The valve member being axially movable relative to the port to selectively provide an annular passage therebetween for the delivery of the fuel or sealed contact therebetween to prevent the delivery of fuel. The valve member has a coaxial projection extending beyond the extremity of the external annular surface and positioned so the fuel plume issuing from the nozzle will follow a path based on the external surface of the projection and will pass therealong that external surface to issue from the lower extremity thereof in a substantially coaxial relation to the nozzle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel/gas delivery system for use with operating an internal combustion engine in which quantities of a hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen are introduced into the combustion chamber of the engine. The combustion chamber is provided with an igniter and the delivery of hydrogen is timed relative to both the delivery of the fuel and the activation of the igniter to establish an ignitable mixture at the igniter at the time of activation of the igniter.