Abstract: The present invention refers to a spacer for use in an air intake system of an internal combustion engine for delimiting an intake duct between an intake manifold and a cylinder head of the engine, wherein the spacer is provided with at least one flow-through passage and at least one air-accumulation cavity which are fluid-communicatively connected and constitute the intake duct.

Abstract: An exhaust mixer apparatus, emissions cleaning module, and a method of manufacturing the exhaust mixer apparatus is provided. The exhaust mixer apparatus comprises an exhaust conduit, a first exhaust mixer and a second exhaust mixer. The exhaust conduit is configured to extend in an elongate direction comprising an inlet and an outlet for transporting exhaust fluid. The first exhaust mixer comprises a plurality of elongate mixing blades each having a length extending in the elongate direction. The elongate mixing blades are connected together along at least part of their lengths and arranged about the elongate direction, each elongate mixing blade comprising an outer edge extending in the elongate direction. The elongate mixing blades are twisted along their lengths such that the outer edge of each elongate mixing blade is rotated about the elongate direction. The exhaust conduit is configured to locate the first exhaust mixer in an upstream location of the exhaust conduit.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards an engine assembly comprising a crankcase, a crankshaft, a lubrication system and fluid guide arrangement. During rotation the crankshaft is configured to drive a crankcase fluid flow in a crankcase chamber. The lubrication system comprises a lubricant drain for a drain fluid flow therethrough extending to a drain aperture at the crankcase chamber. The fluid guide arrangement is located adjacent or in proximity to the drain aperture. The fluid guide arrangement is configured for guiding crankcase fluid flow away from the drain aperture and/or for reducing the pressure of the crankcase fluid flow past the drain aperture, such that drain fluid flows from the lubricant drain.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cylinder cut-out mode for an engine comprising the steps of: a) activating a cylinder cut-out mode in which one or more cylinders of the engine are deactivated; b) while the cylinder cut-out mode is active, monitoring one or more deactivation variables; the one or more deactivation variables comprising one or more of: an inlet manifold air temperature; an engine load factor; an engine speed; and an engine coolant temperature; and c) deactivating the cylinder cut-out mode in order to reactivate any deactivated cylinders when at least one of the deactivation variables exceeds its threshold value.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with oil intake pipes defining oil inlets on both sides of a tunnel type sump. Each oil intake pipe includes a valve which is operable to close the respective flowpath when the respective sump portion is tilted upwardly about the length axis of the engine. The inlets may be arranged to remain submerged in a minimum quantity of oil which is retained in each sump portion while the engine is tilted through its maximum angular range about both length and width axes.

Abstract: A method of treating exhaust gas in an exhaust passage using a selective catalytic reduction system is provided. The system comprises a hydrolysis catalyst in the passage upstream of a SCR catalyst, and a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) dosing unit for injecting DEF onto the hydrolysis catalyst at a variable DEF dosing rate. The method comprises the steps of predicting an initial DEF dosing rate for converting all nitrogen oxide (NOx) contained in the exhaust gas, and estimating an amount of ammonia stored on the SCR catalyst. The method further comprises the steps of measuring a NOx conversion rate for the system, and adjusting the initial DEF dosing rate based upon the ammonia storage estimate and the measured NOx conversion rate to produce a first adjusted DEF dosing rate. An amount of ammonia-equivalent stored on the hydrolysis catalyst is then estimated, and the first adjusted DEF dosing rate is adjusted based upon the ammonia-equivalent storage estimate to produce a second adjusted DEF dosing rate.

Abstract: A water pump housing includes a top horizontal pad defining a top horizontal pad normal axis pointing vertically, and a first return port and a second return port extending down vertically from the top horizontal pad.

Abstract: A launch control method is provided for a vehicle having an accelerator, a brake and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The method comprises determining: (i) a braking torque set by a vehicle operator by pressing a brake pedal of the vehicle; and (ii) a holding torque required to hold the vehicle in a stationary position. The method also determines that the operator has released the brake pedal. The brake is released whilst engaging a launch clutch of the CVT, wherein the launch clutch is engaged by increasing a clutch engagement pressure at a first pressure ramp rate, such that the sum of the braking torque and a clutch torque of the clutch remains equal to the holding torque. An acceleration torque requested by the operator via the accelerator is determined. The clutch engagement pressure is increased at a second pressure ramp rate when it is determined that the braking torque is substantially zero, such that the clutch torque is increased by the acceleration torque.

Abstract: An ECU assembly includes one or more electrical connectors received in a protective cover. The cover includes an introduction aperture through which the connector or connectors can be introduced into the cover, and at least one connection aperture through which the or each connector is connected to the ECU. A retaining portion of the cover at each connection aperture is interposed between the respective connector and the ECU to retain the cover to the ECU in its use position.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the usage of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises performing an engine monitoring routine using a local monitoring device directly attached to an internal combustion engine. The engine monitoring routine includes generating a plurality of data points representative of the crankcase pressure of the internal combustion engine using a pressure sensor of the local monitoring device, processing the generated data points to determine a first value representative of a firing frequency of the internal combustion engine, generating an aggregated summary of the internal combustion engine usage based on the first value, and transmitting identification data for the local monitoring device and the aggregated summary from the local monitoring device to a remote application. The remote application processes the transmitted aggregated summary based on the transmitted identification data to determine engine speed usage data for the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a soot load estimating function for a diesel particulate filter uses radio frequency attenuation measurement and temperature measurements. The method comprises identifying a minimum mean attenuation value associated with a standard deviation that exceeds a standard deviation threshold and using this minimum mean attenuation value as a reference value. The method further comprises using a data library that contains gradient values for each of a range of possible temperature values to obtain a first gradient value, the first gradient value corresponding to the first temperature value, wherein each gradient value relates to the gradient of a linear approximation between mean attenuation and soot load at the corresponding temperature. The method involves using the reference value and the first gradient value to determine an axis intercept value for use as an offset value and adopting the offset value as a temperature-independent calibration value for the diesel particulate filter.

Abstract: A method and system for engine monitoring comprises a plurality of monitoring devices. A master monitoring device is provided which acts as a communication hub for one or more subsidiary monitoring devices. The master monitoring device is incorporated in or directly attached to the internal combustion engine and functions to sense a characteristic of the internal combustion engine. The monitoring device is configured to transmit data representative of the sensed characteristic to a remote application running on a remote device.

Abstract: An engine oil tiller cap for monitoring an internal combustion engine comprises: a processor; and a sensor module comprising a pressure sensor configured to sense crankcase pressure of the internal combustion engine and to output data representative of the sensed crankcase pressure to the processor. The engine oil filler cap is configured to provide a housing for the processor. The processor is configured to determine a value representative of the firing frequency of the internal combustion engine based on the output data.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for determining an amount of a substance in exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, the method comprises the steps of: determining, for an effective condition of the engine, at least one operating parameter; determining, for a reference condition of the engine, a reference amount of the substance present in exhaust gas of the engine in the reference condition when being operated based on the determined operating parameter; determining an intake manifold temperature difference between the effective condition and the reference condition of the engine; and determining an effective amount of the substance in the exhaust gas of the engine in the effective condition in dependence on the determined reference amount of the substance and the determined intake manifold temperature difference.

Abstract: Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems are known and are generally included in the exhaust systems of diesel engines in order to treat the exhaust gases of such engines. Such systems typically involve the introduction of a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) into exhaust gas flowing in an exhaust passage of an engine. DEF dosing systems are limited by the amounts of DEF that can be delivered without deposits forming on surfaces of the aftertreatment system. A numerical model of a hydrolysis catalyst is provided. The model comprises a spatial model of a hydrolysis catalyst to be modelled, where the hydrolysis catalyst is divided into a plurality of discrete spatial units. For each of the discrete spatial units, values for a plurality of matter state parameters are determined.

Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector having a nozzle with first and second sets of spray orifices formed therein. The fuel injector also includes a first and a second outlet check movable to open and close the first and second sets of spray orifices. Spray plume ducts are supported at fixed orientations relative to a nozzle of the fuel injector, and each are oriented in-line with a center axis defined by one of the spray orifices. The spray plume ducts may be directly attached to the fuel injector or to a duct carrier mounted to an engine head.

Abstract: A belt drive comprises a first pulley and at least one additional pulley and uses an elastic belt that is engagable over the pulleys. An auxiliary unit, connected to the first pulley, has a detent. A tensioning link comprises an open-ended slot for receiving in a slidable manner the detent. In an operating position of the belt drive the detent is locatable at a closed end of the open-ended slot and to obtain a belt changing position the detent is movable along the open-ended slot towards an open end of the open-ended slot.

Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector having a nozzle with first and second sets of spray orifices formed therein. The fuel injector also includes a first and a second outlet check movable to open and close the first and second sets of spray orifices. Spray plume ducts are supported at fixed orientations relative to a nozzle of the fuel injector, and each are oriented in-line with a center axis defined by one of the spray orifices. The spray plume ducts may be directly attached to the fuel injector or to a duct carrier mounted to an engine head.

Abstract: A flowhood assembly 1 comprises an injector 30 which is fixable to a mount 50 in a number of alternative mounted positions defined by rotation of the injector about an injection axis X2 relative to the mount, The injector 30 includes one or more coolant ports 34, 35 which are connected in use to a supply of liquid coolant C. The mount 50 is fixable to a flowhood 10 in an upright, design orientation and in alternative connected positions defined by rotation of the flowhood 10 relative to the mount 50 about a connection axis X1. In a normal use position of the assembly the connection axis X1 of the flowhood is arranged at a predefined angle, optionally 0°, relative to a nominal horizontal plane P1. The injector 30 is not fixable to the mount 50 other than in the alternative mounted positions.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a turbocharger system makes use of vibrational behaviour to predict potential future failure modes. Changes in sub-synchronous vibrational behaviour of the turbocharger assembly may be used to distinguish between failure modes such as wear and coking. Rate of change of sub-synchronous vibrational behaviour may be used to predict time before likely failure. Also disclosed is a turbocharger system configured to perform the method.