Abstract: Increasing the diameter of cylinder bores in a cylinder block requires a longer and heavier cylinder block to accommodate the larger bores. If the cylinder block is not lengthened it is difficult to accommodate the water jacket between the outermost cylinder bore and the cylinder block end wall. The cylinder block of the present invention has an upper part including a number of cylinder bores surrounded by a water jacket. The upper part also has first and second end walls which are generally co-planar with first and second end walls of a lower part of the block, but include projecting portions adjacent the top deck. The projecting portions may curve outwardly from the first and second end walls and generally follow the curvature of the two outermost cylinder bores on the block. By providing the projecting portions on the first and second end walls, a minimum width of water jacket can be accommodated without significantly increasing the length and overall size of the block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for start delay warning in a liquefied petroleum gas injection engine is disclosed. During a period required for forming a sufficient fuel pressure in a fuel supply line, a warning signal is generated such that a driver is directed to maintain an ignition switch at its second (simply IG on) stage.

Abstract: An intake manifold includes a permanent runner which provides airflow communication between a plenum volume and a plurality of engine cylinders. An active runner assembly retracts into and extends from the permanent runner assembly in response to a drive system which communicates with a controller to selectively change the length of the intake manifold assembly to optimize performance. The permanent runner assembly includes a plurality of fixed length passages and the active runner assembly includes a plurality of active runner passages. Each active runner passage telescopes in and out of a respective fixed length passage to vary the effective length between the plenum and the engine cylinder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operation of an internal combustion engine running under a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode with fuel partially reformed by an onboard fuel reformer. In one embodiment, the onboard fuel reformer is a plasmatron fuel converter. The temperature and composition of the gaseous charge into the cylinders of the engine can be adjusted by mixing the charge into the cylinder (which contains air, exhaust gas and/or unreformed fuel) with hydrogen rich gas from the onboard reformer. The fuel reformer transforms the fuel to a mixture of hydrogen, CO and other light hydrocarbons. By adjusting operation in the reformer, the composition of the reformate can be altered. In addition to thermal management of the cylinder charge, the reformate can be used as a fuel blending agent in order to adjust the octane/cetane number of the air charge and thus control the ignition timing of the overall fuel/air charge to the cylinder.

Abstract: A device for and method of decarboning a combustion chamber and compression rings in an internal combustion engine. The device is a squid shaped container with a cylindrical body, a screw cap, and conduits depending from the body for transmitting cleaner to the combustion chambers on the engine. Once cleaner is transmitted to the combustion chambers, the engine is bumped to work the fluid into the compression rings using an automated system with a timer. When the engine is bumped, the device allows the cleaner to be vented to the device to avoid hydrolocking the engine. The device also contains the cleaner so that it is not splashed outside the engine.

Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine (12) operated with fuel gas includes an evaporator (1) in which the liquid fuel gas is transformed by the addition of heat into a gaseous state. The evaporator (1) has a first heating device (13) configured to transmit a portion of the waste heat of the internal combustion engine (12) to the fuel gas in the evaporator (1). The evaporator (1) has a second heating device, by means of which the fuel gas in the evaporator (1) can be heated regardless of the condition of the internal combustion engine (12). The second heating device (14) can include an electrical heating element, e.g., a PTC heating element.

Abstract: A cylinder block and crankcase for a liquid-cooled internal-combustion engine is to be constructed by composite casting, a magnesium case being cast around an aluminum power unit block. The cylinder block and crankcase is conceived such that the aluminum power unit block is significantly used for the distribution of force between the cylinder head and the crankshaft bearing caps as well as for the guiding of the cooling water, in which case, the magnesium case is free of a cooling water guidance and predominantly used for the guiding of lubricating oil and, in addition, is correspondingly designed for the proportional stiffening against bending and torsion loads.

Abstract: An arrangement for lubricating a piston engine comprising a source of lubrication medium, first pressure elevating means for elevating the pressure of the lubricating medium, and first ducting means for delivering the lubricating medium to lubrication targets of the engine. The arrangement comprises at least one second ducting means which is separate from the first ducting means and which is provided with a valve arrangement controllable by external control for controlling flow of lubricating medium in the second ducting means. The second ducting means is connectable in now communication with a source of lubricating medium through the valve arrangement. The invention relates also to a corresponding method.

Abstract: An engine is operated in accordance with a plurality of operation modes obtained by combining one of a 4-cycle mode and a 2-cycle mode with one of a combustion ignition control where an ignition is performed with an ignition unit and a self ignition priority control including the ignition performed without the ignition unit. Upon switching of the operation mode, a transition cycle is performed once between a first operation mode before switching of the operation mode and a second operation mode after switching of the operation mode. Timing for operating an intake valve or an exhaust valve in the transition cycle is different from that in the second operation mode. The combustion ignition control is executed in one of the combustion chambers where the single operation of the transition cycle is completed until a single cycle of each transient cycle in the rest of the combustion chambers is terminated.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold cooling jacket has internal passages for the circulation of liquid coolant and encloses an exhaust manifold such that a gap is created between the exhaust manifold and cooling jacket. Flowing coolant through the jacket regulates outer jacket temperature while enabling high intra-manifold exhaust gas temperatures for thorough intra-manifold combustion and improved emissions. A liquid-cooled exhaust system includes a turbocharger disposed between manifold and elbow, with liquid coolant flowing from manifold to elbow through the turbocharger. Another liquid-cooled exhaust manifold contains an internal exhaust combustion catalyst wrapped in an insulating blanket. In some marine applications, seawater or fresh water coolant is discharged into the exhaust gas stream at an attached exhaust elbow.

Abstract: An engine device includes a water tank coupled to an engine to supply cooling water to the engine and having a mouth disposed in the upper portion. A separator housing is coupled between the water tank and the engine to receive heated water and vapor or air from the engine, the separator housing is coupled to the mouth with a tube to supply the vapor and the air from the separator housing to the upper portion of the water tank, and then to supply the vapor and the air to the engine. A lid is engageable onto the mouth for enclosing the orifice of the mouth and includes an aperture coupled to the tube, to receive the vapor and the air from the separator housing.

Abstract: An improved feed and control system for an internal combustion engine able to be fed with one or other of two fuels such as petrol and liquid gas or petrol and methane, the engine comprising a plurality of first members for introducing a first fuel into corresponding explosion chambers and a plurality of second members for introducing the second fuel into the explosion chambers, the first introduction members being commanded and controlled by a control unit which, on the basis of preselected parameters, acts on the first members such as to achieve optimum engine operation. The control unit also commands and controls the plurality of the second introduction members which feed the second fuel to the respective explosion chambers, the unit hence being the only unit for controlling the engine operation, independently of whether it is operated with the first or with the second fuel.

Abstract: This invention provides a film-cooled internal combustion engine in which a film of gas is applied to interior surfaces of the engine to reduce heat transfer to the metal components of the engine from hot combustion gases to cause more work to be extracted from those gases, thereby raising the efficiency of the engine. In one form, this objective is achieved by reducing the temperature of the gas coming in contact with the metal parts during the power stroke of the engine by laying down a thin film of gas between the hot combustion gases and the walls of the engine. This thin film of gas creates an effectively lower film temperature-driven convection heat transfer. This invention reduces heat transfer to walls of the engine, protects hot parts, reduces knock (pre-ignition), and purges fuel from tight spaces in the engine.

Abstract: A method for cooling a motor vehicle engine which engine consists in regulating the volume and the flow rate of a coolant in a hydraulic circuit provided with a first bypass hose wherein is arranged a water/oil exchanger. The method comprises a first step of regulating the flow rate of the liquid in the first bypass hose to increase the speed of the increase in the temperature of the oil and a second step of regulating the flow rate of the liquid in the first bypass hose to maintain the temperature of the oil at about a reference temperature. The invention also concerns a device for cooling a motor vehicle engine.

Abstract: A cylinder block of a multicylinder engine, having a cylinder main body in which multiple cylinder bores are provided in parallel in an axial direction of a crankshaft, and a crankcase having plural journal walls. The crankcase is integrally provided with the cylinder main body, in which a communication hole extending in parallel to the axial line of the crankshaft is provided in the cylinder main body and the crankcase while at least a part of which is opened in the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore. This permits the cylinder block to be downsized, increases freedom of positional setting of the communication hole, and reduces ventilation resistance of air flow through the communication hole. A cut-processed member is expanded further outward from a piston slide surface and is formed along a radial direction of cylinder bores, in inner surfaces of the cylinder bores in at least portions closer to a piston at an open edge of a communication hole.

Abstract: In a partial load range of the engine, control of the flowing state of sucked and discharged gas is executed between a pair of cylinders, an exhaust stroke of one of the cylinders overlapping with an intake stroke of the other, so that burnt gas discharged from preceding cylinders 2A, 2D on the exhaust-stroke side is introduced, in a state where it has been discharged, through an inter-cylindrical gas passage 22 into following cylinders 2B, 2C on the intake stroke side. In a higher load range than the partial load range, control is executed so that a fresh-air introducing valve 18 disposed in a fresh-air introduction passage of the following cylinders 2B, 2C is opened, both the burnt gas and fresh air are introduced into the following cylinders 2B, 2C, and fuel is supplied to conduct combustion in the following cylinders 2B, 2C.

Abstract: A cooling channel cover for a one-piece piston of an internal combustion engine, the piston having a closed cooling channel that runs around inside the piston crown, at the level of the piston ring band, and a ring-shaped recess provided between the piston ring band and the piston shaft, wherein the piston shaft is connected with the piston hubs suspended on the piston crown. In such a piston, an easy to assemble cooling channel cover is achieved in that a one-piece, plastic spring steal ring, U-shaped in cross-section, having radially angled outer and inner shanks around the circumference, has at least one film hinge running around the circumference of the ring. The film hinge allows at least one radial deflection of at least one of the shanks, in such a manner that in order to close off the cooling channel, the shanks engage in a stepped conical recess on the inner edge of the cooling channel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having at least one piston with an adjustable stroke length. The engine includes a connecting rod attached to the piston and a crankshaft. The crankshaft has a journal portion that extends along a length that is non-perpendicular to a movement axis of the piston. The crankshaft may be moved in a longitudinal direction with respect to the piston to adjust the position of the connecting rod on the journal portion and to thereby adjust the stroke length of the piston.

Abstract: A power tool including a main section and a handle section. The main section includes an internal combustion engine and a housing at least partially surrounding the engine. The engine includes a cylinder, a spark plug, and a muffler. The handle shaft extending from the main section. The shaft forms a handle for the power tool and houses a drive shaft from the engine therein. The housing forms a cover section over a transmission assembly between the engine and the drive shaft. The cover section includes a scroll form to channel air flow pushed by the transmission assembly. The housing further comprises a spark plug boot to substantially prevent air from exiting the housing at the spark plug.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a fuel cell for supplying electric vehicle systems. The fuel cell is thermally “coupled” with the internal combustion engine. The waste heat of the internal combustion engine is used for heating the fuel cell, that is, for maintaining the operating temperature of the fuel cell. The fuel cell is arranged directly on the engine where, in the case of conventional vehicles, the transmission is arranged. The transmission is arranged in the area of the rear axle in front of the rear-axle divider transmission.