Abstract: A system may include a natural gas engine; and a hydrodynamic device configured to convert mechanical energy of the natural gas engine into heat in a working fluid within the hydrodynamic device. The amount of fluid in the hydrodynamic device may be controlled by an electronically controllable valve, and the amount of fluid in the hydrodynamic device may control a resistive force of the hydrodynamic device. The system may also include a controller in communication with the natural gas engine and the hydrodynamic device, where the controller may be configured to automatically adjust the electronically controllable valve to maintain a working load on the natural gas engine at or above a threshold load.

Abstract: A fuel injector interface device and associated method include an interface device having a plurality of input leads and a plurality of output leads. The input leads are communicatively linked to the fuel pressure sensor on the common rail of a vehicle fuel injection system. The output leads are communicatively linked to a display device such as a diagnostic scope. Circuitry positioned within the interface device detects the rail pressure signals, filters the signals, and outputs data to the display device representing a graphical depiction of the same. A method of using the interface device includes generating the signals, mapping the signals to an individual fuel injector of the vehicle's engine cylinder and determining fluctuations in the strength of the displayed signals to determine anomalies in a particular fuel injector.

Abstract: A residual gas ignitor for use in igniting a fuel-air mixture within a main combustion chamber of an engine. The residual gas ignitor includes at least one inlet/outlet port, a residual gas ignitor chamber for receiving a combustion gas from the main combustion chamber, an ignitor valve for opening and closing the at least one inlet/outlet port, an actuator for actuating the ignitor valve to open and close the at least one inlet/outlet port, a valve guide for keeping the ignitor valve in a correct orientation within the residual gas ignitor, a preload spring for being in compression when the actuator disposes the ignitor valve into the closed position, and a heating element for maintaining or increasing a temperature of the combustion gas while the combustion gas is in the residual gas ignitor chamber. The residual gas ignitor may be used in engines for initiating combustion of fuel-air mixtures.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle, comprising: receiving ambient air information; receiving size, distance and relative velocity information about a vehicle in proximity to the vehicle; receiving road surface properties information; receiving wind velocity and direction information; computing an air density ratio factor using the ambient air information; computing an aerodynamic drag ratio factor using the size, distance and relative velocity information; computing a rolling resistance ratio factor using the information road surface properties information; computing effective velocity of the vehicle using the wind velocity and direction information; combining at least one of the air density ratio factor, the aerodynamic drag ratio factor and the rolling resistance ratio factor with vehicle loss coefficients to determining new vehicle loss coefficients; computing an energy loss or power loss of the vehicle using the new vehicle loss coefficients and the effective velocity of the vehicle; and controlling the vehi

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for user controlled engine revving. In one example, the engine may be revved to a peak speed according to a target revving sequence in response to a user-initiated command. A revving sound may be provided in response to an input device, without demanding manual depression of an accelerator pedal.

Abstract: A method for controlling the total injection mass per working cycle during a multiple injection operation of a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine is provided. In the method, an injection mass difference is determined from individual injection pulse to individual injection pulse, and transferred to the next individual injection pulse, in stepwise fashion. The injection mass difference remaining in the penultimate individual injection pulse is transferred to the final individual injection pulse to achieve a total injection mass with improved tolerance.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a controller configured to execute: receiving a remote signal containing a target temperature in a cabin and an expected traveling start time of a vehicle from a remote controller used by a user of the vehicle; calculating a catalyst warming period which is an estimated period required to warm, to an active temperature, an electrically heated catalyst; calculating a pre-air conditioning period which is an estimated period required to adjust a temperature in the cabin to the target temperature; and starting pre-air conditioning of the cabin by starting an internal combustion engine after completion of warming of the electrically heated catalyst when a sum of the catalyst warming period and the pre-air conditioning period is equal to or shorter than a starting time margin from a time of reception of the remote signal to the expected traveling start time.

Abstract: Arrangement comprising: a chamber that is formed between a first receptacle and a second receptacle for a rod-shaped element, wherein the receptacles open out to the chamber on opposite end-face sides thereof; a rod-shaped element that is accommodated in the receptacles via a respective section with radial play, in this regard with a receptacle radial play, the rod-shaped element passing through the chamber; and an annular body that is situated in the chamber and through which the rod-shaped element passes with radial play, in this regard an annular body radial play, wherein the annular body radial play is less than the receptacle radial play, wherein the arrangement has a first media side and a second media side that are connected to the chamber via the first receptacle and second receptacle, respectively, wherein the annular body is provided to be pressed into contact against an end-face side of the chamber.

Abstract: A combustion engine for a vehicle includes a device for changing the timing of suction/relief valves with respect to the drive shaft. The device includes a first disc idly mounted to the camshaft and has a first side defining first slot tracks. A second disc is integral with the camshaft and includes second slot tracks facing the first side of the first disc. Drive elements transmit motion between the first disc and the second disc and each is accommodated between corresponding two of the partially facing tracks. As centrifugal forces caused by the rotation speed of the camshaft changes, each drive elements moves between a first reference position and a second reference position which are close to and far from the rotation axis of the camshaft, respectively. A phase changer device exerts a force which tends to oppose movement of said drive elements towards the second reference position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing activation of a starter when engine speed is above a threshold engine speed value are disclosed. In examples, an engine driven power system includes an engine and a current transformer to generate an induced current in response to an excitation current from an excitation circuit. As the excitation current is induced in response to rotational movement of the engine, the excitation current and the induced current exhibits characteristics corresponding to engine speed. A control circuit receives a signal from the current transformer representing characteristics representative of engine speed and determines the engine speed, compares the characteristics to a list of values that correlates current characteristics to engine speed, compare a list of threshold engine speed values to the calculated engine speed value, and prevents activation of an engine starter if the control circuitry determines that the engine speed exceeds the threshold engine speed value.

Abstract: Provided are a controller integrated type fuel pump module for preventing thermal deformation of a flange and a manufacturing method thereof. An embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a controller integrated type fuel pump module for preventing thermal deformation of a flange that minimizes heat transfer from a board to the flange through a thermal insulation effect by an air gap by improving a structure in a storage part of a controller to form the air gap between the board and the flange in the controller formed integrally with a fuel pump module, and a manufacturing method thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller for a starter motor operable to receive a first input indicative of an engine shutdown being required, a second input indicative of a change-of-mind event having occurred after initiation of engine shutdown and a third input indicative of the engine position. After receipt of the first input the controller is operable to monitor the third input and to determine an expected engine rotation direction indicative of the expected rotation direction of the engine after a predetermined delay. If the expected engine rotation direction is positive and the second input is received then the controller is configured to control the output means to cause the starter motor of the engine to be actuated upon receipt of the second input.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine provided as a medium-speed gas engine or dual fuel engine in a gas fuel mode. The method comprises the step of directly injecting a gas fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine at a maximum injection pressure that is lower than a compression-end pressure of the engine.

Abstract: An electronic control method for a throttle by an electronic control throttle device that controls the throttle while an electronic control unit generates a control signal based on an input data signal. The method may include calculating an engine rotation speed deviation from a difference between an engine rotation speed and an input engine rotation speed command, calculating an engine rotational acceleration based on the engine rotation speed, obtaining a proportional torque from a product of the engine rotation speed deviation and a predetermined coefficient, obtaining an integral torque by integrating a value obtained by subtracting a product of the engine rotational acceleration and the predetermined coefficient from the product of the engine rotation speed deviation and the predetermined coefficient, and generating a control signal for the throttle by using a sum of the proportional torque and the integral torque as a value of a torque command.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for engine startup. In one example, a method for an engine includes injecting a fuel mixture with a proportion of a first fuel to a second fuel to decrease carbon emissions, in response to detection of or request for the engine to start. The proportion of the first fuel to the second fuel in the injected fuel mixture is decreased in response to engine speed reaching an idling speed. The first fuel may be a non-hydrocarbon-based fuel and the second fuel may be a hydrocarbon-based fuel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has one or more combustion chambers defined by one of more cylinders, corresponding pistons, and a cylinder head. A crankshaft is operatively connected to the pistons and to an electric turning machine. To start the engine, the electric turning machine rotates the crankshaft in a first direction toward a reversal point corresponding to a local maximum drag torque of the internal combustion engine, this rotation being made without rotating the crankshaft beyond the reversal point. The electric turning machine then rotates the crankshaft in a second direction opposite from the first direction, a momentum impressed on the crankshaft by compression obtained when rotating in the first direction increasing a speed of the crankshaft in the second direction. Thereafter, fuel is injected in one of the combustion chambers in which the corresponding piston first reaches a top dead center position and the fuel is ignited.

Abstract: An EGR estimation method for estimating an EGR rate in an intake and exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the intake and exhaust system including: an intake system including an air cleaner and an intake passage that connects the air cleaner and the engine, an exhaust system including an exhaust passage, and a supercharger that is provided in the intake passage and the exhaust passage, the intake and exhaust system including an EGR device including an EGR passage that connects the intake passage and the exhaust passage and an EGR valve, and the intake system including an intake bypass passage that connects an upstream pressure portion and a downstream pressure portion of the supercharger and a recirculation valve. The EGR estimation method includes: opening the recirculation valve during supercharging, and estimating the EGR rate after closing the EGR valve based on the EGR rate before opening the recirculation valve.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reverse purging of a fuel vapor canister of an engine. In one example, a method may include heating a fuel vapor canister, sealing a fuel tank in order to generate a vacuum in the fuel tank, and in response to the pressure in the fuel tank reaching a target vacuum, initiating reverse purging of the fuel vapor canister.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic contact heat transfer simulation device for rolling heavy-load deformation zone. The device includes a control system, a data acquisition system, a pressure-adjustable fixed cold end, a rotating chuck, a temperature-adjustable heat-conducting rod and an speed-adjustable rotation hot end; the device utilizes the rotating chuck and the speed-adjustable rotating hot end to adjust the rotation speed in real time according to the actual rolling conditions, simulate the working conditions of the actual rolling heavy-load deformation zone, and accurately obtain the dynamic heat transfer coefficient of the rotating contact interface under variable load pressure conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for engine braking in a vehicle. In one example, a method may include deactivating fueling to at least one cylinder of an engine, increasing an air mass provided to the engine via an electric boosting device, and adjusting an exhaust valve opening timing of the at least one cylinder in response to a request for engine braking. In this way, an amount of engine braking torque may be increased with reduced wear to engine system components.