Abstract: A control device of a spark-ignition engine is provided. The control device includes a main body of the engine, a fuel injection valve, an ignition plug, and a controller. According to an operating state of the engine, the controller switches an ignition mode between a compression-ignition mode in which compression-ignition combustion is performed by causing the mixture gas to self-ignite and combust, and a spark-ignition mode in which spark-ignition combustion is performed by igniting the mixture gas with the ignition plug to combust. The controller switches the ignition mode from the spark-ignition mode to the compression-ignition mode by performing a transition mode in which a temperature inside the cylinder is forcibly decreased and combustion is performed.

Abstract: A method for determining the quantity of outgassing of a fuel from a lubricant located in an intake section housing of an internal combustion engine may include (a) setting a first coil current through the housing, (b) measuring a first output value of a lambda controller, (c) setting a second coil current through the housing, the second coil current having a different current strength than the first coil current, (d) measuring a second output value of the lambda controller and (e) determining the quantity of outgassing of the fuel based on the measured first and second output values. In addition, a method for adapting a lambda value for a fuel/air mixture to be burnt in an internal combustion engine during a lower load range may include the above-mentioned method of determining the quantity of outgassing of a fuel.

Abstract: An idle stop condition determination method of an engine includes: calculating and storing a fuel saving estimation amount in idle stop of an engine on the basis of traveling information; calculating the amount of fuel consumption in restarting for restarting, when an idle stop condition of the engine is satisfied; comparing the magnitudes of the fuel saving estimation amount with the amount of fuel consumption in restarting, and stopping the engine in accordance with the result of the comparing; and restarting the engine, when a restarting condition of the engine is satisfied.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve for a vehicle may include a housing having a flow path through which an exhaust gas flows, a shaft installed in the housing to be rotatable, a flap valve provided to be rotatable about the shaft and configured to open and close the flow path, a bushing provided on the shaft, an anti-wear washer installed on the shaft between the flap valve and the bushing, and a spring means installed on the shaft and configured to elastically support the bushing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an idle stop control device that automatically shuts down an engine when a first condition is satisfied, and then restarts the engine using a starter to which electricity is fed through a brush when a second condition is satisfied, the idle stop control device including a start-operation brush wear amount computing unit that is configured to compute a brush wear amount in a single start operation, a total brush wear amount computing unit that is configured to compute a total brush wear amount by integrating the brush wear amount in a single start operation, and an automatic engine shutdown prohibiting unit that is configured to prohibit an automatic engine shutdown when the total brush wear amount is equal to or larger than a warranty driving wear amount of the starter.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cleaning out condensate stored at a charge air cooler. In response to increased condensate accumulation at a charge air cooler, airflow through the engine is increased to purge the condensate while an engine actuator is adjusted to maintain engine torque. Combustion stability issues of engine cylinders are addressed by adjusting fueling of each cylinder individually during condensate ingestion.

Abstract: A fuel rail assembly for supplying pressurized fuel to at least one fuel injector of an engine includes a hollow fuel rail extending along a fuel rail axis. The fuel rail includes an inlet for introducing the pressurized fuel into the fuel rail and at least one outlet for dispensing the pressurized fuel from the fuel rail. The fuel rail assembly also includes a bracket for attaching the fuel rail assembly to the engine. The bracket includes a fuel rail portion defining a first passage extending therethrough in the same direction as the fuel rail axis for receiving the fuel rail therewithin. The bracket also includes a mounting portion adjacent to the fuel rail portion and defining a second passage extending therethrough in the same direction as the fuel rail axis. The mounting portion is configured to receive a fastener for securing the fuel rail assembly to the engine.

Abstract: An ignition coil apparatus for high-frequency discharge includes: a primary coil that generates and accumulates a flux; a secondary coil that is magnetically coupled to the primary coil so as to generate a predetermined high voltage when energy of the accumulated flux is released and connected at one end to a high-voltage terminal used to supply energy to an external apparatus; a capacitor that is connected to the high-voltage terminal and prevents passing of the high voltage; and an inductor that, together with the capacitor, allows passing of a predetermined frequency component alone. The primary coil, the secondary coil, the capacitor, and the inductor are installed within a same package.

Abstract: A control system of an engine is provided. The control system includes an inlet sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an engine inlet air temperature and an intake manifold sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an engine intake manifold air temperature. The control system includes a control module communicably coupled to the inlet sensor and the intake manifold sensor. The control module is configured to determine the engine inlet air temperature and the engine intake manifold air temperature. The control module is configured to determine an initial de-rate value based on a predetermined relationship between the engine inlet air temperature and the engine intake manifold air temperature. The control module is configured to determine a pre-stored de-rate modifier corresponding to an engine speed. The control module is configured to determine a final de-rate value based on the initial de-rate value and the pre-stored de-rate modifier.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine starter system including a starter capable of being controlled by an electronic control unit and having an electric motor and a pinion coupled together for transferring rotational torque from the motor to the pinion when the motor is activated; controlling activation of the motor with an electronic control unit output motor signal in response to an engine speed input signal; determining the pinion speed in an open loop manner based solely on the time since activation of the motor and the voltage applied to the motor; and selectively moving the pinion between a retracted state and an extended state in response to an electronic control unit output pinion signal, whereby the starter is capable of selectively engaging an engine for cranking the engine. Also, a starter system that facilitates this method.

Abstract: A vehicular control apparatus performs control of enabling idle operation of an internal combustion engine that generates a motive power applied to a driving wheel of a vehicle if a vehicle speed of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined vehicle speed that is set in advance, and disabling idle operation of the internal combustion engine if the vehicle speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed, when the vehicle is in a state other than an acceleration running state. Accordingly, the vehicular control apparatus achieves an effect of making it possible to suppress the consumption of fuel.

Abstract: An operations support system is provided for an engine. The system includes a diagnostics module configured to receive engine data from the engine and to generate diagnostics data based on the engine data using a thermodynamic model, the thermodynamic model being based on component maps associated with the engine; an acoustics module coupled to the diagnostics module and comprising an acoustics calculation unit, the acoustics calculation unit configured to receive the diagnostics data and to determine an acoustics level for the engine based on the diagnostics data; and a graphical user interface coupled to the acoustics module and configured to display the acoustics level.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting purging of LP-EGR from an air intake system during conditions of decreasing engine load. During a tip-out, an EGR valve is closed while the engine is shifted to a VDE mode of operation to improve engine tolerance to EGR at lower engine loads and until the EGR is sufficiently purged. A non-VDE mode is resumed if higher engine loads are restored, else, a deceleration fuel shut-off mode is selected if the tip-out continues to zero load.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a barrier discharge device capable of increasing the combustion efficiency of an engine while overcoming the problems of the cumbersome replacement of the electrodes and the commercialization of the device. The barrier discharge device of an engine includes a dielectric body and at least two barrier discharge electrodes which are held inside the dielectric body and to which voltages for barrier discharge are applied, wherein each of the barrier discharge electrodes are not exposed to the inside of a cylinder bore and are arranged so as to surround the cylinder bore.

Abstract: It is determined that assisting is required when a deviation of a target matching engine speed and a current engine speed is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and for a predetermined period of time since the time point at which it is determined that assisting is required, a target assist engine speed is set at a high rotation target matching engine speed which is more than the target matching engine speed, and thereafter the target assist engine speed is set gradually closer to the target matching engine speed, and an assist torque command value is output to the generator assisting output of the engine, and the engine speed is controlled, so that the engine speed attains the target assist engine speed.

Abstract: A laser ignition device for an internal combustion engine, encompassing an ignition laser having a combustion chamber window, such that until startup of the laser ignition device, the combustion chamber window is equipped with a protective layer.

Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a first torque request for a spark ignition engine based on driver input. A torque conversion module converts the first torque request into a second torque request. A setpoint control module generates setpoints for the spark ignition engine based on the second torque request. A vacuum requesting module requests an amount of vacuum within an intake manifold of the engine. The setpoint module selectively adjusts at least one of the setpoints based on the amount of vacuum requested. A model predictive control (MPC) module: identifies sets of possible target values based on the setpoints; generates predicted parameters based on a model of the spark ignition engine and the sets of possible target values, respectively; selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the predicted parameters; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets.

Abstract: A laser spark plug for an internal combustion engine, in particular for a gas engine, includes a laser crystal integrated into the laser spark plug and a combustion chamber optical unit. Laser light pulses issuing from the laser crystal can be coupled by way of the combustion chamber optical unit into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. An optical laser light sensor is integrated into the laser spark plug, and the combustion chamber optical unit is provided with a preferably curved reflection surface which faces towards the laser light sensor and has a reflective mirroring. At least a part of a laser light reflected at the reflection surface during the duration of a laser light pulse can be detected by the laser light sensor.

Abstract: A component of a fuel system includes a fuel cap having a head portion connected to a neck portion. The head portion defines: a fluid pressure relief conduit and a relief valve passage that extends into and through the head portion that terminates at a valve head opening formed by an inner surface of the head portion. The inner surface of the head portion and the inner surface of the neck portion cooperate to form a fuel cap cavity. The fluid cap cavity is fluidly-connected to the fluid pressure relief conduit by way of the valve head opening formed by the inner surface of the head portion. A relief valve is movably arranged within the relief valve passage for permitting selective fluid communication of the fuel cap cavity with the fluid pressure relief conduit. A locking apparatus is arranged within the fuel cap cavity.

Abstract: A rope-pull starting device for an internal combustion engine including a hub, rope pulley, rope and torsion damper spring. The hub configured to drivingly engage an engine when the hub is rotated in a first direction. The rope pulley interconnects with the hub by a torsion damper spring. The torsion damper spring coupled at a first end to the hub and at a second end to the rope pulley, wherein the torsion damper spring is coiled from the first end connected to the hub, toward the rope pulley, in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and whereby the rope pulley is rotated in the first direction when the rope is unwound therefrom and the torsion damper spring responsively urges the hub to rotate in the first direction.