Abstract: In a pressure regulator, a valve element nozzle is supported by a diaphragm, which partitions between an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The outlet portion includes an inner cover and an outer cover. The inner cover receives an adjusting spring in an inside space of the inner cover. A primary communication hole is formed in the inner cover to oppose the valve element nozzle, and a secondary communication hole is formed in the inner cover at a location, which is on a radially outer side of the primary communication hole. The outer cover covers the inner cover and thereby forms a fuel space, which is communicated with the inside space through the primary and secondary communication holes, at a location between the inner cover and the outer cover.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, a method may include supplying air to an exhaust system at a location downstream of an emissions control device via the first exhaust manifold, the air not having participated in combustion in the engine, the first exhaust manifold in fluidic communication with a first exhaust valve of a cylinder and an intake manifold, the cylinder including a second exhaust valve in fluidic communication with the second exhaust manifold. The method may further include adjusting an amount of fuel injected to the engine in response to output of a first oxygen sensor, the first oxygen sensor positioned in the exhaust system upstream of the emissions control device.

Abstract: A temperature control apparatus of a vehicle according to the invention stops activating a heat pump and supplies heat exchanging liquid from an engine passage to a battery passage when a warming of the battery is requested and a temperature of the heat exchanging liquid flowing out of the engine passage is equal to or lower than a permitted upper limit temperature. On the other hand, the apparatus activates the heat pump to cool the heat exchanging liquid and supplies the cooled heat exchanging liquid from the engine passage to the battery passage when the warming of the battery is requested and the temperature of the heat exchanging liquid flowing out of the engine passage is higher than the permitted upper limit temperature.

Abstract: An evaporative emissions control system comprising an evaporative emissions control (evap) canister. A fuel vapor feed conduit includes a first end fluidically connected to the evap canister, a second end connected to an internal combustion (IC) engine and a purge valve fluidically connected thereto. A fuel vapor conduit includes a first end fluidically connected to the evap canister and a second end configured to extend into a vehicle fuel tank. A fuel vapor vent valve is fluidically connected to the fuel vapor conduit at the second end thereof. A vapor return system includes a fuel pump fluidically connected to the fuel vapor conduit through an intermediate bypass conduit having a first end fluidically connected to an intermediate portion of the fuel vapor conduit and a second end extending into the vehicle fuel tank and in communication with the vapor return system.

Abstract: An illustrative fuel delivery system for an engine can include a fuel type indicator device and a flow management device. The flow management device can be configured to receive fuel from an auxiliary fuel tank and to direct it based on the type of fuel in the auxiliary fuel tank. If the type of fuel in the auxiliary fuel tank is a primary fuel type (such as diesel or gasoline), the flow management device can deliver the primary fuel to a piston cylinder of the engine. If the type of fuel in the auxiliary fuel tank is an auxiliary fuel (such as a mixture of ethanol and water the flow management device can deliver the auxiliary fuel to an air intake system of the engine.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery (WHR) system and method for regulating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooling is described. More particularly, a Rankine cycle WHR system and method is described, including an arrangement to improve the precision of EGR cooling for engine efficiency improvement and thermal management.

Abstract: In a fuel injection device, a driving unit structure has a magnetic aperture, in which an inner diameter is gradually enlarged toward the mover side, provided in an inner peripheral surface of the magnetic core. It is possible to reduce magnetic delay time upon valve opening from the supply of the electric current to the coil to the rise of magnetic flux and magnetic delay time upon valve closing from the stoppage of the electric current to the coil to reduction of magnetic flux, by providing a magnetic aperture in the inner peripheral surface of the magnetic core. Thus it is possible to improve the dynamic responsiveness upon valve opening and valve closing.

Abstract: A throttle valve having: a valve body; an intake duct obtained in the valve body; a throttle plate arranged in the intake duct; a shaft mounted so as to rotate, supporting the throttle plate; an electric motor; a gear transmission, which couples the electric motor to the shaft and has an end gear which is integral with the shaft; a return spring, which is designed to rotate the throttle plate towards a closing position; a striking element, which is obtained in the valve body and establishes an intermediate position of partial opening; and a countering spring, mounted on the end gear, which is designed to rotate the throttle plate towards the intermediate position and has one end which is designed to rest against the striking element during the rotation of the end gear.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving efficiency of purging a fuel vapor storage canister included in an evaporative emissions control system of a vehicle. In one example, a method includes controlling a duty cycle of a canister purge valve to purge fuel vapors stored in a fuel vapor storage canister to an engine of the vehicle, and adjusting a flow rate at which the fuel vapors are purged to the engine independently of the duty cycle by controlling a magnitude of a voltage supplied to the canister purge valve during the purging.

Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.

Abstract: An ignition device for igniting an air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber, in particular of an internal combustion engine, having a spark plug which has a first electrode and a second electrode, having a high voltage source for generating an electrical high voltage pulse at an output of the high voltage source, and having a high frequency voltage source for generating an electrical high frequency alternating voltage at an output of the high frequency voltage source, wherein the output of the high voltage source is connected electrically to the first electrode of the spark plug via a first electrical conduction path in such a way that the high voltage pulse is present at the first electrode, wherein the output of the high frequency voltage source is connected electrically to the second electrode via a second electrical conduction path in such a way that the high frequency alternating voltage is present at the second electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting ignition timing to one or more cylinders of a variable displacement engine responsive to a knock indication are described herein. In one particular example, during a partial cylinder mode, ignition timing to one or more cylinders may be adjusted responsive to a knock indication based on the number of cylinders deactivated; whereas during the full cylinder mode, ignition timing for all cylinders are adjusted responsive to a knock indication. Thereby, the systems and methods described allow a larger partial cylinder operating window that has a benefit of enhancing a vehicle's fuel economy.

Abstract: An evaporated fuel treatment device is provided with an electric-operated valve, a positive-pressure relief valve mechanism and a negative-pressure relief valve mechanism. The electric-operated valve has a valve body for opening/closing a vapor passage allowing a fuel tank and a canister, and adjusts the flow rate by electrical control. The positive-pressure relief valve mechanism opens when the pressure at the fuel tank side has a value greater than or equal to a predetermined positive pressure value. The negative-pressure relief valve mechanism opens when the pressure at the fuel tank side has a value less than or equal to a predetermined negative pressure value. The electric-operated valve is configured such that the valve body is moved in the valve opening direction by the pressure at the fuel tank side that is higher, by a predetermined value, than the valve opening pressure for the positive-pressure relief valve mechanism.

Abstract: A method for regulating filling an exhaust gas component (EGC) storage of a catalytic converter (CC) in the exhaust gas (EG) of an internal combustion engine. An actual fill level (AFL) of the EGC storage is ascertained using a first system model (FSM), to which signals of a first EG sensor projecting into the EG flow upstream from the CC and detecting a concentration of the EGC and a second EG sensor, downstream from the CC and exposed to the EG, are fed. A base lambda setpoint value for a first control loop (CL) is predefined by a second CL, which is adjusted to the AFL using the AFL ascertained using the FSM when the voltage of the second EG sensor indicates a breakthrough of rich/lean EG downstream from the CC and an excessively low/high AFL of the EGC storage. Also described is a control unit to perform the method.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a tank ventilation system and a crankcase ventilation system. The tank ventilation system is connectable to an intake system downstream of a throttle element via a first non-return valve in a first line and upstream of a compressor via a second non-return valve in a second line and a third non-return valve in a second sub-line. The crankcase ventilation system is connectable to the intake system downstream of the throttle element via a fourth non-return valve in a third line and upstream of the compressor via a fourth line and the third non-return valve. The intake system is connectable to the second line downstream of the throttle element at a transitional point between the second line and the second sub-line via a fifth nonreturn valve in a fifth line. A nozzle is formed at the transitional point from the fifth line to the second line and the second sub-line, and the second line opens into the nozzle downstream of the second non-return valve.

Abstract: A spark plug having an insulator with a leg portion whose outer circumferential surface has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of 0.5 ?m or less. The leg portion has a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section has an outer diameter that decreases toward the forward end of the first section. The second section is located forward of and adjacent to the first section and its outer diameter decreases toward the forward end of the second section. The outer circumferential surface of the second section is located inward of a first straight line passing through the base and forward ends of the outer circumferential surface of the first section. The third section is located forward of and adjacent to the second section. The outer diameter of the third section is equal to or less than a forward end outer diameter Ds of the second section over the entire third section.

Abstract: An EGR malfunction detection system includes an EGR valve configured to open and close an exhaust recirculation path for recirculating an exhaust gas from an exhaust channel to an intake channel of an engine, a measurement unit configured to measure an intake pressure inside the intake channel, a valve controller configured to control the EGR valve, and a malfunction detector configured to detect an anomaly in the exhaust recirculation path in accordance with a measurement unit output and a valve controller output. The malfunction detector determines whether the EGR valve is stuck in accordance with the intake pressures measured when the EGR valve is controlled to open and close. If the EGR valve is stuck, the malfunction detector determines whether the EGR valve is stuck in an open state, stuck in a closed state, or stuck in an intermediate state by comparing the measured pressure with predetermined thresholds.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller programmed to activate a fuel savings feature upon satisfaction of transition conditions and inhibit the transition according to satisfaction of inhibit conditions. The controller is further programmed to accumulate data indicative of the inhibit conditions and a time associated with the conditions being satisfied over a drive cycle.

Abstract: An ignition system includes a controller which controls two stages—to provide current to a spark plug. The stages include a first transformer including a first primary winding and a first secondary winding and a second transformer including a second primary winding and a second secondary winding. A switch is electrically connected between a supply high side and the high side of the first primary winding. A second switch is electrically connected between the first primary winding and the power supply low side supply. A third switch is connected between the junction of the switch and high side end of the first inductor and a point between the low side of the second primary winding and low side supply. A fourth switch is located between the low side of the second primary winding and the point. A fifth switch is located between the point and low side supply.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for identifying cylinder knock. In one example, cylinder knock may be identified based on a knock monitor that identifies knock based on output from a crankshaft speed sensor.