Abstract: In a controlled ignition internal combustion engine, two temperature sensors, one of which is placed in the farthest position relative to the spark plug and the other in the vicinity of the spark plug in a cylinder, generate signals the difference of which is significant for the detection of the knock phenomenon. As the temperature differential of the two sensors exceeds a preselected magnitude, a warning signal may be delivered on the dashboard, or the controlled ignition system of the engine may receive a command for reducing the angle of advance of ignition until ordinary, non-knock conditions are restored for the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine crankshaft reference signal pulse corresponding to a selected one engine cylinder pair and a series of crankshaft position signal pulses are generated during each crankshaft revolution and a crankshaft reference signal pulse corresponding to each other engine cylinder pair is synthesized during each crankshaft revolution. In response to each crankshft reference signal pulse and the subsequent crankshaft position signal pulses there is produced an ignition dwell signal effective to initiate ignition coil primary winding energization and later an ignition spark event signal that is effective to terminate ignition coil primary winding energization to thereby produce an ignition spark potential at the engine crankshaft angle at which an ignition spark event is to occur as calculated by an associated external data processor unit.

Abstract: The system comprises a zirconium sensor interposed in the exhaust conduit of a gas-fueled engine for sensing both oxygen content and temperature of the exhaust gases, and for emitting electrical analog signals thereof to a comparator/controller. In turn, the latter transmits a complementary, derivative electrical signal to a current-to-pressure transducer. The transducer is supplied with gas under pressure, from the engine fuel (gas) supply line, and the pressure of this transducer-supplied gas is modulated by the aforesaid derivative signal. The modulated gas pressure is communicated with a gas cylinder, having a translating piston rod, which is operatively engaged with an otherwise standard gas engine regulator for trimming control of the flow of fuel (gas) through the regulator.

Abstract: A spark timing control circuit for an internal combustion engine, includes a speed band selector circuit which responds to an electrical signal indicative of engine speed and provides an output signal indicative of which of a plurality of speed bands is occupied by the engine speed. Spark timing information for each speed band is stored in a memory as a first word in units of angular rotation of the engine for the heaviest engine operating load, and a second and third words indicative of the slope of straight line approximations to the curve of engine load plotted against advance in said angle units. A build up circuit responds to an electrical signal indicative of the engine operating load and computes from the second and third words a build up word which is added to the first word in an accumulator so as to derive an accumulated word in said angle units indicative of the desired spark timing.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system utilizes a microprocessor to calculate and generate one or more logic control signals that determine the duration of the energization time of intermittently energized electromagnetic fuel injectors. The microprocessor has a number of inputs which are indicative of engine operation, such as intake manifold vacuum, engine crankshaft position and speed, engine operating temperature, and perhaps less important parameters. During engine cranking most of these parameters are not available. The invention overcomes this problem with the use of an analog computer that shares circuitry used by the microprocessor when the microprocessor is either in a default mode of operation or when the engine is being cranked.

Abstract: In the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed in the Specification, a variable valve control mechanism for internal combustion engines has a movable element interposed between the inlet valve cam and the inlet valve cam follower which is positioned in such a way as to delay closing of the inlet valve. In one form, a roller is interposed between the cam and the follower. In another form, a rocker arm has two pads, one of which is interposed between the cam and its follower, and the other of which is positioned to displace the rocker arm laterally in accordance with the position of a control arm upon which the rocker arm shaft is movably mounted.

Abstract: A monolithic Darlington in which the transistors forming the Darlington pair are formed on a substrate together with a fourth terminal in addition to the normal three terminals provided for a Darlington pair, the fourth terminal being connected to the base electrode of the second transistor and the emitter electrode of the first transistor. The addition of the fourth terminal enables a control circuit for controlling the rate of switch off to be connected between the fourth terminal and the command collector electrode, this removing the effect which the stored charge on the base electrode of the first transistor has on the switching rate of the Darlington pair, thus enabling a faster switching rate to be achieved.

Abstract: A control system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprises a split engine control unit for operating the engine on partial cylinders when reduced engine power can adequately operate the vehicle, and first and second exhaust conduits for directing exhaust gases from first and second group cylinders respectively to a common junction to which a common exhaust conduit is connected for directing the gases to the atmosphere. A first set of an exhaust gas sensor and catalytic converter is disposed in the first conduit to be exposed to the stream of gases exhausted from the second group cylinders which are activated at all times and a second set of an exhaust gas sensor and catalytic converter is disposed in the common conduit to be exposed to the stream of gases exhausted from the first group cylinders directed through the first conduit and to the gases passed through the upstream side catalytic converter in the second conduit.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio controller for use in an internal combustion engine, of a type having an exhaust gas sensor disposed in the exhaust passage, a control circuit and a solenoid valve having a valve seat in which passages open leading to the air bleeds of the slow and main systems of the carburetor, the controller being adapted to actuate a valve of the solenoid valve, in accordance with a signal derived from the exhaust gas sensor, into and out of contact with the valve seat, so as to simultaneously control the flow rates of bleed air in the air bleeds of the slow and main systems. A recess is formed in the cooperating surface of the valve seat or the valve, at a position between the openings of the passages in the valve seat. This recess communicates with a chamber which in turn communicates with the air inlet.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system generates control pulses which open the fuel injection valves of the engine. The pulse duration is proportional to the injected fuel quantity and can be altered in dependence on air temperature by a circuit which includes a temperature-sensitive resistor. The voltage at this resistor controls a transistor which supplies a supplementary charging current for a timing capacitor.

Abstract: A liquid fuel and additive mixing apparatus for accurately proportioning the liquid additive into the liquid fuel for a vehicle such as a truck tractor includes a control unit preferably located in the cab of the truck tractor and connected to the vehicle electrical system for supplying electrical power thereto. A pump unit mounted to the truck tractor has an additive reservoir, pump, and valve controlled pressure delivery connections with the fuel tank and electrical connections with the control unit. When a known quantity of fuel is put into the truck tractor fuel tanks, the quantity is entered in the control unit and the control unit is activated to energize the pumps and open the valves for delivery to the fuel tanks of the predetermined quantity ratio of additive to the quantity of fuel put in the fuel tank.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio feedback control apparatus of an internal combustion engine in which an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture is at first set on the lean side of the desired air-fuel ratio. Additional fuel is supplied from at least one fuel injection valve. The amount of injected fuel each time the injecting operation is carried out is increased or decreased by a certain quantity in accordance with an air-fuel ratio condition signal detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor. Only when the air-fuel ratio feedback, control operation is initiated, then is a large amount of fuel abruptly supplied to the engine by an auxiliary fuel control means. Thereafter, the normal injecting operation is carried out together with the operation for increasing or decreasing the amount of injected fuel by a certain quantity.

Abstract: A novel spark plug adapter unit for spark plugs of an internal combustion engine having a main combustion chamber defined by a cylinder bore and its associated piston and a valved intake passage for introducing a lean fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber. The spark plug adapter mounted in the engine in the threaded socket for the conventional spark plug has a mini-combustion or spark ignition chamber about the spark gap and a valved branch passage to the ignition chamber connected to a first fuel supply, such as a raw fuel source or a rich fuel-air mixture source, to achieve ignition thereof in the ignition chamber causing a flame discharge which ensures ignition of another fuel mixture, such as a lean mixture, in the main combustion chamber.

Abstract: An ignition system includes an alternating current power source which feeds a transformer having a primary winding, the primary winding being coupled to an electronic switch. The electronic switch intermittently interrupts current flowing in the primary winding and in the output circuit of the power source. Such electronic switch is made operable by virtue of the peak excursions of the alternating current thus supplying the necessary collector or emitter potential, depending upon the manner in which the electronic switch is connected, for the entire igniter firing cycle. A capacitor in series with the output circuit of the power source and with the primary winding enables current to be transferred out of the power source to such primary winding. Such electronic switch also provides discrete separation between successive output waveforms of successive ignition firing cycles. The system employs a temporary change accumulator inductor in the output circuit in series with the primary winding.

Abstract: A closed loop air and fuel ratio controller is responsive to the oxidizing/reducing conditions in the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine to provide a control signal having a value for adjusting both the idle and main fuel metering circuits of a carburetor so as to supply an air and fuel mixture to the engine at a predetermined ratio. Two memory elements are provided, each being associated with a respective one of the idle and main fuel metering circuit for storing a value of the control signal provided by the controller. During operation of each of the idle and main fuel metering circuits, the value of the control signal stored by the respective one of the storage elements is updated in accord with the average value of the control signal provided by the controller.

Abstract: A method of controlling the timing of spark ignition for an internal combustion engine by monitoring the magnitude of vibration of the engine caused when the engine is knocking. A vibration sensor is mounted on the engine to detect the magnitude of the engine vibration, and the average value of the magnitude of vibration of the engine prior to the engine piston arriving at the top dead center position is compared with the instantaneous value of the magnitude of vibration of the engine caused after the arrival of the piston at the top dead center position. Consequently, when the instantaneous value of the vibration is greater than the average value of the vibration, the spark timing is retarded to prevent the occurrence of knocking in the engine. To accurately detect knocking in the engine, the average value of the vibration is obtained by dividing the integrated value of the monitored vibration by the monitoring time.

Abstract: An engine air and fuel controller for a vehicle internal combustion engine is described wherein the mass fuel flow rate is controlled directly in response to vehicle operater command. The engine throttle is positioned by an electronic controller in response to the fuel flow rate to achieve a mass air flow rate determined to produce a scheduled air/fuel ratio. The controller includes a circuit which is responsive to the engine speed to limit the minimum value of the commanded fuel flow rate in accord with a predetermined schedule at a rate whereat the engine throttle is controlled to a scheduled open position during engine overrun conditions to improve engine operation.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio sensor exhibiting a resistance value variable depending on the concentration of oxygen in exhaust gases is disposed in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and is connected in series with a variable resistance unit. Strobe signals are produced when the potential level at the connection point between the air-fuel ratio sensor and the variable resistance unit crosses a reference potential level. A maximum value and a minimum value of the potential at this connection point are sampled and held in a sampling circuit to be applied to a computation circuit in response to the strobe signals. The computation circuit computes the aforementioned reference voltage on the basis of the detected maximum and minimum values of the potential at the connection point. The reference potential and the resistance value of the variable resistance unit vary in relation to the maximum and minimum potential values sampled and held in the sampling circuit.

Abstract: A carbureting type fuel metering apparatus has an induction passage into which fuel is fed by several fuel metering systems among which are a main fuel metering system and an idle fuel metering system, as generally known in the art; engine exhaust gas analyzing means sensitive to selected constituents of such exhaust gas creates feedback signal means which through associated transducer means become effective for controllably modulating the metering characteristics of the main fuel metering system and the idle fuel metering system; reciprocating type solenoid control valve means is employed for modulating actuating pressure applied to the structure of the main fuel metering system and idle fuel metering system in order to achieve the desired metering functions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an internal combustion engine having an auxiliary combustion chamber in which a principal chamber is provided having (a) two intake valves and an intake port connected thereto and, (b) on the opposite side of a vertical plane extending along an axial line centered at the crank shaft and the center of the cylinder, a single exhaust valve and an exhaust port connected thereto, the same being in communication with the auxiliary combustion chamber.