Abstract: Methods and systems are providing for improving engine coolant level estimation to reduce engine overheating. The level of fluid in a coolant overflow reservoir is inferred based on the fluid level in a hollow vertical standpipe fluidically coupled to the reservoir at top and bottom locations, while the fluid level in the standpipe is estimated based on echo times of an ultrasonic signal transmitted by a sensor positioned in a recess at the bottom of the vertical standpipe. Engine power is limited differently based on distinct coolant level states determined based on a change in level of coolant in the reservoir over a duration.

Abstract: An inlet manifold includes a plenum having a plenum floor and a plenum cover positioned next to the plenum floor, and at least one straw supported on and extending from the plenum floor toward the plenum cover to transport water.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling an aspirator control valve in an engine. An example method comprises closing the aspirator control valve responsive to diagnosing a first engine degradation condition and opening the aspirator control valve in response to diagnosing a second engine degradation condition.

Abstract: A pneumatic starter for a chainsaw having a pedestal that supports a mounting plate. Clamps are used to mount a chainsaw to the mounting plate while brackets are used to connect a pneumatic cylinder having an extending shaft to the mounting plate. A recoil handle fixture receives the pull cord of a chainsaw. The recoil handle fixture is connected to the shaft. When a pneumatic assembly receiving compressed air is operated the shaft is rapidly extended, pulling the pull cord to start the chainsaw.

Abstract: In an ignition device of a spark-ignition internal combustion engine that performs ignition with high energy efficiency while reducing power to be input to a spark plug, after a DC-voltage-pulse generation circuit that generates a DC voltage pulse between electrodes of a spark plug is operated by a control circuit, an AC-pulse generation circuit that generates an AC pulse between the electrodes of the spark plug is operated. Furthermore, the control circuit controls the AC-pulse generation circuit with a plurality of group pulses and quiescent periods between the group pulses are provided.

Abstract: Fuel management system for enhanced operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder. It is preferred that the direct injection occur after the inlet valve is closed. It is also preferred that stoichiometric operation with a three way catalyst be used to minimize emissions. In addition, it is also preferred that the anti-knock agents have a heat of vaporization per unit of combustion energy that is at least three times that of gasoline.

Abstract: A fuel supply system adapted to supply fuel to an internal combustion engine has both a check valve and a purge valve disposed in a purge passage that extends from a canister to connect with an intake passage of the internal combustion engine. A controller estimates a pressure within an intermediate purge passage of the purge passage located between the check valve and the purge valve without relying on the use of a separate pressure detection device to provide information regarding the same.

Abstract: A machine component including a base body produced from a base material is provided. The base body is equipped in a partial region of the surface thereof with a plating made of an application material having a greater hardness and/or viscosity as compared to the base material. The plating is foamed by a number of plating elements that are applied to the base body in the longitudinal direction thereof in a tilted manner relative to the main flow direction of a hot gas flowing through the base body.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes at least one cylinder head and at least one exhaust pipe having at least one flange, whereby the flange has at least two flange fastening holes that have at least two fastening screws for fastening the exhaust pipe to the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, whereby the exhaust pipe can be arranged so as to be connected to the cylinder head by means of the fastening screws in such a way that it can be dismantled, whereby at least one centering device is provided essentially in the area of the flange holes.

Abstract: A spark plug RFI suppression arrangement comprises a spark plug having a proximal end at which an ignition terminal is located and a distal end at which a pair of electrodes are separated by a spark gap. The spark plug further has an insulator portion and a conductive case located intermediate the proximal and distal ends. The arrangement further has an ignition wire having an end portion carrying a connector removably attached to the ignition terminal of the spark plug. A spark plug boot is located at the end portion of the ignition wire, the boot being configured to cover the connector and at least a portion of the spark plug. A radio frequency interference (RFI) suppression sleeve is connected to the spark plug boot and is in electrical communication with the conductive case of the spark plug such that interference produced by operation of the spark plug is suppressed by grounding through the conductive case.

Abstract: A bi-fuel refrigeration system and method of retrofitting a refrigeration system for the same. The system includes an engine in energy supplying relation to a refrigeration unit, said engine running off a constant predetermined amount of gaseous fuel and a variable amount of distillate fuel. An electronic control unit generates control signals to dictate the ratio of gaseous to distillate fuel is used by the engine. An actuator is structured to provide isochronous control of the system, and is accordingly disposed in flow adjusting relation to the distillate fuel intake to variably adjust the amount of distillate fuel injected into the engine. The method of retrofitting includes at least inserting a gaseous fuel supply and mixer into the air supply line, inserting an electronic control unit for isochronous control of the system, and inserting an actuator for isochronous control of the amount of distillate fuel used in the system.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having cylinders in fluid communication with an intake air flow, a mass air flow (MAF) sensor positioned with respect to the intake air flow which outputs a pulse train signal describing the frequency of the intake air flow, and a controller. The controller includes a calibrated non-linear conversion curve recorded in memory. The controller executes a method to convert the frequency data into a corresponding mass air flow using the calibrated non-linear conversion curve, determines the instantaneous mass air flow value at each leading or trailing edge of the pulse train signal, and accumulates the instantaneous mass air flow values over a calibrated duration. A time-weighted average of the accumulated mass air flow values is then used to execute a control action. The controller includes a host computer device and memory storing the curve and instructions for executing the method.

Abstract: A thermal regulation device for a cooling system of an engine that includes a pump positioned upstream from a cooling housing of the engine and at least one consumer requiring permanent cooling. The device includes a main pipe for circulating coolant through the cooling housing and a secondary pipe bypassing the cooling housing. A two-way valve is positioned on the main pipe at the outlet of the cooling housing of the engine, and the secondary pipe includes a tapping on the main pipe downstream from the pump and upstream from a portion of the main pipe used for cooling the engine so that the flow is maintained at a constant and permanent level for ensuring the cooling of the at least one consumer.

Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a fuel tank, a fuel path, and a fuel pump. The fuel tank includes a fuel storage region including a sealed region configured to store a fuel. The fuel path is connected to an engine and the fuel tank. The fuel path includes a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion to suck a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture. The vaporized-liquid fuel mixture is produced by mixing the vaporized fuel into the liquid fuel. The vaporized fuel is produced from the liquid fuel stored in the fuel storage region. The fuel pump is disposed in the fuel path. The fuel pump is configured to produce a negative pressure in a pump suction port connected to the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion.

Abstract: A heat exchanger, in particular an exhaust gas cooler or charge air cooler, is provided that includes a plate stack which has a plurality of elongated plate pairs, each set of two interconnected plates forming a respective second fluid channel between themselves, and a first fluid channel being formed between two plate pairs, a first fluid channel being surrounded by two second fluid channels, each second fluid channel being connected to at least one manifold.

Abstract: An assembly for a combustion engine may include a piston and a connecting rod. The piston may include a piston crown, a piston skirt, and respective portions for accommodating a piston pin through which the piston is intended to be supported on the connecting rod. The piston skirt may have a completely closed bottom part and apertures may be provided in the portion for accommodating the piston pin. The apertures may seal against the piston pin to enclose a bottom part of the piston crown as well as the piston crown portion for accommodating the piston pin. The connecting rod may have a fork shape in an end facing the piston.

Abstract: An insert type expansion pipe-integrated air cleaner may include an air cleaner body having a filter chamber in which air is introduced from an outside, the filter chamber having a chamber space provided with a filter, the chamber space being covered by an air cleaner cover, an expansion pipe chamber connected to the filter chamber such that the introduced air is discharged from the expansion pipe chamber to the outside, and a female passage boss through which the introduced air passes from the filter chamber to the expansion pipe chamber by having a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the expansion pipe chamber while the female passage boss divides the filter chamber and the expansion pipe chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for increasing the maximum operating speed of an internal combustion engine operated in a low temperature combustion ignition mode, the method comprising operating the engine with a fuel composition comprising (a) gasoline having a Research Octane Number (RON) greater than 85 and (b) one or more cetane improvers.

Abstract: A seal retention assembly is disclosed. The seal retention assembly includes a cover defining an aperture along a longitudinal axis. The seal retention assembly further includes a seal coupled to the cover adjacent to the aperture. The seal retention assembly also includes a retention device cooperating with the cover and the seal to secure the seal in engagement with the cover. In addition, a seal is disclosed. The seal includes a body portion, with the body portion including a first side and a second side opposing each other along a longitudinal axis. The body portion also includes an outer periphery disposed between the first and second sides and faces away from the longitudinal axis. The seal further includes a first retainer extending from at least one of the outer periphery and the first and second sides for securing the body portion to a cover.

Abstract: A method of controlling an amount of fuel to be injected by a fuel injector into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A map stores values of a fuel injection quantity drift of said injector. A fuel injection quantity drift is estimated and stored in a corresponding map point to a current engine operating point. A set of map points whose distance from said corresponding map point is smaller than a given distance are selected. All map points of the set of map points are modified by multiplying their entries by a radial weighing factor. The amount of fuel to be injected by the fuel injector to be the requested amount of fuel is corrected by means of the corresponding entry of the map.