Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed to reliably carry out engine starting without cranking. Using an internal combustion engine 1, when an idle stop condition is established, a third path switching valve 28 that is provided at the connection of the compressed air supply path 25 and a first blow-by path 21, and a blow-by control valve 24 are “closed”. The connection of the crankcase to the inlet path 14 is blocked, idling for a designated time is carried out, and finally the engine is stopped. On the other hand, when the idle stop release condition is established, an inlet valve 8 is “opened”, and the first to third path switching valves 26 to 28 are “closed”, thereby operating a compressor 17 for a designated period of time. Compressed air is thereby supplied to the combustion chamber 2 and the crankcase via the compressed air supply path 25, allowing an increase in the internal cylinder pressure. Finally, the engine is started.

Abstract: A pull-starter for a combustion engine of an engine-powered apparatus having a startup element automatically actuated upon initial pulling of a pull-cord. The pull-cord is attached to and wound around a recoil pulley, routed at least partially around a portion of a movable dampener member, and attached to a handle. The dampener member is biased toward a rest position and a portion thereof is linked to the startup element. The pull-cord is pulled to displace the dampener member away from its rest position, automatically actuate the at least one startup element, and unwind the pull-cord from around the recoil pulley and thereby rotate the recoil pulley in an unwind direction to rotate a crankshaft of the engine via a coupling. At least upon release of the pull-cord, the dampener member and the startup element automatically return to their normal state during engine operation.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, and method of distributing lubricant within an internal combustion engine, are disclosed. The internal combustion engine includes a crankcase having a floor, a pump supported by the floor, and a camshaft. The pump includes an inlet and an outlet. The camshaft has a cam, first and second camshaft ends, and an internal channel extending within the camshaft between the ends. The first end is supported by the pump or the floor. Rotation of the camshaft causes the pump to draw in lubricant via the inlet and to pump out at least some of the lubricant via the outlet. The outlet is positioned in proximity to the internal channel at the first camshaft end, so that at least some of the lubricant is pumped into the channel.

Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller 34 arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller 34 is arranged to play a game of poker 20 wherein a hand of cards 18 is randomly selected from at least one deck of cards and displayed on the display 14. If a winning hand results, the machine 10 pays a prize. The deck of cards 18 includes at least one multi-function card 50, 100, 110 which substitutes for at least two, but less than all, standard cards of the deck.

Abstract: An air-fuel mixture control device 12 controlling a combustible air-fuel mixture to be supplied to a combustion chamber 19 of an engine 11. This device 12 is constructed of an injector 35 used for fuel supply, a fuel pump, a fuel filter, a fuel pressure regulator, and an electronic control unit (ECU) 64, which are united as an assembly with respect to a throttle body 26 including an intake passage 24 and a throttle valve 25. A memory incorporated in the ECU 64 stores a correction value with respect to the fuel injection quantity dispersion preliminarily experimentally determined on an assembly-by-assembly basis. The ECU 64 corrects the fuel injection quantity based on the correction value stored in the memory to control the fuel injection quantity.

Abstract: A method for reducing engine deposits in an internal combustion engine, using selective fuel and EGR supply scheduling, is provided including an engine having a first and second plurality of cylinders. A fuel injection system for injecting fuel into both of the first and second plurality of cylinders is located on the engine. An exhaust gas recirculation system supplies a portion of the exhaust gases from the engine to both of the first and second plurality of cylinders. During operation, the engine repeatedly combusts fuel in both of the first and second plurality of cylinders. Additional fuel is supplied to one or more selected cylinders following each combustion cycle while recirculated exhaust gases are supplied from a remaining plurality of cylinders, preventing interaction of post-combustion injected and recirculated exhaust gases and reducing deposition of undesirable material.

Abstract: An EGR system using pressure-based feedback control includes an actuator for moving an EGR valve between a closed position and an open position, and a position sensor for detecting the position of the EGR valve and generating a position output signal. A processing circuit receives the position output signal and transmits electrical control signals to energize the actuator and move the EGR valve. A controller includes control logic operative to determine the position for the EGR valve using open loop control during transient behavior and closed loop control for steady state accuracy.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine include determining a currently available maximum torque, determining a driver demanded torque based on a current accelerator pedal position and reference ambient conditions, and controlling the engine to deliver the lesser of the driver demanded torque corresponding to the reference ambient conditions and a calibratable percentage of the currently available maximum torque corresponding to the current ambient conditions. A similar torque is provided at high altitudes as that provided at sea level for a given low pedal position while smoothly blending into the currently available peak torque.

Abstract: A device for controlling knocking of an internal combustion engine featuring improved reliability by preventing signals of the knocking level from being erroneously detected as those of the noise level. The device detects an ionic current flowing through a spark plug, counts a signal of the knocking level from the ionic current, establishes an average knocking level from the signals of the knocking level and determines a background level from the average knocking level. A comparator judges the knocking state by comparing the signal of the knocking level with the background level. The device calculates the control quantity of the engine based on the operation conditions and the result of judgement of knocking. The device further judges a transient state and decreases the average knocking level depending upon a transience judgment signal in order to maintain a background level in a transient state at an optimum value.

Abstract: A premixed charge compression ignition engine, and a control system, is provided which effectively initiates combustion by compression ignition and maintains stable combustion while achieving extremely low oxides of nitrogen emissions, good overall efficiency and acceptable combustion noise and cylinder pressures. The present engine and control system effectively controls the combustion history, that is, the time at which combustion occurs, the rate of combustion, the duration of combustion and/or the completeness of combustion, by controlling the operation of certain control variables providing temperature control, pressure control, control of the mixture's autoignition properties and equivalence ratio control. The combustion control system provides active feedback control of the combustion event and includes a sensor, e.g. pressure sensor, for detecting an engine operating condition indicative of the combustion history, e.g.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the speed of an engine, or a speed governor, receives an error signal indicative of the difference between the actual engine speed and a commanded engine speed. This error signal is passed through a linear controller that determines a fuel flow rate in units of volume per unit time. The fuel flow rate is a substantially linear function of engine speed, and more specifically engine speed error. The output of the linear controller is fed to a non-linear compensator that determines a fueling command signal as a non-linear function of actual engine speed and fuel flow rate. The speed governor can accurately control engine speeds at low idle conditions. In one embodiment, the non-linear compensator utilizes a three-dimensional table of fueling command values as a function of fuel flow rate and engine speed. In another embodiment, the compensator applies a transfer function utilizing low and high calibration speed values enveloping a low engine speed.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for detecting a freezing condition of an intake pressure sensor for an engine includes a control unit for checking engine operating parameters after a turn-on of an ignition switch to determining whether the engine is a predetermined state permitting a freeze diagnosis, and for performing the freeze diagnosis only when the engine is in the predetermined state. The control unit monitors a decrease of the intake pressure sensed by the intake pressure sensor as the engine speed increases from a start, and judges a freezing condition to exist if the intake pressure does not become sufficiently low even after the engine speed becomes higher than a predetermined speed level.

Abstract: In a method of controlling an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine including a nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst capable of adsorbing nitrogen oxide under a lean atmosphere and a nitrogen oxide sensor disposed downstream of the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst, the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst and the nitrogen oxide sensor are disposed in the exhaust gas system operated mainly under a lean condition, respectively. An output value of the nitrogen oxide sensor is compared with a predetermined value, and an operation condition of the internal combustion engine is temporarily changed into a stoichiometric condition or a rich condition, or a fuel is injected upstream of the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst, so that the nitrogen oxide adsorbed to the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst is detached or decomposed, and again the internal combustion engine is operated under the lean condition.

Abstract: A motorcycle engine comprising an engine housing, a crankshaft mounted for rotation within the housing, a camshaft mounted for rotation within the housing, a flexible element (e.g., a chain) coupling the camshaft to the crankshaft, and a tensioner mounted adjacent the flexible element. The tensioner includes a support member, a shoe made of a polyimide polymer (e.g., Vespel), and a biasing member biasing the support member so that the shoe is in contact with the flexible element. The biasing member is made from a wire having a quadrangular (e.g., square) cross section. Preferably, the camshaft is supported by a cam support plate, and the support member is pivotally mounted to the cam support plate.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine to reduce emissions and increase engine efficiencies includes an ionization apparatus for detecting and measuring ionization within a combustion cylinder and generating an ionization signal based upon the ionization detection and measurements. Also included is an air/fuel ratio controller in electrical communication with the ionization apparatus. The controller receives the ionization signal and controls the air/fuel ratio in the engine based at least in part upon the ionization signal. In a preferred embodiment of the control system, the controller controls the air/fuel ratio based upon a first local peak in the ionization signal. In another embodiment, the controller controls the air/fuel ratio based upon maximizing the first local peak in the ionization signal.

Abstract: The invention ensures that a vehicle responds in accordance with a driver's expectations during negative pressure control (or boost control). A negative pressure control target intake air flow rate is calculated. This air flow rate ensures that the pressure in a cylinder does not drop too low (which could increase oil leakage into the cylinder). A greater one of an ISC (idle speed control) target torque and a negative pressure control target intake air flow rate torque-converted value is selected. The selected torque is set as an engine demand torque. The engine demand torque is combined with a driver demand torque to calculate a target torque. The throttle valve is controlled in an electronic manner based on the target torque.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve having a valve member that cooperates with a valve seat of a connection neck of an exhaust gas recirculation line. The neck protrudes into a tube of the intake system of an internal combustion engine, and the valve seat points toward the inlet side of the exhaust gas recirculation line. A valve member of the exhaust gas recirculation valve is thus acted upon by the exhaust gas pressure in the closing direction, as a supplement to a compression spring counter to an armature of an electromagnet acting in the opening direction. To compensate for the forces acting in the closing direction, the exhaust gas is carried via a conduit in the valve shaft into a control chamber, which is closed off from the pressure in the tube via a movable wall, having an effective surface area that substantially corresponds to the effective surface area of the valve member.