Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising an inlet manifold, at least one combustion chamber with at least two inlet valves and at least one outlet valve, a piston reciprocable in the or each chamber to define a variable volume space therein, and means for controlling the timing of the opening and closing of each of two of the inlet valves of the or each chamber independently so that opening of one of the independently controlled inlet valves of the or each chamber occurs during the exhaust stroke of the engine, opening of the other of the independently controlled inlet valves of the or each chamber, at a time when said one of the independently controlled inlet valves is closed, and when pressure in the or each chamber is lower than pressure in said inlet manifold, producing a predetermined pressure differential across said other of the independently controlled inlet valves, creating an in-flow to the or each chamber generating turbulence, at least some of which is present when combust

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine having two inputs and one output affected by both inputs. One input is perturbed and the effect on the output is compared with a desired effect on the output. The other input is varied until the actual affect on the output is the same as the desired effect on output. In one embodiment, ignition timing is periodically varied and the effect upon engine speed is detected. The detected output variations are compared with predetermined output variations for the existing engine speed and load demand. Any error is used to correct fueling to the engine. In a further embodiment the error corrects the ignition timing directly and corrects fueling indirectly at a slower rate. Further embodiments control air/fuel ratio, engine roughness, exhaust gas recirculation, for individual cylinders or groups of cylinders or the engine as a whole, depending upon the change in engine output in response to the variation in engine input.

Abstract: A low compression ratio internal combustion engine including a piston and cylinder arrangement the working volume of which is bounded in part by the piston crown and the cylinder head and in part by inlet valve means whereby an inlet charge can enter the working volume and exhaust valve means whereby products of combustion occuring within the working volume can leave the working volume. A regenerative heat exchanger is located within said working volume, the heat exchanger having a hot face and a cold face between which gases are caused to flow.