Abstract: A windage tray apparatus is provided and is configured to be mountable within a crankcase at least partially defined by an engine block of an internal combustion engine. The crankcase has a first bay and a non-adjacent second bay. The internal combustion engine has a crankshaft rotatably supported within the crankcase. The windage tray includes a tray member and a passage at least partially defined by said tray member and in communication with the first bay and the non-adjacent second bay. The passage is operable to allow gas transfer between the first bay and the non-adjacent second bay to reduce the motoring friction of the internal combustion engine. An internal combustion engine incorporating the disclosed windage tray apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A rocker assembly for a valve train having a first valve, a second valve, and a pushrod is provided. The rocker assembly includes a rocker having a first arm in contact with the first valve, a second arm in contact with the second valve, and a third arm in contact with the pushrod, the first arm having a bore formed therethrough. An adjustable swivel foot includes a first portion having threads and a second portion, the adjustable swivel foot coupled to the first arm such that the first portion extends through the bore of the first arm and the second portion is engageable with the first valve, and a threaded member is included that is engaged with the threads of the first portion of the adjustable swivel foot, the threaded member operable to position the second portion relative to the rocker.

Abstract: A windage tray apparatus is provided and is configured to be mountable within a crankcase at least partially defined by an engine block of an internal combustion engine. The crankcase has a first bay and a non-adjacent second bay. The internal combustion engine has a crankshaft rotatably supported within the crankcase. The windage tray includes a tray member and a passage at least partially defined by said tray member and in communication with the first bay and the non-adjacent second bay. The passage is operable to allow gas transfer between the first bay and the non-adjacent second bay to reduce the motoring friction of the internal combustion engine. An internal combustion engine incorporating the disclosed windage tray apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block defining a plurality of cylinders at least half of which are selectively deactivatable by a plurality of switching hydraulic lifters. A source of pressurized oil is provided. Additionally, at least one solenoid-actuated hydraulic control valve operates to selectively communicate pressurized oil from the source of pressurized oil to actuate the plurality of switching hydraulic lifters thereby deactivating the selectively deactivatable cylinders. The number of the solenoid-actuated hydraulic control valves is fewer than the number of selectively deactivatable cylinders.

Abstract: A valve train for use in an engine is provided. The valve train includes a rocker arm assembly having a valve side arm and a cam side arm. A valve is coupled to the engine and is in contact with the valve side arm. A pushrod is reciprocatable by a camshaft and is in contact with the cam side arm. An overload feature is located on at least one of the rocker arm assembly or the pushrod. The overload feature has a reduced cross-sectional area calibrated to activate at a predefined load.

Abstract: An engine control module includes a valve control module that disables intake and exhaust valves corresponding to a cylinder that includes a mass of intake air. An engine cycle module determines a number of engine cycles that occurred while the cylinder is disabled. An air estimation module determines a remaining mass of air in the cylinder based on the number of engine cycles.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster includes a cylindrical body having a central cylindrical bore. A hollow plunger is reciprocable in the bore and includes a reservoir chamber therein. The plunger has a close clearance with the bore. A high pressure chamber is defined by the plunger and a closed end of the bore. An orificed wall of the plunger separates the reservoir chamber from the high pressure chamber. A check valve is disposed in the orifice for allowing one-way flow of oil from the reservoir chamber to the high pressure chamber. A plunger spring disposed in the high pressure chamber urges the plunger away from the closed end of the bore. A seat is disposed at an end of the plunger distal from the high pressure chamber. The plunger includes a circumferential groove proximate the seat for holding oil to maintain an oil seal in the clearance to limit leakage of air through the clearance.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing pressurized fuel for an engine includes an engine starting apparatus including an electric motor operative to crank the engine and a fuel pump operatively coupled to the electric motor.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster includes a cylindrical body having a central cylindrical bore. A hollow plunger is reciprocable in the bore and includes a reservoir chamber therein. The plunger has a close clearance with the bore. A high pressure chamber is defined by the plunger and a closed end of the bore. An orificed wall of the plunger separates the reservoir chamber from the high pressure chamber. A check valve is disposed in the orifice for allowing one-way flow of oil from the reservoir chamber to the high pressure chamber. A plunger spring disposed in the high pressure chamber urges the plunger away from the closed end of the bore. A seat is disposed at an end of the plunger distal from the high pressure chamber. The plunger includes a circumferential groove proximate the seat for holding oil to maintain an oil seal in the clearance to limit leakage of air through the clearance.

Abstract: A rocker assembly for a valve train having a first valve, a second valve, and a pushrod is provided. The rocker assembly includes a rocker having a first arm in contact with the first valve, a second arm in contact with the second valve, and a third arm in contact with the pushrod, the first arm having a bore formed therethrough. An adjustable swivel foot includes a first portion having threads and a second portion, the adjustable swivel foot coupled to the first arm such that the first portion extends through the bore of the first arm and the second portion is engageable with the first valve, and a threaded member is included that is engaged with the threads of the first portion of the adjustable swivel foot, the threaded member operable to position the second portion relative to the rocker.

Abstract: Provided is a cylinder head including a head casting defining a plurality of exhaust ports. A tuned exhaust manifold is internally defined by the head casting. The tuned exhaust manifold includes a plurality of exhaust runners in communication with the plurality of exhaust ports and a collector volume in communication with the plurality of exhaust runners. Each of the plurality of exhaust ports and each of the plurality of exhaust runners are substantially oriented or directed toward the collector volume. Additionally, the head casting defines a main cooling jacket operable to cool the head casting. The head casting also defines an upper and lower cooling jacket disposed in heat exchange relation to the tuned exhaust manifold. The cylinder head casting may include integral spark plug tubes and cam drive case. Additionally, the cooling jackets may have a series coolant flow pattern or a parallel coolant flow pattern.

Abstract: A pump includes a housing defining an internal chamber having an axial inlet passage, a generally radial passage with an outlet to a volute. A rotatable impeller, disposed within the chamber, has a conical rear shroud sloping away from the axial inlet to define a rear recess. A shaft seal is disposed within the recess to minimize the axial length of the pump. A front surface of the shroud carries vanes operable to impel fluid from the axial inlet passage to the volute. Portions of the vanes extend forward into the axial inlet passage to induce coolant pre-rotation in the inlet passage and to improve pump efficiency. Pump efficiency may be further increased by a conical wall defining the axial inlet passage, a sloped wall defining the radial passage and a large radius between the axial inlet and the sloped wall to smooth fluid flow between the axial inlet passage and the volute.

Abstract: An engine control system for controlling engine operation in activated and deactivated modes in a displacement on demand (DOD) engine includes an impulse charging device that is disposed upstream of an intake port of a cylinder of the DOD engine and that is operable to regulate air flow into the cylinder. A first module initiates impulse charging to regulate air flow into the cylinder when a desired engine torque output nears a first threshold engine torque output during engine operation in the deactivated mode.

Abstract: An oil lubrication and control system, for an engine having cylinder deactivation switching lifters operated at the pressure of the full oil system, is provided with an auxiliary pressure relief valve which opens to control maximum oil pressure in the system whenever the engine speed and temperature conditions lie beyond the ability of the oil pump pressure control unit to maintain the maximum pressure limit. Addition of the auxiliary pressure relief valve allows extended operation of the switching lifters, which are limited by their construction to operation below a prescribed pressure limit. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary pressure relief valve is mounted in the engine crankcase in a bore connected directly with the main oil gallery to provide mounting and actuation of the auxiliary pressure relief valve with a minimum of modifications to the engine oil system design.

Abstract: A hybrid valve lifter guide formed of metal and nonmetallic material for maintaining the angular position of a reciprocable valve lifter having a circumferential surface with at least one alignment flat. The guide includes a metal guide body having a longitudinal guide wall with at least one guide opening through the wall. The guide opening is adapted to receive a valve lifter. A nonmetallic insert is retained by the body adjacent the guide opening to engage at least one alignment flat of the valve lifter received in the guide opening to substantially maintain the angular position of the valve lifter and dampen angular oscillation of the lifter during engine operation.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine that has a plurality of cylinders and that generates exhaust gas. A catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions from the exhaust gas after achieving a light off temperature. A controller is connected to the engine and the catalytic converter. The controller deactivates the cylinder(s) of the engine before the catalytic converter achieves the light off temperature if the engine is operating at idle or low load. The controller waits a first period before deactivating the cylinder(s). The controller optimizes engine operating parameters to reduce a second period that is required to achieve the light off temperature. A temperature sensor is connected to the controller and senses ambient temperature. The controller does not deactivate the cylinders if the ambient temperature is below a first predetermined temperature. The controller activates all of the cylinders if the engine is operating at high load.

Abstract: An engine valve train has oil flow to valve actuating components cut off or restricted when the valves are closed, to reduce parasitic losses. In an exemplary embodiment, a pushrod has a pivotable connection with a valve actuating rocker arm through which internal oil passages conduct oil for lubricating the rocker arm. The passages are aligned during valve actuation but become misaligned when the valve is closed. Misalignment of the passages at the sliding connection reduces the amount of oil flow through the connection to improve engine efficiency. When applied to cylinder deactivation engines, oil flow to rocker arms of deactivated valves is completely cut off, or reduced, further reducing parasitic losses.

Abstract: Deactivation apparatus for selected cylinders of an engine include switching hydraulic lash adjusters or valve lifters forming part of a valve train for actuating engine valves of the selected cylinders and operable to actuate or release their respective valves in response to an oil pressure signal. A gallery carrying the lash adjusters includes oil passages fed by an engine pressure oil supply through a control valve to supply oil to switching portions of the lash adjusters. The control valve is operative to close or open communication of the oil supply with the lash adjusters and to relieve oil pressure in the passages when communication with the pressure oil supply is closed. Various bypass alternatives between the pressure oil supply and the oil passages carry oil to portions of the oil passages to purge air from the passages when the three-way valve exhaust port is open.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine that has a plurality of cylinders and that generates exhaust gas. A catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions from the exhaust gas after achieving a light off temperature. A controller is connected to the engine and the catalytic converter. The controller deactivates the cylinder(s) of the engine before the catalytic converter achieves the light off temperature if the engine is operating at idle or low load. The controller waits a first period before deactivating the cylinder(s). The controller optimizes engine operating parameters to reduce a second period that is required to achieve the light off temperature. A temperature sensor is connected to the controller and senses ambient temperature. The controller does not deactivate the cylinders if the ambient temperature is below a first predetermined temperature. The controller activates all of the cylinders if the engine is operating at high load.

Abstract: Cylinder deactivation apparatus includes a simplified hydraulic circuit that provides oil to lash adjusters and to cylinder deactivation control passages through restricted passages adjacent the lash adjusters. A control valve, when open, delivers full pressure oil to the lash adjusting mechanisms while the restricted passages allow oil flow to purge air from the control passages but limit control oil pressure so that the valves are operated normally. When the control valve is closed, pressure in the control passages quickly increases, deactivating the valves of the deactivation cylinders. The flow of oil through the control passages when the valve is open is adequate to purge gaseous vapors such as air from the control passages and maintain the system in condition for prompt deactivation of the cylinders when the valve is closed.