Abstract: An intake/exhaust system and a method of controlling intake air temperature and pressure for a dual-mode homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine is provided. The system may include an air compressor including at least two output air flow paths, an intercooler for cooling air from one of the air flow paths, and heat exchangers for heating air from another one of the air flow paths. Control valves may be provided for controlling the mass ratio of air through the air flow paths to thereby control temperature and pressure of air supplied to the engine. The first air flow path may direct air to the engine via the intercooler and the second air flow path may direct air to the engine via the heat exchangers, whereby, air at first and second controlled temperatures and pressures may be supplied to the engine for operation in SI and HCCI modes.

Abstract: An inlet air compressor for an internal combustion engine is provided which has one inlet and a plurality of outlets. Within the compressor are disposed a plurality of diffusers coupled to the plurality of outlets. The flow is divided among the plurality of outlets so that at conditions of low overall flow rate through the engine, which would, in a compressor according to the prior art, ordinarily surge, allow the flow to be substantially discontinued through one or more diffusers and continue at through the remaining diffusers. In this way, the diffusers with flow operate within an acceptable operating range and avoid a surging condition. The present invention is directed to engines having a wide range of flow rates. A couple of examples are gasoline engines and variable displacement engines.

Abstract: A hybrid homogeneous charge compression ignition and spark ignition engine is disclosed. The engine comprises at least one cylinder including at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve. A pair of camshafts is used. The first camshaft is structured and arranged to operate at least one of the intake valves and the second camshaft is structured and arranged to operate at least one of the exhaust valves. The engine also includes a variable camshaft timing device operatively connected to the camshafts for operating the engine in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode and in a spark ignition mode. A method of operating the homogeneous charge compression ignition and spark ignition engine is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of operating at least one of the intake valves by a first camshaft, operating at least one of the exhaust valves by a second camshaft and determining an engine load condition.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine disposed in a hybrid vehicle, in which engine operation is selected to provide secondary vehicular functions, such as cabin heating, cabin cooling, and exhaust aftertreatment of exhaust components.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 and a method for producing homogeneous charge compression ignition within a cylinder 14 by the controlled introduction of material into the cylinder 14 when the piston 16 reaches a top dead center position. The material may have a relatively high temperature and pressure and may comprise superheated water.

Abstract: Within each of: (1) an internal combustion engine system; (2) a transportation vehicle which incorporates the internal combustion engine system; and (3) a method for operating the internal combustion engine system, there is employed: (1) an internal combustion engine having a minimum of one combustion chamber; (2) a gas compressor absent an associated compressed gas tank, where the gas compressor is driven by a power output of the internal combustion engine; and (3) a controller programmed for providing a compressed gas charge from the gas compressor to the minimum of one combustion chamber during a portion of a compression cycle within the minimum of one combustion chamber, but not including a beginning portion of the compression cycle within the minimum of one combustion chamber. Each of the internal combustion engine system, transportation vehicle and method provides enhanced internal combustion engine performance and economy.

Abstract: A compression ignition internal combustion engine 7 is provided. The engine has at least one combustion chamber 10 having an air inlet 14 and an exhaust outlet 26. A dual fuel injector is provided having a mixing chamber 46 with an outlet fluidly connected with the combustion chamber 10 via a first valve 54. A liquid fuel line 64 is provided for delivering liquid fuel to the mixing chamber 46. The liquid fuel line 64 is connected to the mixing chamber 46 via a second valve 60. A combustible gas line 56 is provided for delivering compressed combustible gas to the mixing chamber 46. Upon an opening of the first valve 54, the liquid fuel is brought into the combustion chamber 10 by the compressed combustible gas.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine disposed in a hybrid vehicle, in which engine operation is selected to provide secondary vehicular functions, such as cabin heating, cabin cooling, and exhaust aftertreatment of exhaust components.

Abstract: Swirl motion of gases in a combustion chamber of an engine is affected by changing the timing of opening and closing one of two intake and/or exhaust valves. By retarding the opening of one intake valve relative to a second intake valve, swirl motion can be enhanced for the intake gases in the engine cylinder. Similarly, by retarding the opening of one of two exhaust valves, swirl motion can be induced for the residual gases. The system may include electric or hydraulic actuators or mechanically controlled valves. A variable valve lift system can also be used to control swirl motion in a combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method of operating a hybrid homogenous-charge compression-ignition (HCCI) engine and spark ignition (SI) engine. The engine includes at least two cylinder groups, and each of the cylinder groups further include at least one cylinder. The method comprises the steps of detecting a transition request to transition the engine from a current operating mode to a desired operating mode. For example, a transition request from HCCI combustion mode to SI combustion mode, or vice versa. In response, the method transitions the first cylinder group from the current engine operating mode to the desired engine operating mode during a first time period, and transitions the second cylinder group from the current engine operating mode to the desired engine operating mode during a second time period. The second time period begins after the start of the first time period.

Abstract: A stratified charge is formed in an engine by injecting fuel at an impingement surface adjacent an outlet of the injector. The injected fuel thereby forms a cloud shallowly penetrating the combustion chamber so as to float therein to reduce wall-wetting and subsequent soot formation. A substantially flat top piston urges the cloud upwardly during a compression stroke of the engine. The cloud remains substantially unmixed with the inducted air, thereby producing the stratified charge. The continued motion of the piston causes the cloud to move toward the spark plug for ignition.

Abstract: A homogeneous charge compression ignition engine comprising an air intake passage, a combustion chamber connected to the air intake passage, and a partial oxidation device is disclosed. The partial oxidation device comprises a housing including a fuel inlet, an air inlet, an outlet, a mixing chamber and a burning chamber. The air inlet is connected to the air intake passage and the outlet is also connected to the air intake passage. A source of ignition is attached to the housing for causing ignition of a portion of a fuel-air mixture supplied to the housing. A partially oxidized fuel is produced as the combusting fuel-air mixture is rapidly quenched upon exiting the outlet of the housing and entering the air intake passage. Different structures for achieving rapid quenching are discussed and different air supply strategies are also presented. Further, another structure for producing a partially oxidized fuel using a low temperature chain propagating reaction is included.

Abstract: A homogeneous-charge, compression-ignition engine having engine coolant, an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold including a controller for advancing and retarding auto-ignition in the combustion chamber of the engine, the intake manifold providing a premixed combustible charge of air and fuel, the intake manifold having dual intake portions, one portion supplying unheated gas, and the other providing gas heated by engine coolant or exhaust gas, or both. A flow distributor valve in the intake manifold gas flow passages varies the intake temperature, thereby controlling auto-ignition timing and the combustion rate in the engine combustion chamber during the portion of the combustion cycle in which a homogeneous-charge, compression-ignition event occurs. The engine includes a spark ignition system for initiating combustion when the engine load, for a given speed, increases to a defined level and when the engine speed for a given load increases to a defined level.

Abstract: A stratified-charge combustion chamber system for a direct-injection spark-ignited (DISI) engine with a swirl-type airflow. An asymmetrical combustion bowl design in the top wall of the piston provides a wide area on the downstream side of the swirl flow and a harbor area upstream of the swirl flow in a direction further away from the fuel injector. The edge of the combustion bowl is comprised of smoothly-connected curves with large radii, except for the curve connecting the wide and harbor areas, which has a small radius. The vertical cross-sections of the bowl also have large radii in order to guide the air-fuel mixture and rebounded fuel droplets toward the spark plug and prevent dead regions for the fuel. The precise position of the spark plug in the harbor area can be adjusted as desired within a certain range to improve ignitability of the air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: A stratified-charge combustion system design for direct-injection spark-ignited engines with the piston bowl in the exhaust-valve side. The air flow from the inlet valve provides a normal tumble in cylinder air flow. The fuel injector is positioned on the intake-valve side of the combustion cylinder and forms a charge stratification in the combustion chamber. With the piston bowl on the exhaust-valve side, the distance for spray penetration of the fuel from the injector is extended. The rate of fuel spray penetration in the combustion chamber is reduced by counter air flow against the fuel spray. The air-fuel mixture is moved upwardly to the area of the spark plug by the tumble air flow for ignition. The invention provides less piston bowl wall wetting which results in less soot formation and less emissions of undesirable hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A three-valve cylinder head system for a direct-injected spark-ignited (DISI) internal combustion engine. Two inlet ports are positioned in opposite quadrants of the cylinder head, with the fuel injector directing fuel spray into a third quadrant and the exhaust port being positioned in the fourth quadrant. A helicoid intake port and an axially directed intake port generate a swirl-type air flow in the piston cylinder without the aid of flow activation devices. The spark plug is positioned centrally adjacent the longitudinal axis of the cylinder bore. The piston has a bowl in its upper surface with an enlarged downstream area and a harbor area adjacent and past the spark plug which allow the swirl-type air flow to mix with the fuel spray and provide an appropriate fuel air mixture at the spark plug.

Abstract: A stratified charge is formed in an engine by injecting fuel at an impingement surface adjacent an outlet of the injector. The injected fuel thereby forms a cloud shallowly penetrating the combustion chamber so as to float therein to reduce wall-wetting and subsequent soot formation. A substantially flat top piston urges the cloud upwardly during a compression stroke of the engine. The cloud remains substantially unmixed with the inducted air, thereby producing the stratified charge. The continued motion of the piston causes the cloud to move toward the spark plug for ignition.

Abstract: A stratified charge is formed in a direct injection engine by injecting fuel at a predetermined velocity, a predetermined droplet size, and forming the injected fuel with a hollow cone having a predetermined initial cone angle. The injected fuel thereby shallowly penetrates the combustion chamber so as to float therein to reduce wall-wetting and subsequent soot formation. A substantially flat top piston forms the injected fuel into a ball-shaped kernel during a compression stroke of the engine. The ball-shaped kernel remains substantially unmixed with the inducted air, thereby producing the stratified charge. The continued motion of the piston causes the ball-shaped kernel to move toward the spark plug for ignition.

Abstract: A piston-type, multicylinder internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block and a cylinder head mounted thereto, with a combustion chamber defined by the cylinder head and the top of the piston, with the engine being fueled by an an in-cylinder gasoline injection system which is centrally located with a spark plug such that the spark plug is closer to exhaust valves than is the injector, and with the injector being closer to the intake valves than the spark plug.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine employs fuel injectors positioned to inject fuel directly into combustion chambers of the engine, and an electronic engine controller (EEC) to control operation of the engine. The EEC implements a cold start routine which controls the amount of fuel injected, the time at which the fuel is injected and spark timing to achieve a rapid increase in temperature of the engine and the exhaust system components, thereby decreasing tailpipe hydrocarbon emissions during cold start.