Abstract: A method that may be used to operate a hybrid vehicle in a mountainous or other environment where roads have significant grades or inclines. In this kind of setting, standard methods for managing power within the hybrid vehicle may be insufficient when driving the hybrid vehicle up and down substantial inclines and declines; this can be particularly true if the driver attempts to maintain the hybrid vehicle at higher speeds. Thus, this method may use a power management scheme that is specifically adapted to address this kind of situation and can adjust or change target values accordingly, such as those that pertain to a state-of-charge (SOC) for the hybrid vehicle battery.

Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle, particularly one that includes both a primary and an auxiliary power source. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method seeks to decouple or disassociate a driver's engagement of an accelerator pedal with activation of an auxiliary power source, such as an internal combustion engine. This way, if the driver aggressively engages the accelerator pedal while the hybrid vehicle is being propelled by a battery and an electrical motor, the method will delay activation of the internal combustion engine so that the two events do not appear to be linked or connected to one another. Delaying activation of the internal combustion engine while the electric motor is under a heavy stress load may also improve the drive quality of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a time determination module, a fuel age determination module, and an engine control module. The time determination module determines an engine off time, wherein the engine off time indicates an amount of time that an engine is off. The fuel age determination module determines an age of fuel in a fuel system of the engine. The engine control module starts the engine when one of the engine off time is greater than a predetermined time threshold and the age of the fuel is greater than a predetermined age threshold.

Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle, particularly one that includes both a primary and an auxiliary power source. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method seeks to decouple or disassociate a driver's engagement of an accelerator pedal with activation of an auxiliary power source, such as an internal combustion engine. This way, if the driver aggressively engages the accelerator pedal while the hybrid vehicle is being propelled by a battery and an electrical motor, the method will delay activation of the internal combustion engine so that the two events do not appear to be linked or connected to one another. Delaying activation of the internal combustion engine while the electric motor is under a heavy stress load may also improve the drive quality of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: A self-adhesive fiber mat may include glass and/or polymer fibers and bi-component fibers intermixed therewith. The bi-component fibers may include a core material and an outer material surrounding the core material. The outer material may have a low melting point temperature relative to the core material that may soften when exposed to heat enabling the bi-component fiber to bond with fibers and/or surfaces adjacent to the bi-component fibers. Alternatively, the self-adhesive fiber mat may use a heat sensitive resin (bonding resin) as a binder instead of, or in addition to, the bi-component fibers. The heat sensitive resin may bind the fibers together and may also bond the self-adhesive fiber mat with an adjacent film or sheet. Bonding between the film or sheet and the self-adhesive fiber mat may occur as a result of the bi-component fibers or heat sensitive resin being exposed to heat and/or pressure.

Abstract: A module that calculates power loss for an internal combustion engine includes an air intake calculation module that determines a final air per cylinder (APC) value. A fuel mass rate calculation module that determines a fuel mass rate value based on the final APC value. A power loss calculation module that determines a power loss value for the internal combustion engine based on the fuel mass rate value.

Abstract: A method that may be used to operate a hybrid vehicle in a mountainous or other environment where roads have significant grades or inclines. In this kind of setting, standard methods for managing power within the hybrid vehicle may be insufficient when driving the hybrid vehicle up and down substantial inclines and declines; this can be particularly true if the driver attempts to maintain the hybrid vehicle at higher speeds. Thus, this method may use a power management scheme that is specifically adapted to address this kind of situation and can adjust or change target values accordingly, such as those that pertain to a state-of-charge (SOC) for the hybrid vehicle battery.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a time determination module, a fuel age determination module, and an engine control module. The time determination module determines an engine off time, wherein the engine off time indicates an amount of time that an engine is off. The fuel age determination module determines an age of fuel in a fuel system of the engine. The engine control module starts the engine when one of the engine off time is greater than a predetermined time threshold and the age of the fuel is greater than a predetermined age threshold.

Abstract: The smoke generator produces smoke from combustible matter, such as sawdust or particulated wood, under a controlled set of smoke generation parameters which can be varied over a range of operating set-points. The pyrolysis and partial combustion phases of smoke generation are physically separated and are independently controlled. A controlled rate of sawdust or other combustible matter is fed into an air-excluded pyrolysis chamber in which the pyrolysis temperature is controlled by means of an adjustable power supply to a heating element in the pyrolysis chamber. The ash remaining after pyrolysis of the combustible matter is continuously removed from the pyrolysis chamber. Pyrolytic gases generated by thermal destruction of combustible matter in the pyrolysis chamber are removed to a second chamber where a controlled rate of air is injected with the hot pyrolytic gases to achieve a desired level of partial combustion.