Abstract: An inlet for a compressor having a housing defining a generally C-shaped inlet opening and a rotor cavity configured to contain first and second rotors is provided. The inlet includes an inlet duct defining an inlet opening and a generally C-shaped outlet opening. The inlet duct has an inner wall defining a cavity operable to communicate airflow between the inlet opening and the generally C-shaped outlet opening. The generally C-shaped outlet opening of the inlet duct is substantially similar to the shape of the generally C-shaped inlet opening of the housing. The inner wall includes a floor portion and a roof portion. At least a portion of the floor portion is contoured to impart a velocity component to the airflow complementary to the tangential velocity of each of the first and second rotors during rotation of the first and second rotors.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain for a vehicle is provided. The powertrain includes an engine boosted by a turbocharger. The turbocharger includes a first motor-generator mounted with respect to the turbocharger, and arranged to selectively assist acceleration of the vehicle by driving the turbocharger, to provide regenerative charging of an energy storage device and to be idle, as its modes of operation. The powertrain additionally includes a second motor-generator mounted with respect to the powertrain, and arranged to selectively assist acceleration of the vehicle, to provide regenerative charging of the energy storage device and to be idle, as its modes of operation. A controller responsive to sensed vehicle operating parameters is arranged on the vehicle for controlling and coordinating the modes of operation of the first motor-generator and of the second motor-generator.

Abstract: An engine control system in a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a transmission coupled to the internal combustion engine, an intake manifold coupled to the internal combustion engine, an impulse charge valve coupled to the intake manifold, a controller for controlling the impulse charge valve, where the controller controls the impulse charge valve to compensate for torque transients.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible fuel, spark ignition, variable boost, hybrid powertrain having a supercharger or a turbocharger. In a first embodiment, a spark ignition, internal combustion engine includes a supercharger driven by the engine output through a variable speed drive. A hybrid transmission having an internal electric motor/generator provides supplemental power. A plurality of sensors including a fuel sensor provide data to a master engine controller which controls the operation of a transmission controller, the variable speed supercharger, the fuel supply and the ignition system. In a second embodiment, the motor/generator is associated with the supercharger and is connected therewith through a variable speed drive and also connected to the engine output. In a third embodiment, the supercharger is replaced with a turbocharger.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible fuel, spark ignition, variable boost, supercharged internal combustion engine. A variable speed drive assembly connects the engine output to a supercharger. The engine includes a fuel sensor which provides a signal to an engine controller which determines the type of fuel. The engine controller also receives signals from a mass air flow sensor, a manifold air pressure sensor, a crank angle sensor, a camshaft angle sensor, an oxygen sensor in the exhaust stream and a transmission controller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible fuel internal combustion engine utilizing impulse charging technology. The internal combustion engine includes a fuel sensor which determines the type of fuel currently being supplied to the engine, for example, either gasoline or E85. Based upon this determination, the impulse charging will be inactive (if gasoline is sensed) or active (if E85 is sensed). A speed or torque sensor is also utilized to determine if impulse charging will produce a volumetric efficiency that is better matched to the fuel octane characteristics.

Abstract: An inlet for a compressor having a housing defining a generally C-shaped inlet opening and a rotor cavity configured to contain first and second rotors is provided. The inlet includes an inlet duct defining an inlet opening and a generally C-shaped outlet opening. The inlet duct has an inner wall defining a cavity operable to communicate airflow between the inlet opening and the generally C-shaped outlet opening. The generally C-shaped outlet opening of the inlet duct is substantially similar to the shape of the generally C-shaped inlet opening of the housing. The inner wall includes a floor portion and a roof portion. At least a portion of the floor portion is contoured to impart a velocity component to the airflow complementary to the tangential velocity of each of the first and second rotors during rotation of the first and second rotors.

Abstract: An intake manifold assembly is provided having a plenum and an intake runner in communication with the plenum. The intake runner has an outlet end. A selectively closeable throttle plate is disposed within the intake runner and is operable to selectively limit the flow of intake air through the intake runner. The throttle plate is selectively and variably movable between a fully opened position and a fully closed position. An orifice, defined by one of the intake runner and the throttle plate, has an opening area of approximately fifteen percent or less of a cross sectional area of the outlet end. An internal combustion engine incorporating the intake manifold assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: An engine control system in a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a transmission coupled to the internal combustion engine, an intake manifold coupled to the internal combustion engine, an impulse charge valve coupled to the intake manifold, a controller for controlling the impulse charge valve, where the controller controls the impulse charge valve to compensate for torque transients.

Abstract: A connecting rod includes a connecting rod body having a crank arm bore portion at a first end and a pin bore portion at a second end. A beam portion connects the crank arm bore portion and the pin bore portion. At least one oil squirter is provided within the crank arm bore portion. The oil squirter operates to selectively communicate oil to the underside of a piston. One of the oil squirters is a plain orifice oil squirter or a check valve regulated oil squirter.

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 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: A method and system for laser cladding includes determining a material thickness variation of a substrate, and varying laser intensity dependent on the determination of the material thickness variation of the substrate. The determination of the material thickness variation of the substrate includes calculating parameters indicative of a relative material thickness between a first target position and a second target position.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle engine includes multiple power-producing cylinders including a first group of deactivation cylinders capable of being selectively deactivated during engine operation and a second group of cylinders capable of continued power production during deactivation of the first group. An air intake system includes a turbocharger compressor connected to intake valves of all the cylinders for supplying charge air to the cylinders. An exhaust system includes a turbine connected for driving the compressor, which includes twin scrolls with first and second exhaust flow passages separately connecting the turbine with exhaust valves of the first group of cylinders and with exhaust valves of the second group of cylinders. At high loads, the engine operates on all cylinders and is turbocharged for maximum power. At lower loads, the first group of cylinders may be deactivated and the engine may be driven by the second group of cylinders to obtain increased fuel efficiency.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle engine includes multiple power-producing cylinders including a first group of deactivation cylinders capable of being selectively deactivated during engine operation and a second group of cylinders capable of continued power production during deactivation of the first group. An air intake system includes a turbocharger compressor connected to intake valves of all the cylinders for supplying charge air to the cylinders. An exhaust system includes a turbine connected for driving the compressor, which includes twin scrolls with first and second exhaust flow passages separately connecting the turbine with exhaust valves of the first group of cylinders and with exhaust valves of the second group of cylinders. At high loads, the engine operates on all cylinders and is turbocharged for maximum power. At lower loads, the first group of cylinders may be deactivated and the engine may be driven by the second group of cylinders to obtain increased fuel efficiency.

Abstract: An engine control system in a vehicle including a variable displacement internal combustion engine, an intake manifold coupled to the variable displacement internal combustion engine, a first turbocharger supplying air to the intake manifold, a first waste gate regulating the boost of the turbocharger, and a controller for controlling the displacement of the variable displacement internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for a swirl flow two valve spark ignition direct injection engine includes a cylinder with a closed end having a wedge shaped combustion chamber recess. A fuel injector extends through the closed end near a shallow side of the wedge recess. A spark plug extends through the closed end at a deeper part of the wedge recess opposite from the injector. A single pair of laterally spaced intake and exhaust valves control intake and exhaust ports opening into the wedge recess. A piston in the cylinder has an outer diameter and includes a head end having a raised pedestal with a shallow upwardly angled face ending at a raised ridge and enclosing a shallow bowl in the head end. The bowl is generally oval with a major dimension generally aligned with a cylinder centerline through the valves.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for a swirl flow two valve spark ignition direct injection engine includes a cylinder with a closed end having a wedge shaped combustion chamber recess. A fuel injector extends through the closed end near a shallow side of the wedge recess. A spark plug extends through the closed end at a deeper part of the wedge recess opposite from the injector. A single pair of laterally spaced intake and exhaust valves control intake and exhaust ports opening into the wedge recess. A piston in the cylinder has an outer diameter and includes a head end having a raised pedestal with a shallow upwardly angled face ending at a raised ridge and enclosing a shallow bowl in the head end. The bowl is generally oval with a major dimension generally aligned with a cylinder centerline through the valves.

Abstract: An engine control system in a vehicle including a variable displacement internal combustion engine, an intake manifold coupled to the variable displacement internal combustion engine, a first turbocharger supplying air to the intake manifold, a first waste gate regulating the boost of the turbocharger, and a controller for controlling the displacement of the variable displacement internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An engine combustion chamber includes a cylinder head, a cylinder wall and a piston. The piston has a bowl volume formed therein. A fuel injector is disposed adjacent one edge of the bowl and an ignition source is within a predetermined distance of another, substantially opposite, edge of the bowl. The bowl has a transporting surface which directs a fuel-air charge from the bowl volume toward the ignition source. The piston, bowl and cylinder head cooperate through a plurality of design features to provide an efficient combustion chamber.