Abstract: A component for a vehicle includes a skid plate configured to attach to an underbody of the vehicle, a plurality of cooling channels extending in a longitudinal direction between the skid plate and the underbody of the vehicle, and a structural reinforcement extending outward from the skid plate. The skid plate, the plurality of cooling channels, and the structural reinforcement are additively manufactured in a unitary construction.

Abstract: A thermal management structure for a battery pouch of a vehicle battery pack includes a plurality of walls. The plurality of walls include a pair of outer walls and an intermediate wall. Each outer wall is in a heat transfer relationship with a respective outer side of the battery pouch. The intermediate wall is disposed between the pair of outer walls and is in a heat transfer relationship with an inner side of the battery pouch. Each of the outer walls includes a first lattice structure and the intermediate wall includes a second lattice structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a part includes metal binder jet printing a first green component with a first attachment interface, de-powdering the first green component, assembling the first green component with a second component comprising a second attachment interface and forming an assembly such that the first attachment interface and the second attachment interface are adjacent to each other. The assembly is sintered such that volumetric shrinkage of at least the first green component creates a compressive force across the first attachment interface and the second attachment interface, and the compressive force across the first attachment interface and the second attachment interface and heat from the sintering results in a metallurgical bond across the first attachment interface and the second attachment interface such that a monolithic part is formed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel injector. In one example, a system may include an injector comprising two or more passages shaped to flow a mixture in opposite directions before injecting the mixture.

Abstract: A method of forming a part includes metal binder jet printing a first green component with a first attachment interface, de-powdering the first green component, assembling the first green component with a second component comprising a second attachment interface and forming an assembly such that the first attachment interface and the second attachment interface are adjacent to each other. The assembly is sintered such that volumetric shrinkage of at least the first green component creates a compressive force across the first attachment interface and the second attachment interface, and the compressive force across the first attachment interface and the second attachment interface and heat from the sintering results in a metallurgical bond across the first attachment interface and the second attachment interface such that a monolithic part is formed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing wall-wetting and improving mixing of air and fuel within a pre-chamber system of an engine. In one example, a method comprises supplying an air flow to the pre-chamber system via an air injector system while a piston associated with a main chamber is undergoing reciprocating motion. In this way, a rotating or swirling flow of fuel exiting a pre-chamber fuel injector of the pre-chamber system may be induced, which may reduce wall-wetting and improve air and fuel mixing, and when fuel is not being injected to the pre-chamber system the air flow may pressurize the pre-chamber system to reduce an amount of residuals from the main chamber to the pre-chamber system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel injector. In one example, a system comprises an injector spool valve having a fuel outlet shaped to flow fuel to different portions of a nozzle inlet based on an actuation of the injector spool valve, thereby adjusting a fuel injection angle of a fuel injection.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating ethanol content in fuel, water content in fuel, and an age of the fuel in a vehicle engine. In one example, a method may include estimating fuel ethanol content, water content, or fuel age based on fuel rail temperature, and two or more of a resonant frequency (f) of pressure pulsations, a change in fuel rail pressure (?p), and a damping coefficient (?) of pressure pulsations in the fuel rail as estimated after a fuel injection or a pump stroke. One or more engine operating parameters may be adjusted based on the estimated fuel ethanol content, water content, and fuel age.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing wall-wetting and improving mixing of air and fuel within a pre-chamber system of an engine. In one example, a method comprises supplying an air flow to the pre-chamber system via an air injector system while a piston associated with a main chamber is undergoing reciprocating motion. In this way, a rotating or swirling flow of fuel exiting a pre-chamber fuel injector of the pre-chamber system may be induced, which may reduce wall-wetting and improve air and fuel mixing, and when fuel is not being injected to the pre-chamber system the air flow may pressurize the pre-chamber system to reduce an amount of residuals from the main chamber to the pre-chamber system.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system and a direct injector for directly injecting fuel into a cylinder are provided. In one example, a direct fuel injector includes a nozzle in fluidic communication with a fuel source, the nozzle includes at least one fuel flow path that divides into two exit flow paths within the nozzle defining a plurality of exit orifices stemming from a common inlet orifice thereby improving the atomization and mixing of the fuel as it enters the cylinder. A plurality of spaced-apart divided fuel flow paths may be positioned within the nozzle to further optimize mixing and reduce wall and piston wetting.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing an amount of oxygen in a pre-chamber of a cylinder prior to combustion. In one example, a method may include purging residual gases from a pre-chamber to a cylinder via a pre-chamber air injection, and reducing a flow of the oxygen from the pre-chamber to the cylinder via a cylinder fuel injection directed toward an orifice fluidically connecting the pre-chamber with the cylinder. In this way, a composition of pre-chamber gases may be adjusted during a combustion cycle of a cylinder.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel injector. In one example, a system may include an injection nozzle having a venturi shape with an upstream twisted fin arranged in a venturi inlet. The system may further include a downstream twisted fin arranged in a venturi outlet.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a multi-hole nozzle of a fuel injector. In one example, a nozzle for a fuel injector may include multiple nozzle holes arranged at a nozzle tip, where each nozzle hole has a straight flow axis and a cross-section that twists around the straight flow axis, from an inlet to an outlet of the nozzle hole. Additionally, a long side of the cross-section may increase in length, along the nozzle hole, from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for injector correction learned while a direct injector delivers fuel as a group of fuel injections per cylinder event. The correction is learned using a pressure based injector balancing approach while relies on a sensed pressure drop across the group of fuel injections. Errors for individual pulses of the group of injections is learned as a function of inter-injection spacing and individual pulse-width commands.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel injector for an engine. In one example, the injector may be adapted with a plurality of nozzles configured to enhance atomization of fuel. The plurality of nozzles may have geometries that increase turbulence and rotation of fuel flow therethrough. In some examples, the injector may also include a multi-stage counterbore that reduces a likelihood of coking at the injector.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system and a direct injector for directly injecting fuel into a cylinder are provided. In one example, a direct fuel injector includes a nozzle in fluidic communication with a fuel source, the nozzle includes at least one fuel flow path that divides into two exit flow paths within the nozzle defining a plurality of exit orifices stemming from a common inlet orifice thereby improving the atomization and mixing of the fuel as it enters the cylinder. A plurality of spaced-apart divided fuel flow paths may be positioned within the nozzle to further optimize mixing and reduce wall and piston wetting.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for injector correction learned while a direct injector delivers fuel as a group of fuel injections per cylinder event. The correction is learned using a pressure based injector balancing approach while relies on a sensed pressure drop across the group of fuel injections. Errors for individual pulses of the group of injections is learned as a function of inter-injection spacing and individual pulse-width commands.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel injector for an engine. In one example, the injector may be adapted with a plurality of nozzles configured to enhance atomization of fuel. The plurality of nozzles may have geometries that increase turbulence and rotation of fuel flow therethrough. In some examples, the injector may also include a multi-stage counterbore that reduces a likelihood of coking at the injector.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an injector. In one example, the injector comprises at least two passages, wherein outlets of each of the passages are differently shaped than corresponding inlets of the passages. Further, in one or more examples, each of the outlets may be shaped and sized differently with respect to each other.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating ethanol content in fuel, water content in fuel, and an age of the fuel in a vehicle engine. In one example, a method may include estimating fuel ethanol content, water content, or fuel age based on a resonant frequency (f) of pressure pulsations, a change in fuel rail pressure (?p), and a damping coefficient (?) of pressure pulsations in the fuel rail as estimated after a fuel injection or a pump stroke. One or more engine operating parameters may be adjusted based on the estimated fuel ethanol content, water content, and fuel age.