Abstract: Systems and methods for improving engine low load performance are provided. The method may comprise performing a negative valve overlap (NVO) mode of operation, using an early exhaust valve closing (EVC) timing that is earlier than the intake valve opening timing and creates an NVO during a gas exchange top dead center, to compress in-cylinder gas and increase overall gas temperature for improved fuel vaporization, mixing, and reforming before the fuel-air mixture is burnt. With NVO operation, a low temperature combustion (LTC) mode may be used to improve engine combustion efficiency and reduce emissions. With the NVO operation at low loads, the engine intake may be wide open or less throttled, reducing pumping loss. A method based on a rate of change in the engine speed and load for the combustion mode transition between spark ignition (SI) and LTC modes is provided.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system and methods of use are provided. The internal combustion engine system may comprise an engine chamber with a piston, and one or more of the following, configured to enable a negative valve overlap (NVO) mode of operation in which an intake valve opening (IVO) timing is later than an exhaust valve closing (EVC) timing: a continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) mechanism for both an intake valve and an exhaust valve; a dual CVVD and continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) mechanism for both the intake valve and the exhaust valve; and a cam system. The internal combustion system may comprise a fuel delivery system comprising one or more of a direct injector and a port fuel injector; and may comprise an ignition system.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system and methods of use are provided. The internal combustion engine system may comprise an engine chamber with a piston, and one or more of the following, configured to enable a negative valve overlap (NVO) mode of operation in which an intake valve opening (IVO) timing is later than an exhaust valve closing (EVC) timing: a continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) mechanism for both an intake valve and an exhaust valve; a dual CVVD and continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) mechanism for both the intake valve and the exhaust valve; and a cam system. The internal combustion system may comprise a fuel delivery system comprising one or more of a direct injector and a port fuel injector; and may comprise an ignition system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for having discrete valve opening and closing timings for different pairs of the combustion cylinders, and transitioning an engine from a Low temperature Combustion (LTC) mode to a Gasoline Compression Ignition (GCI) mode are provided. The method may comprise performing a cold start on an engine, comprising at least two sets of cylinders, in a Spark Ignition (SI) mode. The method may comprise, using a discrete camshaft operation for different pairs of the combustion cylinders to run the at least two sets of cylinders in the LTC mode, and when a load operation point of the engine increases, transitioning a first set of cylinders, of the at least two sets of cylinders, to run in a SI mode, and, after the first set of cylinders is transitioned to run in the SI mode, transitioning the second set of cylinders to run in the GCI mode, and, after the second set of cylinders is transitioned to run in the GCI mode, transitioning the first set of cylinders to run in the GCI mode.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for a hybrid vehicle with a passive prechamber combustion engine. The system includes a passive prechamber combustion engine, an electric motor, and a controller communicatively coupled to the combustion engine and the electric motor. The combustion engine is configured to operate at engine loads satisfying a load threshold. The controller is configured to determine whether an engine load falls below the load threshold. The controller is configured to select the electric motor to propel the vehicle. The controller is configured to determine whether the engine load satisfies the load threshold. The controller is configured to select the combustion engine to propel the vehicle for providing efficient fuel consumption associated with prechamber ignition in response to determining that the engine load satisfies the load threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for combustion engine mode optimization. The system includes a combustion engine, a fuel delivery system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the combustion engine and the fuel delivery system. The controller selects a low temperature combustion mode based on the combustion engine being warmer than a predetermined temperature and low load conditions on the combustion engine. The low temperature combustion mode includes instructions that reduces an intake valve opening duration and an exhaust valve opening duration. The controller reduces the intake valve opening duration and the exhaust valve opening duration to create a delay between an intake valve opening duration and an exhaust valve opening duration in response to selecting the low temperature combustion mode. The delay increases a residual gas temperature in the combustion chamber and induces auto-ignition of fuel in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An ignition system for an engine of a vehicle, comprising: a spark plug which includes: a central electrode electrically connected to an ignition coil, and a ground electrode, where the spark plug ignites a mixture of fuel and air in a normal mode of the engine; a high speed pulser to ignite the mixture of fuel and air in a lean-burn mode of the engine; a pulser controller to control the high speed pulser to ignite the mixture of fuel and air in the lean-burn mode of the engine; an engine control unit (ECU) that determines the normal and lean-burn modes based on an engine speed and an engine load, and controls the pulser controller and an ignition of the spark plug based on a determined mode among the normal mode and the lean-burn mode.

Abstract: An end block is disclosed. The end block may include a body extending between a front side, a back side, a left side, a right side, a top side and a bottom side. Furthermore, the body may include a first bore extending through the body between an inlet port and an outlet port and a cylinder bore extending between a cylinder port and the first bore. Moreover, the body may include a precipitation hardened martensitic stainless steel comprising between 0.08% and 0.18% by weight carbon, between 10.50% and 14.00% by weight chromium, between 0.65% and 1.15% by weight nickel, between 0.85% and 1.30% by weight copper, iron, and a first precipitate comprising the copper.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve device for a vehicle includes: a mixer tube extending between an inlet end and an outlet end, a first plate at the inlet end, and a second plate at the outlet end. The mixer tube having a plurality of divider walls extending radially between the longitudinal axis and the outer wall longitudinally from the inlet to the outlet. The divider walls defining a plurality of mixing chambers therebetween for receiving and storing exhaust gas from a dedicated engine cylinder. The first plate rotatably disposed at the inlet end of the tube, and the second plate rotatably disposed at the second end of the mixer tube to selectively block off at least one chamber at the inlet and outlet ends, respectively. The mixer configured to capture and distribute recirculated exhaust gas corresponding to an operating speed of the engine.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve device for a vehicle includes: a mixer tube extending between an inlet end and an outlet end, a first plate at the inlet end, and a second plate at the outlet end. The mixer tube having a plurality of divider walls extending radially between the longitudinal axis and the outer wall longitudinally from the inlet to the outlet. The divider walls defining a plurality of mixing chambers therebetween for receiving and storing exhaust gas from a dedicated engine cylinder. The first plate rotatably disposed at the inlet end of the tube, and the second plate rotatably disposed at the second end of the mixer tube to selectively block off at least one chamber at the inlet and outlet ends, respectively. The mixer configured to capture and distribute recirculated exhaust gas corresponding to an operating speed of the engine.

Abstract: An end block is disclosed. The end block may include a body extending between a front side, a back side, a left side, a right side, a top side and a bottom side. Furthermore, the body may include a first bore extending through the body between an inlet port and an outlet port and a cylinder bore extending between a cylinder port and the first bore. Moreover, the body may include a precipitation hardened martensitic stainless steel comprising between 0.08% and 0.18% by weight carbon, between 10.50% and 14.00% by weight chromium, between 0.65% and 1.15% by weight nickel, between 0.85% and 1.30% by weight copper, iron, and a first precipitate comprising the copper.