Abstract: An exhaust energy recovery system can include a hydraulic accumulator having an outer shell defining an internal volume containing an energy storage medium. The heat exchanger can be coupled to the outer shell and can selectively receive a flow of exhaust gas. The heat exchanger can have an inlet and outlet that can each be coupled to an exhaust pipe. A valve can be associated with the exhaust pipe upstream of the heat exchanger and a bypass passage can be in selective fluid communication with the valve to provide an exhaust gas flow path that bypasses the heat exchanger. The valve can be configured to: i) divert at least a portion of the exhaust gas through the heat exchanger thereby providing thermal energy to at least the energy storage medium of the accumulator, and/or ii) divert at least a portion of the exhaust gas through the bypass passage.

Abstract: A switching mechanism capable of switching between a two-stroke operation and a four-stroke operation of an engine as desired, wherein the switching mechanism is switchable between engagement with a first cam lobe for four-stroke operation and a second cam lobe for two-stroke operation.

Abstract: A tool that obtains a performance goal based on actual calculated performance of the vehicle, thereby eliminating a driver model. The tool includes an optimizer to determine path target points to be sent to controls, such as a steering controller, to obtain a performance goal—such as minimum transit time for a road segment. The design parameters and target lateral coordinates are input to a closed loop steering controller in a generic vehicle dynamic code. The invention uses discrete points to describe targets for path and speed making the use of optimization tools effective. The optimization is based on the actual calculated performance of the vehicle; therefore the path followed by the vehicle may be different from that described by the target(s). The target path is simply modified to obtain the best performance.

Abstract: A switching mechanism capable of switching between a two-stroke and a four-stroke operation of an engine as desired, wherein the switching mechanism is switchable between engagement with a first cam lobe for four-stroke operation and a second cam lobe for two-stroke operation, the four-stroke operation maximizing fuel and emissions efficiency and the two-stroke operation maximizing power.

Abstract: A system for detecting aeration in a lubricant includes a sensor having a pair of spaced apart concentric rings forming a first capacitor through which the lubricant flows and a capacitor segment forming a second capacitor with the outer ring. The capacitors are connected in a balanced bridge circuit and the second capacitor is constructed to remove gas entrapped in the lubricant present in the second capacitor so that the bridge becomes unbalanced indicating gas entrapped in the lubricant flowing through the first capacitor.

Abstract: Idle control valve for use with a throttle assembly of an internal combustion engine includes a valve body, and a valve spool mounted within the valve body so as to be rotatable in opposite directions about an axis common to the valve spool and body. The valve spool includes a valve port defining an effective area which establishes the amount of air flow through the valve body between the air inlet and outlet thereof. Upon rotation of the valve spool by suitable drive structure (as by a DC motor receiving command signals from an engine control unit), the effective area of the valve port will be altered thereby responsively controllably altering the amount of air flowing through the valve body between its inlet and outlet. A clutch assembly precludes the transmission of torque to the valve spool above a predetermined threshold level (as by the valve spool reaching maximum or minimum positions) so that relative slippage occurs between the valve spool and the structure driving same.