Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder is provided. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: supplying a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder; operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow the pressurized air and exhaust gas mixture to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold during a portion of a compression stroke of the piston; and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber via a common rail fuel injector.

Abstract: Engines and methods of controlling an engine may involve at least one fluid actuators associated with one or more engine intake and/or exhaust valves. Timing of valve closing/opening and use of an air supply system may enable engine operation according to a Miller cycle.

Abstract: An engine and a method of operating an internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises supplying a pressurized air from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow the pressurized air and exhaust gas mixture to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold during a portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operating the engine in an HCCI combustion mode. In at least some embodiments, a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas is supplied from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder. In some embodiments, the method further comprises causing an exhaust stream of an engine to contact a NOx adsorber.

Abstract: Engines and methods of controlling an engine may include producing ammonia from exhaust gas and using the ammonia to reduce certain emission components of the exhaust. Timing of valve closing/opening and use of an air supply system may enable engine operation according to a Miller cycle.

Abstract: Engines and methods of controlling an engine may involve one or more fluidically driven actuators associated with engine intake and/or exhaust valves. In some examples, the actuators may be placed in flow communication with high pressure fluid from one source and/or low pressure fluid from another. Timing of valve closing/opening and use of an air supply system may enable engine operation according to a Miller cycle.

Abstract: A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine and method of operating the same is provided. The engine comprises an engine block defining at least one cylinder; a head connected with the engine block; a piston slidable in each cylinder; a combustion chamber defined by the head, the piston, and the cylinder; an air intake valve movable to open and close the air intake port; an air supply system including two turbochargers in series fluidly connected to the air intake port; a fuel supply system operable to inject fuel into the combustion chamber; an air intake valve assembly comprising a camshaft configured to open the intake valve; and a hydraulically actuated variable intake valve closing mechanism configured to hold the intake valve open.

Abstract: An engine valve actuation system is provided. The engine valve actuation system includes an intake valve that is moveable between a first position to prevent a flow of fluid and a second position to allow a flow of fluid. A cam assembly is configured to move the intake valve between the first position and the second position. A fluid actuator is configured to selectively prevent the intake valve from moving to the first position. A source of fluid is in fluid communication with the fluid actuator. A directional control valve is configured to control a flow of fluid between the source of fluid and the fluid actuator. A check valve is disposed between the directional control valve and the source of fluid, only allowing fluid flow from the fluid source to the directional control valve. A bleed orifice may be disposed between the directional control valve and the source of fluid, in parallel with the check valve.

Abstract: It is becoming more common for diesel engine cylinders to include an engine compression release brake that can utilize energy built up in the cylinder to provide additional braking for the vehicle. The present invention utilizes a software diagnostic test that is stored in an electronic control module to detect defects in the engine compression release brakes. In particular, the present invention operates a first portion of the engine cylinders in a power mode and a second portion of the engine cylinders in a braking mode and compares a resulting fuel injector response or engine response to an expected value to determine if one or more of the engine compression release brakes are performing as expected.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the application of map limits to compensate for injector variability in an electronically controlled fuel injection system is disclosed. Fuel quantity limiting maps are stored in memory within the electronic control module of an electronically controlled fuel injector system. The application of the fuel quantity limiting maps is adjusted for individual injector performance characteristics. If a fuel injector dispenses too much fuel at a particular on time, the quantity limited in the map limit is decreased. Similarly, if a fuel injector dispenses too little fuel at a particular on time, the quantity limited in the map limit is increased. As one result, limiting maps do not unduly limit fuel quantity for an injector dispensing too little fuel at that on time due to injector variability. As another result, limiting maps properly limit fuel quantity for an injector dispensing too much fuel at that on time due to injector variability.

Abstract: An engine valve actuation system is provided. The system includes an engine valve moveable between a closed position and an open position. A spring is operatively connected to the engine valve to bias the engine valve towards the closed position. An actuator is operatively connected to the engine valve and is operable to selectively engage the engine valve to prevent the engine valve from returning to the closed position and to release the engine valve to allow the engine valve to return to the closed position. A sensor is configured to provide information related to the operation of the actuator. A controller is configured to transmit a signal to the actuator to engage the engine valve to prevent the engine valve from returning to the closed position and to release the engine valve to the allow the engine valve to return to the closed position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for trimming a fuel injector located on an engine. The method and apparatus includes modifying an engine speed control, interrupting at least one injection event, monitoring a change associated with an engine speed, and responsively trimming the injector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for trimming a fuel injector located on an engine. The method and apparatus includes modifying an engine speed control, interrupting at least one injection event, monitoring a change associated with an engine speed, and responsively trimming the injector.

Abstract: An engine with a lockable valve actuator and method of controlling an engine with such an actuator are disclosed. The actuator may include an actuator cylinder with an actuator piston reciprocatingly disposed therein. The actuator piston may be moved by directing pressurized fluid into the actuator cylinder, and locked into a given position by maintaining the pressurized fluid in the actuator cylinder. The actuator may be used in conjunction with a mechanically driven actuator used to move a valve, with the fluidically driven actuator being used to maintain the valve into a desired position.

Abstract: A hydraulic system comprises a pump, low pressure drain, high pressure rail, fuel injector, a gas exchange valve actuator, and a timing valve. The high pressure rail is connected to the pump with a supply line. A method of operating an engine comprises the steps of opening a gas exchange valve by connecting it with the outlet of the pump at a first chosen time, supplying pressurized fluid to a high pressure rail by connecting it with the outlet of the pump after the first time, and injecting fuel by supplying fluid from the high pressure rail to a fuel injector at a second chosen time. An engine comprises an engine casing that defines a plurality of cylinders. A fuel injector, gas exchange valve actuator, pump, supply line, and timing valve is provided for each of the cylinders. A low pressure drain and a high pressure rail are also provided.

Abstract: An engine valve actuation system may include an intake valve moveable between a first position that blocks a flow of fluid and a second position that allows a flow of fluid. The system may also include a cam assembly configured to move the intake valve between the first position and the second position. An electromagnetic actuator may be configured to selectively modify a timing of the intake valve in moving from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying pressurized air from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.

Abstract: An engine with a lockable valve actuator and method of controlling an engine with such an actuator are disclosed. The actuator may include an actuator cylinder with an actuator piston reciprocatingly disposed therein. The actuator piston may be moved by directing pressurized fluid into the actuator cylinder, and locked into a given position by maintaining the pressurized fluid in the actuator cylinder. The actuator may be used in conjunction with a mechanically driven actuator used to move a valve, with the fluidically driven actuator being used to maintain the valve into a desired position.

Abstract: Individual fuel injector performance deviations are determined with one of two in-chassis strategies for evaluating fuel injector performance, including a bare acceleration test and a loaded fuel injector performance test. In each of the tests, less than all of the engine cylinders are operated in a power mode. Individual fuel injector performance characteristics are extrapolated from at least one of engine response date and fuel injector response data from the tests.

Abstract: A system for actuating a valve element in an engine valve assembly of an internal combustion engine is provided. The system has a first piston that includes a first rod and is disposed in a first chamber. The system also includes a second piston that has a second rod with an end being separated from the engine valve assembly by a predetermined distance. The second piston is disposed in a second chamber that is in fluid connection with the first chamber such that movement of the first piston causes a corresponding movement of the second piston. A cam having a cam lobe is operatively engaged with the first rod such that rotation of the cam and cam lobe moves the first piston to thereby move the second piston. The cam lobe has a shape adapted to cause the second rod to move through the predetermined distance and to engage the engine valve assembly to move the valve element at a predetermined point in the operating cycle of the internal combustion engine.