Abstract: A process for selecting a piston ring for a piston containing internal combustion engine such that the engine experiences a reduction in lubrication oil consumption (LOC) used therein. The process can include providing engine specifications for an engine for which the piston ring is to be selected and simulating engine temperatures for the engine as a function of the engine specifications. The process can also include simulating bore distortion for the engine as a function of the simulated engine temperatures and simulating piston ring dynamics for the engine as a function of the simulated bore distortion. Once the simulated piston ring dynamics have been obtained, the process can include calculating a plurality of LOC values and selecting a piston ring as a function of the calculated LOC values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pump assembly having an intake, an outtake, and a rotor rotatably mounted to a shaft. A propeller is fixedly mounted to the upstream portion of the rotor and is rotatable upon actuation of the rotor. A passageway is disposed on the rotor so as to provide a path for fluids to cool the shaft. The pump assembly includes chamber and a pipe. The chamber is disposed within the housing and is located downstream the intake and is in communication with the passageway. The pipe interconnects the chamber with the outtake. An impeller is fixedly mounted to the rotor opposite the propeller and draws air bubbles from the passageway into the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for designing and producing a cooling fluid for use in a cooling system. The process uses molecular dynamics to calculate the thermal properties of one or more fluid-nanoparticle solutions, and thereby aids in the study, selection and/or production of desired cooling fluids based on first principle simulations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for reducing abnormal combustion within a combustion chamber of the engine. The process can include simulation of the piston-driven internal combustion engine with oil droplets from the crankcase entering into the combustion chamber. In addition, the oil drops entering into the combustion chamber can be simulated as hot spots, as can simulation of fuel combustion within the combustion chamber. A probability of pre-ignition for at least a portion of the simulated hot spots as a function of the simulated fuel combustion and the simulated hot spots within the combustion chamber can be calculated and based on the calculation a combustion chamber parameter can be altered such that pre-ignition within the combustion chamber is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for designing and manufacturing an ignition system for an internal combustion engine. The process can include performing a plurality of simulations that include simulating an electrical circuit with a spark initiating device for igniting the fuel mixture within an internal combustion chamber, an electrical breakdown proximate to the spark initiating device, a plasma arc and an afterglow regime.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining a blow-by gas species concentration may include calculating one-dimensional engine performance data with a one-dimensional engine performance model. The one-dimensional engine performance data may be based at least in part upon an engine operating condition. The one-dimensional engine performance data may be transformed, automatically with a processor executing a two-dimensional ring dynamics model, into piston ring motion data. The two-dimensional ring dynamics model simulates geometrical changes to a piston-ring pack flow path. The blow-by gas species concentration may be determined with a network model including the one-dimensional engine performance model and a two-dimensional ring pack model. The two-dimensional ring pack model simulates species concentration change in the piston-ring pack flow path. The blow-by gas species concentration may be determined using the engine operating condition and the piston ring motion data.

Abstract: A model and computer based diagnostic method and system for automating a simulation process for a component, sub-system, and system of a vehicle engine relating particularly to coolant filling and draining. The method including the steps of creating a physical prototype and transparency of fluid passageways within the engine including the following elements: a radiator, a reservoir, a water jacket, a heater core, a heat exchanger, and other coolant system components thereby forming a complete cooling system within a vehicle engine. Geometry is then imported from the physical prototype to the computer automated design system including physics statistics and thermodynamics of each element. The method lastly includes the step of simulating fluid flow through the coolant system.

Abstract: PCV systems are well known in the art and commonly used in turbocharged engines. The ejector creates a pressure drop for additional pull of PCV gas under boosted conditions of the turbocharger engine. The ejector typically includes a first inlet and a second inlet and a sole outlet. The first inlet pulls air from the compressor of the PCV system. The second inlet pulls air from the cyclone separator of the PCV system. Air exiting the ejector is exited to the intake manifold. However, when the turbocharger of the system is off, fresh air can leak in from the inlet from the oil separator thereby preventing the ventilation of blowby. The unwanted air reduces the efficiency of the turbocharger system. Accordingly, an ejector preventing unwanted fresh air flow is needed in the art.

Abstract: An annular device for the temperature control of a pump is provided. That device is in fluid communication with the radiator coolant system of a vehicle, and the engine-warmed coolant flows through the annular device to warm the pump and thaw ice buildup. The device is removable and can be added on to an existing pump without any redesign of the existing pump housing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining a blow-by gas species concentration may include calculating one-dimensional engine performance data with a one-dimensional engine performance model. The one-dimensional engine performance data may be based at least in part upon an engine operating condition. The one-dimensional engine performance data may be transformed, automatically with a processor executing a two-dimensional ring dynamics model, into piston ring motion data. The two-dimensional ring dynamics model simulates geometrical changes to a piston-ring pack flow path. The blow-by gas species concentration may be determined with a network model including the one-dimensional engine performance model and a two-dimensional ring pack model. The two-dimensional ring pack model simulates species concentration change in the piston-ring pack flow path. The blow-by gas species concentration may be determined using the engine operating condition and the piston ring motion data.

Abstract: An oil separating device for separating micron and sub-micron particles of oil from crankcase gases is provided. The oil separating device includes a housing having a first chamber in communication with a second chamber, and a narrow wave-shaped passage disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The narrow wave-shaped passage is defined by a first inner wall having a first undulating surface opposite and spaced apart from a second inner wall having a second undulating surface mirroring the first undulating surface. The narrow wave-shaped passage is disposed downstream of the first chamber and above the oil drain so as to allow oil particles in crankcase gases passing from the inlet to the outlet to accumulate on the first and second inner walls and assist gravity in forcing the accumulated oil through the narrow wave-shaped passage into the oil drain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pump assembly having an intake, an outtake, and a rotor rotatably mounted to a shaft. A propeller is fixedly mounted to the upstream portion of the rotor and is rotatable upon actuation of the rotor. A passageway is disposed on the rotor so as to provide a path for fluids to cool the shaft. The pump assembly includes chamber and a pipe. The chamber is disposed within the housing and is located downstream the intake and is in communication with the passageway. The pipe interconnects the chamber with the outtake. An impeller is fixedly mounted to the rotor. opposite the propeller and draws air bubbles from the passageway into the chamber.

Abstract: An oil capturing device for capturing oil from crankcase gases. The oil capturing device includes a housing containing a central chamber and a rotor disposed in the central chamber. The rotor includes a shaft rotatable about an axis and a flange extending from the shaft towards the inner wall of the central chamber. The flange is in contact with the inner wall, and spirals along the shaft so as to define a gas passage interconnecting the inlet to the first port. The gas passage provides a passage for crankcase gases to flow from the inlet to the first port, and narrows as it proceeds from the inlet to the port so as to compress crankcase gases travelling from the inlet to the first port. The rotor may be operable by a motor, pulley connected to the engine, or a turbine driven by the engine's exhaust.

Abstract: A head cover assembly for covering a crankcase of an internal combustion engine includes a head cover, a removable cover, a guide, and an integral oil separator. The oil separator includes a labyrinth that defines a flow path that separates oil from crankcase gases passing therethrough. The guide includes a tubular body presenting a passage for which manifold vacuum may draw crankcase gas from the oil separator. The cover includes an aperture. The tubular body is disposed through the aperture such that the outer tube surface is spaced apart from the inner edge of the aperture to define a gap in which separated oil may drain back into the engine for recycling.

Abstract: A valve assembly controls the flow of boosted gas and naturally aspirated gas between an air inlet leading into an intercooler and an oil separator disposed in a head cover in a turbocharged motor vehicle engine. The valve assembly includes a housing defining a first channel through which the natural aspirated gas can pass and a second channel through which the boosted gas can pass. The housing encloses both a check valve and a PCV valve in the second channel. The check valve controls the flow of gas between the first and second channels during normal and boosted engine operation, respectively.

Abstract: Embodiments of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) mixing device include an air inlet port and an outlet port disposed at opposite ends of the mixing pipe, an exhaust feeder having a scroll mixing chamber and occupying a portion of the mixing pipe between the air inlet port and the outlet port. The exhaust feeder includes an exhaust feed splitter beam disposed within an open-ended exhaust inlet tube and the scroll mixing chamber, and can be configured to split an exhaust stream into a plurality of exhaust streams before entering the scroll mixing chamber.

Abstract: An oil capturing device for capturing oil from crankcase gases. The oil capturing device includes a housing containing a central chamber and a rotor disposed in the central chamber. The rotor includes a shaft rotatable about an axis and a flange extending from the shaft towards the inner wall of the central chamber. The flange is in contact with the inner wall, and spirals along the shaft so as to define a gas passage interconnecting the inlet to the first port. The gas passage provides a passage for crankcase gases to flow from the inlet to the first port, and narrows as it proceeds from the inlet to the port so as to compress crankcase gases travelling from the inlet to the first port. The rotor may be operable by a motor, pulley connected to the engine, or a turbine driven by the engine's exhaust.

Abstract: An oil separating device for separating micron and sub-micron particles of oil from crankcase gases is provided. The oil separating device includes a housing having a first chamber in communication with a second chamber, and a narrow wave-shaped passage disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The narrow wave-shaped passage is defined by a first inner wall having a first undulating surface opposite and spaced apart from a second inner wall having a second undulating surface mirroring the first undulating surface. The narrow wave-shaped passage is disposed downstream of the first chamber and above the oil drain so as to allow oil particles in crankcase gases passing from the inlet to the outlet to accumulate on the first and second inner walls and assist gravity in forcing the accumulated oil through the narrow wave-shaped passage into the oil drain.

Abstract: A valve assembly controls the flow of boosted gas and naturally aspirated gas between an air inlet leading into an intercooler and an oil separator disposed in a head cover in a turbocharged motor vehicle engine. The valve assembly includes a housing defining a first channel through which the natural aspirated gas can pass and a second channel through which the boosted gas can pass. The housing encloses both a check valve and a PCV valve in the second channel. The check valve controls the flow of gas between the first and second channels during normal and boosted engine operation, respectively.

Abstract: Embodiments of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) mixing device include an air inlet port and an outlet port disposed at opposite ends of the mixing pipe, an exhaust feeder having a scroll mixing chamber and occupying a portion of the mixing pipe between the air inlet port and the outlet port. The exhaust feeder includes an exhaust feed splitter beam disposed within an open-ended exhaust inlet tube and the scroll mixing chamber, and can be configured to split an exhaust stream into a plurality of exhaust streams before entering the scroll mixing chamber.