Abstract: A power system is provided having a first power source including at least one engine configured to combust a first air/fuel mixture and produce a first exhaust stream. The system also has a first exhaust passageway fluidly connected to the first power source and configured to receive the first exhaust stream. In addition, the system has a second power source including at least one engine configured to combust a second fuel/air mixture and produce a second exhaust stream. Furthermore, the system has a second exhaust passageway fluidly connected to the second power source and configured to receive the second exhaust stream.

Abstract: A method of operating an engine is provided. The method may include supplying a combustible combination of reactants to a combustion chamber of the engine, which may include supplying a first hydrocarbon fuel, hydrogen fuel, and a second hydrocarbon fuel to the combustion chamber. Supplying the second hydrocarbon fuel to the combustion chamber may include at least one of supplying at least a portion of the second hydrocarbon fuel from an outlet port that discharges into an intake system of the engine and supplying at least a portion of the second hydrocarbon fuel from an outlet port that discharges into the combustion chamber. Additionally, the method may include combusting the combustible combination of reactants in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A multiple spark pattern internal combustion initiation device includes a body defining a prechamber and a plurality of orifices from the prechamber. The device includes at least two electrical circuits which each form a spark gap with an electrical ground inside the prechamber, operable to create a plurality of different spark patterns. The device may be part of an internal combustion engine which includes a housing with a combustion chamber connected to the prechamber, and means for supplying a lean gaseous fuel mixture into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one combustion chamber and a piston configured to reciprocate within the at least one combustion chamber between a top-dead-center position and a bottom-dead-center position. The internal combustion engine also has a pre-combustion chamber, an air induction system, a fuel system, a spark plug at least partially disposed within the pre-combustion chamber. The air induction system is configured to direct air into the at least one combustion chamber. The fuel system is configured to direct gasoline into the at least one combustion chamber. The spark plug is configured to selectively ignite a mixture of the air and gasoline. The internal combustion engine also has an exhaust system configured to direct exhaust from the at least one combustion chamber and an exhaust gas recirculation system configured to selectively redirect at least a portion of the exhaust from the exhaust system back to the air induction system.

Abstract: A multiple spark pattern internal combustion initiation device includes a body defining a prechamber and a plurality of orifices from the prechamber. The device includes at least two electrical circuits which each form a spark gap with an electrical ground inside the prechamber, operable to create a plurality of different spark patterns. The device may be part of an internal combustion engine which includes a housing with a combustion chamber connected to the prechamber, and means for supplying a lean gaseous fuel mixture into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An air induction system for an engine is disclosed. The air induction system has a compressor operable to compress air directed into the engine, a bypass valve, and a throttle valve. The bypass valve may be disposed between the compressor and the engine and may have a valve element movable to selectively divert a portion of the compressed air away from the engine in response to a desired air-to-fuel ratio of the engine. The throttle valve may be disposed between the bypass valve and the engine and may have a valve element movable to selectively restrict the flow of compressed air into the engine in response to a desired air-to-fuel ratio of the engine. The movements of the valve elements of the bypass and throttle valves may be substantially sequential.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one combustion chamber and a piston configured to reciprocate within the at least one combustion chamber between a top-dead-center position and a bottom-dead-center position. The internal combustion engine also has a pre-combustion chamber, an air induction system, a fuel system, a spark plug at least partially disposed within the pre-combustion chamber. The air induction system is configured to direct air into the at least one combustion chamber. The fuel system is configured to direct gasoline into the at least one combustion chamber. The spark plug is configured to selectively ignite a mixture of the air and gasoline. The internal combustion engine also has an exhaust system configured to direct exhaust from the at least one combustion chamber and an exhaust gas recirculation system configured to selectively redirect at least a portion of the exhaust from the exhaust system back to the air induction system.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine and method of operating an engine is provided. The engine comprises a piston cylinder formed within an engine block, an engine head secured to the engine block, a primary piston configured to slide within the piston cylinder, a main combustion chamber that is defined by the primary piston, piston cylinder, and engine head, a variable volume prechamber formed within the engine head and in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber, an ignition device configured to ignite a fuel within the prechamber, and a prechamber piston configured to translate within the prechamber. Translation of the prechamber piston within the prechamber varies the volume within the prechamber. The engine is characterized in that the prechamber comprises at least one orifice that provides fluid communication between the prechamber and the main combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine includes a main combustion chamber in fluid communication with a prechamber. The method comprises the step of varying the volume within the prechamber during a portion of a compression stroke of the main combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises the steps of introducing a primary fuel into a main combustion chamber of the engine, introducing a pilot fuel into the main combustion chamber of the engine, determining an operating load of the engine, determining a desired spark plug ignition timing based on the engine operating load, and igniting the primary fuel and pilot fuel with a spark plug at the desired spark plug ignition timing. The method is characterized in that the octane number of the pilot fuel is lower than the octane number of the primary fuel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting pilot fuel in a combustion engine. The method and apparatus includes determining a load of the engine, determining a desired injection timing of the pilot fuel and a desired quantity of pilot fuel to be injected as a function of a desired homogeneous distribution of the pilot fuel based on the engine load, and adjusting the injection timing and quantity of the pilot fuel to the desired values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting pilot fuel in a combustion engine. The method and apparatus includes determining a load of the engine, determining a desired injection timing of the pilot fuel and a desired quantity of pilot fuel to be injected as a function of a desired homogeneous distribution of the pilot fuel based on the engine load, and adjusting the injection timing and quantity of the pilot fuel to the desired values.

Abstract: The types of pixels of an image made up of a plurality of pixels arranged in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction are distinguished. The image is divided into a plurality of blocks each substantially larger than a visually distinguishable size, properties of the images in the blocks representing the probability that the image is a binary image are detected, probability that the image in each block is a binary image is determined on the basis of the detected properties of the image in the block, and the blocks are divided into a binary image block, a tone image block, and an indeterminate image block according to the probability that the image is a binary image. The pixels in the blocks which are determined to be a binary image block are all determined to be pixels of a binary image while the pixels in the blocks which are determined to be a tone image block are all determined to be pixels of a tone image.

Abstract: The types of pixels of an image made up of a plurality of pixels arranged in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction are distinguished. The image is divided into a plurality of blocks each substantially larger than a visually distinguishable size, properties of the images in the blocks representing the probability that the image is a binary image are detected, probability that the image in each block is a binary image is determined on the basis of the detected properties of the image in the block, and the blocks are divided into a binary image block, a tone image block, and an indeterminate image block according to the probability that the image is a binary image. The pixels in the blocks which are determined to be a binary image block are all determined to be pixels of a binary image while the pixels in the blocks which are determined to be a tone image block are all determined to be pixels of a tone image.