Abstract: A barrel assembly for delivering non-lethal projectile (pepper ball, for example) to inhibit a living target, using various personal defense launching devices (paintball gun and other compressed-gas-powered launchers, for example), compact and automatic pistols as launching devices, method to launch pepper gel directly with a launching device, methods to effectively and swiftly rupture, spread and disperse the content of the non-lethal projectile to reach a target far away and at very fast speed, and tactical methods of the use of the barrel assembly, a barrel assembly has metal pins installed or built-in at the exit, said metal pins pinch and rupture the non-lethal projectile after said projectile has been accelerated inside the barrel. Variations of the pins include using gear-teeth, orifice or reduced inner diameter of the barrel at the exit, near the exit or in the middle of the barrel.

Abstract: A method and system for generating auxiliary load during start-up and warm-up of a spark ignition engine operating with a high load, cold start and spark retard and enleanment (HL-CSSRE) methodology to achieve rapid light-off. The method and system of the present invention uses existing vehicle systems (20) to couple an auxiliary load to the engine for a predetermined period of time during engine start-up and warm-up.

Abstract: A method and system for generating auxiliary load during start-up and warm-up of a spark ignition engine operating with a high load, cold start and spark retard and enleanment (HL-CSSRE) methodology to achieve rapid light-off. The method and system of the present invention uses existing vehicle systems (20) to couple an auxiliary load to the engine for a predetermined period of time during engine start-up and warm-up.

Abstract: An engine control method for an internal combustion engine having a powertrain control module (PCM). The powertrain control module includes a microprocessor and associated memory. A mathematical model of the engine cycle of the engine system is stored in the PCM memory. The PCM continuously monitors a variety of engine operating parameters. From these inputs, the PCM generates optimized control setpoints for the intake airflow, fueling right, spark timing and EGR flow for the engine using the mathematical model. The setpoints are generated in real-time for every engine cycle, and the engine is then operated in accordance with the generated control setpoints. In another aspect of the invention, the engine model includes submodels for fuel delivery, the in-cylinder processes, the engine heat capacitance and cooling system, engine friction, airflow, engine inertia, and the front-end auxiliary drive.

Abstract: A gasoline distillation apparatus (12) for an engine (14) includes a heated vapor separator (22), a condenser (24), and a controller (28). The heated vapor separator (22) partially vaporizes the engine's primary fuel (16) to generate a fuel vapor (44). The condenser (24) cools the fuel vapor (44) to produce a liquid secondary fuel (18) that is more volatile than the primary fuel (16). The controller (28) determines when the engine (14) is supplied with either primary (16) or secondary fuel (18). The secondary fuel (18) is used only during an initial engine operation period, while the primary fuel (16) is used all other times. After engine operation, the primary fuel (16) is purged from the engine (14) and replaced with the secondary fuel (18) to maximize secondary fuel (18) use during the initial engine operation period.

Abstract: A method of detecting internal combustion engine misfires by generating a predicted Karlovitz number as a function of different engine operating conditions such as the air fuel ratio (AFR), the engine speed, the amount of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), spark-ignition (SI) timing and the airflow rate. The predicted Karlovitz number is then compared against the threshold Karlovitz number in which misfire occurs. The threshold Karlovitz number is determined from a model for misfire predictions in engines and is stored in the electronic engine controller (EEC). A misfire is reported if the predicted Karlovitz number is greater than the threshold Karlovitz number. In another aspect of the invention, the predicted Karlovitz number is generated from submodels of laminar flame speed, laminar flame thickness, turbulence intensity, and turbulence integral length scale.

Abstract: A four stroke, spark ignition, high compression ratio, internal combustion engine including at least one intake valve (30), exhaust valve (32) and charging valve (36) per cylinder (16). Each of the valves is actuable by a variable timing mechanism (50), which is controlled by an on-board computer (82) that varies the timing of valve opening and closing depending upon engine operating conditions. Each charging valve port (34) leads to an auxiliary chamber (40) having geometry to cause a swirling motion of the charge entering the chamber and surrounded by a cooling jacket (42) to cool the charge as it swirls before being released back into the cylinder during the next engine cycle.

Abstract: A method of operating a four stroke, spark ignition, high compression ratio, internal combustion engine including at least one intake valve (30), exhaust valve (32) and charging valve (36) per cylinder (16). Each of the valves is actuable by a variable timing mechanism (50), which is controlled by an on-board computer (82) that varies the timing of valve opening and closing depending upon engine operating conditions. Each charging valve port (34) leads to an auxiliary chamber (40) having geometry to cause a swirling motion of the charge entering the chamber and surrounded by a cooling jacket (42) to cool the charge as it swirls before being released back into the cylinder during the next engine cycle.