Abstract: A sewing method having a tension thread, guided and set in a passage of a stitch moved laterally relative to stitching devices between a normal position and a releasing position wherein the tension thread is laterally spaced out of the passage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (1) an arrangement for a sail (2) enabling to form to be varied and comprising battens (4—4) extending between the fore-leech (9) and the after-leech (10). According to the invention, the form of the battens (4—4) is so arranged as to vary depending on the wind and the desired form of the sail. This can be done as the sail is divided and built of several with between the segment is located as battens effecting connectable devices which are elastic across the connection device's length extension.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fender for absorbing shocks and preventing wear of a first object in relative movement with respect to a second object, comprising a main protective element with axial symmetry and circular cross-section rotating freely about a geometrical axis fixed relative to a support secured to one or the other of the first and second objects and having a hardness index less than that of said first object, and two secondary protective cone-shaped elements with axial symmetry and circular cross-section arranged at each end of the main protective element, independent thereof, and also freely rotating about the same geometrical axis.

Abstract: A floating platform uses a plurality of modules to define a substantially continuous surface between at least two of the modules. In one embodiment, each module is substantially independently positioned. Relative positioning elements on the modules place the modules in a configuration maintaining a surface between two adjacent modules in a substantially continuous configuration. Preferably, the platform includes a runway connector spanning an operational distance between the modules. The connector preferably has an upper surface allowing for aircraft or wheeled vehicles to roll from the end of one module to an adjacent end of another module while the modules are free to move in all six degrees of freedom. Preferably, the runway connector will not hold the modules in position, instead relying on thrusters to maintain position. The runway connector may have an end surface maintained substantially in alignment and contact with a module end surface.

Abstract: An improved grid-like construction boat (1), for use as a tender or trip boat, comprises a central tubular framework, a plurality of tubular elements coupled to the framework and one or more impermeable fabric plies (16, 17) also coupled to the central tubular framework, and encompassing the central tubular framework and tubular elements.

Abstract: A marker suitable for use in a golf fairway having a base portion suitable for installation in a ground hole, and a hollow upper body portion fixed to the upper end of the base portion which includes a dome formed of resilient material. The dome has a normal, unstressed raised condition in which it protrudes above ground level, to be readily visible to golfers, and has a depressed condition in which it is close to ground level and in which the material is stressed such that it tends to move to the normal, raised condition. A generally closed chamber beneath the dome has one-way valve means which allows air to be rapidly expelled from the chamber when the dome is depressed but restricts air flow into the chamber to delay recovery from the depressed condition.

Abstract: In an air lock for continuous introduction into and/or removal of workpieces from spaces (1,4) separated atmospherically, the individual substrates (3,13) are transported through a transfer channel (24). At least one lock chamber (7a-7m) serving to accommodate the substrates (3,13) is arranged movably in the transfer channel (24). During the substrate transport in the transfer channel (24), the lock chamber (7a-7m) is atmospherically separated both from the exterior (1) having normal pressure and from the coating chamber (4). The air lock (2) includes a carrousel lock which has a carrousel housing (24) and a lock chamber wheel (10). On the periphery in the lock chamber wheel (10) individual lock chambers (7a-7m) are provided, in which the workpieces (3,13) to be brought into the chamber to be loaded (4) are inserted freely accessible on the normal pressure side.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus comprises a plasma generating chamber including a side wall and a roof-plate to cover the upper part of the side wall, in which plasma is generated; a plurality of magnets, one group of the magnets being arranged on the roof-plate in concentric circles, with the polarity of each magnets in each circle being alternated, and the other group of the magnets being arranged around the side wall of the plasma generating chamber in rings, with the polarity of each magnet in each ring being alternated, to form a cusped magnetic field to confine the plasma in the plasma generating chamber; and a holding device which is provided in the plasma generating chamber, to hold a substrate to be processed with the plasma; wherein the magnet means arranged on the roof-plate and the magnet means arranged around the side wall are held in such a way that they can be moved up and down.

Abstract: A bedding article for a domestic animal comprising an outer textile casing defining a geometric shape for supporting a domestic animal, an inner filling, and a microbe-inhibiting agent or property applied to at least one of the outer textile casing and the inner filling. The bedding article may be fabricated in various shapes, designs, and styles; e.g., rectangular, circular, elliptical, with or without upstanding side walls, etc. A process for applying the microbe-inhibiting agent or property to at least one on the outer textile casing and the inner filling is provided. Application methods include spraying, dipping, brushing, and rolling the microbe-inhibiting agent or property onto at least one of the outer textile casing and the inner filling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for providing nestable pet beds which combine a flexible base and sidewall in a design which is readily stackable for compact transport, storage and display. The base and sidewall are cut from foam or other flexible material utilizing straight cuts which can be mass produced. The sidewall is cut along an arc as a unitary piece or as multiple pieces which collectively define an arcuate configuration. Providing an arcuate wall and attaching it in a flat wall to edge relationship with the base achieves a pet bed design with flared walls that can be nested. The relationship between the sidewall and the base causes radial forces to be exerted on the base, creating a concavity and convexity in the base when viewed from its lower and upper surface, respectively. The concavo-convex configuration imparts an aesthetically appealing, fluffy and comfortable appearance to the pet bed.

Abstract: A pet feeding device is disclosed. The pet feeding device includes a hollow casing, a container mounted in the upper part of the casing with an outlet funnel formed on the bottom, a transverse baffle mounted in the mediate portion of the casing, a guide trough mounted in the casing and located under the outlet funnel, and a control unit mounted on the transverse baffle. The control unit includes an electromagnetic actuator mounted on the top of the transverse baffle, a pull shaft attached to the electromagnetic actuator, a time-delay switch for actuating the electromagnetic actuator, a pivot rod mounted on the transverse baffle, a cover plate pivotally mounted on the pivot rod and having a first end located under the outlet funnel and a second end located above the transverse baffle and attached to the pull shaft, and a spring for retaining the first end of the cover plate under the outlet funnel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for incubating a poultry egg by placing the egg in a random orientation into an opening of substantially elliptical configuration provided in an egg support, placing the egg support into a receiving tray provided with an elevation facing the opening such that the egg engages the protrusion, reciprocally moving the egg support relative to the tray thereby to impart to the egg an optimum incubating orientation, subjecting the egg to incubation while maintaining the orientation and rotating the egg about its major axis.

Abstract: An egg incubating tray (1) for receiving eggs (3) which are to be incubated, comprises separate rigid supporting means (6) for each egg (3), the supporting means (6) delimiting an opening (2) on the underside and being formed such that an egg (3) which is supported in a stable incubating position by the supporting means (6) is situated partly in the opening (2) and can be turned regularly in the supporting means (6) in accordance with a predetermined schedule, about the longitudinal axis (4) of the egg (3), by means of turning means (10) which act on the said egg part (5) situated in the opening (2), in which the supporting means (6) for each egg (3) comprise two curved supports (6a, 6b) arranged apart from one another, the opening (2) being located between the two curved supports (6a, 6b).

Abstract: A pet carrier with a container base (4) having a bottom surface (20), a plurality of side walls (22) that extend from the bottom surface to define a hollow interior compartment (24). A semi-cylindrical stationary convex top (6) is secured to the container base (4) so that the stationary convex top (6) partially covers the hollow interior compartment (24) to define an access opening (12) which is sized to allow a pet to pass readily therethrough. A semi-cylindrical convex lid (10) is rotatably connected to the container base (4), and the rotatable convex lid (10) is sized to completely cover the access opening (12), when rotatable convex lid (10) is in a closed position, and, when the rotatable convex lid (10) is moved to a second, open position, to allow access to the interior compartment (24).

Abstract: A water heater and dispenser includes a heater reservoir and an expanded liquid reservoir. An outlet line includes a venturi valve with a port from the expanded liquid reservoir. Heated water in the expanded liquid reservoir is hence made use of.

Abstract: An apparatus for saving boiler feed water heat having a closed condensed water vessel for collecting the steam water condensate from one or more reactor steam jacket, and the steam condensate flash over when it enters the closed vessel due to pressure drop. The closed vessel having a boiler feed water pump located below the vessel and the vessel located below the reactor steam jacket, and cold water injection into the condensate prior to entering the feed water pump. The feed pump then taking the cooled condensed water to the boiler reducing the demand for boiler make up water and saving heat and energy.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber located adjacent the container, the combustion chamber having a floor portion with an opening; a conduit extending upwardly from and being substantially sealed to the opening; a burner located inside the combustion chamber; and a flame trap positioned across the conduit, the flame trap permitting ingress of air and/or extraneous gases into the combustion chamber and prevent egress of flames from the structure.

Abstract: A device for supplying vapor to the intake air which is supplied to an internal combustion engine is described. The device has a moistening means which is formed as horizontal container which is flown through by the intake air and by a liquid to be evaporated in cross flow and/or parallel flow. The device has an especially flat construction due to the design of the moistening means as horizontal container. The cross flow and/or parallel flow principle in the moistening means assures a good efficiency with respect to the generation of vapor.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine cam drive arrangement and coolant manifold. The engine comprises an engine body that is formed with an coolant opening that is circumscribed by a flexible transmitter that drives cam shafts from the engine crankshaft. A coolant manifold communicates with this opening and overlies in part the flexible transmitter. At least a major part of the remaining portion of the flexible transmitter is covered by a timing cover. The timing cover and the coolant manifold each may be removed from the engine body independently of the other.

Abstract: A cooling system for a turbo-charged internal combustion engine utilizing a unified flow control valve capable of changing the mode of operation of the system in response to a varying heat demand. The unified flow control valve may be a solenoid operated slider valve having a cylinder with connections to the engine water jacket outlet, the intercooler inlet, the radiator inlet and outlet, and the water tank, and a piston having rows of openings which when aligned with the cylinder connections provide flow paths corresponding to various modes of operation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device and method for cooling and preheating, especially of transmission fluid, of an internal combustion engine, with an equalization tank, with at least one radiator, which can be connected by means of an engine thermostat when a predetermined temperature is reached in the cooling loop, and with a water/oil heat exchanger. It is prescribed according to the invention that the forward stream (1) of a single water/oil heat exchanger (5) be branched off in the heating phase by means of a valve unit (3) essentially from the main cooling loop (12) of the internal combustion engine (17) and that its forward stream (1) in the cooling phase be taken by means of the same valve unit (3) essentially in the coolant side stream (13) from the low-temperature region (14) of the radiator (4) or a separate low-temperature cooler (14a) connected in the side stream after radiator (4, 4a).

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes a cooling-air fan (10), a radiator assembly (2) and a fan shroud (18) which extends from a fan ring (9), enclosing the cooling-air fan, as far as the radiator assembly. In order, with given dimensioning of the radiator assembly (2) and cooling-air fan (10), to increase the cooling capacity, the fan shroud (18) forms, in the part (12) which projects laterally beyond the projection of the cooling-air fan (10), a vertical flow duct (23) and, in the part (11) which projects beyond the radiator assembly (2), a collecting chamber (22) which is in flow connection with the vertical flow duct (23).

Abstract: The invention refers to a driving apparatus for a lawn trimmer with a two-stroke motor having an injection valve, a coupling power output, air intake and exhaust gas discharge devices and a fuel pump as well as other possible additional components. For providing a compact construction and for guaranteeing the operativeness of the motor by fuel cooling and specific air guiding, the injection valve and a cooling air fan are placed on the same side of the motor cylinder block as the output coupling with the injection valve having a nozzle jet orientation directed to the ignition plug.

Abstract: A loop-scavenged two-stroke internal combustion engines with an intake valve (7) engaging a seat (10) for fresh air intake, and an exhaust valve (8) engaging a seat (13) for combustion gas exhaust, is disclosed. The valves are arranged in such a way that the fresh air intake scavenges a substantial part of the burnt gases. In at least one of the valves, the valve surface (21) located downstream from the valve face (9) and the surface (23) of the downstream extension of the seat (10) are configured in such a way that they form a substantially isentropic diffuser.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the movement of an armature of an electromagnetic actuator, particularly for operating a charge cycle lifting valve of an internal-combustion engine, the armature being moved in an oscillating manner between two solenoid coils in each case against the force of at least one restoring spring by the alternating energizing of the solenoid coils, and, with an approach of the armature to the first-energized coil, during the so-called capturing operation, the electric voltage being reduced which is applied to the coil capturing the armature. The capturing phase of the capturing operation is followed by a braking phase in which, until the armature impacts on the coil, an electric voltage is applied to the latter in a switched manner, the respective switching points in time and the voltage switching ratio being determined by a controller by means of a desired trajectory describing the desired armature movement.

Abstract: A valve timing control system comprises a learning means for learning the phase difference between the crank angle and the cam angle at a position where the variable valve timing means is stopped mechanically and a valve timing control variable calculating means for calculating a valve timing control variable, for driving the variable valve timing means, on the basis of a deviation between the phase difference value learned by the learning means and the phase difference calculated by the advance amount calculating means. The learning means learns the phase difference between the crank angle and the cam angle at the mechanically stopped position when the internal combustion engine is not idling. Thus, errors resulting from the operating force of a cam shaft are not included in the maximum retardation value, which ensures precise learning of the maximum retardation value and high-precision valve timing control.

Abstract: A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine capable of accurately accomplishing valve timing control irrespective of variation of the oil pressure to be applied to an hydraulic actuator. The apparatus comprises an hydraulic actuator for changing an operating angle of a cam of a cam shaft to advance or retard a valve timing in the internal combustion engine, a pump for sending a lubricating oil under pressure to the hydraulic actuator, an oil supply quantity adjusting valve for adjusting a quantity of the lubricating oil to be supplied to the hydraulic actuator, and a control unit for estimating a driving force of the hydraulic actuator on the basis of an oil pressure of the lubricating oil on the downstream side of the pump. The controlled variable for the oil supply quantity adjusting valve is determined on the basis of the estimated value of the driving force of the hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: A valve deactivator assembly (47) especially for use with a push rod (23) type of valve gear train, the deactivator assembly (47) preferably comprising a roller follower, engaging the engine cam (19). The deactivator includes an outer body (53), driven by the cam (19), and an inner body (61) which transmits cyclical motion to the push rod (23), when the body members are latched (FIG. 2). The inner body member (61) defines a latch chamber (93), oriented radially, and aligned therewith is a circular opening (97) defined by the outer body member (53). A compression spring (107) biases a latch member (99) toward the latched condition (FIG. 2). An end surface (111) of the latch member (99) is in communication with an engine oil passage (P), and a relatively higher pressure in the passage biases the latch member (99) toward an unlatched condition (FIG. 3), in opposition to the compression spring (107).

Abstract: A switchable cam follower (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, which valve train is actuated by tappet push rods, the cam follower (1) comprises an outer section (4) and an inner section (5) which are adapted to be switched off through a coupling device (22) by the lift of a loading cam, a locking device (27) associated with the coupling device (2) and cooperates with a single track on the cam, the locking device (27) prevents displacement of the coupling device (2) outside of a defined part of the base circle phase of the cam.

Abstract: An improved electrical system for internal combustion engines which transfers electrically generated energy from the alternator to heat engine fluids, such as the coolant and the oil, thereby reducing engine warm up time, and/or exhaust emissions and/or fuel consumption.

Abstract: A rotating shaft and a drive shaft are used in an air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine. At one end portion of the rotating shaft and the drive shaft a sphere portion and a projection portion are formed, and another end portion of the rotating shaft and the drive shaft a cup portion and a faucet portion are formed. The sphere portion is inserted to the cup portion and further the projection portion is engaged with the faucet portion, thereby a universal joint is formed. Since a connection structure between the rotating shaft and the drive shaft is constituted with few component elements, a cost reduction in the air intake apparatus for the internal combustion engine can be improved.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with an engine block, a cylinder head mounted onto the engine block, a cylinder head gasket disposed between the engine block and the cylinder head, a piston disposed in a cylinder formed in the engine block and a cylindrical ring arranged in a recessed area between the piston and a cylinder area around the top land of the piston in the top dead center position of the piston, the cylindrical ring is formed as part of the cylinder head gasket.

Abstract: In a SOHC type internal combustion engine having a single camshaft, a fuel injector is provided for directly injecting a fuel into a combustion chamber, and an intake port is provided such that one end of the intake port is open at intake openings to the combustion chamber. The intake port extends toward the top face of a cylinder head between the camshaft and two intake valves, such that at least a part of the intake port passes through a region between the shortest lines connecting respective head portions of the intake valves and the camshaft.

Abstract: An engine which employs a cam follower mechanism to reduce wear and reduce the size of an assembled engine. The cam follower mechanism utilizes guide rails located to reduce side thrust on the valve stem. The engine employs a high speed quill shaft to synchronize independent cam shafts existing in each of a plurality of interconnected engines. The engine is assembled using a single size fastener to provide a uniform stress gradient within the engine. The engines are interconnected utilizing O-ring seals. The engine provides a piston crown utilizing a connecting rod directly connected to the bottom surface of the piston crown. The piston crown is stabilized along the longitudinal cylinder axis by a rail guide. Connecting rods are provided which require less than one hundred eighty degrees (180°) circumference of a crankshaft pin for support so that a plurality of connecting rods can be associated with a single crankshaft pin.

Abstract: A section of an engine mount bracket and a section of an engine accessory pass through a timing belt cover from the inside to the outside of the engine. The timing belt cover has an engine accessory opening and an engine mount bracket opening. During engine assembly, the engine accessory opening and engine mount bracket opening are aligned with the engine mount bracket and engine accessory, providing accurate alignment of the timing belt cover onto the engine. The alignment process prevents damage of the timing belt cover bolts as well as the threaded timing belt cover bolt insertion openings, resulting in an efficient process for engine assembly.

Abstract: A direct-injection Otto cycle internal-combustion engines can be operated in the stratified charge mode with a later fuel injection during the compression cycle and a lean mixture formation and, with an operating mode with a homogeneous mixture formation, by fuel injection during the intake cycle which is provided for higher load ranges of the internal-combustion engine. The exhaust gases of the internal-combustion engine are decontaminated by an NOx storage catalyst which must be periodically regenerated during a homogeneous mixture formation and at rich fuel/air ratios (&lgr;). To permit a fast change of the operating mode and particularly the regeneration of the storage catalyst without changing the running performance of the internal-combustion engine, the fuel quantity to be injected per power cycle, is apportioned during a homogeneous operating phase during the change of operating modes, corresponding to the actual intake air flow rate by adjusting the respective injection time.

Abstract: A method for detecting a preinjection picks up and evaluates a vibration signal which occurs when a nozzle needle strikes a needle seat of an injector of a direct-injection internal combustion engine operating with a preinjection and a main injection. A sensor for structure-borne noise is provided on the cylinder outer wall for detecting the vibration signal. Based on the evaluation of the vibration signal a conclusion is made on the presence or absence of the preinjection in a combustion cycle. A device for detecting a preinjection is also provided.

Abstract: In a cylinder head of a fuel direct injection spark ignition type internal combustion engine, there extend a pair of intake ports to a combustion chamber. The intake ports are arranged to decrease a distance therebetween as nearing the combustion chamber. An axial center line of each intake port is inclined by an angle “&thgr;” relative to an imaginary plane which includes a center line of an associated piston and is perpendicular to an axial line of an associated crankshaft. The angle “&thgr;” satisfies the inequality of “&thgr;°<&thgr;≦15°”. If desired, the imaginary plane may be replaced with another imaginary plane which includes a center line of an associated fuel injector and extends in parallel with the center line of the associated piston.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of engine induction system and fuel injection systems for increasing the engine's combustion efficiency by maintaining a desired ratio between the intake system volume between the throttle valve and the intake port and the exhaust gas volume. This requires a close positioning of the throttle valve to the combustion chamber, and thus results in quick throttle response. A fuel injection system injects fuel into the intake passage, and a number of embodiments of buffer valves are employed so as to maintain stability in combustion when blipping the throttle under no-load conditions. In addition, arrangements are disclosed wherein separate throttle bodies are employed but that utilize the fuel rail as a means for connecting all of these throttle bodies together to provide a unitary sub-assembly.

Abstract: A silencer for an idle air bypass valve in an internal combustion engine includes a grid disposed between the outlet of the idle air bypass valve and the intake manifold. The grid acts to reduce the air velocity entering into the intake manifold which dampens the vibration of a plastic manifold, thereby reducing noise generated.

Abstract: A system for controlling fueling signals provided to a fueling system of an internal combustion engine operates to eliminate the throttle deadband when the engine speed is limited to speeds less than the maximum engine speed. In one embodiment, the engine control module is modified to incorporate an additional throttle factor operable to scale the calculated throttle derived from the operator commanded throttle position. In one aspect of the invention, this throttle factor is a function of the ratio of the difference between a user-requested high idle breakpoint speed and the minimum engine speed, and difference between the minimum and maximum engine speeds. Thus, the relationship between engine speed and throttle input is rescaled to eliminate the deadband. Where this relationship is linear, the present invention essentially alters the slope of the line between the minimum and maximum throttle positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the speed of an engine. The engine has an associated turbo charger and a throttle. The method includes the steps of determining an actual speed of the engine, establishing a desired speed of the engine, determining an overspeed condition exists in response to said desired speed and said actual speed, and determining a throttle command in response to the desired and actual engine speed.

Abstract: A method of starting an internal combustion engine having an injection system and characteristic variables includes the steps of supplying an injection system with an operating parameter that is determined from characteristic variables, supplying a speed regulator with an initialization value as an initial starting variable, and regulating a speed of an internal combustion engine up to an idling speed with the speed regulator based upon the initialization value. The acceleration to idling speed is carried out with the aid of the speed regulator based on the initialization value. The injection system is supplied with a mass of fuel to be injected. Regulation is carried out with a speed regulator already present in an engine controller. The initialization value is stored in a characteristic curve as a function of coolant temperature. The initialization value is applied to a first injection operation of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for internal combustion engines, having a high-pressure fuel pump which fills a high-pressure collection chamber with high fuel pressure. Injection lines lead away from the high pressure collection chamber to the individual injection valves. A prefeed pump that feeds fuel from a tank via a low-pressure line system into a work chamber of the high-pressure pump, and at least one control valve controls the high-pressure pumping quantity of the high-pressure pump. Control valves are inserted into the low-pressure line system that adjust the fuel filling flow into the work chamber of the high-pressure pump to the fill volume actually required for operation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fuel dispensing device, in particular for an engine supplied under relatively high pressure. The invention is characterised in that the fuel-dispensing pump comprises a hollow body (12) where are arranged the passages (14) and inside which is provided a substantially spherical cavity (17) part (18) and a plugging arrangement (30) screwed in the hollow body. The plugging arrangement can be mounted in the pump outlet.

Abstract: A fuel device including a high-pressure fuel source from which fuel is supplied to fuel injection valves. The fuel injection valves are controlled with the aid of a valve that is driven by a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive drive mechanism. With the aid of this drive mechanism, a 3-way valve having a closing body can be adjusted in an intermediary position in which a control chamber, by way of which a hydraulic force can be exerted in the closing direction on a valve closing member of the injection valve, can simultaneously be connected to a high-pressure fuel source and a relief chamber in order to adjust a control pressure that lies between the high pressure of the high-pressure source and a relief pressure. In this manner, a partial opening of the injection valve member of the injection valve can be adjusted in order to introduce a reduced injection quantity into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The invention is a clamp for clamping a fuel injector in place on internal combustion engine which clamp has a first end adapted to engage a fuel injector body, a clamping force receiving portion and a fulcrum portion preferably located therebetween. The fulcrum portion is adapted in use to engage a fulcrum point on the engine in rolling contact. The invention also describes an internal combustion engine structure provided with a fuel injector clamped in place in the engine by means of the above described clamp and a method of use therefor.

Abstract: A thermal insulating sleeve for a fuel injection valve, which can be inserted in a mounting hole of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, has a sleeve body which at least partially envelops a nozzle body of the fuel injection valve. At the injection end of the sleeve body there is a folded-back section, in which the sleeve body has a two-layered configuration, and there is a conical section, which tapers in the direction toward the injection end and which in the assembled state fits tightly against the tapered section of the nozzle body.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling an internal combustion engine (1) are introduced and have actuators (3), which influence at least one control parameter relevant for the consumption of fuel of the engine. A control appearance forms an index L for the run-in state of the engine. The drive signals y of the actuators (3) are changed in dependence upon the above-mentioned index L in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A basic cylinder-charged air quantity is determined by a first-order delay processing of an intake air quantity per rotation. Next, an estimated value of a change portion of the cylinder-charged air quantity caused by a change in intake valve timing is computed on the basis of engine speed, throttle opening angle, displacement angle of the intake valve timing. Then, the estimated value of the change portion of the cylinder-charged air quantity is processed second-time by the first-order delay. A difference between the estimated value of a change portion of the cylinder-charged air quantity and a value obtained by processing the estimated value second-time by the first-order delay is added as a delay correction to the basic cylinder-charged air quantity, thereby obtaining an actual cylinder-charged air quantity with a change in the intake valve timing.