Abstract: The production of lightweight closure assemblies with a selection of materials optimized to have sufficient formability for each component of the closure assembly, while providing the necessary performance standards at a lighter weight. A mixed metal vehicle closure assembly with an inner panel and an outer panel operatively connected to one another such that they define a cavity therebetween. The closure assembly includes a unitary reinforcement panel attached to the inner and outer panels and inside the cavity therebetween. At least one of the inner, outer and unitary reinforcement panels is composed of a first type of sheet metal and at least one other of the remaining inner, outer or unitary reinforcement panel is composed of a second type of sheet metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for strengthening unreinforced masonry walls (3) having at least two blocks and at least one joint (mortar) bed with an adhesive layer, between these blocks; with the method consisting of the steps of grooving at least one horizontal channel (6) on the joint bed, positioning at least one strengthening element (1) inside and along the mentioned channel (6), and then filling the channel (6) with mortar (2). The present invention further relates to a special strengthening element (1) embodying this method.

Abstract: A stud panel and method of making a stud panel where interior sheathing may be a temporary piece of transparent plastic or a permanent panel of sheet rock so as to retain insulation in place and minimize scarfing. The stud panel may include studs having through holes extending in a length direction of the stud panel such that insulation in adjacent inner regions separated by such studs interlock with each other and contribute to a structural integrity of the stud panel. The stud panel may include a space between inner studs and one of the exterior and interior sheathing so as to provide a thermal and sound break between the exterior and inner sheathing so as to minimize heat, air and sound transfer between the exterior and interior sheathing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging contact lenses. The apparatus includes a compliant head, improved heater and improved heat seal die.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material and an aseptic bottling system for the aseptic bottling of a liquid material. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: An automatic system for the delivery and distribution of articles in groups comprises a store of articles, means for the collection and delivery of articles from the store and control means associated with the collection and delivery means in order to control the selective collection of articles from the store and their output as sets of articles logically grouped together. The system further comprises a grouping device which receives the sets of articles logically grouped together as inputs and outputs corresponding packs, groups or bundles of articles physically connected to one another by restraining means.

Abstract: A method of forming, filling and sealing a reclosable package with a slider activated zipper wherein a base film moves longitudinally to a filling station and, in a moving direction, away from said filling station. At the filling station a product is fed onto the base film. As the base film carrying product is moved from the filling station, a zipper with a slider attached is fed onto the moving film in the moving direction of the base film. The zipper has a first profile and a second profile, each of which has an attached web extending away from the slider. A top film is applied over the base film and the first profile web is sealed to the base film and the second profile web is sealed to the top film. The package is completed by transversely cross-sealing the base film and the top film together on opposite sides of the product. The base and top films may be formed from the same sheet folded over or may be formed from separate sheets.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling containers, such as bottles and cans, with a liquid beverage, a filling machine for filling containers with a liquid, and a method for filling containers with the filling machine. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid filling material with an adjustable labeling mechanism for labeling bottles, a and a method of operating a beverage bottling plant. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A method of packaging merchandise items for shipment and display provides a box shaped merchandising container is formed including an enclosure with four quadrilateral sides and open top and a bottom closed by flaps. In preparation for shipment, the merchandise is loaded into an open bottom end of the container, opposite the end in which an information panel is installed, and then a removable cap is installed. The product information panel at a top corner of the enclosure is exposed when an enclosure cap is removed from that end of the enclosure. The information panel disposed at a corner of the rectangular open end of the enclosure is dimensioned to permit flat merchandise, such as home type air filters, to be withdrawn from the enclosure without destructive effect on the information panel when the closure cap is removed from the container.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that allow meat logs to be manually loaded into a slicing station and thereafter be continuously automatically processed at the slicing station, a harping station, and an insertion station for automated packaging thereof without the need for handling of the meat stacks by workers. To this end, the slicing station is effective to form smaller sections or chubs from the meat logs and to do so such that the chubs are provided with substantially parallel flat end-faces to ensure that high quality meat slices are generated therefrom. The chubs are then transported to the harping station where each of the chubs undergoes a single cutting operation, thus simultaneously forming the meat slices therefrom and substantially maintaining the slices in the configuration of the chubs for generating well-formed stacks of the slices.

Abstract: The packaging machine includes: a plurality of lane guides, the plurality of lane guides being spaced apart to form a plurality of lanes; a moveable conveyor belt having a first end and second end, the first end located beneath one of the plurality of lanes, the movable conveyor belt delivers the product to each of the plurality of lanes; a support device located at the plurality of lanes; and a shifting assembly attached to the plurality of lane guides. The method for packaging a case with a product includes: conveying a first plurality of the product to a first lane; supporting the first plurality of the product within the first lane; conveying a second plurality of the product to a second lane; shifting the first lane and the second lane in a first direction; and dropping the first plurality of the products into the case.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of inflated plastic dunnage and other fluid filled units is disclosed. In a disclosed and pictured dunnage embodiment, the machine includes a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on a frame. In the preferred embodiment the shaft is solid. With either embodiment a drive is operably connected to the shaft for causing the shaft to rotate about its axis and a drum mounted on the shaft to rotate with the shaft. The drum is in the form of a pair of closely spaced discs having perimetral, cylindrically contoured sealing surfaces for support and, in cooperation with driven metal belts, transport of a web being formed into dunnage units. Sets of heating and cooling shoes having spaced arcuate surfaces are complementally positioned adjacent the drum surfaces with the cooling shoes downstream from the heating shoes in the direction of dunnage formation rotation. A nozzle is mounted generally tangentially of the drum at a location midway between the discs.

Abstract: A packaging machine has a former with a guiding member and tube for forming an elongated bag-making material into a tubular form, a longitudinal sealer disposed on the front side of the tube for sealing mutually overlapping side edge parts of the tubularly formed bag-making material in a longitudinal direction and a transverse sealer for sealing the longitudinally sealed bag-making material in a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction to thereby package articles dropped down. The tube has a conical part at the top and a cylindrical part extending downward from the conical part. The cylindrical part has an opening on the back side such that articles dropped through the interior of the tube can directly contact the bag-making material and will be prevented from becoming clogged. An unopened part may be provided to the cylindrical part of the tube below the opening in order to maintain a circular cross-sectional shape of the bag-making material.

Abstract: A replaceable rotating cartridge capable of dispensing flexible tubing coupled to a lid of a container housing the cartridge. The cartridge is configured to accept a waste package insertable into the flexible tubing. The lid contacts an actuation device which actuates a rotation mechanism to rotate the cartridge while holding an end of the tubing stationary, thus sealably twisting and encapsulating the waste package inside the flexible tubing.

Abstract: A filter apparatus includes a gas-impermeable outer conduit having an open end and a closed end. The interior of the outer conduit is axially divided into first and second sides. A first clean and first dirty flow path are defined within the first side. A first gas-permeable liner separates the first clean flow path from the first dirty flow path and from the open end. A second clean and second dirty flow path, are defined within the second side. A second gas-permeable liner separates the second clean flow path from the second dirty flow paths and from the open end. A control valve connects one of the first clean and second clean flow paths to an exhaust conduit, and connects the other clean flow path to a selectively pulsed supply of cleaning gas.

Abstract: A personal air cleaning apparatus for preventing secondhand tobacco smoke from reaching an ambient environment thereabout, which draws in, in a concentrated fashion, the blown smoke from a people, and outwardly discharges the air to a clean zone after the air has been filtered. The apparatus includes a funnel to put a cigar or cigarette to place it in the front of a smoker's nose and mouth and blow the inhaled smoke of a cigar or cigarette. the apparatus includes a sucking/discharging unit having a suction port for sucking in contaminated air, and a discharge port for discharging filtered air. a flexible conduit for connecting the sucking/discharging unit to the funnel.

Abstract: A walk-behind implement, e.g., lawn mower, having a handle assembly, and a handle assembly release apparatus for use with such an implement. The release apparatus, in one embodiment, may permit unlocking of the handle assembly from a first operating position relative to a housing of the implement. Once unlocked, the handle assembly may be moved, e.g., pivoted, to a second storage position. In one embodiment, the release apparatus may include a lever member that may be actuated by the application of a force applied by an operator's foot.

Abstract: The mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a motor generator set, an internal combustion motor and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. The motor generator set provides electrical energy for electric motors that drive the reel type lawn mowers. A housing encloses the internal combustion motor and motor generator set and utilizes a combination of passive noise abatement means and active noise abatement means to reduce noise generated within the interior of the housing. The passive noise abatement means is provided at plurality of locations around the motor generator set within the housing.

Abstract: Controlled gap thin blade shear process to cut grass using a low energy sickle mower. A thin dull blade moves without interference across a stator. Blades and stators are not biased or pressed together while cutting, but rather the cutting blade is guidingly supported by upper and lower stators formed and positioned to maintain forceably a total controlled gap (Z) therebetween of preferably 1-5 mils. The cutting blade is thin (10-50 mils). Tensile failure of grass is avoided. Torque management system performs motor load monitoring and modulation of blade position. To reject obstructions and clean the blade, the blade can reverse, jitter, or reciprocate. Instead of attempting to slice or slam through obstructions using a high torque prime mover, a low energy low torque prime mover is utilized with intelligent reversing, obstruction clearing, and blade cleaning that saves energy, reduces noise, rejects obstructions, and prevents blade damage or operator injury.

Abstract: A machine for removing articles strewn on a tract of ground generally consisting of a wheel unit; a support frame mounted on the wheel unit, having means for advancing the machine along the tract of ground; an endless conveyor mounted on the support frame, having means to gather articles deposited on the tract of ground and a flight extending from a front end disposed adjacent ground level, upwardly and rearwardly to an elevated rear end; a receptacle mountable on the support frame, positioned to receive articles gathered by the gathering means, carried upwardly and rearwardly on the conveyor and discharged therein; a moldboard disposed forwardly of a lower front end of the conveyor, pivotally connected to the support frame; and means for driving the conveyor.

Abstract: A machine for removing articles strewn on a tract of ground generally consisting of a wheel unit; a support frame mounted on the wheel unit, having means for advancing the machine along the tract of ground; an endless conveyor mounted on the support frame, having means to gather articles deposited on the tract of ground and a flight extending from a front end disposed adjacent ground level, upwardly and rearwardly to an elevated rear end; a receptacle mountable on the support frame, positioned to receive articles gathered by the gathering means, carried upwardly and rearwardly on the conveyor and discharged therein; a moldboard disposed forwardly of a lower front end of the conveyor, pivotally connected to the support frame; and means for driving the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hand operated gardening and landscaping tools for use in cultivating soil and/or removing inferior or unwanted plants from a selected area. More particularly, the present invention relates to a combination scuffling hoe and rake assembly. The combination tool allows an operator to cut unwanted weeds below the ground surface and thereafter groom the weeded area without having to use separate tools to complete the task.

Abstract: A rake having a self-cleaning mechanism and method of its manufacture. The rake comprises a handle, a body, a plurality of tines extending from the body, a push-rod extending along the handle to the body, and an actuator connected to the push-rod, the actuator having a cleaning bar portion. The cleaning bar portion has a plurality of cleaning channels, one for each tine and is extended and retrieved along the tines when the push-rod actuator is actuated. Each of the cleaning channels has a shape and a size that generally corresponds to a shape and a size of a respective one of the tines. Upon actuation, cleaning bar moves along the tines such that the cleaning channels remove debris from the tines.

Abstract: A rake including a head, an elongate handle extending from the head, and a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, flexible tines extending from the head opposite the handle. A brace is movable along the tines between first and second positions and limits a range of motion of the tines to change the effective length and thus the effective stiffness of the flexible tines. A locking device releasably secures the brace to the head in the first and second positions and preferably at locations between the first and second positions. Spacing between the tines remains unchanged as the brace moves between the first and second positions. The handle extends past the head to the tines improving stiffness of the head so that the rake is lightweight with a low profile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel spun yarn, and a method and apparatus for the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A gas turbine exhaust passage is realized which may suppress the radiation of strong ultra low frequency noise to the outside without amplifying the turbulence of an high speed exhaust gas flow rate or a pressure pulsation generated in a gas turbine. At least a portion of a wall of a gas turbine exhaust passage (3, 5) is formed of an acoustically transmissive material (36, 56) for allowing a low frequency noise of several tens of Hz or less to pass therethrough sufficiently. Also, the acoustically transmissive material is made of one or more of a porous material, a porous heat insulating material, a mesh having a large flow resistance, cloth or film material. Further, the acoustically transmissive material is supported by a porous plate or a frame. In a case where an acoustically transmissive material is used only for an exhaust chimney (5), the exhaust chimney (5) is supported by a rack (11). Further, a soundproof panel (12) may be attached to the rack (11).

Abstract: An electromechanical compression release valve for compressors, engines with rotary or reciprocating mechanisms and external combustion engines, such as, a Stirling cycle engine, reduces the engine starting power by reducing the compression pressure in the cylinder head space area. The valve reduces the compression pressure by passing the working fluid from the cylinder head space to another compartment. The valve comprises a housing, a valve member, a valve-driving member, a valve position sensor, and a ratchet pawl. In the open position, and while starting the engine, the inlet of the rotatable valve member is aligned with the opening in a chamber connected to the engine work space, thus, the working fluid passes through the valve member into the crankcase. After the engine starts, the valve position sensor directs the valve-driving member to rotate the valve member to the closed position. When closed, the engine working fluid can now achieve the operating compression pressures.

Abstract: A rotary engine includes a round wheel, which has a shaft pivoted on a frame to provide kinetic force during rotating, wherein the round wheel is provided with a plurality of pockets. At least one block is located at a lateral side or round surface of the wheel, which keeps stable contact with the round surface of the wheel by use of elastic force provided by a spring mounted on a screw and provides a suitable oblique angle between the block and the wheel. The block has an aperture, a combustion chamber, and a power room, which are opposite to pockets of the wheel to form quasi cylinders. A roller is fixed on the frame to support and maintain the block in stable. Acting force, which can be produced when mixture fuel is input into the pocket, when the fuel is ignited and exploded in the combustion chamber, and when expansion gas is exhausted into the power room, pushes the wheel to rotate continuously for outputting efficient kinetic force for utilization.

Abstract: An exhaust nozzle includes an outer duct surrounding an inner duct. The inner duct includes a main outlet, and a row of apertures spaced upstream therefrom. The outer duct includes a row of intakes at a forward end, an auxiliary outlet at an aft end, and surrounds the inner duct over the apertures to form a bypass channel terminating at the auxiliary outlet. A row of flaps are hinged at upstream ends to selectively cover and uncover the apertures for selectively bypassing a portion of exhaust flow from the inner duct through the outer duct in confluent streams from both main and auxiliary outlets. When the flaps cover the apertures, the intakes ventilate the bypass channel and discharge flow through the auxiliary outlet.

Abstract: The thrust of a rocket motor can be varied while maintaining efficiency over a range of pressure ratios using a design that allows for changing the relative position of a plug and a combustion chamber exit. The plug or the chamber exit may be attached to an adaptive control system for position modification. The plug may be positioned in a plug nozzle configuration or in an expansion-deflection (ED) configuration. In either configuration, the elongated downstream portion of the plug allows for efficiency over a wide range of pressure ratios, while ability to change plug position with respect to the chamber exit allows adjustment of rocket thrust.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing a component (1) for being subjected to high thermal load during operation. The component includes a wall structure, which defines an inner space for gas flow. The component is formed by at least a first part (5) that includes an inner wall (8), an outer wall (9) and at least one cooling channel (11) between the walls. An end portion of said inner wall of the first part of the component is joined to a second part (6). The joint (18) is located at a distance from the interior of the component.

Abstract: To determine whether an exhaust gas purification catalyst (42) of an engine (1) has deteriorated, a characteristic of exhaust gas on an upstream side of the catalyst (42) is detected, a characteristic of the exhaust gas on a downstream side of the catalyst (42) is detected, and when the engine (1) operates at a lean air-fuel ratio, a value expressing a difference in the oxygen concentration on the upstream side and downstream side of the catalyst (42) (an average excess air ratio difference) is calculated from the two detected values. When the value expressing the difference in the oxygen concentration is smaller than a deterioration determination threshold calculated in accordance with a quantity of state of the catalyst (42), the catalyst (42) is determined to have deteriorated.

Abstract: To determine whether an exhaust gas purification catalyst (42) of an engine (1) has deteriorated, first deterioration of the catalyst (42) is determined on the basis of an excess air ratio difference, which is a value expressing a difference in the oxygen concentration on the upstream side and downstream side of the catalyst (42). When the catalyst (42) is determined to have deteriorated on the basis of the excess air ratio difference, the air-fuel ratio of the engine (1) is feedback-controlled to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and deterioration of the catalyst (42) is determined again on the basis of a value expressing a difference in the air-fuel ratio variation on the upstream side and downstream side of the catalyst (42) at that time.

Abstract: A filter (14) traps particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine (1). The filter (14) is regenerated by burning the trapped particulate matter through an operation to raise the exhaust gas temperature. An oxidation catalyst which promotes combustion of the particulate matter is coated onto the filter (14). The oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas upstream of the filter (14) and the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas downstream of the filter (14) during the regeneration period are detected using universal exhaust gas oxygen sensors (17, 16). A controller (25) determines a substantial regeneration period on the basis of the difference between these oxygen concentrations, and by comparing a maximum value of the difference between the oxygen concentrations during the substantial regeneration period with a predetermined threshold, determines deterioration of the filter (14) with a high degree of precision.

Abstract: In a method for accelerated heating of a cleaning device in the exhaust gas train of an internal combustion engine, the temperature of the cleaning device is determined, and if the temperature lies below a reference value, a bypass is opened and a variable turbine geometry is closed.

Abstract: There are provided NOx trap catalyst to trap and release NOx based on air-fuel ratio, first fuel supply means for supplying gasoline, second fuel supply means for supplying hydrogen, engine operation detecting means for detecting engine operating condition, fuel ratio changing means for changing the ratio of gasoline and hydrogen, NOx release determining means for determining whether it is required for the NOx to be released based on a state of the trapped NOx, NOx releasing means for releasing the NOx trapped by making the air-fuel ratio rich when the NOx releasing requirement is determined, gasoline ratio increasing means for increasing the ratio of gasoline when NOx releasing requirement is determined and the air-fuel-ratio rich control is executed. Accordingly, improper vibrations or noises can be restrained from occurring when the rich air-fuel-ratio control is executed to release the trapped NOx from the NOx trap catalyst.

Abstract: In an exhaust gas purifying apparatus provided with a lean NOx catalyst supporting a catalyst layer, which contains a NOx trapping component, on a honeycomb substrate formed so as not to cause an alkali attack, the invention prevents trapped NOx from being dissociated and exhausted during the time of a rich spike. A NOx reducing catalyst with the function of reducing NOx by a reductant in a rich or stoichiometric condition, e.g., a three-way catalyst, is disposed downstream of the lean NOx catalyst. In the case of increasing the amount of the NOx trapping component in the lean NOx catalyst to enhance a NOx trapping capability, even if a part of trapped NOx is dissociated during the time of the rich spike, the dissociated NOx can be reduced by the NOx reducing catalyst disposed on the downstream side.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for providing assistance in regenerating depollution means included in an exhaust system of a motor vehicle engine, the system comprising means for controlling the operation of the engine in order to switch the engine between operation in a standard lean mode and operation in a nominal rich mode for regeneration by using post-injection of fuel into the cylinders of the engine and by modifying at least one engine operation control parameter.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) calculates a pressure loss in an exhaust passage downstream of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) fluctuating in accordance with an operating state of an engine based on the operating state as a pressure loss in the exhaust passage constituting a part of a difference between an atmospheric pressure and an absolute pressure of exhaust gas flowing through the DPF. The ECU converts a mass flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing through the DPF into a volumetric flow rate based on the obtained absolute pressure. Thus, the volumetric flow rate can be calculated correctly regardless of fluctuation in the operating state, and a deposition state of exhaust particulate matters can be calculated highly accurately. Thus, regeneration of the DPF can be performed at appropriate timing.

Abstract: This invention relates to an actuator which consists of a hydraulic or pneumatic drive, which in accordance with the invention is combined with an electromechanical drive in one constructional unit, the hydraulic or pneumatic drive being the normal drive of the actuator and the electromechanical drive being used for an alternative actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: A hydraulic motor for use in subterranean drilling operations in which a drive fluid within a first reservoir is forced through the motor by a high pressure working fluid, such as drilling mud, the drive fluid entering a second reservoir upon exiting the motor. Upon a change in valving, the drive fluid in the second reservoir is forced through the motor by the high pressure working and back into the first reservoir.

Abstract: A system for generating back-up electrical power. The system includes a vessel adapted to contain a volume of compressed gas and a valve to release gas from the vessel at a predetermined pressure. A scroll expander is adapted to receive and pass the released gas. A rotary member is rotated by the flow of the released gas passed by the expander. An electrical generator is drivingly connected to the rotatable member of the expander to generate a supply of electrical power. A power conditioning unit has at least one capacitor to store electrical energy to provide a back-up electrical supply for a brief period until the scroll expander and generator can produce the required supply of electrical power.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological hydraulic power steering system for a vehicle includes a magneto-rheological power steering pump interconnecting a power steering gear of the vehicle and a drive shaft of an engine of the vehicle. The magneto-rheological hydraulic power steering system also includes a controller operatively connected to the magneto-rheological power steering pump to generate a current signal to vary a speed of the magneto-rheological power steering pump.

Abstract: A process for extracting energy from a compressed gas includes of submerging a piston-cylinder assembly to a first, lower position, holding the assembly in the lower position while introducing a predetermined amount of compressed gas into the assembly, and then releasing the assembly. Pontoons are positioned so as to engage the piston assembly when it reaches the lower position. As the assembly rises, it is mechanically engaged with an endless chain, thereby causing the endless chain to move. The energy is then recovered from the endless chain by a sprocket that is engaged with the chain at a position that is remote from the piston-cylinder assembly. The system can be positioned in a man made tank, or in an open body of water. It is efficient, inexpensive, and can be designed to effect energy conversion over an extended period of time with a minimum of maintenance.

Abstract: A recuperative heater for heating the heater heads of an external combustion machine includes a recuperative heat exchanger having an axial pass section partially surrounding the combustion chamber. Combustion products pass from the recuperative heat exchanger to a condensing exhaust gas heat surrounding the axial pass section and comprising a cylindrical exhaust gas passage ringed externally by a water jacket. Water from the water jacket may be circulated to a thermal load. A top cover of the heater opposes the heater heads or hot end of the engine. Inner and outer plenums are formed between the combustion chamber wall and the top cover and inlet air is heated in stages as its enters the outer plenum, passes into the axial pass section, into the inner plenum, then into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine which includes in the intake section a compressor with an impeller that is mounted rotatably in a compressor intake passage, the compressor includes an additional passage which opens out into the compressor intake passage and through which a mass flow of exhaust gas can be transferred from the exhaust section into the intake section via an exhaust-gas recirculation device, the exhaust gas recirculation line of the exhaust-gas recirculation system of the engine being connected to the additional passage extending directly to the compressor.

Abstract: Turbocharger comprising a rotor shaft (5), a turbine housing (2), a compressor housing (3) connected to the turbine housing (2), and including at least one air supply channel (13?) for supplying air to be compressed and at least one discharge channel (11) for delivering compressed air. One end of the rotor shaft projects into the compressor housing and supports a compressor rotor (21). A bearing (12) in the region of the compressor rotor supports the rotor shaft, and forms a bearing gap. The bearing includes two seals (29,30) axially spaced from one another to seal the bearing gap and to leave an intermediate space (31) between them. A suction channel (33,34) is connected to a vacuum source and sucks gas out of this intermediate space.

Abstract: An engine control device is configured to prevent surging in an engine equipped with both a variable-nozzle turbocharger and an EGR device while curbing costs by utilizing existing equipment and avoiding undesirable secondary effects. When the engine is in a prescribed engine operating state in which the fuel injection quantity should be reduced, the EGR quantity delivered by the EGR device is reduced to a value lower than the normal value and the opening degree of the turbine nozzle of the turbocharger is increased. The prescribed engine operating state is defined to exist when the vehicle is decelerating and when the fuel injection quantity is decreased after regeneration of the NOx trapping catalytic converter.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least two exhaust-gas turbochargers, which allows the synchronous operation of the two exhaust-gas turbochargers to be reliably set (adjusted). For each of the at least two exhaust-gas turbochargers, an actuator for controlling the boost pressure produced by the compressors of the at least two exhaust-gas turbochargers is controlled by a separate control signal. At least one of the control signals is corrected in an open-loop-controlled manner for the purpose of synchronizing the at least two exhaust-gas turbochargers.