Abstract: A planting assembly including a frame, a furrow opening mechanism, a seed tube for directing a seed into a furrow, a liquid source, a liquid delivery conduit having a delivery end, and a furrow closing mechanism. An adapter is configured for mounting to the seed tube, and a spray arm including a proximal end is configured for mounting to the adapter. The spray arm includes a central portion and a distal end, the central portion extends rearward such that the distal end is disposed above the furrow. The liquid delivery conduit is in fluid communication with the liquid source and the delivery end is adjacent to the distal end.

Abstract: A method for the subsurface application of fertilizers, biologicals, fumigants, non-fumigant pesticides or other chemicals to soil with reduced application rates. Discrete amounts of the materials are injected into the soil at numerous sites along a path during a pass through the soil. At the injection sites, the materials form diffusion patterns which may touch or overlapping with diffusion patterns of adjacent soil injections. The application of materials to soil in this manner maintains optimum efficacy with the use of the least amount of materials necessary per acre of soil.

Abstract: The soil mulching process, includes the following stages: mixing together at least two liquid starting substances able to react together to give rise, within a determined time period, to an inert solid final substance while still in the liquid state, pouring the obtained mixture onto the soil surface in a quantity such as to obtain on the soil surface, when the reaction between the components is complete, a layer of the solid substance of a thickness which prevents light passage through it.

Abstract: An improved quilting apparatus and method for automatically providing a variable sewing area (VSA) independent of the throat depth of the sewing machine used and X/Y carriages on which the sewing machine is mounted, comprising a rotatably-powered take-up roller mounted on laterally movable carriages, a tension system for continuous tension on fabric and batting, arm-mounted or sewing machine-mounted sensors that detect proximity or engage fabric on the take-up roller and cause rotation of the take-up roller so that it is out of the way of the advancing or returning sewing machine. The inventive VSA system includes a microprocessor-based controller for automatic operation, which controller interfaces with PC operated quilting programs that drive powered X/Y carriage systems to allow sewing of quilting patterns much larger than the throat depth of conventional sewing machines.

Abstract: A trimaran having a hull and outrigger pontoons on each side of the hull. The pontoon are laterally movable away and towards the hull. Each of the pontoons are secured to the hull by forward and aft link boxes. The link boxes are pivotally mounted to the port side and starboard side of the hull. Each of the link boxes are also pivotally secured to a pontoon. The forward and aft link boxes of each side are connected together by a linkage whereby the forward port side and starboard link boxes are arcuately rotated when the aft port side and starboard link boxes are arcuately rotated.

Abstract: A sailboat mast stepping system for efficiently using mechanical aids to raise or lower the mast of a sailboat. The sailboat mast stepping system includes a base, a support member substantially housed within the base, a catch member positionable at the end of support member opposite the base and an actuator. Activating the actuator manipulates the support member with respect to the base.

Abstract: A very large diameter turret for mooring a VLCC class FPSO vessel. A large diameter rail and wheel bearing system is disposed between a turret main deck and the hull of the vessel. The turret is designed for a flexibility to allow the turret main deck to conform to the sag or hog of the vessel so that excessive forces on the wheels of the bearing system are avoided. The turret's main deck, in a preferred embodiment, includes a center hub, an outer ring, and spokes between the hub and outer ring. A lower chain deck is preferably connected to the main deck by pillars or columns, or alternatively by riser tubes alone, or other structures that achieve the desired flexibility of the main deck.

Abstract: A retractable-airfoil vessel has surface-effect wings (1) that are hinged or otherwise attached extendedly to a vessel (3). The surface-effect wings are extendable to a use mode in proximity to a surface of water (5) at sides (2) of the vessel for surface-effect lift of the vessel at elevated speeds. At low speeds when pleasure cruising or fishing, when stopped for water activities or when adjusting to rough waters and storm conditions, the surface-effect wings can provide wide-area buoyance on water at sides of a center of gravity of the vessel. The best of all worlds, it can be made to ride-out a storm as safely and securely as an anchored buoy and yet have high-speed efficiency, low-speed pleasure cruising and stopping for swimming and marine exploration. Then for docking in vessel slips and for maneuvering in close proximity to docks and harbor structures, the surface-effect wings can be retracted onto the vessel in a non-use mode for non-interference storage and for docked-living shelter.

Abstract: The attachment to a sea scooter is a device that allows for safer, more stable use of a sea scooter. The central component of the attachment to a sea scooter is a clamp having a split ring to secure around a sea scooter. On both sides of the clamp are wings having stirrups for the attachment of pivoting arms. Attached to each of the arms is a pair of removable hollow poles that are pivotally connected to a pair of floats. Each float has a post with a pennant attached to it. One of the hollow poles may be equipped with a flexible breathing tube. The flexible breathing tube extends through the post, down through the hollow pole, and then exits the pole. A wheeled frame attached below the clamp allows a user to easily transport the attachment when not in use.

Abstract: A seating system for use in a watercraft is disclosed. The seating system comprises a seat pan adapted to be mounted to the watercraft, a pad coupled to the seat pan and adapted to provide a seating surface for the user, and a back rest coupled to the seat pan. The seating system further comprises a first adjustment mechanism configured to provide for and aft adjustment of the seating position, a second adjustment mechanism configured to provide adjustment of the back rest without having to exit the watercraft, and a third adjustment mechanism configured to provide adjustment of the seating surface.

Abstract: A flexible flag has a plurality of spiral shaped wire elements carried by the flexible flag body. The wire elements are mounted for rotation about generally parallel axes along a vertical support. Gearing between a motor and the elements rotates the elements. The elements have portions spaced from their end portions offset from the axes of rotation. Those elements are in phase or out of phase relative to one another. Rotation of the elements causes a rippling or waving effect in the flag simulative of a flag waving in the breeze.

Abstract: This invention is to offer an indication system and method of a meter part having excellent visibility and designing property. Alight is irradiated from the first light source toward the indicating panel from the side of the indicating face for making the background part of the indicating panel luminous with a complementary color to a color indicating the indicator part of pointers, graduations, numerals and others.

Abstract: A rotary milking parlor milker detacher having a pivoting support arm and retracting chain arrangement that is synchronized with a rotating platform position to move the detacher between a storage position, a presentation position, and a milking position to protect the detacher from damage and provide a superior ergonomic design that reduces operator fatigue and turnover.

Abstract: A controller for monitoring and controlling an operating pulsator in a milking system is shown. The controller comprises a first sensor operatively connected to a designated pulsator for receiving a pulsating vacuum therefrom. The controller produces a first signal representing the pulsating vacuum level. A processor is operatively connected to the first sensor for receiving the first signal. The processor includes a comparator for comparing the first signal to a stored reference signal representing a predetermined vacuum range of pulsating vacuum levels programmed as acceptable for milking system pulsators. The processor generates at least one control signal when the designed pulsator pulsating vacuum level is at a vacuum level outside of the predetermined vacuum range. A control circuit signals that the designated pulsator pulsating vacuum level is outside of the range of pulsating vacuum levels programmed as acceptable for the milking system pulsators.

Abstract: A portable deer and game feeder includes a tub-like feeder box, a support frame for supporting the feeder box, the support frame including a plurality of removable legs for supporting the feeder box above the ground, and a roof extending over the feeder box and being large enough to overhang the edges of the feeder box. A plurality of removable roof support posts are provided for supporting the roof over the feeder box, and the removable legs and the removable roof supports are sized and configured to be detached and stowed in the feeder box for transport.

Abstract: A cage, such as a bird or other animal cage, incorporates a number of integral fastening elements that facilitate assembly of vertical side panels and top panels of the cage without the use of hand tools. Pin and aperture fastening elements are combined with headed pin and keyhole slot fastening elements to facilitate attachment of adjacent panels to one another. U-shaped locking clips are also employed to insure that the assembled side panels cannot move vertically relative to one another. The top assembly of the cage uses tab and slot type and U-shape clip type fastening elements to facilitate assembly.

Abstract: A pet toy having projecting portions and a method of making such is provided. The toy may be molded in a collapsed or dissembled position for packaging, shipping and storage and expanded or assembled for access by an animal. One embodiment of the invention comprises complimentary joint regions in which one or more legs may move relative to a base portion.

Abstract: Improvements in fall protection are disclosed, including a method for providing fall protection for human and non-human loads in elevated environments. The load is equipped with a safety harness and lanyard apparatus having first and second lanyards attached thereto. A method is disclosed for providing fall protection for human and non-human loads in an elevated environment wherein the load is primarily supported by an aerial lift vehicle or structure generally adjacent to a second structure.

Abstract: An elastic dog leash and coupler utilizes brightly colored florescent latex tubing for a major portion of the leash and coupler. The tubing is mounted between rings. A monofilament nylon line is mounted within the tubing and connected to the rings. The monofilament line has a length significantly greater than the unstretched length of the tubing, and limits the degree to which the tubing may be stretched. With respect to the leash, a nonstretchable webbing handle is attached at one end and a stop section of the leash is attached at the other end. The coupler is comprised of a plurality of sections of tubing mounted to a ring, which may be attached to the end of the leash. The other ends of the tubing of the coupler are provided with nonstretchable webbing material which may be utilized as a stop section for the coupler leash. The webbing material may be provided with a reflective stripe for additional safety at night.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a steam generation apparatus that is liquid fuel fired and addresses conversion of gaseous fuel SIB units to operate with liquid fuel. The invention also relates to a conversion unit for a steam injection boiler, a method for converting a steam injection boiler from gas firing to possible liquid fuel firing and a method for generating steam from a liquid fuel source. The invention employs a fired heater for heating the liquid fuel to a temperature suitable for firing and preheats the water to compensate for the shortfall in heat liberation when a gas boiler is converted to use liquid fuel. In another aspect of the invention, production of steam is achievable consistently by employing step-up heaters with a steam injection boiler. The heaters being connected in parallel to continue heating the water/steam to achieve a higher quality steam over that produced in the boiler while minimizing consideration as to the adverse effects of coil fouling in the boiler.

Abstract: A heat storage tank includes a tank body having a cylindrical opening portion at one end side, and a coolant passage portion for defining therein flow passages communicating with the tank body. The tank body stores a coolant of a liquid-cooled engine therein while being thermal insulated, and the coolant flows into and flows out of the tank body through the flow passages. The coolant passage portion includes an insertion portion that is inserted into the opening portion in its axial direction. At least two O-rings are provided between the opening portion of the tank body and the insertion portion to seal a clearance therebetween, and are lined in the axial direction to be separated from each other in the axial direction by a predetermined distance. Accordingly, the heat storage tank can improve sealing performance of the coolant.

Abstract: A motorcycle lubrication oil cooling system that cools lubrication oil without increasing the number of parts, weight, or cost, and yet is simple in construction. The cooling system is applicable to motorcycles in which an engine is cooled by a coolant pump driven by a crankshaft. The coolant pump is provided on a side face of the engine, and an oil storage chamber capable of storing a specified amount of lubrication oil is provided adjacent to the coolant pump, while a covering member is provided to cover both the oil storage chamber and a coolant pump chamber that houses the coolant pump. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention discloses in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A movable crankshaft assembly is positioned by a positioning device hydraulically connected to a constant pressure hydraulic reservoir. The hydraulic connection between the reservoir and the positioning device is equipped with pressure relief valves connected in parallel to pass fluid in either direction to maintain the same pressure in the positioning device as in the reservoir.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a variable compression ratio mechanism operatable during an intake stroke to change an actual compression ratio of the engine, and is capable of correcting an amount of fuel injected into the engine in response to a change in the compression ratio.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine that has a camshaft having a plurality of cam lobes, a plurality of valves where each of the valves are actuated by a lifter actuated by the camshaft with a cam lobe. The lifter comprises a lifter body having an upper surface and a lower surface. A cam contact plate pivots on an axis on the upper surface of the lifter body. Opposed hydraulic actuators are present on either side of the axis of the cam contact plate, where each hydraulic actuators comprise a fluid chamber in the lifter body, a piston in the chamber, and a spring biasing the piston into contact with the cam contact plate. The lifter further comprises a line supplying hydraulic fluid to the fluid chambers of the hydraulic actuators and a control valve for controlling fluid flow from one hydraulic actuator to the other hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: A system and method control intake air of an internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one combustion chamber provided with intake valves together with an intake manifold provided with a throttle valve. The opening and closure timings of the intake valves are adjustable entirely independently by electromagnetic drivers from the crankshaft position to control the amount of intake air supplied to the combustion chamber. The system and method provide a response adjustment to variable valve timing control of the intake valves for unthrottled intake air control.

Abstract: A variable valve control system for an internal combustion engine includes first and second variable valve control mechanisms capable of varying valve lift characteristics of one of an intake valve and exhaust valve, and a controller that controls the first and second variable valve control mechanisms. The controller includes a detecting section for detecting a malfunction of the first variable valve control mechanism, and a control section that controls the second variable valve control mechanism upon detection of the malfunction of the first variable valve control mechanism so that an intake valve opening timing coincides with or is retarded from an exhaust valve closing timing. A variable valve control method is also provided.

Abstract: A valve operating device for an internal combustion engine is capable of increasing a negative valve overlapping duration when maximum lift amounts of an intake valve and an exhaust valve are small. The valve operating device is provided with intake-side and exhaust-side characteristic adjustment mechanisms for adjusting operating characteristics of an intake valve and an exhaust valve. Each characteristic adjustment mechanism has a control cam rotating integrally with a cam shaft, an electric motor that causes a holder pivoted on the cam shaft to rotate about the cam shaft, a sub-rocker lever pivoted on the holder and caused to oscillate by the control cam, and a valve cam that is caused to oscillate around the cam shaft by oscillation of the holder and the sub-rocker lever, for causing oscillation of main rocker levers.

Abstract: There is provided a valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, which makes it possible to secure a right amount of combustion gases in a combustion chamber, irrespective of whether an EGR device is in operation or not, thereby obtaining a sufficient effect of reduced exhaust emissions by reduction of NOx. A crank angle position sensor and an intake pipe absolute pressure sensor detect operating conditions of the engine. An ECU determines whether the EGR device is in operation or not. A target cam phase is set in dependence on the detected operating conditions of the engine and a result of the determination as to whether the EGR device is in operation or not, and the cam phase is controlled to the target cam phase.

Abstract: An engine starting device includes an air-intake flow channel in which air sucked by an engine flows. A throttle valve is provided in the air-intake flow channel for controlling airflow. An air channel bypassing the throttle valve and communicating the air-intake flow channel between an upstream side and a downstream side of the throttle valve is also provided. The air channel includes a first channel portion and a second channel portion. A first opening-closing valve opens and closes the first channel portion of the air channel and a control device controls the first opening-closing valve. The engine starting device also includes a second opening-closing valve opening and closing the second channel portion and the first channel portion. The control device determines a starting state of the engine, controls the first opening-closing valve to open the first channel portion when the engine is not in the starting state and to close the first channel portion after the engine has started.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for intake air plenum construction for an automobile's internal combustion engine is claimed. The intake air plenum consists of an air inlet flange connected through a chamber to an air outlet flange. The intake air plenum improves upon conventional intake air plenums with a contoured interior chamber that eliminates restrictions and sharp turns. The method improves engine performance by optimizing air flow to the engine with an improved intake air plenum construction.

Abstract: A balancer structure for an engine includes a first balancer shaft, a second balancer shaft, a crankshaft having a crank gear and balancer gears on the first and second balancer shafts provided parallel to the crankshaft and driven for rotation by the crank gear. The first balancer shaft is provided on one side of a normal plane including an axis of the crankshaft, and the second balancer shaft is provided on another side. On the second balancer shaft is provided a counter gear for transmitting a rotation of the crankshaft to a main shaft of a transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A cylinder block for constituting an engine such as a diesel engine, comprises a cylinder portion (31) housing a piston (33); a curved skirt portion (32) covering a crankshaft (25); and ribs (61,62) formed on the inside of the skirt portion (32).

Abstract: The motor according to the present invention consists of a piston (1), cylinder (2), connecting rod (3), connecting rod rotary bolt gear wheel (4), connecting rod rotary bolt (5), crank shaft (6), crank shaft bolt (7), double faced gear wheel (9) and other gear wheels (10, 11, 12). As the connecting rod (3) is moved by the connecting rod rotary bolt gear wheel (4) that moves together with the connecting rod rotary bolt (5), without being directly dependent on the movement of the crank shaft bolt (7) although the connecting rod (3) is connected to the crank shaft (6) and to the piston (1); the crank shaft (6) moves independently of the connecting rod (3). This provides the difference between the travel path of the piston (1) between the lower and upper dead points, and the rotational diameter of the crank shaft bolt (7). In this case, the connecting rod (3) makes an elliptical movement on the crank shaft bolt (7) instead of a circular movement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for limiting engine operation during fueling. The apparatus comprises, an engine control for enabling or disabling operation of the engine, one or more sensors for detecting whether (i) a cap is on the vehicle fuel fill-pipe, and (ii) a fueling nozzle is in the fuel fill-pipe, a processor coupled to the engine control and the one or more sensors receiving information therefrom and directing the engine control to enable or disable the vehicle engine depending upon the sensor outputs, thereby, disabling the engine when the cap is not on the fill-pipe and/or a fueling nozzle is in the fill-pipe, and enabling the engine when not true. In a further embodiment, a fuel level sensor coupled to the processor is used to detect whether a fuel level change rate R(t)?Rc where Rc is a predetermined value, and if so, disabling the engine.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to enable the reliable compression ignition from starting of a pilot oil ignition gas engine in whose cylinder head there is provided a precombustion chamber unit with pilot injection valve that has liquid fuel injection valves and a precombustion chamber by using the injection of pilot oil from the liquid fuel injection valves, and to thereby allow the engine to be started smoothly. The position of a fuel rack (fuel control rod) that controls the discharge quantity of fuel injection pumps that feed pilot oil to the liquid fuel injection valves is controlled by a control apparatus via a rack control actuator (a position control actuator). In addition, the control apparatus counts the engine speed from pulses generated by a speed sensor and, in a region where the engine speed is low, sets the discharge quantity of the fuel injection pumps to a large quantity.

Abstract: A homogeneous charge compression ignition engine that prevents knocking and misfires when changing output and when the load or air-fuel ratio changes due to one reason or another when operating under a predetermined condition. A controller determines whether or not the air-fuel ratio is changing in such a manner that there is a possibility of knocking or misfires occurring by using a map defining a range, in which stable homogeneous charge compression ignition operation is enabled, in relation with the air-fuel ratio and the intake air temperature. When the air-fuel ratio indicates that there is a possibility of knocking or misfires occurring, the controller controls an intake air temperature adjustor to adjust the intake air temperature based on the map.

Abstract: An engine system is capable of switching between a first fuel injection mode, in which fuel is injected from a fuel injection valve 23 directly into a combustion chamber 6 in the compression stroke, and a second fuel injection mode, in which fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve 23 directly into the combustion chamber 6 in the intake stroke. A controller 30 determines the characteristic of the fuel that is supplied to the fuel injection valve 23, selects either the first fuel injection mode or the second fuel injection mode according to the fuel characteristic, and starts an engine 1 in the selected fuel injection mode.

Abstract: To suppress deposition of fuel injected at an early timing on a wall surface for preventing the degradation in fuel efficiency and increase in the amount of harmful components in an exhaust gas, in a direct-injection diesel engine which controls the injector to cause a combustion configuration dominated by the compressive ignition of the premixture while the engine is in the premixed combustion region defined on a low load side. When fuel is injected at an early timing to form the premixture, at least one of the pulse width to be inputted into the injector and the fuel pressure is or are adjusted according to the change in the injection timing, and corrected according to the intake air temperature or the intake pressure. If an allowable pulse width is insufficient to inject fuel in the amount corresponding to a target torque, fuel is injected in a divided manner.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (an ECU) of a fuel injection system performs a learning injection based on a learning injection quantity and obtains multiple influence values of an operating state of an engine generated through the learning injection. The ECU calculates a learning value for correcting the injection quantity in a normal operation based on the multiple influence values. The ECU determines whether the influence value obtained during the learning injection is within a predetermined range of the influence value. The ECU calculates a provisional learning injection quantity for bringing a subsequent influence value into the predetermined range if the influence value obtained in an early stage of the obtainment is out of the predetermined range. Then, the ECU calculates the other influence values by performing the other learning injections based on the provisional learning injection quantity.

Abstract: A compression ignition engine (10) for a motor vehicle has a control system (20) for processing data, one or more combustion chambers (12), and fuel injectors (18) for injecting fuel into the chambers. The control system controls lean-rich modulation of fueling using independent maps. One set of maps is a set of lean fueling maps, and another set is a set of rich fueling maps. The strategy is represented by a flow diagram (30) and is useful in regenerating a NOx adsorber catalyst (16) in the engine exhaust system (14) in a manner that controls torque so that the regeneration process is transparent to the operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air amount control valve is connected to a sidewall of a throttle body in which a main air passage for supplying intake air into an internal combustion engine is formed. The air amount control valve has a bypass air passage bypassing the main passage and controls an amount of air flowing through the bypass air passage, thereby controlling an idling speed of the engine. The air amount control valve includes an aluminum alloy housing having a valve hole and a rotatable valve body having a valve surface facing a fringe wall of the valve hole. To prevent deposits from adhering to the fringe wall facing the valve surface, an anodic oxide film is formed to cover the fringe wall and further a fluororesin film is formed on the anodic oxide film.

Abstract: A controller 21 controls an intake air flow rate via an electronic throttle 14 based on a feedback correction amount set so that a rotation speed (NE) of an internal combustion engine (11) during idle running gradually approaches a target value (tNE). When the deviation (?NE) between the rotation speed (NE) and the target value (tNE) becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value (XNE), increase correction of the intake air flow rate is performed according to the deviation (?NE). When the deviation (?NE) falls below the predetermined value (XNE), a value corresponding to the increase correction amount at that time is added to the feedback correction amount, and subsequent increase correction amounts are set to zero, so the decreased engine rotation speed (NE) can be returned to the target value (tNE) with a rapid response, and future drops of the returned engine rotation speed (NE) are prevented.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement as well as a computer program for controlling an internal combustion engine are suggested. A torque model is utilized in the context of the computation of actual quantities and/or actuating quantities. In the context-of the torque model computation, the combustion center is considered which describes the angle at which a specific portion of the combustion energy is converted.

Abstract: There is provided a spark ignition engine having a low RON fuel tank to store a low RON fuel and a high RON fuel tank to store a high RON fuel, which can detect storage failure. It is judged that the two kinds of fuels are properly stored when differences between the base ignition timing and the practical ignition timing at different loads are identical. When the differences are not identical, for example, it is judged that the high RON fuel is stored both in the two fuel tanks when a difference between the proper mix fuel knocking-occur ignition timing and the practical ignition timing is decreased as the load is increased.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, in which multiple kinds of fuels are fed to a cylinder from multiple fuel injectors each corresponding to each of multiple kinds of fuels at a target mixing ratio determined according to a running condition, includes an actual fuel mixing ratio calculator calculating an actual fuel mixing ratio of fuel fed to cylinder. The actual fuel mixing ratio calculator at first calculates actual fuel injection quantity of each fuel injection by adding or subtracting predetermined stuck-on-wall fuel to or from each quantity of fuel injected from each fuel injector, and then calculates an actual fuel mixing ratio of fuel fed to cylinder on the basis of the calculated actual fuel injection quantity of each fuel injector.

Abstract: The invention takes account of the residual gas exiting from the cylinder in order to reliably determine the air mass drawn in. To this end, the dependency of the air mass drawn in on the intake pressure is divided into three areas, from which the average area is modeled as a non-linear dependency of the air mass drawn in on the intake pressure.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) of an injection control system of an internal combustion engine determines that a load of a fuel pump is stabilized when a pressure-feeding operation delay elapses since a command pressure-feeding quantity outputted to the fuel pump reaches a certain pressure-feeding quantity necessary to maintain a target injection pressure. The ECU permits a single injection when a waiting period necessary to measure rotation speeds once for each cylinder before the single injection is performed elapses since the load of the fuel pump is stabilized. Thus, the single injection timing is determined based on the time point when the command pressure-feeding quantity is stabilized, the pressure-feeding operation delay, and the waiting period. Therefore, an injection quantity learning operation can be performed highly accurately in a short period.

Abstract: An air fuel delivery system arrangement for an engine is provided, including an air manifold body, having a first set of runners for a first cylinder bank with inlets on a first side and outlets on a second side of the manifold body and a second set of runners for a second cylinder bank with inlets on a second side and outlets on a first side. And a first fuel rail is included, having outlets for connection with fuel injectors for delivering fuel to the first cylinder bank being positioned generally between the inlets of the manifold body. A second fuel rail is also included, having outlets for connection with fuel injectors for delivering fuel to the second cylinder bank being positioned generally between the inlets of the manifold body being generally vertically aligned with the first fuel rail.

Abstract: A system and method to predict engine air amount for an internal combustion engine is described. Included is a method to predict a change in engine air amount based on engine position. This method especially suited to engine starts, where engine air amount is difficult to predict due to low engine speed and limited sensor information. The system and method provides the prediction of engine air amount without extensive models or calibration. Fuel is supplied based on the predicted engine air amount.