Abstract: A glow plug includes: a tubular body (2) having at one of its ends a plug head (10) as well as a zone for being fixed into a bore, an arm (4) mounted on the body (2) of the plug at the end opposite to the plug head (10), and secured to the body (2) in a linking zone (16), an elastically deformable portion (18), located between the linking zone (16) with the arm (4) and the zone fixing the plug body (2), such that the linking zone (16) is mobile and can move longitudinally relative to the so-called stationary fixing zone, and a pressure sensor (8) arranged between an element (30) secured to the linking zone (16) and a fixed element (20) of the plug.

Abstract: In a method for heating up the intake air of an internal combustion engine during the preglow phase or start-up phase, the heating power is controlled by a control unit of the engine electronics as a function of the operating data of the internal combustion engine. During the preglow phase, the heating element is initially supplied with full current until the heating element reaches its reference temperature. After the reference temperature has been reached and until the start-up phase, a post-heating phase begins in which the heating element is kept at a constant temperature by way of a relatively low power. During the start-up phase, in a first time period, the heating element is switched off, and in a second time period in which the speed of the internal combustion engine is raised to the starting speed, the heating element is switched on again.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for operating glow plugs, that comprise a housing and a heater element projecting beyond that housing, in a diesel engine which interacts with an engine control unit and a glow plug control unit which latter, following a preheating phase, controls the electric power supplied to the glow plugs in response to an input received from the engine control unit. It is provided according to the invention that the engine control unit determines a value representative of a temperature that is to be reached at the heater element and the engine control unit transmits that value as target value to the glow plug control unit which implements that target value using an algorithm stored in the glow plug control unit and with reference to characteristic values stored in the glow plug control unit.

Abstract: A fuel injector for vaporizing a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes a plurality of capillary flow passages, each of the plurality of capillary flow passages having an inlet end and an outlet end; a heat source arranged along each of the plurality of capillary flow passages, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in each of the plurality of capillary flow passages to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from each outlet end of the plurality of capillary flow passages; and a valve for metering substantially vaporized fuel to the internal combustion engine, the valve located proximate to each outlet end of the plurality of capillary flow passages. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is disclosed in which some cylinders are adapted to run in homogeneous-charge compression-ignition (HCCI) combustion mode and at other cylinders are adapted to run in spark-ignition (SI) combustion mode. HCCI cylinders are at least 2 compression ratios higher than SI cylinders. A method for starting such engine is provided in which combustion is initiated in the SI cylinders and no fuel is supplied to HCCI cylinders. In one embodiment, preheating of HCCI cylinders is provided by a heat exchanger disposed in the exhaust of SI cylinders through which intake air to HCCI cylinders passes. Alternatively, preheating of HCCI cylinders is provided by opening an exhaust gas recirculation valve which is disposed in an exhaust gas recirculation duct between an exhaust of the SI cylinders and an intake of HCCI cylinders. When temperature in HCCI cylinders reaches a threshold, combustion in HCCI cylinders is initiated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for charging at least one combustion chamber (12) of a spark-ignition combustion engine (10) with fuel and air. At least one combustion chamber charge is produced during a shutoff phase of the internal-combustion engine (10) and is ignited when the internal-combustion engine (10) is subsequently started. The methods are characterized in that, during the shutoff phase, at least one measure is taken to produce a high percentage of fuel vapor in the combustion chamber charge. The present invention also relates to a control unit for controlling the methods.

Abstract: A method for heating a glow plug for a diesel engine to its desired temperature by supplying power to the glow plug in a controlled fashion. During a certain time interval after termination of a previous glow process, a mathematical model is used to determine the values for the supply of power to the glow plug, which includes the values of the actual thermal state of the glow plug, the time elapsed since the end of the previous glow process and the parameters of the diesel engine relevant for a glow process.

Abstract: A sheathed-element glow plug for self-igniting internal combustion engines has an electrical heating element which projects into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, and a current feed-through for providing a heating current for the heating element through an opening in the combustion chamber. A switch is positioned in the region of the current feed-through, and the heating current may be controlled by the opening and closing of the switch.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronically-controlled fuel injector, for an internal combustion engine, comprising a downstream fuel injection valve located near an air intake port of each cylinder or inside a cylinder, an air intake passage which bypasses the throttle valve located upstream of a downstream fuel injection valve, and a fuel vaporizing section including an upstream fuel injection valve, and a heater which vaporizes fuel injected from the upstream fuel injection valve; and further having an air intake port located upstream of the throttle valve, air flow control section for controlling an amount of air, said fuel vaporizing section, vaporized-fuel branch section for supplying vaporized fuel to each cylinder, and a vaporized-fuel distribution passage which extends from the vaporized-fuel branch section to an opening located in each air intake pipe located downstream of the throttle valve.

Abstract: Electrical resistances to carry out heating of air necessary for the combustion process of an engine, each of said resistance being in continuous tape form, with a pronounced coiled trajectory so that the resistance is distributed uniformly in an orifice for the passage of air established in a support and has its larger faces located in imaginary planes parallel to the axis of said orifice so that the electrical resistance presents its front rim to the passage of the air with a minimum loss of head, while presenting a wide contact surface to the air. The resistance is fastened to the support in arched recesses defined in diametrically opposed areas of said support, with the interposition of respective ceramic insulators being connected to ground by one of its ends and by its other end to the electricity supply cable.

Abstract: The method for direct start of an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection into combustion chambers of the engine that are filled with air includes improving or increasing fuel vaporization in the combustion chambers when a start temperature (T) of the internal combustion engine is below a predetermined start temperature threshold (T_S). The apparatus for performing the method includes a control unit (20) for controlling direct start of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: When starting an engine, the engine is driven by a starting motor and, at the same time, a fuel heating heater can be operated. If the engine is stopped and then immediately restarted, the operation of fuel heating heater is controlled according to the operation time of the fuel heating heater in the last operation. That is, if a period of time is brief between a stopping and a restarting of the engine, heat generated when the fuel heating heater was operated last remains and, in consideration of the amount of that residual heat, generation of heat by the fuel heating heater is restricted.

Abstract: Atomizing air flowing in an atomizing gas passage is merged with a fuel spray to promote atomization of the fuel, and carrier air flowing in a carrier gas passage is merged with the fuel spray at a further downstream position so as to surround the fuel spray. By doing so, the atomized fuel spray is carried to the downstream side so as to prevent the fuel spray from adhering onto the wall surface. The starting-up performance, fuel consumption and exhaust gas cleaning of an internal combustion engine are improved in this way.

Abstract: In order to provide for reduced internal combustion engine exhaust emissions when cold starting an internal combustion engine, there is provided two methods and systems for cold starting an internal combustion engine, and one method and system for shutting down an internal combustion engine. The methods and systems are directed towards: (1) a preheating of a minimum of one thermally activated sensor within an internal combustion engine prior to cold starting of the internal combustion engine; (2) an autocranking of an internal combustion engine while metering fuel into the internal combustion engine and timing ignition within the internal combustion engine such as to reduce internal combustion exhaust emissions when cold starting the internal combustion engine; and (3) a phased shut down of fuel supply control followed by ignition source control when shutting down an internal combustion engine after operating the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A cold starting system and power management software consisting of an air heater system, a fuel heater system, a controller with microprocessor and related software, a series of devices comprising of switches, indicators, solenoids and sensors, is used as an aid to assist start up of air cooled combustion engines in extreme temperature environments. Both the air and fuel heater systems include electrically powered heating elements. The power management software controls the sequential operation of individual system components.

Abstract: A method for heating the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine, an exhaust pipe of the fuel-injected internal combustion engine being designed with an exhaust-gas flap; the exhaust-gas flap being closed or retained in the closed state when switching on the ignition of the internal combustion engine and over a predeterminable time of operation of a starter of the internal combustion engine; and no fuel being fed into the combustion chambers during this time.

Abstract: A cold starting system and power management software consisting of an air heater system, a fuel heater system, a controller with microprocessor and related software, a series of devices comprising of switches, indicators, solenoids and sensors, is used as an aid to assist start up of air cooled combustion engines in extreme temperature environments. Both the air and fuel heater systems include electrically powered heating elements. The power management software controls the sequential operation of individual system components.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) of an engine system starts a control (preheat) that supplies heat reserving hot water stored in a heat accumulating device to an engine prior to an engine start. The ECU determines a time that continues the preheat on the basis of a cooling water temperature of the engine so as to execute the engine start after a warming-up of the engine is reliably finished. Further, during the execution of the preheat, a lighting lamp is turned on, and that incidence is recognized to a driver. When the preheat is completed, the ECU automatically starts the engine.

Abstract: A method of using a petroleum based fuel in an internal combustion gasoline engine. The fuel has a flash point of at least 5° F. and the fuel is heated, within the engine, to a temperature above 5° F. The electrodes of the spark plugs are continually energized until the electrodes are at a temperature above the flashpoint of the fuel. The electrodes of the spark plugs are then energized intermittently and the fuel is introduced into the heated cylinders to ignite the fuel in the cylinders in a selected sequence. An alternate embodiment of a heated electrode is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of heating fuel using a heated tip fuel injector includes providing an internal combustion engine having at least one fuel injector, the at least one fuel injector having an internal heater; energizing the engine starter and the internal heater; injecting fuel using closed valve injection; changing the load on the engine and substantially simultaneously switching to open valve injection; and after catalyst light-off, substantially simultaneously switching to closed valve injection.

Abstract: The invention seeks to improve the functioning of a piston internal combustion engine which uses heat vaporization of the fuel, already in the starting and cold running phase. This is achieved by using a fuel preheater having at least one glow plug fitted directly in the nozzle-holder shank. The glow plug protrudes into the modified fuel chamber of the valve body, and is in direct contact with the fuel. In this way, the fuel is instantaneously heated to a temperature far above boiling point at atmospheric pressure. As a result, the combustion process of the internal combustion engine is considerably more efficient in the starting and cold running phase. In addition, fuel consumption is lower and cleaner exhaust gases are given off.

Abstract: A cold start fuel preheat system for an internal combustion engine includes a housing and a fuel rail extending through the housing to deliver fuel to the internal combustion engine. The cold start fuel preheat system also includes a phase transform material disposed in the housing and about the fuel rail. The cold start fuel preheat system further includes a mechanism for heating the phase transform material such that the phase transform material stores the heat and transfers the stored heat to the fuel during cold start of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine are disclosed. One of the disclosed apparatus includes an electric starter operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine and an energy storage device for supplying the starter with power. The apparatus is also provided with a sensor for detecting a temperature of the internal combustion engine and a consumer control device associated with a consumer of electrical power. The apparatus is further provided with a power flow controller which controls the consumer control device such that a portion of the energy stored in the energy storage device is delivered to the consumer of electrical power before the electric starter is supplied with power. The portion of the energy has a size which is dependent upon the sensed temperature. The size of the portion is smaller at low temperatures than at high temperatures.