Abstract: A system and method to control valve timing and valve lift of an engine is described. The valve timing can be adjusted to improve engine operation when a range of fuels are used. The method can improve engine performance and the energy utilization, at least under some conditions.

Abstract: An engine control system includes a fuel injector that injects a mixture of ethanol and gasoline directly into a combustion chamber of a spark-ignition direct-injection (SIDI) engine. A control module controls a start of injection of the fuel injector such that the start of injection occurs more than 335 crank angle degrees before a top dead center of a compression stroke of the engine (CAD bTDC).

Abstract: A control device for a premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) internal combustion engine is provided, capable of stable operation over a wide operating range. The control device of an engine 1 comprises: a fuel supply means 20 of supplying the main fuel to the engine 1; an hydrogen supply means 30 of supplying reformed gas containing hydrogen; a fuel supply control unit 41 of controlling an injection timing and an injection period of the main fuel supplied from the injector 22 of the fuel supply means 20 based on the PCCI combustion condition of the engine 1; and a hydrogen supply control unit 42 of controlling an injection timing and an injection period of reformed gas from the gas injector 32 of the hydrogen supply means 30 based on the PCCI combustion condition.

Abstract: A fuel injector for a work machine is disclosed. The fuel injector has nozzle member having at least one orifice and a needle valve element having a tip end. The needle valve element is axially movable to selectively allow and block fuel flow through the at least one orifice with the tip end. The fuel injector also has at least one supply passageway in communication with the tip end of the needle valve and a variable restrictive device disposed within the at least one supply passageway.

Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of an injector coupled to the engine and configured to inject fuel to a cylinder of the engine, a first reservoir holding a first fluid containing at least a fraction of gasoline, a second reservoir holding a second fluid containing at least a fraction of ethanol; and a mixing device having an inlet portion coupled to both said first and second reservoir, said mixing device further having an outlet portion coupled to said injector; and wherein said mixing device is coupled to said injector through at least one check valve.

Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising a cylinder, a first injection subsystem for injecting a first substance into the cylinder, a second injection subsystem for injecting a second substance into the cylinder, and an electronic engine controller configured to control a plurality of operating parameters of the engine, where the electronic engine controller is configured to cause variation of at least one of the operating parameters in response to a shortfall condition of the second injection subsystem.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling autoignition of a fuel mixture, notably for a diesel type internal-combustion engine, according to which a fuel mixture is made in at least one combustion chamber (14) of the engine with a fuel and at least one fluid in order to obtain a homogeneous type combustion by autoignition. The method includes defining a desired combustion progress by autoignition of the fuel mixture, and adjusting the cetane number of the fuel used for the mixture to that of the fuel providing the desired combustion progress is obtained.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber including a first spark plug and a second spark plug, wherein the first spark plug is configured to operate at a higher temperature than the second spark plug, the method comprising of varying at least a resulting ratio of an amount of a fuel and an amount of a fluid delivered to the combustion chamber responsive to a first condition, and selectively using at least one of the first spark plug and the second spark plug to ignite at least one of the fuel and the fluid delivered to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: As one example, a fuel rail assembly for supplying pressurized fuel to a plurality of cylinders of an engine is provided. The fuel rail assembly includes a fuel rail housing defining an internal fuel rail volume having at least a first region and a second region; a fuel separation membrane element disposed within the fuel rail housing that segregates the first region from the second region. The membrane element can be configured to pass a first component of a fuel mixture such as an alcohol through the membrane element from the first region to the second region at a higher rate than a second component of the fuel mixture such as a hydrocarbon. The separated alcohol and hydrocarbon components can be provided to the engine in varying relative amounts based on operating conditions.

Abstract: A system for an engine of a vehicle, comprising of a combustion chamber located in the engine; a delivery system configured to deliver a fuel and a fluid to at least the combustion chamber in varying ratios, wherein the fluid includes at least an alcohol; wherein the delivery system includes at least a direct injector configured to inject at least the fluid directly into the combustion chamber; and a control system configured to advance the timing of the fluid delivered to the combustion chamber by the direct injector to reduce the likelihood of knock; and retard the timing of the fluid delivered to the combustion chamber by the direct injector to reduce the likelihood of preignition.

Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine and system including the engine is provided. The method may include closing an exhaust valve of a combustion chamber of said engine during a cylinder cycle prior to opening an intake valve of said combustion chamber. The method may include, when a desired engine torque is a predetermined torque or greater, supplying a first pilot fuel into said combustion chamber after said exhaust valve closing and supplying a first main fuel into said combustion chamber after the combustion of said first preliminary fuel during the cylinder cycle. The method may include, when a desired engine torque is less than said predetermined torque, supplying a second pilot fuel into said combustion chamber after said exhaust valve closing during the cylinder cycle and supplying a second main fuel into said combustion chamber after the supplying of said second pilot fuel into said combustion chamber.

Abstract: Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.

Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes a component adjustment unit, a low-pressure side passage, and a valve. The unit adjusts component composition of fuel by separating a particular component from fuel. The unit includes a component separation wall, which divides an interior of a portion of a fuel supply passage between an anterior chamber and a posterior chamber. The wall includes a separation membrane, which the particular component of fuel in the anterior chamber selectively permeates to be separated. The particular component after passing through the wall is temporarily stored in the posterior chamber. When the low-pressure side passage connected to the posterior chamber is opened by the valve, the particular component is separated. Fuel, from which the particular component is separated, is supplied to an injection valve from the anterior chamber. When the low-pressure side passage is closed by the valve, the separation of the particular component is restricted.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (100) comprises a fuel injection valve (21, 22) which supplies a first fuel having a higher self-ignitability than gasoline and a second fuel having a higher combustion speed than gasoline such that an air-fuel mixture containing the first fuel and the second fuel is formed in a combustion chamber (14), a spark plug (25) which ignites the air-fuel mixture, and a programmable controller (41) programmed to control supply proportions of the first fuel and the second fuel such that the ignited air-fuel mixture undergoes flame propagation combustion and then undergoes self-ignition combustion. Thus, a reduction in emissions can be achieved, and high thermal efficiency can be realized through the self-ignition combustion.

Abstract: A homogeneous charge compression ignition internal combustion engine capable of reliably reducing flame noise at a time of high-load operation is provided. The engine includes an injector which injects a liquid hydrocarbon fuel to an intake port, and an injector which directly injects an alcohol fuel into a combustion chamber. The liquid hydrocarbon fuel is distributed to an outer peripheral side of the combustion chamber, and the alcohol fuel is distributed to a central portion. The engine includes two intake valves, and divides an intake stroke into a period in which one of the intake valves is stopped and a fuel-gas mixture is flown, and a period in which the both of the intake valves are operated and the flow is suppressed, guides the liquid hydrocarbon fuel into the combustion chamber during the flow period, and injects the alcohol fuel to the combustion chamber during the flow suppression period.

Abstract: A method of operating an engine, comprising of performing homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion during a first operating condition, and performing spark ignition combustion during a second operating condition, where an amount of directly injected alcohol in at least one of said homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion and said spark ignition combustion is varied in response to at least an operating parameter.

Abstract: A homogeneous charge compression ignition internal combustion engine (HCCI) (1) is able to supply two types of fuels with different octane numbers to each cylinder (3) through fuel supply devices (17, 18). A controller (2) detects via an ion current sensor (21) disposed in each cylinder (3) a combustion timing corresponded state value having a regular correlativity to a combustion timing for each cylinder (3) and then adjusts by using the fuel supply devices (17, 18) a relative proportion of a respective supplied quantity of each fuel to each cylinder (3) according to a deviation between the combustion timing corresponded state value and a desired state value set according to a working state of the HCCI engine 1. Thereby, it is able to efficiently inhibit variations on the combustion timing for each cylinder of the HCCI engine 1 having plural cylinders without involving a complex mechanism.

Abstract: A HCCI engine (1) is able to supply two types of fuels with different octane numbers to each cylinder (3) through fuel supply devices (17 and 18). A fuel supply control means (50) of a controller (2) increases a proportion of a supplied quantity of a low-octane fuel in the entire supplied quantity of the respective two types of fuels to a combustion chamber greater than a normal proportion defined by a normal control operation value group determined by a predefined control rule according to a FC correction processor (57) in a predefined duration immediately after a return of a working mode from a fuel-cut mode to a normal mode. Thereby, it is able to efficiently perform combustion of the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber even after the return of the working mode from the fuel-cut mode to the normal mode when a temperature in the combustion chamber is low.

Abstract: The present invention provides an injector-ignition fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a next fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses a one firing cycle look-ahead algorithm for controlling fuel injection. The ECU may further incorporate a look-up table, auto-tuning functions and heuristics to compensate for the rapid rotational de-acceleration that occurs near top dead center in lightweight small ultra-high compression engines as may be used with this invention. The ECU may further ramp heat input to the injector in response to engine acceleration requests and, under such circumstances, may extend its look-ahead for up to four firing cycles.

Abstract: The injector includes a nozzle, a needle, a control chamber, a working fluid supply passage, an electric switching valve, a high-pressure gaseous fuel supply passage and a lubrication liquid fuel supply passage. The nozzle has an injection hole, through which high-pressure gaseous fuel is injected. The needle is axially reciprocably received in the nozzle to open and close the injection hole. The needle includes a sliding portion and a valve portion. The control chamber applies a pressure to the needle. The working fluid supply passage supplies liquid fuel to the control chamber. The electric switching valve controls an inflow/outflow of the liquid fuel to/from the control chamber. The high-pressure gaseous fuel supply passage supplies the high-pressure gaseous fuel to the injection hole. The lubrication liquid fuel supply passage supplies the liquid fuel from the working fluid supply passage to the sliding portion and the valve portion.

Abstract: A spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, including a main tank for storing a to-be-determined fuel having an unknown self-ignition property, an auxiliary tank for accumulating a reference fuel having a known self-ignition property, and a controller. The controller is programmed to supply to a combustion chamber a blended fuel prepared by blending the to-be-determined fuel and the reference fuel at a predetermined ratio, measure a self-ignition property of the blended fuel, and determine the unknown self-ignition property of the to-be-determined fuel based on the measured self-ignition property of the blended fuel, the known self-ignition property of the reference fuel and the ratio of the blended fuel. The controller is also programmed to introduce the to-be-determined fuel after the determination from the main tank to the auxiliary tank, and store the to-be-determined fuel in the auxiliary tank such that the to-be-determined fuel serves as a next reference fuel having a known self-ignition property.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system, including a primary fuel tank that stores a fuel, a fuel reformer that reforms the fuel from the primary fuel tank, a secondary fuel tank that stores the fuel reformed by the fuel reformer, a fuel injection device that injects the fuel that is selectably supplied from either the primary fuel tank or secondary fuel tank into a combustion chamber, a sensor that detects the quantity of fuel remaining in the secondary fuel tank, and a control device that sets and outputs a load and revolution speed of the engine. The control device is configured to set the engine load and engine revolution speed according to a request output determined based upon an operation performed by an operator. The engine load and engine revolution speed when the quantity of fuel remaining in the secondary fuel tank is more than a predetermined value, are set different than when the quantity of fuel remaining in the secondary fuel tank is less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An electric control device 70 is applied to an internal combustion engine 10 capable of a pre-mixed charge compression ignition combustion in which air-fuel mixture gas including air and fuel injected from an injector 37 is formed in a combustion chamber 25, and the air-fuel mixture gas is self-ignited to be combusted by compressing the air-fuel mixture gas during a compression stroke. The electric control device injects high pressure fluid such as air from the air injection valve 38 into the air-fuel mixture gas at a predetermined acting timing within a compression stroke prior to fuel pyrolysis starting timing to enhance the temperature un-uniformity of the air-fuel mixture gas. This enables the temperature un-uniformity of the air-fuel mixture gas at the fuel pyrolysis starting timing to become larger than the temperature un-uniformity of the air-fuel mixture gas at the fuel pyrolysis starting timing obtained only by simply compressing the air-fuel mixture gas during the compression stroke.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power generation system, which includes a source of a seed oil, a source of alcohol, and a reactor in communication with the source of seed oil and the source of alcohol. The reactor produces a biofuel product. The system has a power source that operates on a biofuel energy source to produce heated exhaust. The power source is in communication with the reactor to utilize a portion of the biofuel product as its biofuel energy source. The system has a heat transfer mechanism that transfers heat from the exhaust manifold to the reactor. The power source also converts mechanical power into electrical power. Also disclosed is a system that involves extraction of oil from an oilseed product. A method of extracting oil from an oilseed product, a method of making a transesterified seed oil, and a method of making a biofuel are also disclosed, as are products obtained thereby.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine including at least a combustion chamber having a piston disposed therein, the method comprising during a first number of cycles after start-up of the engine, supplying at least a first fuel to the combustion chamber, and combusting said first fuel and during a second number of cycles after said first number of cycles, supplying said first fuel and a second fuel to the combustion chamber to form a substantially homogeneous mixture, and compressing said mixture with said piston to cause auto-ignition of said mixture.

Abstract: Fuel management system for enhanced operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder. It is preferred that the direct injection occur after the inlet valve is closed. It is also preferred that stoichiometric operation with a three way catalyst be used to minimize emissions. In addition, it is also preferred that the anti-knock agents have a heat of vaporization per unit of combustion energy that is at least three times that of gasoline.

Abstract: A method and system for providing pilot fuel for a pilot ignition system of an internal combustion engine having one or more cylinders and having a lubrication system. A portion of the lubricating oil is diverted from the lubricating system. During the pilot ignition phase of the engine combustion cycle, the diverted lubricating oil is injected into the one or more cylinders.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an engine is configured of a downstream-side fuel injection valve which is provided to an intake passage connected to a combustion chamber, and from which fuel in the intake passage is injected, and an upstream-side fuel injection valve which is provided in the intake passage upstream of the downstream-side fuel injection valve, and from which fuel in the intake passage is injected. In the fuel injection system, a fuel injection pressure applied to the upstream-side fuel injection valve is set at a higher value than a fuel injection pressure applied to the downstream-side fuel injection valve. Fuel is injected from both injection valves on fuel injection shares depending on a detected load on the engine.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine has a lubricity improver supply for adding a lubricity improver to low-viscosity fuel supplied to a fuel injection apparatus of the engine. A controller controls the lubricity improver supply so that the amount of the lubricity improver added to fuel at the inlet to the fuel injection apparatus is increased as engine rotation speed, engine load, or injection pressure is increased. With the system, wear or sticking of the plunger can be prevented even when low-viscosity fuel is used by improving lubrication conditions to secure necessary lubrication condition for the sliding part in accordance with engine operation conditions, fuel temperature and viscosity.

Abstract: A method of operating an engine, comprising of performing homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion during a first operating condition, and performing spark ignition combustion during a second operating condition, where an amount of directly injected alcohol in at least one of said homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion and said spark ignition combustion is varied in response to at least an operating parameter.

Abstract: A method for operating a fueling system in a vehicle having an engine capable of burning gaseous fuel supplied from at least a first and second source to a direct fuel injector of the engine, the first source having a higher source pressure than the second source, the method comprises supplying gaseous fuel to the direct injector from at least the first source during a first engine demand; and supplying gaseous fuel to the direct injector from at least the second source during a second engine demand less than said first engine demand.

Abstract: The present invention provides an internal combustion engine system that can precisely control ignition timing on homogeneous charge compression ignition. The internal combustion engine system includes a fuel tank 4a containing ethanol, a fuel tank 4b containing at least one of gasoline and GTL naphtha, a reforming device 9 for reforming ethanol to obtain diethyl ether, a heat exchange device 14 for heating a heating medium, an ethanol heater 9b for heating ethanol with the heating medium, and a fuel supply controlling device 10 for controlling a mixture ratio of the fuel. The internal combustion engine system further includes an intake air heater 18 for heating intake air with the heating medium. The internal combustion engine system further comprises an adiabatic storage container 29 for storing the heating medium during a halt of an internal combustion engine 3.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, there is provided a method of providing a first fuel injection schedule having one or more injections per cylinder per compression stroke at a first discrete power level selected from a plurality of discrete power levels of an engine. The method further includes providing a second fuel injection schedule having a plurality of injections per cylinder per compression stroke at a second discrete power level selected from the plurality of discrete power levels of the engine, wherein the first and second fuel injection schedules comprise different injection characteristics from one another.

Abstract: A fuel system for an engine is disclosed. The fuel system has a first source of fuel at a first pressure, and a second source of fuel at a second pressure. The fuel system also has a first plurality of fuel injectors, and a first valve associated with the first plurality of fuel injectors. The first valve is configured to selectively direct fuel from the first source and fuel from the second source to only the first plurality of fuel injectors.

Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus, for a variable-fuel engine, includes a plurality of stored maps for determining a basic fuel injection time corresponding to a state of an engine and alcohol concentration in the fuel. The apparatus includes a memory storage region which stores the fuel injection control maps. The apparatus also includes an oxygen sensor disposed in an exhaust pipe for detecting oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas; a basic fuel injection time calculator which determines the basic fuel injection time using the currently selected fuel injection control map; a correction coefficient calculator which determines an air-fuel ratio correction coefficient for correcting the basic fuel injection time; a fuel injection quantity calculator; and a map changeover part which selects the fuel injection control map of the concentration of alcohol close to the concentration of alcohol of the fuel based on the air-fuel ratio correction coefficient.

Abstract: A pilot fuel injection valve is mountable in a cylinder head of an engine and injects a liquid pilot fuel directly into a combustion chamber. The pilot fuel injection valve comprises a cooling system to keep the pilot fuel at a temperature that is lower than the lowest initial boiling point for the pilot fuel that occurs inside the fuel injection valve. The pilot fuel injection valve further comprises a thermally insulated nozzle having an outer surface that is not cooled by the cooler cylinder head and the cooler pilot fuel held inside the fuel injection valve. During operation, the nozzle's outer surface can be heated to a temperature that is not significantly lower than the final boiling point of the pilot fuel so that a significant amount of pilot fuel does not condense on the nozzle surface during engine operation.

Abstract: An engine is disclosed which may operate in a first operating state wherein a spark ignited fuel is ignited in a combustion chamber with an igniter and a second operating state wherein a compression ignited fuel is ignited in a combustion chamber with an igniter. A compression ratio in the combustion chamber being up to about eight to one. The engine may be a four-stroke engine. The engine may include a piston having a top portion with a recessed central portion.

Abstract: Boosted engine operation and spark timing of an engine may be adjusted with alcohol content of the fuel in a direct injection engine. Further, various adjustments may be performed in numerous related systems to account for increased maximum engine torque, such as traction control, transmission shifting, etc. Finally, a vehicle having one or more of the disclosed features may be marketed and/or advertised to improve vehicle sales.

Abstract: In a vehicle incorporating an internal combustion engine having in-cylinder injectors and intake manifold injectors and performing engine intermittent operation control, at the end of vehicle operation, the fuel pressure is decreased in both a high-pressure delivery pipe and a low-pressure delivery pipe by actuation (opening) of an electromagnetic relief valve and by stop of operation of a low-pressure fuel pump. This prevents deterioration in emission performance at the next engine start attributable to fuel leakage due to degradation in oil tightness of the injectors during the operation stop period. When the engine is temporarily stopped by engine intermittent operation control, while the low-pressure fuel pump is stopped, actuation (opening) of the electromagnetic relief valve is prohibited. At the engine restart after temporary stop, the fuel in the high-pressure delivery pipe having its pressure secured at a certain level is injected to quickly start the engine.

Abstract: A fuel injection device includes at least two valve elements, disposed in a housing and coaxial with one another, with at least one fuel outlet opening associated with each valve element. On the outer valve element, radially outward from the at least one fuel outlet opening associated with it, there is a first sealing edge which cooperates with a valve seat on the housing and can separate the at least one fuel outlet opening from a high-pressure connection. An additional sealing edge is provided on the outer valve element, between the at least one fuel outlet opening associated with it and the inner valve element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adjust pilot fuel injection timing in relation to a main fuel injection timing into a piston cylinder of an operating gaseous-fuelled direct injection internal combustion engine using high levels of EGR. A set of engine parameters are monitored which determine engine load and engine speed and an indicator of EGR concentration within the intake charge. Pilot fuel timing relative to main fuel injection timing is then adjusted according to the engine parameters. High levels of EGR are shown to be tolerated with relatively limited penalties in relation to other emissions typically found with high EGR by reducing the relative injection timing the pilot fuel as compared to main fuel injection timing.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, there is provided a method of operating a turbocharged system including injecting a first quantity of fuel into an engine cylinder at a first predetermined time during a second half of a compression stroke before a piston of the engine cylinder reaches top dead center of the compression stroke. The method further includes injecting a second quantity of fuel into the engine cylinder at a second predetermined time after the first predetermined time when the piston is advanced by a predetermined advance value before the piston reaches the top dead center of the compression stroke.

Abstract: A system for retrofitting an internal combustion engine to use a proportion of hydrogen gas and existing fossil fuel is disclosed. The system is comprised of a source of hydrogen gas and means for delivering hydrogen gas to the combustion chamber of the engine. The engine operating parameters are adjusted and the delivery of hydrogen is controlled to provide selective introduction of hydrogen gas throughout the engine's operating cycle. The source of hydrogen gas can comprise an onboard hydrogen reformer, or hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be reformed inside the cylinder from an on board carrier of hydrogen. A single point injector placed at the intake manifold in close proximity to the engine intake valve can be used to mix the hydrogen gas to the air/fossil fuel mixture or sequential injectors can deliver hydrogen in close proximity to each engine intake valve, or directly into each cylinder.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine including at least a combustion chamber having a piston disposed therein, wherein the combustion chamber is configured to receive air, a first fuel and a second fuel to form a substantially homogeneous mixture, and wherein the piston is configured to compress said mixture so that auto-ignition of said mixture is achieved is disclosed. The method comprises varying the amount of at least one of the first fuel and the second fuel that is received by the combustion chamber to adjust the timing of auto-ignition, where the first fuel includes diesel fuel and the second fuel includes such low cetane fuels as: methanol and ethanol.

Abstract: A fuel injection device is provided with a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber and an air injection valve for the injection of air into the combustion chamber. One fuel injection orifice which opens into the combustion chamber is provided correspondingly to the fuel injection valve and plural air injection orifices which open into the combustion chamber are provided correspondingly to the air injection valve. A design is made so that fuel and air injected from the fuel injection orifice and the air injection orifices come into collision with each other at a collision point. The shape, size and direction of the fuel injection orifice are specified. Likewise, the number, shape, size and direction of the air injection orifice, as well as its arrangement relative to the fuel injection orifice, are specified. A design is made so that the size of a fuel spray and that of air jets at the collision point become equal to each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heated catalyzed fuel injector that dispenses fuel substantially exclusively during the power stroke of an internal combustion engine, wherein ignition occurs in a fast burn zone at high fuel density such that a leading surface of the fuel is completely burned within several microseconds. In operation, the fuel injector precisely meters instantly igniting fuel at a predetermined crank angle for optimal power stroke production. Specifically, the fuel is metered into the fuel injector, such that the fuel injector heats, vaporizes, compresses and mildly oxidizes the fuel, and then dispenses the fuel as a relatively low pressure gas column into a combustion chamber of the engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides an injector-ignition fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, comprising an input fuel metering system for dispensing a next fuel charge into a pressurizing chamber, a pressurization ram system including a pressurization ram for compressing the fuel charge within the pressurizing chamber, wherein the fuel charge is heated in the pressurization chamber in the presence of a catalyst, and an injector nozzle for injecting the heated catalyzed fuel charge into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides an injector-ignition fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a next fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses a one firing cycle look-ahead algorithm for controlling fuel injection. The ECU may further incorporate a look-up table, auto-tuning functions and heuristics to compensate for the rapid rotational de-acceleration that occurs near top dead center in lightweight small ultra-high compression engines as may be used with this invention. The ECU may further ramp heat input to the injector in response to engine acceleration requests and, under such circumstances, may extend its look-ahead for up to four firing cycles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an internal combustion engine which can produce several types of fuels from a single fuel as needed. The internal combustion engine comprises reforming means 3 for reforming a first fuel to be used in homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion into a second fuel having high ignitability, by making the first fuel contact with a catalyst formed from N-hydroxyphthalimide. The engine uses the second fuel when conducting diesel combustion. The engine can switch between the homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion with the use of the first fuel and the diesel combustion with the use of the second fuel. The engine conducts the homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion when a load is low, and conducts the diesel combustion when the load is high.

Abstract: A homogeneous charge compression ignition internal combustion engine capable of reliably reducing flame noise at a time of high-load operation is provided. The engine includes an injector 12a which injects a liquid hydrocarbon fuel to an intake port 23, and an injector 12b which directly injects an alcohol fuel into a combustion chamber 21. The liquid hydrocarbon fuel is distributed to an outer peripheral side of the combustion chamber 21, and the alcohol fuel is distributed to a central portion. The engine includes intake valves 25a and 25b, and divides an intake stroke into a period in which the intake valve 25a is stopped and a fuel-gas mixture is flown, and a period in which the intake valves 25a and 25b are operated and the flow is suppressed, guides the liquid hydrocarbon fuel into the combustion chamber 21 during the flow period, and injects the alcohol fuel to the combustion chamber 21 during the flow suppression period.