Abstract: Various methods of control of combustion knock are disclosed in relation to a spark ignition, internal combustion engine having active tappets, whereby an inlet poppet valve can be moved independently of the usual operating cam. In one embodiment the invention provides for combustion knock to be controlled solely by variation of inlet air charge.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a spark ignition engine that includes a particulate filter in the engine's exhaust system are described. In one example, a threshold temperature at which the spark ignition engine may be automatically stopped is adjusted according to an amount of soot that is stored in the particulate filter.

Abstract: A compression-ignition engine control system is provided, which includes an intake phase-variable mechanism and a controller. Within a first operating range and a second operating range on a higher engine load side, the controller controls the variable mechanism to form a gas-fuel ratio (G/F) lean environment in which an air-fuel ratio inside a cylinder is near a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio and burnt gas remains inside the cylinder, and controls a spark plug to spark-ignite mixture gas inside the cylinder to combust in a partial compression-ignition combustion. The controller controls the variable mechanism to retard the intake valve open timing on an advancing side of TDC of an exhaust stroke, as the engine load increases within the first range, and advance the intake valve close timing on a retarding side of TDC of intake stroke, as the engine load increases within the second range.

Abstract: A PCM (100) selects one of a CI mode or an SI mode based on the operating conditions of the engine (1). In the CI mode, the engine (1) is operated by compression ignition combustion. In the SI mode, the engine (1) is operated by spark ignition combustion. if, while the engine (1) is being operated in the CI mode, a determination is made that an estimated value (Tc) of the catalyst temperature is lower than or equal to a warming start temperature (Ts), the PCM (100) further performs first warming control to assign four cylinders (18) as CI and SI cylinders, which perform the compression ignition combustion and the spark ignition combustion, respectively, such that the four cylinders (18) alternately perform the compression ignition combustion and the spark ignition combustion in accordance with the order of combustion of the cylinders.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided, which controls combustion state such that the Heat Release Rate Barycentric Position (Gc) coincides with the Target Barycentric Position (Gc*), and which can prevent an increase in the combustion noise caused by an increase in an ignition lag which occurs in a case where an EGR apparatus is in execution, and, a rotational speed is low or an engine load is low. The control apparatus (ECU70) prevents the increase in the ignition lag by increasing a supercharging pressure of a supercharger (44) which the engine (10) is equipped with, thus, it prevents the increase in the combustion noise.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and controlling knock in an engine are presented. In one example, engine knock sensors are selected based on whether or not certain cylinders are activated and combusting air and fuel or deactivated and not combusting air and fuel. Output of selected knock sensors is the basis for adjusting engine spark timing.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow in an engine including an EGR system. In one example, a method may include operating the EGR system in an open loop feed forward mode based on an intake carbon di oxide sensor output above a threshold engine load and/or when a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is above a threshold pressure, and operating the EGR system in a closed loop feedback mode based on a differential pressure sensor output when the engine load decreases below the threshold load and/or when the MAP decreases below the threshold pressure.

Abstract: A combustion control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a spark plug for performing spark ignition of an air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, a plurality of coil pairs for generating spark discharge in the spark plug, and a fuel injection valve capable of injecting atomized fuel. Atomized fuel is injected into the intake passage, and a homogeneous lean air-fuel mixture is formed in the combustion chamber. The air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is controlled to be leaner than a predetermined lean air-fuel ratio. A spark discharge start timing and a spark discharge continuation time period are controlled using the plurality of coil pairs. The spark discharge start timing is set to a timing advanced from the spark discharge start timing for igniting a stratified lean mixture, such that the air-fuel ratio in the vicinity of the spark plug is relatively small.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging condensate from a charge air cooler to an engine intake while reducing misfire events related to the water ingestion. During the purging, a spark timing is adjusted based on the amount of condensate purged per cycle. The spark timing is adjusted differently when the condensate is purged during a tip-in versus a pro-active clean-out routine.

Abstract: An intake and exhaust apparatus of a multi-cylinder engine is provided. The engine is provided with a plurality of cylinders having intake and exhaust valves for opening and closing intake and exhaust ports, respectively. The apparatus includes an intake system including intake ports of respective cylinders, independent intake passages connected with the respective intake ports, a surge tank connected with upstream ends of the independent intake passages, and an air cleaner connected with the surge tank. The apparatus also includes an exhaust system including independent exhaust passages connected with an exhaust port of one cylinder or exhaust ports of the plurality of cylinders that are not continuous in exhausting order, and a collecting pipe connected with downstream ends of the independent exhaust passages in a bundled manner, and for collecting exhaust gas ejected from the downstream ends of the independent exhaust passages.

Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling an engine. One method may include boosting engine intake air to a cylinder; and injecting an amount of a scavenging fluid into the cylinder based on an amount of cylinder residual exhaust gas. A scavenging fluid, such as water or windshield washer fluid evaporates on contact with the hot exhaust gases and hot metal components and the expanded volume of the vapor displaces the residual exhaust gas, thereby improving engine scavenging.

Abstract: A six-stroke engine includes a cylinder, a piston, a cylinder head, a combustion chamber, cylinder injector, a spark plug, an intake port, an exhaust port, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, a valve gear, and a control device. The valve gear operates the intake valve and the exhaust valve to execute six strokes including an intake stroke, a compression stroke without ignition, an expansion stroke without combustion, a compression stroke with ignition, an expansion stroke with combustion, and an exhaust stroke in this order. The control device is programmed to cause the cylinder injector to inject fuel and to energize the spark plug in the compression stroke with ignition.

Abstract: A method for an engine, comprising: during a first condition comprising a high engine temperature, injecting a first quantity of liquid petroleum gas into a first engine cylinder at a first timing during an intake stroke; and injecting a second quantity of liquid petroleum gas into the first engine cylinder at a second timing during a compression stroke following the intake stroke. In this way, combustion knock and cylinder pre-ignition may be mitigated without retarding spark ignition and/or limiting engine load, thereby allowing for maximum engine performance.

Abstract: An engine method, comprising delivering high octane fuel to a high octane fuel tank and delivering low octane fuel to a low octane fuel tank and injecting atmospheric air into an exhaust system for secondary air injection in response to delivering low octane fuel to an engine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combustion chamber of a diesel engine in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1, a method for igniting a fuel-air mixture in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine in accordance with the preamble of Claim 14, and a diesel engine in accordance with the preamble of Claim 15.

Abstract: Methods of using mixtures containing gasoline type fuels composed primarily of hydrocarbon volatiles falling in a C4-C10 range in a spark ignited internal combustion engine are described.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine coupled capacitance-based humidity sensor. Degradation of the humidity sensor may be determined based on humidity readings while flowing gasses into an engine intake air downstream of the humidity sensor and upstream of a compressor change by less than a first threshold while pressure at the sensor changes greater then a second threshold. The variation in pressure can be changed by adjusting a throttle upstream and downstream of the compressor based on whether the humidity sensor is degraded or functional.

Abstract: In an ignition device of an internal combustion engine which carries out ignition of an air-fuel mixture by repeatedly applying a voltage across electrodes of an ignition plug thereby producing a plurality of discharges, an improvement is proposed in which in the presence of gas flow of which direction is perpendicular to a direction that connects the electrodes with a shortest distance, a time interval between n-th time discharge and (n?1)-th time discharge is so set that a discharge channel caused or proposed by the n-th time discharge is more extended in the gas flow direction than a discharge channel caused by the (n?1)-th time discharge.

Abstract: A control pattern corresponding to a ultra high expansion cycle is executed, wherein an actual timing IVCa of an intake valve closing timing is controlled to agree with a steady adapted value IVCt, an actual value ?ma of a mechanical compression ratio is controlled to agree with a steady adapted value ?mt, and an ignition timing SA is controlled to agree with a steady adapted timing SAt. There are four cases that might be generated, including a case in which the IVCa is shifted toward a retard angle side or toward an advance angle side from the IVCt due to a response delay of a variable intake valve timing apparatus, and a case in which ?ma is shifted to a greater side or to a smaller side from the ?mt due to the response delay of a variable compression ratio mechanism.

Abstract: A system for managing ignition of a light-duty internal combustion engine during starting includes a charge winding used to create an ignition pulse; a first signal generated by the charge winding that indicates the speed of an engine; a second signal generated by the charge winding that indicates a piston position of the engine; a switch coupled to the charge winding for controlling the ignition pulse; and a processing device that receives the first signal and the second signal, wherein the processing device activates the switch when a comparison of the received first signal and second signal indicates that a piston is positioned at approximately top dead center (TDC).

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging condensate from a charge air cooler to an engine intake while reducing misfire events related to the water ingestion. During the purging, a spark timing is adjusted based on the amount of condensate purged per cycle. The spark timing is adjusted differently when the condensate is purged during a tip-in versus a pro-active clean-out routine.

Abstract: An engine control device 13 that cannot output a control signal to an electromagnetic wave emission device 30 is used to emit electromagnetic wave at an appropriate timing from the device 30 to a combustion chamber 10. A signal processing device 40 is connected to the engine control device 13 that outputs an ignition signal for instructing an ignition device 12 of the engine 20 to ignite fuel air mixture in the combustion chamber 10 of the engine 20. The signal processing device 40, upon receiving the ignition signal, outputs to the electromagnetic wave emission device 30 an electromagnetic wave drive signal that determines based on the ignition signal an emission period, which is a period for the electromagnetic wave emission device 30 to emit an electromagnetic wave to the combustion chamber 10, so that an ignition operation is performed during the emission period of the electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: A method controls the rpm of a combustion engine in a hand-held work apparatus such as a brushcutter. The engine drives a work tool via a clutch which engages as a function of the engine rpm (n). A spark plug is arranged in the combustion chamber and is driven by an ignition unit. During start of the engine, an rpm lock circuit is active and defines a control variable as a function of the instantaneous rpm (nact) of the engine. According to the magnitude of this control variable, operating parameters of the engine are adapted to change the instantaneous rpm (nact). A control variable is determined for the adaptation of the operating parameters by the rpm lock circuit. The switch-off of the rpm lock circuit is provided when the control variable of the control lies outside a predetermined bandwidth of the absolute magnitude of the control variables.

Abstract: When a maximum value of vibration intensity (maximum vibration intensity)(Vmax) acquired from a vibration sensor (33) in a low engine speed/high engine load (operating region (R)) is equal to or greater than a given threshold value (X), a spark timing of a spark plug (16) is shifted from a point set in a normal state on a retard side with respect to a compression top dead center, farther toward the retard side. Then, when a maximum vibration intensity (Vmax2) acquired after the spark timing retard is greater than a maximum vibration intensity (Vmax1) acquired before the spark timing retard, it is determined that preignition occurs. This technique makes it possible to reliably detect preignition using the vibration sensor, while distinguishing the preignition from knocking. An in-cylinder pressure sensor for detecting an in-cylinder pressure of an engine may be used to determine the presence or absence of the preignition, in the same manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing late burn induced cylinder pre-ignition events. In response to a late burn combustion event in a cylinder, ignition coil dwell time is extended in the cylinder to reduce unintended combustion delays. In addition, pre-ignition mitigating actions are performed in a neighboring cylinder that may be prone to pre-ignition induced by the late combustion event.

Abstract: A glow plug including a pressure sensor (830) and a heater (150). The glow plug includes a position-defining member which defines the positional relationship between the pressure sensor (830) and the heater (150) and has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the heater. The pressure sensor (830) is fixed at a predetermined sensor reference position relative to the position-defining member. The heater (150) is held by a heater-holding member (820) in such manner that an attachment position A of the heater-holding member to the heater can be displaced, with a change in external pressure, relative to a predetermined heater reference position defined by the position-defining member. A displacement transmission member (840) is arranged between the heater (150) and the pressure sensor (830) so as to transmit displacement of the heater (150) to the pressure sensor (830).

Abstract: A linearly aligned four-cylinder internal combustion engine system operated in a 1-3-4-2 sequence, comprising a cylinder head connected with a cylinder block wherein each cylinder has at least one exhaust port to discharge exhaust gasses via an exhaust gas discharge system, for which an exhaust gas pipe is connected at each exhaust port; wherein the exhaust gas pipes of the cylinders that merge in stages into a common exhaust gas pipe and the exhaust gas discharge system emerges outside of the cylinder head. Thus exhaust gas from consecutive ignitions in adjacent cylinders is separated for a distance throughout the engine head to reduce mutual influencing in adjacent cylinders with consecutive ignitions.

Abstract: A method of operating a turbocharged engine having cylinders in which one of the cylinders undergoes a compression stroke. The method includes advancing an ignition spark in the one of the cylinders undergoing the compression stroke by a first amount relative to top dead center of the compression stroke at a first barometric pressure for a given engine speed and load, and advancing the ignition spark in the one of the cylinders undergoing the compression stroke by a second, lesser amount relative to top dead center of the compression stroke at a second, lower barometric pressure, for the given engine speed and load as the vehicle being at different altitudes.

Abstract: A system and method for operating an engine having ionization signal sensing include detecting plug fouling and controlling the engine using progressively more aggressive control strategies if the fouling condition persists. A first control strategy may be used when the number of engine starts or running time are below corresponding thresholds and a second strategy otherwise. The first strategy may employ progressively more aggressive control procedures to eliminate spark plug deposits that may include repetitive sparking, exhaust cycle sparking, increasing engine loading, advancing spark timing, increasing air/fuel ratio, and increasing idle speed, for example. The second strategy may include similar corrective actions employed in a different order and/or to a lesser degree in an attempt to eliminate plug fouling without any noticeable change in engine operation or performance as perceived by the vehicle operator.

Abstract: An engine control system includes a disturbance module, a misfire threshold determination module, a disturbance ratio module, and a spark control module. The disturbance module determines a disturbance value for a past combustion stroke of a cylinder based on rotation of a crankshaft. The misfire threshold determination module determines a jerk value indicative of a misfire within the cylinder. The disturbance ratio module determines a disturbance ratio for the past combustion stroke based on the disturbance value and the jerk value. The spark control module determines a spark timing for a future combustion stroke of the cylinder, determines a spark timing correction for the future combustion stroke based on the disturbance ratio, determines a corrected spark timing based on the spark timing and the spark timing correction, and generates spark during the future combustion stroke based on the corrected spark timing.

Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a spark module and a fuel module. The spark module advances spark timing of a cylinder R degrees past a spark limit for N consecutive cylinder firing events, and retards spark timing of the cylinder past the spark limit for M consecutive cylinder firing events after the N consecutive cylinder firing events. The fuel module supplies a rich fuel-air charge to the cylinder for the M consecutive cylinder firing events. According to the system, R is a real number greater than zero, N and M are integers greater than zero, and the spark limit is a control value used to limit an amount of spark advance to prevent spark-knock. A method for controlling an engine is also provided.

Abstract: Various methods are described for controlling engine operation for an engine having a turbocharger and direct injection. One example method includes performing a first and second injection during a cylinder cycle, the first injection generating a lean combustion and the second injection exiting the cylinder unburned into the exhaust upstream of a turbine of the turbocharger.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an engine, the engine including an injector configured to directly inject fuel into an engine cylinder. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, performing compression direct fuel injection, and retarding a timing of the compression injection as a fuel alcohol content of the fuel increases.

Abstract: A system comprises a torque control module, a combustion prediction module, and a fuel control module. The torque control module sets spark timing of an engine to produce a drive torque and determines an amount of delay to add to the spark timing to decrease the drive torque by a predetermined torque. The combustion prediction module predicts whether a single injection of fuel will combust in a cylinder of the engine when the amount of delay is added to the spark timing. The fuel control module actuates a plurality of separate injections of fuel into the cylinder when the combustion prediction module predicts that the single injection of fuel will not combust.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and means of regulating the speed of a two-stroke combustion engine. An arrangement for alternating an ignition timing relative to a top dead center position is provided. For a given engine speed, the ignition timing may be step-wise adjustable. One or more steps may be used while alternating between two ignition timings. The ignition timing may be adjusted when the engine speed increases above a threshold engine speed.

Abstract: A combustion management system for a combustion engine having at least one cylinder with an intake means comprising a sliding port valve and an intake solenoid poppet valve arranged in series and provided at a distance from the cylinder ends, and an exhaust solenoid poppet valve provided at each of the cylinder ends, the system comprising: a valve control means for controlling the intake solenoid poppet valve and the exhaust solenoid poppet valve independently of the position of the piston moving within the cylinder to control the compression and expansion ratios, wherein the piston moves over and past the intake means during each stroke.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism able to control a closing timing of an intake valve. An actual compression ratio and ignition timing in a predetermined standard state after completion of engine warm-up are stored in advance as a reference actual compression ratio and a reference ignition timing. When the engine temperature is low or the intake air temperature is low, at the time of engine high speed operation, the actual compression ratio is made to increase over the reference actual compression ratio, while at the time of engine low speed operation, the ignition timing is made to advance over the reference ignition timing.

Abstract: A method for reducing energy consumption of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a vehicle electric system, to which at least a first electric consumer is connected. To achieve an efficient vehicle electric system with a reduced energy consumption, the internal combustion engine is operated in a first operating mode with a first injection quantity and a first ignition timing. In a second operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with a second injection quantity that is higher than the first injection quantity and with a second ignition timing. A driving situation detection device recognizes an imminent specific driving situation on the basis of the previous behavior of the driver in controlling the vehicle and/or the behavior of the vehicle in advance and initiates a switch in the operating modes of the internal combustion engine from the first operating mode to the second operating mode.

Abstract: A method and a control module for performing the same include a filter module filtering in-cylinder pressure signals using a filter to form filtered in-cylinder pressure signals. The control module further includes a heat release rate determination module generating heat release rate signals based on the in-cylinder pressure signals and a maximum heat rate determination module determining a maximum heat release rate from the heat release rate signals. The system also includes a correction module correcting auto-ignition for the engine based on the maximum heat release rate.

Abstract: A control apparatus which is capable of ensuring both high-level stability and accuracy of control, even when controlling a controlled object having extremal characteristics or a controlled object a controlled object model of which cannot be represented. The control apparatus 1 includes a cooperative controller 30, an onboard model analyzer 40, and a model corrector 60. The model corrector 60 calculates the model correction parameter matrix ?, so as to correct the controlled object model defining the relationship between the intake opening angle ?lin and the exhaust reopening angle ?rbl and the indicated mean effective pressure Pmi. The onboard model analyzer 40 calculates first and second response indices RI1 and RI2 representative of correlations between ?lin, ?rbl, and Pmi, based on the controlled object model corrected using ?.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an engine, the engine including an injector configured to directly inject fuel into an engine cylinder. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, performing compression direct fuel injection, and retarding a timing of the compression injection as a fuel alcohol content of the fuel increases.

Abstract: A system and method for operating an engine having ionization signal sensing include detecting plug fouling and controlling the engine using progressively more aggressive control strategies if the fouling condition persists. A first control strategy may be used when the number of engine starts or running time are below corresponding thresholds and a second strategy otherwise. The first strategy may employ progressively more aggressive control procedures to eliminate spark plug deposits that may include repetitive sparking, exhaust cycle sparking, increasing engine loading, advancing spark timing, increasing air/fuel ratio, and increasing idle speed, for example. The second strategy may include similar corrective actions employed in a different order and/or to a lesser degree in an attempt to eliminate plug fouling without any noticeable change in engine operation or performance as perceived by the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a heat-release rate (HRR) module, a first filter module, a second filter module, an auto-ignition energy determination module, and a corrective action module. The HRR module generates an HRR signal based on in-cylinder pressures of a cylinder of the engine. The first filter module generates a first filtered HRR signal indicative of a first HRR due to combustion in the cylinder by filtering the HRR signal. The second filter module generates a second filtered HRR signal indicative of a second HRR due to auto-ignition in the cylinder by filtering one of the HRR signal and the first filtered HRR signal. The auto-ignition energy determination module determines an auto-ignition energy of the cylinder based on the first and second filtered HRR signals. The corrective action module selectively adjusts auto-ignition of the engine based on the auto-ignition energy. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A distributor is configured with an outer housing that has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion are adjustable in angular orientation relative to each other. Movement of the second portion relative to the first portion changes ignition timing in the distributor. The movement can be caused by rotation of a thumbwheel such that ignition timing can be changed without mechanical tools. The first and second portions also can comprise visual or tactile markings such that ignition timing can be changed without a timing light. The outer housing can be used in multiple applications simply by changing a length of a shaft housing member that houses a distributor shaft and a gear that is mounted to the distributor shaft.

Abstract: When a catalyst warm-up request for promoting warm-up of a catalyst is issued and no negative-pressure increase request for increasing a negative pressure downstream of a throttle valve is issued, a control system of an internal combustion engine controls the ignition timing to the timing (ϑ0+Δ ϑ1) obtained by correcting the normal ignition timing (ϑ0) to be retarded by a correction amount &Delta,?ϑ1, and controls the degree of opening of the throttle valve to a throttle opening (TAO+ΔTA1) that is larger than the normal throttle opening TAO by a correction amount ΔTA1. When the negative intake pressure must be increased for brake boosting when ignition is on the retard side, the throttle spending is reduced and the ignition is advanced gradually after some delay to avoid torque shock.

Abstract: A combustion mode transition control for controlling a transition between a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition (HCCI) combustion mode and a spark-ignition (SI) combustion mode includes slowly transitioning intake and exhaust camshafts from initial phase settings corresponding to one of the HCCI and SI combustion modes to target phase settings corresponding to the other of the HCCI and SI combustion modes. An ignition spark timing and an injected fuel mass are coordinated with the transitioning of the intake and exhaust camshaft phase settings to substantially maintain engine load continuity during the transitioning of the intake and exhaust camshaft phase settings.

Abstract: Methods of mitigating the occurrence of a low-speed pre-ignition event in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine (10), the engine (10) having a computerized engine management control module (70) and an ignition timing module (66) controllable by the engine management control module (70). The computerized engine management module (70) monitors the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine (10) and at certain operating conditions dithers the ignition timing of at least one cylinder (20) of the engine (10) to induce light to medium SI engine knock temporarily. Due to the high temperature, high frequency pressure waves caused by SI engine knock, fuel and/or lubricant related deposits accumulated on combustion chamber components, i.e.

Abstract: The description discloses a glow plug system for a Diesel engine of a motor vehicle having a glow plug (RG1, RG2) which comprises a positive terminal for connecting a supply voltage (U1) and a ground terminal for connecting to a ground potential (GND), a controlling device (1) for controlling the electric power supplied to the glow plug (RG1, RG2) in operation, whereby the controlling device (1) comprises a measurement input (ADC1) and a ground input (ADC2) in order to determine, in operation, a measured value of the supply voltage (U1) in relation to a reference potential (GND?) applied to the ground input (ADC2).

Abstract: A vehicle control device for a hybrid vehicle, which equipped with at least an internal combustion engine and a rotary electrical machine that reduces the shock that is imparted to a vehicle when the internal combustion engine starts. The vehicle control device detects the running state of the vehicle and, if it is determined that the internal combustion engine will be started, adjusts the ignition timing according to the running state of the vehicle. The control device also improves the responsiveness of the hybrid vehicle when increased acceleration is required.

Abstract: A control for determining a firing timing of an engine is provided. An in-cylinder pressure is detected at a predetermined time interval. An in-cylinder pressure for every predetermined crank angle is calculated based on the detected in-cylinder pressure. A motoring pressure in a case where combustion is not performed in the engine is estimated. It is detected that a pressure difference between the calculated in-cylinder pressure and the motoring pressure has exceeded a determination value. A time point is identified, as a firing timing, at which the pressure difference has exceeded a determination value with a finer resolution than the resolution of the predetermined crank angle interval through an interpolation calculation.