Abstract: A method for operating an engine having at least one cylinder that may be deactivated and a fuel system operating with an alcohol fuel blend, comprising of adjusting a range of operating parameters in which the at least one cylinder is deactivated, where said range is adjusted as the alcohol blend of the fuel varies.

Abstract: A fuel injection control device for an engine including a cylinder injector and an air intake passage injector is provided. The device changes a fuel injection style, from a compression stroke cylinder injection by the cylinder injector which is executed from a predetermined instant immediately after the beginning of the cold start of engine until a predetermined period has passed, to the combination of an air intake passage injection by the air intake passage injector, an intake stroke cylinder injection and a compression stroke cylinder injection by the cylinder injector which is executed after the predetermined period has passed. During the cold start of engine, the favorable combustion stability is obtained by the compression stroke cylinder injection before the predetermined period has passed, and an amount of HC is reduced after the passage of the predetermined period, promoting warming-up of catalyst.

Abstract: A method for an engine configured to deliver an actively varying relative ratio of a first and second fuel via a delivery system having a first and second injector for a cylinder of the engine, where the first fuel has a lesser relative amount of alcohol, the method comprising of varying an amount of injection from the first and second injector with operating conditions, when said variation causes said first injector to approach a first minimum opening condition, increasing injection of said second injector and disabling said first injector, and when said variation causes said second injector to approach a second minimum opening condition, avoiding further reduction of said second injector and decreasing injection of said first injector.

Abstract: A reduced cost dual fuel injection system and method is described. Port fuel injectors and direct fuel injectors may be operated by using common injector drivers.

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: 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: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine and a method of operating the fuel delivery system are provided. An example embodiment of the method includes: transferring at least some fuel from a first fuel storage region to a second fuel storage region via a pump during a first condition; draining at least some fuel from the second fuel storage region to the first storage fuel region via gravity during a second condition; and delivering fuel from the first fuel storage region to a first fuel injector of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine; and delivering fuel from the second fuel storage region to a second fuel injector of the cylinder.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture produced by fuel injected from a first injector into an intake port (or into a combustion chamber) is set in a range of 28 to 38. Therefore, when the temperature and pressure rise with a first combustion started by spark-ignition around a spark plug to the fuel injected from a second injector into the combustion chamber, the timing of starting a second compressive hypergolic ignition is optimized to provide a stable combustion state free of knocking and misfire.

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 hybrid vehicle has, as its driving-force source, an internal combustion engine that includes an in-cylinder injector directly injecting fuel into a cylinder and an intake manifold injector injecting fuel into an intake manifold and/or an intake port as well as another driving-force source. When the internal combustion engine is operated in such an operation state as the low-vehicle-speed running state where the sound generated from the whole vehicle is low in volume, the fuel injection ratio between the injectors is set so that the total fuel quantity is injected by the intake manifold injector, without using the in-cylinder injector that injects fuel at a high pressure. In this way, the operating sound of the internal combustion engine can be reduced in the operation state where the sound generated from the whole vehicle is low in volume.

Abstract: A method and system for use with flexible fuel engines capable of operating with arbitrary mixtures of gasoline and alternative fuel. The engine is equipped with an EGR loop and a control system, such that, as the relative amount of alternative fuel decreases, the amount of EGR provided to the engine increases.

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 fuel injection apparatus and a fuel injection control method for an internal combustion engine which performs a direct injection operation for injecting fuel from an injector for cylinder injection into a cylinder and a port injection operation for injecting fuel from an injector for intake port injection into an intake port. When a request to change from fuel injection from the injector for cylinder injection to fuel injection from the injector for intake port injection is made, the fuel injection mode of a particular cylinder is changed at a point of time according to the changing request for the particular cylinder. Accordingly, transition to the optimum fuel injection mode is performed in a short time, and a required amount of air-fuel mixture can be obtained. It is therefore possible to suppress fluctuation of torque and deterioration of emission.

Abstract: A leak fuel collection apparatus of the internal combustion engine using leak oil collection pipe fuel is provided, by which the improvement in fuel consumption and exhaust emission can be achieved by improving the combustion condition of the leak fuel mixed with fresh air in the cylinder in correspondence with the engine operating conditions. The leak oil collection pipe is connected to the intake air pipe of the engine, a leak pipe open/close valve is provided to the leak oil collection pipe for opening or closing the leak pipe, and the leak pipe open/close valve is opened when the engine load at an engine rotation speed exceeds a predetermined value determined for the rotation speed and is closed when the engine load at said rotation speed is equal to or lower than said predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a first fuel injection system for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and having a second fuel injection system for intake manifold injection, an injected fuel mass being corrected for the adaptation of an air/fuel mixture ratio; and at least one first adaptation value for the first fuel injection system being used and at least one second adaptation value for the second fuel injection system being used. The first and the second adaptation value are evaluated in order to conclude whether there is an error in an air system of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The drive control of the invention sets a rotation speed Ni for in-cylinder injection according to an operation curve used in operation of an engine with fuel injection from only in-cylinder fuel injection valves and a rotation speed Np for port injection according to an operation curve used in operation of the engine with fuel injection from only port fuel injection valves (steps S150 and S160). The drive control subsequently sets a target rotation speed Ne* and a target torque Te* of the engine by distributing the rotation speed Ni for in-cylinder injection and the rotation speed Np for port injection by an allocation rate k of in-cylinder fuel injection to port fuel injection (step S170).

Abstract: A dual fuel engine (2) is provided which is supplied with diesel fuel and at least one secondary fuel, such as LPG. The engine (2) has a plurality of cylinders (4, 6, 8, 10) in which pistons reciprocate. Each cylinder has diesel injectors (4A, 6A, 8A, 10A) for injecting the diesel fuel into the cylinder during an appropriate stroke of the piston and an air inlet valve (4C, 6C, 8C, 10C) which opens during the appropriate stroke of the piston to permit air flow therethrough. Each cylinder is further provided with LPG injectors (4B, 6B, 8B, 10B) for injecting the secondary fuel into the cylinders. The LPG injectors are independent to and separate from the diesel fuel injectors. The LPG and diesel fuel injectors are also independently controlled.

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: In order that the acceleration mode hydrogen adding rate “RAcc” used during acceleration increases above the hydrogen adding base rate “RBase” predefined according to a particular operating state, the acceleration mode hydrogen adding rate “RAcc” is set to be the value obtained by adding the hydrogen adding base rate “RBase” and an acceleration incremental value “a”. During acceleration, at least hydrogen is supplied on the basis of the acceleration mode hydrogen adding rate “RAcc”.

Abstract: A method for controlling a first and second injector of an engine, the first injector located in a first cylinder of the engine and the second injector located upstream of, and configured to inject fuel into, the first and a second cylinder of the engine, the method comprising of decreasing total injection from the first and second injectors when decreasing injection from the second injector, and increasing total injection from the first and second injectors when increasing injection of the second injector.

Abstract: A system for an engine of a vehicle traveling on the road, comprising of a first fuel injector coupled to a cylinder of the engine, a second fuel injector coupled to said cylinder of the engine, a compression device for compressing intake air delivered to said cylinder, a fuel tank configured to store a fuel, the fuel tank coupled to the first and second injectors, a fuel vapor purge system for delivering vapors of the fuel to said cylinder of the engine and a controller configured to vary an amount of injection of the fuel from at least one of the first and second fuel injectors as a concentration of said vapors varies, and further to vary said amount of injection based on operation of the compression device.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture produced by fuel injected from a first injector into an intake port (or into a combustion chamber) is set in a range of 28 to 38. Therefore, when the temperature and pressure rise with a first combustion started by spark-ignition around a spark plug to the fuel injected from a second injector into the combustion chamber, the timing of starting a second compressive hypergolic ignition is optimized to provide a stable combustion state free of knocking and misfire.

Abstract: An engine includes an in-cylinder injector injecting fuel into a cylinder, a port injector injecting fuel into an intake manifold, and a valve-opening-characteristic changing mechanism changing at least lift or opening duration of an intake valve. When the engine is in a predetermined operating region and the valve-opening-characteristic changing mechanism decreases the lift or the opening duration of the intake valve, the ratio of fuel injected by the in-cylinder injector is increased according to an amount of the decrease of the lift or the opening duration and accordingly a decrease in tumble ratio is compensated for by the injection flow.

Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder located in the engine; a first injector for injecting a first fuel into said cylinder; a second injector for injecting a second fuel into said cylinder; and a controller configured to vary an amount of said first and second fuel injection during engine operation based on operating conditions, where amounts of variation of said first and second fuels are set to maintain desired engine output and provide a substantially stoichiometric mixture.

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: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine; a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder; a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by only one of said first and second injectors during said start and/or warm-up.

Abstract: The engine ECU executes a program including the step of detecting an engine coolant temperature, the step of detecting an engine speed and an engine load, the step of estimating a temperature at a tip end of an in-cylinder injector based on the engine coolant temperature, the engine speed and the engine load, and, when the temperature at the tip end is greater than a guaranteed temperature, the step of calculating a drive duty of a high-pressure fuel pump that ensures a decrease of the temperature at the tip end of the in-cylinder injector to the guaranteed temperature, and the step of controlling the high-pressure fuel pump using the drive duty.

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: The engine ECU executes a program including the step of detecting an engine coolant temperature, the step of detecting an engine speed and an engine load, the step of estimating a temperature at a tip end of an in-cylinder injector based on the engine coolant temperature, the engine speed and the engine load, and, when the temperature at the tip end is greater than a guaranteed temperature, the step of calculating a drive duty of a high-pressure fuel pump that ensures a decrease of the temperature at the tip end of the in-cylinder injector to the guaranteed temperature, and the step of controlling the high-pressure fuel pump using the drive duty.

Abstract: In an engine starting control system of an internal combustion engine in which an eco-run control is performed, a combustion stroke that each cylinder reaches when the internal combustion engine comes to an engine stopped state by the eco-run control is predicted, and in an expansion stroke cylinder that the predicted combustion stroke is an expansion stroke, fuel of a predetermined amount is injected from an intake passage injection valve into an intake passage just before the internal combustion engine comes to an engine stopped state, and in the expansion stroke cylinder, an engine start of the internal combustion engine in an engine stopped state is performed by injecting fuel from the cylinder injection valve into the cylinder and igniting the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder by an ignition plug.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system uses a blended fuel of gasoline and ethanol, operates with high efficiency, and can inhibit nitrogen oxide and the like from being discharged. The internal combustion engine system includes: a fuel tank 3 that accommodates a blended fuel having an octane number of 80 to 100, which has been prepared by blending gasoline having the octane number of 30 to 85 and ethanol into a weight ratio between 9:1 and 6:4; A separating device for adding water to the blended fuel to separate the blended fuel into the gasoline and an ethanol-water mixture liquid; A reforming device for reforming one part of the ethanol-water mixture liquid to produce a mixture liquid of diethyl ether and water; and fuel injectors which independently inject each of the gasoline, the ethanol-water mixture liquid and the mixture liquid of diethyl ether and water.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including a step of sensing a coolant temperature TW of an engine, if a start request of the engine is sensed, a step of causing only an intake manifold injector to inject fuel to start engine 10, if coolant temperature TW is lower than a threshold value TW(0), and a step of causing only an in-cylinder injector to inject fuel to start engine 10, if coolant temperature TW is higher than threshold value TW(0).

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating a fuel injection ratio of an in-cylinder injector; calculating an amount of spark advance using a first map employed when the in-cylinder injector has a fuel injection ratio of one, said first map providing a timing of ignition with a maximum amount of spark advance; calculating an amount of spark advance using a second map employed for a fuel injection ratio of zero, said second map providing a timing of ignition with a minimum amount of spark advance; and calculating an amount of spark advance using a third map employed for a fuel injection ratio larger than zero and smaller than one, said third map providing a timing of ignition with a larger amount of spark advance for a larger ratio.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting an engine speed NE, a throttle angle THA and an amount of intake air GA; estimating an amount of intake air GAINI from the engine speed NE and the throttle angle THA; if the estimated amount of intake air GAINI minus the detected amount of intake air GA is larger than a predetermined deviation ?GA(0) (YES at S104), then causing an intake manifold injector to inject fuel to clear a deposit, as controlled, at the exhaust stroke when an intake valve is closed and at the intake stroke when the intake valve is opened and an exhaust valve is closed.

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.

Abstract: A fuel supply system according to the present invention includes a first delivery pipe for intake passage injection and a second delivery pipe for cylinder injection. The second delivery pipe is provided with a relief valve. A fuel discharge section of the relief valve is connected to the first delivery pipe via a relief passage.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio feedback system is configured to calculate the deviation between a target air-fuel ratio and an air-fuel ratio sensor value, multiplying a proportional gain by the calculated deviation to obtain a feedback correction value, and add the calculated feedback correction value to the in-cylinder injection quantity of an in-cylinder injector that is obtained by multiplying the fuel injection ratio of the in-cylinder injector by the basic fuel injection quantity. The calculated feedback correction value is not added to the port injection quantity of the intake manifold cylinder.

Abstract: An engine control device executes a mechanism of controlling a fuel system during idling including the step of detecting an engine speed NE and an engine load, the step of determining whether fuel can be injected at normal feed pressure from an in-cylinder injector during idling, the step of detecting or estimating a fuel temperature T in a high-pressure delivery pipe, the step of stopping the high-pressure fuel pump and injecting fuel from the in-cylinder injector at the normal feed pressure when the fuel temperature T is not greater than T(0), the step of stopping the high-pressure fuel pump and injecting fuel at the pressure greater than the normal feed pressure when the fuel temperature T is greater than T(0) and not greater than T(1), and the step of driving the high-pressure fuel pump to inject the fuel at high pressure when the fuel temperature T is greater than T(1).

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting an accelerator position; calculating a load factor KL of an engine based on the accelerator position or the like; when the engine is in a high load region, raising a pressure of fuel supplied to an in-cylinder injector and increasing a degree of opening of a throttle valve and/or increasing a lift amount of an intake valve; and when the engine is not in the high load region, lowering the pressure of the fuel supplied to the in-cylinder injector and decreasing the degree of opening of the throttle valve and/or decreasing the lift amount of the intake valve.

Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes: a low-pressure fuel system applying pressure to a fuel in a fuel tank by using a first low-pressure pump and supplying the fuel to port fuel injection valves; a high-pressure fuel system applying pressure to the fuel in the fuel tank by using a second low-pressure pump, applying further pressure to the fuel by using a high-pressure pump driven by an internal combustion engine, and supplying the fuel to in-cylinder fuel injection valves; and an ECU controlling actuation of at least the first low-pressure pump and the second low-pressure pump in accordance with an operation state of the internal combustion engine. As the low-pressure fuel system and the high-pressure fuel system are independent of each other, pulsation generated from the high-pressure pump does not propagate to the port fuel injection valves.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting an engine speed NE and an engine load (S100, S110); when determination is made of being in an idle region based on the engine speed NE and engine load (YES at S120), determining whether in a high load idle region or a low load idle region (S130); reducing the operation sound by stopping a high-pressure fuel pump in a high load idle region (S150); and aiming for combustion stabilization without stopping the high-pressure fuel pump in a low load idle region (S170).

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: starting an engine by transiently increasing an amount of fuel injection when a start request is detected; prohibiting calculation of a learn value when a condition for stopping transient increase is not satisfied; stopping transient increase when the condition for stopping transient increase is satisfied; steadily increasing the amount of fuel injection in accordance with a coolant temperature TW; and permitting calculation of a learn value during steady increase in accordance with the coolant temperature TW.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control system for a hydrogen addition internal combustion engine that uses hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen gas as combustion fuel. The control system includes fuel property judgment means for judging the property of hydrocarbon fuel; and addition ratio increase means that, when the hydrocarbon fuel is found to be heavy, increases the ratio of hydrogen gas addition to the hydrocarbon fuel. When the hydrocarbon fuel is found to be heavy, the control system increases the ratio of hydrogen gas addition to the hydrocarbon fuel. It is therefore possible to inhibit the combustion state from deteriorating due to the use of heavy fuel, thereby offering good emission and driveability.

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: The apparatus and method convert the fuel system of an internal combustion engine in a pre-existing (used) vehicle to operate on a mixture of fuels (like ethanol and gasoline) from a single fuel tank. The apparatus includes a fuel composition sensor installed in the fuel line and an electronic control unit with at least one fuel injector driver circuit for controlling an output signal to at least one fuel injector for controlling the air to fuel ratio of the engine. The electronic control unit controls both ignition timing and the air to fuel ratio of the engine based upon the percentage or ratio of the alternative fuel to gasoline from the fuel composition sensor. The electronic control unit receives both timing signals and fuel injector control signals from the engine's original Engine Control Module and the original emission control devices are not modified or replaced.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the step of detecting an engine coolant temperature (THW), the step of selecting a map for a warm state as the map for calculating a fuel injection ratio (or a DI ratio) r when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is equal to or higher than a temperature threshold value (THW(TH)) (YES in S110), the step of selecting a map for a cold state as the map for calculating the fuel injection ratio (or the DI ratio) r when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is lower than the temperature threshold value (THW(TH)) (NO in S110), and the step of calculating the fuel injection ratio between the in-cylinder injector and the intake manifold injector (or the DI ratio) r based on the engine speed, load factor, and the selected map.

Abstract: A method for controlling engine operation of an engine having a cylinder receiving fuel from a first and a second fuel injector, the first injector having a first relationship between a first input signal and a first amount of injected fuel, and the second injector having a second relationship between a second input signal and a second amount of injected fuel; the method comprising of varying injection from the first injector into the cylinder, varying injection from the second injector into the cylinder, purging fuel vapors from a fuel system into the cylinder, and adaptively learning said first and second relationships based on sensed operating conditions.

Abstract: A dual-injector fuel injection engine includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head, an intake port, an intake manifold, a surge tank, an in-cylinder injector, an intake pipe injector, and first and second delivery pipes. The in-cylinder injector is positioned below the intake port, when seen from an axial direction of a crank shaft, and attached to the cylinder head. The intake pipe injector and the second delivery pipe are supported above the intake port, when seen from the axial direction of the crank shaft, by the intake manifold to be close to the intake port.

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: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder located in the engine, a fuel delivery system for varying relative delivery amounts of a first and second injection type into said cylinder, and a controller configured to adjust a parameter affecting flow through the engine in response to said relative delivery amounts of said first and second injection type.