Abstract: The invention deals with a method for operating an internal combustion engine with engine oil as the lubricant and a fuel supply by means of direct injection, wherein an air number (lambda) of a fuel-air mixture supplied to the internal combustion engine is determined. Provision is made in the method according to the invention for the internal combustion engine to be transferred to an operating state with higher fuel consumption, when a low air number (lambda) is detected in driving conditions with a high percentage of fuel ingress from a crankcase ventilation system into the fuel-air mixture. By means of this increase in the fuel requirement, the fuel, which exited the engine oil into the intake air of the internal combustion engine, can be combusted; and an increase in the exhaust gas emissions by means of incompletely combusted fuel, in which typically hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide arise, can be avoided.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling a combustion engine. The system includes a measurement apparatus disposed external to a combustion chamber of the engine. A device is configured to selectively direct an amount of air and fuel to the measurement apparatus. An ignition source is configured to ignite the air and fuel to produce a flame propagating within the measurement apparatus. A sensor is configured to measure at least one parameter associated with the flame propagating within the measurement apparatus. A controller is configured to determine a flame speed within the measurement apparatus based on the at least one measured parameter, and to control an operating flame speed in the engine by managing an air/fuel ratio of the engine based on the determined flame speed.

Abstract: The present invention detects the deterioration of a catalyst. In accordance with an output from an oxygen sensor, a catalyst deterioration detection device for the catalyst positioned in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine detects a maximum oxygen storage state where an exhaust gas outflowing downstream of the catalyst contains excess oxygen and a minimum oxygen storage state where the exhaust gas outflowing downstream of the catalyst lacks oxygen. Control is exercised to provide a rich target air-fuel ratio for the internal combustion engine during an oxygen release period between the instant at which the maximum oxygen storage state is detected and the instant at which the minimum oxygen storage state is detected later, and to provide a lean target air-fuel ratio for the internal combustion engine during an oxygen storage period between the instant at which the minimum oxygen storage state is detected and the instant at which the maximum oxygen storage state is detected later.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine is configured to be able to perform a selected cylinder operation in which combustion is stopped in some cylinders. The multi-cylinder engine includes an ignition-timing adjustment section. This ignition-timing adjustment section retards ignition timing of each operating cylinder when the number of operating cylinders is small or when the engine operates in a selected cylinder operation mode in which explosion occurs at irregular intervals. In such a case, the peak of cylinder internal pressure is lowered by ignition timing retard. Thus, vibration and noise can be suppressed effectively.

Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine that is to be operated either by petrol or alcohol or by a variable proportion of the two fuels and that includes an electronic control unit that can drive the engine, an admission line, and an exhaust line that includes a richness probe. The method determines the richness of the carbide mixture entering into the combustion cylinders, and increases the duration of the injection by intervals according to the richness of the carbide mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of estimating the fuel/air ratio in each cylinder of an injection internal-combustion engine comprising an exhaust circuit on which a detector measures the fuel/air ratio of the exhaust gas. An estimator based on a Kalman filter is coupled with a physical model representing the expulsion of the gases from the cylinders and their travel in the exhaust circuit to the detector. The method has application to engine controls.

Abstract: In an apparatus comprising a fuel tank, an internal combustion engine, and a separator positioned fluidically between the fuel tank and the internal combustion engine, a method of operating the apparatus is disclosed, wherein the method comprises inputting a mixed fuel containing a hydrocarbon component and an oxygenated component into the separator, separating the fuel in the separator into a hydrocarbon-enriched fuel fraction and an oxygenated fuel component-enriched fuel fraction, and controlling an amount of the hydrocarbon-enriched fuel fraction and an amount of the oxygenated fuel component-enriched fuel fraction provided to the engine based upon an engine operating condition.

Abstract: A power system including a stoichiometric compression ignition engine in which a roots blower is positioned in the air intake for the engine to control air flow. Air flow is decreased during part power conditions to maintain the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber of the engine at stoichiometric, thus enabling the use of inexpensive three-way catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen. The roots blower is connected to a motor generator so that when air flow is reduced, electrical energy is stored which is made available either to the roots blower to temporarily increase air flow or to the system electrical load and thus recapture energy that would otherwise be lost in reducing air flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for calculating combustion energy of an internal combustion engine having a rotational velocity calculation unit for calculating a rotational velocity of a crank from a time required for the crank angle to change by a predetermined angle, a rotational acceleration calculation unit for calculating a rotational acceleration from the rotational velocity, a filter for extracting components synchronous with engine combustion from a signal representative of rotational velocities, and a gate for delivering a filter output when the rotational acceleration takes a minimum value, wherein the length of the filter equals one engine cycle/the number of cylinders.

Abstract: A liquid fuel detection system for a fuel vapor system of a vehicle providing fuel vapor to an engine operating in closed loop includes an oxygen sensor that generates an oxygen signal based on an oxygen level in engine exhaust. An engine speed sensor generates a speed signal based on a speed of the engine. And a control module receives the oxygen signal and the speed signal, determines a fuel control factor based on the oxygen signal, determines a long term modifier based on long term changes of the fuel control factor, and detects the presence of liquid fuel in the fuel vapor system based on the fuel control factor, the speed signal, and the long term modifier.

Abstract: A method for use in generating power in an internal combustion engine includes controlling a flow of a gas having an initial temperature and an initial pressure to a combustion chamber of the engine by a controller through an intake mechanism to provide a first mass of the gas to the chamber. The combustion chamber is expanded from a minimum volume to a maximum volume in an intake stroke. The maximum volume of the chamber exceeds a maximum compression volume of the chamber. The first mass of the gas in the chamber has a first pressure and a first temperature at the maximum compression volume. The chamber is reduced to the compression volume from the maximum volume in a compression stroke. The compression volume is about a volume of the chamber such that the first mass of the gas at the first pressure and the first temperature in the chamber is less than a maximum mass detonating with a fuel by the end of the compression stroke in a gasoline engine.

Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine has a cylinder in which a combustion chamber is provided that is delimited by a reciprocating piston guided in the cylinder, wherein the piston is connected by a connecting rod to a crankshaft and wherein the internal combustion engine has a device for supplying fuel and a device for igniting the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber at least one engine speed value of the internal combustion engine is determined and evaluated. A pre-ignition state of the internal combustion engine is determined based on the result of the evaluation step.

Abstract: The present apparatus calculates a mass ma (mass ratio ma/mf) of mixing-gas-forming cylinder interior gas, which is a portion of cylinder interior gas to be mixed with a forefront portion of injected fuel vapor having a mass of mf, on the basis of a predetermined empirical formula. Subsequently, under the assumption that heat exchange with the outside does not occur, the apparatus calculates an adiabatic gas mixture temperature Tmix of the gas mixture forefront portion on the basis of the heat quantity of the fuel vapor having a mass of mf and the heat quantity of the mixing-gas-forming cylinder interior gas having a mass of ma. Subsequently, in consideration of an amount of heat that the gas mixture forefront portion receives from peripheral cylinder interior gas mainly via a circumferential surface thereof, the apparatus estimates a final gas mixture temperature Tmixfin of the gas mixture forefront portion (i.e.

Abstract: The present invention provides an internal combustion engine system that includes an internal combustion engine system includes an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold fluidly coupled to a compressor adapted to receive ambient air through an air conduit of the engine, a first sensor positioned at least one of inside and outside the air conduit and configured to measure a first water content in the ambient air, and a second sensor positioned at least one of inside the intake manifold and upstream of the intake manifold and configured to measure a second water content in the intake manifold.

Abstract: A liquid fuel detection system for a fuel vapor system of a vehicle providing fuel vapor to an engine operating in closed loop includes an oxygen sensor that generates an oxygen signal based on an oxygen level in engine exhaust. An engine speed sensor generates a speed signal based on a speed of the engine. And a control module receives the oxygen signal and the speed signal, determines a fuel control factor based on the oxygen signal, determines a long term modifier based on long term changes of the fuel control factor, and detects the presence of liquid fuel in the fuel vapor system based on the fuel control factor, the speed signal, and the long term modifier.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling the exhaust gas recirculation in an internal-combustion engine are described herein. The engine is provided with an air-intake system, a gas-exhaust system, and an exhaust-gas-recirculation system. A linear oxygen sensor is arranged along the air-intake system in a section traversed, in use, by the air/recirculated-exhaust-gas mixture, for measuring the oxygen concentration in the mixture itself An electronic control unit is connected to the oxygen sensor and to the exhaust-gas-recirculation system for controlling the flow rate of recirculated exhaust gases on the basis of the oxygen concentration in the mixture taken in by the engine. In particular, the oxygen sensor is a UHEGO probe.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine, which comprises an intake plenum, an exhaust gas system, and a fresh-air feed line and an exhaust gas recirculation line connected to the intake plenum, includes a sensor, arranged in the intake plenum for measuring an amount of an exhaust gas component, and a controller constructed for outputting a correcting variable based on the sensor and adjusting the percentage by mass of inert gas in the intake plenum on the basis of the correcting variable. The sensor arranged in the intake plenum is a gas concentration sensor which is equipped for determining the air ratio, the oxygen concentration or the carbon dioxide concentration in the intake plenum and to output as sensor variable a variable representing the air ratio, the oxygen concentration or the carbon dioxide concentration to controller.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) generates power by burning a mixture of fuel and air in each combustion chamber (3). The internal combustion engine (1) is provided with an in-cylinder pressure sensor (15) disposed in the combustion chamber (3) and an ECU (20). The ECU (20) calculates control parameters each of which is a product of an in-cylinder pressure detected by the in-cylinder pressure sensor (15) and a value obtained by exponetiating an in-cylinder volume at timing of detecting the in-cylinder pressure with a predetermined index at two predetermined points during a period from opening timing of an intake valve (Vi) to closing timing thereof, and calculates a quantity of air aspirated into each combustion chamber (3) based upon a difference in the control parameter between the two predetermined points.

Abstract: A system (400) and method of determining fuel demands of a locomotive engine (10) based upon engine speed and power produced by the engine at a given time, so to optimize the engine's power output for a load while reducing engine emissions. The engine control architecture comprises three interrelated control loops (100–300). A primary feedback control loop (100) employs integral type control with gain scheduling to regulate engine speed to commanded slew rated based upon the locomotive's operator commands. A second control loop (200) provides an active, feed forward or predictive control consisting of a plurality of correction functions each utilizing a Taylor series having coefficients for each term in the series, the coefficients being modified to adapt the system to the engine with which it is used.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus adopted to an internal combustion engine provided with air-fuel ratio learning means for learning a primary air-fuel ratio given in the form of a mass ratio between air and fuel introduced into a combustion chamber, comprises an exhaust gas purifying catalyst provided in an exhaust gas passage of the engine and a catalyst activating means for supplying secondary air to an upstream of the exhaust gas purifying catalyst and increasing the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine to activate the exhaust gas purifying catalyst.

Abstract: A bypass passage for bypassing a check valve is connected with a vacuum introducing passage of a brake booster. The bypass passage is provided with a switching valve. Just before the start of an engine, the switching valve temporarily opens the bypass passage whereby to equalize a remaining pressure of the brake booster substantially becomes equal to an atmospheric level. As a result, the pressure in the brake booster at the starting time is set to substantially the atmospheric level so that the airflow to be sucked from the brake booster into the intake pipe at the starting time is made substantially contact every times. Thus, the fuel injection rate can be set considering the airflow to be sucked from the brake booster into the intake pipe at the starting time, even if that airflow cannot be detected.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling lean and rich operation of an internal combustion engine coupled to a lean NOx trap. In one example, the termination of the lean air-fuel mixture is based on an oxygen storage capacity and temperature of the NOx trap. In another example, the level and duration of rich air-fuel ratio purging operation is also controlled based on the oxygen storage capacity of the NOx trap.

Abstract: In the fuel cylinder injection engine with the supercharging machine, the ignitability deteriorates because the density of the fuel at the spray center becomes excessive due to the shrinkage of the fuel spray under the supercharging. As a result, the density of the smoke and the hydrocarbon exhaust rate increase. The mixture of the fuel and the air under the supercharging is promoted by the control by TCV installed in the suction port which is a divided spray and air flow generation mechanism and the valve timing control of the suction and exhaust valve, etc.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for gas mixture supply apparatus and diagnostic method thereof characterized in that, when any trouble has occurred to gas mixture from a gas mixture supply apparatus, it can be identified as an error; and at least engine startup is ensured, continued operation of the engine can be made enabled without any problem which may cause stalling of the engine, and deterioration of exhaust gas can be prevented. The above object can be attained by the present invention comprising a gas mixture state detecting means for detecting the state of gas mixture when gas mixture is supplied from the aforementioned gas mixture supply means during the operation of the aforementioned evaporation means, and evaluation means for evaluating an error of the aforementioned gas mixture supply means based on the result of detection by the aforementioned gas mixture state detecting means.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor is estimated based on an estimation value of air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture formed inside a cylinder, and based on an air-fuel ratio estimated as being detected by this air-fuel ratio sensor and the air-fuel ratio detected based on an output signal of the air-fuel ratio sensor, the estimation value of the cylinder air-fuel ratio is corrected and a fuel injection quantity is corrected based on the corrected cylinder air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for gas mixture supply apparatus and diagnostic method thereof characterized in that, when any trouble has occurred to gas mixture from a gas mixture supply apparatus, it can be identified as an error; and at least engine startup is ensured, continued operation of the engine can be made enabled without any problem which may cause stalling of the engine, and deterioration of exhaust gas can be prevented. The above object can be attained by the present invention comprising a gas mixture state detecting means for detecting the state of gas mixture when gas mixture is supplied from the aforementioned gas mixture supply means during the operation of the aforementioned evaporation means, and evaluation means for evaluating an error of the aforementioned gas mixture supply means based on the result of detection by the aforementioned gas mixture state detecting means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel supply device for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of preventing fuel pressure control problems caused by divergence of a feedback control amount in pump control. A target fuel pressure is computed, and a pump discharge quantity is computed as a feed forward quantity in accordance with an amount of change in the target fuel pressure. A determination is made as to whether or not the feed forward quantity is zero, and when the feed forward quantity is zero, a feedback correction quantity is computed based on the target fuel pressure and the actual fuel pressure, and feedback control is performed. In the case where the feed forward quantity is not zero, the computation of the feedback correction quantity is stopped and the feed forward control is continued.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio correction cylinder determining section 25 specifies, based on the peak phase, a cylinder for which an air/fuel ratio is to be corrected. A cylinder-specific air/fuel ratio correcting section in the form of respective cylinder correcting sections 31 through 34 corrects an amount of fuel to be supplied to a cylinder which becomes an air/fuel ratio correction target. A cylinder for which an air/fuel ratio deviates from the remaining cylinders is specified as a fuel amount correction target based on a change in the output value of the air/fuel ratio sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for galvanically measuring vapor pressure of a volatile liquid is described. Vapor pressure of the volatile liquid is derived by galvanically detecting the reduction in oxygen partial pressure in air that is caused by evaporation of the volatile liquid into that air. In one example, an automotive engine/fuel EVAP system is described in which fuel vapor pressure exiting an EVAP canister is measured during purging. The measurement is used to compensate the primary fuel supply to better control overall air/fuel ratio to the engine during purging. In another example, a galvanic oxygen meter is used to identify the type of volatile liquid, including the RVP of engine fuel.

Abstract: An engine output for bringing the drive power of a motor vehicle to a requested value is determined as a target output. One of the lean burn and the stoichiometric burn is selected as a combustion form that achieves a best fuel consumption performance in terms of the control of the actual engine output to the target output. That is, an output value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to switch the combustion force is determined based on the minimum fuel consumption rate during the stoichiometric-burn operation and the minimum fuel consumption rate during the lean-burn operation in which the fuel consumption involved in the rich spike control is taken into account. If the target output is less than the output value, the lean-burn operation is performed. If the target output is greater than the output value, the stoichiometric-burn operation is performed.

Abstract: In an air fuel ratio control for engines, a target operation characteristic of engine speed is set based on a coolant temperature when the engine starts cranking. The target engine speed is variable with time after the engine cranking has started and converges to a speed value lower than a normal target idle speed. Immediately after a complete combustion of air-fuel mixture suplied to the engine is detected, an actual engine speed is compared with a target engine speed corresponding to the target operation characteristics, and an air-fuel ratio of the mixture supplied to the engine is controlled based on a comparison result.

Abstract: A system (12) and method for controlling the injection of fuel into a cylinder (14) of an internal combustion engine (10) are provided. The system (12) includes a fuel injector (22), a temperature sensor (48), and an electronic control unit (ECU) (50). The fuel is parsed into a plurality of components based on the boiling points of elements of the fuel. ECU (50) stores mass fraction values for each component relative to the total mass of a sample of the fuel along with vaporization rates for each component. These values are used by the ECU (50) to account for different vaporization rates among fuel elements. In accordance with the invention, ECU (50) is further configured to adjust the mass fraction values responsive to the combustion air-fuel ratio and the engine temperature to account for the different volatility characteristics of various fuels.

Abstract: An engine combustion controller for an engine having a fuel supply system selects an engine combustion mode from one of lean combustion, in which an air fuel mixture leaner than a stoichiometric mixture is burned, and stoichiometric combustion, in which a stoichiometric mixture is burned, in accordance with an operating state of the engine and controls, via feedback, the air fuel ratio of the air fuel mixture when the stoichiometric combustion is performed using air-fuel ratio compensating value that are based on the composition of the engine exhaust gas. A preliminary tester checks the fuel supply system and determines that the fuel supply system is in a normal state when certain preliminary test conditions are satisfied, which includes checking the feedback compensating value. A prohibiter prevents lean combustion when the preliminary tester determines that the state of the fuel supply system is ambiguous.

Abstract: In a method for operating a combustion engine having an exhaust-gas turbocharger, it is possible to switch over between a normal operation and a special operation. In the special operation, at least one main fuel injection and at least one secondary fuel injection are provided. In response to a positive load jump, a switch-over between the normal operation and the special operation provided for increasing the exhaust gas enthalpy is performed, the secondary fuel injection in the special operation being adjusted so that it substantially burns in the combustion chamber and causes an increase in the exhaust gas enthalpy as well as an adjustment of a rich or a lean exhaust gas composition. The method according to the present invention may be used, for example, in a motor vehicle having a diesel engine.

Abstract: Method and system for regulating the composition of an air/fuel stream supplied to an internal-combustion engine, comprise determining the mixture flow of the stream, the energy concentration of the air/fuel stream being measured and, from this, the desired mixture flow being determined and compared with the prevailing mixture flow and, if appropriate, correction of the air/fuel composition being carried out. Measuring the mixture strength may consist in the catalytic combustion of part of the mixture and determining the resulting temperature increase. The mixture flow can be determining by measuring the rotational speed of the engine and its inlet pressure and inlet temperature. Instead of comparing the determined and desired mixture flow, it is also possible to compare the prevailing and desired energy concentration and then to carry out a correction.

Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine includes determining an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) command signal based on at least one engine condition, and determining a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) command signal based on at least one engine condition and at least partially based on the EGR command signal. Advantageously, the EGR system and VGT system may be continuously and simultaneously controlled, taking into account the effects of each system on the other, to provide improved and more precise control over engine air flow. In an alternative embodiment, an engine may be controlled with a feedback control system where engine intake chemical composition is the feedback variable.

Abstract: A pre-vaporized fuel system for use in fueling an internal combustion engine is provided with a dynamic infrared sensor. The infrared sensor senses the hydrocarbon content of the vaporized fuel which information is used by the engine control module to control engine fueling to minimize emissions. The infrared source is operated to maintain the pre-vaporized fuel below its lower explosive limit and the thermopile detector electronics is synchronized with the light pulse frequency to develop fast signal responses suitable for fueling control.

Abstract: A method is provided for accommodating the purge vapors from an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle. The method includes a means of learning the bank-to-bank distribution of purge vapors within the engine manifold. As such, the fuel to air ratio delivered from various injectors can be selectively controlled to accommodate the purge vapor at that bank of the engine and maintain the desired fuel to air ratio.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio control method for an internal combustion engine corrects airflow prediction errors. The method compares the current airflow to the value that was predicted several events in the past and creates an error signal. Based on this error signal, the current fueling is adjusted. These two mixtures, with equally offsetting lean and rich air/fuel ratios allow the catalytic converter to operate at peak efficiency despite prediction errors.

Abstract: A true closed-loop air/fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine which uses a cylinder air charge percentage value also known as a cylinder or engine load value, is used to control the air/fuel ratio of said engine in response to the difference of said measured load value and a predetermined optimum load value. This process allows true closed-loop fuel control immediately following a cold or warm engine start without need of a traditional exhaust gas sensor. As this process automatically compensates for all fuel utilized by the engine, even during cold starting and idles, the problems associated with fuel vapor purge systems are eliminated. This process can reduce government regulated emissions from said engine considerably and improve fuel economy a significant percentage particularly when operated net lean of stoichiometric. Elimination of currently required engine hardware for traditional systems can allow for a considerable cost savings.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine having an air intake duct for supplying combustion air to the engine, an exhaust pipe for discharging exhaust gases from the engine, and an exhaust gas recirculation pipe extending between the exhaust pipe and the air intake duct and including an exhaust gas recirculation valve, oxygen sensors are provided in the air intake pipe and in the exhaust duct and are connected to a control unit which determines from the signals generated by the oxygen sensors the actual exhaust gas recirculation rate and dependent thereon controls the exhaust gas recirculation valve so as to generate a desired exhaust gas recirculation flow for the momentary engine operating point.

Abstract: A combustion engine with an EGR apparatus has an EGR path connecting an exhaust path and an intake path. An EGR control valve is mounted in the EGR path for controlling the amount of flow of an EGR gas flowing from the exhaust path to the intake path. The combustion engine also has an oxygen concentration sensor mounted downstream of a joint of the intake path and the EGR path, and in the intake path, for detecting a concentration of oxygen in an intake air. The intake air contains the EGR gas and an air introduced from an atmosphere via the intake path. The combustion engine also has converted actual EGR ratio calculating means for calculating a converted actual EGR ratio on the basis of the concentration of oxygen in the intake air detected by the sensor. The converted actual EGR ratio is a ratio of an actual EGR ratio to an actual air ratio. The actual EGR ratio is a ratio of the amount of the EGR gas to the amount of the intake air.

Abstract: A control device for a heater for an air fuel ratio sensor attached close to a sensor element of an air fuel ratio sensor located in an intake passage of an intake passage.The control device comprises an ambient temperature related parameter detecting means for detecting a parameter related an ambient temperature of the air fuel ratio sensor, an intake air amount related parameter detecting means for detecting a parameter related amount of fresh intake air introduced into intake passage, and supply power controlling means for controlling supply power based on a parameter detected by an ambient temperature related parameter detecting means and a parameter detected by an intake air amount related parameter detecting means.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle utilizing a control unit which detects operating data of the engine. The control unit includes a computing unit for processing the operating data and the control unit drives actuating elements for influencing the operating state of the engine in dependence upon the detected operating data. In the method, the concentration of at least one component of the ambient air is detected with a sensor and the concentration is processed in the control unit. The actuating elements are driven in dependence upon the at least one component of the ambient air. An arrangement for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for enriching the oxygen content in the intake air of an internal combustion engine. To enrich the oxygen content, air is conducted through a membrane which is primarily permeable for oxygen molecules. This membrane is mounted in an enrichment channel which opens into the intake channel of the engine. The oxygen content in the intake channel is continuously detected by at least one sensor device. On the one hand, a reduction of the toxic emissions of the engine is provided while, on the other hand, an increase in the power of the engine is simultaneously provided. This is achieved with a drivable actuator device which changes the concentration of the inducted air as well as the oxygen-enriched air in dependence upon the detected oxygen content.

Abstract: Air is purged through a fuel vapor recovery system to induct a mixture of purged air and fuel vapor from the fuel vapor recovery system into an engine air/fuel intake. An air/fuel vapor ratio of the inducted mixture is provided from a hydrocarbon sensor positioned in the engine air/fuel intake. Fuel vapor flow is then calculated and this calculation used to adjust fuel delivered to the engine to maintain a desired lean air/fuel ratio.

Abstract: A compression ignition engine comprising a fuel injector arranged in the combustion chamber. Fuel containing oxygen is used as the fuel injected from the fuel injector to the combustion chamber. The mean air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber is feedback controlled to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio based on an output signal of an O.sub.2 sensor. The NOx, HC, and CO produced at this time are removed by a three-way catalyst.

Abstract: A fuel vapor purging control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. This purging control system incorporates an air/fuel ratio compensating system which includes a purge control valve for controlling a purge flow rate of an air-fuel vapor mixture flowing into an induction system of the engine through a purge passage according to a preselected engine operating condition parameter, a sensor disposed in the purge passage for determining an amount of fuel in the air-fuel vapor mixture, an air/fuel ratio controller for modifying an amount of fuel in an air/fuel mixture injected through a fuel injection system of the engine based on the amount of fuel in the air-fuel vapor mixture determined by the sensor for assuring a desired air/fuel ratio of the air/fuel mixture entering a combustion chamber of the engine.

Abstract: The system for controlling the air/fuel mixture introduced into a lean burn engines includes a fuel/air mixing carburetor that is connected to the intake conduit to the engine and an air by-pass conduit that is also connected to the intake conduit. The main throttle valve is located downstream of the connection between the carburation conduit and the by-pass conduit so that mixing of the carbureted fuel/air mixture with the by-pass air occurs upstream of the main throttle valve. Accordingly, the main throttle valve does not control the air/fuel ratio but rather controls the quantity of fuel being introduced into the engine. The by-pass throttle valve may be controlled by an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system or by a fuel sensor in the intake system, when operating on natural gas, gasoline, hydrogen or alcohol fuel, as desired.