Abstract: An adaptive, any-fuel reciprocating engine using sensor feedback integration of high-speed optical sensors with real-time control loops to adaptively manage the electronic actuation schemes over a range of engine loads and fuels. The engine uses one or more optical sensors to collect specific types of gas property data via a spectroscopic technique to adaptively control various components within the engine.

Abstract: A sensing system and method utilizes measured flywheel speed variations to determine engine torque. The measured engine torque can be used to control vehicle transmissions, clutches, and other vehicle components and systems.

Abstract: A compression monitoring system for a reciprocating engine includes a controller configured to terminate combustion within a combustion chamber of the reciprocating engine while a crankshaft of the reciprocating engine is rotating. The controller is also configured to receive an input signal from a sensor indicative of vibration within a cylinder extending from the combustion chamber while the crankshaft is rotating and the combustion is terminated. Furthermore, the controller is configured to determine a magnitude of the vibration within a frequency range and to determine a maximum pressure within the cylinder based on the magnitude of the vibration within the frequency range. The controller is also configured to output an output signal indicative of the maximum pressure within the cylinder and/or control operation of the reciprocating engine based on the maximum pressure within the cylinder.

Abstract: Provided is a circuit device including: a clock signal generation circuit generating a plurality of multi-phase clock signals; a time-to-digital conversion circuit performing a count operation based on an i-th clock signal that corresponds to a multi-phase clock signal, to obtain a count value that corresponds to a time difference between transition timings of a first signal and a second signal, to obtain a first digital value that corresponds to a time difference between transition timings of the first signal and a j-th clock signal that corresponds to a multi-phase clock signal, and to obtain a second digital value that corresponds to a time difference between transition timings of the second signal and a k-th clock signal that corresponds to a multi-phase clock signal; and a processing circuit obtaining a digital value that corresponds to the time difference based on the count value, the first digital value, and the second digital value.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine comprises a skirt defining an inner space of the piston and having a skirt bottom; and a target arranged under the skirt bottom to engage with a passage detector arranged in the engine. The target is supported by a holding body held at least partially inside the inner space of the piston. The present disclosure likewise relates to an engine comprising such a piston.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a connecting rod and a target arranged on one of the lateral reinforcing walls of a piston or on a foot end of the connecting rod, and a crankcase defining at least one cylinder and having at least one bore opening out under the cylinder. The engine comprises a measuring device arranged in the bore of the crankcase and having a target passage detector, and a connector and at least one cable connecting the passage detector to the connector. The target is arranged opposite the passage detector, when the piston is near a bottom dead center position.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for operating an engine that includes a knock control system. The methods and system provide for repurposing the engine knock control system to detect and mitigate piston slap. The methods and systems also seek to increase the signal to noise ratio for detecting piston slap.

Abstract: A system for inspecting thermal spray coated cylinder bores of aluminum alloy cylinder blocks, the system includes a failure detection apparatus, a heating apparatus, a cooling apparatus, and a control unit in electronic communication with each of the failure detection apparatus, the heating apparatus, and the cooling apparatus, and wherein the control unit includes a memory and a control logic sequence for operating the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surge chamber configured for releasably connecting a fuel injector to a fuel injection testing machine in an adjustable manner to accommodate the various fuel injector orientations produced by different manufacturers. The apparatus generally comprises a surge chamber, a quick connect assembly, and a coupler adapted to connect to the fuel injector being tested. The quick connect attaches to the surge chamber, and the coupler is configured to securely and removably connect the fuel injector to the quick connect via the fuel injector inlet. The test fluid passes from the surge chamber, through the quick connect and coupler, and into the injector, where it is typically injected into a spray chamber. In another embodiment, the chamber comprises a swivel cap that permits rotation of the chamber about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A device for ascertaining a camshaft position and a phase of an internal-combustion engine having multiple cylinders, including a first position sensor wheel having multiple teeth on its circumference and rotatably and fixedly connected to an engine camshaft; a first position sensor for detecting a tooth flank position of the first wheel; a transmission connecting the camshaft to a crankshaft; a second position sensor wheel having at least one tooth on its circumference and being connected to the transmission so that it is synchronously driven with the camshaft, and a second position sensor for detecting a tooth flank position of the second wheel. For ascertaining a camshaft position and a phase of an engine with this device, a camshaft position is assigned to a position of a tooth flank of the first wheel and a phase of the engine is assigned to a tooth flank position of the second wheel.

Abstract: An electronic control system includes a microcomputer and a signal processing circuit, and receives output signals of an in-cylinder pressure sensor and a crank angle sensor. The output signal of the pressure sensor indicates an output voltage of a piezoelectric transducer and a reference voltage. The signal processing circuit includes a hold circuit and a differential amplifier circuit. The differential amplifier circuit amplifies a difference between the output signal of the pressure sensor and the output signal of the hold circuit and outputs the result to the microcomputer. The hold circuit switches over the output signals in response to a switchover instruction of the microcomputer. When the switchover instruction is a set instruction, the hold circuit holds as its output signal the output signal of the pressure sensor outputted at the time of receiving the set instruction. The microcomputer outputs the set instruction to the hold circuit in response to the output signal of the crank angle sensor.

Abstract: A fluid-dynamic actuator having a detection system for determining the position of a piston along its path of travel within a cylinder. The piston includes a head and rod extending therefrom. First grooves are machined on respective sections of the rod. Projections of the first grooves onto a first plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod define segments arranged obliquely with respect to the axis. Second grooves extend along the axis for predetermined lengths such that a respective number of second grooves run across each section. Optical sensors detect the presence of second grooves through a second plane transverse to the axis and a displacement of segments along a line coplanar with the second plane due to movement of the piston. A processor counts detected second grooves to determine the position of the piston as a function of the count of second grooves and the displacement of segments.

Abstract: A first target wheel has an opening and rotates about an axis of rotation to move the opening along a generally circular path. A second target wheel adjacent the first target wheel has a second projection projecting into the opening of the first target wheel with the second projection being movable along the generally circular path. A single sensor is positioned adjacent the generally circular path and senses movement of the opening and the second projection past the sensor. An electronic controller may be used to process signals from the sensor to determine the relative angular difference between the first target wheel and the second target wheel.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing the position of a reciprocating free piston in a free piston Stirling machine. The sensor has a disk mounted to an end face of the power piston coaxially with its cylinder and reciprocating with the piston The disk includes a rim around its outer perimeter formed of an electrically conductive material A coil is wound coaxially with the cylinder, spaced outwardly from the outer perimeter of the disk and mounted in fixed position relative to the pressure vessel, preferably on the exterior of the pressure vessel wall.

Abstract: Device for measuring the axial position of a piston rod (18) relative to the cylinder housing (10) of a cylinder-piston unit that is actuated by fluid pressure, with structures having elevations or indentations formed in the jacket surface of the piston (18), which elevations or indentations form an axially extending material measure; and with a sensor device (28), which is positioned on the cylinder housing and which scans the structure with sensors that are positioned in the axial direction for the purpose of contact-free positional sensing; and with an abrasion-proof cover by means of which the structure is guided within the cylinder housing (10), where the structures are annular structures (22, 24) that concentrically surround the piston rod (18), and where the cover is a tube (26) that is coaxially slid onto the piston rod (18), and where the annular structures (22, 24) form an absolutely coded material measure.

Abstract: A measuring device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the measuring device includes a waveguide that extends into a bore, wherein the bore and the waveguide contain a medium and wherein the waveguide and the bore are displaceable relative to each other. In at least one embodiment, the measuring device further includes at least one device for coupling in and coupling out of waves into the waveguide, wherein the waves transition from the waveguide into the bore, wherein the waves travel through a measuring section inside the bore, and wherein the waves travel inside the waveguide through a constant reference section.

Abstract: The rotational position detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a rotational angle sensor outputting a rotation angle signal indicative of a rotational angle of the internal combustion engine, an in-cylinder pressure sensor outputting an in-cylinder pressure signal indicative of an in-cylinder pressure of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and a reference rotational position detecting section which detects a specific rotational angle of the internal combustion engine at which the in-cylinder pressure becomes a predetermined reference pressure under a predetermined running condition of the internal combustion engine, and determines the detected specific rotational angle as a reference rotational position of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Operation of an internal combustion engine selectively operative in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode is monitored. The engine is equipped with a pressure sensing device operative to monitor in-cylinder pressure. An analog signal output from the pressure sensing device is monitored during a combustion cycle. A peak cylinder pressure and a corresponding crank angle are detected and captured during the combustion cycle. A state for a combustion parameter for the cylinder for the combustion cycle is determined based upon the peak cylinder pressure and the corresponding crank angle.

Abstract: Device for measuring the axial position of a piston rod (18) relative to the cylinder housing (10) of a cylinder-piston unit that is actuated by fluid pressure, with structures having elevations or indentations formed in the jacket surface of the piston (18), which elevations or indentations form an axially extending material measure; and with a sensor device (28), which is positioned on the cylinder housing and which scans the structure with sensors that are positioned in the axial direction for the purpose of contact-free positional sensing; and with an abrasion-proof cover by means of which the structure is guided within the cylinder housing (10), where the structures are annular structures (22, 24) that concentrically surround the piston rod (18), and where the cover is a tube (26) that is coaxially slid onto the piston rod (18), and where the annular structures (22, 24) form an absolutely coded material measure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for measuring the position of a piston (2) in a cylinder (1), extending according to an axis, the device comprising at least two position sensors (3, 4) respectively comprising: a first sensor member (20, 40) integral with a supporting pallet (31) linked to the piston (2), a second sensor member (10, 30) integral with the cylinder (1), the first and second members of each sensor being arranged for being mobile in translation one relative to the other, along an axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder (1), the device being characterized in that the first sensor members (20, 40) are integral with the same supporting pallet (31) being linked to the piston (2) by a ball joint link (50). Using the device of this invention, a position sensor can be arranged in the cylinder, without having the transversal strains on the piston being transmitted to it, while the piston remains free in rotation about the axis of the cylindrical barrel.

Abstract: A control system and method for controlling a vehicle system, such as an engine, is taught. The controller uses the angular position of a rotating component, and in particular the angular phase of the rotating component to another rotating component, as an input. The input is determined with high resolution, yet is determined in a computationally efficient manner to reduce the amount of computation which must be performed by the controller. By producing a high resolution result in a computationally efficient manner, the result can be available to the controller almost immediately after the measurement is taken and the cost of controller can be less than it otherwise would be. In some embodiments, the system and method can also accurately determine the static angular position of one or more rotating members. The system and method are believed to be particularly suitable for determine the angular phasor between one or more camshafts and the crankshaft of an engine.

Abstract: An in-cylinder pressure sensor obtains a high resolution pressure curve for each cylinder cycle allowing the various data to be derived for improved monitoring and control of operation of the engine. A more accurate measure of work done by the engine is obtained allowing more accurate estimation of the vehicle torque and hence real torque control. In addition, engine losses can be more accurately calculated and the estimates corrected yet further by obtaining an accurate top dead centre position for the engine cylinders.

Abstract: An in-cylinder pressure sensor obtains a high resolution pressure curve for each cylinder cycle allowing the various data to be derived for improved monitoring and control of operation of the engine. A more accurate measure of work done by the engine is obtained allowing more accurate estimation of the vehicle torque and hence real torque control. In addition engine losses can be more accurately calculated and the estimates corrected yet further by obtaining an accurate top dead centre position for the engine cylinders.

Abstract: True Top Dead Center (TDC) of an engine piston is determined through determination of the Location of Peak Pressure (LPP) using either of two simplified algorithms. A Heat Loss Offset (HLO), drawn from a look-up table based on engine speed, molar mass of the air being compressed, and heat loss rate to the cylinder walls, is added to the calculated LPP to provide a corrected and true TDC position for each piston, which corrects for errors in target wheel tooth location of a camshaft position sensor and for any misalignment in the target wheel during installation on an engine. Preferably, such a calculation is carried out for each cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine during operation thereof, thus further correcting for machining errors in the crankshaft and for crankshaft bending during the life of the engine. The invention thus allows for more accurate combustion calculations for each individual cylinder.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for measuring the position of a piston (2) in a cylinder (1), extending according to an axis, the device comprising at least two position sensors (3, 4) respectively comprising: a first sensor member (20, 40) integral with a supporting pallet (31) linked to the piston (2), a second sensor member (10, 30) integral with the cylinder (1), the first and second members of each sensor being arranged for being mobile in translation one relative to the other, along an axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder (1), the device being characterized in that the first sensor members (20, 40) are integral with the same supporting pallet (31) being linked to the piston (2) by a ball joint link (50). Using the device of this invention, a position sensor can be arranged in the cylinder, without having the transversal strains on the piston being transmitted to it, while the piston remains free in rotation about the axis of the cylindrical barrel.