Abstract: A method for preventing the rupture of a compressor wheel and/or turbine wheel of an exhaust-gas turbocharger of a motor vehicle includes establishing loading limit values (n(G)) for the compressor wheel and/or the turbine wheel in bench tests. The method further includes determining loading variables (n) for the compressor wheel and/or turbine wheel during the operation of the exhaust-gas turbocharger in the motor vehicle. In addition, the method includes processing the determined loading variables (n) in order to establish a loading characteristic value (n(i)) which represents real exhaust-gas turbocharger operation. Further, the method includes comparing the loading limit value (n(G)) with the loading characteristic value (n(i)). The method also includes outputting a warning (W) if the comparison of the loading limit value (n(G)) with the loading characteristic value (n(i)) yields an exceedance of a predefinable safety margin.

Abstract: A vacuum system diagnostic is disclosed. In one example, vacuum system leaks are diagnosed via a pressure reading of a vacuum reservoir. The approach may reduce the number of sensors used to diagnose vacuum system degradation.

Abstract: A method for determining the rotation speed of at least one supercharger which compresses the sucked air in an internal combustion engine; the control method, during the normal operation of the internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of detecting, by means of a microphone, the intensity of a sound signal generated by the rotation of the supercharger; determining a frequency content of the sound signal generated by the rotation of the supercharger; identifying the frequencies with maximum amplitude within the frequency content of the sound signal generated by the rotation of the supercharger; recognising the frequencies with maximum amplitude which are each other's multiples or submultiples; and determining the rotation speed of the supercharger using exclusively the frequencies with maximum amplitude which are each other's multiples or submultiples.

Abstract: On the basis of a correlation between exhaust gas temperature detected by an exhaust gas temperature sensor and exhaust gas temperature estimated according to an engine operating condition, it is detected whether or not abnormality occurs in the exhaust gas temperature sensor. Namely, when a change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature follows a change characteristic of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is normal. On the other hand, when the change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature does not follow that of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is abnormal.

Abstract: A cam target wheel for a vehicle may include a camshaft; and a lobe, formed on an outer circumferential surface of the camshaft, for recognizing a ridge and valley of a cam vibration waveform.

Abstract: Provided is a failure diagnosis system which can diagnose whether or not a sensitivity adjustment part is in failure. The failure diagnosis system includes: a plurality of sensors; various sensors that detect operating conditions of a device; a plurality of sensitivity adjustment parts that adjust receiver sensitivities of sensor signals from the plurality of sensors based on the detected operating conditions; and a failure diagnosis part that diagnoses whether or not the plurality of sensitivity adjustment parts are in failure. The failure diagnosis part detects a failure condition of a sensitivity adjustment part when a difference between a comparison value calculated based on a maximum value of the adjusted sensor signals from the plurality of sensitivity adjustment parts at a given interval, and a maximum value of the adjusted sensor signal from the sensitivity adjustment part to be diagnosed at the given interval is larger than a given amount.

Abstract: A vacuum system diagnostic is disclosed. In one example, vacuum system leaks are diagnosed via a pressure reading of a vacuum reservoir. The approach may reduce the number of sensors used to diagnose vacuum system degradation.

Abstract: A boosting converter and a boosting control unit are mounted on a vehicle. A failure diagnosis unit makes a failure diagnosis of an atmospheric pressure sensor based on a detection result of the atmospheric pressure sensor and on a detection result of an intake pressure sensor detecting engine intake pressure that changes in accordance with a change in the atmospheric pressure. Boosting control unit controls an output voltage of the boosting converter based on the detection result of atmospheric pressure sensor and the detection result of intake pressure sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (50) for inspecting a running surface (35) of a cylinder liner (25) of a combustion engine (10) comprising an inspection tool (65), a control device (55) and connection means (60) for power supply and transmission of measuring data and control signals. The inspection tool (65) comprises a bearing rail (70) and mounted thereon a rotary table (80) and tools (90, 96) for measuring the inner diameter (d) and running surface (35) of the cylinder liner (25) and for visual inspection of the surface condition. The inspection tool (65) has a size that allows its introduction into the cylinder liner (25) through an aperture (30) in the cylinder liner (25) to be inspected. The invention is particular suitable for the inspection of a cylinder liner (25) of a reciprocating piston combustion engine (10).

Abstract: A cam target wheel for a vehicle may include a camshaft; and a lobe, formed on an outer circumferential surface of the camshaft, for recognizing a ridge and valley of a cam vibration waveform.

Abstract: A method for determining information regarding a final position of an element of a gear, in particular a drive gear wheel, the information regarding the final position representing a stop position of a throttle valve at a mechanical stop, includes moving the element from a starting position in the direction of the final position, until the element comes to a standstill despite a specified supply of drive energy; determining information regarding the position of the element at standstill despite the supply of drive energy; and determining the information regarding the final position in that information of a correction distance is applied to the information regarding the position of the element, in particular subtracted, counter to the direction of the final position at standstill despite the supply of drive energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a component failure within a thermal regenerator operates as follows. The burner control unit monitors at least one of a fuel pump characteristic for a fuel pump and an ignition system characteristic for an ignition system. The fuel pump is used to supply fuel to a fuel-fired burner and the ignition system is used to ignite fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner. The fuel pump characteristic is communicated to the burner control unit which compares the fuel pump characteristic to a predetermined fuel pump criteria. The ignition system characteristic is communicated to the burner control unit which compares the ignition system characteristic to a predetermined ignition system criteria. The burner control unit identifies a fuel pump failure when the fuel pump characteristic does not meet the fuel pump criteria, and identifies an ignition system failure when the ignition system characteristic does not meet the ignition system criteria.

Abstract: A unit for estimating a rotational speed of a turbocharger is provided. The unit includes a microprocessor comprising input ports configured for receiving measurement signals from an exhaust gas flow control system of an internal combustion engine and an output port for outputting a signal indicative of the rotational speed of the turbocharger. The input ports are adapted to receive a first set of measurement signals and a second set of measurement signals. A microprocessor is configured to calculate an estimated rotational speed of the turbocharger using a turbocharger model, based on the first set of measurement signals and the second set of measurement signals. The second set of measurement signals include signals indicative of a pressure difference across a turbine of the turbocharger.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for accurately measuring and adjusting a valve clearance value to a desired value in an engine having a rocker-arm-type valve. According to a valve clearance measuring and adjusting method of the present invention, a pair of probes 60 each having a round tip end 611 are brought into direct contact with a valve clearance CV of an engine having a rocker-arm-type valve 105, and a center-to-center distance between the two tip ends 611 is measured. An actual valve clearance value is calculated and measured on the basis of the center-to-center distance between the tip ends 611. The actual valve clearance value is adjusted to a desired valve clearance value, while the actual valve clearance value is measured in real time.

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: An engine pulley testing device for detecting damaged engine pulleys featuring a first support arm and a second support arm pivotally connected via a pivot component. Lengths of the support arms are adjustable. A brace component connects the support arms and functions to temporarily secure the support arms a certain distance apart. A pulley pole extends through the pivot component such that the first support arm and second support arm pivot about the pulley pole via the pivot component. A top pulley is disposed on the pulley pole, a first bottom pulley is rotatably attached to the first support arm, and a second bottom pulley is rotatably attached to the second support arm. An engine belt can be wrapped around the first bottom pulley, the second bottom pulley, the top pulley, and a test pulley being tested in an engine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring an exhaust-gas turbocharger of an internal combustion engine. In order to create an inexpensive and also reliably operating method and a corresponding device for monitoring an exhaust-gas turbocharger, it is proposed that a sound transducer which is designed to record rotational-speed dependent turbocharger operating noise is provided, which sound transducer is connected to an electronic system for frequency analysis for the output of a turbocharger rotational speed signal.

Abstract: A vehicular abnormality diagnosing apparatus that diagnoses an abnormality regarding a connection state of a pair of members that are mounted in a vehicle and connected together, includes a detecting portion that outputs, as an output signal, a first detection signal when the pair of members are in a normal connected state, and a second detection signal when the pair of members are in a state other than the normal connected state; a counting portion that counts at least one of the number of times that the output signal changes from the first detection signal to the second detection signal and the number of times that the output signal changes from the second detection signal to the first detection signal, as an output signal fluctuation count; and a determining portion that determines that there is an abnormality in the connection state when an abnormality determining condition including a condition that the output signal fluctuation count during a predetermined period be equal to or greater than a predetermi

Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus includes: an air/fuel ratio control portion that performs a control of fluctuating the air/fuel ratio; a data acquisition portion that acquires, as data for detecting abnormality, a responsiveness parameter while output of the air/fuel ratio sensor changes between rich and lean peaks during the control; an abnormality determination portion that determines presence/absence of abnormality of the sensor by using the data; and a distribution width determination portion that finds a distribution width of the data acquired by performing a plurality of acquisitions of the data, in an increase/decrease direction of the data. On the basis of comparison between the distribution width and an abnormality criterion value, the abnormality determination portion determines that the sensor has abnormality if the distribution width is less than the criterion value, and determines that the sensor does not have abnormality if the distribution width is not less than the criterion value.

Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus includes: an air/fuel ratio control portion that controls of fluctuating the air/fuel ratio; a data acquisition portion that acquires a responsiveness parameter during change of output of the sensor between rich and lean peaks; and a abnormality determination portion that when the number of acquisitions reaches or exceeds a first set number, the presence/absence of sensor abnormality based on the average value and the criterion-value is determined, if the average value is not in a pending region; however, if the average value is in the pending region, the data acquisition is performed until the number of acquisitions performed during a large-amount-of-intake-air state of the engine reaches a second set number, and the presence/absence of sensor abnormality based on the average value of the data acquired by the second set number of acquisitions and the criterion-value is determined.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: an control portion that controls fluctuating the air/fuel ratio; a data acquisition portion that acquires a responsiveness parameter during change of output of the sensor between a rich peak to a lean peak; and a determination portion that determines presence/absence of abnormality of the sensor based on an abnormality criterion value and a data average. When the number of the acquired data becomes equal to or greater than a first number, if the number of the acquired data during a large intake-air-amount of an engine is greater than or equal to a second number, the determination portion determines the presence/absence of abnormality, or if the number of the acquired data during the large intake-air-amount is less than the second number, the determination portion does not determines that, but acquires the data until the number of the acquired data during the large intake-air-amount reaches the second number.

Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis device according to the present invention can calculate a calculation air-fuel ratio A/Fk based upon a fuel injection quantity and an intake air quantity, and determine the abnormality of the air-fuel ratio sensor based upon the calculation air-fuel ratio and an actual air-fuel ratio detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor, when an operating condition in the internal combustion engine relatively rapidly changes according to an engine operating demand and thereby the calculation air-fuel ratio relatively rapidly changes. Since the air-fuel ratio is not forcibly changed and fluctuated, deterioration of the exhaust emission and the combustion state, and deterioration of the vibration and the noise at abnormality diagnosing can be certainly prevented.

Abstract: The present invention is applied to an internal combustion engine comprising a first supercharger 61, a second supercharger 62, a first control valve 66 for controlling a supply of an exhaust gas to the first supercharger, and a second control valve 64 for controlling a supply of an air to the first supercharger, and provides to an apparatus for determining an abnormality of a control valve which can determine abnormality of the first control valve and the second control valve. The apparatus for determining an abnormality of a control valve determines abnormality of a control valve when a supercharging pressure is smaller than a predetermined referential supercharging pressure by a predetermined value or more.

Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for accurately measuring the concentration of a substance within a filter housing. A concentration sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to be able to measure and transmit the concentration of a particular substance within the filter housing while in use. This system can comprise a single component, integrating both the communication device and the concentration sensor. Alternatively, the system can comprise separate sensor and transmitter components, in communication with one another. In yet another embodiment, a storage element can be added to the system, thereby allowing the device to store a set of concentration values. The use of this device is beneficial to many applications. For example, the ability to read concentration values in situ allows integrity tests to be performed without additional equipment.

Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for accurately measuring the concentration of a substance within a filter housing. A concentration sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to be able to measure and transmit the concentration of a particular substance within the filter housing while in use. This system can comprise a single component, integrating both the communication device and the concentration sensor. Alternatively, the system can comprise separate sensor and transmitter components, in communication with one another. In yet another embodiment, a storage element can be added to the system, thereby allowing the device to store a set of concentration values. The use of this device is beneficial to many applications. For example, the ability to read concentration values in situ allows integrity tests to be performed without additional equipment.

Abstract: In an apparatus for discriminating a piston stroke of a general-purpose internal combustion engine connectable to an operating machine to be used as a prime mover of the machine and having a four-stroke operating cycle comprising intake, compression, expansion and exhaust, the operating cycle is discriminated based on intake air temperature detected by an intake air temperature sensor whether a stroke next to a predetermined crank angular position at which a crank angle sensor produces an output is the intake stroke or the expansion stroke, when operation of the engine is determined to be under a stable condition. With this, it becomes possible to discriminate the four-stroke operating cycle of the general-purpose engine without using an expensive pressure sensor.

Abstract: When an insulation resistance value of an ignition plug is smaller than a prescribed value, an engine operation state is switched so as to raise a temperature of the ignition plug, thereby promoting deposit cleaning. Such a measures-against-deposit carrying-out state is counted. When a count value exceeds a certain value, that is, when the measures against deposit have sufficiently been performed but the insulation resistance value of the ignition plug is smaller than the prescribed value, it is determined that conductive deposit has adhered to the ignition plug, and for example, an alarm light is turned on in order to urge a driver to perform maintenance of the ignition plug.

Abstract: A device and its method of use for in situ detection of bent and/or broken teeth on a vehicle engine pulse generator plate. The device includes a pair of detection sensors adapted to detect pulse generator plate teeth during rotation of a pulse generator plate, and a controller in communication with the sensors. The sensors are arranged such that one sensor leads the other with respect to the detection of teeth on a rotating pulse generator plate. Rotation of a pulse generator plate in the presence of the sensors will cause the sensors to produce an output signal each time a tooth passes by. The signals from the sensors form associated pulse trains that are evaluated by a microprocessor device and associated program of the controller to determine if the pulse generator plate has any bent and/or broken teeth.

Abstract: On the basis of a correlation between exhaust gas temperature detected by an exhaust gas temperature sensor and exhaust gas temperature estimated according to an engine operating condition, it is detected whether or not abnormality occurs in the exhaust gas temperature sensor. Namely, when a change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature follows a change characteristic of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is normal. On the other hand, when the change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature does not follow that of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is abnormal.

Abstract: A method of performing a diagnosis of an exhaust gas sensor disposed in an exhaust gas region of an internal combustion engine testing the sensor to determine whether a change of at least one exhaust gas component, which is detectable by the exhaust gas sensor, results in an expected change of the sensor signal, and implementing the diagnosis if a specified change in at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine and/or at least one parameter of the exhaust gas in the running operation of the internal combustion engine are detected.

Abstract: The present invention describes a system for accurately measuring the concentration of a substance within a filter housing. A concentration sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to measure and transmit the concentration of a particular substance within the filter housing while in use. This system allows the operator to certify the integrity of the filters within the filter housing at the customer site without additional equipment. In one embodiment, a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen, is added to a carrier and injected into the system. The concentration of tracer gas at a specific operating transmembrane pressure is indicative of bubble pointing specific pores in the filter. This test will give a more sensitive indication of the bubble point and the presence of defects than a standard diffusion test. In a second embodiment, two gasses, in a known ratio, are introduced into the filter housing.

Abstract: A method for checking the functionality of at least one injector (10) of an internal combustion engine (8), in which at least the functionality of a lambda sensor (12), which is designed to ascertain a state of the at least one injector (10) is checked, a steady-state operating condition of the internal combustion engine (8) being set, and a check being performed as to whether at least one signal of the lambda sensor (12) is stable for the set operating condition. Depending on whether the signal of the lambda sensor (12) is stable, a lambda value for the at least one injection valve (10) is measured using the lambda sensor (12) at the set operating condition.

Abstract: An evaporated fuel treatment apparatus including a canister for adsorbing an evaporated fuel in a fuel tank, a control valve at a vapor path communicating with a fuel tank and a canister, has a dead-zone range where a flow of the evaporated fuel is blocked even if an opening angle of the control valve is increased in an open direction from zero opening angle, and allows the evaporated fuel to flow through over the dead-zone range. The control unit increases the opening angle from substantially zero to a predetermined angle in the dead-zone range and stands by prior to the opening control, and increases the opening angle from the predetermined angle upon the opening control. An output value by control unit set in the dead-zone range is compared with a detected value to detect a failure of the control valve.

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: The present disclosure relates to a method or apparatus for controlling reductant dosing level introduced to a selective catalytic reduction device. The method or apparatus may determine available reductant and determine a distance to a source of reductant. This may be followed by adjusting a reductant dosing level based upon the available reductant and the distance to the reductant source. The apparatus may be installed in a vehicle and may also regulate in-cylinder emission control variables to reduce NOx emissions.

Abstract: A method of operating an engine includes determining a relative position between a first camshaft and a second camshaft during a startup event of the engine when the first camshaft is at a first home position and the second camshaft is at a second home position. The first home position is a first preset angular position of the first camshaft relative to a crankshaft. The second home position is a second preset angular position of the second camshaft relative to the crankshaft when the engine is in an OFF state. The method includes generating a first estimate of the first home position. The method also includes diagnosing a mis-build of the engine based on the relative position, the first estimate and a second estimate of the second home position.

Abstract: A method for detecting an engine block heater includes block heater detection logic and a data table containing calibration thresholds. The method determines a time-series of delta (?) engine coolant temperatures (ECT), which represent the respective differences between a start-up ECT and a plurality of operating ECT values measured thereafter. The method integrates the time-series to obtain a ? ECT integral. The method also maintains an integrated engine speed parameter accumulated over the course of the detection period. Throughout the detection period, the method retrieves a threshold value from the table based on the integrated engine speed (Y-axis) versus an elapsed time (X-axis) since the detection period began. When the calculated ? ECT integral value exceeds the retrieved threshold, the method determines that the block heater was operated, which can thereafter be used to suppress sensor rationality testing or reporting of results thereof.

Abstract: A malfunction diagnosis apparatus diagnoses a malfunction of an exhaust gas sensor provided on a downstream side of a catalyst. A dead time determination unit determines a dead time between a first time point, at which fuel cut of the internal combustion engine is started, and a second time point, at which the fuel cut starts exerting effect on an output of the exhaust gas sensor. An output change time measurement unit measures an output change time between the first time point and a third time point, at which the output of the exhaust gas sensor changes to a leaner side than a threshold. A malfunction determination unit determines whether a malfunction is caused in the exhaust gas sensor on the basis of a response time of the exhaust gas sensor obtained by subtracting the dead time from the output change time.

Abstract: A method, and a system employing the method, for determining a position of a rotational part in a reciprocating machine. The system includes a quadrature encoder and an interrupter coupled to the rotational element. As the interrupter rotates with the wrist pin, the quadrature encoder generates some binary signals based on the rotation of the wrist pin. A digital-to-analog converter then converts the binary signals into a single analog signal. The system then wirelessly transmits the single analog signal for processing by other remote components.

Abstract: An engine pulley testing device comprising a first support arm pivotally connected to a second support arm; an arc-shaped brace component with a slot disposed therein, wherein the brace component is slidably attached to the back of the first support arm and the back of the second support arm, wherein the brace component can be locked to the first support arm and to the second support arm via a third locking means; a third support arm attached to the support brace and extending upwardly past the pivot component; a pulley pole perpendicularly attached to the third support arm; and a top pulley attached to the pulley pole, a first bottom pulley rotatably attached to the first support arm, and a second bottom pulley rotatably attached to the second support arm; wherein an engine belt can be wrapped around the pulleys and the test pulley being tested in the engine.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing operation of a turbo speed sensor that monitors a turbocharger in an internal combustion engine system includes determining whether the engine system is operating in one of a high speed and a low speed range and determining a threshold turbo speed value based on whether engine system is operating in one of the high speed and the low speed range. An actual turbo speed value of the turbocharger is monitored based on a signal generated by the turbo speed sensor. The actual turbo speed value is compared to the threshold turbo speed value and a diagnostic signal is generated based on the step of comparing.

Abstract: An engine starter motor tester applies power to a motor under test at the level normally applied while that motor is installed in a vehicle and monitors the ripple in the driving current. The ripple rate, scaled by the number of windings used in the construction of the motor, provides a direct reading of the shaft speed of the unloaded motor. This number allows a valid inference concerning the state of health of the motor, and is more certain than an estimate for an unloaded motor based on operator experience and motor “sound”. A complete test apparatus includes a stored lookup table, allowing the user to key in a product brand and model number and read directly both the RPM and the test apparatus's rating of the motor under test, expressed in terms such as percentage of life remaining.

Abstract: While there occurs a steady operation state where an engine operation state (such as intake air quantity) is maintained substantially constant, a high-response intake air quantity sensor (referred to as the sensor, hereafter) is temporarily powered off and is powered on again when a predetermined time elapses after the power-off. An output rising characteristic of the sensor at the time when the sensor is powered on again is sensed and abnormality diagnosis of the sensor is performed based on the sensing value of the output rising characteristic During a power-off period, the engine operation state is controlled using a sensing value (a stored value) of the sensor immediately preceding the power-off. When an abnormality of the sensor is detected, use of the sensor is prohibited and the intake air quantity is estimated based on intake pipe pressure and the like.

Abstract: A NOx sensor abnormality detection device senses a NOx concentration and an O2 concentration from output signals of a NOx sensor and calculates an estimated NOx concentration from the O2 concentration when an engine is in a steady operation state, when a zero point of the NOx concentration is sensed, and when an O2 sensing section of the NOx sensor is normal. The NOx sensor abnormality detection device calculates a sensed inclination and an estimated inclination of a NOx concentration output characteristic of the NOx sensor based on the sensed NOx concentration, the sensed O2 concentration and the estimated NOx concentration calculated from the O2 concentration. The NOx sensor abnormality detection device determines that the NOx sensor is faulty when an absolute value of a difference between the sensed inclination and the estimated inclination is larger than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a diverter valve of an internal combustion engine having a compressor is provided, for which diagnosis a variation over time of a charging pressure of the internal combustion engine as a result of a predefined triggering of the diverter valve is analyzed, the triggering of the diverter valve taking place in such a way that a diverter valve moved in the direction of its closing position is expected. Depending on the resulting variation over time of the charging pressure, an open jamming diverter valve is diagnosed if the variation over time of the charging pressure is not plausible with an expected variation over time for a diverter valve moved in the direction of its closing position.

Abstract: A tamperproof and calibration device comprises an adjusting member for adjusting the position of a first element in respect to a second element in a direction which is different from another direction in which a fixing member acts for fixation of the first element with respect to the second element. The tamperproof and calibration device is applicable to a turbocharger comprising a variable nozzle device coupled with an actuated member to be actuated by an actuator, wherein the tamperproof and calibration device connects the actuated member with the actuator for calibration of the relative position of the actuated member of the variable nozzle device with respect to a predetermined position of the actuator.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an alternative method for durability testing of an engine block. The engine block comprises cylinder cavities, which cylinder cavities are separated from each other by intermediate walls, each intermediate wall comprising a bolt hole. The method comprises the step of: removing a test specimen from an area of the intermediate wall of the engine block, such that the test specimen comprises the bolt hole.

Abstract: A diagnostic system includes a first pressure monitoring module, a second pressure monitoring module, and a fault determination module. The first pressure monitoring module determines low-lift pressures and high-lift pressures in a cam phaser when a first oil control valve (OCV) moves first valve lifters to the low-lift state and the high-lift state, respectively. The second pressure monitoring module determines low-lift pressures and high-lift pressures in the cam phaser when a second OCV moves second valve lifters to the low-lift state and the high-lift state, respectively. The fault determination module diagnoses a fault in one of the first OCV and the second OCV based the low-lift pressures and the high-lift pressures.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is analyzed by an apparatus having a data processing capability. The engine has a plurality of cylinders and a battery operative to power a starter motor. The apparatus measures a time dependence of voltage level or current draw at the battery while the engine is being cranked by the starter motor. The apparatus also measures a respective time dependence of pressure at each of one or more locations in the engine. From the measured time dependence of voltage level or current draw, the apparatus determines a respective value indicative of a compression for each of the plurality of cylinders. Furthermore, the apparatus determines the presence or absence of one or more defects in the engine from the one or more measured time dependences of pressure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to the detection of anomalous or aberrant movement of a reciprocating element in a reciprocating device and, more particularly, to the analysis of one or more components of a vibration signal produced by such anomalous or aberrant movement of the reciprocating element. One embodiment of the invention provides a system for identifying an anomalous movement of a reciprocating element in a reciprocating device, the system comprising: at least one sensing device for sensing a vibration signal of the reciprocating element; a processing apparatus for separating the vibration signal into a first component having a first frequency range and a second component having a second frequency range different than the first frequency range; and an analysis device for analyzing, displaying, or both, at least one of the first and the second components of the vibration signal.