13182 results about "External combustion engine" patented technology

A variety of methods and arrangements for improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines are described. Generally, selected combustion events are skipped during operation of the internal combustion engine so that other working cycles can operate at a better thermodynamic efficiency. In one aspect of the invention, an engine is controlled to operate in a variable displacement mode. In the variable displacement mode, fuel is not delivered to the working chambers (e.g. cylinders) during selected “skipped” working cycles. During active (“non-skipped”) working cycles, a maximum (e.g., unthrottled) amount of air and an optimized amount of fuel is delivered to the relevant working chambers so that the fired working chambers can operate at efficiencies closer to their optimal efficiency. A controller is used to dynamically determine the chamber firings required to provide the engine torque based on the engine's current operational state and conditions. The chamber firings may be sequenced in real time or in near real time in a manner that helps reduce undesirable vibrations of the engine.

An opposed-piston engine that forms an inviscid layer between pistons and the respective cylinder walls. In an aspect, the opposed-piston engine utilizes a Scotch yoke assembly that includes rigidly connected opposed combustion pistons. In an aspect, the Scotch yoke assembly is configured to transfer power from the combustion pistons to a crankshaft assembly. In an aspect, the crankshaft assembly can be configured to have dual flywheels that are internal to the engine, and can be configured to assist with an exhaust system, a detonation system, and / or a lubrication system.

A two-stroke internal combustion engine is disclosed having opposed cylinders, each cylinder having a pair of opposed pistons, with all the pistons connected to a common central crankshaft. The inboard pistons of each cylinder are connected to the crankshaft with pushrods and the outboard pistons are connected to the crankshaft with pullrods. This configuration results in a compact engine with a very low profile, in which the free mass forces can be essentially totally balanced. The engine configuration also allows for asymmetrical timing of the intake and exhaust ports through independent angular positioning of the eccentrics on the crankshaft, making the engine suitable for supercharging.

An unmanned air vehicle is provided, which includes an airframe and a parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system mounted on the airframe. The parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. A hybrid controller is configured to control both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. A propeller is connected to a mechanical link. The mechanical link couples the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to the propeller to drive the propeller. An alternate unmanned air vehicle includes a second propeller driven by the electric motor. In this alternate unmanned air vehicle, the internal combustion engine is decoupled from the electric motor.

A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft design particularly suitable as a full-sized aircraft or remote controlled (RC) model aircraft is disclosed. The invention employs lightweight, high strength materials to reduce the power requirements of the propulsion plant. A preferred system of the invention comprises one internal combustion engine able to spit shaft power to four fan units. The fan units further employ counter rotating fan blades for stability. Separate horizontal and vertical tilting mechanisms delivered to the fan units are additionally disclosed. A variation in design is further included wherein electric motors provide the necessary shaft power.

A waste heat recover system includes a mechanism for supplying power by use of a thermoelectric conversion unit, and a mechanism for utilizing heat released from the thermoelectric conversion unit. Heat released from the thermoelectric conversion unit is utilized for, for example, heating, defrosting, defogging, temperature keeping of fuel, temperature keeping of an internal combustion engine, and temperature keeping of a fuel cell. The waste heat recovery system is equipped in, for example, cars, incinerators, fuel cells, and industrial machinery.

A control system for a hybrid powertrain which determines engine crank angle position based upon signal inputs from electric machines of the powertrain is provided. The hybrid powertrain comprises an internal combustion engine and electric machines and an electromechanical transmission selectively operative to transmit torque therebetween. The electric machines are rotatably fixedly coupled to the internal combustion engine via a transmission input shaft. Control modules are adapted to execute a control scheme to determine engine crank angle position. The control scheme comprises code to determine an input shaft angle based upon rotational positions of the electric machines. An offset angle of the input shaft and an angular twist between the engine and the transmission are determined. An engine crank angle offset is determined based upon the offset angle and the angular twist of the input shaft.

The present invention provides systems and methods to improve the performance and emission control of internal combustion engines equipped with nitrogen oxides storage-reduction (“NSR”) emission control systems. The system generally includes a NSR catalyst, a fuel processor located upstream of the NSR catalyst, and at least one fuel injection port. The fuel processor converts a fuel into a reducing gas mixture comprising CO and H2. The reducing gas mixture is then fed into the NSR catalyst, where it regenerates the NSR adsorbent, reduces the NOx to nitrogen, and optionally periodically desulfates the NSR catalyst. The fuel processor generally includes one or more catalysts, which facilitate reactions such as combustion, partial oxidation, and / or reforming and help consume excess oxygen present in an engine exhaust stream. The methods of the present invention provide for NSR catalyst adsorbent regeneration using pulsed fuel flow. Control strategies are also provided.

The disclosure relates to fluid working devices including reciprocating internal combustion engines, compressors and pumps. A number of arrangements for pistons and cylinders of unconventional configuration are described, mostly intended for use in reciprocating internal combustion IC engines operating without cooling. Included are toroidal combustion or working chambers, some with fluid flow through the core of the toroid, pistons reciprocating between pairs of working chambers, tensile valve actuation, tensile links between piston and crankshaft, energy absorbing piston-crank links, crankshafts supported on gas bearings, cylinders rotating in housings, injectors having components reciprocate or rotate during fuel delivery. In some embodiments pistons mare rotate while reciprocating. High temperature exhaust emissions systems are described, including those containing filamentary material, as are procedures for reducing emissions during cold start by means of valves at reaction volume exit. Compound engines having the new engines as a reciprocating stage are described. Improved vehicles, aircraft, marine craft and transmissions adapted to receive or be linked to the improved IV engines are also disclosed.

A method to control injection timing for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of injectors in at least a cylinder, the method comprising of injecting a first fuel amount to at least a cylinder of an internal combustion engine from a first injector, injecting a second fuel amount fuel to said cylinder from a second injector, and adjusting the timing between starting or ending injection of said first fuel amount, and starting or ending of said second fuel amount in response to an operating condition of said engine.

A separator for separating oil mist from the crankcase ventilation gas of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle. The separator includes a gas purification chamber inside which a rotatably mounted centrifugal rotor is arranged. The gas purification chamber has a crude gas inlet, a pure gas outlet, and an oil outlet. The crankcase ventilation gas can be conducted into a radially internal zone of the centrifugal rotor via the crude gas inlet, while pure gas that is liberated from oil mist can be discharged from the gas purification chamber via the pure gas outlet, and oil separated from the gas can be discharged from the gas purification chamber via the oil outlet. The separator further includes a rotary drive for the centrifugal rotor. The rotary drive is disposed in a drive chamber of the separator, can be operated using pressurized lubrication oil of the internal combustion engine, and is connected to the centrifugal rotor by means of a shaft extending from the drive chamber into the gas purification chamber, from which the drive chamber is separated. The rotary drive is formed by at least one thrust nozzle which is connected to the shaft and to which the pressurized lubrication oil of the internal combustion engine can be fed. The separator includes at least one part of a base that forms the separation between the gas purification chamber and the drive chamber and extends into the drive chamber, the part of the base being fitted with a seat for a bearing of the shaft. The bearing is located at a distance from the centrifugal rotor.

A hybrid drive arrangement for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine (1), which is connected or can be connected in a wheel-driving manner, via a first torque transmission path (11, 13), to a driving wheel (15) of the motor vehicle. An electric machine (19), which is operable at least as a motor, is fed from an electrical energy source (7, 29) of the motor vehicle and is connected or can be connected in a wheel-driving manner, via a second torque transmission path (21, 23, 13), to the driving wheel (15). Arranged in the first and / or the second torque transmission path are coupling elements (11, 23) which, in a first operating state, permit the driving of the motor vehicle by the wheel-driving torque of the electric machine (19), operated as a motor, without mechanical torque support from the internal combustion engine (1), and which, in a second operating state, permit the driving of the motor vehicle by the internal combustion engine (1), without mechanical torque support from the electric machine (19). Depending on the driving speed of the motor vehicle, an electronic driving control system (31) activates the first operating state, at least in a first range of driving speeds including standstill of the vehicle, if the driving speed is less than a predetermined speed limit, and activates the second operating state, at least in a second range including the maximum speed of the vehicle, if the driving speed is greater.

An air conditioning system for use in a motor vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine is described. The system comprises an electric motor powered by a battery; a compressor arranged to be powered by at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor; and a control unit that controls the driving of the compressor. The control unit is configured to execute driving the compressor by only the electric motor when the combustion engine is under an idling stop; restarting the combustion engine upon expiration of a first given time from the time when the idling stop has occurred, so that thereafter the compressor is driven by both the combustion engine and the electric motor; and stopping the driving of the compressor by the electric motor upon expiration of a second given time from the restarting of the combustion engine, so that thereafter the compressor is driven by only the combustion engine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a honeycomb structural body which is inserted, for use, into a pipe forming an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, and makes it possible to clearly distinguish an exhaust gas flow-in side and an exhaust gas flow-out side. The present invention is directed to a columnar honeycomb structural body comprising porous ceramics each including a number of through holes that are placed in parallel with one another in the length direction with a wall portion interposed therebetween, wherein information regarding the honeycomb structural body is displayed on a circumferential surface and / or an end face thereof.

The invention concerns a starter / generator for an internal combustion engine (1), especially that of a motor vehicle, with an electric rotary-field machine (4), which exercises the starter and generator function; and at least one invertor (17) for generating the voltages and / or currents of variable frequency, amplitude and / or phase required for the magnetic fields of the electric machine (4); wherein the electric machine (4) starts the internal combustion engine (1) by merging in from standstill.

A hybrid engine having a gas turbine engine and an internal combustion engine, both engines driving a common drive shaft. The compressor delivers compressed air to the combustor and to an inlet of the internal combustion engine, the compressed air picks up heat from the internal combustion engine either from the combustion process or through a heat exchanger, and is delivered to the combustor. When the gas turbine engine is not operating by burning fuel, the heated compressed air from the internal combustion engine is used to maintain the shaft speed sufficient for starting the gas turbine engine without the need to bring the turbine engine up to speed prior to ignition. The apparatus and process of the present invention provides a hybrid engine that is light weight, fuel efficient, and with enough available power for high powered situations.

An assembly and method for introducing a reducing agent into an exhaust pipe of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle includes a feed connector which opens into the exhaust pipe and has a wall; a feed device for reducing agents which opens into the feed connector; and a device that generates a gas flow which is additional to the reducing agent flow and lines the wall of the feed connector.

In an apparatus for controlling a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with partial cylinder switch-off mechanism which is switchable between an all-cylinder operation mode in which all cylinders are operated and a partial-cylinder operation mode in which operation of partial cylinders is suspended, the operation of intake valves and exhaust valves is suspended or resumed in a predetermined order with respect to all of the suspended cylinders irrespective of a rotational frequency of the engine. There are provided a solenoid valve on an intake side and a solenoid valve on an exhaust side for switching input hydraulic pressures for hydraulically operated switching devices respectively on the intake side and on the exhaust side between the driving state and the drive-free state. At the time of switching the operation, one of the solenoid valves on the intake side and the exhaust side is driven in advance. The subsequent number of rotations of a crankshaft is counted. When the number of this counting has reached a predetermined value, the solenoid valve on the other side is driven.

An unmanned aircraft includes a propulsion system having a diesel or kerosene internal combustion engine and a charger device for engine charging. The propulsion system can be a hybrid propulsion system or a parallel hybrid propulsion system.

In a system, a pinion shift unit starts shift of a pinion to a ring gear for engagement therebetween during an internal combustion engine coasting in a forward direction after an automatic stop of the internal combustion engine. An engagement determining unit determines whether the pinion and the ring gear have any one of first and second positional relationships therebetween. The first positional relationship represents that the pinion is at least partly engaged with the ring gear. The second positional relationship represents that the pinion is in abutment with the ring gear. When an engine restart condition is met before it is determined that the pinion and the ring gear have any one of first and second positional relationships therebetween after the start of the shift of the pinion to the ring gear, a rotation adjusting unit adjusts a start timing of rotation of the pinion.

An internal combustion engine includes an in-cylinder injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine and an intake system injector for injecting fuel into an intake system connected to the combustion chamber. In a starting state of the engine, an electronic control unit (ECU) causes the in-cylinder injector to perform only the initial injection to the combustion chamber, and causes the intake system injector to perform fuel injections after the initial injection. As a result, favorable engine startability is ensured, and the emission of unburned components is suppressed in the engine starting state.

Part load operating point for a controlled auto-ignition four-stroke internal combustion engine is reduced without compromising combustion stability through load dependent valve controls and fueling strategies. Optimal fuel economy is achieved by employing negative valve overlap to trap and re-compress combusted gases below a predetermined engine load and employing exhaust gas re-breathing above the predetermined engine load. Split-injection fuel controls are implemented during low and intermediate part load operation whereas a single-injection fuel control is implemented during high part load operation. Split-injections are characterized by lean fuel / air ratios and single-injections are characterized by either lean or stoichiometric fuel / air ratios. Controlled autoignition is thereby enabled through an extended range of engine loads while maintaining acceptable combustion stability and emissions at optimal fuel economy.

An electromotive drive module for installation in a housing between an internal combustion engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle power train. The drive module includes an electric machine with a stator and a rotor and first and second clutch devices, by means of which the rotor can be connected when desired to the internal combustion engine and / or to the transmission for the transmission of torque.

An air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine estimates an oxygen storage amount of a catalyst based on a record of an oxygen storage amount, and controls an air-fuel ratio based on the estimated oxygen storage amount. The catalyst is divided into multiple sections in a flow direction of an exhaust gas, the oxygen storage amount in a specified section is estimated according to a behavior of an exhaust gas on upstream and downstream sides of the respective specified sections, and the air-fuel ratio is controlled based on the estimated oxygen storage amount in the specified section.

A control device configured with a vibration reduction necessity determination section that determines whether or not a required drive operation point falls within a reduction necessary range, which is prescribed in advance as a range in which it is necessary to reduce torque vibration transferred from the internal combustion engine to the rotary electric machine. A cancellation control execution determination section that determines whether or not torque vibration cancellation control can be executed in the case where it is determined that the required drive operation point falls within the reduction necessary range. An execution control decision section that decides to execute the torque vibration cancellation control in the case where it is determined that the torque vibration cancellation control can be executed and that decides to execute operation point change control in the case where it is determined that the torque vibration cancellation control cannot be executed.

Systems and methods for turbocharging an internal combustion engine include operating two turbochargers in a series configuration for a first operating region and a parallel configuration for a second operating region. Systems and methods for controlling exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in a turbocharged internal combustion engine provide low pressure EGR upstream of a compressor inlet for a first operating region and high pressure EGR downstream of a compressor outlet for a second operating range to further improve turbocharger operating margin and overall efficiency.

A variety of methods and arrangements for improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines are described. Generally, selected combustion events are skipped during operation of the internal combustion engine so that other working cycles can operate at a better thermodynamic efficiency. In one aspect of the invention, an engine is controlled to operate in a variable displacement mode. In the variable displacement mode, fuel is not delivered to the working chambers (e.g. cylinders) during selected “skipped” working cycles. During active (“non-skipped”) working cycles, a maximum (e.g., unthrottled) amount of air and an optimized amount of fuel is delivered to the relevant working chambers so that the fired working chambers can operate at efficiencies closer to their optimal efficiency. A controller is used to dynamically determine the chamber firings required to provide the engine torque based on the engine's current operational state and conditions. The chamber firings may be sequenced in real time or in near real time in a manner that helps reduce undesirable vibrations of the engine.

The operation of an internal combustion engine under unfavorable operating conditions can lead to the formation of deposits in the combustion chamber (4). A method and an arrangement for operating an internal combustion engine (1), especially of a motor vehicle, is suggested, wherein fuel is conducted into a combustion chamber (4) and is there combusted. When deposits are detected in the combustion chamber (4), measures are initiated in a targeted manner for cleansing the combustion chamber (4). A knocking combustion is especially introduced and / or a cleansing liquid is added to the inducted combustion air.