Southwest Research Institute

Other

Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc.

Darius Mehta

Charles Edward Roberts, Jr

Terrence Francis Alger, Ii

Rudolf Hermann Stanglmaier

Lee Gene Dodge

Chad P Koci

Jess Witman Gingrich

Gary Dale Neely

Christopher James Chadwell

Steven N Ernest

Ryan C Roecker

Barrett Wade Mangold

Daniel William Stewart

Radu C Florea

A valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine has a first set of cylinders having a first set of exhaust valves and a second set of cylinders having a second set of exhaust valves. The valve actuation system for the exhaust valves includes one or more first cams having a compression-release lobe and a main exhaust lobe adapted to transfer valve actuation motion to the first set of exhaust valves, and one or more second cams having an early exhaust valve opening (EEVO) lobe and a main exhaust lobe adapted to transfer valve actuation motion to the second set of exhaust valves. The valve actuation system may provide any combination of (i) main exhaust valve actuation with or without compression release actuation with (ii) main exhaust valve actuation with or without EEVO for the two sets of cylinders.

Engine system and operation method using engine braking mechanisms for early exhaust valve opening

Methods and systems for reducing hydrocarbon emissions from an internal combustion engine. The engine's exhaust aftertreatment system has at least a particulate matter (soot) filter and means for actively regenerating the particulate matter filter. During operation of the engine, the soot loading state of the particulate matter filter is monitored. The filter is regenerated when required, but the regeneration is controlled so that the particulate matter filter retains a small level of soot loading. This soot 'pre-loading' ensures hydrocarbon reduction during the next cold start.

Soot pre-loading of particulate matter aftertreatment devices as means for reducing hydrocarbon emissions during cold start

A method of stoichiometrically operating a diesel-fueled internal combustion engine. During a main (conventional) fuel injection event, fuel is injected into the cylinders. The air-fuel ratio during this main fuel injection event is stoichiometric. The cylinders are operated by either advancing the exhaust valve closing or modifying the phasing of the exhaust and intake valve lift events, to achieve a negative valve overlap period between the end of the exhaust phase and the beginning of the intake phase of the engine cycle. Fuel is injected into the cylinders during the negative valve overlap period, which results in highly reactive fuel and reduces ignition delay during the main fuel injection event.

Fuel injection during negative valve overlap for stoichiometric diesel operations

An internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of reciprocating pistons within an engine block, each piston having linear movement convertable to rotating movement via a connecting rod connecting each piston to a crankshaft; the crankshaft rotatable about a linear axis, the crankshaft having a plurality of main journals, each main journal rotatable on a main bearing which supports the crankshaft within the engine block; and wherein at least one of the main bearings comprises a fluid film bearing and a magnetic bearing.

Magnetic bearing for use in reciprocating internal combustion engines

A method of treating NOx-containing exhaust from an internal combustion engine. An exhaust aftertreatment system has the following devices arranged in the following order downstream the exhaust manifold: a lean NOx trap (LNT), a particulate filter (PF) and a selective reduction catalyst (SCR) device. At least the LNT is located in the engine compartment. The SCR temperature at the input to, or in, the SCR is monitored to determine whether the aftertreatment system is to be operated in a cold mode or warm mode. Only during warm mode is reductant provided to the SCR, and during warm mode the LNT is not regenerated.

Exhaust aftertreatment for NOx-containing exhaust from an internal combustion engine

A method of stoichiometrically operating a diesel-fueled internal combustion engine. A control unit is provide with stored data representing, within a range of exhaust valve timing or event modifications, an amount of fresh air flow and exhaust gas residuals resulting from each modification. During operation of the engine, the control unit is used to determine a desired amount of exhaust gas residuals for a given engine load; to access the stored data to determine a modification that will provide the desired amount of exhaust gas residuals; and to generate a control signal that will result in the desired modification.

Internal exhaust gas recirculation for stoichiometric operation of diesel engine

Improved exhaust gas recirculation system and methods that use one or more of the engine's cylinders as dedicated EGR cylinders. All of the exhaust from the dedicated EGR cylinders is recirculated back to the engine intake. Thus, the EGR rate is constant, but the EGR mass flow may be controlled by adjusting the air-fuel ratio of the dedicated EGR cylinders or by using various variable valve timing techniques.

EGR system with dedicated EGR cylinders

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method and system for reducing emissions and improving knock-tolerance in an engine. Air, including exhaust gas present at levels greater than 20% by total air mass, may be introduced into a combustion chamber having a volume including a piston and a cylinder head. A first amount of fuel and a second amount of fuel may be directly injected into the combustion chamber at various points during the cycle, wherein the ratio of the air, including the exhaust gas, to the first and second amounts of fuel is 14.0:1 to 15.0:1. The first and second amounts of fuel may then be ignited. An electronic control unit may be utilized to time the injections and control the introduction of exhaust gas.

Stratified charge gasoline direct injection systems using exhaust gas recirculation

A method and system for evaluating the durability of spark plugs. A test system simulates the pressure, temperature, and exhaust flow of an internal combustion engine, and has a test chamber in which these simulated conditions exist. A number of spark plugs are installed in the test chamber and are cycled through a desired ignition cycle. The test chamber temperature and pressure may be precisely controlled, as well as the duty cycle of spark events.

Benchtop test system for testing spark plug durability

A method for controlling the temperature and/or space velocity of exhaust gas provides control of the maximum temperature of the exhaust gas to prevent thermal damage to the Diesel engine components and associated aftertreatment devices during regeneration of the aftertreatment devices. The method includes controlling intake and/or exhaust valve opening timing and duration, either singly or in combination with selective individual cylinder cutout, in response to sensed engine operating parameters.

Method for controlling exhaust gas temperature and space velocity during regeneration to protect temperature sensitive diesel engine components and aftertreatment devices

Fuel temperature management is used to control the penetration distance of liquid-phase fuel into the combustion chamber of direct injection engines. Fuel temperature management enables the alteration of liquid-phase penetration distance to compensate for real-time changes in fuel composition, injector geometry, injection pressure, combustion mode, or combustion chamber thermodynamic conditions during engine operation. Alteration of the liquid-phase penetration distance prevents or reduces undesirable liquid fuel impingement on combustion chamber surfaces.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Darius Mehta