Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Don A Kees

Themi Philemon Petridis

Mark Eifert

Lucien Koopmans

Engbert Spijker

Jonas Elfstrand

Daniel Kok

Erik Surewaard

A method of maintaining homogeneous charge compression ignition when a temperature within a combustion chamber decreases below an autoignition temperature in an engine that is configured for homogeneous charge compression ignition under at least some engine operating conditions and for spark ignition under at least some engine operating conditions, the method comprising selectively heating contents of the combustion chamber with a glow plug.

System and method for facilitating homogeneous charge compression ignition

A locking mechanism () is provided to block the internal combustion engine () at prepositioned cranking angle after shutting down. Preferably, the crankshaft of the engine is positioned at a crankshaft angle that is favorable for cranking. Prepositioning of the crankshaft angle results in a lower first compression torque and therefore increases kinetic energy stored in the crankshaft lumped inertia. The required maximum torque of the cranking aid () can therefore be reduced.

Locking mechanism for the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine

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Basildon, United Kingdom

Don A Kees