A method to determine reference actuator positions for a gasoline engine, includes entering a base torque request, a known spark advance, a known CAM position and a known exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve position into an inverse torque model to generate a first iteration desired air per cylinder (APC) value. The first iteration desired APC value is passed through a deadband filter to produce a filtered first iteration desired APC signal. A Predicted As Cal (PAC) spark advance is calculated for the filtered first iteration desired APC value. The PAC spark advance and the base torque request are modified, and data from a first lookup table is entered to generate a second iteration desired APC value.

A method for maximizing a fuel efficiency of an engine includes the steps of providing an engine including a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein, disposing at least one first permanent magnet on a piston and at least one second permanent magnet on the throw, disposing a plurality of electromagnets in the engine block, selectively attracting and repelling the at least one first and second permanent magnets with a magnetic field of the electromagnets to affect a motion of the piston in respect of the engine block and deactivating and reactivating the plurality of cylinder bores in a desired sequence by stopping a flow of fuel thereto and a flow of electrical energy to a spark plug for a deactivated cylinder bore without deactivating an intake valve or an exhaust valve for the deactivated cylinder bore.

A spark plug assembly includes a housing having an inner wall defining a bore, the housing having an open end connected to the bore, a ceramic insulator disposed within the bore and having a conical nose extending from the open end, an insulator electrode extending from the conical nose, a ground electrode coupled to and extending from the housing, wherein a spark gap is defined between the insulator electrode and the ground electrode, and a volume defined between the housing inner wall and an outer wall of the conical nose. The volume includes (i) a primary cavity, and (ii) a wide recirculation cavity defining a curved path such that gas flow entering the volume is received therein in a first direction and redirected in a second opposite direction to create an cooling airflow along the ceramic insulator and reduce a risk of low speed pre-ignition.

To provide an ignition plug having low power loss even though iron is a main component of a center electrode thereof, to which a high frequency power such as a microwave is electrically supplied. A low impedance layer 6 composed of a material having magnetic permeability lower than iron is provided between an outer peripheral surface of a center electrode 2 and an inner peripheral surface of an axial hole 30 of an insulator 3. The low impedance layer 6 is in contact with at least the outer peripheral surface (surface) of the center electrode 2, thereby reducing power loss of an electromagnetic wave flowing on the surface of the center electrode 2. More particularly, the low impedance layer 6 is made of silver, copper, gold, aluminum, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, zirconium, niobium, tantalum, bismuth, palladium, lead, tin, an alloy composed mainly of these metals, or a composite material of these metals.

A spark plug 5 for an internal combustion engine includes a center electrode 1, an insulator 2, and a housing 3. The insulator 2 includes a distal end side exposed part and an insulator enlarged diameter part 21. The housing 3 includes a lateral electrode 32, an engaging part 33, and a crimping portion 35. A buffer member 4 that restrains the distal end side exposed part 20 by pressing a part of the distal end side exposed part 20 toward the center and a part of the inner peripheral surface of the lateral electrode 32 in a radial direction at a distal end side of the engaging part 33 is disposed at a base end side of the gas pocket 230.

A spark plug 5 for an internal combustion engine includes a center electrode 1, an insulator 2, and a housing 3. The insulator 2 includes a distal end side exposed part and an insulator enlarged diameter part 21. The housing 3 includes a lateral electrode 32, an engaging part 33, and a crimping portion 35. A buffer member 4 that restrains the distal end side exposed part 20 by pressing a part of the distal end side exposed part 20 toward the center and a part of the inner peripheral surface of the lateral electrode 32 in a radial direction at a distal end side of the engaging part 33 is disposed at a base end side of the gas pocket 230.

A spark plug and a method of manufacturing the same, where the spark plug has a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a gasket located over a threaded portion of the shell and used to seal the spark plug against a cylinder head. Once the gasket is attached on the spark plug, it is shrunk to become a post-formed gasket with an inner diameter that prevents the post-formed gasket from slipping over a threaded portion of the metallic shell. This process may be carried out with a collet type machine that produces a post-formed gasket that is flat and has a substantially uniform thickness, which can improve the sealability of the gasket. This may be important when the spark plug is installed in a cylinder head made from a lost foam casting process or other process that creates a somewhat porous sealing surface.

An igniter system for measuring gas velocity and/or gas composition within the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The igniter has an insulator body and conductive shell around the top portion of the insulator body, configured so that the igniter can be installed in place of a conventional spark plug. The igniter has two pairs of electrodes, each pair of electrodes providing a spark gap and operable to generate a spark within the combustion chamber. An activation and measurement unit is operable to generate a sustained arc in each spark gap, and to measure the voltage, current and capacitance in a measurement circuit associated with each spark gap. From various electrical measurements, the velocity and composition of the gas in the combustion chamber can be determined.

This disclosure relates to a corona ignition device having: an insulator, which bears an electrically conductive coating, which forms a tubular face; a central electrode, which sits in the insulator and leads to at least one ignition tip; and a holder, in which the insulator sits. According to this disclosure, the insulator has an annular shoulder, on which is situated the end of the tubular face of the coating that faces away from the at least one ignition tip. A method for producing a corona ignition device is also described.

An internal combustion engine and a method for maximizing fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block assembly having an electromagnet coupled thereto and an engine component movable relative to the engine block assembly. The engine component includes a permanent magnet coupled thereto. A control system is provided to selectively provide an electrical current to the electromagnet to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnet cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnet to affect a motion of the engine component in respect of the engine block assembly.