An object is to supply fresh air and EGR gas into a cylinder in good balance according to the required load in a naturally aspirated gasoline engine. When the operation state of the engine falls in a low load range, a control apparatus adjusts the degree of opening of the second throttle while keeping the first throttle fully open and controls EGR gas quantity by adjusting the degree of opening of the EGR valve. When the operation state falls in a middle load range, the apparatus controls EGR gas quantity by adjusting the degree of opening of the first throttle while keeping the EGR valve fully open. When the operation state falls in a high load range, the apparatus adjusts the degree of opening of the first throttle while keeping the second throttle fully open and controls EGR gas quantity by adjusting the degree of opening of the EGR valve.

An object is to supply fresh air and EGR gas into a cylinder in good balance according to the required load in a naturally aspirated gasoline engine. When the operation state of the engine falls in a low load range, a control apparatus adjusts the degree of opening of the second throttle while keeping the first throttle fully open and controls EGR gas quantity by adjusting the degree of opening of the EGR valve. When the operation state falls in a middle load range, the apparatus controls EGR gas quantity by adjusting the degree of opening of the first throttle while keeping the EGR valve fully open. When the operation state falls in a high load range, the apparatus adjusts the degree of opening of the first throttle while keeping the second throttle fully open and controls EGR gas quantity by adjusting the degree of opening of the EGR valve.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes during a first operating condition, operating two primary cylinders and two secondary cylinders to perform combustion, the two primary and secondary cylinders arranged in an inline configuration, the two primary cylinder adjacent to one another, the two secondary cylinders adjacent to one another, and the secondary cylinders positioned 175°-185° out of phase relative to the two primary cylinders and during a second operating condition, selectively deactivating the two secondary cylinders to perform combustion in only the two primary cylinders.

Methods and systems are provided for opportunistically conducting an evaporative emissions test diagnostic procedure in order to indicate the presence or absence of undesired evaporative emissions in a vehicle evaporative emissions control system and fuel system. In one example, tire pressure and barometric pressure are monitored, and responsive to a tire pressure decrease in the absence of a barometric pressure increase, along with an indication that the vehicle transmission is in neutral and that the vehicle is not traveling downhill, the evaporative emissions system and fuel system may be sealed and the presence or absence of undesired evaporative emissions indicated based on a vacuum-build. In this way, an opportunistic evaporative emissions test may be conducted based on conditions favorable to conducting an emissions test procedure, and may thus increase test completion rates and reduce undesired evaporative emissions.

Methods and systems are provided for opportunistically conducting an evaporative emissions test diagnostic procedure in order to indicate the presence or absence of undesired evaporative emissions in a vehicle evaporative emissions control system and fuel system. In one example, tire pressure and barometric pressure are monitored, and responsive to a tire pressure decrease in the absence of a barometric pressure increase, along with an indication that the vehicle transmission is in neutral and that the vehicle is not traveling downhill, the evaporative emissions system and fuel system may be sealed and the presence or absence of undesired evaporative emissions indicated based on a vacuum-build. In this way, an opportunistic evaporative emissions test may be conducted based on conditions favorable to conducting an emissions test procedure, and may thus increase test completion rates and reduce undesired evaporative emissions.

In an electric actuator, one end portion of a return spring is hooked to a first slit formed in a radially outer guide of an output gear, so that the return spring is twisted for a predetermined angle that is slightly smaller than an initial set angle. A tilted slit portion is formed at an opening of a second slit that is formed in a covering wall of a spring installation member to twist the return spring to a predetermined initial set angle. Thereby, simultaneously with assembling of a valve shaft to the output gear, the return spring is twisted for the initial set angle. Thus, an assembling work of the electric actuator can be simplified.

In an electric actuator, one end portion of a return spring is hooked to a first slit formed in a radially outer guide of an output gear, so that the return spring is twisted for a predetermined angle that is slightly smaller than an initial set angle. A tilted slit portion is formed at an opening of a second slit that is formed in a covering wall of a spring installation member to twist the return spring to a predetermined initial set angle. Thereby, simultaneously with assembling of a valve shaft to the output gear, the return spring is twisted for the initial set angle. Thus, an assembling work of the electric actuator can be simplified.

The present invention provides a compact throttle valve device with good valve responsiveness and small unnecessary vibrations, an engine, and a vehicle. A slotless brushless motor-driven throttle valve device has a throttle body provided with a tubular portion in which an intake air passage is formed, a throttle valve disposed in the tubular portion, and a slotless brushless motor serving as a drive motor for performing opening/closing drive for the throttle valve. The throttle body housing has a hole portion into which a fixing member for fixing the throttle body to a member to be attached is inserted. The hole portion is formed in the vicinity of the outer circumferential portion of the tubular portion. The compact, narrow slotless brushless motor is disposed near the hole portion formed in the throttle body, and the throttle valve device is very compact.

Methods and systems are provided for a vacuum generating device. In one example, a vacuum generating device comprises a venturi device upstream of an annular fixture for adjusting an amount of vacuum provided to a vacuum consumption device.

Methods and systems are provided for a vacuum generating device. In one example, a vacuum generating device comprises a venturi device upstream of an annular fixture for adjusting an amount of vacuum provided to a vacuum consumption device.