In a spark-ignition internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders, successive segment time periods assigned to the individual cylinders during working strokes thereof, and subsequently irregular running values are determined from the segment time periods. In a predefined speed range of the engine, the irregular running values of the cylinders are compared with a predefined threshold, and suspected auto-ignition for a first cylinder is detected if the irregular running value of a second cylinder located before the first cylinder in terms of timing of the ignition sequence undershoots the threshold. Fuel to the first cylinder suspected of auto-ignition is interrupted for a predefined number of cycles, and the fuel interruption influence on the irregular running values of the second cylinder during the cycles is detected. The suspected auto-ignition of the first cylinder is either confirmed or rejected based on the irregular running values occurring at the second cylinder.

In a spark-ignition internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders, successive segment time periods assigned to the individual cylinders during working strokes thereof, and subsequently irregular running values are determined from the segment time periods. In a predefined speed range of the engine, the irregular running values of the cylinders are compared with a predefined threshold, and suspected auto-ignition for a first cylinder is detected if the irregular running value of a second cylinder located before the first cylinder in terms of timing of the ignition sequence undershoots the threshold. Fuel to the first cylinder suspected of auto-ignition is interrupted for a predefined number of cycles, and the fuel interruption influence on the irregular running values of the second cylinder during the cycles is detected. The suspected auto-ignition of the first cylinder is either confirmed or rejected based on the irregular running values occurring at the second cylinder.

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.

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.

A valve comprises a coupling device having a driven member bound to the drive shaft of a flap, a driving member bound to an output shaft of an actuator, and an elastic member. The driving member comprises attachments that hooks up the elastic member to the driving member in a temporary position in which the elastic member is elastically loaded. The driven member comprises at least one release member that at least partly releases the elastic member of the attachments when the coupling device is brought to an intermediate state or the elastic member, when the coupling device is in the intermediate state, may be at least partly released from the attachments. The elastic member once released, adopts a definitive use position under the effect of relaxation of the elastic load, the coupling device then adopting the operational state.

A valve having a housing in which three ducts that are connected to each another are arranged, one flap, which is mounted rotatably on a shaft is arranged in each of two ducts, an electric motor which drives a shaft by a gearing system, and a transmission mechanism, which drives the second flap depending on the movement of the first flap. On the shaft of the first flap, a cam disc is arranged, on the circumference of which a lever rests, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft of the second flap.

The purpose of this invention is to achieve an electric air flow control device comprising a motor rotor bearing structure having excellent wear resistance even with loads from striking caused by a high vibrational environment specific to an internal combustion engine. A cylindrical sintered metal slide bearing is used in at least one of a front bearing (16) and a rear bearing (17) that support a rotor shaft (14) of a motor (3) that is the rotary control drive source of a throttle valve (7) that controls the intake air flow to an internal combustion engine, and the bearing design is such that the relationship of the radial crushing strength and the compressive deformation rate of the cylindrical sintered metal bearing has the mechanical properties of a maximum radial crushing strength of 230 N/mm2 or greater and a maximum compressive deformation rate of 3.5% or greater at the maximum radial crushing strength.

A dual compressor turbocharger includes two compressors. One compressor supplies fuel pressure, and one compressor supplies air pressure. The dual compressor turbocharger includes a turbine driven by exhaust of an engine and a shaft coupled to the turbine. The first compressor is mounted on the shaft and includes a first inlet coupled to an air supply and a first outlet coupled to an air intake of the engine. The second compressor is mounted on the shaft and includes a second inlet coupled to a fuel supply and a second outlet coupled to a fuel supply rail of the engine.

An engine including a motorized throttle valve that can implement mutually neighboring disposition of a throttle body and a cylinder head and can implement a good opening and closing responsibility thereof. A swelling portion is formed on a side wall of a valve chamber in such a manner so as to bite between those of throttle bodies which neighbor with each other in order to accept a protrusion of part of a valve system in a radial direction of first and second camshafts. An electric motor is disposed at one side of the group of the throttle bodies. A speed reduction mechanism, for transmitting output power of the electric motor to a valve shaft, is disposed between those throttle bodies, which neighbor with each other at a different location in the group of the throttle bodies, in a neighboring relationship with the valve chamber.

A throttle valve includes a housing, an electric motor and an insert. The electric motor is accommodated in the housing and drives opening and closing of an air flow passage of the throttle valve. The insert is partially enclosed in the housing and includes an electrically conductive insert body at least partially accessibly exposed from the housing, and an electrically conductive electric motor connector. One end of the motor connector is electrically connected to the insert body, and the other end thereof is electrically connected to the electrically conductive housing of the electric motor.