Methods and systems for operating an engine that is coupled to a transmission that includes a power take off output are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be operated in a speed control mode and a user may request smoother engine operation or more efficient engine operation via a human/machine interface. The more efficient engine operation may include operating the engine with fewer activated cylinders as compared to operating the engine for smoother engine operation.

A drain port of a hydraulic oil controller is connected to an oil discharge portion. Each of partitions partitions between a corresponding one of drain oil passages and a corresponding one of a retard supply oil passage and an advance supply oil passage. Each of the drain oil passages connects between the oil discharge portion and a corresponding one of a retard chamber and an advance chamber. A recycle oil passage connects between: a portion of each drain oil passage located between the corresponding partition and the drain port; and the retard supply oil passage or the advance supply oil passage. A drain flow restrictor is formed in the portion of each drain oil passage located between the corresponding partition and the drain port. A passage cross-sectional area of the drain flow restrictor is smaller than a smallest passage cross-sectional area of the recycle oil passage and is constant.

A method for determining a combination of an actual intake camshaft phase position of an intake camshaft and an actual exhaust camshaft phase position of an exhaust camshaft of a production internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, wherein the method is performed in operation of the production internal combustion engine and the relevant actual phase position of the camshafts is determined in relation to an operating point of the production internal combustion engine.

Methods and systems are provided for an engine of a vehicle during a cold start. In one example, a method may include heating a catalyst of an exhaust aftertreatment device with a plurality of electric heaters during an unfueled engine operation. The engine may be operated as a pump to oscillate air across the exhaust aftertreatment device, thereby heating the air via the plurality of electric heaters which, in turn, heats the catalyst. A configuration of the catalyst may promote expedited light-off which may reduce emissions during the cold start.

This invention is a camshaft and a valve actuation mechanism of an engine. The camshaft includes a first cam and a second cam that are adjacently arranged for an intake or exhaust rocker arm. A flange is arranged between the two cams, and is positioned at a position with a lift of the first cam and the second cam. No flange is arranged in a B section where both of the cams are base circles. When the rocker arm roller is shifted to another cam, since blocking of the flange between the two cams, shifting may be performed when the camshaft is rotated to a position where both of the cams are base circles, which ensures reliability. In addition, one solenoid may control a plurality of actuators, and thus the cost is low. The two cams may implement the functions of the engine, such as, variable valve or engine brake or others.

The invention relates to a method (100) for controlling a powertrain system (10) of a vehicle (1) during gear upshifting, said powertrain system comprising: an internal combustion engine system (11) comprising an internal combustion engine (12) configured to output a rotational speed (W1) via an engine output shaft (8); a transmission arrangement (14) having a number of gear stages to obtain a set of gears, the transmission arrangement being operatively connected to the internal combustion engine via a transmission input shaft (64) and further having a transmission output shaft (24) for providing a rotational speed to one or more drive wheels (26) of the vehicle; the method comprising the steps of: operating (110) the engine in a four-stroke operation to provide engine rotational speed output via the engine output shaft; receiving (120) an indication of an intended upshifting from a gear of the set of gears to a higher gear of the sets of gears; reducing (130) the rotational speed of the engine output shaft by adjusting the operation of the engine from the four-stroke operation to a two-stroke braking operation; and, when said engine is in the two-stroke braking operation, performing (140) the intended upshifting from said gear of the set of gears to said higher gear of the sets of gears.

Methods and systems are provided for providing secondary air to an exhaust system during catalyst warm-up. In one example, a method may include, responsive to a cold start of an engine: operating the engine with a number of unfired cylinders and a remaining number of fired cylinders each engine cycle, and adjusting exhaust mixing by adjusting an exhaust valve parameter of at least one unfired cylinder of the number of unfired cylinders. In this way, the unfired cylinders may provide the secondary air as well as increased mixing of the secondary air with burned exhaust gas from fired cylinders, thus increasing exotherm production in the exhaust system to increase a temperature of the catalyst.

Methods and systems are provided for providing secondary air to an exhaust system during catalyst warm-up. In one example, a method may include, during a cold start condition, operating an engine with a number of cylinders deactivated and a remaining number of cylinders active, and adjusting a first air charge within a deactivated cylinder of the number of cylinders relative to relative to a second air charge within an active cylinder of the remaining number of cylinders. In this way, an amount of secondary air provided to the exhaust system of the engine may be more robustly controlled, thus decreasing cooling of the exhaust system during the cold start condition that may otherwise occur due to excess secondary air.

An adaptive, any-fuel reciprocating engine using sensor feedback integration of high-speed optical sensors with real-time control loops to adaptively manage the electronic actuation schemes over a range of engine loads and fuels. The engine uses one or more optical sensors to collect specific types of gas property data via a spectroscopic technique to adaptively control various components within the engine.

Systems and methods for heating an exhaust after treatment device and producing smooth engine torque output are described. In one example, exhaust valve opening time is adjusted to compensate for additional torque that may be generated via combusting rich air-fuel mixtures in cylinders. In addition, intake valve lift may be adjusted to compensate for additional torque that may be generated via combusting rich air-fuel mixtures in cylinders.