Closing timing of an intake port is changed without using a variable valve timing mechanism. An electric vehicle includes an engine for electricity generation in which closing timing of an intake port maximizes intake air charging efficiency in a specific revolution speed region, a sensor which outputs a signal related to a revolution speed of the engine, a controller which drives the engine at a revolution speed based on the signal of the sensor, a requested electricity generation amount being satisfied at the revolution speed, and a motor which applies a positive or negative torque to the engine. When the engine is driven in a revolution speed region other than the specific revolution speed region, the controller uses the motor to apply a positive or a negative torque to the engine in an intake stroke to change the closing timing of the intake port to increase intake air charging efficiency.

A four cylinder engine including two outer cylinders valved to operate on a four cycle basis, the outer two cylinders being movable together in opposite directions than the direction of movement together of the two inner cylinders. The two inner cylinders valved to operate on a two-cycle basis. The four cylinders having fuel injectors for injecting an amount of fuel in an associated cylinder so as to cause a self-ignited power event to occur therein during each cycle. The engine, when embodied in a vehicle having a battery energized computer and manually operated accelerator pedal being selectively operated in three power levels: (1) a minimum fuel mode (2) an intermediate fuel mode and (3) a maximum fuel mode. (1) Enabling a two-third fuel saving (two injections out of a possible six) when in minimum fuel mode and (2) a one-third saving fuel (four injections out of a possible six) when in the intermediate mode. The two inner cylinders operate on the fuel sharing principles of the '769 patent when in the intermediate mode.

The invention concerns a method for controlling the fuel supply to an internal combustion engine at start-up, the engine having a fuel supply system. The invention also concerns a carburetor having a fuel supply system including a main fuel path connecting a diaphragm controlled regulating chamber to a main outlet in the region of the venturi section, the main fuel path including an actively controlled fuel valve, and an idling fuel path branching off from the main fuel path downstream of the valve and ending in at least one idling outlet in the region of a throttle valve, the fuel supply system further including a start fuel line starting upstream or downstream of the fuel valve and ending in at least one start fuel outlet to the intake channel.

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.

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.

Closing timing of an intake port is changed without using a variable valve timing mechanism. An electric vehicle includes an engine for electricity generation in which closing timing of an intake port maximizes intake air charging efficiency in a specific revolution speed region, a sensor which outputs a signal related to a revolution speed of the engine, a controller which drives the engine at a revolution speed based on the signal of the sensor, a requested electricity generation amount being satisfied at the revolution speed, and a motor which applies a positive or negative torque to the engine. When the engine is driven in a revolution speed region other than the specific revolution speed region, the controller uses the motor to apply a positive or a negative torque to the engine in an intake stroke to change the closing timing of the intake port to increase intake air charging efficiency.

Systems and methods for providing charge to an energy storage system of a vehicle are provided. The method may include receiving, by a vehicle control system, an indication that a vehicle is coasting, slowing, and/or braking. Based on the received indication, engaging, by the vehicle control system, an electric motor coupled to an internal combustion engine to generate electric charge and provide the generated electric charge to the energy storage system, and while engaging the electric motor to generate electric charge, deactivating, by the vehicle control system, a cylinder of the internal combustion engine by maintaining an inlet valve of the cylinder and an exhaust valve the cylinder in a constant position, such as a closed position. In some instances, the inlet valve and exhaust valve may be maintained in an open state to further slow the vehicle.

Methods of operation of liquid and gaseous multi-fuel compression ignition engines that may be operated on a gaseous fuel or a liquid fuel, or a combination of both a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel at the same time and in some embodiments, in the same combustion event. Various embodiments are disclosed.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having an engine with a first number of cylinders and a second number of cylinders and a supercharger arrangement, wherein a charge air flow supplied to the engine is compressed by means of at least one compressor and at least one turbine is acted on by an exhaust gas flow discharged from the engine. In a main operating mode, the engine operates the first number of cylinders in two-stroke operation and the second number of cylinders in four-stroke operation. A scavenging gradient of the engine is greater for the cylinders operated in the two-stroke operation than for the cylinders operated in the four-stroke operation.

A drive train for a motor vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a starting device, and a vibration isolation device. The internal combustion engine has a main order of vibration and an excitation frequency predetermined by a predetermined operating principle and a predetermined number of cylinders. The starting device is for starting the internal combustion engine and has an electric machine with a torque characteristic over a speed (n). The vibration isolation device is designed for the main order of vibration of the internal combustion engine. The vibration isolation device has a resonance characteristic below an idling speed (nL) of the internal combustion engine in a resonance range occurring in a first speed range (n2). The resonance range is shifted into a second, lower speed range (n1) when the electric machine is coupled. The electric machine is arranged to supply a torque effective beyond the second, lower speed range (n1).