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The importance of exhaust system design for three cylinder two-stroke engines is demonstrated using a thermodynamic model developed at The Queen's University of Belfast. The influence of the major exhaust parameters on wide open throttle power and bmep is investigated. In addition, the potential benefits of reed valve induction over piston port induction at low engine speeds are demonstrated for one particular engine configuration.

Experiments and modeling of a spray impinged onto a cavity wall of a simulated piston were performed under simulated diesel engine conditions (pressure and density) at an ambient temperature. The diesel fuel was delivered from a Bosch-type injection pump to a single-hole nozzle, the hole being drilled in the same direction as the original five-hole nozzle. The fuel was injected into a high-pressure bomb in which an engine combustion chamber, composed of a piston, a cylinder head and a cylinder liner, was installed. Distributions of the spray impinged on the simulated combustion chamber were observed from various directions while changing some of the experimental parameters, such as combustion chamber shape, nozzle projection and top-clearance. High-speed photography was used in the constant volume bomb to examine the effect of these parameters on the spray distributions.

Clutches are commonly utilised in passenger type and off-road heavy-duty vehicles to disconnect the engine from the driveline and other parasitic loads. In off-road heavy-duty vehicles, along with fuel efficiency start-up functionality at extended ambient conditions, such as low temperature and intake absolute pressure are crucial. Off-road vehicle manufacturers can overcome the parasitic loads in these conditions by oversizing the engine. Caterpillar Inc. as the pioneer in off-road technology has developed a novel clutch design to allow for engine downsizing while vehicle’s performance is not affected. The tribological behaviour of the clutch will be crucial to start engagement promptly and reach the maximum clutch capacity in the shortest possible time and smoothest way in terms of dynamics. A multi-body dynamics model of the clutch system is developed in MSC ADAMS. The flywheel is introducing the same speed and torque as the engine (represents the engine input to the clutch).

An experimental study of luminous combustion in a modern diesel engine was performed to investigate the effect of injection parameters on NOX and soot formation via flame temperature and soot KL factor measurements. The two-color technique was applied to 2-D soot luminosity images and area-averaged soot radiation signals to obtain spatially and temporally resolved flame temperature and soot KL factor. The imaging system used for this study was based on a wide-angle endoscope that was mounted in the cylinder head and allowed different views of the combustion chamber. The experiments were carried out on a single-cylinder 2.4 liter D.I. diesel engine equipped with an electronically controlled common-rail injection system. Operating conditions were 1600 rpm and 75% load. The two-color results confirm that retarding the injection timing causes lower flame temperatures and NOX emissions but increased soot formation, independent of injection strategy.

A mathematical model of an axial piston pump with a flapper-nozzle valve was developed. The first stage was dynamically stable, and calculated values of first-stage gain and dynamic response agreed well with experimental values. Linearized relations were produced for each component part and were combined to form the total state-variable representation of the model. The open loop system, the combined axial piston pump and flapper-nozzle valve, exhibited dynamic instability. However, when the feedback loop was augmented by the output pressure differential, stability was achieved. From the time responses of the augmented optimal control system, we observed that an increase of input current had little effect on the system response. Doubling the discharge flow rate doubled the overshoot, and an increase in the discharge volume slowed down the system responses. Increasing rotational speed of the pump produced a higher overshoot and a slower response.

This paper presents a mathematical model of an axial piston pump/two-stage electrohydraulic controller combination. The controller uses swashplate position feedback and has been specially designed so that it is of low-to-moderate cost and so that it can respond quickly to control changes. The first stage of the controller makes use of a squeeze film damper and is dynamically stable. The model may be used for design purposes inasmuch as geometry and operating conditions can be varied over wide limits and the resulting dynamical behavior evaluated. Calculation of the dynamic response to a control current for the operating conditions and geometry of the valve shows close agreement with experiment.

The compression, combustion, and expansion portions of a two-stroke cycle, direct methanol injection engine was simulated using the CONCHAS-Spray computer code. The input and comparison data was supplied from a Detroit Diesel Allison production engine operating on methanol fuel. Calculated values of both cranking and firing chamber pressure were lower than reported from the engine. The injected fuel did not entirely evaporate which caused regions of fuel impinging on the cylinder walls and piston face. The simulation did predict the formation and accumulation of formaldehyde in the regions of unburned fuel and is consistent with the theory that the formaldehyde does not readily decompose at low temperatures and forms from the incomplete oxidation of the fuel.

To increase productivity a new concept of proportional pressure, flow and control cartridges have been developed to enhance vehicle operation at a reasonable cost. Actuators have also been developed to stroke directional valves, or piston pumps and motors. These low power consumption devices readily interface with microprocessors. Engineers have been looking for new generations of electrohydraulic valves which will increase operator performance by simplifying the operation of vehicles with automatic controls where possible plus eliminating the brute strength manual type valving to decrease operator fatigue. Maintenance has always been a severe set back to productivity. By utilizing effective yet efficient cartridge proportional valves that are designed for simplicity of use and repair, drastic savings are shown. Previous designs were bulky and very contamination sensitive. They did the job, but were both expensive and had very high maintenance levels.

Mobile hydraulic equipment are today operated manually to a very large extent. There are, however, some applications where substantial benefits would be obtaind if some kind of feedback and more sophisticated control was used. One such application is the control of a crane. Usually the operator controlls the flow to each of the pistons so that the crane tip is moved in the desired direction (Fig. 1). Since many mobile hydraulic valves packages have electronic input and there exists built in position transducers for the pistons, it seems to be rather straightforward to introduce vector control of the crane tip directly. That is, the operator commands controlls the direction and speed of the crane tip. Here, a control algorithm is described that allows the use of mobile electrohydraulic proportional valves while still having accurate vector control of the crane tip.

This paper outlines the design philosophy and evaluation of the new “H” series variable displacement, medium pressure, open-circuit, axial piston hydraulic pumps. The “H” series is based on previously existing, technically successful, rotating group designs, but has significant design improvements affecting the areas of: Unit Weight Envelope Size Ease of Assembly, Disassembly, Repairability and Modification Alternate Fluid Capabilities The “H” series is a family of naturally aspirated pumps nominally rated at 250 or 275 bar (3625 or 4000 psig), depending on system operating parameters. The geometric displacements of the four units in the series are as follows: 57cc (3.5 cu. in./rev.) 74cc (4.5 cu. in./rev.) 98cc (6.0 cu. in./rev.) 131cc (8.0 cu. in./rev.)

Axial piston type pumps are often exposed to severe operating conditions because of the duty cycle, the environment, or, in some situations, poor maintenance and even abuse. The detrimental effects on the pump and the hydraulic system as a result of these adverse conditions are often not known or predictable. In this study, four controlled severe operating conditions were imposed on four identical axial piston type pumps. They included 1) constant high load pressure and normal fluid temperature, 2) constant high load pressure and elevated fluid temperature, 3) cyclic load pressure and normal fluid temperature, and 4) cyclic load pressure and elevated fluid temperature. The tests were long-term; they were run continuously for up to 5000 hours. The pump wear was monitored in all cases using ferrography. In addition, the condition of the fluid was monitored and the circuit filters were examined periodically. The results of the findings are presented in this paper.

HIGH output per cubic inch of piston displacement is desirable not alone for the purpose of being able to transport more payload faster, but more particularly for the invariably associated byproduct of lower specific fuel consumption, and especially at road-load requirements. The only way of accomplishing this purpose is through the use of higher compression ratios, and the limiting factors for this objective are fuel distribution and the operating temperatures of the component parts. A manifold is proposed which not only definitely improves distribution at both full and road loads, but has the inherent additional advantage of reducing the formation of condensate, thus still further facilitating a reduction in road-load specific fuel consumption. Hydraulic valve lifters, obviation of mechanical and thermal distortion, and controlled water flow are the essentials in improved cooling.