Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having a capacitive plasma jet plug including a capacitor in parallel with the series combination of an auxiliary gap and a plasma cavity. The auxiliary gap increases the required breakdown voltage before the plasma cavity generates a spark and obtains supplemental energy from the energy stored in the capacitor.

Abstract: A diesel engine is started by plural ignition plugs, each installed in a swirl chamber of a corresponding cylinder. Each ignition plug includes (a) an elongated center electrode, (b) a fuel-absorbent electrical insulator that encapsulates the center electrode so as to allow only one end of the center electrode to protrude, and (c) a plurality of elongated grounding electrodes arranged symmetrically around said insulating member to define a discharge path in conjunction with the protruding end of the center electrode. The discharge path includes part of the surface of the insulating member and an air gap between free ends of the grounding electrodes and opposing surfaces of the insulating member.

Abstract: A plasma jet ignitor apparatus for generating plasma from a plasma medium such as hydrogen and for discharging the plasma as a jet into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion chamber. The apparatus has a plug which has an electrode from which a high energy spark is generated. The spark causes hydrogen which is introduced into the plasma generation cavity by a fuel line to become plasma. The plasma generation cavity is defined by magnetic field generation means. The cavity has an inlet opening adjacent the plasma generation location and an outlet orifice. The plasma is ejected as a plasma jet from the cavity from the orifice. The magnetic field generation means is disposed as a magnetic field coil wound about the cavity. The magnetic field is charged by the discharge of a capacitor at the time of the formation of the plasma in the cavity. The magnetic field accelerates the plasma out of the cavity through the orifice so that the plasma exits as a high velocity jet and achieves effective penetration.

Abstract: A separately ignited internal combustion engine and/or an ignition chamber insert for insertion into the combustion wall of an internal combustion engine is proposed with an ignition chamber which is connected to the main combustion chamber via several overflow channels. The ignition chamber is composed of a forward section with a small, and a rear section with a large diameter into which a straight center electrode protrudes which is surrounded with an insulator in the manner of a common spark plug. The ignition takes place at the transition between the forward section and the rear section between ignition chamber wall and center electrode. The forward section of the ignition chamber is connectable to the main combustion chamber via first overflow channels which discharge tangentially into said forward section and via a second overflow channel discharging coaxially to the ignition chamber insert.

Abstract: Ignition system for internal combustion engine in which combustion chambers in an internal combustion engine are shaped in such a manner that a microwave resonance easily causes a plasma discharge, microwaves are supplied from a microwave oscillator through respective coaxial cables to all the combustion chambers so that the combustion chambers resonate whenever the microwave power is injected, or so that when the combustion chambers reaches a resonatable condition, is the microwave power injected into the combustion chambers from the microwave oscillator; thereby causing plasma discharge to occur in the combustion chambers.

Abstract: In an auxiliary ignition system for starting a diesel engine having a plurality of plasma spark plugs installed in corresponding combustion chambers facing fuel injection valves, starting time is reduced by applying high ignition energy to the plugs following predetermined time intervals after fuel injection to the corresponding engine cylinders.

Abstract: An ignition system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a spark plug within each engine cylinder, wherein a single DC-DC converter is provided and a high-voltage withstanding characteristic capacitor is provided for each spark plug. The capacitor charges to the high DC output voltage of the DC-DC converter and operatively supplies the high DC voltage via a boosting transformer into the corresponding spark plug at a predetermined ignition timing. The amount of the discharge energy being varied according to the pulse width of an input signal of each switching circuit which operates to supply the charged high DC voltage of the capacitor into the corresponding spark plug, the pulse width being varied according to various engine operating conditions.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprises an intake path supplying a mixture of air and fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine, a particle supplying unit having an ejection port opening into the combustion chamber for supplying minute particles of a material which is not the fuel and has a high light absorption factor, and a light source radiating a laser beam through a light focusing unit toward a suitably selected position in the internal space of the combustion chamber, so that the laser beam can strike the minute particles of high light absorption factor supplied from the particle supplying unit thereby producing a torch for igniting the air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: An alternating endothermic engine in which by application to the explosive air-fuel mixture of electric charges of the same sign as those applied to the piston, a cavity open towards the piston is formed in the explosive mixture in such a way that, in accordance with the Munroe effect of "hollow charges", an explosive wave is concentrated on the axis of the piston.

Abstract: A plasma ignition system for an internal combustion engine, which comprises: (a) a low DC voltage power supply; (b) a DC-DC converter which converts a low DC voltage from the low DC voltage supply to the corresponding AC voltage and inverts the AC voltage to a high DC voltage; (c) a plurality of plasma ignition plugs each located within one of the cylinders; (d) a plurality of first capacitors each for changing the high DC voltage received from the DC-DC converter; (e) a plurality of photosensitive switching elements each connected between each corresponding first capacitor and ground and which turns on to apply the plasma ignition energy charged within the corresponding first capacitor to the corresponding plasma ignition plug at a predetermined timing; (f) a plurality of voltage-boosting transformers each having a common terminal of primary and secondary windings connected to one terminal of each corresponding plasma ignition energy capacitor and another terminal of the primary winding connected to the corr

Abstract: A laser ignition apparatus includes a laser oscillator which generates at least two successive pulse-shaped laser beams during each compression stroke of the engine. A first pulse-shaped laser beam is generated by a Q switching action of the laser oscillator and thus has a high peak output and a second pulse-shaped laser beam is generated without the Q switching action and has a low peak output but a larger pulse duration than the first laser beam. The first and second pulse-shaped laser beams are guided and directed into the combustion chamber of the engine and the first laser beam of a high energy density causes the breakdown of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber to develop a plasma and the second laser beam further increases the energy of the plasma thereby to ensure the setting fire of the air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: A plasma ignition system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine each cylinder having a plasma ignition plug, including diesel engine. According to the present invention, in addition to the elements of the conventional plasma ignition system there is provided an oscillation device which generates and outputs a high-frequency oscillating voltage into each of the plasma ignition plugs to be ignited before the plasma ignition timing so that a multiple sparking occurs and therefore the resistance of the plasma ignition plug to be ignited is reduced to facilitate plasma ignition with relatively low plasma ignition energy without misfire even during a high engine load.

Abstract: This invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularly to igniting the fuel/air mixture of the engine. In more detail a catalytic engine comprises one or more cylinders, each cylinder having an associated piston and an entry port disposed at the top or in the region of the top of the cylinder and leading into a passage in communication with a precombustion chamber, means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, and a catalytic unit disposed across the entry port or across the said passage for catalytically igniting an injected fuel/air mixture, the catalytic unit including a thermally stable and oxidation resistant member having a multiplicity of flow paths or channels, the surfaces of which possess catalytic activity.

Abstract: A reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine with catalytic combustion has associated with the or each cylinder a swirl-promoting precombustion chamber in the cylinder head connected to the space in the cylinder above the piston by an inclined transfer passage formed in a "hot plug" inserted in a well in the head. A catalytic screen preferably comprising a platinum gauze extends across the top of the hot plug with its peripheral margin wrapped around the hot plug and trapped between the plug and the cylinder head. The plug has an open-topped recess formed in its upper side, into which recess the transfer passage leads, the recess constituting the lower part of the precombustion chamber and the catalytic screen separating this recess from the remainder of the interior of the precombustion chamber above the screen. An injector injects liquid fuel into the precombustion chamber above and parallel to the catalytic screen.

Abstract: An ignition system for a stratified charge internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine has at least one combustion chamber and a fuel injection means effective to inject fuel in a conical spray pattern into a predetermined zone of the combustion chamber for establishing a stratified charge. The system has walls dening a plasma ionizing chamber with an outlet orifice, electrical discharge means to apply an electrical charge across the plasma ionizing chamber causing the contents thereof to be shock heated to an ionized condition and released through the outlet orifice as a jet, and means interrupting the outlet orifice to form said plasma jet into a hollow cone and to direct the conical jet into the zone of the injected fuel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection is disclosed which comprises at least one combustion chamber fitted with a fuel injection valve. A charging electrode is disposed in the combustion chamber near the fuel injection valve and is supplied with a high DC voltage from a voltage source so as to charge the particles of fuel injected from the injection valve and thereby to disperse them.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for conveying igniters which periodically connect an energy source providing supply to thereby promote combustion in an engine comprising: the combination of a casing having a plurality of inspecting apertures and a corresponding plurality of outlets communicating a cavity about a central axis. A conveyor is the rotary member adapted within the casing. The rotary member includes equally spaced conduits carrying removably fitted igniters in circular motion around the central axis of the casing. The rotary member being driven from a synchronizer of the engine whereby separate conduit is periodically connected, to a conductor being attached to the energy source while simultaneously providing access into the respective chambers or cylinders of the engine to cause combustion therein in timed relation with the engine rotations.

Abstract: An improved ignitor and ignition method for igniting a wide variety of fuels that may be used to power various types of engines, or for use with other applications requiring the efficient combustion of fuel. The fuel to be burned is mixed with air to form a relatively lean first fuel/air mixture. This first fuel/air mixture is then injected into the primary combustion chamber, such as the combustion zone of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, or similar combustion chamber of other types of fuel-burning apparatus. The first fuel/air mixture is ignited with a stream of hot ionized gas that is jetted into the primary combustion chamber from a precombustion or plasma-generating chamber. The plasma-generating chamber is in close proximity to the primary combustion chamber, with a plasma guide or discharge tunnel connecting the two. A fuel line connects a source of pressurized fuel to the plasma-generating chamber.

Abstract: A method for operating a two-cycle internal combustion engine wherein in the scavenging stroke the air-fuel mixture charged into the cylinder forms a stratum adjacent to a piston and the stratum of the air-fuel mixture is made into contact with the stratum of the residual gases remote from the piston. Alternately, in the scavenging stroke the rich mixture is first charged into the cylinder immediately above the piston and then the lean mixture is charged into the cylinder immediately above the piston so that the strata of the lean and rich mixtures and the residual gases may be formed in the order named from a portion close to the piston within the cylinder. The decomposition of part of the air-fuel mixture or the rich air-fuel mixture is caused by the heat contained in the residual gases so that the chemically activated radicals are produced.

Abstract: An amplified radiation igniter system initiates the ignition of a fuel/air mixture retained within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The amplified radiation, usually supplied in beam form according to appropriate timed intervals, is directed from a source for such radiation through a delivering conduit to a connecting member which directs the radiation beam into the combustion chamber. When the radiation provided has sufficient intensity, it will ignite the fuel/air mixture in accordance with the method of this invention. The radiation beam penetrates deep into the mixture traversing the width of the combustion chamber. The mixture absorbs radiant energy from the radiation beam and ignites at many points along the travel path of the radiation.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for effecting the ignition of a relatively lean air-fuel mixture includes a pair of electrode gaps at which strong electrostatic fields of relatively long duration are established to accumulate fuel particles in a portion of a combustion chamber adjacent to a spark gap. In one embodiment of the invention, one of the electrode gaps is enclosed so that the atmosphere in this gap is not affected by changes in the pressure and composition of the atmosphere in the combustion chamber. By maintaining the atmosphere in the electrode gap separate from the atmosphere in the combustion chamber, an electrostatic field of substantially constant strength can be maintained at the enclosed electrode gap after the establishment of a corona discharge at an electrode gap exposed to the atmosphere in the combustion chamber. In another embodiment of the invention, both of the electrode gaps are exposed to the atmosphere in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out combustion in an internal combustion engine of the stratified charge type is disclosed. The piston and cylinder are shaped in a manner to define a variable volume space and a main combustion chamber residing as a cavity in the top face of the piston, the cavity being in communication with the variable volume space. The cylinder has an intake port oriented to induce a swirl motion to air inducted into the variable volume space.A shock wave chamber is defined with walls projecting from the cylinder head into the main combustion chamber when the piston in its top dead center position. The shock wave chamber (or intermediate chamber) has openings to permit circulatory transfer motion of the air to enter and exit from the central bottom thereof. The intermediate chamber is adapted to receive a plasma sonic jet directed axially downwardly therethrough to penetrate the exit opening of said intermediate chamber.

Abstract: A technique for increasing the efficiency, and for decreasing the exhaust emissions, of an internal combustion type engine in which rf energy is generated at a frequency which both (a) is suitable for coupling the energy to a combusting plasma air-fuel mixture (preferably at a plasma frequency) and (b) excites at least one resonant mode of the engine's combustion chamber; so as to enhance both pre-combustion conditioning of the mixture and combustion reactions.

Abstract: An improved ignition device wherein a spark plug is provided with a torch chamber surrounding the spark gap. A first mixture of fuel-rich fuel and air is supplied to the torch chamber where it is ignited by a spark and propelled as a jet of burning fuel into the combustion zone of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The burning fuel from the torch chamber provides suitable ignition of a relatively lean second mixture of fuel and air in the combustion chamber which mixture is leaner than would otherwise be suitably ignited with a spark from a conventional spark plug. A porous plug in the fuel line acts as a one-way valve by allowing liquid fuel to pass by capillary and/or seepage action while resisting backflow caused by periodic high pressures within the combustion chamber. A cooling and heat-shielding system protects the fuel supply system against excessive heat absorption which would tend to prematurely vaporize the fuel and interfere with the valving apparatus.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type with injection of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, provided with catalytic means for initiating the combustion of the air/fuel charge in the combustion chamber of the or each cylinder. The major part of the combustion chamber of each cylinder is afforded by a recess formed in the piston crown, and a catalytic element of mesh, grid, perforated or sintered or other construction, is carried by the piston in a position at least partly overlying the said recess, the fuel being injected into the said recess to contact and pass through the catalytic element, being ignited by its contact with the catalytic element.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, the engine comprises a rotary-piston, Wankel-type machine having a ceramic-material housing. Within the wall of the housing are confined pluralities of passageways which provide conduits for the conduct therethrough of coolant, for the introduction of a primary or secondary fuel, and for the ignition of the wall-confined-passageway-supplied fuel. The coolant passageways open only externally of the housing, whereby the same supply and discharge coolant to dissipate engine heat. The fuel passageways have openings, which open onto the inner wall of the housing, for supplying air/gasoline-vapor mixture, or methane, or hydrogen, or diesel oil, etc. The ignition passageways confine electrical leads, which leads have a spark-gap interruption formed in each thereof, and also have openings which open onto the inner wall of the housing -- the interruptions being disposed in registry with the openings.

Abstract: The invention is a means and method of injecting fuel into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine wherein the fuel is introduced under pressure to each cylinder through a metallic fuel tube having an integral and preferably multiplyorificed nozzle thereon, the tube and nozzle being charged to a high electrical potential, causing injected fuel to assume a charge and be repelled from the nozzle in small droplets which in turn disperse into smaller droplets due to internal repulsion created by the charge, the result being the rapid and thorough atomization of fuel so that quick and more complete combustion will occur. The applied charge may be reversed at the end of the injection cycle to cause current flow between the droplets and the oppositely charged nozzles to ignite, or further speed combustion of, the mixture.

Abstract: An improved engine for burning a lean air-fuel mixture includes a main combustion chamber into which the air-fuel mixture is introduced and an auxiliary combustion chamber wherein the air-fuel mixture is initially ignited. A spark plug in the auxiliary combustion chamber has central and side electrodes which define a spark gap. A corona discharge is established in an electrostatic field between the central electrode and a field electrode. The ions in the corona discharge collect on fuel particles in the air-fuel mixture so that these particles are electrically charged and deposited on the field electrode, the walls of the auxiliary combustion chamber, and the side electrode. The fuel particles which come toward the central electrode are electrostatically atomized by the corona discharge and accelerated away.

Abstract: An igniting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprises a central igniting electrode disposed at the position adjacent to an opening communicating, between an auxiliary combustion chamber and a main combustion chamber, an earthed electrode consisting of an inner circumferential portion in close to the opening and an electric source means supplying discharge voltage between both the electrodes, whereby lean mixture can be easily ignited and the electric source means has a sufficient discharge duration to energize the mixture and combustion gases passing said opening.

Abstract: A discharge device for igniting a fuel-air mixture whereby fuel droplets in the mixture are electrically charged and, under the influence of an electric field, caused to congregate at a region thereby concentrating the mixture at said region, means being provided to create an arc at said region. A device of more general use is also disclosed.

Abstract: An internal combustion piston engine utilizing a catalyst to promote combustion and not requiring spark ignition. A catalyst member is provided within the engine cylinder. Air is supplied to the cylinder and is compressed by a piston. At or near the point of maximum compression, fuel is contacted with the catalyst, preferably from the side of the catalyst opposite the piston. The fuel and air mix to initiate combustion and the air-fuel mixture passes through the catalyst member, completing the combustion. The operation can result in relatively complete combustion of the fuel at a relatively low temperature of about 1800.degree. to 3300.degree. or 3500.degree. F. so that little or no undesirable components are present in the engine exhaust, especially the exhaust may have a low content of nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a combustion chamber externally of the cylinder and communicating with the cylinder, and spark ignition means, which preferably comprises a first electrode supported in a central region of the combustion chamber and a spark plug having a single electrode extending into the combustion chamber and defining with the first electrode a spark gap, for initiating from said central region of the combustion chamber combustion of a fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An ignition system for internal combustion engines comprises a spark plug located remote from the combustion chamber, a metering pump which supplies a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases to the remote spark plug and a capillary-like tube for projecting an explosive flame front, created by the ignition of the hydrogen and oxygen gases, into the combustion chamber to ignite a vaporized fuel-air mixture.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type with injection of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, provided with catalytic means for initiating the combustion of the air/fuel charge in the combustion chamber of the or each cylinder. The major part of the combustion chamber of each cylinder is afforded by a recess formed in the piston crown, and a catalytic element of mesh, grid, perforated or sintered or other construction, is carried by the piston in a position at least partly overlying the said recess, the fuel being injected into the said recess to contact and pass through the catalytic element, being ignited by its contact with the catalytic element.