Chamber Temperature Control Means Patents (Class 123/254)
  • Patent number: 11255284
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a cylinder of an engine including a pre-chamber ignition system during a cold start condition. In one example, a method may include performing a post-injection in the cylinder, and then performing a pre-chamber combustion during an exhaust stroke of the cylinder. In this way, a temperature of a catalyst of the engine may be increased, which may decrease vehicle emissions during the cold start condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Michael Shelby
  • Patent number: 11230991
    Abstract: In a compression-ignition engine having a two-stage cavity, the distribution ratio between fuel for an upper cavity and fuel for a lower cavity is maintained even when the operational state of the engine changes. A piston of the engine includes a lower cavity, an upper cavity, and a lip portion between the lower cavity and the upper cavity. A controller causes a main injection and at least one pilot injection to be executed when an engine operates in a first state and a second state in which the speed is higher than the speed in the first state. The fuel spray is distributed to the lower cavity and the upper cavity. The controller maintains an injection amount of the main injection and increases an injection amount of the pilot injection(s) when the engine operates in the second state as compared to when the engine operates in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naotoshi Shirahashi, Yasunori Uesugi, Takeshi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 11215136
    Abstract: In a compression-ignition engine having a two-stage cavity, the distribution ratio between fuel for an upper cavity and fuel for a lower cavity is maintained even when the operational state of the engine changes. A piston of the compression-ignition engine includes a lower cavity, an upper cavity, and a lip portion between the lower cavity and the upper cavity. A controller causes a main injection and at least one pilot injection to be executed when the engine operates in a first state and a second state in which the speed is higher than the speed in the first state. The fuel spray is distributed to the lower cavity and the upper cavity. The controller increases an injection amount per pilot injection when the engine operates in the second state than when the engine operates in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naotoshi Shirahashi, Yasunori Uesugi, Takeshi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 11156147
    Abstract: A prechamber device includes an enclosure body and a cap forming an enclosed volume. The enclosure body has an orifice at one end. A precombustion chamber is defined within the enclosed volume and is in fluid communication with the orifice. A valve plug is movable along an axial axis of the enclosure body to adjust a valve opening at the orifice to a range of positions from a fully open position to a closed position. An actuator is coupled to the cap and the valve plug and is controllable to displace the valve plug along the axial axis of the enclosure body. The prechamber device is operable to generate turbulent jets that are directed into a main combustion chamber of an engine cylinder through the valve opening. During an engine cycle, the valve opening is controlled between the range of positions based on detected engine speed and engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
    Inventors: Xin Yu, Anqi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11149681
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a piston, comprising: a skirt having an upper body portion; and a crown formed on the upper body portion by an additive manufacturing process, the crown including at least one air gap formed and positioned to reduce heat transfer from combustion to at least one cooling gallery formed in the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan E. Kelleher, Lyle E. Kocher, Dwight A. Doig, Brett A. Boas
  • Patent number: 10926362
    Abstract: A remanufactured piston for an internal combustion engine includes a crown and a skirt. A piston body includes a first piston body end within the crown and an opposite second piston body end. The crown further includes an annular crown body having an annular crown body edge. The first piston body end further includes an annular piston body edge. The annular piston body edge and the annular crown body edge form a joint, and a metallurgical bond attaches the annular crown body to the piston body at the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kegan Jon Luick, Kevin Byron Williams, Nguyenbao Huynh Chu, Christopher Anthony Kinney
  • Patent number: 10724423
    Abstract: A prechamber assembly for a cylinder of a combustion engine is disclosed in which a plurality of ports placing a prechamber volume in fluid communication with the cylinder. A non-actuated, fixed orifice extends between the prechamber volume and a passageway formed in the prechamber assembly to permit combustion gases in the prechamber volume to enter the passageway. The passageway is configured to vent combustion gases therein out of the body. The orifice may reduce NOx emissions produced in the prechamber volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Loetz
  • Patent number: 10714908
    Abstract: A spark plug includes a center electrode; a metal shell that retains the center electrode at an outer periphery of the center electrode in an insulating manner; a ground electrode disposed such that a spark gap is formed between the center electrode and an end portion of the ground electrode; and a plug cap connected to the metal shell, the plug cap covering the center electrode and the end portion of the ground electrode from front and having a through hole in a region in front of the ground electrode. An inner surface of the plug cap has at least one ridge in a first region that is in front of an inner open end of the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Gozawa, Kenji Ban
  • Patent number: 10666023
    Abstract: A spark plug includes: a center electrode; an insulating member; a metal shell; a ground electrode; and a cap covers an opening of the metal shell on the front end side to define an auxiliary combustion space in which the gap is disposed, a first angle being formed by a second line and a first tangent line, a second angle being formed by the second line and a second tangent line, the second angle being greater than the first angle, and at least a portion of the opening of the specific through hole on the auxiliary combustion space side being positioned on a range of the second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Gozawa
  • Patent number: 10563568
    Abstract: A prechamber for an internal combustion engine, including a surface that is situated in the interior of the prechamber and that is impinged by a flow during the operation of the prechamber. The surface has at least one first surface region and at least one second surface region, wherein the first surface region has a defined texture, whereas the second surface region is untextured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: MTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GMBH
    Inventor: Frederic Dumser
  • Patent number: 10337396
    Abstract: A prechamber assembly for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The prechamber assembly may have a prechamber housing with a first prechamber housing portion and a second prechamber housing portion. The first prechamber housing portion and the second prechamber housing portion may define a prechamber volume. The prechamber assembly may also have a cooling system. The cooling system may be configured to cool at least one of the first prechamber housing portion and the second prechamber housing portion based on a flow of a cooling fluid through the cooling system. The cooling system may have at least one cooling channel formed within the prechamber housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Maier
  • Patent number: 10247092
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine having an insert opening defined in a hot area of one of the walls of the stator body and in communication with its internal cavity. A cooling jacket is received in and lines the insert opening. An insert is sealingly received in the cooling jacket and made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the wall. The cooling jacket extends between the insert and the wall along most of the length of the insert to prevent direct contact between the insert and the wall. A cooling gallery surrounds the cooling jacket and the insert, and is defined at least in part by the cooling jacket such that a coolant circulated therein contacts the cooling jacket. The cooling jacket is located between the cooling gallery and the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eugene Gekht, Bruno Villeneuve, Mike Fontaine, David Gagnon-Martin
  • Patent number: 10170894
    Abstract: A multipoint ignition device for igniting an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an engine includes: an insulating member formed in an annular shape such that an inner periphery thereof faces the combustion chamber; and a plurality of electrodes held on the insulating member so as to form a plurality of ignition gaps in a circumferential direction inside the combustion chamber, wherein the insulating member includes a plurality of divided insulating members formed in divided form, and the divided insulating member close to an intake valve of the engine has a higher thermal conductivity than the divided insulating member close to an exhaust valve of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Miyama, Inc.
    Inventor: Katsuaki Minami
  • Patent number: 10100716
    Abstract: An engine having an integrated heat exchanger includes a cylinder head defining combustion chambers; an intercooler embedded at an intake side in the cylinder head and cooling intake gas by using a coolant; an EGR cooler embedded in the cylinder head and cooling exhaust gas, which is discharged from an exhaust side of the combustion chambers and recirculates to the intake side of the combustion chambers through an EGR passageway formed in the cylinder head; and an EGR distribution tube formed at an upper side in the cylinder head, supplied with the exhaust gas passing through the EGR cooler, and having distribution holes through which the exhaust gas is distributed into intake ports connected with the combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Won Rok Choi
  • Patent number: 10041402
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a housing defining an internal cavity, an inner body sealingly moving within the internal cavity for defining at least one combustion chamber of variable volume, a pilot subchamber in communication with the at least one working chamber, an ignition element in communication with the pilot subchamber, a main injector communicating with the at least one combustion chamber, and a pilot injector having a tip in communication with the pilot subchamber. The tip of the pilot injector includes at least a first injection hole defining a first spray direction and a second injection hole defining a second spray direction different from the first spray direction. The first spray direction extends toward the communication between the pilot subchamber and the at least one working chamber. A method of performing combustion in an internal combustion engine is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Edwin Schulz, Michael Lanktree, Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 9995202
    Abstract: A sparkplug assembly having a prechamber volume is operatively associated with the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine such that the prechamber volume is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. To purge exhaust gasses from the prechamber volume prior to ignition, the sparkplug assembly is operatively associated with a high-pressure air/fuel source that directs a pressurized air/fuel purge charge to the prechamber volume. The pressurized air/fuel purge charge may be at stoichiometric conditions. The high-pressure air/fuel source is configured to direct the pressurized air/fuel purge charge during at least a portion of the compression stroke to maintain a largely stoichiometric mixture of air and fuel in the prechamber volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Willi, Charlie Kim
  • Patent number: 9970378
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising the fuel injector arranged in the combustion chamber. The primary fuel injection and the secondary fuel injection from the fuel injector are successively performed to cause autoignition of an injected fuel of the primary fuel injection and autoignition of an injected fuel of the secondary fuel injection. A temperature region suppressing change of an ignition delay time where a change of ignition delay time with respect to a rise in temperature in the combustion chamber is suppressed appears in the compression stroke at a temperature in the combustion chamber of 700K to 900K. The secondary fuel injection is performed if the temperature in the combustion chamber is a temperature within the temperature region suppressing change of the ignition delay time during the compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuta Ochi
  • Patent number: 9828900
    Abstract: Provided is a valve housing configured to be inserted into an insertion hole that extends in a direction approximately orthogonal to an extending direction of an oil path and configured to be freely movable along an extending direction of the insertion hole. When an oil jet switching valve is closed, the tip end portion of the valve housing is configured to be pressed to the inner wall surface of the oil path by receiving an energized force from an energizing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Takasaki, Akihiro Ikeda, Eiji Miyachi
  • Patent number: 9732664
    Abstract: An ignition device with a pre-combustion chamber for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The internal combustion engine may have a plurality of cylinders. Each cylinder may define a main combustion chamber. The ignition device may have a first pre-combustion chamber part configured to at least partially accommodate a spark plug. The ignition device may also have a second pre-combustion chamber part defining at least a portion of the pre-combustion chamber. The second pre-combustion chamber part may include at least one orifice configured to be fluidly connected to the main combustion chamber. The second pre-combustion chamber part may be detachably mountable to the first pre-combustion chamber part, such that the first and second pre-combustion chamber parts are axially secured to one another and rotatable with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Trinkel
  • Patent number: 9593634
    Abstract: In a diesel engine, an inside of a cylinder is divided into intra-cavity and extra-cavity regions. Ideal heat release rate waveform models, each formed of an isosceles triangle in which each oblique line gradient is a reaction rate, an area is a reaction amount and a base length is a reaction period with a reaction start temperature as a base point, are generated respectively for a vaporization reaction, low-temperature oxidation reaction, thermal decomposition reaction and high-temperature oxidation reaction of injected fuel for each region. An ideal heat release rate waveform of the reaction modes is generated by smoothing the ideal heat release rate waveform models through filtering and combining the ideal heat release rate waveforms, and is compared with an actual heat release rate waveform obtained from a detected in-cylinder pressure. A reaction mode having a deviation larger than or equal to a predetermined amount is diagnosed as being abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Nada
  • Patent number: 9567939
    Abstract: A method for improving combustion in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, a heat retaining element, and an internal combustion engine are provided. The internal combustion engine includes a main combustion chamber arranged between a head and a reciprocating piston, and a heat retaining element provided between the head and the main combustion chamber. The heat retaining element is a self-supporting structure coupled to the head that is configured to reduce heat transfer from the main combustion chamber into the engine head. The heat retaining element includes a head-facing portion substantially corresponding in shape to a portion of the head facing the main combustion chamber. The heat retaining element is provided such that a gap is provided between the head-facing portion of the heat retaining element and the portion of the head facing the main combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Pouring, Matthew Hayes, Brad Bopp, Manfred Weber, Michael Keller
  • Patent number: 9556795
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a nozzle tip assembly having a substantially monolithically formed nozzle body. The nozzle body has an annular outlet chamber for issuing a spray from the nozzle tip. A feed channel is in fluid communication with the outlet chamber through a feed passage. A heat shield void substantially surrounds the feed channel(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Delavan Inc
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Brett A. Pfeffer, Matthew R. Donovan, Philip E. Buelow
  • Patent number: 9476344
    Abstract: A cooling device for a motor vehicle engine connected to a cooling fluid feed system, where the cooling device includes two superposed subassemblies, where the first subassembly includes a feed body connected to the feed aperture and a tube connected to the feed body, the free end of which forms a first evacuation end, where the tube extends laterally relative to the feed body and is shaped so as to have a desired orientation, where the second subassembly includes a feed body connected to the feed aperture and a tube connected to the feed body the free end of which forms the second evacuation end, where the tube extends laterally relative to the feed body and is shaped so as to have a desired orientation, and where the feed bodies are securely attached to one another in sealed fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BONTAZ CENTRE R&D
    Inventors: Denis Clement, Stéphane Perotto
  • Patent number: 9464593
    Abstract: A piston of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The piston may have a piston skirt having a central axis. The piston may also have a piston crown delimiting the piston skirt with a diameter D adjacent a top of the piston skirt. The piston crown may have an edge of the piston crown of width b and a piston crown recess of depth t. The piston crown recess may have a piston recess wall with an opening cross section of diameter d. At least one groove with an internal diameter dn may be provided within the edge of the piston crown. The at least one groove may run in a circumferential direction relative to the central axis. The internal diameter dn may be larger than the diameter d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Böwing, Enrico Drehobl, Christian Drexel, Manfred Rapp
  • Patent number: 9377003
    Abstract: Laser spark plug for an internal combustion engine has at least one laser unit for guiding, shaping and/or generating laser radiation, further including a combustion chamber window, and a housing which has, on the opposite side of the combustion chamber window from the laser unit, an aperture for the passage of the laser radiation guided, shaped and/or generated by the laser unit into a combustion chamber, the length of the aperture being 4 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Pascal Woerner, Juergen Raimann, Joerg Engelhardt, Martin Weinrotter
  • Patent number: 9284876
    Abstract: An engine cooling system and method for operating the engine cooling system is disclosed. In one example, engine oil is sprayed on to a piston via piston cooling jets. The approach judges whether or not to operate the piston cooling jets based on a benefit assessment. The approaches may be suitable for systems that include a variable oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Yihua (Eva) Barber
  • Patent number: 9097219
    Abstract: An internal combustion vehicle cold start control system method is provided. The method includes warming alcohol and air when a door handle is actuated, while the engine is cold and starting an electric turbine connected to an intake manifold. The method also includes actuating valves allowing recirculation of the warmed air through the intake manifold and actuating spark plugs providing an initial warm-up of electrodes and engine cylinders if the temperature is less than 30° C. The starter motor is driven by 2-4 turns of a crankshaft axle so that any cold air in an air filter at the cylinders' entrance is drawn inside and is expelled by the exhaust system. A small volume of the warmed alcohol fuel is maintained in the fuel injectors. The method also includes injecting the warmed alcohol, verifying the minimum air temperature; and deactivating the system after appropriate warm-up of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FCA FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOVEIS BRASIL LTDA.
    Inventor: Luis Carlos Monteiro Sales
  • Publication number: 20150083070
    Abstract: An arrangement comprising a cylinder head and a prechamber system for an internal combustion engine, wherein the cylinder head has a flame plate for delimiting a main combustion chamber and the prechamber system is at least partially arranged in an opening in the flame plate, wherein there is provided a cooling cavity substantially surrounding the prechamber system and arranged in the flame plate and/or in that region of the prechamber system that is in the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Florian BECKER
  • Publication number: 20140251258
    Abstract: There is described a system and method for controlling a temperature in the subchamber of a rotary engine. At least one first measurement of at least one engine operating parameter and a second measurement indicative of a present temperature in the subchamber are received. A setpoint for the temperature in the subchamber is computed from the at least one first measurement. In response to the second measurement, at least one control signal indicative of a request to adjust the present temperature towards the setpoint is generated and sent to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean THOMASSIN, Edwin SCHULZ
  • Patent number: 8813716
    Abstract: A pre-combustion chamber tip for an internal combustion engine having a first body portion with a pre-combustion chamber located within, the first body portion having a terminal end with a plurality of orifices configured to direct expanding gases out of the pre-combustion chamber and a second body portion attached to the first body portion, the second body portion having an exterior surface, a cooling fluid opening formed in the exterior surface, a cooling fluid passage in fluid communication with the cooling fluid opening, and a ridge associated with the cooling fluid opening, the ridge extending from the exterior surface and configured to divert cooling fluid flow into the cooling fluid opening and cooling fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hendrik Herold, Ulrich Holst, Frank Witt, Eike Joachim Sixel
  • Patent number: 8757127
    Abstract: Provided is a check valve structure capable of preventing soot accumulation in a check valve arranged in a pre-combustion chamber (4) due to incomplete combustion of fuel gas and preventing malfunction the check valve (6) for a gas engine having an pre-combustion chamber with a spark plug. An arrangement for supplying fuel gas to the pre-combustion chamber (4) has a multiple bore-cooling holes (11s) disposed around the spark plug (10) for cooling a gasket (10f) formed in a mounting hardware piece (13), the holes having an lateral bore-cooling hole (11a), and a lateral bore-cooling hole (11b) with the gasket (10f) therebetween. Each of the holes further has a multiple bore-cooling holes (11s) parallel to the center axis (10a) of the spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavey Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiyasu Ishida, Hideaki Okumura
  • Patent number: 8726878
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head having a cylinder head base, a cylinder wall, and a piston which is movable along a cylinder axis and has a piston crown. A main combustion chamber is formed between the cylinder head base, the cylinder wall, and the piston crown. A precombustion chamber is inserted into a bore of the cylinder head and is fixed relative to the bore in the circumferential direction of the bore. The axis of the bore is at least substantially parallel to the cylinder axis, and a precombustion-type combustion chamber is formed in the precombustion chamber. At least one ring of transfer openings connects the precombustion-type combustion chamber to the main combustion chamber, and in each case, the angle which the transfer opening encloses with the cylinder axis differs for at least two transfer openings of the at least one ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: GE Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventor: Martin Klinkner
  • Publication number: 20140069370
    Abstract: A pre-chamber is provided. In one embodiment, the pre-chamber is part of a two-stroke combustion engine having a cylinder head with a sparkplug receptacle that has a generally frustoconical shape, and the pre-chamber is coupled to the sparkplug receptacle. The pre-chamber may include a cooling jacket with a generally frustoconical shape and a combustion chamber having an upper zone and a lower zone, which may be narrower than the upper zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Taliaferro
  • Publication number: 20140053799
    Abstract: A pre-chamber is provided. In one embodiment, the pre-chamber is part of a two-stroke combustion engine having a cylinder head with a sparkplug receptacle that has a generally frustoconical shape, and the pre-chamber is coupled to the sparkplug receptacle. The pre-chamber may include a cooling jacket with a generally frustoconical shape and a combustion chamber having an upper zone and a lower zone, which may be narrower than the upper zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Taliaferro
  • Publication number: 20130291826
    Abstract: Internal combustion engines and vehicles incorporating the same, wherein the engine comprises a first combustion chamber having an intake and an exhaust port. An energy transfer device moves relative to the combustion chamber through a cycle comprising an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a power stroke, and an exhaust stroke. An injector injects fuel into the combustion chamber during at least one of the intake stroke and the compression stroke and an ignition feature ignites the fuel in the combustion chamber. A sensor detects a temperature of the combustion chamber and when the temperature reaches a predetermined value, the injector is configured to inject a working fluid directly into the combustion chamber during at least one of the power stroke and the exhaust stroke. The exhaust port of the first combustion chamber is fluidically coupled to an intake of a second combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 8544443
    Abstract: A pre-chamber is provided. In one embodiment, the pre-chamber is part of a two-stroke combustion engine having a cylinder head with a sparkplug receptacle that has a generally frustoconical shape, and the pre-chamber is coupled to the sparkplug receptacle. The pre-chamber may include a cooling jacket with a generally frustoconical shape and a combustion chamber having an upper zone and a lower zone, which may be narrower than the upper zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Taliaferro
  • Publication number: 20130199492
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a compressor cylinder having a respective inlet, a first outlet and a respective piston slideably movable within the compressor cylinder and operatively connected to a rotating crankshaft. The compressor cylinder provides a first stage of compression to a charge when the charge is transferred from the compressor cylinder during every revolution of the crankshaft. A first power cylinder includes a respective inlet in fluid communication with the first outlet of the compressor cylinder, a respective outlet and a respective piston slideably movable within the first power cylinder and operatively connected to the rotating crankshaft. The first power cylinder provides a second stage of compression and firing of the charge within the first power cylinder every two revolutions of the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Gopalakrishnan, Russell P. Durrett, Paul M. Najt
  • Publication number: 20130139784
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an improved prechamber device for an internal combustion engine. The prechamber device is positioned adjacent to a combustion chamber. The improved prechamber device is configured to improve removal of heat from the prechamber device, particularly in the area adjacent to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick M. PIERZ
  • Publication number: 20130055986
    Abstract: A prechamber spark plug may have a prechamber having a pre-determined aspect ratio and hole pattern to achieve particular combustion performance characteristics. The aspect ratio and hole pattern may induce a rotational flow of fuel-air in-filling streams inside the prechamber volume. The rotational flow of the fuel-air mixture may include both radial flow and axial flow characteristics based on the aspect ratio and hole pattern. Axial flow characteristics can include a first axial direction proximate the periphery of the rotational flow and a counter second axial direction approaching the center of the rotational flow. The radial and axial flow characteristics may further include radial air-fuel ratio stratification and/or axial air-fuel ratio stratification. The rotational flow, the radial flow and the axial flow may be adjusted by alteration of the aspect ratio and hole pattern to achieve particular combustion performance characteristics in relation to a wide variety of spark gap geometries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: PROMETHEUS APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Luigi P Tozzi, Maria-Emmanuella Sotiropoulou
  • Publication number: 20130042834
    Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the insulator. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life. In another embodiment the ground electrode and insulator is coaxial to the center electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, David C. Petruska, Gregory James Hampson
  • Publication number: 20130000598
    Abstract: A gas engine is configured to inject a combustion gas from an auxiliary combustion chamber through a plurality of nozzles, through which the auxiliary combustion chamber and a main combustion chamber are in communication with each other, so as to ignite a fuel in the main combustion chamber. An opening edge, at the auxiliary combustion chamber side, of each of the plurality of nozzles is formed to have a curved surface. This structure makes it possible to maintain stable combustion in the main combustion chamber while preventing degradation in combustion performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Tokuoka, Hiroyoshi Ishii
  • Publication number: 20120325179
    Abstract: A pre-combustion chamber tip for an internal combustion engine having a first body portion with a pre-combustion chamber located within, the first body portion having a terminal end with a plurality of orifices configured to direct expanding gases out of the pre-combustion chamber and a second body portion attached to the first body portion, the second body portion having an exterior surface, a cooling fluid opening formed in the exterior surface, a cooling fluid passage in fluid communication with the cooling fluid opening, and a ridge associated with the cooling fluid opening, the ridge extending from the exterior surface and configured to divert cooling fluid flow into the cooling fluid opening and cooling fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hendrik Herold, Ulrich Holst, Frank Witt, Eike Joachim Sixel
  • Publication number: 20120125287
    Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the insulator. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life. In another embodiment the ground electrode and insulator is coaxial to the center electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, David C. Petruska, Gregory James Hampson
  • Publication number: 20110023817
    Abstract: The present invention provides a variable-coordination-timing type self-cooling engine capable of adjusting the initiation timings and the injected amount of each injection process according to the change in the combusting pressure with the variable-coordinate-timing system. The variable-coordination-timing system will regulate the air flow between each coordinate-channel and its associated power-cylinder to optimize the cooling effects, and the hot-combusting-medium in each power-cylinder will be mixed with a flow of compressed air at a controlled flow-rate and pressure, which prevents the hot-combusting-medium from charging into the primary-coordinate-channel and the secondary-coordinate-channel, thereby effecting the cooling effects of the self-cooling-16-process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Lung-Tan Hu
  • Patent number: 7848902
    Abstract: Temperature of an electric power device of a hybrid transmission is managed based upon device temperatures and power flow, ambient temperature, and a cooling circuit flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Zettel, Charles J Van Horn, Peter E. Wu, Ryan D Martini, Wei D. Wang, Stephen T. West
  • Publication number: 20100095927
    Abstract: An engine block is disclosed in one embodiment having a cylinder shape bore, which forms the outside wall surface of a cylindrical air chamber. Radially outwards from the cylindrical air chamber there is an annular shape combustion chamber, which has a circular inner wall surface, circular outer wall surface, closed annular shaped top surface, and an annular shaped open end opposite of the top surface. The bottom end of the circular inner wall surface of the annular shape combustion chamber and the bottom end of the outside wall surface of the cylindrical air chamber defines an annular shape surface. This surface fits inside the annular shape air chamber in the piston assembly. In one embodiment, in the lower part of the circular inner wall surface of the annular shape combustion chamber there is a circular groove for an oil scraper ring of conventional design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventor: Reijo K. Salminen
  • Publication number: 20080041333
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine has an upper crown with a top and a bottom surface, and a lower crown with a top and a bottom surface. The upper crown and the lower crown are fixedly attached to each other using welds, with the bottom surface of the upper crown and the top surface of the lower crown forming a mating surface. The piston also has at least one centrally located air gap formed on the mating surface. The air gap is sealed to prevent substantial airflow into or out of the air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Mark Wayne Jarrett, Brent Michael Hunold
  • Publication number: 20070256661
    Abstract: A novel piston design for use in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The piston comprises a piston body adapted for reciprocating movement within the cylinder, and a connected vaporizing ring having top and a bottom surfaces. The piston body and vaporizing ring, together with the inner sidewall of the cylinder, define a vapor chamber. The vaporizing ring has a plurality of generally cylindrically-shaped passages providing fuel/air communication paths from the top surface through the vaporizing ring into the vapor chamber. These passages are evenly-distributed throughout said vaporizing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventor: Andrew F. Smith
  • Patent number: 7107964
    Abstract: A method and system of controlling auto-ignition timing in an internal combustion engine cylinder in which the timing of auto-ignition in prechambers that are coupled to the cylinder is precisely controlled. The auto-ignition in the prechambers produces hot gas jets that are introduced into the charge space of the cylinder and rapidly induce a second auto-ignition of the mixture in the cylinder. By precisely controlling the timing of the auto-ignitions within the prechambers, the timing of the auto-ignition within the cylinders can, in turn, be precisely controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Aleksandar Kojic, Jean-Pierre Hathout, David Cook, Jasim Ahmed
  • Patent number: 7104245
    Abstract: The invention concerns an ignition device for internal combustion engine, containing: a main chamber (1) designed for including a main combustible mixture, and fitted with a compression system of said mixture, an igniter (11) containing a precombustion chamber (2) designed for receiving reactants and an ignition system (13,14) of the reactants contained in the precombustion chamber, said precombustion chamber (2) being defined by a precombustion chamber body (12) having a head (12a) including at least one passageway (15), said head (12a) of the precombustion chamber body separating the precombustion chamber (2) from the main chamber (1) and communicating the precombustion chamber (2) and the main chamber (1) by dint of the passageway(s) (15), characterised in that said precombustion chamber body (12) is made of a material having a thermal conductivity at 20° C. of at least 10 W/K/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Cyril Robinet, Nicolas Tourteaux