Abstract: An engine management system and method may include a control system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine may be a direct-injection engine using a Sonex Controlled Auto-Ignition (“SCAI”) combustion path. The control system and method may utilize fuel injection pressure, timing of start and end of injection, management of turbo airflow, fuel supplied, and other factors to provide reduced emissions and improved performance.

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.

Abstract: A method for improving combustion in a main combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and a resulting engine are disclosed. The engine includes a main combustion chamber arranged between a head and a reciprocating piston. A heat retaining element is provided between the head and the main combustion chamber. The heat retaining element is configured to reduce heat transfer from the main combustion chamber into the engine head. A precombustion chamber is provided having a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber is configured to be provided with a secondary charge of air/fuel and a first spark igniter.

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.

Abstract: A method for improving combustion in a main combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and a resulting engine are disclosed. The engine includes a main combustion chamber arranged between a head and a reciprocating piston. A heat retaining element is provided between the head and the main combustion chamber. The heat retaining element is configured to reduce heat transfer from the main combustion chamber into the engine head. A precombustion chamber is provided having a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber is configured to be provided with a secondary charge of air/fuel and a first spark igniter.

Abstract: A diesel cycle, direct injected internal combustion engine is provided with a piston recess or bowl into which fuel is injected each combustion cycle. One or more reaction chambers adjacent the piston recess are in communication with the recess through an array of discrete orifices located along the side wall of the recess. Partial reaction of fuel and air in the reaction chambers each combustion cycle produces radicals including intermediate species for seeding a fuel air mixture of a following combustion cycle through a delayed discharge of radicals from the reaction chamber into the piston recess. The discrete orifices are arranged in a specific array that ensures a desired chaotic flow in the reaction chambers and maximum interaction between radicals discharged from the reaction chamber and the soot cloud formed in the combustion chamber upon ignition of the fuel air mixture in the piston recess.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for a direct injected, reciprocating piston diesel cycle internal combustion engine in which fuel is injected into a piston recess and wherein the piston includes a reaction chamber adjacent the piston recess that communicates with the combustion chamber through a discrete orifice, wherein the orifice is located so as to discharge reaction products from the reaction chamber into the central portion of a soot cloud that is formed during combustion of fuel each combustion cycle.

Abstract: A spark ignited, piston type diesel fueled internal combustion engine is provided with a charge conditioning system that includes a fuel preheater for vaporizing liquid fuel to enable starting of the engine and a least one secondary heater for adding additional heat to the charge supplied to the engine. The fuel vaporizer receives liquid fuel from the starting fuel circuit of the engine and uses an electrically or chemically energized heater device, or a direct combustion heater. The secondary heater may be associated with the charge intake conduit of the engine or with the combustion chamber of the engine. The secondary heater device may be electrically or chemically activated, or may constitute a heat regenerator that retains heat from a previous combustion cycle of the engine.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine is provided with a reaction chamber for generating radical fuel species during a combustion cycle for use during the next succeeding combustion cycle. The reaction chamber is located adjacent a piston crown recess and is in communication with the main combustion chamber of the engine through discrete orifices that are intended to separately control the supply of fuel and air to the reaction chamber for fuel injected engines and to enhance reaction chamber function in fuel aspirating engines. The discrete fuel and air control orifices are particularly beneficial for use in high swirl, direct injected combustion chambers.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and technique for providing increased efficiency and relatively pollutant free operation of internal combustion engines. An internal combustion engine's gas cycle is refined by forming a secondary balancing non-combusting chamber within the main combustion chamber of each cylinder. The balancing chamber is constructed on a piston surface or within the piston body and operates as a pressure exchange or wave generator during the gas cycle of the internal combustion engine. This permits control of the pressure and temperature within the combustion chamber during the liberation of heat caused by combustion of fuel and air on the power cycle of the engine. The apparatus, the balancing chamber, controls pressure and temperature during this cycle by introducing expansion and compression waves, in the combustion zone during burning of the fuel, that follow one another in sequence without interruption throughout the entire power cycle of each cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is provided with a fixed volume air chamber located next to the working face of the piston and separated from the combustion chamber solely by a circumferential gap extending between the working face of the piston and the adjacent cylinder sidewall. The gap permits continuous controlled exchange of compression shock and expansion wave energy between the combustion and air chambers during a combustion reaction of fuel and air in the combustion chamber. The air chamber extends along a peripheral length of the piston and is provided with a radially inner sidewall including a generally sloping portion that extends from the piston side edge of the gap towards the bottom area of the air chamber, the inner sidewall characterized in that it is continuous and uninterrupted over the entire length of the air chamber and in that the sloping portion of the sidewall continuously diverges away from the adjacent cylinder sidewall over its respective length.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and technique for providing increased efficiency and relatively pollutant free operation of internal combustion engines. An internal combustion engine's gas cycle is refined by forming a secondary balancing non-combusting chamber within the main combustion chamber of each cylinder. The balancing chamber is constructed on a piston surface or within the piston body and operates as a pressure exchange or wave generator during the gas cycle of the internal combustion engine. This permits control of the pressure and temperature within the combustion chamber during the liberation of heat caused by combustion of fuel and air on the power cycle of the engine. The apparatus, the balancing chamber, controls pressure and temperature during this cycle by introducing expansion and compression waves, in the combustion zone during burning of the fuel, that follow one another in sequence without interruption throughout the entire power cycle of each cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A piston for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is provided with a reaction chamber (44, 144) communicating with a recessed area (42, 142) of the piston through a restricted continuous slot orifice (46, 146) that is configured to create a choked fluid flow condition between the combustion chamber (30, 130) and the reaction chamber at all engine operating speeds. Fuel is supplied to the reaction chamber and undergoes a controlled, cold frame reaction process while in intimate contact with the crown portion (54) of the piston (14). The reaction produces fuel radicals in sufficient quantity to seed subsequent fuel charges to properly condition the charge for predetermined desired ignition and combustion characteristics.

Abstract: An adaptive charge mixture control for an internal combustion engine includes four input signals supplied to an OR gate to generate a net "go rich" signal supplied to a servo motor controlling an air/fuel charge mixture control valve for an internal combustion engine. The servo is also supplied with a "go lean" fixed signal tending to lean out the air/fuel mixture. The four "go rich" signals include a first signal derived from a comparison of engine speed with a predetermined minimum (i.e., idle) level; a second signal derived from comparing throttle positions with a preset minimum throttle position; a third signal derived from comparing engine deceleration rate with a preset engine deceleration rate; and a fourth signal derived from a measurement of engine instantaneous power output.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a moving piston within a combustion chamber that is temporarily divided into two zones when the piston is at and near its minumum volume position. Fuel is confined to a first zone where the fuel is ignited to generate combustion wave energy that drives gas within the second zone in Helmholtz resonance through a restricted passageway. Air from the second zone is periodically expanded into the first zone through the passageway to improve the combustion process in the first zone before the piston moves substantially away from its minimum volume position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for disposing of toxic waste materials by combustion in a modified piston type internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine contains a combustion chamber which is divided into a variable volume primary chamber and a fixed volume secondary chamber, in which the combustion reaction occurs. The secondary chamber contains a source of carbon which enhances the combustion of the toxic waste materials.

Abstract: Closed organ pipe resonance is induced in the cylinder of a piston I.C. engine by using a resonating mass of gas in a chamber in the piston adjacent its working face, the chamber and cylinder volume being connected by a restricted orifice. The organ pipe resonance is induced during the expansion part of the combustion cycle to cause intimate mixing of the reacting fuel and air charge.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine piston and combustion chamber are configured to produce controlled reaction of the fuel supplied to the working chamber with prolonged supply of air to the reaction zone over the combustion/expansion part of the engine operating cycle. After an axially stratified charge, with little or no fuel near the piston working face, is established in the working chamber of the engine, part of the air is transferred during the compression of the charge into an air chamber near the working face of the piston which communicates with the working chamber through a restricted gap orifice.