Abstract: A variable valve actuation assembly (41) to be mounted about a camshaft (43) including a concentric portion (47) and an eccentric portion (49) which orbits the axis of rotation (A1) of the camshaft and defines an axis (A2). The assembly (41) includes a secondary cam member (51) surrounding the concentric portion (47) and including a cam surface (59,59L). The assembly (41) also includes an arm assembly (61) which surrounds the eccentric portion (49), and defines a longitudinal axis (A3) perpendicular to, and intersecting the axis (A2). The arm assembly (61) can pivot about a pin (71), and at the opposite axial end is pivotally connected to the secondary cam member (51) by means of a pin (75). Rotation of the camshaft (43) causes the arm assembly (61) to pivot about the pin (71) in one direction, rotating the cam member (51) to lift the valve (17), then pivot in the other direction, rotating the cam member (51) in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A high pressure fluid is used to power an actuator for opening and closing an engine poppet valve when the actuator has a valve stem supporting an upper piston and an adjacent lower piston which axially transverse an actuator housing in response to the flow of high pressure fluid as determined by the position of a control valve. The upper piston has a larger diameter than the lower piston which has a larger diameter than the valve stem. An upper chamber is defined by the upper piston and the actuator housing while a lower chamber is defined by an outside peripheral surface of the lower piston and the actuator housing.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement for establishing a sustained electrical arc with a low voltage in which a pair of electrodes are initially brought together and then separated while a current is applied. The sustained arc is adapted to activate fuel flowing past the arc, and the flow is vortical so that the arc is caused to migrate around an annular arc gap space. Several geometric configurations of the electrodes include opposing cylindrical shapes having endwise alligned cavities and a generally tapered portions of one electrode received in a generally tapered opening in the other electrode.

Abstract: A torch ignitor for a lean burn internal combustion engine is disclosed in which a small quantity of gaseous fuel is activated by exposure to an electrical arc and injected into the main fuel air charge in the combustion chamber. The arc is established by causing a current to flow to a pair of electrodes which are separated by the application of the torch fuel under pressure to generate the arc. The arc is caused to migrate about the space between the electrodes by the impingement of the fuel flowing through the space.

Abstract: Fuel is activated prior to combustion in an engine by an electrical arc established across an annular gap between two electrodes, and sustained for a significant portion of the injection cycle. The vaporized or gaseous fuel is directed through a spiral recess to be caused to flow vortically and cause the arc to migrate about the annular gap to reduce electrode erosion and increase exposure of the fuel to the activating effects of the arc. The arc is formed by separating contacting electrodes which applying a current to the electrodes. One of the electrodes is movable under the influence of the pressurized fuel to cause separation from the other fixed electrode, so that the arc is established as fuel begins flowing. The electrodes have opposing rimmed cavities, with fuel flow shifting the arc radially inwardly, migrating to extend between the inner wall of each cavities, and around which the arc rotates under the influence of the vortical fuel flow.

Abstract: An arrangement and method is disclosed for enabling hypergolic combustion of a fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of a combustion device such as an internal combustion engine by irradiation of the fuel and/or of the fuel-air mixture with a beam of ultraviolet radiation to produce disassociation of a relatively high proportion of the fuel molecules to enable hypergolic combustion. Various arrangements are disclosed for accomplishing UV irradiation of the fuel in the context of an internal combustion piston engine, and a mercury vapor lamp or a laser are alternatively employed as a UV beam generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for pretreating fuel prior to its injection into a combustion chamber to a critical level of activation to enable negligible ignition delay and substantially instantaneous completion of the combustion process. Each quantity of fuel is treated in a plurality of phases to achieve the critical level of fuel activation by the combined effect of each, with fuel heating combined with one or more further activation treatment phases, including catalysis, UV irradiation, or passing each quantity of the fuel through an electrical discharge to thereby enable hypergolic combustion by a combination of the effects thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for pretreatment of fuel prior to injection into the combustion chamber of a combustion device such as an internal combustion engine comprising heating of the fuel to a sufficiently high temperature to activate the fuel molecules to a critical degree enabling "hypergolic" combustion, i.e., combustion without significant ignition or combustion delay. The fuel is circulated through a vessel passing through the combustion chamber which is insulated to reduce heat loss such as to regeneratively preheat the fuel to a temperature on the order of 1000.degree. F. Regenerative heating of the fuel is alternatively combined with a catalytic treatment of the heated fuel to partially activate the fuel molecules to reduce the heating necessary to achieve hypergolic combustion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for rapidly heating vaporized fuel to elevated temperatures prior to its injection into a combustion chamber to achieve negligible ignition delay and substantially instantaneous completion of the combustion process. Heating of the fuel is initiated by preheating each quantity of fuel with heat extracted from the engine exhaust, and the preheated fuel is vaporized and subsequently rapidly heated to a high temperature by being adiabatically compressed immediately prior to injection into the combustion chamber. The fuel activation effect of compressive heating is alternatively augmented by contact of the fuel with a catalytic material, to achieve hypergolic combustion by a combination of catalysis and heating.