Patents by Inventor Franz Chmela

Franz Chmela has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7415963
    Abstract: The invention relates to a direct-injection internal combustion engine that is operated in a first operating range associated with the low part load, with largely homogeneous combustion of the mixture and subsequent injection. Said internal combustion engine is operated in a second operating range associated with the middle part load, with low-temperature combustion of the mixture. In this way, minimum nitrogen oxide and soot emissions and a high degree of efficiency can be achieved both in the lower part load region and up to the full load region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Janos Csato, Helmut Eichlseder, Guenter Figer, Christian Fuchs, Michael Glensvig, Peter Herzog, Thomas Kammerdiener, Klemens Neunteufl, Gerhard Pirker, Theodor Sams, Michael Weissbaeck, Andreas Wimmer
  • Patent number: 7207311
    Abstract: A method for operating a direct injection diesel engine which is operated in a first operating region corresponding to low to medium partial load in such a way that fuel combustion takes place at a local temperature below the temperature of NOx formation and with a local air ratio above the limit value for soot formation, and where fuel injection starts in a range of between 50° to 5° crank angle before top dead center of the compression phase and where exhaust gas is recirculated at an exhaust gas recirculation rate of 50% to 70%. In order to achieve high efficiency in each operating region while keeping NOx and particulate emissions low, in a second operating region corresponding to medium partial load, fuel injection is started in a range from approximately 2° crank angle before top dead center to approximately 20° crank angle after top dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Janos Csato, Michael Glensvig, Theodor Sams, Helmut Eichlseder, Günter Figer, Christian Fuchs, Gerhard Pirker, Andreas Wimmer
  • Publication number: 20070023005
    Abstract: The invention relates to a direct-injection internal combustion engine that is operated in a first operating range associated with the low part load, with largely homogeneous combustion of the mixture and subsequent injection. Said internal combustion engine is operated in a second operating range associated with the middle part load, with low-temperature combustion of the mixture. In this way, minimum nitrogen oxide and soot emissions and a high degree of efficiency can be achieved both in the lower part load region and up to the full load region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventor: Franz Chmela
  • Publication number: 20040221831
    Abstract: A method for operating a direct injection diesel engine which is operated in a first operating region corresponding to low to medium partial load in such a way that fuel combustion takes place at a local temperature below the temperature of NOx formation and with a local air ratio above the limit value for soot formation, and where fuel injection starts in a range of between 50° to 5° crank angle before top dead center of the compression phase and where exhaust gas is recirculated at an exhaust gas recirculation rate of 50% to 70%. In order to achieve high efficiency in each operating region while keeping NOx and particulate emissions low, in a second operating region corresponding to medium partial load, fuel injection is started in a range from approximately 2° crank angle before top dead center to approximately 20° crank angle after top dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Janos Csato, Michael Glensvig, Theodor Sams, Helmut Eichlseder, Gunter Figer, Christian Fuchs, Gerhard Pirker, Andreas Wimmer
  • Patent number: 6779498
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine operating on spark-ignitable fuel, which features at least one operating mode with homogeneous charge and self-ignition, and which includes at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve per cylinder, which can be coupled via a transmission device in at least one operating mode of the engine, has its combustion process be controlled in a simple manner by providing that at least one exhaust valve can be actuated during the intake stroke by means of the transmission device, the transmission device having at least one first mechanical transmission member, and the transmission device being activated by a mechanical actuating device featuring an eccentric element acting on a transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Glensvig, Franz Chmela
  • Patent number: 6668790
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating an internal combustion engine operated on gasoline type fuels, more specifically on gasoline, wherein ignition of the fuel-air mixture is initiated spontaneously in at least one operational range of the engine, preferably in the part load range, and wherein a stratified charge is produced in the combustion chamber, preferably in the higher load range. In order to achieve in the simplest possible manner high exhaust quality for an internal combustion engine operated on fuel with poor ignition characteristics in the range of higher mean pressures as well there is provided that combustion is initiated by spontaneous ignition of the fuel in the full load range as well and that preferably the in-cylinder charge temperature is controlled throughout the load range by way of internal exhaust gas recirculation and that, in the full load range, the start of fuel injection occurs after top dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Janos Csato, Michael Glensvig
  • Patent number: 6619254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine operated with a self-ignitable fuel, with an approximately homogeneous fuel-air mixture being produced in the combustion chamber in the self-ignition ranges (CI), a high compression ratio suitable for a self-ignition of the fuel being provided and the combustion occurring in the self-ignition ranges (CI) predominantly by self-ignition. In order to control the start of combustion in the self-ignition range (CI) in the easiest possible way it is provided that in the self-ignition range (CI) the pressure and/or temperature of the homogeneous fuel-air mixture are set in such a way, preferably depending on the charge composition and/or charge temperature, that the self-ignition would be achieved only after the actually desired start of combustion in the zone of the upper dead center and the combustion of the homogeneous fuel-air mixture is initiated locally in the self-ignition range (CI) by an external energy impulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Janos Csato, Michael Glensvig
  • Publication number: 20030111032
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine operating on spark-ignitible fuel, featuring at least one operating mode with homogeneous charge and self-ignition, and comprising at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve per cylinder, which intake and exhaust valves may be coupled via a transmission device in at least one operating mode of the engine. The combustion process may be controlled in a simple manner by providing that at least one exhaust valve can be actuated during the intake stroke by means of the transmission device, said transmission device having at least one first mechanical transmission member, and that the transmission device can be activated by a mechanical actuating device, said actuating device featuring an eccentric element acting on a transmission member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Glensvig, Franz Chmela
  • Publication number: 20020121263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating an internal combustion engine operated on gasoline type fuels, more specifically on gasoline, wherein ignition of the fuel-air mixture is initiated spontaneously in at least one operational range of the engine, preferably in the part load range, and wherein a stratified charge is produced in the combustion chamber, preferably in the higher load range. In order to achieve in the simplest possible manner high exhaust quality for an internal combustion engine operated on fuel with poor ignition characteristics in the range of higher mean pressures as well there is provided that combustion is initiated by spontaneous ignition of the fuel in the full load range as well and that preferably the in-cylinder charge temperature is controlled throughout the load range by way of internal exhaust gas recirculation and that, in the full load range, the start of fuel injection occurs after top dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Janos Csato, Michael Glensvig
  • Publication number: 20020040708
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine that is provided with at least one operation mode in which combustion substantially occurs by spontaneous ignition of a spontaneous ignitable, homogeneous fuel-air mixture, the share of inert gas in the combustion chamber being adjusted. In order to be able of controlling the start of the combustion and the maximum rate of combustion irrespective of one another, there is provided that nominal values for the actual intake-air temperature and for the actual share of inert gas are determined in function of actual motor parameters, that actual values are detected for the actual intake-air temperature and for the actual share of inert gas and that the curve of temperature of the charge and the share of inert gas are adjusted by controlling both the amount of residual exhaust gas contained in the combustion chamber and the amount of externally recycled exhaust gas on account of the deviation of the actual values from the nominal values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Janos Csato, Michael Glensvig
  • Publication number: 20020038645
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine operated with a self-ignitable fuel, with an approximately homogeneous fuel-air mixture being produced in the combustion chamber in the self-ignition ranges (CI), a high compression ratio suitable for a self-ignition of the fuel being provided and the combustion occurring in the self-ignition ranges (CI) predominantly by self-ignition. In order to control the start of combustion in the self-ignition range (CI) in the easiest possible way it is provided that in the self-ignition range (CI) the pressure and/or temperature of the homogeneous fuel-air mixture are set in such a way, preferably depending on the charge composition and/or charge temperature, that the self-ignition would be achieved only after the actually desired start of combustion in the zone of the upper dead center and the combustion of the homogeneous fuel-air mixture is initiated locally in the self-ignition range (CI) by an external energy impulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Janos Csato, Michael Glensvig
  • Patent number: 6213086
    Abstract: A process for operating of an internal combustion engine running on fuel that is both externally ignitible and self-ignitible, especially gasoline, the operating region of the engine including self-ignition or compression-ignition (CI) regions and external-ignition or spark-ignition (SI) regions, and a high compression ratio suitable for self-ignition of the fuel being provided, at least in compression-ignition regions, and combustion being initiated by self-ignition of the fuel-air mixture in compression-ignition regions and by spark-ignition of the fuel-air mixture in spark-ignition regions, and part-load operation being assigned to the compression-ignition region, whilst full-load operation and/or operating modes with high engine load as well as cold starts are assigned to the spark-ignition region. In order to improve the quality of the exhaust gases while maintaining high efficiency, a largely homogeneous fuel-air mixture should be produced in the combustion chamber in the compression-ignition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Peter Meurer
  • Patent number: 5351665
    Abstract: A combustion chamber located in the piston of an internal combustion engine is divided by restrictions into two or more partial chambers. The ratio between the minimum distance in the restricted area and the maximum distance in concave areas of the wall of the combustion chamber, as measured from the axis of the combustion chamber, is greater than or equal to 0.2. To improve the turbulence in the combustion chamber the proposal is put forward that the ratio between the minimum distance in the restricted area and the radius of the piston be smaller than or equal to 0.5, the wall of the combustion chamber being convex in the restricted area, and that the ratio between the maximum distance and piston radius be greater than or equal to 0.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: AVL Gesellschaft fur Verbrennungskraftmaschinen und Mestechnik m.b.H. Prof. Dr.H.C.Hans List
    Inventors: Paul Kapus, Franz Chmela
  • Patent number: 5170758
    Abstract: Valve-controlled internal combustion engine with air compression, for non-self-igniting fuels, comprising an injection nozzle for direct fuel injection into a combustion chamber provided in the piston, and a spark plug, and further comprising devices imparting a torque to the incoming combustion air. To obtain reliable ignition by simple means, the spark plug is positioned in the central area of the combustion chamber and a multi-hole injection nozzle is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: AVL Gesellschaft fur Verbrennungskraftmaschinen und Messtechnik m.b.H. Prof.Dr.Dr.h.c. Hans List
    Inventor: Franz Chmela
  • Patent number: 4771748
    Abstract: A spark-ignition, air-compressing, internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber in the shape of a body of revolution with a constricted opening in the piston crown. The injection nozzle is located in the cylinder head near the edge of the combustion chamber and the spark plug, opposite the injection nozzle, extends into the combustion chamber at the top dead center position of the piston. Mixture formation is predominantly by deposition of the fuel on the combustion chamber wall. In such an internal combustion engine, it is desired in applying the concept to a supercharged engine to satisfy the enhanced requirements with respect to mixture formation reliably in all ranges of operation, whereby a further improvement of ignition stability is also to be provided. This is essentially achieved by the special shape and proportioning of the combustion chamber, and in particular by the use of two arcs to form the side wall thereof, and a third arc, which joins the side wall, to form the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: MAN Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Walter Herzog, Richard Meier
  • Patent number: 4492194
    Abstract: A spark-ignition, air-compressing internal combustion engine has a combustion chamber in a piston movable toward a cylinder head of the engine. Fuel is injected onto the wall of the combustion chamber and air rotated in the chamber to remove the fuel from the combustion chamber wall gradually as a vapor. The cross-section of the combustion chamber wall is defined by two curved lines of specific radial relation generally indicated by the curved line extending from the opening into the combustion chamber having the smaller radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: M.A.N. Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Franz Chmela, Walter Herzog, Richard Meier
  • Patent number: 4294206
    Abstract: A combustion process and apparatus for a spark ignited air compressing internal combustion engine with direct injection of the major portion of the fuel onto the wall of the combustion chamber provided in the piston in the form of a body of revolution, according to which a rotary motion is imparted upon the inflowing air in such a way that the fuel is gradually released from the combustion chamber wall and mixed with the air in the form of vapors. The injection nozzle is positioned in the cylinder head near the combustion chamber throat while the ignition device extends into the combustion chamber at the top dead center position of the piston. The fuel is injected onto the combustion chamber wall by means of a jet from which individual small fuel particles are detached which are immediately mixed with the air on being emitted from the injection nozzle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfred Urlaub, Franz Chmela
  • Patent number: 4284049
    Abstract: Control of valve needle lift in fuel injections for direct-injection internal combustion engines wherein an injector having at least one fuel supply pipe and one leak-off pipe is provided with a nozzle body in which is situated an axially slidably supported valve needle which is maintained by the force of at least one closing spring in its closing position and capable of being lifted off its valve seat by the pressure of the fuel. A sleeve is provided with connecting ports or openings in the injector which sleeve is capable of being moved axially by means of a hydraulic control medium. The connecting openings or ports can be covered by a piston when the end face of the sleeve is acted upon by the control medium, and when the valve needle is lifted off its valve seat, permitting the valve needle lift to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz Chmela
  • Patent number: 4278057
    Abstract: A method of burning fuels ignited by applied-ignition in an air-compressing direct injection internal combustion engine according to which the fuel is, preferably in the form of a jet, sprayed onto the wall of the combustion chamber having the shape of a body of revolution with the major portion of the fuel being deposited in the form of a film to be gradually removed in the form of vapors by and mixed with the air admitted and performing a rotary motion. An ignition device provided at the upper dead center position of the piston projects into the combustion chamber in the vicinity of the injection nozzle opening arranged near the combustion chamber edge between the free fuel jet penetrating the combustion chamber on the one hand and the combustion chamber wall on the other hand. The pressure level in the high pressure section of the injection system and thus the rate of fuel injection into the cylinder is selected to lie between 0.7 and 1.3 per degree of crank angle times liter stroke volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfred Urlaub, Franz Chmela