Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber, a fuel injector injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, a cylinder, a piston having a crown and reciprocating in the cylinder, the crown being exposed to the combustion chamber, and an ignition delay enhancer prolonging an ignition delay of a fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber. A ceramic member is disposed on at least a fuel injection port, to which fuel is injected from the fuel injector, of the crown of the piston.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 20 includes a combustion chamber 26, a fuel injector 31 injecting fuel into the combustion chamber 26, a cylinder 22, a piston 24 having a crown and reciprocating in the cylinder 22, the crown being exposed to the combustion chamber 26, and an ignition delay enhancer prolonging an ignition delay of a fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber 26. A ceramic member 24a is disposed on at least a fuel injection port, to which fuel is injected from the fuel injector 31, of the crown of the piston 24.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus has an electric discharge device, a voltage application device, a fuel supplying device, and a control unit. The electric discharge device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is arranged opposite the first electrode to produce radicals within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine by a non-equilibrium plasma discharge that is generated between the electrodes before autoignition of the air-fuel mixture occurs. The voltage application device is operatively coupled to the first electrode for applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes to generate the non-equilibrium plasma between the first and second electrodes. The fuel supplying device forms an air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber. The control unit is operatively coupled to the electric discharge device to set a discharge start timing of the electric discharge device to occur during an intake stroke of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (100) comprises an intake valve (31) which opens and closes an intake port (30), a valve timing adjustment device (200) which adjusts a valve timing of the intake valve (31), a discharge portion (50) including a first electrode (51), a dielectric (53) covering the first electrode (51), a second electrode (52) disposed at a position facing the dielectric (53), and a discharge chamber (55) that is formed between the second electrode (52) and the dielectric (53) so as to face the combustion chamber (13), a voltage impressing mechanism (60) which impresses a voltage to the discharge portion (50) such that the radicals are produced in the discharge chamber (55) by a non-equilibrium plasma discharge, and a controller (70) which controls the valve timing control device (200) to close the intake valve (31) in an intake valve close period in which a piston lowers from an exhaust top dead center to an intake bottom dead center so as to diffuse the radicals in the discharge chamber (55) int

Abstract: An ignition device performs spark ignition to a fuel mixture in a combustion chamber (13) of an internal combustion engine (100, 101) by using a spark plug (50). The spark plug (50) includes a first electrode (51), a second electrode (52, 11a, 11b, 21), and an insulating member (53, 11c) which is formed from dielectric substance and interposed between the first electrode (51) and the second electrode (52, 11a, 21). By impressing an alternating current between the first electrode (51) and the second electrode (52, 11a, 21), non-equilibrium plasma discharge between the insulating member (53, 11c) and one of the first electrode (51) and the second electrode (52, 11a, 21) is promoted. Igniting the fuel mixture by the non-equilibrium plasma discharge achieves a high ignition performance is achieved with low energy consumption.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine electric discharge structure is provided which comprises a first electrode and a dielectric material. The first electrode includes a first voltage receiving end and a second engine attachment end with a long thin conductive material that discharges non-equilibrium plasma. The dielectric material covers the first electrode.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus has an electric discharge device, a voltage application device, a fuel supplying device, and a control unit. The electric discharge device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is arranged opposite the first electrode to produce radicals within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine by a non-equilibrium plasma discharge that is generated between the electrodes before autoignition of the air-fuel mixture occurs. The voltage application device is operatively coupled to the first electrode for applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes to generate the non-equilibrium plasma between the first and second electrodes. The fuel supplying device forms an air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber. The control unit is operatively coupled to the electric discharge device to set a discharge start timing of the electric discharge device to occur during an intake stroke of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An ignition device which performs a spark ignition of a fuel mixture in a combustion chamber (13) of an internal combustion engine (100), comprising, a first electrode (51), a second electrode (52) which is opposed to the first electrode (51) and extends in a length allowing generation of a plurality of non-equilibrium plasma discharges, and a voltage impressing device (60, 70) which impresses voltage between the first electrode (51) and the second electrode (52) to generate the non-equilibrium plasma discharge between the first electrode (51) and the second electrode (52). With this construction, volumetric ignition is effected on the fuel mixture, and hence ignition performance for the fuel mixture is improved, making it possible to substantially expand a lean burn limit.

Abstract: An ignition device performs spark ignition to a fuel mixture in a combustion chamber (13) of an internal combustion engine (100, 101) by using a spark plug (50). The spark plug (50) comprises a first electrode (51), a second electrode (52, 11a, 11b, 21), and an insulating member (53, 11c) which is formed from dielectric substance and interposed between the first electrode (51) and the second electrode (52, 11a, 21). By impressing an alternating current between the first electrode (51) and the second electrode (52, 11a, 21), non-equilibrium plasma discharge between the insulating member (53, 11e) and one of the first electrode (51) and the second electrode (52, 11a, 21) is promoted. Igniting the fuel mixture by the non-equilibrium plasma discharge achieves a high ignition performance is achieved with low energy consumption.

Abstract: A direct fuel injection engine has a fuel injection valve that injects fuel toward a cavity formed in a top of a piston, and a spark plug that ignites the fuel-air mixture resulting from the fuel injection. The direct fuel injection engine is configured to strengthen the penetration of the fuel streams, to improve the directionality of the fuel streams and to form in the cavity an agglomerate fuel-air mixture that is homogeneous and has uniform concentration. The cavity preferably has a bottom surface, a curved surface, and a flat surface. The fuel injection valve has a plurality of injection vents that spray solid-core fuel streams with angles formed between adjacent injection vents that are less than or equal to the spray angle of the fuel stream sprayed from each injection vent. The fuel streams form a combined fuel stream having a hollow circular cone shape.

Abstract: A control apparatus is configured for a hybrid vehicle that can operate highly efficiently in all operating regions. The hybrid vehicle utilizes an internal combustion engine that can be operating using either compression self-ignition combustion or spark ignition combustion. An electronic control unit has a combustion pattern determining section that determines (selects) the combustion method with which to run the internal combustion engine based on the output required by the vehicle. As a result, the internal combustion engine can be operated using the combustion method that is appropriate in view of the required output and unnecessary engine output can be prevented. Thus, a hybrid system that can be operated with high efficiency and at high output in all operating regions can be achieved.

Abstract: A direct fuel injection engine has a fuel injection valve that injects fuel toward a cavity formed in a top of a piston, and a spark plug that ignites the fuel-air mixture resulting from the fuel injection. The direct fuel injection engine is configured to strengthen the penetration of the fuel streams, to improve the directionality of the fuel streams and to form in the cavity an agglomerate fuel-air mixture that is homogeneous and has uniform concentration. The cavity preferably has a bottom surface, a curved surface, and a flat surface. The fuel injection valve has a plurality of injection vents that spray solid-core fuel streams with angles formed between adjacent injection vents that are less than or equal to the spray angle of the fuel stream sprayed from each injection vent. The fuel streams form a combined fuel stream having a hollow circular cone shape.

Abstract: A direct fuel injection engine has a fuel injection valve that injects fuel toward a cavity formed in a top of a piston, and a spark plug that ignites the fuel-air mixture resulting from the fuel injection. The direct fuel injection engine is configured to strengthen the penetration of the fuel streams, to improve the directionality of the fuel streams and to form in the cavity an agglomerate fuel-air mixture that is homogeneous and has uniform concentration. The cavity preferably has a bottom surface, a curved surface, and a flat surface. The fuel injection valve has a plurality of injection vents that spray solid-core fuel streams with angles formed between adjacent injection vents that are less than or equal to the spray angle of the fuel stream sprayed from each injection vent. The fuel streams form a combined fuel stream having a hollow circular cone shape.

Abstract: A direct fuel injection internal combustion engine comprises a combustion chamber, a fuel injection valve and a spark plug. The combustion chamber has a piston including an outer cavity located in a top surface of the piston and an inner cavity located in the outer cavity. The outer and inner cavities are substantially axially symmetrical about the reciprocation axis of the piston. The fuel injection valve is arranged adjacent the reciprocation axis of the piston to inject a fuel stream directly into the combustion chamber. The spark plug is arranged adjacent the reciprocation axis of the piston to ignite a fuel-air mixture inside the combustion chamber. The direct fuel injection internal combustion engine further comprises a control unit configured to vary at least one of frequency and start timings of the fuel injection valve based on an engine operating condition.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder including at least one intake valve which is selectively open to allow at least air to enter the cylinder and at least one exhaust valve which is selectively open to allow residual gas escape from the cylinder after a firing event. An auto-ignition system for such an engine comprises a device communicably coupled with the cylinder. The device is, effective to allow an amount of high temperature and pressure residual gas to enter the cylinder in the compression stroke of an engine cycle after valve closure of the intake valve.

Abstract: A direct fuel injection engine has a fuel injection valve that injects fuel toward a cavity formed in a top of a piston, and a spark plug that ignites the fuel-air mixture resulting from the fuel injection. The direct fuel injection engine is configured to strengthen the penetration of the fuel streams, to improve the directionality of the fuel streams and to stably form an agglomerate fuel-air mixture close to the spark plug. The cavity preferably has a bottom surface, a curved surface, and a flat surface. In a plan view taken along the center axis of the engine cylinder, cavity C is shaped like an ellipse whose foci are located at the tip of fuel injection valve and the spark discharge gap of spark plug, respectively. The fuel injection valve has a plurality of injection vents that spray solid-core fuel streams.

Abstract: A control apparatus is configured for a hybrid vehicle that can operate highly efficiently in all operating regions. The hybrid vehicle utilizes an internal combustion engine that can be operating using either compression self-ignition combustion or spark ignition combustion. An electronic control unit has a combustion pattern determining section that determines (selects) the combustion method with which to run the internal combustion engine based on the output required by the vehicle. As a result, the internal combustion engine can be operated using the combustion method that is appropriate in view of the required output and unnecessary engine output can be prevented. Thus, a hybrid system that can be operated with high efficiency and at high output in all operating regions can be achieved.

Abstract: A split injection of gasoline produces stratified charge in at least one cylinder. A sensor measures cylinder pressure or knock and generates a sensor signal indicative of combustion event timing of stratified charge. From the sensor signal, a controller determines an actual value of a characteristic parameter representing combustion event timing in the cylinder. The controller modifies at least one of operating variables governing a split injection for the subsequent cycle in such a direction as to decrease a deviation between the actual value of the characteristic parameter and a target value thereof toward zero.

Abstract: A direct fuel injection internal combustion engine comprises a combustion chamber, a fuel injection valve and a spark plug. The combustion chamber has a piston including an outer cavity located in a top surface of the piston and an inner cavity located in the outer cavity. The outer and inner cavities are substantially axially symmetrical about the reciprocation axis of the piston. The fuel injection valve is arranged adjacent the reciprocation axis of the piston to inject a fuel stream directly into the combustion chamber. The spark plug is arranged adjacent the reciprocation axis of the piston to ignite a fuel-air mixture inside the combustion chamber. The direct fuel injection internal combustion engine further comprises a control unit configured to vary at least one of frequency and start timings of the fuel injection valve based on an engine operating condition.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine employs a split injection to create stratified air/fuel mixture charge. The stratified charge includes an ignitable air/fuel mixture portion around a spark plug within the surrounding lean air/fuel mixture and experiences a two-stage combustion. The first stage is combustion of the ignitable air/fuel mixture portion initiated by a spark produced by the spark plug, providing an additional increase of cylinder pressure. The second stage is auto-ignited combustion of the surrounding lean air/fuel mixture induced by such additional cylinder pressure increase. The system and method also employ generating a combustion event indicative (CEI) parameter related with combustion speed or ignition timing point of auto-ignition of auto-ignited combustion of the surrounding mixture, and determining control parameters of a spark timing controller and a fuel supply controller in response to the CEI parameter.