High Compression Igniters Patents (Class 123/143A)
  • Patent number: 5156685
    Abstract: A combustion promoter for an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber therein, a main piston movable within the cylinder, a sub-piston mounted on an inner wall of the main piston, and a sub-cylinder surrounding the projecting portion of the sub-piston and defining a sub-cylinder chamber. The sub-piston is driven in relation to the stroke of the main piston toward the combustion chamber until the main piston has reached a position in the vicinity of top dead center of a compression stroke. Gas in the combustion chamber is then introduced into the sub-cylinder chamber where it is stored. The sub-piston is next moved rapidly away from the combustion chamber to eject the gas stored in the sub-cylinder chamber into the combustion chamber, thereby promoting combustion of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Inventor: Takeshi Okuma
  • Patent number: 4610226
    Abstract: A combustion device for an internal combustion engine which includes a cylinder, a head closing one end of the cylinder, and a piston reciprocable in the cylinder. The head and piston have stepped portions adapted to interfit as the piston approaches the head so as to define a compression chamber and a combustion chamber of greater volume than the compression chamber, for receiving a fuel charge, and a restricted passage between the combustion chamber and the compression chamber. The head and piston are shaped and the device is otherwise provided with structure so that as the piston approaches dead center, a portion of the charge compressed in the compression chamber combusts spreading combustion gases and flame through the restricted passage so as to immediately thereafter cause swirling of, and ignite the portion of the charge in, the gases in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Inventor: Takeshi Okuma
  • Patent number: 4444166
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combusting diesel, gasoline, kerosene, alcohol and other compression ignition fuels in either direct or indirect injection compression auto ignition internal combustion engines which enables such engines to operate at low compressions. The apparatus includes an ignition chamber which functions to receive a portion of the incoming fuel charge thereby concentrating such portion in an area separate from the auxiliary or primary combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Kovacs Research Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Geza Kovacs, Mihaly Kovacs, Endre Kovacs, Peter Kovacs
  • Patent number: 4389983
    Abstract: This invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularly to igniting the fuel/air mixture of the engine. In more detail a catalytic engine comprises one or more cylinders, each cylinder having an associated piston and an entry port disposed at the top or in the region of the top of the cylinder and leading into a passage in communication with a precombustion chamber, means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, and a catalytic unit disposed across the entry port or across the said passage for catalytically igniting an injected fuel/air mixture, the catalytic unit including a thermally stable and oxidation resistant member having a multiplicity of flow paths or channels, the surfaces of which possess catalytic activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Johnson, Matthey & Co., Limited
    Inventors: Bernard E. Enga, Christopher Prasad
  • Patent number: 4384553
    Abstract: An automotive type fuel ignitor having an ignitor chamber continuously exposed to the engine combustion chamber temperatures and pressures for a first stage of compression of an air/fuel mixture thereon during the compression stage movement of the engine piston, a piston in the ignitor chamber being moved by a high pressure hydraulic force selectively applied thereto through a second stage of compression to raise the mixture charge pressure and temperature to the auto-ignition level, forcing the flame jet into the main combustion chamber, suitable inlet and outlet check valves controlling the supply of mixture charge to the ignitor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Michael M. Schechter
  • Patent number: 4324211
    Abstract: A torch ignition apparatus and method, the apparatus including a secondary, torch ignition piston interconnected to the primary piston and operable to produce through compression ignition of a carbureted fuel/air mixture a jet of hot gases capable of igniting a fuel and air mixture compressed in a primary combustion chamber by the primary piston. The apparatus also includes a secondary fuel system for supplementing a low ratio fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber and a novel hoop valve and exhaust port system for providing a unique, highly efficient flow-through system for exchanging gases in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: Strong Research
    Inventors: Grant H. Strong, Kline D. Strong
  • Patent number: 4170202
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine which includes a main combustion chamber, and which is improved by the inclusion of an auxiliary combustion chamber, an ignition valve for controlling the establishment of communication between the main and auxiliary chambers, auxiliary fuel mixture feed means for feeding the auxiliary chamber, and an auxiliary piston in the auxiliary chamber for compressing the fuel mixture therein to ignition when the main chamber contains a compressed charge of fuel mixture, whereby opening of the valve means during ignition in the auxiliary chamber communicates combustion to the main chamber for ignition therein of a relatively lean fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1979
    Inventor: Charles M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 4112881
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine comprising an engine frame having a rotor rotatably mounted therein which has a plurality of radially spaced cylinders mounted thereon. The free floating piston is slidably mounted in each of the cylinders with the head of the piston being positioned towards the center of the rotor with a roller mounted in the skirt end thereof which rides against a circular cam. A drive shaft is secured to the rotor and it rotatably extends outwardly from one side of the engine frame. A core means extends into the engine frame opposite of the drive shaft and has air and fuel passageways formed therein which are in communication with a source of air and fuel respectively. The inner end of the core means communicates with a rotary valve which is in communication with air and fuel passageways formed in the rotor which are in communication with the cylinders. Each of the cylinders is provided with a plurality of radially spaced openings formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Townsend Engineering Company
    Inventor: Ray T. Townsend
  • Patent number: 4075996
    Abstract: To increase the fuel efficiency and decrease the emissions of current types of internal combustion engines by improving the burning of leaner fuel mixtures, a novel igniter is provided for each combustion chamber of the engine. The igniter comprises a small external chamber into which small charges of auxiliary fuel are valved, mixed with air, and then rapidly compressed to ignition temperature by a miniature piston or ram. From each of these external chambers a small orifice leads to its corresponding engine combustion chamber. The small size of the orifice restricts the exit flow into this engine combustion chamber of the auxiliary air/fuel mixture, permitting effective compression by the rapid action of the ram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Inventor: Charles A. Hisserich
  • Patent number: 4061120
    Abstract: Disclosed are cell-type ignition devices for Otto cycle internal combustion engines, said devices having cylindrical cells with end orifices communicating with the engine combustion chamber. The devices include housing and mounting means for thermally isolating the cell from the cooled engine wall and the ambient atmosphere. Critical ratios for cell dimensions are disclosed. Some embodiments are equipped with supplementary glow or spark ignition means for starting and warm-up. In some embodiments, sleeves or external protubances on the cell wall are employed to regulate ignition timing by controlling heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Inventor: James C. Hughes
  • Patent number: 4040400
    Abstract: An internal combustion process and engine in which the chemical energy of a fuel is converted into heat by timed combustion using self-ignition and into kinetic energy by expansion of the hot combustion gases and is transmitted by way of a piston to a shaft. The combustion-supporting air is compressed substantially isothermally, then heated by the hot exhaust gases. Some of the compressed hot air is diverted to preheat and carburet and/or compress a fuel and the remainder of the combustion-supporting air and the combustible gas evolved are supplied separately and in substantially stoichiometric quantities to a burner nozzle, mixed therein and burned by self-ignition with a reduced excess of air and without pressure increase. The energy of the combustion gases which expand without cooling is transmitted to a piston and the exhaust gases are removed from the cylinder chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Inventor: Karl Kiener
  • Patent number: 3954093
    Abstract: Disclosed are cell-type ignition devices for Otto cycle internal combustion engines, said devices having cylindrical cells with end orifices communicating with the engine combustion chamber. The devices include housing and mounting means for thermally isolating the cell from the cooled engine wall and the ambient atmosphere. Critical ratios for cell dimensions are disclosed. Some embodiments are equipped with supplementary glow or spark ignition means for starting and warm-up. In some embodiments, sleeves or external protubances on the cell wall are employed to regulate ignition timing by controlling heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1973
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1976
    Inventor: James C. Hughes