Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber for burning a fuel mixture and a spark plug for performing spark ignition of the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. The spark plug includes electrodes for generating an ignition spark at a location within the combustion chamber. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine includes an adjustment device for reducing a distance between the location of the ignition spark and an edge of the combustion chamber in the case of an increase in temperature of the internal combustion engine during operation.

Abstract: A laser spark plug configured to be installed into a plug shaft of an internal combustion engine, and to focus laser ignition energy into the combustion chamber via combustion chamber-side, and thus proximal end, of the laser spark plug has, at a distal end of the laser spark plug opposite to the proximal end, a connecting unit for detachable mechanical and thermal connection to a cooler, the connecting unit being designed to permit the connecting and the disconnecting of the cooler when the laser spark plug is installed in the plug shaft.

Abstract: Generally, a multiple electrode spark gap fuel injector and methods of utilizing a multiple electrode spark gap fuel injector for internal combustion engines. Specifically, at least one pair of electrodes having a corresponding pair of electrode ends radially located and axially located in relation to an amount of dispersed fuel to increase efficiency of fuel combustion.

Abstract: A rotary piston machine has a housing in which are arranged at least two pistons which are able to revolve together in the housing about an axis of rotation which is fixed with respect to the housing, the pistons being mounted slidingly in a piston cage which is mounted in the housing and revolves together with the pistons about the axis of rotation, the two pistons executing mutually opposing reciprocating motions while revolving about the axis of rotation in order alternately to increase and decrease the volume of a working chamber defined by end faces oriented towards one another of the two pistons and by the piston cage, the axis of rotation passing through the working chamber and the piston cage having a gas exchange opening for admitting and discharging gas to and from the working chamber.

Abstract: An improved spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine that includes a pair of electrodes disposed to extend from opposite sides and into a combustion chamber to form a spark gap between them that is central to the combustion chamber. Each electrode is integral with a conductive fuel delivery tube that contains a capillary passage and fuel outlet ports adjacent the electrode. The heat from combustion conducted into the electrodes and fuel delivery tubes is used to vaporize the fuel within the capillary passages before it exits the outlet ports as an atomized fog into the combustion chamber adjacent the spark gap. The vaporization of the fuel flowing in the capillary passages absorbs energy from the electrodes and thus performs a cooling effect on the electrodes. The spacing of the electrodes from opposite sides of the cylinder also allows a design that can utilize and increased spark gap to produce a larger spark across the gap.

Abstract: A turn-key method of providing a typical gasoline internal combustion engine with a hybrid fuel that is combustible is accomplished with a modified spark plug. The spark plug design is relative to the use of the internal combustion engine and has the capacity to support traditional gasoline consumption in the absence of a hybrid fuel. Both liquid and gaseous hybrid fuels such as natural gas, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrogen, butane, propane, ethanol, etc. can be supported by the spark plug. In addition the design supports the spontaneous electrolysis of water followed by the instantaneous combustion of the electrolysis products Hydrogen & Oxygen back to water. This design accommodates the more modern engine designs which conceal the placement of spark plugs into the head of the engine, rather than previous designs with side arms that inhibit installation.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 10 has a cylinder head 11 slideably supporting one or more poppet valves 30. At least one of the poppet valves 30 in each combustion chamber of the engine 10 has a primary electrode 69, 269a, 269b, 369a, 369b connected thereto so as to be electrically insulated from the cylinder head 11. The primary electrode 69, 269a, 269b, 369a, 369b forms in combination with one or more secondary electrodes 33, 133, 233, 333, 433, 533 one or more electrode pairs between each of which an electrical discharge is selectively caused to flow so as to initiate combustion in the respective combustion chamber.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 10 has a cylinder head 11 slideably supporting one or more poppet valves 30. At least a portion of one of the poppet valves 30 in each combustion chamber of the engine 10 forms in combination with one or more secondary electrodes 35, 133, 233, 333, 433 a number of electrode pairs between each of which an electrical discharge is selectively caused to flow so as to initiate combustion in the respective combustion chamber. The electrode pairs may be formed at differing locations within each combustion chamber so as to improve combustion efficiency.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 10 has a cylinder head 11 slideably supporting one or more poppet valves 30. At least a portion of one of the poppet valves 30 in each combustion chamber of the engine 10 forms in combination with one or more secondary electrodes 35, 133, 233, 333, 433 a number of electrode pairs between each of which an electrical discharge is selectively caused to flow so as to initiate combustion in the respective combustion chamber. The electrode pairs may be formed at differing locations within each combustion chamber so as to improve combustion efficiency.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 10 has a cylinder head 11 slideably supporting one or more poppet valves 30. At least one of the poppet valves 30 in each combustion chamber of the engine 10 has a primary electrode 69, 269a, 269b, 369a, 369b connected thereto so as to be electrically insulated from the cylinder head 11. The primary electrode 69, 269a, 269b, 369a, 369b forms in combination with one or more secondary electrodes 33, 133, 233, 333, 433, 533 one or more electrode pairs between each of which an electrical discharge is selectively caused to flow so as to initiate combustion in the respective combustion chamber.

Abstract: A spark plug adapter allows for installation into the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine of an improved high-performance spark plug of configuration considerably different from that which the cylinder head was manufactured to accept. This is accomplished without disassembly of the engine or machine work on the cylinder head, and provides for a considerably improved smoothness of operation of and power production from the engine. An alternative embodiment of the inventive spark plug adapter provides for a compression release valve to communication with the combustion chamber of the engine, considerably easing starting for the engine, and still without disassembly of the engine or machine work on the cylinder head. A third embodiment of the inventive spark plug adapter provides for improved sealing of combustion gases.

Abstract: A spark plug and an engine valve member are integrally combined in the same structure by forming an ignition gap between a first electrode rod which is the center electrode incorporated in an engine valve body and a second electrode portion which is the grounding electrode formed to be integral with or incorporated in the engine valve body. The resulting structure has the features of both a spark plug and an engine valve and is advantageously compact and applicable to gasoline engines in general.

Abstract: An expandable piston rotary engine includes a core having a substantially circular periphery and central axis, and a rotor/flywheel mounted concentrically for rotation relative to the core. The core defines a plurality of cylinders spaced symmetrically about, and open at, the periphery of the core. Each cylinder contains a radially expandable, substantially cylindrical piston formed of a relatively thin web of material, such as sapphire or amorphous steel. The piston web material is coiled about its associated cylinder axis, and defines an internal combustion chamber whose diameter, and volume, vary in response to a relative coiling and uncoiling of the web in its cylinder. The inner surface of the rotor/flywheel defines with the periphery of the core, the cylinders and the outer surfaces of the pistons a closed space for a hydraulic fluid. Intake and exhaust valves and fuel igniters are associated with each of the cylinders.

Abstract: A process for operating an internal combustion heat engine which comprises the steps of thermochemically regenerating waste heat rejected by the heat engine by reacting at least one conventional fuel compound containing hydrogen and carbon with an oxygen donor using substantial quantities of the waste heat to produce a mixture of engine-fuel containing substantial quantities of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and utilizing the mixture of engine-fuel to operate an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An improved gasoline engine using a spark plug and a spark plug wire is disclosed. The improved gasoline engine includes a cylinder having a cylinder wall and an upper end, a piston movably disposed within the cylinder, a gasoline injector for supplying the gasoline charge into the cylinder, a single tube exhaust valve movably mounted to the cylinder, a single overhead camshaft having duel exhaust cams for the cylinder with each exhaust cam having duel exhaust lobes, and a plurality of port holes contained in the cylinder around the cylinder wall in a ring-like fashion.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an improvement in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine (10) is provided. A spherically shaped rotating element (22) is mounted in the engine head (20) for rotation about a first axis (24). The rotating element has a notch which aligns between the combustion chamber and inlet and exhaust passages as the rotating element rotates. A seal assembly (42) seals against the spherical rotating element. The annular seal (54) in contact with the rotating element rotates about an axis and is self-centering in its sealing action to reduce wear and increase sealing effectiveness. The annular seal is mounted and urged into sealing engagement with the rotating element with nested annular seal retainers (56) which also rotate.

Abstract: Combustion engine having a cylinder and a piston movable therein and having a spark plug for igniting the combustible fuel. Three valves are concentricly located coaxially with the spark plug for separately controlling the flow of incoming fresh air to the cylinder and the flow of the fuel mixture to the cylinder and the flow of the exhaust gases from the cylinder. The engine presents the necessary valve seat for the exhaust valve, and the other two valves are also provided with valve seats, and springs urge each of the valves toward their respective seated positions. Also, push rods and rocker arms are arranged for opening the valves, as required. The entire arrangement provides for introducing a layer of clean air next to the cylinder wall and then introducing the fuel mixture into the center of the cylinder and adjacent the spark plug. Upon firing, the flame is primarily confined by the boundary of fresh air, and the flame is thus away from the cylinder wall.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an annular port and valve arranged to direct flow from dual inner and outer portions of the port in cylinder flow patterns having radially oppositely directed flow components. Various embodiments providing cylinder charge stratification or dual inlet and exhaust valve functions are disclosed.

Abstract: An ignition plug for an internal combustion engine which comprises a hollow cylindrical main body having one externally threaded end portion and the other end portion in the form of a nut, said threaded end portion being provided with jet orifices, air guide grooves and a communication groove; a tubular anode member having an insulation body and extending through said main body; a center electrode extending through said insulation body; and a check valve assembly mounted about the intermediate portion between the two end portions of the main body, said valve assembly comprising a ring-shaped valve housing having a tapered seat face and air intake bores and a ring-shaped valve body reciprocally received in said valve housing and having a matingly tapered outer surface for opening and closing said air intake bores in the valve housing.