Precombustion And Main Combustion Chambers In Series Patents (Class 123/253)
  • Patent number: 11891946
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a cylinder head for an internal combustion engine. In one example embodiment, the cylinder head includes at least one spark plug having at least one earth electrode, a precombustion chamber accommodating the at least one spark plug, and a fuel channel which leads into the precombustion chamber. The fuel channel having a flow axis at an outlet that is oriented in the direction of the at least one earth electrode. An axis of rotation of the at least one spark plug has an offset with respect to the flow axis between 0 and 15% of the greatest precombustion chamber diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Puschnik, Christof Knollmayr, Andreas Zurk, Martin Klampfer
  • Patent number: 11179837
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool including multiple combustion chambers and/or usable with fuel canisters of varying lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Largo, Maureen Shea, Charles Zhao
  • Patent number: 11060720
    Abstract: A combustion system includes a perforated flame holder, a fuel nozzle configured to output fuel toward the perforated flame holder, and a plasma ignition device configured to output a plasma during a preheating state of the combustion system and to cease outputting the plasma to transition from the preheating state to the standard operating state. In the preheating state the plasma ignition device causes a preheating flame of the fuel stream at a position between the fuel nozzle and the perforated flame holder. In the standard operating condition, the plasma is not present and the fuel stream impinges on the perforated flame holder. The perforated flame holder supports a combustion reaction of the fuel stream within the perforated flame holder when in the standard operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CLEARSIGN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunny Karnani, James K. Dansie, Jackson M. Pleis
  • Patent number: 10598080
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hugo Tour, Oded Tour, Gilad Tour, Ehud Sivan, Michael H. Wahl
  • Patent number: 10100714
    Abstract: A cylinder head comprising a cavity for receiving a pre-chamber gas valve, wherein an opening extending substantially or completely around the pre-chamber gas valve forms an annular passage with a wall of the cavity, that surrounds the pre-chamber gas valve, wherein the annular passage is connected to at least one gas feed passage for supplying the pre-chamber gas valve with combustion gas, wherein the annular passage with at least one inclined gas passage is connected with the lower cavity of the pre-chamber gas valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: GE JENBACHER GMBH & CO OG
    Inventor: Raphael Jacob
  • Patent number: 9863370
    Abstract: A method for starting gas delivery from a liquefied gas fuel system includes a fuel tank filled with liquefied gas by a filling procedure and the filling procedure resulting in the pressure in the tank being at least at an operational pressure required by the engine. The method pressure in the tank is controlled by controlling the operation of a pressure build up system including the pressure build up evaporator which is arranged in a conduit leading from the bottom section of the tank to the upper section of the tank. The pressure build up system is controlled by controlling the flow rate of the evaporated gas in the conduit while the heat transfer medium is allowed to flow unconstrained through the pressure build up evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Mathias Jansson, Soren Karlsson
  • Patent number: 9540930
    Abstract: To provide an axial piston motor, comprising at least one main burner, which has at least one main combustion space and at least one main nozzle space, and comprising at least one pre-burner, which has at least one pre-combustion space and at least one pre-nozzle space, wherein the pre-combustion space is connected to the main nozzle space by way of at least one hot gas feed, that has improved operating and control characteristics even under non-steady-state operating conditions, the pre-nozzle space of the pre-burner has at least one auxiliary hot gas feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GETAS Gesellschaft fuer thermodynamische Antriebssysteme mbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Rohs, Dieter Voigt
  • Patent number: 9347386
    Abstract: An alcohol reforming system for an internal combustion engine includes a reformer in selective fluid communication with a fuel line via a reformer inlet line for receiving liquid fuel from the fuel line. The reformer reforms the alcohol in the alcohol-gasoline mixture of the fuel into a reformate mixture comprising hydrogen gas and gasoline. A buffer tank in fluid communication with the reformer receives the reformate mixture and disengages the hydrogen gas from the gasoline in the reformate mixture. The buffer tank includes a liquid fuel outlet in fluid communication with the fuel line for re-introducing the gasoline as a liquid into the fuel line, and a reformate gas outlet for delivering the reformate gas to a reformate line through which the reformate gas is delivered to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Erik D. Sall, David A. Morgenstern, James D. Wilson, II
  • Patent number: 8936005
    Abstract: A method for operating a stationary power generating plant, comprising a gas engine with at least one pre-chamber and at least one main combustion chamber, wherein the stationary power generating plant is fed a gas stream—in particular a substantially continuous gas stream—which comprises a hardly inflammable gas, wherein the gas stream is divided in the stationary power generating plant into a main stream and a partial stream, wherein the main stream is fed to the at least one main combustion chamber and wherein the partial stream is treated to increase its inflammability and is fed to the at least one pre-chamber of the gas engine, and also a stationary power generating plant with a gas engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: GE Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Friedrich Gruber, Guenther Wall
  • Patent number: 8925517
    Abstract: A gas-powered tool motor includes a combustion chamber with an intake valve at one end, an exhaust valve at another end, and a control plate or control valve between two portions of the combustion chamber. A piston or other positive displacement device is in communication with the combustion chamber. The intake and exhaust valves have closure members that are movable along a common axis in tandem between collective open positions for recharging the combustion chamber with the fuel and air mixture and collective closed positions for detonating the fuel and air mixture in the combustion chamber and displacing the positive displacement device. The control plate or control valve supports limited air flows from a first portion of the combustion chamber to a second portion of the combustion chamber even in the closed position of the control valve for supporting two-stage combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Joseph S. Adams
  • Publication number: 20140196684
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spark plug for an internal combustion engine, in particular a gas engine. The spark plug includes a middle electrode and at least one earth electrode group, each comprising one or more earth electrode platelets. The middle electrode includes at least one middle electrode platelet having a middle electrode surface, and the middle electrode surface is inclined in a range from 0° to 50°, preferably to at most 45°, to a cross-sectional plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the spark plug. Each earth electrode platelet of an earth electrode group has an earth electrode surface facing towards the middle electrode surface, spaced apart from the earth electrode surface and running substantially parallel to the earth electrode surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: GE Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Markus KRAUS, Sean JENKINS
  • Publication number: 20140109865
    Abstract: A pre-chamber structure for a piston engine may include: a pre-chamber combustion chamber in which a mixture of fuel and air is combusted and a pre-chamber compression chamber including a sub-chamber communicating with the pre-chamber combustion chamber and having an inclined wall surface, and a main chamber extending from the sub-chamber, thereby preventing the fuel from being adsorbed and remaining in the wall surface of the pre-chamber compression chamber in a droplet state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Wonjun LEE, Soo Hyung WOO, Jin Kook KONG, Byong Young CHOI, Gee Wook SHIN, Young Hong KWAK, Jin Soon KIM
  • Publication number: 20140000551
    Abstract: A process for operating a heater that can be operated with hydrocarbon fuel, especially for a vehicle includes providing a substoichiometric air/fuel mixture in a precombustion chamber (18) for a combustion operation and performing a cold flame combustion in the precombustion chamber (18). The precombustion products forming in the precombustion chamber (18) during the cold flame combustion are supplied to a catalyst arrangement (32) and a partial catalytic oxidation is performed for producing a gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The gas produced during the partial catalytic oxidation is supplied to a main combustion chamber (34) for producing a hydrogen/carbon monoxide/air mixture. The hydrogen/carbon monoxide/air mixture is burned in the main combustion chamber (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co. KG
  • Publication number: 20130327291
    Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a heat engine where combustion, expansion, and compression are independent, continuous, parallel cycles. The disclosed engine includes a crankcase situated between two axially-aligned, opposed cylinder blocks. Each opposed cylinder block contains zero-clearance cylinders. An oscillating two-headed piston separates each cylinder into expansion and compression chambers. A connecting rod connects the piston heads of opposed cylinder pairs, and articulates with a central, linear-throw, planetary crank mechanism. A single, rotary disk valve mates with each external expander face of the paired, opposed cylinder blocks to regulate expansion and exhaust functions. Controllable intake and outlet valves, integrated within each internal compressor face of the paired cylinder blocks, regulate intake, compression, and regenerative engine braking functions. A separate combustion chamber with heat regeneration capabilities and at least one compressed-air storage reservoir are included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Stuart B. Pett, JR.
  • Patent number: 8596241
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a sub chamber which is communicated with a combustion chamber and with a variable volume device which changes the volume of the sub chamber. The variable volume device includes a communication part arranged at a cylinder head and formed into a tubular shape, a movement member which is formed in a tubular shape so as to engage with the inside of the communication part and which has a closed end at the side facing the combustion chamber, and a support part which has a projecting part which engages with the inside of the movement member. The variable volume device has the space at the inside of the communication part divided by a movement member and is formed with a sub chamber and gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ashizawa
  • Patent number: 8584648
    Abstract: In some aspects, a spark plug includes a spark gap in an enclosure of the spark plug. The spark plug includes a passage in the interior of the enclosure. During operation of the engine, the passage directs flow through the spark gap, primarily away from a combustion chamber end of the enclosure. The passage can direct flow at a velocity of 5 meters/second or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Domenico Chiera, Gregory James Hampson
  • Publication number: 20130233273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reciprocating piston engine, comprising at least one main combustion chamber, which is formed between a piston and a cylinder and which is connected by means of a riser to a pre-chamber having a pre-chamber axis, so that gas-air mixture pushed from the main combustion chamber into the riser by the piston forms a rising flow in the pre-chamber, wherein a gas supply channel separate from the riser opens into the prechamber, and wherein the riser and the gas supply channel are oriented with respect to each other in such a way that gas fed into the pre-chamber by means of the gas supply channel hits the rising flow substantially head-on, wherein the riser runs at an angle from the pre-chamber axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: GE Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Christoph REDTENBACHER, Eduard SCHNESSL, Hubert WINTER, Andreas WIMMER, Martin KLINKNER
  • Publication number: 20130213347
    Abstract: Method of operating a combustion engine provided with at least one flushed prechamber, wherein the at least one prechamber is connected to a main combustion chamber of the combustion engine and wherein—during a compression phase immediately preceding the ignition in the main combustion chamber—after ignition has taken place in the prechamber, in a first transfer phase gas transfers from the prechamber into the main combustion chamber, wherein after the first transfer phase, an at least two-phase, incompressible medium—preferably water—is introduced into the prechamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: GE JENBACHER GMBH & CO OG
    Inventor: GE Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
  • Publication number: 20130160734
    Abstract: Prechamber system for an internal combustion engine, having:—a prechamber,—a fuel introduction device,—a dead space which connects the fuel introduction device to the prechamber, wherein a channel is provided which connects the prechamber to the dead space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicants: GE JENBACHER GMBH & CO OG, Gerhard Kogler, Wolfgang Fimml, Peter Christiner
    Inventors: GE JENBACHER GMBH & CO OG, Peter Christiner, Wolfgang Fimml, Gerhard Kogler
  • Publication number: 20130098331
    Abstract: In a method for operating a laser spark plug for a combustion engine, the laser spark plug having a precombustion chamber, within an operating cycle of the combustion engine, the laser spark plug irradiates an ignition location situated inside the precombustion chamber with a plurality of laser ignition pulses temporally offset from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Pascal Woerner, Juergen Raimann, Martin Weinrotter
  • Publication number: 20130055985
    Abstract: Method for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular a gas spark-ignition engine with prechamber ignition, wherein the prechamber is supplied from the outside with a gas mixture as a scavenging gas whose CO2 content is subjected to open-loop or closed-loop control, and wherein hydrogen is additionally added to the scavenging gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: GE JENBACHER GMBH & CO OHG
    Inventor: GE JENBACHER GMBH & CO OHG
  • Publication number: 20130054124
    Abstract: A method of monitoring check valves (6) arranged in gas feed lines (5) of a gas engine includes determining a temperature (S1) according to which a signal transmitter is activated (S3) when a detected temperature in a gas feed line (5) lies outside of a first designated target range; and transmitting (S3) a signal which carries information indicating the gas feed line (5) in which the temperature lying outside of the first target range was detected and/or the cylinder (10) with which the gas feed line (5) is associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Sascha Stoll, Ingo Wilke
  • Publication number: 20130000597
    Abstract: A laser ignition device, particularly for an internal combustion engine, having a precombustion chamber and a laser device, which is developed to irradiate, particularly to focus, laser radiation onto at least two ignition points, lying in the precombustion chamber, that are different from each other. The laser device is developed to irradiate the laser radiation optionally onto one or more ignition points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Martin Weinrotter, Werner Herden, Pascal Woerner, Juergen Raimann
  • Publication number: 20120304958
    Abstract: A laser ignition device for an internal combustion engine includes a laser spark plug having a laser-active solid and an outlet window for a laser pulse, and an antechamber. Certain sections of the antechamber are delimited by the outlet window and the antechamber has at least one opening to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A blow-in device is provided, an outlet opening of the blow-in device ending in the antechamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Werner Herden, Juergen Raimann
  • Patent number: 8251041
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has cylinder wall cavities located near the top dead center stroke end to allow optimizing the compression ratio in first stage compression, as function of fuel octane number used. The volume of the cylinder wall cavities is designed to be adjustable, even when the engine is operating. Using a conventional piston motion, the second stage compression becomes accelerated as soon the upper piston ring seals-off the cylinder wall cavities. This is due to the sudden significant reduction in volume. During the power stroke, after the upper piston ring opens the cylinder wall cavities; their fuel content is ignited by second stage combustion products. Because the torque required during accelerated compression is no greater than during first stage compression, stresses in the crankshaft are no more than in conventional spark ignition engines. This allows small displacement engines to be of light weight and to be hand cranked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventor: John Lodewyk Loth
  • Publication number: 20120210974
    Abstract: A gas-powered tool motor includes a combustion chamber with an intake valve at one end, an exhaust valve at another end, and a control plate or control valve between two portions of the combustion chamber. A piston or other positive displacement device is in communication with the combustion chamber. The intake and exhaust valves have closure members that are movable along a common axis in tandem between collective open positions for recharging the combustion chamber with the fuel and air mixture and collective closed positions for detonating the fuel and air mixture in the combustion chamber and displacing the positive displacement device. The control plate or control valve supports limited air flows from a first portion of the combustion chamber to a second portion of the combustion chamber even in the closed position of the control valve for supporting two-stage combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph S. Adams
  • Patent number: 8087394
    Abstract: A combustion chamber system, for use in connection with internal combustion powered fastener-driving tools, comprises a dual-level combustion chamber comprising first and second pre-combustion and main combustion chambers, and a dual-level rotary valve mechanism which is operatively connected to the dual-level combustion chamber so as to control the intake of the air/fuel mixture as well as the scavenging or purging of the exhaust gases or combustion products. The first and second pre-combustion and main combustion chambers are also separated by a plate having a plurality of apertures defined therein whereby multiple jets or flame fronts are defined throughout the combustion chamber system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph S. Adams
  • Publication number: 20110308495
    Abstract: Providing a control method for controlling an engine of a precombustion chamber type, whereby the misfiring in the precombustion chamber is surely prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7905221
    Abstract: An engine block is disclosed in one embodiment having a cylinder shape bore, which forms the outside wall surface of a cylindrical air chamber. Radially outwards from the cylindrical air chamber there is an annular shape combustion chamber, which has a circular inner wall surface, circular outer wall surface, closed annular shaped top surface, and an annular shaped open end opposite of the top surface. The bottom end of the circular inner wall surface of the annular shape combustion chamber and the bottom end of the outside wall surface of the cylindrical air chamber defines an annular shape surface. This surface fits inside the annular shape air chamber in the piston assembly. In one embodiment, in the lower part of the circular inner wall surface of the annular shape combustion chamber there is a circular groove for an oil scraper ring of conventional design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: Reijo K. Salminen
  • Publication number: 20100101533
    Abstract: A method and system for igniting a lean fuel mixture in a main chamber of an internal combustion engine by igniting a rich air-fuel mixture in a pre-combustion chamber which is fuelled using a controlled valve. For a stable and consistent ignition of the main chamber and simultaneous reduction of emission of the internal combustion engines a closed loop control adjusts the fuel amount and the fuelling time for the pre-combustion chamber in order to achieve a light off in an optimal time window and by sufficient ignition energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Matthias Huschenbett, Greg Beshouri
  • Patent number: 7634988
    Abstract: An engine block is disclosed in one embodiment having a cylinder shape bore, which forms the outside wall surface of a cylindrical air chamber. Radially outwards from the cylindrical air chamber there is an annular shape combustion chamber, which has a circular inner wall surface, circular outer wall surface, closed annular shaped top surface, and an annular shaped open end opposite of the top surface. The bottom end of the circular inner wall surface of the annular shape combustion chamber and the bottom end of the outside wall surface of the cylindrical air chamber defines an annular shape surface. This surface fits inside the annular shape air chamber in the piston assembly. In one embodiment, in the lower part of the circular inner wall surface of the annular shape combustion chamber there is a circular groove for an oil scraper ring of conventional design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Inventor: Reijo K. Salminen
  • Publication number: 20090025673
    Abstract: A combustion chamber system, for use in connection with internal combustion powered fastener-driving tools, comprises a dual-level combustion chamber comprising first and second pre-combustion and main combustion chambers, and a dual-level rotary valve mechanism which is operatively connected to the dual-level combustion chamber so as to control the intake of the air/fuel mixture as well as the scavenging or purging of the exhaust gases or combustion products. The first and second pre-combustion and main combustion chambers are also separated by a plate having a plurality of apertures defined therein whereby multiple jets or flame fronts are defined throughout the combustion chamber system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Joseph S. Adams
  • Publication number: 20080257301
    Abstract: A power plant, including an internal combustion engine, a fuel conversion device that coverts a fuel to be supplied to the internal combustion engine from a before-conversion fuel to an after-conversion fuel, a first fuel supply device that supplies the fuel conversion device with the before-conversion fuel, a second fuel supply device that supplies the internal combustion engine with the after-conversion fuel, the after-conversion fuel being the fuel that has been converted by the fuel conversion device, and a controller that is communicated with the internal combustion engine, the fuel conversion device, the first fuel supply device and the second fuel supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isamu HOTTA, Yutaro Minami
  • Patent number: 7387093
    Abstract: An internal-combustion, reciprocating-piston engine operating on the Otto cycle and associated method are provided where a sidewall combustion chamber is employed that is capable of receiving highly-compressed air or a mixture of any gas and fuel from a cylinder while a main piston is positioned at or near top-dead-center in the cylinder, and where the sidewall combustion chamber is also capable of temporarily storing a highly-compressed air or a mixture of any gas and fuel before sending and re-injecting an ignited or burning mixture of highly-compressed air or a mixture of any gas and fuel into the same cylinder between the main piston and the displacer-piston when the main piston is located in the cylinder at an optimum position for receiving and transferring energy or forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventor: James Scott Hacsi
  • Patent number: 7387103
    Abstract: A high thermal efficiency lean-burn spark- ignition two or four stroke engine operable unthrottled suitable for vehicles using gasoline. It uses an indirect combustion chamber and a transfer orifice with or without shaping of the combustion chamber to produce a jet of air moving in helical swirl motion around the chamber during the compression stroke. Fuel is injected into the chamber aimed into the air jet to assist rapid vaporization. The position and orientation of the fuel injector ensures that fuel arrives near the spark plug even under idling conditions and the helical swirl flow ensures the stratification of the ignitable mixture formed near the plug. The compression ratio of the engine can also be variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventor: Dan Merritt
  • Patent number: 7216623
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a main combustion chamber part, an auxiliary combustion chamber part, a first communicating passage, a second communicating passage and an igniting component. The auxiliary combustion chamber part includes first and second auxiliary combustion chambers. The first auxiliary combustion chamber is disposed adjacent to the main combustion chamber part. The second auxiliary combustion chamber is disposed adjacent to the first auxiliary combustion chamber at a position further away from the main combustion chamber part. The first communicating passage extends between the main combustion chamber part and the first auxiliary combustion chamber and the second communicating passage extends between the first auxiliary combustion chamber and the second auxiliary combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Teraji, Kaori Arai, Eiji Takahashi, Toru Nodai
  • Patent number: 7152572
    Abstract: A high thermal efficiency lean-burn spark-ignition two or four stroke engine operable unthrottled suitable for vehicles using gasoline. It uses an indirect combustion chamber and a transfer orifice aligned to produce a jet of air moving in helical swirl motion around the chamber during the compression stroke. Fuel is injected into the chamber aimed into the air jet to assist rapid vaporization. The position and orientation of the fuel injector ensures that fuel arrives near the spark plug even under idling conditions and the helical swirl flow ensures the stratification of the ignitable mixture formed near the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Musi Engines Limited
    Inventor: Dan Merritt
  • Patent number: 6935284
    Abstract: A power system includes an internal combustion engine having a primary combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber, a first fuel being supplied to the primary combustion chamber, a second fuel being burned in the secondary combustion chamber so as to ignite the first fuel; a reformer that reforms a fuel by a dehydrocyclization reaction to generate an aromatic-rich high-octane-value liquid fuel together with a hydrogen-rich gaseous fuel; a gas/liquid separator that separates the liquid fuel from the gaseous fuel; and devices for respectively supplying the liquid fuel as the first fuel to the primary combustion chamber and the gaseous fuel as the second fuel to the secondary combustion chamber. Thus, the power system improves the combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Pu Qian, Kohjiroh Aimoto, Takahiro Gunji
  • Patent number: 6892524
    Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly for use in a combustion tool including a combustion chamber, at least one combustion chamber plate disposed in the chamber, the at least one combustion chamber plate and the chamber members being configured for relative reciprocal movement, the combustion chamber assembly having at least one latch member associated with control of movement of at least one plate within the combustion chamber to divide the chamber into multiple volumes. The combustion chamber assembly further has a release for the latch member for permitting relative movement of the at least one combustion chamber plate and the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, James E. Doherty, Joseph S. Adams
  • Patent number: 6848413
    Abstract: An internal combustion cylinder assembly includes a cylinder having a combustion chamber and a piston. An intake valve provides a working fluid to the combustion chamber while the piston moves from a top dead center position to a bottom dead center position. A pre-combustion chamber is connected communicably to the combustion chamber via a Suder valve and conveys a portion of the working fluid to the pre-combustion chamber while the Suder valve is substantially open. The Suder valve may open substantially simultaneously with the intake valve, remain substantially open while the piston moves from the top dead center position to the bottom dead center position during an intake stroke, and close substantially while the piston is returning to the top dead center position during a compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Suder, Steven Stuart Trevitz, Benjamin C. Shade, Chun Tai
  • Patent number: 6739289
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to a combustion prechamber. The method and apparatus includes reforming a quantity of fuel to produce a hydrogen enriched fuel, delivering the reformed fuel to the combustion prechamber, and combining the hydrogen enriched fuel with a fuel/air mixture to less than stoichiometric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Joel D. Hiltner, Martin L. Willi
  • Publication number: 20030200939
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to a combustion prechamber. The method and apparatus includes reforming a quantity of fuel to produce a hydrogen enriched fuel, delivering the reformed fuel to the combustion prechamber, and combining the hydrogen enriched fuel with a fuel/air mixture to less than stoichiometric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Joel D. Hiltner, Martin L. Willi
  • Patent number: 6390053
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing that defines a main combustion chamber separated from a precombustion chamber by a flame communication passage way. A source of gaseous fuel is fluidly connected to one end of a fuel supply passage. A check valve, which includes a valve body with a valve seat, and a valve member, is positioned between the other end of the fuel supply passage and the precombustion chamber. The valve member is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The valve body and the valve member define a fluid passage that fluidly connects the fuel supply passage to the precombustion chamber when the valve member is in its open position. The valve body and the valve member substantially fluidly isolate the valve seat from the precombustion chamber when the valve member is in its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Gillis, Dan R. Ibrahim, Harold E. Ogg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5875755
    Abstract: A low compression ratio internal combustion engine with extended dwell at or near piston top dead center to facilitate substantially complete combustion providing a higher engine output power. A pre-combustion chamber passes high temperature and pressure combustion products into the cylinder of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Split Cycle Technology Limited
    Inventor: Alfred Rickard Mayne
  • Patent number: 5070834
    Abstract: A diesel engine comprising a plurality of cylinders each having a precombustion chamber and a fuel injector. A first camshaft for driving intake valves and a second camshaft for driving exhaust valves are arranged on the cylinder head and extended in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the engine body. Each precombustion chamber and each fuel injector is arranged centrally between the first camshaft and the second camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Ueno, Norihiko Nakamura, Hideo Nagaosa
  • Patent number: 5053120
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for the automatic removal of water collecting in a fuel filter having a water separator. The evacuation takes place by means of a piston acted upon by a pressure medium, preferably a fuel pressurized by the pressure of the fuel pump, the piston being guided in the container of the fuel filter containing the water. It is particularly advantageous for an already existing drive to be usable for producing the pressure medium and that therefore a simple and inexpensive solution is offered for the removal of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: MTU Motoren- und Turbinen-Union Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Mollmann
  • Patent number: 4960089
    Abstract: A fuel supply/ignition device for use with a stratified combustion system includes a fuel chamber formed adjacent to a combustion chamber. The fuel chamber is provided with a valve for supplying a liquid fuel and a spark plug for generating a spark. The spark plug is connected to a high-energy generator. When the liquid fuel is charged into the fuel chamber, and a high-energy discharge is generated by the spark plug, the liquid fuel in the fuel chamber is atomized to be sprayed into the combustion chamber, and is simultaneously ignited to provide stratified combustion. Application of the fuel supply/ignition device to an internal combustion engine contributes to a reduction in harmful components such as HC and NOx in an exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michikata Kono, Yoshiyuki Wada, Tetuya Kamihara, Masahito Tatematsu, Koichi Suda
  • Patent number: 4903656
    Abstract: A gas engine of a pre-chamber type in which a pre-chamber is arranged in communication to a main combustion chamber, an intake passage is arranged to supply lean mixture to the main chamber, a gas pipe is provided to form rich mixture by fuel gas in the pre-chamber, and a spark plug adapted to ignite the rich mixture in the pre-chamber prior to the combustion of lean mixture in the main combustion chamber, is characterized in that an area of a section of the pre-chamber gradually decreases toward the main combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Yanmar Deisel Engine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Touru Nakazono, Yoshihiro Natsume, Takashi Furuta
  • Patent number: 4487177
    Abstract: A diesel engine is started by plural ignition plugs, each installed in a swirl chamber of a corresponding cylinder. Each ignition plug includes (a) an elongated center electrode, (b) a fuel-absorbent electrical insulator that encapsulates the center electrode so as to allow only one end of the center electrode to protrude, and (c) a plurality of elongated grounding electrodes arranged symmetrically around said insulating member to define a discharge path in conjunction with the protruding end of the center electrode. The discharge path includes part of the surface of the insulating member and an air gap between free ends of the grounding electrodes and opposing surfaces of the insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yasuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 4471732
    Abstract: A plasma jet ignitor apparatus for generating plasma from a plasma medium such as hydrogen and for discharging the plasma as a jet into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion chamber. The apparatus has a plug which has an electrode from which a high energy spark is generated. The spark causes hydrogen which is introduced into the plasma generation cavity by a fuel line to become plasma. The plasma generation cavity is defined by magnetic field generation means. The cavity has an inlet opening adjacent the plasma generation location and an outlet orifice. The plasma is ejected as a plasma jet from the cavity from the orifice. The magnetic field generation means is disposed as a magnetic field coil wound about the cavity. The magnetic field is charged by the discharge of a capacitor at the time of the formation of the plasma in the cavity. The magnetic field accelerates the plasma out of the cavity through the orifice so that the plasma exits as a high velocity jet and achieves effective penetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Inventor: Luigi Tozzi