Abstract: An incandescent ignition arrangement for an internal combustion engine is combined with a fuel-injection device and has an ignition chamber formed as an annular space coaxial with and surrounding the fuel-injection device, an overflow passage rising toward a reference plane extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the fuel-injection device and having a component which extends tangentially to a periphery of the annular space and is open into the latter, and the overflow passage extends to the reference plane at an angle selected such that an extension of the axis of the overflow passage lies inside a fuel injected from the fuel-injection device, and the arrangement has an electrically heatable ignition element lying inside the contour of the ignition chamber.

Abstract: A starting aid for an internal combustion engine comprises a tubular extension in the end of which is wound an electric heating element. Surrounding the extension is a tubular member which ever at least a substantial portion of its length is mounted on spaced relationship to the extension. The member is formed from heat resistant material and acts to minimize the temperature attained by the extension when the aid is in use.

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.

Abstract: A method for igniting lean fuel-air mixtures and an apparatus for performing this method are described, wherein a preferably insertable ignition chamber is provided in the wall of an internal combustion engine, which ignition chamber communicates with the main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine via a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels serves the purpose of delivering a portion of the fresh mixture entering from the main combustion chamber into the first ignition chamber in a direct stream into the rear portion thereof, remote from the combustion chamber, of the first ignition chamber.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder with a movable piston and a cylinder head, a main combustion chamber and an additional combustion chamber, elements producing a twisted stream rotating about an axis of the additional combustion chamber, an injecting nozzle opening in an aspirating passage, and an external igniting device, wherein the injecting nozzle is formed as a single-hole injecting nozzle and has an injection hole which is directed substantially against the igniting device.

Abstract: Precombustion chamber construction in a cylinder head of a diesel engine utilizing ceramic material to increase resistance to thermal stresses. A space is provided between the precombustion chamber construction and the cylinder head at least at the main combustion chamber of the diesel engine, and one or more ceramic bodies are shielded from the metal cylinder head and any other metal by thermal insulation to minimize thermal stresses and enable combustion in the precombustion chamber to take place at a higher temperature whereby the power/weight ratio and the efficiency of the engine are improved. The precombustion chamber construction in one embodiment is composed of axially successive parts, and at least the part nearest the main combustion chamber is made of the ceramic material and shielded as indicated.

Abstract: An ignition chamber unit to be arranged on a main combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has walls forming a separate ignition chamber having a first wall which separates the ignition chamber from the main combustion chamber and has at least one passage arranged in the first wall to connect the ignition chamber with the combustion chamber, a center electrode provided in the ignition chamber and forming together with the first wall a spark gap and also having a free end which extends into the ignition chamber, wherein the electrode is hollow near the free end and is formed as a heat pipe, and an insulator with an insulator shoe which extends into the ignition chamber and supports the center electrode so that the insulator together with the insulator shoe forms an insulating gap.

Abstract: An ignition chamber device is described which has an elongated, rotationally symmetrical form. The wall of the ignition chamber which protrudes into the main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine has a coaxial overflow conduit embodied by a nozzle and radially extending discharge conduits which extend into the annular chamber which surrounds the nozzle. The ignition chamber is provided with an ignition device which has a central electrode that leads from the outside into the interior and by means of this central electrode the ignition voltage is carried via a conductor path, disposed in the wall, to a wall location opposite the nozzle, from where the ignition spark can leap the gap. A heat pipe is disposed in the nozzle and includes a portion arranged in close proximity to the cylinder wall, which prevents the ignition chamber from becoming overheated and on the other hand also enables the inflowing mixture to be heated up in optimal fashion on the way to the ignition location.

Abstract: A screw-in device forming an acoustical resonance absorber cavity is connected in acoustical communication with a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The absorber cavity has catalytic material therein. The absorber cavity operates to acoustically attenuate or damp the detonation of the combustion with the catalytic material operating to facilitate the combustion in the combustion chamber.

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.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine with externally supplied ignition is proposed, in which besides a main combustion chamber an ignition chamber is provided, which communicates with the main combustion chamber via a central discharge channel, which is disposed coaxially with the axis of the ignition chamber, and via additional discharge channels distributed about this discharge channel. Protruding into the coaxially disposed overflow channel is an electrode extending through the ignition chamber, this electrode being embodied as a heat pipe and forming a spark gap with the wall of the ignition chamber in the region of the overflow channel. As a result of its embodiment as a heat pipe, the electrode is protected against excessive heating and is simultaneously held to an optimal temperature.

Abstract: A starting aid for an internal combustion engine comprises a tubular extension in the end of which is a spirally wound electric heating element. The extension is secured to a body which in use is located in a bore in the cylinder head of the engine so that at least part of the extension extends into a combustion chamber of the engine. The extension mounts a sleeve extending from the body towards the end of the extension and this is formed from a material having a high thermal conductivity. The sleeve acts to minimize the temperature attained by the extension when the aid is in use.

Abstract: An improved ignitor and ignition method for igniting a wide variety of fuels that may be used to power various types of engines, or for use with other applications requiring the efficient combustion of fuel. The fuel to be burned is mixed with air to form a relatively lean first fuel/air mixture. This first fuel/air mixture is then injected into the primary combustion chamber, such as the combustion zone of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, or similar combustion chamber of other types of fuel-burning apparatus. The first fuel/air mixture is ignited with a stream of hot ionized gas that is jetted into the primary combustion chamber from a precombustion or plasma-generating chamber. The plasma-generating chamber is in close proximity to the primary combustion chamber, with a plasma guide or discharge tunnel connecting the two. A fuel line connects a source of pressurized fuel to the plasma-generating chamber.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is proposed with combustion chambers, comprising a main combustion chamber and an ignition chamber, the latter being connected to the main combustion chamber by at least one spill port, for the purpose of improving the ignitability of a relatively lean fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine. In this connection, the ignition chamber forms an elongated, closed cylinder wherein terminate spill ports from the main combustion chamber essentially radially and tangentially to the cylindrical wall of the ignition chamber, so that a turbulence is created in the medium introduced via the spill ports along the cylindrical walls of the ignition chamber, with a secondary swirl flowing back in the center. Thereby, a satisfactory separation of the freshly introduced medium from the residual gases remaining in the ignition chamber after the combustion is attained, thus providing optimum conditions for the ignition of the fuels utilized for operating the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an ignition chamber forming a closed circular cylinder and communicating via at least one transfer channel with a main combustion chamber with the ignition chamber cylindrical wall being controlled by means of an annular thermal pipe to a virtually constant, high temperature and protected against a rapid cooling toward cooled parts of the internal combustion engine and against overheating. An ignition device inserted into the ignition chamber, with an electrode, forms a spark gap toward the cylindrical wall of the ignition chamber in the region between the middle of the ignition chamber and the transfer channels. To improve the stability of the electrode, the electrode is provided with a heat conductor so as to provide more severely leaning of the fuel-air mixture to be ignited while avoiding glow sparking and reducing the emission of noise.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which some of the combustion chamber walls are kept at temperatures which are higher than the temperature of the remaining parts of the combustion chamber. The temperature control of the selected portions of the combustion chamber is performed by heat pipes which lie adjacent to thin combustion chamber walls and which transfer heat from these walls to other parts of the engine which are adjacent to coolant channels. The presence of the heat pipe insures a relatively low thermal inertia of the adjacent combustion chamber walls, permitting their rapid heating after cold starting and the presence of the heat pipe prevents excessive temperatures due to the ability to carry away heat from these parts of the combustion chamber at higher temperatures. The temperature-controlled combustion chamber walls may be provided in auxiliary combustion chambers, prechambers or antechambers.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an ignition chamber communicating with a main combustion chamber via at least one transfer channel, with the ignition chamber forming a closed circular cylinder and its cylindrical wall being protected by an annular thermal pipe from too-rapid cooling and from overheating. In the wall of the ignition chamber, partial electrodes disposed in an insulated manner are provided which are electrically connectable via spark gaps with each other and with the ignition voltage supply line. As a result, ignition occurs near the wall in an area at an elevated temperature level and, in particular, in the immediate vicinity of the entry point of the fresh fuel-air mixture via the overflow channel so that, as a result, the flammability is maintained with increased leaning of the fuel-air mixture.

Abstract: An aluminum cylinder head for a compression-ignition internal combustion engine is formed with a cooling chamber and a number of cavities which provide for each cylinder of the engine a precombustion chamber in communication at its upper end with a seat for a fuel injector. Each precombustion chamber and its associated fuel-injector seat are delimited by a wall the outer surface of which faces into the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is separated by a dividing wall into a lower part adjacent the precombustion chambers and an upper part adjacent the fuel injector seats. Openings are provided in the dividing wall juxtaposed the precombustion chambers so that coolant flowing through said openings between the lower and upper parts of the cooling chamber is constrained to flow against the walls of the precombustion chambers.

Abstract: An improved diesel engine wherein fuel is preheated and vaporized within the precombustion chamber during a substantial portion of the engine cycle in which the precombustion chamber is isolated from the cylinder by an isolation valve. Compressed air from the engine cylinder is admitted to the precombustion chamber near the end of the compression stroke by the timed opening of the isolation valve. The precombustion chamber is shaped to enhance mixing of the compressed air with the preheated and vaporized fuel.

Abstract: A low compression ratio internal combustion engine including a piston and cylinder arrangement the working volume of which is bounded in part by the piston crown and the cylinder head and in part by inlet valve means whereby an inlet charge can enter the working volume and exhaust valve means whereby products of combustion occuring within the working volume can leave the working volume. A regenerative heat exchanger is located within said working volume, the heat exchanger having a hot face and a cold face between which gases are caused to flow.

Abstract: A reciprocating internal combustion engine has a cylindrical combustion chamber lying substantially entirely within the cylinder head and including a fuel injection nozzle and possibly a glow plug. The top of the cylindrical combustion chamber is defined by the disc of the intake poppet valve and the bottom of the combustion chamber is defined at top dead center by a projection of the piston which is formed in a piston cap that consists of thermally resistant material and within which there is an air-filled void that prevents the heat transfer from the combustion chamber to the main body of the piston. This construction permits high surface temperatures within the combustion chamber without attendant heavy thermal stresses in the body of the piston.

Abstract: For use in a swirl-producing recombustion chamber of a Diesel engine, a glow plug comprises a shell which can be screwed into an engine block so as not to protrude into the precombustion chamber and a cylindrically shaped heating head attached to a plunger which is received in the shell and can be electromagnetically or hydraulically moved relative to the fixed shell. The heating head can be protruded from the shell so as to extend into a central region of the precombustion chamber when preheating of air is necessary but, at other times, can be retracted almost entirely into the shell so as not to obstruct violent swirling of air in the precombustion chamber.

Abstract: A liquid cooled, internal combustion engine operating on the diesel cycle including a combustion chamber (34) and a piston (14). Liquid coolant passages (40) receive liquid coolant from a pump (46) for cooling the engine. A prechamber housing (54) is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber but spaced by an air gap within an opening (50) in the head (24) of the engine. A gaseous coolant is directed via conduits (72,82,86,92) to the opening to cool the prechamber.