Abstract: A fuel reformulation system for an engine comprising an annular body for a flow of fluids therethrough connected to the engine, a source of fuel for flowing through at least a portion of the annular body, and a catalytic member connected to the annular body for the flow of any fluids thereacross from the annular body.

Abstract: A passive noise attenuation device and system is provided having a reticulated open-cell porous structure configured to acts as a passive control device in order to mitigate combustion noise and instability problems in combustion systems. A porous inert media structure is placed downstream of the reaction zone of a combustion chamber to dissipate noise and/or instability generated upstream in the flame. The porous inert media also limits and/or disintegrates vortical structures in the flame to produce a homogeneous flow field to facilitate distributed reaction zones.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having at least one piston cylinder comprising a housing enclosing twin gas injectors and having two inlet openings for separate supply of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to a combustion chamber of the piston cylinder, two pressure-controlled and time-controlled, electrical inlet valves and associated nozzle needles coupled to the housing, wherein the combustion chamber has an outlet opening for ejection of a combustion product, and a thermolysis catalyst covering the combustion chamber. The thermolysis catalyst includes two hollow cylinders arranged at a distance from one another and concentrically and surrounding an intermediate space. The walls of the hollow cylinders defining the intermediate space have a metal coating for release of the heat of combustion acting on the inner hollow cylinder. The outer hollow cylinder includes an inlet opening for the supply of water, an outlet opening for the release of oxyhydrogen gas and a temperature sensor for control of water supply.

Abstract: A cylinder liner has an outer circumferential surface on which a film is formed. The film functions to form gaps between the cylinder block and the cylinder liner. Alternatively, the film functions to reduce adhesion of the cylinder liner to the cylinder block. The cylinder liner suppresses excessive decreases in the temperature of a cylinder.

Abstract: A cylinder liner for an internal combustion diesel engine and corresponding method of construction and method of improving engine performance therewith has a cylindrical inner wall providing a bore extending along a central axis for reciprocation of a piston therein. The inner wall has an axial lower portion and an axial upper portion. The lower portion has a first diameter below a top-dead-center plane and the upper portion has a second diameter provided by a material formed as one piece with the inner wall, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling auto-ignition timing in an internal combustion engine cylinder in which the timing of auto-ignition in prechambers that are coupled to the cylinder is precisely controlled. The auto-ignition in the prechambers produces hot gas jets that are introduced into the charge space of the cylinder and rapidly induce a second auto-ignition of the mixture in the cylinder. By precisely controlling the timing of the auto-ignitions within the prechambers, the timing of the auto-ignition within the cylinders can, in turn, be precisely controlled.

Abstract: Catalyst structure, engine, and fuel injection system are disclosed, in which a catalyst structure is positioned between a fuel injector and a combustion chamber in which most or all combustion occurs. The catalyst structure typically promotes some combustion of the fuel, reforming of fuel to generate hydrogen and other reduced species of fuel molecules, or both. The catalyst structure may instead or additionally promote evaporation of fuel droplets. Benefits include reduced emissions of pollutants.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the TPM level of a diesel engine exhaust stream by providing a suitable oxidation catalyst into the exhaust train. The oxidation catalyst may be incorporated into a thermal insulative coating on the inner surface of the exhaust train, particularly the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipes prior to the turbocharger. Alternatively, when the exhaust train includes a turbocharger, the catalyst can be in a separate monolithic unit between the engine and the turbocharger. The system may also include an improved diesel oxidation catalyst unit having a metal monolithic substrate. The oxidation catalyst can also be incorporated into a thermal insulative coating inside the cylinders, particularly on non-rubbing surfaces such as The invention also includes the use of a protective mullite top coat on the thermal coating. A further embodiment is the use of a stainless steel bond coat to bind the thermal coating to a metallic substrate, particularly an aluminum substrate.

Abstract: A catalyzer for a Diesel engine , where the catalyzer is located inside the combustion chamber, the pre-combustion chamber, the injector or the pre-heater. In one embodiment, the interior of the pre-combustion or combustion chamber is coated with a ceramic layer and submerged in an aluminum hydroxide and zirconium suspension. A coating of catalytic metals, such as rhodium, platinum, palladium, copper, silver aluminum, manganese and zinc, is then applied to the ceramic base inside the chamber. In another embodiment, the coating is applied by replacing the ceramic base by a bath of catalytic metals.

Abstract: A fuel injection, ignition, and combustion system for use in a rotary internal combustion engine of the diesel type and method of power extraction is provided. The fuel combustion system includes a rotary engine with a prechamber disposed in a top center position of the engine housing. The prechamber includes means within the prechamber for maintaining a surface in the prechamber at a temperature sufficient to cause ignition of the fuel. In operation, unthrottled air is introduced into the housing and compressed in the top center position of the engine housing. Fuel is introduced into the prechamber via a fuel injector disposed within the prechamber which ignites due to the hot surface and initiates combustion. The engine continues to operate by retaining the surface of the prechamber at a high temperature which initiates subsequent combustion cycles.

Abstract: The invention discloses internal combustion engines, particularly compression ignition engines such as diesel engines, having reduced nitrogen oxide emissions with concurrent reductions in particulate emissions. The invention provides a catalyst impregnated prechamber insert which operates in the fuel rich environments of internal combustion engines to reduce nitrous oxides.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compression timed ignition in internal combustion engines, the varying mass of the fuel-air mixture having controlling effect to retard timing by cooling a heater element to vary the current therethrough, and characterized by an igniter with a pre-chamber in communication with the engine combustion chamber via at least one and preferably a multiplicity of radiating ports for projecting burning plasma into the engine combustion chamber.

Abstract: A catalytic prereaction timing ignition method and igniter unit for timed ignition of a fuel-air mixture in internal combustion engines providing an ignition chamber open into the combustion chamber of the engine, there being a catalytic igniter positioned in the ignition chamber to intercept a pressure front of stratified fuel-air mixture penetrating a prechamber timing zone of the ignition chamber and controlled by the spring rate of burnt gasses captured in a buffer zone of the ignition chamber during the compression cycle and ignited by the pressure front touching the igniter to effect the power stroke of the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a pair of first and second cylinders (12,14) communicating with a combustion chamber (20) the first cylinder having a larger swept volume than the second cylinder. First and second pistons (16,18) are provided in the cylinders. An inlet port is provided in the first cylinder for delivering a charge of unthrottled fuel while a fuel injector (36) is controlled by a control means (37) to deliver a charge of fuel into the second cylinder (14) as soon as possible after commencement of an induction stroke of the second piston. Movement of the fuel/air mixture from the second cylinder (14) into the combustion chamber (20) is prevented until the second piston (18) is at or near its inner dead center position. The second piston (18) may be formed as a protrusion on the crown of the first piston (16) with the second cylinder (14) being an extension of the first cylinder (12).

Abstract: A catalytic internal combustion engine has an air cylinder (12) and a fuel management cylinder (14) interconnected at their head ends by a combustion chamber (5) and having respective pistons (16, 18) reciprocating in phase. Petrol is injected into the fuel management cylinder where is vaporizes in air during the compression stroke to form a very high air/fuel vapor mixture which cannot be spontaneously ignited by the high compression pressures used in the engine. Low octane petrol is a suitable fuel even when compression ratios of 12-16:1 are used. Air from cylinder (12) is forced into the combustion chamber (5) during the compression stroke through a port (44) which imparts a vortex motion in the air in the chamber (5). This mixes with the fuel/air mixture entering the combustion chamber from cylinder (14). A thin platinum layer catalyst on the wall of the combustion chamber triggers compression ignition of the fuel/air mixture as it mixes with the air in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a catalytic ignition internal combustion engine wherein the fuel is injected into a combustion chamber at a time near maximum compression such that at least part of the fuel impinges upon an oxidation catalyst surface comprising a portion of the wall of said combustion chamber, said catalytic surface being insulated from the surroundings external to the combustion chamber by a low thermal conductivity material, said catalytic surface preferably comprising platinum. Also disclosed are combustion chambers constructed specially for the use of this method and the methods of constructing them.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a catalytic ignition internal combustion engine wherein the fuel is injected into a combustion chamber at a time near maximum compression such that at least a part of the fuel impinges upon an oxidation catalyst surface comprising a portion of the wall of said combustion chamber, said catalytic surface being insulated from the surroundings external to the combustion chamber by a low thermal conductivity material, said catalytic surface preferably comprising platinum. Also disclosed are combustion chambers constructed specially for the use of this method and the methods of constructing them.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a catalytic ignition internal combustion engine wherein the fuel is injected into a combustion chamber at a time near maximum compression such that at least part of the fuel impinges upon an oxidation catalyst surface comprising a portion of the wall of said combustion chamber, said catalytic surface being insulated from the surroundings external to the combustion chamber by a low thermal conductivity material, said catalytic surface preferably comprising platinum. Also disclosed are combustion chambers constructed specially for the use of this method and the methods of constructing them.

Abstract: A fuel injector, system and method comprising means for ejecting fuel directly into a cylinder (14) an engine through a non-conductive, heat storing element. The element including a nozzle (44) portion comprising a preferably ceramic body having a narrow, first passage (158) in communication with a conical second portion (164). The two portions cooperating to cause the fuel to flow turbulently therethrough. The nozzle further includes a heater (174) for elevating the temperature to the nozzle to a predetermined temperture. In this manner, as the fuel contacts the heated nozzle it is atomized. In one embodiment of the invention a solid ceramic body is employed. In another embodiment, the nozzle (178) is formed by a plurality of stacked ceramic disks which include a central opening (182) therethrough and a plurality of heating elements (184), one for each disk. The openings (182) are sized to approximate the continuous conical portion of the solid body nozzle.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has two cylinders (12, 14) interconnected at their head ends by a combustion chamber (20) which contains a catalyst (22). The cylinders have respective pistons (16, 18) reciprocable towards and way from the combustion chamber (20) and arranged to perform together the induction, compression, expansion and exhaust strokes. Air only or the like is freely inducted into one cylinder (12) while fuel or a fuel/air mixture is metered and inducted into the other cylinder (14) during the induction stroke. The catalyst is of a type which effects a chemical reaction to initiate combustion at a relatively low temperature so that when the fuel/air mix contacts the catalyst at the required temperature ignition takes place.

Abstract: The precombustion chamber of a diesel engine is modified to incorporate an acoustical attenuator therein. Since the precombustion chamber is of fixed dimensions (not changed by piston movement), the acoustic nature and modification response are very powerful, to a surprising degree. In one embodiment of this invention, the attenuator is formed by a body of attenuative material, such as sintered metal or porous ceramic, which is placed around the lower portions of the chamber in the vicinity of the connecting passages to the main combustion chamber. In another embodiment, the attenuation is achieved by means of attenuator pockets which are spaced around the precombustion chamber with communication between these passages and the chamber being provided by means of suitable orifices, these pockets having an acoustic response such as to attenuate detonation waves.

Abstract: A catalytic combustion engine, each cylinder of which has a pre-combustion chamber communicating through an inclined transfer cylinder to produce swirl around the chamber, and has a pair of spaced parallel or nearly-parallel catalytic screen elements, e.g. gauzes, mounted to both the mouth of the transfer passage and the fuel injector nozzle, so as to be clear of the circumferential swirl path of the gas circulating in the chamber. The minimum spacing between the two catalytic screens should exceed the width of the mouth of the transfer passage. The injector injects a fuel spray between the two catalytic screens which preferably just brushes each screen and impinges on a heater plug. The compression ratio may be much lower than that for a conventional Diesel engine, for example down to 12:1.

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: A reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine with catalytic combustion has associated with the or each cylinder a swirl-promoting precombustion chamber in the cylinder head connected to the space in the cylinder above the piston by an inclined transfer passage formed in a "hot plug" inserted in a well in the head. A catalytic screen preferably comprising a platinum gauze extends across the top of the hot plug with its peripheral margin wrapped around the hot plug and trapped between the plug and the cylinder head. The plug has an open-topped recess formed in its upper side, into which recess the transfer passage leads, the recess constituting the lower part of the precombustion chamber and the catalytic screen separating this recess from the remainder of the interior of the precombustion chamber above the screen. An injector injects liquid fuel into the precombustion chamber above and parallel to the catalytic screen.

Abstract: A self-heating type ignition plug according to the present invention includes a base portion having a fixing portion formed on an outer wall thereof and a terminal insulately provided therein and connected to an electrical source; an ignition means, integrally connected to the base portion, having an ignition surface formed on a wall surface thereof and composed of a catalyst comprising a transition material, thereby to come in contact with the fuel; and a heating means having a resistive exothermic element connected to the terminal of the base portion, the resistive exothermic element being provided adjacent to the ignition surface within the ignition means, whereby the fuel may be ignited and burned as a whole by the ignition surface of the catalyst which is maintained to a preset temperature due to the oxidation reaction of the catalyst and the fuel being in contact therewith after the heating means is deenergized.