Prechamber ignition system having hydraulically actuated piston

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a fuel supply;
• an engine housing having a main combustion chamber formed therein;
• an ignition system including an igniter having a combustion prechamber formed therein, and at least one gas orifice fluidly connecting the combustion prechamber to the main combustion chamber;
• the igniter further including a piston having a piston end face exposed to the combustion prechamber, and being movable within an igniter housing between a retracted position and an advanced position;
• and
• the ignition system further including a hydraulic actuator structured to apply an actuating force to the piston, such that the piston is moved toward the advanced position to increase a pressure of an ignition charge of fuel and air within the combustion prechamber to an autoignition threshold;
• the igniter further including a hydraulic chamber formed therein, and the piston further includes a hydraulic actuation surface exposed to the hydraulic chamber and positioned opposite to the piston end face;
• the hydraulic actuator further including a hydraulic fluid port formed therein, and a control valve assembly having a control valve movable between an open position where the hydraulic fluid port is fluidly connected to the hydraulic chamber, and a closed position;
• the control valve including a valve body resident in the igniter, and having a valve seat formed therein;
• and
• the control valve including a poppet control valve member that blocks the valve seat at the closed position.

A method of operating an engine comprising:

• moving an engine piston in an engine toward a top dead center position to increase a pressure of a main charge of fuel and air in a main combustion chamber;
• fluidly connecting a hydraulic chamber in an igniter to a supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid;
• applying a pressure of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuation surface of an igniter piston exposed to the hydraulic chamber to cause the igniter piston to move toward an advanced position;
• increasing a pressure of an ignition charge of fuel and air in a combustion prechamber of the igniter to an autoignition threshold based on the moving of the igniter piston toward the advanced position;
• conveying combustion gases of the ignition charge from the combustion prechamber into the main combustion chamber;
• igniting the main charge within the main combustion chamber by way of the combustion gases of the ignition charge;
• and
• actuating a control valve assembly resident in the igniter to fluidly connect the hydraulic chamber in the igniter to the supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid.