System and method for engine control with pressure reactive device to control combustion timing
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsNicholas Killingsworth, Daniel L. Flowers, Russell A. Whitesides
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a system for controlling ignition of an intake charge directed into an internal combustion engine. The system may have a movable component operably associated with at least one of a piston of the engine or a combustion chamber of the engine. The movable component may be tuned to deflect in response to a predetermined pressure being reached in a cylinder in which the piston is housed. The movable component operates to deflect in response to the predetermined pressure being reached in the cylinder as the piston travels toward top dead center during its compression stroke, to change a compression ratio of the engine.
Claims13
A system for controlling ignition of an air/fuel mixture intake charge directed into an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
- a piston having a multi-piece skirt assembly having a first portion and a second portion coupled together to provide telescoping movement between the first and second portions;
- the second portion further forming a movable component dimensioned to move slidably within a cylinder wall of the internal combustion engine and the coupling of the first and second portions forming a cavity;
- the movable component being tuned to move in response to a predetermined pressure being reached in a combustion chamber of the cylinder during movement of the piston within the cylinder of the engine, as the piston travels toward top dead center during its compression stroke, to change a compression ratio of the engine;
- and
- a dashpot housed in the cavity, and operably associated with the piston, for providing a biasing force which is applied to the movable component.
A system for controlling ignition of an intake charge directed into an internal combustion engine having a piston moving axially within a cylinder, a portion of the cylinder and a portion of a cylinder head forming a combustion chamber, and the piston moving towards and away from the cylinder head, the system comprising:
- a movable component movable within at least one of the cylinder and within a portion of the cylinder head, independently of the piston;
- a biasing component disposed in contact with the movable component to exert a biasing force on the movable component;
- the biasing force helping to control axial movement of the movable component in response to a predetermined pressure being reached in the combustion chamber during a compression stroke of the piston, to change a compression ratio of the engine;
- wherein the biasing component comprises a dashpot;
- and
- wherein the dashpot receives control signals from a remote component.
A method for controlling ignition of an air/fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- configuring at least one of a combustion chamber or a cylinder of an engine with a movable component which is movable in response to a predetermined pressure being reached in the cylinder in which a piston is housed and moving axially in a reciprocating manner;
- causing the movable component to move in response to the predetermined pressure being reached in the cylinder as the piston travels toward top dead center during a compression stroke, to influence a compression developed within the combustion chamber, and thus a temperature of the air/fuel mixture, to control ignition of the air/fuel mixture;
- further controlling movement of the movable component in part by using a dashpot;
- and
- further using the dashpot to receive control signals from a remote component.
A system for controlling ignition of an air/fuel mixture intake charge directed into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
- a piston;
- a movable component operably associated with the piston of the engine;
- the movable component being tuned to move in response to a predetermined pressure being reached in the combustion chamber during movement of the piston within a cylinder of the engine, as the piston travels toward top dead center during its compression stroke, to change a compression ratio of the engine;
- and
- a dashpot operably associated with the piston for providing a biasing force which is applied to the movable component;
- and
- wherein the dashpot is electrically responsive to an electrical signal from a remotely located component.
A system for controlling ignition of an air/fuel mixture intake charge directed into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
- a piston;
- a movable component operably associated with the piston of the engine;
- the movable component being tuned to move in response to a predetermined pressure being reached in the combustion chamber during movement of the piston within a cylinder of the engine, as the piston travels toward top dead center during its compression stroke, to change a compression ratio of the engine;
- and
- a dashpot operably associated with the piston for providing a biasing force which is applied to the movable component;
- and
- a cylinder head assembly, and wherein the movable component comprises a secondary piston, the secondary piston being at least partially housed within the cylinder head assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.