Ignitor for natural gas engine

A method for controlling an engine ignition apparatus for an engine, the method comprising:

• driving a drive piston to move a floating piston;
• compressing an air-fuel mixture in an ignition chamber of the ignition apparatus by movement of the floating piston, the air-fuel mixture being configured to ignite when compressed to a threshold pressure;
• and
• directly communicating the ignition chamber with a combustion chamber through an outlet of the ignition chamber.

A method for operating an ignition apparatus for a natural gas engine having a housing including a drive piston, a floating piston, a controllable hydraulic fluid chamber located between the drive piston and the floating piston, and an ignition chamber acted on by the floating piston, the ignition chamber having an outlet formed by a plurality of orifices, the outlet being in direct communication with a combustion chamber of the engine, the method comprising:

• driving the drive piston to move the floating piston;
• controlling a volume of the hydraulic fluid chamber;
• and
• compressing an air-fuel mixture in the ignition chamber by movement of the floating piston, the air-fuel mixture being configured to ignite when compressed to a threshold pressure.