# US 12,006,904 B2 ยท Spark-ignited reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine with a pre-chamber ignition system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server โ€” see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,904 B2 - Document ID: US12006904B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/802,858 - Filed: 2021-03-17 - Published: 2023-04-06 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-16 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Ludwig Hageneder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006904B2 ## CPC - F02P 13/00: Sparking plugs structurally combined with other parts of internal-combustion engines ({connection of ignition coil to spark plug connector F02P3/02;} with fuel injectors F02M57/06 {; spark plug connector per se H01T13/04 โ€“ H01T13/06; predominant aspects of sparking plug, see H01T13/40 โ€“ H01T13/44}) - F02B 19/12: with positive ignition (engines with non-timed positive ignition, and with incandescent chambers F02B9/08) - F02B 19/18: Transfer passages between chamber and cylinder - H01T 13/16: Means for dissipating heat - H01T 13/32: characterised by features of the earthed electrode - H01T 13/39: Selection of materials for electrodes - H01T 13/54: having electrodes arranged in a partly-enclosed ignition chamber - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - F02P: IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES ({anti-pollution means for internal-combustion engines F02B17/00}; specially adapted for rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines F02B53/12; {ignition of gas turbine plants F02C7/26; ignition of jet propulsion plants F02K9/95; starting of combustion engines F02N9/00}; ignition of combustion apparatus in general, glowing plugs F23Q; measuring of physical variables in general G01; controlling in general G05; data processing in general G06; electrical components in general see Section H; {ignition coils H01F38/12}; sparking plugs H01T13/00) - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - H01T: SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES (overvoltage protection circuits H02H) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A spark-ignited reciprocating piston internal combustion engine may include a pre-chamber ignition system which is arranged in the cylinder head of the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine and in which an ignition device is arranged, comprising an ignition electrode in a housing, said ignition electrode protruding into a cavity of the pre-chamber ignition system. The cavity is covered from the combustion chamber of the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine by a cover, and the cover has at least one first opening which connects the cavity and the combustion chamber together so as to conduct gas. A metal transverse brace with at least one second opening, which connects opposite sides of the housing together, is arranged in the cavity in the region of the ignition electrode, wherein the metal transverse brace is made of a first metal material in a central region and a second metal material in a region contacting the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spark-ignited reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine with a pre-chamber ignition system which is arranged in a cylinder head of the reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine, the reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine comprising: an ignition device with an ignition electrode arranged in a housing and protruding into a cavity of the pre-chamber ignition system, wherein the housing comprises a metallic material including copper or a copper alloy, wherein the cavity is covered with a cover from a combustion chamber of the reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine, wherein the cover includes at least one first aperture which connects the cavity and the combustion chamber to one another in gas-conducting manner, wherein a metallic cross-member with at least one second aperture, which connects opposing sides of the housing, is arranged in the cavity in a region of the ignition electrode, wherein the metallic cross-member includes a first metallic material in a central region of contact with the housing and a second metallic material in a region of contact with the housing, wherein the central region and the contact region are connected with a friction weld, and wherein the second metallic material is a same metallic material including copper or a copper alloy as the metallic material including copper or a copper alloy of the housing such that the second metallic material and the housing have a same thermal conductance to thereby prevent formation of gaps in the region of contact between the second metallic material and the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the cross-member in the contact region includes a thermally conductive metallic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the cross-member includes a high-temperature-resistant metallic material in the central region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the cross-member includes at least one of a tungsten alloy, a tungsten/copper alloy, a nickel alloy, or an Inconel material in the central region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the cross-member includes a ground electrode for the ignition electrode in the central region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the contact region and the housing are connected by force closure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the contract region and the housing are connected via positive closure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the contract region and the housing are connected via material closure. ### Claim 9 A spark-ignited reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine, comprising: a pre-chamber ignition system; a cylinder head, wherein the pre-chamber ignition system is arranged within the cylinder head; and an ignition electrode configured for placement in a housing of the engine and for protruding into a cavity of a pre-chamber ignition system of the engine, wherein the pre-chamber ignition system comprises a pre-chamber ignition system housing comprising a metallic material including copper or a copper alloy, wherein the cavity is covered with a cover from a combustion chamber of the reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine, wherein the cover includes at least one first aperture which connects the cavity and the combustion chamber to one another in gas-conducting manner, wherein a metallic cross-member with at least one second aperture, which connects opposing sides of the pre-chamber ignition system housing, is arranged in the cavity in a region of the ignition electrode, wherein the metallic cross-member includes a first metallic material in a central region of contact with the pre-chamber ignition system housing and a second metallic material in a region of contact with the pre-chamber ignition system housing, wherein the central region and the contact region are connected with a friction weld, and wherein the second metallic material is a same metallic material including copper or a copper alloy as the metallic material including copper or a copper alloy of the pre-chamber ignition system housing such that the second metallic material and the housing have a same thermal conductance to thereby prevent formation of gaps in the region of contact between the second metallic material and the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein the cross-member in the contact region includes a thermally conductive metallic material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein the cross-member includes a high-temperature-resistant metallic material in the central region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein the cross-member includes at least one of a tungsten alloy, a tungsten/copper alloy, a nickel alloy, and an Inconel material in the central region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein the cross-member includes a ground electrode for the ignition electrode in the central region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein the contact region and the pre-chamber ignition system housing are connected by force closure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein the contract region and the pre-chamber ignition system housing are connected via positive closure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein the contract region and the pre-chamber ignition system housing are connected via material closure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein the first metallic material in the central region has a lower thermal conductivity than the second metallic material in the region of contact with the pre-chamber ignition system housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the first metallic material in the central region has a lower thermal conductivity than the second metallic material in the region of contact with the housing.