Process and apparatus for improved I.C. engine composition
OwnerWillard C. Mightinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus are disclosed for improving the efficiency of combustion in a spark ignition four cycle internal combustion piston engine. After a fuel-air charge is inducted into the cylinder(s), gas is injected at moderate pressure into the cylinder at a level below the spark plug, while the pressure in the cylinder is low. Preferred gas injection timing is from about the time the piston completes the intake stroke until the piston is about half-way through its compression stroke. Air and/or engine exhaust may comprise the injected gases. Valves and conduit for controlling the injection are provided as a sub-assembly which can be fitted to existing engines and use the engine camshaft for correct actuation.
Claims6
An Otto cycle internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a piston having a head and reciprocable therein through intake, compression, expansion and exhaust strokes, intake and exhaust valves controlling the admission of a charge to said cylinder and the exhaust of products of combustion, and valve operating mechanism having timed relation to piston movement;
- the improvement comprising
- means forming an inlet into said cylinder separate from the inlet valve and below the top dead center position of the head of said piston,
- means connected to supply gas under pressure to said inlet means,
- an inlet control valve connected between said compressor means and said inlet means to control the timing of gas admission therethrough,
- and operating means actuated in timed relation to said valve operating mechanism and controlling said inlet control valve to open the same during the initial portion of the compression stroke to introduce gas into said cylinder above the piston head and below the charge admitted through said intake valve.
In a multi-cylinder Otto cycle internal combustion piston engine having conventional intake and exhaust valves, a cam shaft, and valve operating mechanism transmitting cam motion to said valves, said mechanism being arrayed along said camshaft;
- the improvement comprising
- an engine driven compressor,
- inlets entering each of said cylinders independently of said valves below the top dead center position of the corresponding piston head,
- a manifold connected to the outlet of said compressor and extending generally adjacent said cam shaft,
- supplemental air inlet valves connected between said inlets and said manifold,
- sequencing means operable by said camshaft for opening selectively each of said supplemental valves in a sequence whereby the compressor output is connected to each of said inlets during an initial portion of the compression stroke of the piston in the corresponding cylinders,
- and means supporting said sequencing means on said engine adjacent said camshaft.
A four-cycle spark ignition internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein through intake, compression, expansion and exhaust strokes, intake and exhaust valves controlling the admission of a charge to said cylinder and the exhaust of products of combustion, valve operating mechanism including a cam shaft rotated in timed relation to piston movement, and a spark plug located in the top of said cylinder to ignite a fuel-air charge compressed therein;
- the improvement comprising
- means forming an inlet into said cylinder separate from the inlet valve, and spaced substantially below the top of said cylinder so as to be covered by said piston at the time of ignition,
- said inlet being directed into said cylinder below the region of said spark plug whereby gas injected through said inlet does not disturb the inducted mixture in the region of said spark plug,
- compressor means driven by said engine and connected to supply gas under relatively moderate pressure to said inlet means,
- an inlet control valve connected between said compressor means and said inlet means to control the timing of admission of gas therethrough,
- and operating means actuated from said cam shaft and controlling said inlet control valve to open the same during the initial portion of the compression stroke to supercharge said cylinder after said inlet valve is closed and before the admitted charge has been compressed to a high pressure.
A method of improving the performance of an Otto cycle spark ignitition internal combustion engine, comprising
- forcing gas into the engine cylinder after the intake valve has closed and during an initial part of the compression stroke of the piston prior to the spark ignition to supercharge the engine from a relatively moderate pressure source,
- the gas being injected into the cylinder in a region below top dead center piston position and spaced from the spark plug to avoid leaning of the mixture inducted through the intake valve in the region of the spark plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.