Method and apparatus for reducing the operating compression ratios of compression ignition engines

In an internal combustion compression ignition engine having a block and a head, at least one wall defining a cylinder in said block, a piston mounted for reciprocal movement along said cylinder and a combustion chamber, the improvement comprising at least one ignition chamber having a housing defined by inner and outer surfaces, a generally spherical cavity formed within said housing, means for mounting said housing in generally spaced relationship relative to the head so that an air space is created therebetween, at least one opening disposed therein which provides the only fluid communication into said cavity and between said cavity and the combustion chamber, each of said openings being tapered along its length so as to be of reduced cross-sectional dimension adjacent said inner peripheral surface of said side wall and being arranged tangentially with respect to said inner surface of said housing so that fluid entering said housing of said ignition chamber under pressure is accelerated into a circular uniform flow path therein which creates a dead air zone along an axis of said ignition chamber, the cumulative surface area of said openings taken at said inner peripheral surface of said housing not exceeding approximately 5% of the total surface area of said inner peripheral surface of said housing, and injectior means, said injector means being mounted exteriorly of and in spaced relationship to said ignition chamber, said injector means directing a first portion of the fuel charge into the combustion chamber and a second portion of the fuel charge into said ignition chamber so that the amount of fuel in said second portion of said fuel charge remains generally constant while said first portion of said fuel charge may vary depending upon engine operating speeds and load conditions.

In an internal combustion compression ignition engine having a block and walls defining a head, at least one wall defining a cylinder in said block, a piston mounted for reciprocal movement along said cylinder and a combustion chamber, the improvement comprising an ignition chamber having a mounting portion which is secured to the head of the engine and a housing which extends from said mounting portion toward the combustion chamber, said housing having an end portion remote from said mounting portion, said housing being in spaced relationship from the adjacent walls of the head so as to create an air space therebetween, a generally spherical cavity defined within said housing by arcuate peripheral surfaces, a channel in said housing extending from a first opening adjacent said end portion to a second opening into said cavity, said channel providing the only fluid communication into said cavity and between said cavity and the combustion chamber, said channel being tapered along its length so as to be of reduced cross-sectional dimension at said second opening into said cavity and being arranged tangentially with respect to said inner peripheral surfaces of said cavity so that fluid entering said cavity under pressure is accelerated into a circular uniform flow path about a common axis therein so as to create a dead air zone along said axis, and kinjector means disposed exteriorily with respect to said housing and adjacent to said first opening of said channel, said injector means directing a first portion of the fuel charge toward the combustion chamber and a second portion of the fuel charge into said first opening of said channel.

The method of auto igniting fuels at reduced compression ratios in an internal combustion compression ignition engine having a block and a head and a piston reciprocally movable within a cylinder, a combustion chamber, an ignition chamber having a housing with a generally spherical cavity therein mounted to the head so as to create an air space between the housing and the head and in which the housing has at least one opening which communicates the cavity with the combustion chamber and which opening tapers so as to be of a lesser dimension adjacent the cavity including the steps of:

• (a) Compressing air within the cylinder at a ratio of between 7:1 to 20:1,
• (b) Accelerating said compressed air through the opening and into the cavity of the ignition chamber during compression,
• (c) Directing said accelerated air in a uniform circular pattern about a common axis within the cavity to thereby create a dead air zone centrally thereof wherein elevated temperatures are maintained,
• (d) Injecting a first variable portion of a fuel charge into the combustion chamber at a period close to the end of the compression stroke, and simultaneously directing a second generally constant portion of said fuel charge toward and through the opening and into the cavity of the ignition chamber to thereby entrain said second portion with said accelerated air within the cavity and collecting the lighter particles being dissociated from said second portion of said fuel charge within the cavity, and
• (e) Igniting the collected lighter particles within the cavity in the ignition chamber by the heat therein to thereby releasing additional heat which initiates combustion of said first portion of said fuel charge within the combustion chamber.