Internal combustion engines and method of operting an internal combustion engine using staged combustion

A method of operating an internal combustion engine with a split chamber design for stage combustion comprising the steps of:

• 1) forming at least one primary combustion chamber and at least one secondary combustion chamber in association with a cylinder means having at least two regions formed therein and piston means within said engine, wherein said at least one primary combustion chamber is formed as a transfer conduit between said at least two regions of said cylinder means so as to be communicable with said at least one secondary combustion chamber;
• 2) causing air within said cylinder means to flow through said at least one primary combustion chamber at a predetermined rate and volume;
• 3) admitting a predetermined amount of fuel to said at least one primary combustion chamber to form a fuel/air mixture, therein;
• 4) igniting said fuel/air mixture within said at least one primary combustion chamber to generate a first stage of combustion;
• 5) causing the flow of the said ignited fuel/air mixture to said at least one secondary combustion chamber for continued burning of said fuel/air mixture in a second stage of combustion within said at least one secondary combustion chamber, wherein expansion of said ignited fuel/air mixture within said at least one secondary combustion chamber will act on said piston means to provide driving power to said piston means.

A split chamber, staged combustion internal combustion engine comprising:

• means defining a cylinder having at least two regions formed therein,
• piston means slidably disposed within said cylinder;
• a plurality of combustion chambers formed in association with said cylinder including at least one primary combustion chamber and at least one secondary combustion chamber being communicable with said primary combustion chamber wherein said at least one primary combustion chamber is formed as a transfer conduit between said at least two regions formed in said cylinder;
• fuel delivery means associated with said at least one primary combustion chamber operable to admit fuel into said primary combustion chamber at preselected intervals and in predetermined amounts relative to the position of said piston means to form a fuel/air mixture within said primary combustion chamber;
• means for igniting said fuel in said primary combustion chamber in a first stage of combustion within said primary combustion chamber wherein said ignited fuel/air mixture will be forced into said secondary combustion chamber by slidable movement of said piston means for continued burning of said fuel/air mixture in a second stage of combustion.