Split cycle internal combustion engine

Abstract

A split cycle internal combustion engine having located wholly within the combustion chamber (13) of the firing cylinder (10) and spaced from the walls thereof a hollow dome (14) with the closed head of the dome (14) adjacent to the head (11) of the firing cylinder (10) and the open base of the dome (14) nearer to the power piston (12), a nozzle (24) directing air from a compressor around the interior wall of the dome (14), nozzle (24) directing fuel into the dome (14) after all the air has entered the dome (14) and a nozzle (25) for igniting the fuel/air mixture when the temperature of the dome (14) is insufficiently high for ignition. An inwardly directed flange (17) extends around the open base of the dome (14) to form a channel (18). It is preferred that the engine operates at very high pressures, the compressor is multi-stage. An auxiliary power cylinder (29) of greater diameter than the firing cylinder (10) is provided, the auxiliary power cylinder (29) having a piston (30) connected to the same crankshaft as the power piston (12) and the compressor and reciprocating on a considerably later cycle than the power piston (12). A transfer port (28) connects the combustion zone (13) with the top of the cylinder (29) when the power piston (12) approaches bottom dead centre, and an exhaust valve (31) in the auxiliary power cylinder (29) opens as the auxiliary power piston (30) moves towards top dead centre.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.