Swirl flow precombustion chamber

Abstract

A combustion system of an internal combustion engine includes a main combustion chamber and a swirl flow precombustion chamber connected by a communicating passage. The communicating passage is connected tangentially to the precombustion chamber so as to induce a consistent, repeatable swirling flow pattern of gasses in the precombustion chamber during the compression stroke of the engine cycle. The swirl pattern thoroughly mixes the air, unburned fuel and burned fuel in the precombustion chamber. An igniter such as a spark plug is disposed in the precombustion chamber in a region having a low gas velocity during swirling to allow a small flame kernel to grow every engine cycle and consistently ignite the swirling gas, thereby improving engine efficiency, toxic emissions spark plug life, and allowing the igniter to run at a cooler temperature.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.