US 6,032,617 A · Dual fuel engine which ignites a homogeneous mixture of gaseous fuel, air, and pilot fuel

Abstract

A method of operating an engine assembly having a cylinder assembly which defines a combustion chamber is disclosed. The method includes the steps of performing an intake stroke of the cylinder assembly and advancing a conditioning fuel into the combustion chamber during the intake stroke performing step. The method further includes the steps of advancing a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber during the intake stroke performing step and performing a compression stroke of the cylinder assembly after the intake stroke performing step. The method yet further includes the steps of advancing a pilot fuel into the combustion chamber during the compression stroke performing step and combusting the pilot fuel in the combustion chamber during the compression stroke performing step so as to ignite the conditioning fuel and the gaseous fuel. The gaseous fuel and the conditioning fuel are mixed in the combustion chamber prior to the pilot fuel advancing step so as to facilitate ignition of the gaseous fuel in the combustion chamber.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of operating an engine assembly having a cylinder assembly which defines a combustion chamber, comprising the steps of:

performing an intake stroke of the cylinder assembly;
advancing a conditioning fuel into the combustion chamber during the intake stroke performing step;
advancing a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber during the intake stroke performing step;
performing a compression stroke of the cylinder assembly after the intake stroke performing step;
advancing a pilot fuel into the combustion chamber during the compression stroke performing step;
and
combusting the pilot fuel in the combustion chamber during the compression stroke performing step so as to ignite the conditioning fuel and the gaseous fuel,
whereby the gaseous fuel and the conditioning fuel are mixed in the combustion chamber prior to the pilot fuel advancing step so as to facilitate ignition of the gaseous fuel in the combustion chamber.

5 more elements

A method of operating an engine assembly having a cylinder assembly which defines a combustion chamber, with the cylinder assembly being operable to perform an intake stroke and a compression stroke, comprising the steps of:

advancing a conditioning fuel into the combustion chamber with a fuel injector during the intake stroke;
advancing a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber during the intake stroke;
advancing a pilot fuel into the combustion chamber with the fuel injector during the compression stroke;
and
combusting the pilot fuel in the combustion chamber during the compression stroke so as to ignite the conditioning fuel and the gaseous fuel.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual fuel engine which ignites a homogeneous mixture of gaseous fuel, air, and pilot fuel

Life of this patent

Dual fuel engine which ignites a homogeneous mixture of gaseous fuel, air, and pilot fuel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20