Distributed ignition method and apparatus for a combustion engine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMartin L. Willi, Brett M. Bailey, Scott B. Fiveland, Weidong Gong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises the steps of introducing a primary fuel into a main combustion chamber of the engine, introducing a pilot fuel into the main combustion chamber of the engine, determining an operating load of the engine, determining a desired spark plug ignition timing based on the engine operating load, and igniting the primary fuel and pilot fuel with a spark plug at the desired spark plug ignition timing. The method is characterized in that the octane number of the pilot fuel is lower than the octane number of the primary fuel.
Claims12
A distributed ignition engine, comprising:
- a cylinder assembly, comprising (1) an engine block having a piston cylinder defined therein, (2) an engine head secured to the engine block, and (3) a piston that translates within the piston cylinder, wherein the engine block, the engine head, and the piston cooperate to define a combustion chamber;
- an intake port positioned in fluid communication with the combustion chamber during intake of a primary fuel and air mixture;
- a fuel injector operable to inject a pilot fuel for introduction into the combustion chamber of the engine;
- a spark plug configured to ignite the primary fuel and pilot fuel within the combustion chamber;
- an engine load determining device;
- and
- a controller configured to receive information from the engine load determining device and configured to responsively determine a desired spark plug ignition timing based on a desired homogeneous distribution of the pilot fuel within the combustion chamber.
A distributed ignition engine, comprising:
- a cylinder assembly, comprising (1) an engine block having a piston cylinder defined therein, (2) an engine head secured to the engine block, and (3) a piston that translates within the piston cylinder, wherein the engine block, the engine head, and the piston cooperate to define a combustion chamber;
- an intake port positioned in fluid communication with the combustion chamber during intake of a primary fuel and air mixture;
- a fuel injector operable to inject a pilot fuel for introduction into the combustion chamber of the engine;
- a micro-pilot injector configured to inject a secondary fuel into the combustion chamber, which auto-ignites at some point during the compression stroke, for igniting the primary fuel and pilot fuel;
- an engine load determining device;
- and
- a controller configured to receive information from the engine load determining device and configured to responsively determine a desired spark plug ignition timing based on a desired homogeneous distribution of the pilot fuel within the combustion chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.