Valve controlled divided chamber internal combustion engine
AssigneeBarrack Combustion Process Pty Ltd.
InventorRobert Douglas Lampard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine has a plurality of combustion chambers, each of which is divided into an ignition chamber and a first combustion chamber. The chambers are linked by a transfer tube defining a passageway facilitating communication between the ignition chamber and the first chamber. A valve is provided for selectively opening and closing the passage. A tube is provided with an opening intermediate of its length allowing fuel to be injected via a fuel injector into the passage.
Claims31
A valve controlled internal combustion engine including:
- a cavity;
- a body moveable within said cavity, said cavity and moveable body together defining a first combustion chamber;
- an ignition cell defining an ignition chamber and provided with a transfer tube extending from said ignition chamber to said first combustion chamber, said transfer tube communicating via a first opening at one end with said ignition chamber, communicating via a second opening at an opposite end with said first combustion chamber, and provided with a third opening intermediate said first and second openings;
- a fuel injector disposed to inject fuel into said transfer tube through said third opening;
- a valve moveable between a first position where said valve provides a high impedance to fluid flow through said first opening and a second position where said valve provides substantially unimpeded fluid flow through said first opening;
- and,
- an igniter designed to ignite a fuel/air mixture in said ignition chamber.
A method of operating an engine having a first combustion chamber defined in part by a moving body retained in a cavity, an ignition chamber, a transfer tube providing fluid communication between said first combustion chamber and said ignition chamber, a fuel injector for injecting fuel into said transfer tube, a spark plug arranged to produce a spark for igniting fuel in said ignition chamber, and a valve moveable between a first position where said valve provides a high impedance to fluid flow between said ignition chamber and said combustion chamber, and a second position where said valve provides substantially unimpeded fluid flow between said first combustion chamber and said ignition chamber, said method including the steps of:
- during a first phase of a compression stroke of said body, placing said valve in said second position and operating said fuel injector to inject a first volume of fuel into said transfer tube whereby said fuel together with air in said first combustion chamber is forced into said ignition chamber by action of said body.
An ignition cell for an internal combustion engine having a cavity, a body moveable within said cavity, said cavity and moveable body together defining a first combustion chamber, and a fuel injector for injecting fuel for combustion in said engine, said ignition cell including:
- a housing attachable to said internal combustion engine and defining an ignition chamber;
- a transfer tube extending from said ignition chamber to said first combustion chamber, said transfer tube communicating via a first opening at one end with said ignition chamber, communicating via a second opening at an opposite end with said first combustion chamber, and provided with a third opening intermediate said first and second openings and disposed to receive said fuel injected by said fuel injector;
- and,
- a valve moveable between a first position where said valve provides a high impedance to fluid flow through said first opening and a second position where said valve provides substantially unimpeded fluid flow through said first opening;
- and, an igniter supported by said housing and designed to ignite a fuel/air mixture in said ignition chamber.
A valve controlled internal combustion engine comprising:
- a cavity;
- a body moveable within said cavity, said cavity and moveable body together defining a first combustion chamber;
- an ignition cell defining an ignition chamber and provided with a transfer tube having a first end and an axially opposite second end, the transfer tube extending from said ignition chamber to said first combustion chamber, said transfer tube communicating via the first opening with said ignition chamber, communicating via the second opening with said first combustion chamber, and provided with a third opening intermediate said first and second openings;
- a fuel injector disposed to inject fuel into said transfer tube through said third opening;
- a valve moveable between a first position where said valve provides a high impedance to fluid flow through said first opening and a second position where said valve provides substantially unimpeded fluid flow through said first opening;
- and,
- an igniter designed to ignite a fuel/air mixture in said ignition chamber.
An ignition cell for an internal combustion engine having a cavity, a body moveable within said cavity, said cavity and moveable body together defining a first combustion chamber, and a fuel injector for injecting fuel for combustion in said engine, said ignition cell comprising:
- a housing attachable to said internal combustion engine and defining an ignition chamber;
- a transfer tube having a first end and an axially opposite second end, the transfer tube extending from said ignition chamber to said first combustion chamber, said transfer tube communicating via the first opening with said ignition chamber, communicating via the second opening with said first combustion chamber, and provided with a third opening intermediate said first and second openings and disposed to receive said fuel injected by said fuel injector;
- and,
- a valve moveable between a first position where said valve provides a high impedance to fluid flow through said first opening and a second position where said valve provides substantially unimpeded fluid flow through said first opening;
- and, an igniter, supported by said housing, and designed to ignite a fuel/air mixture in said ignition chamber.
A method of making a valve controlled internal combustion engine comprising:
- providing a cavity;
- providing a body moveable within said cavity, said cavity and moveable body together defining a first combustion chamber;
- providing an ignition cell defining an ignition chamber and provided with a transfer tube extending from said ignition chamber to said first combustion chamber, said transfer tube communicating via a first opening at one end with said ignition chamber, communicating via a second opening at an opposite end with said first combustion chamber, and provided with a third opening intermediate said first and second openings;
- providing a fuel injector disposed to inject fuel into said transfer tube through said third opening;
- providing a valve moveable between a first position where said valve provides a high impedance to fluid flow through said first opening and a second position where said valve provides substantially unimpeded fluid flow through said first opening;
- and,
- providing an igniter designed to ignite a fuel/air mixture in said ignition chamber.
A method of making an ignition cell for an internal combustion engine having a cavity, a body moveable within said cavity, said cavity and moveable body together defining a first combustion chamber, and a fuel injector for injecting fuel for combustion in said engine, said method comprising:
- providing a housing attachable to said internal combustion engine and defining an ignition chamber;
- providing a transfer tube extending from said ignition chamber to said first combustion chamber, said transfer tube communicating via a first opening at one end with said ignition chamber, communicating via a second opening at an opposite end with said first combustion chamber, and provided with a third opening intermediate said first and second openings and disposed to receive said fuel injected by said fuel injector;
- and,
- providing a valve moveable between a first position where said valve provides a high impedance to fluid flow through said first opening and a second position where said valve provides substantially unimpeded fluid flow through said first opening;
- and, an igniter, supported by said housing, and designed to ignite a fuel/air mixture in said ignition chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.