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US 7,513,234 B1Granted
Pre-chamber igniter having adjustable electrode
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDarryl D. Baldwin, James M. Schultz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An igniter for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The igniter may have a body, and a pre-combustion chamber integral with the body and having at least one orifice. The igniter may also have at least one electrode extending into the pre-combustion chamber. The at least one electrode may be configured to direct an arc to an annular side wall of the pre-combustion chamber, and may be movable to adjust an arc termination location on the annular side wall of the pre-combustion chamber.
Claims18
An igniter, comprising:
- a body;
- a pre-combustion chamber integral with the body and having at least one orifice;
- an electrode extending into the pre-combustion chamber and configured to direct an arc to an annular side wall of the pre-combustion chamber, wherein the electrode is movable to adjust an arc termination location on the annular side wall of the pre-combustion chamber;
- and
- an actuator configured to affect movement of the electrode.
2 more elements
A method of operating an engine, comprising:
- directing an arc to an annular sidewall of a pre-combustion chamber;
- and
- automatically adjusting an arc origination location to change an arc termination location at the annular sidewall based on an operational parameter.
A power system, comprising:
- an engine block at least partially defining a combustion chamber;
- a power source configured to produce a DC current;
- and
- an igniter fluidly communicated with the combustion chamber and electrically communicated with the power source, the igniter including:
- an integral pre-combustion chamber;
- a plurality of orifices fluidly communicating the integral pre-combustion chamber with the combustion chamber of the engine block;
- and
- an electrode extending at least partially into the integral pre-combustion chamber and being configured to direct an arc to an annular side wall of the pre-combustion chamber,
- wherein the electrode is movable relative to the pre-combustion chamber to adjust an arc termination location on the annular side wall.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.