Laser ignition system and method for internal combustion engine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsHerbert Kopecek, Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan
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Abstract
A laser beam ignition system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The laser beam ignition system comprises a laser configured to generate a laser beam, and a beam steering unit comprising a lens and a prism both configured to cooperatively transmit the laser beam to focus on an oxygenated fuel mixture supplied into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A beam steering unit and a method for igniting a fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine are also presented.
Claims24
A laser ignition system for an internal combustion engine, the laser ignition system comprising:
- a laser configured to generate a laser beam;
- and
- a beam steering unit comprising a lens and a prism both configured to cooperatively transmit the laser beam to focus on an oxygenated fuel mixture supplied into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, wherein the beam steering unit further comprises a housing moveably coupled to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the lens and the prism are disposed in the housing.
A beam steering unit, comprising:
- a lens;
- a prism, wherein the lens is configured to focus and transmit a laser beam to the prism, and wherein the prism is configured to transmit the focused laser beam to focus on an oxygenated fuel mixture supplied into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine;
- and
- a housing accommodating the lens and the prism, wherein the lens moves linearly in the housing.
A method for igniting a fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- generating a laser beam;
- transmitting the laser beam through a lens to form a focused laser beam;
- and
- transmitting the focused laser beam through a prism to focus the laser beam on the fuel mixture supplied into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, wherein the lens moves linearly to transmit the laser beam.
A laser ignition system for an internal combustion engine, the laser ignition system comprising:
- a laser configured to generate a laser beam;
- and
- a beam steering unit comprising an adaptive lens and a transparent window both configured to cooperatively transmit the laser beam to focus at a plurality of locations within a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, wherein the beam steering unit further comprises a housing moveably coupled to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.