I.C. Engines
AssigneeRicardo Consulting Engineers Limited
InventorRobert A. Haslett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type with injection of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, provided with catalytic means for initiating the combustion of the air/fuel charge in the combustion chamber of the or each cylinder. The major part of the combustion chamber of each cylinder is afforded by a recess formed in the piston crown, and a catalytic element of mesh, grid, perforated or sintered or other construction, is carried by the piston in a position at least partly overlying the said recess, the fuel being injected into the said recess to contact and pass through the catalytic element, being ignited by its contact with the catalytic element.
Claims15
An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type having a cylinder with a combustion chamber, and a piston with a crown in the cylinder, the major portion of the volume of said combustion chamber being afforded by a recess formed in the crown of the piston, the recess having an open mouth at its upper side and having a bottom, a catalytic element of foraminous sheet construction through whose thickness gas can flow freely, said element being carried in the cylinder [carried] by the piston, [and] said catalytic element being effective without additional ignition means to initiate combustion of a fuel vapour and air mixture and having a cover portion extending crosswise of said recess, said cover portion being mounted in a position overlying and spaced from the bottom of said recess and enclosing a space beneath it within the recess, and said element having at least one portion depending from said covered portion towards the bottom of said recess, means for introducing combustion air into the combustion chamber, and means for injecting fuel into said space enclosed by said cover portion in said recess, when the piston is at about its top-dead-centre position, in a manner [direction] such that substantially the whole of the injected fuel will travel into contact with the surface of the catalytic element to initiate its combustion. [
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim [2] 1, in which the catalytic element is of grid construction.
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim [2] 1, in which the catalytic element is of matrix construction.
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim [2] 1, in which the catalytic element is of sintered construction.
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim [2] 1, in which the catalytic element extends completely across the open [top] mouth of the recess, whereby the fuel/air mixture leaving the recess passes outwardly through the catalytic element.
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim [9] 11, in which there are more than two of the said compartments in the [cylindrical catalytic element] bowl respectively separated by depending portions which are radial [dividing walls] with respect to the bowl .
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim [2] 1, wherein the catalytic element is of gauze construction.
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim [2] 1, wherein the catalytic element is of mesh construction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.