Prevaporizing diesel precombustion chamber

• US 4,300,497 A
• Filed: 06/30/1980
• Issued: 11/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Webber, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cox, Ronald B.
• Application Number:
  US06/164,395
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 123/254, 123/292, 123/270
• US Class Current: 123/254
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/02 the chamber being periodically isolated from its cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/165 The shape or construction of the pre-combustion chambers is specially adapted to be formed, at least in part, of ceramic material surface coverings of combustion-gas-swept parts F02B77/02; shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition or ceramic compositions C04B35/00; ceramic material for engine casings F02F7/0087
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2019/002 with electric heater fitted to at least part of prechamber-wall or transfer passage
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An improved diesel engine wherein fuel is preheated and vaporized within the precombustion chamber during a substantial portion of the engine cycle in which the precombustion chamber is isolated from the cylinder by an isolation valve. Compressed air from the engine cylinder is admitted to the precombustion chamber near the end of the compression stroke by the timed opening of the isolation valve. The precombustion chamber is shaped to enhance mixing of the compressed air with the preheated and vaporized fuel.

Claims

1. A diesel engine comprising:

a cylinder;

a piston slidable within said cylinder;

a precombustion chamber having a generally rectangular portion located in the path of air entering said chamber, and a pair of generally circular portions located on opposite sides of said rectangular portion;

an opening communicating said rectangular portion of said precombustion chamber with said cylinder;

valve means operable near the beginning of the exhaust stroke of said piston to close said opening;

fuel injector means for delivering fuel into said precombustion chamber shortly after closing of said valve means; and

means for actuating said valve means near the end of the compression stroke of said piston to open said opening to allow compressed air from said cylinder to rush into said rectangular portion of said precombustion chamber.

2. A diesel engine of claim 1 further comprising thermal stabilization means for maintaining the temperature in said precombustion chamber in the range of 400°

F. to 1200°

F.

3. The diesel engine of claim 2 wherein said thermal stabilization means is a layer of insulating material surrounding said precombustion chamber.

4. The diesel engine of claim 2 wherein said thermal stabilization means is electrical wires embedded in the walls of said precombustion chamber.

5. The diesel engine of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of protuberances projecting into said precombustion chamber to enhance thermal transfer to fuel in said precombustion chamber.

6. The diesel engine of claim 5 wherein said protuberances are vanes.

7. The diesel engine of claim 1 wherein said precombustion chamber is formed to cause swirling of air entering said chamber to enhance vaporization of fuel within said chamber and mixing of said air with said fuel.

8. The diesel engine of claim 1 further comprising throat means connecting said precombustion chamber with said opening and serving to accelerate the flow of air entering said opening and to form said flow into a jet.

9. The diesel engine of claim 1 further comprising an abrupt wall positioned in said precombustion chamber in the path of air entering from said opening.