Catalytic-compression timed ignition

• US 5,109,817 A
• Filed: 11/13/1990
• Issued: 05/05/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Automotive Resources, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Altronic LLC
• Inventors: Cherry, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US07/611,916
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 123/254, 123/260, 123/266, 123/267, 123/268, 123/270, 123/271, 123/272, 123/282, 123/285, 313/143
• US Class Current: 123/272
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/10 with fuel introduced partly into pre-combustion chamber, and partly into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/1004 details of combustion chamber, e.g. mounting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/1061 with residual gas chamber, e.g. containing spark plug
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/12 with positive ignition engines with non-timed positive ignition, and with incandescent chambers F02B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 51/02 involving catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 7/001 Glowing plugs for internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A catalytic prereaction timing ignition method and igniter unit for timed ignition of a fuel-air mixture in internal combustion engines providing an ignition chamber open into the combustion chamber of the engine, there being a catalytic igniter positioned in the ignition chamber to intercept a pressure front of stratified fuel-air mixture penetrating a prechamber timing zone of the ignition chamber and controlled by the spring rate of burnt gasses captured in a buffer zone of the ignition chamber during the compression cycle and ignited by the pressure front touching the igniter to effect the power stroke of the engine.

Claims

1. A method of catalytically enhanced ignition in internal combustion engines having a compression cycle and ignition of a combustible fuel-air mixture in a combustion chamber followed by a power cycle, and including;

the first step of providing a closed timing prechamber with a catalyst therein and in open communication with the combustion chamber for penetration therein of a stratified pressure front of the combustible fuel-air mixture,

the second step of positioning an igniter means at a depth of the stratified pressure front penetraton of said combustible fuel-air mixture into the closed timing prechamber for contact therewith at a determined compression of said combustible fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber,

the third step of transferring the stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture from the combustion chamber and into contact with the catalyst in the timing prechamber during the compression cycle and preactivating the same,

the fourth step of capturing a volume of previously burnt noncombustible gasses in the closed chamber for occlusion of the igniter means and for depression as a spring,

and the fifth step of depressing said captured previously burnt non combustible gasses with the penetrating stratified pressure front of activated combustible fuel-air mixture until contact thereof with the igniter means, whereby an ignition phase occurs in the form of a flame emanating into the combustion chamber for continued burning to effect the power cycle and leaving burnt noncombustible gasses in the closed timing prechamber.

2. The method of catalytic enhanced ignition in internal combustion engines as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first step is performed by providing the timing prechamber with a timing zone in open communication with the combustion chamber and a buffer zone in open communication with the timing zone and capturing said burnt noncombustible gasses as a spring.

3. The method of catalytic enhanced ignition in internal combustion engines as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second step is performed by maintaining an ignition temperature of said combustible fuel-air mixture in the igniter means.

4. The method of catalytic enhanced ignition in internal combustion engines as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second step is performed by positioning the igniter means at an ignition zone in open communication between the timing zone and the buffer zone.

5. The method of catalytic enhanced ignition in internal combustion engines as set forth in claim 2, wherein the third step is performed by entering the stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture into the timing zone in equilibrium with non combustible gasses therein.

6. The method of catalytic enhanced ignition of internal combustion engines as set forth in claim 2, wherein the fourth step is performed by entering the stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture into the timing zone in equilibrium with non combustible gasses depressed thereby as a spring in the buffer zone.

7. The method of catalytic enhanced ignition in internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 3, wherein the fifth step is performed by depressing the gasses in both the timing zone and the buffer zone for entry of the stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture and its penetration to the igniter means for ignition in response to combustion chamber pressure.

8. The method of catalytic enhanced ignition in internal combustion engines as set forth in claim 1, wherein the third step is performed by maintaining the catalyst therein below the ignition temperature of said combustible fuel-air mixture and at a sufficient temperature to preactivate said mixture.

9. The method of catalytic enhanced ignition in internal combustion engines as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first step is performed by providing the timing prechamber with a timing zone in open communication with the combustion chamber and a buffer zone in open communication with the timing zone and capturing said burnt noncombustible gasses as a spring, wherein the second step is performed by maintaining an ignition temperature at and above the ignition point of said combustible fuel-air mixture and in the igniter means, wherein the third step is performed by entering the stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture into the timing zone in equilibrium with noncombustible gasses therein and by maintaining the catalyst therein below the ignition temperature of said combustible fuel-air mixture and at sufficient temperature to preactivate said mixture, wherein the fourth step is performed by depressing said captured combustible gasses as a spring, and wherein the fifth step is performed by depressing the gasses in both the timing zone and the buffer zone for entry of the stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture and its penetration to the igniter means for ignition in response to combustion chamber pressure.

10. The method of catalytic enhanced ignition in internal combustion engines as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first step is performed by providing the timing prechamber with a timing zone in open communication with the combustion chamber and a buffer zone in open communication with the timing zone and capturing said burnt noncombustible gasses as a spring, wherein the second step is performed by positioning the igniter means at an ignition zone in open communication between the timing zone and the buffer zone, wherein the third and fourth steps are performed by entering the stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture into the timing zone in equilibrium with noncombustible gasses depressed thereby as a spring in the buffer zone, and wherein the fifth step is performed by depressing the gasses in both the timing zone and the buffer zone for entry of the stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture and its penetration to the igniter means for ignition in response to combustion chamber pressure.

11. An igniter for timing chamber ignition in internal combustion engines having a combustion chamber, means for intake of a combustible fuel-air mixture, means for effecting a compression cycle followed by a power cycle, and means for exhaust of burnt gasses, and including;

an elongated ignition chamber means comprised of a timing zone with an entry passage in open communication with the combustion chamber and a buffer zone continuing from the timing zone and with a closed end to capture gasses therein,

igniter means comprised of a rod carried by the closed end of the ignition chamber means and having a heater element exposed within the ignition chamber means between said entry passage and said closed end for ignition af a stratified pressure front of said combustible fuel-air mixture penetrating into the ignition chamber during the compression cycle,

the ignition chamber means being closed by said end to capture burnt gasses therein so as to function as a spring opposed to the pressure front of said combustible fuel-air mixture,

whereby burnt gasses occlude the heater element until contacted by the penetrating stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture for ignition thereof and transfer of a flame into the combustion chamber to effect the power cycle.

12. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein the ignition chamber means is a ceramic of tubular cross section carried by a metalic body adapted to the engine combustion chamber.

13. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein the ignition chamber means is a ceramic heat control means of tubular cross section carried by a metalic body adapted to the engine combustion chamber.

14. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein the ignition chamber means is a ceramic heat control means of tubular cross section carried by and projecting from a metalic body screw threaded into the engine for exposure into the combustion chamber.

15. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein the igniter means rod is a ceramic insulator carrying electrical conductors from the heater element for access externally of the ignition chamber means.

16. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein the heater element is a wire wrapped onto an end portion of the rod and with conductors therefrom carried by the rod and exposed therefrom for access exteriorly of the ignition chamber means.

17. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein the heater element is a wire wrapped ont a lower end portin of the rod and with a pair of conductors therefrom carried through complementary holes extending through the rod to emanate therefrom for access externally of the ignition chamber means.

18. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein the heater element is exposed at a lower end portion of the rod with a pair of conductors emanating at a top of the rod supported by a bore through a carrier secured to the top of and closing the buffer zone, and a terminal plug secured to and carried in contact with one conductor and with a terminal pin secured in said terminal plug by an insulator and in contact with the other conductor.

19. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein the interior cross sectional area of the ignition chamber means is varied from its entry passage to its closed end, thereby controlling the spring rate of the elastic gasses compressed therein.

20. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein the interior cross sectional area of the ignition chamber means is decreased from its entry passage to its closed end, thereby increasing the spring rate of the elastic gasses compressed therein.

21. The igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 11, wherein external control means increases and decreases the volume of the buffer zone.

22. A compression controlled igniter for timing chamber ignition in internal combustion engines having a combustion chamber, means for intake of a combustible fuel-air mixture, means for effecting a compression cycle followed by a power cycle, and means for exhaust of burnt gasses, and including;

an elongated ignition chamber means comprised of a timing zone with an entry passage in open communication with the combustion chamber and a buffer zone continuing from the timing zone and with a closed end to capture gasses therein,

igniter means comprised of a glow plug having a heater element exposed within the ignition chamber means between said entry passage and said closed end for ignition of a stratified pressure front of said combustible fuel-air mixture penetrating into the ignition chamber during the compression cycle,

the ignition chamber means being closed by said end to capture burnt gasses therein so as to function as a spring opposed to the pressure front of said combustible fuel-air mixture,

and a control means comprised of an externally operated valve opening the first mentioned buffer zone to a secondary buffer zone to augment the volume of the elastic gas spring,

whereby burnt gasses occlude the heater element until contacted by the penetrating stratified pressure front of combustible fuel-air mixture for ignition thereof and transfer of a flame into the combustion chamber to effect the power cycle.

23. The compression controlled igniter for timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 22, wherein the externally operated valve is a solenoid actuated poppet valve lifted thereby from a seat isolating the first mentioned and said secondary buffer zones.

24. An igniter for catalytically enhanced timing chamber ignition in internal combustion engines having a combustion chamber, means for intake of a combustible fuel-air mixture, means for effecting a compression cycle followed by a power cycle, and means for exhaust of burnt gasses, and including;

an elongated ignition chamber means comprised of a timing prechamber zone with a catalyst therein and an entry passage in open communication with the combustion chamber for the transfer of a stratified compression front of the combustible fuel-air mixture from the combustion chamber and over the catalyst and preactivating the same, and a buffer zone continuing from the timing zone and with a closed end to capture gasses therein,

igniter means comprised of a rod carried by the closed end of the ignition chamber means and having a heater element exposed within the ignition chamber means between said entry passage and said closed end for ignition of a stratified pressure front of said preactivated combustible fuel-air mixture penetrating through the ignition chamber during the compression cycle,

the ignition chamber means being closed by said end to capture burnt gasses therein so as to function as a spring opposed to the pressure front of said combustible fuel-air mixture,

whereby burnt gasses occlude the heater element until contacted by the penetrating stratified pressure front of preactivated combustible fuel-air mixture initiating an ignition phase thereof and the transfer of an enhanced flame emanating into the combustion chamber to effect the power cycle.

25. The igniter for enhanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 24, wherein the ignition chamber means is a ceramic of tubular crosssection carried by a metalic body adapted to the engine combustion chamber.

26. The igniter for enhanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 24, wherein the ignition chamber means is a ceramic heat control means of tubular cross section carried by a metalic body adapted to the engine combustion chamber.

27. The igniter for enhanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 24, wherein the ignition chamber means is a ceramic heat control means of tubular cross section carried by and projecting from a metalic body screw threaded into the engine for exposure into the combustion chamber.

28. The igniter for enhanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 24, wherein the catalyst is a deposite of material within the timing prechamber and extending below the heater element of the igniter means.

29. The igniter for enhanced timed engine igntion as set forth in claim 24, wherein the catalyst is a deposite of material within the timing prechamber and surrounding and extending below the heater element of the igniter means.

30. The igniter for enhanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 24, wherein the catalyst is a sleeve of material inserted within the timing prechamber and extending below the heater element of the ignition means.

31. The igniter for enhanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 24, wherein the catalyst is a deposite of material within the timing prechamber and surrounding and extending below the heater element of the igniter means.

32. The igniter for enhanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 25, wherein the catlyst is a deposite of material within the timing prechamber and extending below the heater element of the igniter means.

33. The igniter for enhanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 25, wherein the catalyst is a deposite of material within the timing prechamber and surrounding and extending below the heater element of the igniter means.

34. The igniter for enchanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 25, wherein the catalyst is a sleeve of material inserted within the timing prechamber and extending below the heater elements of the ignition means.

35. The igniter for enhanced timed engine ignition as set forth in claim 25, wherein the catalyst is a deposite of material within the timing prechamber and surrounding and extending below the heater element of the igniter means.