Internal combustion engine

• US 4,805,571 A
• Filed: 09/15/1986
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Humphrey Cycle Engine Partners LP
• Original Assignee: Humphrey Cycle Engine Partners LP
• Inventors: Humphrey, Duane W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US06/907,101
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 123/90.15, 123/90.16, 123/25 C, 123/25 D, 123/323, 123/668, 123/669, 123/90.6, 123/316, 123/73 C
• US Class Current: 123/316
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/08 Shape of cams
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/348 by means acting on timing belts or chains
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0057 by splittable or deformable cams
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/0537 Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2305/00 Valve arrangements comprising rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/025 two
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/18 DOHC [Double overhead camshaft]
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/04 with simple crankcase pumps, i.e. with the rear face of a non-stepped working piston acting as sole pumping member in co-operation with the crankcase
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/446 having valves for admission of atmospheric air to engine, e.g. at starting
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 41/00 Engines characterised by special means for improving conversion of heat or pressure energy into mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 47/02 the substances being water or steam
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/02 Surface coverings of combustion-gas-swept parts of pistons F02F3/10; of cylinders and cylinder heads F02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0215 changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0257 Independent control of two or more intake or exhaust valves respectively, i.e. one of two intake valves remains closed or is opened partially while the other is fully opened
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/028 for two-stroke engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0284 Variable control of exhaust valves only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 15/04 by alteration of volume of compression space without changing piston stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/04 Two-stroke combustion engines with electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/04 : concerning exhaust conduits throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 2001/245 : the valve stems being orientated at an angle with the cylinder axis
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 7/0087 : Ceramic materials
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 5/02 : Profiting from waste heat of exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0227 : Control aspects; Arrangement of sensors; Diagnostics; Actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/03 : into the cylinder or the pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 43/02 : Pumps peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2251/042 : Expansivity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 188/01 : Panic braking

Abstract

A two- or four-stroke internal combustion engine is provided having individual features and combinations of features not heretofore known which provide enhanced power, efficiency and braking performance compared to known engines.

Claims

1. An improved internal combustion engine having pistons, cylinders forming combustion chambers, intake and exhaust valves, and having means for injecting a combustion fuel and introducing air into the cylinders, means for igniting the fuel and air mixture in the cylinders and means for exhaustng gases from the cylinders following combustion, the improvement comprising continuously adjustable intake and exhaust valve control means, adjustable on demand, which provides a variable air charge and compression ratio coupled with a fixed, high expansion ratio, said expansion ratio being at least 17:

1, and means for metering said combustion fuel injected into the combustion chamber just before the end of compression to stoichiometric proportions to match the air charge at all engine loads.

2. An improved four-stroke internal combustion engine having pistons, cylinders forming combustion chambers, intake and exhaust valve, and having means for injecting a combustion fuel and introducing air into the cylinders, means for igniting the fuel and air mixture in the cylinders and means for exhausting gases from the cylinders following combustion, the improvement comprising continuously adjustable intake and exhaust valve control means adjustable on demand, which provides a variable air charge and compression ratio coupled with a fixed, high expansion ratio, said expansion ratio being at least 17:

1, and means for metering said combustion fuel injected into the combustion chamber just before the end of compression to stoichiometric proportions to match the air charge at all engine loads.

3. The improved engine of claim 2 having means for adjustably retarding the closing of the intake valves on demand and during engine operation to close each intake valve after the corresponding piston reaches bottom dead center, thereby reducing air pumping losses by eliminating throttling while adjusting the air charge on demand.

4. The improved engine of claim 2 having a continuous, high temperature, direct contact heating element glow plug for igniting combustion.

5. The improved engine of claim 2 having means for providing that no lubricated, sliding surface within each cylinder is directly exposed to combustion chamber gases.

6. The improved engine of claim 2 having means for injecting water into the combustion chambers after air intake, fuel injection and after a part or all of combustion, in proportion to the amount of fuel injected.

7. The improved engine of claim 2 having means for throttling of exhaust gases to provide enhanced engine braking.

8. The improved engine of claim 2 having means for adjustably advancing the closing of the intake valves on demand and during engine operation to close each valve before the corresponding piston reaches bottom dead center, thereby controlling the engine torque and reducing air pumping losses by eliminating throttling.

9. The improved engine of claim 2 having means for effecting a piston-to-cylinder, oil-pressure-balanced gas seal and thereby permitting no gas leakage, a short piston design, lower friction losses and less wear.

10. The improved engine of claim 2 having means for adjustable duration opening of an exhaust valve on demand and during engine operation during the compression stroke to effect variable gas charge and compression ratio and a fixed high expansion ratio.

11. The improved engine of claim 2 having thermal insulation on the surfaces of the combustion chambers comprising a layer of a ceramic-like material coated with a platinum-like material and having an outer coating of an iridium-like material.

12. An improved two-stroke internal combustion engine having pistons, cylinders forming combustion chambers, intake and exhaust valves, and having means for injecting a combustion fuel and introducing air into the cylinders, means for igniting the fuel and air mixture in the cylinders and means for exhausting gases from the cylinders following combustion, the improvement comprising continuously adjustable intake and exhaust valve control means, adjustable on demand, which provide a variable air charge and compression ratio coupled with a fixed, high expansion ratio, said expansion ratio being at least 17:

1, and means for metering said combustion fuel injected into the combustion chamber just before the end of compression to stoichiometric proportions to match the air charge at all engine loads.

13. The improved engine of claim 12 having means for adjustably retarding the closing of the intake valves on demand and during engine operation to close each intake valve after the corresponding piston reaches bottom dead center, thereby reducing air pumping losses by eliminating throttling while adjusting the air charge on demand.

14. The improved engine of claim 12 having a continuous, high temperature, direct contact heating element glow plug for igniting combustion.

15. The improved engine of claim 12 having means for providing that no lubricated, sliding surface within each cylinder is directly exposed to combustion chamber gases.

16. The improved engine of claim 12 having means for injecting water into the combustion chambers after air intake, fuel injection and after a part or all of combustion, in proportion to the amount of fuel injected.

17. The improved engine of claim 12 having means for effecting a piston-to-cylinder, oil-pressure-balanced gas seal and thereby permitting no gas leakage, a shorter piston design, lower friction losses and less wear.

18. The improved engine of claim 12 having means for adjustably retarding the closing of the exhaust valve on demand and during engine operation to close each exhaust valve after the corresponding piston reaches bottom dead center to effect variable air charge and compression ratio and a fixed high expansion ratio.

19. The improved engine of claim 12 having means for partially opening, during the full two-stroke cycle, at least one valve per cylinder to provide a controlled gas leak from the combustion chamber for enhanced engine braking.

20. The improved engine of claim 12 having thermal insulation on the surfaces of the combustion chambers comprising a layer of a ceramic-like material coated with a platinum-like material and having an outer coating of an iridium-like material.