US3703886A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pumpless stratified charge gas engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-11-09
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1990-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A pumpless four cycle internal combustion engine for lighterthan-air gaseous fuels such as natural gas. The gas at a controlled low pressure is admitted to a gas chamber adjoining the engine combustion chamber by a check valve during the intake stroke while unthrottled air enters the combustion chamber and is given a swirling motion by suitable means at the air intake valve. During the compression stroke, the swirling air draws the gaseous fuel from the gas chamber and, due to the lower specific weight of the fuel, swirls the fuel spirally toward a centrally located glow plug. At the end of the compression stroke, the fuel charge is stratified around the glow plug in a concentric pattern whereupon ignition occurs.
Inventors
- 👤 Julius E Witzky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:57
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B43/00; F02B17/00; F02B17/005; F02B75/00; F02B75/02; F02B2075/022; F02B2075/027; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
An internal combustion engine for lighter-than-air gaseous fuels comprising cylinder and piston means defining a combustion chamber, means for charging said combustion chamber with air and discharging products of combustion therefrom, a gas chamber communicating with said combustion chamber, a check valve associated with said gas chamber and adapted for delivering a charge of lighter-than-air gaseous fuel from a low pressure source to said gas chamber during the intake stroke of said piston means, a glow plug extending into said combustion chamber substantially along the cylindrical axis of said combustion chamber, and means associated with said charging means for imparting a swirling motion to the intake air entering said combustion chamber, said gas chamber opening into said combustion chamber along the path of the swirling intake air to permit the swirling intake air to draw the gaseous fuel from the gas chamber and provide a centrifugal separation of the air and lighter fuel and hence a spiral movement of the fuel toward the axis of the combustion chamber to provide a stratification of the fuel charge around said glow plug for ignition thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
An internal combustion engine for lighter-than-air gaseous fuels comprising cylinder and piston means defining a combustion chamber, means for charging said combustion chamber with air and discharging products of combustion therefrom, a gas chamber communicating with said combustion chamber, a check valve associated with said gas chamber and adapted for delivering a charge of lighter-than-air gaseous fuel from a low pressure source to said gas chamber during the intake stroke of said piston means, a glow plug extending into said combustion chamber substantially along the cylindrical axis of said combustion chamber, and means associated with said charging means for imparting a swirling motion to the intake air entering said combustion chamber, said gas chamber opening into said combustion chamber along the path of the swirling intake air to permit the swirling intake air to draw the gaseous fuel from the gas chamber and provide a centrifugal separation of the air and lighter fuel and hence a spiral movement of the fuel toward the axis of the combustion chamber to provide a stratification of the fuel charge around said glow plug for ignition thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
233 words
A four cycle internal combustion engine for lighter-than-air gaseous fuels comprising a cylinder block having a cylinder therein, a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder, means connected with said piston for translating reciprocatory piston motion into rotary motion, a cylinder head secured to said cylinder block, said cylinder, piston and cylinder head defining a combustion chamber, means in said cylinder head for charging said combustion chamber with air and discharging products of combustion therefrom, a gas chamber in said cylinder head communicating with said combustion chamber, a check valve associated with said gas chamber and adapted for delivering a charge of lighter-than-air gaseous fuel from a low pressure source to said gas chamber during the intake stroke of said piston, a glow plug in said cylinder head extending into said combustion chamber substantially along the cylindrical axis of said combustion chamber, and means associated with said charging means for imparting a swirling motion to the intake air entering said combustion chamber, said gas chamber opening into said combustion chamber along the path of the swirling intake air to permit the swirling intake air to draw the gaseous fuel from the gas chamber and provide a centrifugal separation of the air and lighter fuel and hence a spiral movement of the fuel toward the axis of the combustion chamber to provide a stratification of the fuel charge around said glow plug for ignition thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
233 words
A four cycle internal combustion engine for lighter-than-air gaseous fuels comprising a cylinder block having a cylinder therein, a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder, means connected with said piston for translating reciprocatory piston motion into rotary motion, a cylinder head secured to said cylinder block, said cylinder, piston and cylinder head defining a combustion chamber, means in said cylinder head for charging said combustion chamber with air and discharging products of combustion therefrom, a gas chamber in said cylinder head communicating with said combustion chamber, a check valve associated with said gas chamber and adapted for delivering a charge of lighter-than-air gaseous fuel from a low pressure source to said gas chamber during the intake stroke of said piston, a glow plug in said cylinder head extending into said combustion chamber substantially along the cylindrical axis of said combustion chamber, and means associated with said charging means for imparting a swirling motion to the intake air entering said combustion chamber, said gas chamber opening into said combustion chamber along the path of the swirling intake air to permit the swirling intake air to draw the gaseous fuel from the gas chamber and provide a centrifugal separation of the air and lighter fuel and hence a spiral movement of the fuel toward the axis of the combustion chamber to provide a stratification of the fuel charge around said glow plug for ignition thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
294 words
A four cycle internal combustion engine for lighter-than-air gaseous fuels comprising a cylinder block having a cylinder therein, a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder, means connected with said piston for translating reciprocatory piston motion into rotary motion, a cylinder head secured to said cylinder block, said cylinder, piston and cylinder head defining a combustion chamber, means in said cylinder head for charging said combustion chamber with air and discharging products of combustion therefrom, said latter means comprising an air intake port and valve, and an exhaust port and valve in said cylinder head, a gas chamber in said cylinder head communicating with said combustion chamber, conduit means for delivering a gaseous fuel from a low pressure source to said gas chamber, a check valve connecting said conduit means with said gas chamber and adapted for delivering a charge of lighter-than-air gaseOus fuel from a low pressure source to said gas chamber during the intake stroke of said piston, a glow plug in said cylinder head extending into said combustion chamber substantially along the cylindrical axis of said combustion chamber, an axially concentric cylindrical auxiliary combustion chamber in said piston opening into said combustion chamber, and means associated with said charging means for imparting a swirling motion to the intake air entering said combustion chamber, said gas chamber opening into said combustion chamber along the path of the swirling intake air to permit the swirling intake air to draw the gaseous fuel from the gas chamber and provide a centrifugal separation of the air and lighter fuel and hence a spiral movement of the fuel toward the axis of the combustion chamber during the compression stroke of the piston to provide a stratification of the fuel charge around said glow plug for ignition thereby.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
294 words
A four cycle internal combustion engine for lighter-than-air gaseous fuels comprising a cylinder block having a cylinder therein, a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder, means connected with said piston for translating reciprocatory piston motion into rotary motion, a cylinder head secured to said cylinder block, said cylinder, piston and cylinder head defining a combustion chamber, means in said cylinder head for charging said combustion chamber with air and discharging products of combustion therefrom, said latter means comprising an air intake port and valve, and an exhaust port and valve in said cylinder head, a gas chamber in said cylinder head communicating with said combustion chamber, conduit means for delivering a gaseous fuel from a low pressure source to said gas chamber, a check valve connecting said conduit means with said gas chamber and adapted for delivering a charge of lighter-than-air gaseOus fuel from a low pressure source to said gas chamber during the intake stroke of said piston, a glow plug in said cylinder head extending into said combustion chamber substantially along the cylindrical axis of said combustion chamber, an axially concentric cylindrical auxiliary combustion chamber in said piston opening into said combustion chamber, and means associated with said charging means for imparting a swirling motion to the intake air entering said combustion chamber, said gas chamber opening into said combustion chamber along the path of the swirling intake air to permit the swirling intake air to draw the gaseous fuel from the gas chamber and provide a centrifugal separation of the air and lighter fuel and hence a spiral movement of the fuel toward the axis of the combustion chamber during the compression stroke of the piston to provide a stratification of the fuel charge around said glow plug for ignition thereby.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |