US3921605A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Plasma jet ignition engine and method
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1974-11-18
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A blind cavity precombustion chamber engine has a plasma jet ignition system including a spark plug for each cylinder having an extended electrode with its spark gap located in the turbulent gas zone between the center of the prechamber and the mouth of a restricted orifice connecting the cavity with the main combustion chamber. A high energy ignition system is included which causes a sustained high current arc at the spark gap that avoids arc blowout and is capable of ionizing and igniting very lean turbulent air-fuel mixtures. The sustained arc initiates and continues combustion in the prechamber, raising its pressure and expelling burning gases through the orifice into the main chamber. The arc may be maintained for a period sufficient to further ionize the gases as they move through the arc and into the main chamber to create a plasma torch or jet of burning products that ignites the lean mixture in the main chamber. In one embodiment, a higher level of energy is created in the combustion products being expelled from the blind chamber by discharging a high current across the spark gap at the time the burning gases are being expelled through the orifice, thus further ionizing the gases and creating a higher energy plasma of burning and burned gases that is expelled into the main chamber to ignite the mixture therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Floyd A Wyczalek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:34
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B19/00; F02B19/12; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
The combination in an internal combustion engine of main combustion chamber defining means including a closed chamber and a member movable therein to vary the volume of said chamber, said movable member being connected with an output shaft for delivery of power thereto, means for cyclically admitting to said combustion chamber combustible air-fuel mixtures having controlled air-fuel ratios substantially leaner than stoichiometric, means for cyclically discharging burned gases from said combustion chamber, and plasma jet ignition means including a closed auxiliary chamber adjacent said main chamber and connected therewith by a restricted orifice at least when the main chamber is near its smallest volume, spark ignition means mounted in a wall of said auxiliary chamber and having an electrode extending therein and forming a spark gap at a pont between the orifice and the center of the auxiliary chamber, said spark gap being in the flow path for highly turbulent gases being forced into or discharging from said auxiliary chamber through said restricted orifice, and electrical ignition means connected with said spArk ignition means and cyclically operable to cause an arc at said spark gap having a minimum energy level on the order of 50 millijoules and a minimum peak current on the order of 150 milliamps to ignite and propagate flame combustion within the turbulent lean air-fuel mixtures in and adjacent to the spark gap in said auxiliary chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
The combination in an internal combustion engine of main combustion chamber defining means including a closed chamber and a member movable therein to vary the volume of said chamber, said movable member being connected with an output shaft for delivery of power thereto, means for cyclically admitting to said combustion chamber combustible air-fuel mixtures having controlled air-fuel ratios substantially leaner than stoichiometric, means for cyclically discharging burned gases from said combustion chamber, and plasma jet ignition means including a closed auxiliary chamber adjacent said main chamber and connected therewith by a restricted orifice at least when the main chamber is near its smallest volume, spark ignition means mounted in a wall of said auxiliary chamber and having an electrode extending therein and forming a spark gap at a pont between the orifice and the center of the auxiliary chamber, said spark gap being in the flow path for highly turbulent gases being forced into or discharging from said auxiliary chamber through said restricted orifice, and electrical ignition means connected with said spArk ignition means and cyclically operable to cause an arc at said spark gap having a minimum energy level on the order of 50 millijoules and a minimum peak current on the order of 150 milliamps to ignite and propagate flame combustion within the turbulent lean air-fuel mixtures in and adjacent to the spark gap in said auxiliary chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
291 words
The combination in an internal combustion engine of main combustion chamber defining means including a closed chamber and a member moveable therein to vary the volume of said chamber, said movable member being connected with an output shaft for delivery of power thereto, means for cyclically admitting to said combustion chamber combustible air-fuel mixtures having controlled air-fuel ratios substantially leaner than stoichiometric, means for cyclically discharging burned gases from said combustion chamber, and plasma jet ignition means including a closed auxiliary chamber adjacent said main chamber and connected therewith by a restricted orifice at least when said main chamber is near its smallest volume, spark ignition means mounted in a wall of said auxiliary chamber and having an electrode extending therein and forming a spark gap at a point between the orifice and the center of the auxiliary chamber, said spark gap being in the flow path for highly turbulent gases being forced into or discharging from said auxiliary chamber through said restricted orifice and into said main chamber, and electrical ignition means connected with said spark ignition means and cyclically operable to cause a sustained high energy arc at said spark gap, said arc having sufficient energy to ignite and propagate flame combustion within the turbulent lean air-fuel mixtures in and adjacent the spark gap in said auxiliary chamber, said ignition means being further capable to discharge a high current of at least 5 amperes across said spark gap during the existance of said arc and coincidentally with the expulsion of burning gases from said auxiliary chamber due to combustion therein, whereby the burned and burning gases are ionized to a high energy plasma which is expelled into the main combustion chamber for ignition of the lean air-fuel mixture therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
291 words
The combination in an internal combustion engine of main combustion chamber defining means including a closed chamber and a member moveable therein to vary the volume of said chamber, said movable member being connected with an output shaft for delivery of power thereto, means for cyclically admitting to said combustion chamber combustible air-fuel mixtures having controlled air-fuel ratios substantially leaner than stoichiometric, means for cyclically discharging burned gases from said combustion chamber, and plasma jet ignition means including a closed auxiliary chamber adjacent said main chamber and connected therewith by a restricted orifice at least when said main chamber is near its smallest volume, spark ignition means mounted in a wall of said auxiliary chamber and having an electrode extending therein and forming a spark gap at a point between the orifice and the center of the auxiliary chamber, said spark gap being in the flow path for highly turbulent gases being forced into or discharging from said auxiliary chamber through said restricted orifice and into said main chamber, and electrical ignition means connected with said spark ignition means and cyclically operable to cause a sustained high energy arc at said spark gap, said arc having sufficient energy to ignite and propagate flame combustion within the turbulent lean air-fuel mixtures in and adjacent the spark gap in said auxiliary chamber, said ignition means being further capable to discharge a high current of at least 5 amperes across said spark gap during the existance of said arc and coincidentally with the expulsion of burning gases from said auxiliary chamber due to combustion therein, whereby the burned and burning gases are ionized to a high energy plasma which is expelled into the main combustion chamber for ignition of the lean air-fuel mixture therein.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
216 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine of the type having a main combustion chamber connected by a restricted orifice with a small auxiliary combustion chamber having a spark gap between the center of the auxiliary chamber and the orifice and means for admitting a lean homogeneous air-fuel mixture into said main chamber and compressing said mixture into said main and auxiliary combustion chambers, said method comprising the steps of providing a homogeneous lean air-fuel mixture to the main combustion chamber, compressing said mixture in the main chamber whereby a portion thereof is forced through the orifice into the auxiliary combustion chamber moving with high turbulence past and around the spark gap, and impressing a high voltage across the spark gap to break down the resistance of the gap and sufficient to create an arc across the gap having a minimum energy level on the order of 50 millijoules and a minimum peak current on the order of 150 milliamps to ignite the air-fuel mixture passing through and adjacent to the spark gap, whereby flame combustion is propagated within the auxiliary chamber, causing expansion of the gases therein and forcing burning gases through the orifice to form a flame plasma jet in the main chamber, thereby igniting the lean mixture in the main combustion chamber.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
216 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine of the type having a main combustion chamber connected by a restricted orifice with a small auxiliary combustion chamber having a spark gap between the center of the auxiliary chamber and the orifice and means for admitting a lean homogeneous air-fuel mixture into said main chamber and compressing said mixture into said main and auxiliary combustion chambers, said method comprising the steps of providing a homogeneous lean air-fuel mixture to the main combustion chamber, compressing said mixture in the main chamber whereby a portion thereof is forced through the orifice into the auxiliary combustion chamber moving with high turbulence past and around the spark gap, and impressing a high voltage across the spark gap to break down the resistance of the gap and sufficient to create an arc across the gap having a minimum energy level on the order of 50 millijoules and a minimum peak current on the order of 150 milliamps to ignite the air-fuel mixture passing through and adjacent to the spark gap, whereby flame combustion is propagated within the auxiliary chamber, causing expansion of the gases therein and forcing burning gases through the orifice to form a flame plasma jet in the main chamber, thereby igniting the lean mixture in the main combustion chamber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
291 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine of the type having a main combustion chamber connected by a restricted orifice with a small auxiliary combustion chamber having a spark gap between the center of the auxiliary chamber and the orifice and means for admitting a lean homogeneous air-fuel mixture into said main chamber and compressing said mixture into said main and auxiliary combustion chamberS, said method comprising the steps of providing a homogeneous lean air-fuel mixture to the main combustion chamber, compressing said mixture in the main chamber whereby a portion thereof is forced through the orifice into the auxiliary combustion chamber moving with high turbulence past and around the spark gap, impressing a high voltage across the spark gap to break down the resistance of the gap and create an arc across the gap having a current and energy level sufficiently high to dependably ignite the air-fuel mixture passing through and acjacent to the orifice, whereby flame combustion is propagated within the auxiliary chamber, causing expansion of the gases therein and forcing burning gases through the orifice to form a flame torch in the main chamber, and dumping a high current of between 5 and 15 amperes across the pre-ionized spark gap at a predetermined interval after the initiation of the arc, thereby further ionizing the burned and burning gases in the arc and forming a high energy plasma, said high current flow being timed to coincide with the expulsion of gases from the auxiliary chamber into the main chamber so that the high energy plasma is forced in torch like fashion into the main chamber increasing the energy of the flaming gases and resulting in ignition and burning of the lean air-fuel mixture in the main combustion chamber.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
291 words
The method of operating an internal combustion engine of the type having a main combustion chamber connected by a restricted orifice with a small auxiliary combustion chamber having a spark gap between the center of the auxiliary chamber and the orifice and means for admitting a lean homogeneous air-fuel mixture into said main chamber and compressing said mixture into said main and auxiliary combustion chamberS, said method comprising the steps of providing a homogeneous lean air-fuel mixture to the main combustion chamber, compressing said mixture in the main chamber whereby a portion thereof is forced through the orifice into the auxiliary combustion chamber moving with high turbulence past and around the spark gap, impressing a high voltage across the spark gap to break down the resistance of the gap and create an arc across the gap having a current and energy level sufficiently high to dependably ignite the air-fuel mixture passing through and acjacent to the orifice, whereby flame combustion is propagated within the auxiliary chamber, causing expansion of the gases therein and forcing burning gases through the orifice to form a flame torch in the main chamber, and dumping a high current of between 5 and 15 amperes across the pre-ionized spark gap at a predetermined interval after the initiation of the arc, thereby further ionizing the burned and burning gases in the arc and forming a high energy plasma, said high current flow being timed to coincide with the expulsion of gases from the auxiliary chamber into the main chamber so that the high energy plasma is forced in torch like fashion into the main chamber increasing the energy of the flaming gases and resulting in ignition and burning of the lean air-fuel mixture in the main combustion chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |