US3970053A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internal combustion engines
Assignee: Fiat SpA
•
Filing: 1974-10-25
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Granted: 1976-07-20
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Expires: 1994-10-25
Abstract
Abstract An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a combustion chamber externally of the cylinder and communicating with the cylinder, and spark ignition means, which preferably comprises a first electrode supported in a central region of the combustion chamber and a spark plug having a single electrode extending into the combustion chamber and defining with the first electrode a spark gap, for initiating from said central region of the combustion chamber combustion of a fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Lindsay Goodacre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:04
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P13/00; F02B; F02B19/00; F02B19/12; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B75/00; F02B75/02; F02B2075/022; F02B2075/027; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A internal combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, means for admitting air into said cylinder for compression by the piston, a substantially spherical combustion chamber externally of the cylinder, transfer passage means communicating the combustion chamber with the cylinder and through which air compressed by the piston can pass into the combustion chamber, fuel injector means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, and spark ignition means for igniting a fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber, the spark ignition means comprising a first electrode extending diametrically of the combustion chamber and a second electrode which extends into the combustion chamber and defines with said first electrode a spark gap located in a central region of the combustion chamber, said transfer passage means extending tangentially of the combustion chamber in a plane perpendicular to said first electrode whereby air compressed by the piston and transferred to the combustion chamber will be caused to rotate within the combustion chamber about the axis provided by said first electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A internal combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, means for admitting air into said cylinder for compression by the piston, a substantially spherical combustion chamber externally of the cylinder, transfer passage means communicating the combustion chamber with the cylinder and through which air compressed by the piston can pass into the combustion chamber, fuel injector means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, and spark ignition means for igniting a fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber, the spark ignition means comprising a first electrode extending diametrically of the combustion chamber and a second electrode which extends into the combustion chamber and defines with said first electrode a spark gap located in a central region of the combustion chamber, said transfer passage means extending tangentially of the combustion chamber in a plane perpendicular to said first electrode whereby air compressed by the piston and transferred to the combustion chamber will be caused to rotate within the combustion chamber about the axis provided by said first electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the spark ignition means comprises a spark plug having a single electrode extending into the combustion chamber and providing said second electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the single electrode of the spark plug extends radially of the combustion chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the single electrode of the spark plug terminates short of the first electrode so that the spark gap is defined between said first electrode and an end face of the single electrode of the spark plug.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the first electrode has an aperture therein and the single electrode of the spark plug extends into said aperture so that the spark gap is defined between the single electrode of the spark plug and the wall of the aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the single electrode of the spark plug extends to one side of the first electrode so that the spark gap is defined between a side face of the single electrode and the first electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the transfer passage means comprises a single straight-sided passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the transfer passage is slot-like in cross-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the transfer passage is, in cross-section, in the form of an arcuate slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is such that, substantially at the moment that ignition occurs, the transfer passage means will be substantially closed by the piston so that combustion takes place substantially completely outside the cylinder within the combustion chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein means is located within the combustion chamber providing a surface onto which fuel can be injected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein said surface providing means comprises said first electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the first electrode comprises an element of electrically conductive material which provides said surface and which is supported within the combustion chamber by one or more spider arms which electrically connect the element to the wall of the combustion chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein said surface providing means is spherical.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein said surface providing means comprises a bar which extends diametrically of the combustion chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein said surface providing means comprises a bar extending diametrically of the combustion chamber and having enlarged end portions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder is provided with a valve-controlled inlet port whereby air can be admitted into the cylinder for compression by the piston and a valve-controlled outlet port whereby products of combustion can be exhausted from the engine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber is formed in a cylinder head of the engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 18, wherein the transfer passage means is formed in the cylinder head of the engine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the spark plug makes screw-threaded engagement with a port in the peripheral wall of the combustion chamber and wherein a lock nut is provided on the spark plug which can be tightened against a surface surrounding said port to lock the spark plug in an adjusted position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
An internal combustion engine according to claim 20, wherein said surface surrounding the port is a frusto-conical surface which tapers inwardly towards the port and the lock nut has a corresponding frusto-conical surface adapted to cooperate therewith.
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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) | 1979-07-20 | 1980-01-19 | 1980-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-20 | 1984-01-19 | 1984-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-20 | 1988-01-19 | 1988-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |