US4092967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
I.C. Engines
Assignee: Ricardo PLC
•
Filing: 1976-10-06
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Granted: 1978-06-06
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Expires: 1996-10-06
Abstract
Abstract An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type with injection of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, provided with catalytic means for initiating the combustion of the air/fuel charge in the combustion chamber of the or each cylinder. The major part of the combustion chamber of each cylinder is afforded by a recess formed in the piston crown, and a catalytic element of mesh, grid, perforated or sintered or other construction, is carried by the piston in a position at least partly overlying the said recess, the fuel being injected into the said recess to contact and pass through the catalytic element, being ignited by its contact with the catalytic element.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Alan Haslett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:45
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B23/00; F02B23/02; F02B23/06; F02B23/0603; F02B23/0636; F02B51/00; F02B51/02; F02F; F02F3/00; F02F3/28; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B2023/0606; F02B2023/0609; F02B75/00; F02B75/12; F02B2075/125; F02B23/0618; F02B23/0621; F02B23/0624; F02B23/0645; F02B23/0669; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type having a cylinder with a combustion chamber, and a piston with a crown in the cylinder, the major portion of the volume of said combustion chamber being afforded by a recess formed in the crown of the piston, the recess having a bottom, a catalytic element in the cylinder carried by the piston and mounted in a position overlying the bottom of said recess, and means for injecting fuel into said recess, when the piston is at about its top-dead-centre position, in a direction such that substantially the whole of the injected fuel will contact the surface of the catalytic element to initiate its combustion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type having a cylinder with a combustion chamber, and a piston with a crown in the cylinder, the major portion of the volume of said combustion chamber being afforded by a recess formed in the crown of the piston, the recess having a bottom, a catalytic element in the cylinder carried by the piston and mounted in a position overlying the bottom of said recess, and means for injecting fuel into said recess, when the piston is at about its top-dead-centre position, in a direction such that substantially the whole of the injected fuel will contact the surface of the catalytic element to initiate its combustion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 in which the catalytic element has a structure formed with multiple apertures extending through its thickness, through which apertures the injected fuel mixed with combustion air passes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 2 in which the catalytic element is of grid construction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 2 in which the catalytic element is of matrix construction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 2 in which the catalytic element is of sintered construction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 2 in which the catalytic element extends completely across the open top of the recess, whereby the fuel/air mixture leaving the recess passes outwardly through the catalytic element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 6 in which the catalytic element is formed with an aperture through which the fuel is injected into the interior of the recess by the said means for injection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 7 in which the catalytic element is of basket shape and construction and is mounted in the said recess, with the top wall of the basket extending completely across the open top of the recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8 in which the interior of the basket-shaped catalytic element is divided into a plurality of compartments by at least one dividing wall extending transversely to the said top wall and depending therefrom, the dividing wall also being permeable to the flow of combustion gas, and in which the said means for fuel injection is arranged to inject fuel through the said aperture separately into each of said compartments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9, in which the said recess is cylindrical in form and in which the basket-shaped catalytic element is also cylindrical in form and fits the recess.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 10 in which the said dividing wall extends diametrically across the basket-shaped catalytic element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9 in which there are more than two of the said compartments in the cylindrical catalytic element, separated by radial dividing walls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An internal combustion engine as in claim 2 wherein the catalytic element is of gauze construction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An internal combustion engine as in claim 2 wherein the catalytic element is of mesh construction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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GB414398A
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US2978360A
Cited
US3444098A
Cited
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Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-05 | 1981-12-05 | 1982-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-05 | 1985-12-05 | 1986-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-05 | 1989-12-05 | 1990-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |