Stratified charge type combustion process for internal combustion engine and internal combustion engine utilizing same

Claim 2

A stratified charge type combustion process for an overhead valve type of an internal combustion engine, wherein an inflammable mixture of air and fuel supplied into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine is ignited and burned, comprising the steps of supplying an inflammable mixture into a peripheral portion of a combustion chamber during an intake stroke in order to make said inflammable mixture stay in said peripheral portion of said combustion chamber, supplying exhaust gases into a central portion of said combustion chamber during said intake stroke, independently of said inflammable mixture, in order to make said exhaust gases stay in said central portion of said combustion chamber without diffusing throughout said combustion chamber, forming a region containing a high concentration of exhaust gases in said central portion of said combustion chamber and another region containing said inflammable mixture charge in a manner to encompass said region therewith within said combustion chamber during a compression stroke of said engine, thereby providing stratified charges of said one region of said exhaust gases and another region of inflammable mixture charge, and igniting said inflammable mixture charge by ignition means and burning said stratified charges of said exhaust gases and inflammable mixture charge so as to make the combustion proceed from the peripheral portion of said combustion chamber to the central portion thereof.

Claim 3

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type wherein an inflammable mixture charge of air and fuel may be supplied to a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine, comprising an opening means opening into a central portion of the combustion chamber, and being directed towards the axis direction of said combustion chamber for supplying exhaust gases into said central portion, an exhaust gas passage, an exhaust gas supply passage communicating with said exhaust gas passage which exhausts the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber, and with said opening means, for supplying said exhaust gases from said exhaust gas passage to said opening means, valve means including a valve member, said valve means being arranged for controlling opening or closing of said valve member so as to allow the communication of said opening means with said exhaust gas passage during an intake stroke of said engine, said valve means being located in said exhaust gas supply passage, throttle means for supplying a predetermined quantity of said exhaust gases to said opening means, said throttle means being located in said exhaust gas supply passage, intake valve means for supplying an inflammable gas mixture to the peripheral portion of said combustion chamber, and ignition means for igniting said inflammable mixture so as to make the combustion proceed from the peripheral portion of said combustion chamber to the central portion thereof, whereby an inflammable mixture is supplied to said peripheral portion of said combustion chamber and independently of said inflammable mixture exhaust gases are supplied to said central portion of said combustion chamber during an intake stroke of said engine so as to make said exhaust gases stay in said central portion of said combustion chamber without diffusing throughout said combustion chamber, the purpose being to form stratified charges consisting of a region containing a high concentration of exhaust gases in said central portion of said combustion chamber and another region containing said inflammable mixture charge in a manner to encompass said exhaust gas region therewith within said combustion chamber during the compression stroke of said engine, in preparation for igniting said inflammable mixture charge by said ignition means, and burning said stratified charges of said exhaust gases and said inflammable mixture.

Claim 4

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type wherein an inflammable mixture charge of air and fuel may be supplied to a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine, comprising an opening means opening into a central portion of the combustion chamber, and being directed towards the axis direction of said combustion chamber for supplying exhaust gases into said central portion, an exhaust gas passage, an exhaust gas supply passage communicating with said exhaust gas passage which exhausts the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber, and with said opening means, for supplying said exhaust gases from said exhaust gas passage to said opening means, valve means including a valve member, said valve means being arranged for controlling opening or closing of said valve member so as to allow the communication of said opening means with said exhaust gas passage during an intake stroke of said engine, said valve means being located in said exhaust gas supply passage, throttle means for supplying a predetermined quantity of said exhaust gases to said opening means, said throttle means being located in said exhaust gas supply passage, intake valve means for supplying an inflammable gas mixture to the peripheral portion of said combustion chamber, and ignition means for igniting said inflammable mixture so as to make the combustion proceed from the peripheral portion of said combustion chamber to the central portion thereof, whereby an inflammable mixture is supplied to said peripheral portion of said combustion chamber and independently of said inflammable mixture exhaust gases are supplied to said central portion of said combustion chamber during an intake stroke of said engine so as to make said exhaust gases stay in said central portion of said combustion chamber without diffusing throughout said combustion chamber, the purpose being to form stratified charges consisting of a region containing a high concentration of exhaust gases in said central portion of said combustion chamber and another region containing said inflammable mixture charge in a manner to encompass said exhaust gas region therewith within said combustion chamber during the compression stroke of said engine, in preparation for igniting said inflammable mixture charge by said ignition means, and burning said stratified charges of said exhaust gases and said inflammable mixture.

Claim 5

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said throttle means for supplying a predetermined quantity of said exhaust gases to said opening is arranged and constructed to control the throttle setting thereof in accordance with at least one of the revolution, load and boost pressure of said internal combustion engine.

Claim 6

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said opening means comprises an opening hole opening within said combustion chamber, said valve member of said valve means having a valve head and being disposed within said opening hole in said combustion chamber so as to reciprocate therein, thereby intermittently forming the opening between said opening hole and said valve member.

Claim 7

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein said combustion chamber is defined by a concave wall having a bottom portion, and said opening hole is provided at said bottom portion of said concave wall.

Claim 8

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 5, wherein the cross-sectional area of the space formed by said concave portion gradually increases from the opening part of said concave portion connected to said combustion chamber to said bottom portion of said concave portion in which said valve member is provided.

Claim 9

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 5, wherein the average diameter do and the depth L of said concave portion have a relation as follows: L>0.5 do.

Claim 10

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein said engine has a cylinder, and said average diameter do and depth L of said concave portion have a relation as follows: do<L<2.5 do.

Claim 11

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 8, wherein the average cross section Ao of said concave portion and the cross section A of the cylinder bore of said engine have a relation as follows: 0.002 A<Ao<0.09 A.

Claim 12

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein said throttle means is arranged and constructed to supply a predetermined amount V E of said exhaust gases having the following ratio to the amount V I of any inflammable mixture introduced into said combustion chamber: 0.03 V.sub.I <V.sub.E <0.12 V.sub.I.

Claim 13

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 10, further comprising an ignition plug and a piston having a top surface in said cylinder and wherein the axial direction of said opening ranges through an angle between a line from said center of said opening means to a point positioned at a distance of 3/4 d from the center of the top face of the piston when positioned at top dead center, d being the distance between the upper surface of said combustion chamber and said top face of said piston at top dead center and a line from the center of said opening means to the center of the top face of said piston when positioned at 90 degrees after top dead center, in vertical plane, and ranges through an angle between two circumscribing tangential lines running from the center of said opening means to a circle having a diameter (2/5) D, D being the diameter of the cylinder bore of said engine, and said ignition plug for igniting an introduced inflammable mixture charge being positioned in a region between a circle of a diameter D/2 and a circle of a diameter D.

Claim 14

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 11, comprising a crank shaft in said engine and a cam shaft operatively connected with said engine for being synchronously driven thereby and, wherein said valve means comprises a hydraulic valve drive means comprising a pump means for providing a fluid under pressure, said pump means being synchronously driven by said crank shaft of said engine, a fluid supply passage for supplying said fluid under pressure from said pump means, a valve lifter comprising a cylinder connected to said fluid supply passage, a valve member having a spring means and a valve head provided at said spring means, a piston is disposed within said cylinder and connected to said valve member, and said throttle means comprises a synchronizing valve connected to said opening means comprising a case body disposed at said engine, a rotary disc having an arcuate slot disposed in said case body and synchronously driven by said cam shaft of said engine, an annular member having a communicating hole disposed within said case body and an exhaust gas sump formed by said case body and said annular member and connected to said exhaust gas supply passage and further comprises an orifice having a predetermined throttle effect.

Claim 15

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 12, further comprising a cylinder block including a cylinder head associated with said combustion chamber, said combustion chamber being hemi-spherical in shape, an egg-shaped combustion chamber proximate said combustion chamber, a nozzle means between said combustion and egg-shaped combustion chambers and wherein said opening means is provided at the part of said cylinder head having a hemi-spherical shaped combustion chamber, the diameter of the opening of said concave portion is smaller than that of a connecting port with said exhaust gas supply passage, said exhaust gas supply passage has a filter for excluding dusts in the exhaust gases introduced from said exhaust passage, and said engine has an intake pipe leading into said combustion chamber and opposed to said exhaust passage.

Claim 16

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein said valve means comprises a hydraulic valve drive means comprising a pump means for producing a fluid under pressure which is synchronously driven by a crank shaft of said engine, a fluid supply passage for supplying said fluid under pressure from said pump means, a valve lifter comprising a cylinder connected to said fluid supply passage, a piston disposed within said cylinder and connected to a valve member having a spring means and a valve head provided at said spring means, said throttle means comprises a control valve for controlling the throttle amount thereof in accordance with at least one of the revolutions, boost pressure and load of said internal combustion chamber and further comprises an orifice having a predetermined throttle effect.

Claim 17

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 14, wherein said opening means has a concave portion, said combustion chamber is hemi-spherical in shape and has an upper portion, said exhaust gas supply passage has a connecting port leading into said combustion chamber, said combustion chamber has a curved intake pipe connected thereto, and, said concave portion of said opening means is provided at said upper part of said hemi-spherical shaped combustion chamber, said hemi-spherical shaped combustion chamber has an egg-shaped concave portion, a nozzle and a spark plug connecting said egg-shaped concave portion and said combustion chamber, the diameter of said opening of said egg-shaped concave portion is smaller than that of said connecting port of said exhaust gas supply passage, said exhaust gas supply passage has a filter for excluding dusts in the exhaust gases introduced from said exhaust passage, said exhaust passage is provided parallel to a curved intake pipe for introducing the inflammable mixture into said combustion chamber with a spiral pattern about the axis of said cylinder.

Claim 18

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 11, comprising a crank shaft in said engine and wherein said valve means comprises a hydraulic valve drive means comprising a pump means for providing a fluid under pressure which is synchronously driven by said crank shaft, a fluid supply passage for supplying said fluid under pressure from said pump means, a valve lifter comprising a cylinder connected to said fluid supply passage, a valve member having a spring means and a valve head provided at said spring means, a piston disposed within said cylinder and connected to said valve member and said throttle means comprises an orifice having a predetermined throttle effect.

Claim 19

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 16, wherein said opening means has a concave portion, said engine has a cylinder head, said cylinder head has a concave portion, and a side wall, said engine has an intake pipe leading to said combustion chamber, said concave portion of said opening means is provided at a part adjacent to said side wall of said cylinder head, a preliminary combustion chamber has a fuel injection valve and a communicating hole connecting said preliminary combustion chamber and said combustion chamber, and said preliminary combustion chamber is disposed in opposition to said concave portion in said cylinder head, the openings of said communicating hole and said concave portion are directed to the axis of said combustion chamber, said exhaust gas supply passage has a filter for excluding dusts in exhaust gases introduced from said exhaust passage which is parallel to said intake pipe.

Claim 20

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 16, wherein said opening means has a concave portion, said engine has a cylinder head, said cylinder head has a concave portion and a side wall, said engine has an intake pipe leading to said combusion chamber, said concave portion of said opening means is provided at a part adjacent to said side wall of said cylinder head, a preliminary combustion chamber has a fuel injection valve and a communicating hole connecting said preliminary combustion chamber and said combustion chamber, and said preliminary chamber is disposed in opposition to said concave portion in said cylinder head, the opening of said communicating hole is directed in a tangential direction of said combustion chamber, said opening of said concave portion is directed to the axis of said combustion chamber, said exhaust gas supply passage has a filter for excluding dusts in exhaust gases introduced from said exhaust pipe which is disposed parallel to said intake pipe.

Claim 21

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 16, wherein said opening means has a concave portion, said engine has a cylinder having a cylinder head having a side wall and a concave portion and a piston therein having a concave top portion, said engine further has an intake pipe leading into said combustion chamber, said concave portion of said opening means is disposed at a part adjacent to said side wall of said cylinder head, a fuel injection valve is disposed opposite to said concave portion of said cylinder head, the opening of said opening hole is directed to the axis of said combustion chamber, the injection hole of said fuel injection valve faces said concave portion of said piston, said piston having a flat bottom surface, said opening means is directed to the axis of said combustion chamber, said exhaust gas supply passage has a filter for excluding dusts in exhaust gases introduced from said exhaust pipe which is disposed parallel to said intake pipe.

Claim 22

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 19, further comprising a piston having a top face, wherein the average diameter do and depth L of said nozzle means have a relation as follows: L>0.5 do, said average diameter do and depth L of said nozzle means have a relation as follows: do<L<2.5 do, the average cross section Ao of said nozzle means and said cross section A of said cylinder of said engine have a relation as follows: 0.002 A<Ao<0.09 A, and the axial direction of said nozzle means ranges through an angle between a line from the center of said opening means to a point positioned at a distance of 3/4 d from the center of the top face of the piston when positioned at top dead center, where d is the distance between the top surface of said combustion chamber and said top face of said piston at top dead center, and a line from the center of said opening means to the center of said top face of said piston when positioned at 90 degrees after top dead center, in a vertical plane, and ranges through an angle between two circumscribing tangential lines running from the center of said opening mweans to a circle having a diameter (2/5) D, then D is the diameter of said cylinder of said engine, and an ignition plug, for igniting an introduced inflammable mixture charge, positioned in a region between a circle of a diamter D/2 and a circle of a diameter D, whereby exhaust gases may be introduced for filling said concave portion and from said concave portion through said nozzle means into said combustion chamber during an intake stroke of said engine in order to make said exhaust gases stay in a central portion of said combustion chamber without diffusing throughout said combustion chamber.

Claim 23

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 5, wherein said engine has at least one cylinder, and the average cross section Ao of said concave portion and cross section A of a cylinder bore of said engine have a relation as follows: 0.002 A<Ao<0.09 A.

Claim 24

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein said engine includes a wall forming a sub-chamber, and nozzle means connecting said sub-chamber with said combustion chamber, said opening hole being provided at said wall forming said sub-chamber, said sub-chamber also being termed a sub-combustion chamber.

Claim 25

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 22, wherein the average diameter do and the depth L of said nozzle means have a relation as follows: L<0.5 do.

Claim 26

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 23, wherein said engine has a cylinder and said average diameter do and the depth L of said nozzle means have a relation as follows: do<L<2.5 do.

Claim 27

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 24, wherein the average cross-section Ao of said nozzle means and the cross-section A of a cylinder bore of said engine have a relation as follows: 0.002A<Ao<0.09A.

Claim 28

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 24, wherein said throttle means is arranged and constructed to supply a predetermined amount V E of said exhaust gases having the following ratio to the amount V I of the introduced inflammable mixture into said combustion chamber: 0.03 V.sub.I <V.sub.E <0.12 V.sub.I.

Claim 29

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 26, wherein said ignition means is an ignition plug and further comprising a piston having a top surface in said cylinders and wherein the axial direction of said opening ranges through an angle between a line from said center of said opening means to a point positioned at a distance of 3/4 d from the center of the top face of the piston when positioned at top dead center, d being the distance between the upper surface of said combustion chamber and the top face of said piston at top dead center, and a line from the center of said opening means to the center of said top face of said piston when positioned at 90 degrees after top dead center, in a vertical plane, and ranges through an angle between two circumscribing tangential lines running from the center of said opening means to a circle having a diameter 2/3 D, D being the diameter of the cylinder bore of said engine, and said ignition plug for igniting an introduced inflammable mixture charge is positioned in a region between a circle of a diameter D/2 and a circle of a diameter D.

Claim 30

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 27, further comprising a cam shaft operatively connected to said engine for rotating in synchronism therewith, said engine having a carburetor having an air cleaner, an intake manifold and a crank shaft, and wherein said valve means comprises a valve member having an end and having a spring member disposed within said opening means, a rocker arm having two ends for pressing an end portion of said valve member with one end thereof, and a cam for pressing the other end of said rocker arm, said cam being disposed for being driven by said crank shaft of said internal combustion engine, and said control valve comprises an exhaust valve of a diaphragm type having a diaphragm dividing same into first and second chambers, a spring within each of said first and second chambers, a valve seat connected to said diaphragm, and a needle valve for controlling flow between the needle of said valve and said valve seat, a first check valve having a casing member, a valve member having a first end portion and a second end portion with a valve head thereat, disposed coaxially in said casing member, a first check valve chamber having a spring for axially pressing said first end portion of said valve member provided therein and connected to said intake manifold of said engine, a second check valve chamber connected to said second chamber of said exhaust valve, a third check valve chamber divided from said second check valve chamber by said valve head at said second end of said valve member and connected to said air cleaner of said carburetor and a second check valve having a second casing member, a plate valve member dividing said second casing member into two chambers, one of said two chambers having a spring fitting into said plate valve member connected to said intake manifold of said engine, and the other of said two chambers connected to said first chamber of said exhaust valve.

Claim 31

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 28, including a sub-combustion chamber connected to said combustion chamber for an opening hole, said sub-combustion chamber having a side wall and, wherein a spark plug as igniting means is provided in said side wall.

Claim 32

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 29, further comprising a cam shaft and cam connected to said engine for rotation therewith, a rocker arm reciprocated by said cam, a cylinder head associated with said combustion chamber, intake and exhaust valves in said cylinder head, an intake pipe leading to said intake valve, and wherein said exhaust gas supply passage has a filter for occluding dusts in exhaust gases introduced from said exhaust passage which is disposed to be opposed and parallel to said intake pipe.

Claim 33

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 28, comprising a single cylinder having a cylinder head associated with said combustion chamber and said combustion chamber having a side surface and an upper bottom surface having a corner part therebetween and wherein a spark plug as said ignition means is provided at said corner part of said upper bottom surface and said side surface of said combustion chamber in said cylinder, the axial direction of the nozzle of said opening means is directed to the axis of said combustion chamber, said exhaust gas supply passage has a filter for occluding dusts in exhaust gases introduced from said exhaust passage, an intake valve and an exhaust valve, which are provided to be opposed to each other in said cylinder head, a rocker arm and cam shaft for driving said intake and exhaust valves, and a crank shaft in said engine for driving said cam shaft and rocker arm.

Claim 34

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 27, further comprising, a crank shaft in said engine, a plurality of valve lifters associated with each combustion chamber of each cylinder and a fluid supply passage having therein, a distribution valve for supplying synchronously a predetermined amount of fluid under pressure to each valve lifter of said plurality of said valve lifters respectively provided on said combustion chambers of said engine in response to an intake stroke of each cylinder of said engine, wherein said distribution valve comprises a rotary distribution valve means which comprises, a rotary distribution valve comprising, an annular cylinder having a peripheral groove therein and a radial groove connected to said peripheral groove and a passage surrounded by an inner pheripheral wall of said annular cylinder, said rotary distribution valve being driven by said crank shaft and a control ring comprising an annular cylinder having a radial groove penetrating from an inner wall to an outer wall threof and a screw part in a part of said outer peripheral wall surrounding said rotary distribution valve, an annular cylindrical casing having a peripheral groove on an inner peripheral wall and a radial groove connecting to said peripheral groove and penetrating said annular cylindrical casing, and a control rack having a screwed portion engaged to said screw part of said control ring, whereby a predetermined amount of said fluid under pressure may be synchronously supplied to each valve lifter by the relation of said peripheral groove of said rotary distribution valve, said radial groove of said control ring, and said groove of said annular cylindrical casing in response to an intake stroke of each of said combustion chambers of said engine.

Claim 35

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 22, wherein the average cross section Ao of said nozzle means and the cross section A of a cylinder bore of said engine have a relation as follows: 0.002 A<Ao<0.09 A.

Claim 36

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 22, wherein said nozzle means is provided at said bottom portion of said concave portion of said wall for forming said combustion chamber.

Claim 37

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said opening means comprises an opening hole opening within said combustion chamber and being provided in a wall defining said combustion chamber.

Claim 38

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 35, further comprising a cylinder and a piston in said cylinder associated with said combustion chamber, said piston having a top face and said combustion chamber having an upper surface, wherein said valve means comprises a magnetic valve comprising, a magnetic core electrical switch means connected to said magnetic core to switch said magnetic valve ON or OFF in accordance with the variation of the negative pressure in an intake manifold of said engine, a battery connected for operating said magnetic core, and a valve member including spring means and head portion thereof provided at said opening means and being disposed within said magnetic core, said throttle means having an orifice of predetermined throttle effect for supplying a predetermined amount, V E of exhaust gases having the following relation to an amount V I of an inflammable mixture introduced into said combustion chamber: V.sub.E <(0.03˜0.12)V.sub.I, the axial direction of said opening ranging through an angle between a line from its center of said opening means to the point positioned at a distance of 3/4d from the center of said top face of said piston when positioned at a top dead center, d being the distance between the upper surface of said combustion chamber and said top face of said piston at top dead center, and a line from the center of said opening means to the center of said top face of said piston when positioned at 90 degrees after top dead center, in a vertical plane, and ranges through an angle between two circumscribing tangential lines running from the center of said opening means to a circle having a diameter (2/5)D, D being the diameter of cylinder bore of said engine, and an ignition plug for igniting any inflammable mixture charge introduced, said plug being positioned in a region between a circle of diameter D/2 and a circle of a diameter D.

Claim 39

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said opening means comprises an opening hole provided at a valve seat portion of said intake valve of said engine, whereby said opening hole intermittently opens within said combustion chamber in accordance with the opening of said intake valve in the intake stroke of said engine.

Claim 40

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 37, wherein said engine includes a cam shaft for rotation therewith, at least one cylinder and a piston having a top surface therein, said combustion chamber having an upper surface, said valve means comprising an intake valve for introducing an inflammable mixture into said combustion chamber, said throttle means comprises an orifice having a predetermined throttle effect, said throttle means further comprising a synchronizing valve connected to said opening means and comprising a case body disposed in said engine, a rotary disc having an arcuate slot disposed in said case body and synchronously driven by said cam shaft of said engine, an annular member having a communicating hole interposed within said case body and an exhaust gas sump formed by said case body and annular member and connected to said exhaust gas supply passage, said throttle means being constructed and arranged to supply a predetermined amount V E of said exhaust gases having the following ratio to an amount V I of an inflammable mixture introduced into said combustion chamber, V.sub.E <(0.03˜0.12)V.sub.I, the axial direction of said opening ranging through an angle between a line from the center of said opening means to a point positioned at a distance of 3/4d from the center of the top face of said piston when top dead center, d being the distance between said upper surface of said combustion chamber and said top face of said piston at the top dead center and a line from the center of said opening means to the center of said top face of said piston when positioned at 90 degrees after top dead center, in a vertical plane, and ranges through an angle between two circumscribing tangential lines running from the center of said opening means to a circle having a diameter (2/5)D, wherein D is the diameter of said cylinder of said engine, and an ignition plug for igniting any charge of inflammable mixture, said ignition plug being positioned in a region between a circle of a diameter D/2 and a circle of a diameter D.

Claim 41

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 38, further comprising a cylinder block including a cylinder having a head including said combustion chamber, a tube member as part of said exhaust gas supply passage, said combustion chamber having upper and side surfaces and a corner therebetween, and wherein the cross sectional area of said tube member has a predetermined value in order to operate as an orifice having a predetermined throttle effect, the axial direction of said tube member is directed to the central axis of said cylinder of said engine, said intake valve has a valve head having an upper surface, an arcuate-shaped shroud projects from the upper surface of said valve head of said intake valve in order to introduce an inflammable mixture into said combustion chamber in a spiral pattern, a spark plug directed toward the axis of said cylinder is provided at said corner between said upper surface of said combustion chamber in said cylinder head and said side surface of said combustion chamber in said cylinder block.

Claim 42

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said engine has a crankshaft, said valve means comprises a valve member having a spring member interposed within said opening means, a rocker arm for pressing an end portion of said valve member with one end thereof, and a cam and cam shaft for pressing the other end of said rocker arm by said cam, said cam shaft being driven by said crank shaft of said internal combustion engine.

Claim 43

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said valve means comprises a synchronizing valve connected to said opening means, said synchronizing valve comprising a case body mounted proximate said engine, a cam shaft operatively connected with said engine for rotating in synchronism therewith, a rotary disc having an arcuate-shaped slot in said case body and synchronously driven by said cam shaft, an annular member having a communicating hole disposed within said case body and connected to said exhaust gas supply passage, an exhaust gas sump formed by said case body and annular member.

Claim 44

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said engine has a crank shaft, said valve means comprises a hydraulic valve drive means including a pump means for producing a fluid under pressure, said pump means being connected to said crank shaft for being synchronously driven thereby, a fluid supply passage for supplying said fluid under pressure from said pump means, a valve lifter comprising a cylinder connected to said fluid supply passage, a piston disposed within said cylinder and connected to a valve member having a spring means and a valve head provided at said spring means.

Claim 45

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 42, further comprising a plurality of valve lifters and combustion chambers associated with said valve lifters, said engine having at least one cylinder, a distribution valve being provided in said fluid supply passage for supplying synchronously a predetermined amount of said fluid under pressure to each valve lifter of said plurality of valve lifters respectively provided on said combustion chambers of said engine in response to an intake stroke of each cylinder of said engine.

Claim 46

A stratified charge type comprising combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said valve means comprises a magnetic valve comprising a magnetic core electrical switch means connected to said magnetic core to switch said magnetic valve ON or OFF in accordance with the variation of the negative pressure in an intake manifold of said engine, a battery connected for operating said magnetic core, and a valve member including spring means and head portion thereof provided at said opening means and being disposed within said magnetic core.

Claim 47

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said throttle means comprises orifice means of predetermined size.

Claim 48

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said engine has a cam shaft, said throttle means comprises, a synchronizing valve connected to said opening means comprising, a case body proximate said engine, a rotary disc having an arcuate slot disposed in said case body and synchronously driven by said cam shaft, an annular member having a communicating hole disposed within said case body and an exhaust gas sump formed by said case body and said annular member and connected to said exhaust gas supply passage.

Claim 49

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said throttle means comprises control valve means for controlling the throttle effect thereof in accordance with the load of said internal combustion engine by detecting the intake manifold vacuum.

Claim 50

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 47, wherein said engine has an intake manifold and a carburetor having an air cleaner, and wherein said control valve comprises an exhaust valve of a diaphragm type having a diaphragm dividing said exhaust valve into two chambers, spring means within each of said two chambers, and a needle valve for controlling the throttle effect, said needle valve having a valve seat connected to said diaphragm, a first check valve having a casing member, a valve member disposed coaxially in said casing member, said valve member having first and second end portions, a first chamber having a spring for axially pressing said first end portion of said valve member provided therein and being connected to said intake manifold of said engine, a second chamber connected to said second chamber of said exhaust valve, a third chamber divided from said second chamber by said valve head at said second end of said valve member and connected to said air cleaner of said carburetor, and a second check valve having a casing member, a plate valve member dividing said casing member into two chambers, one of said two chambers having a spring fitting to said plate valve member connected to said intake manifold of said engine, the other of said two chambers being connected to said first chamber of said exhaust valve.

Claim 51

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said throttle means are arranged and constituted to supply a predetermined amount, V E of said exhaust gases having the following relation to an amount V I of an inflammable mixture introduced into said combustion chamber, V.sub.E <(0.03˜0.12) V.sub.I (in a spark ignition engine).

Claim 52

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, further comprising a piston associated with said combustion chamber, a concave portion having a nozzle means provided in said combustion chamber wherein the volume V of said concave portion and the volume Vc of said combustion chamber when said piston is positioned at top dead center have a relation as follows: V≦0.3 Vc.

Claim 53

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein said throttle means are arranged and constituted to supply a predetermined amount, V E of said exhaust gases having the following relation to an amount V I of an inflammable mixture introduced into said combustion chamber, V.sub.E <(0.03<0.25) V.sub.I (in a diesel engine).

Claim 54

A stratified charge type combustion process for an internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type, wherein an inflammable mixture of air and fuel supplied into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine is ignited and burned, comprising the steps of supplying an inflammable mixture into the peripheral portion and exhaust gases into a central portion of said combustion chamber during an intake stroke of said engine, to form a region containing a high concentration of exhaust gases in said central portion of said combustion chamber, encompassed by said inflammable mixture charge in said combustion chamber, carrying out a compression stroke of said engine, and igniting said inflammable mixture charge and burning said stratified charges of said exhaust gases and inflammable mixture charge, thereby causing combustion to proceed from the peripheral portion to the central portion of said chamber.

Claim 55

A stratified charge type combustion process for an internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type, wherein an inflammable mixture of air and fuel supplied into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine is ignited and burned, comprising the steps of supplying an inflammable mixture into the peripheral portion and exhaust gases into a central portion of said combustion chamber during an intake stroke of said engine, to form a region containing a high concentration of exhaust gases in said central portion of said combustion chamber, encompassed by said inflammable mixture charge in said combustion chamber, carrying out a compression stroke of said engine, and igniting said inflammable mixture charge and burning said stratified charges of said exhaust gases and inflammable mixture charge, thereby causing combustion to proceed from the peripheral portion to the central portion of said chamber.

Claim 56

The method as defined in claim 52 wherein additional inflammable mixture is combined with said exhaust gas supplied to said central portion.

Claim 57

The method as defined in claim 53 wherein said inflammable mixture is lean and said additional inflammable mixture is rich.

Claim 58

A process for producing a stratified charge in an overhead valve type internal combustion engine such that the quantity of nitrogen oxides in subsequent combustion is reduced without increase in the quantity of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide produced, comprising the steps of introducing a charge of exhaust gas into the central portion of a combustion chamber in said engine; introducing an inflammable mixture charge into the periphery of said combustion chamber in such manner that said inflammable mixture charge encompasses said exhaust gas charge to produce a stratified charge; said charges being intoduced during an intake stroke; and igniting said inflammable mixture charge by ignition means disposed proximate the periphery of said combustion chamber and thus within said inflammable mixture charge.

Claim 59

A process for producing a stratified charge in an overhead valve type internal combustion engine such that the quantity of nitrogen oxides in subsequent combustion is reduced without increase in the quantity of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide produced, comprising the steps of introducing a charge of exhaust gas into the central portion of a combustion chamber in said engine; introducing an inflammable mixture charge into the periphery of said combustion chamber in such manner that said inflammable mixture charge encompasses said exhaust gas charge to produce a stratified charge; said charges being intoduced during an intake stroke; and igniting said inflammable mixture charge by ignition means disposed proximate the periphery of said combustion chamber and thus within said inflammable mixture charge.

Claim 60

A process for producing a stratified charge in an overhead valve type internal combustion engine as defined in claim 55, wherein said combustion chamber has a cylindrical surface and said inflammable mixture is introduced in a direction tangential to said cylindrical surface.

Claim 61

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type, comprising a combustion chamber having a piston therein, an opening means opening into said combustion chamber and directed toward the central portion of said chamber, an exhaust gas passage leading from said chamber for removal of exhaust gas therefrom, an exhaust gas supply passage communicating with said exhaust gas passage and said opening means for supplying exhaust gas from said exhaust gas passage to said opening means and to said central portion of said chamber, exhaust gas supply valve means disposed and arranged for opening and closing said exhaust gas supply passage for transferring exhaust gas therethrough during an intake stroke of said piston, throttle means in said exhaust gas supply passage for controlling the quantity of exhaust gas supplied to said opening means, intake valve means for supplying an inflammable gas mixture to the periphery of said combustion chamber, and ignition means for igniting said inflammable mixture, said ignition means being disposed for igniting said inflammable mixture proximate the periphery of said combustion chamber, and for causing combustion to proceed from the peripheral portion of said chamber to the central portion thereof, whereby a stratified charge may be supplied to a combustion chamber during an intake stroke of said piston, said stratified charge being supplied so that exhaust gas is disposed in the central portion of said chamber and is encompassed by inflammable mixture in the periphery of said chamber in preparation for the following compression stroke and subsequent combustion.

Claim 62

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type, comprising a combustion chamber having a piston therein, an opening means opening into said combustion chamber and directed toward the central portion of said chamber, an exhaust gas passage leading from said chamber for removal of exhaust gas therefrom, an exhaust gas supply passage communicating with said exhaust gas passage and said opening means for supplying exhaust gas from said exhaust gas passage to said opening means and to said central portion of said chamber, exhaust gas supply valve means disposed and arranged for opening and closing said exhaust gas supply passage for transferring exhaust gas therethrough during an intake stroke of said piston, throttle means in said exhaust gas supply passage for controlling the quantity of exhaust gas supplied to said opening means, intake valve means for supplying an inflammable gas mixture to the periphery of said combustion chamber, and ignition means for igniting said inflammable mixture, said ignition means being disposed for igniting said inflammable mixture proximate the periphery of said combustion chamber, and for causing combustion to proceed from the peripheral portion of said chamber to the central portion thereof, whereby a stratified charge may be supplied to a combustion chamber during an intake stroke of said piston, said stratified charge being supplied so that exhaust gas is disposed in the central portion of said chamber and is encompassed by inflammable mixture in the periphery of said chamber in preparation for the following compression stroke and subsequent combustion.

Claim 63

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine as defined in claim 57, wherein said chamber is cylindrical and said central portion thereof is the axial portion thereof.

Claim 64

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine as defined in claim 58, wherein said intake valve means is constructed and arranged for introducing said inflammable mixture in a direction essentially tangential to said cylindrical chamber.

Claim 65

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine as defined in claim 57, wherein said exhuast gas supply valve means is arranged for closing said exhaust supply passage prior to closing said intake valve means.

Claim 66

A stratified charge type internal combustion engine as defined in claim 57, wherein said ignition means includes spark plug means.

Claim 67

A stratified charge type combustion process for an overhead valve type of an internal combustion engine, wherein an inflammable mixture of air and fuel supplied into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine is ignited and burned, comprising the steps of supplying exhaust gases into a central portion of said combustion chamber and concurrently supplying an inflammable mixture into a peripheral portion of said combustion chamber during an intake stroke independently of said inflammable mixture, in order to make said exhaust gases stay in said central portion of said combustion chamber without diffusing throughout said combustion chamber, forming one region containing a high concentration of exhaust gases in said central portion of said combustion chamber and forming another region containing said inflammable mixture charge in a manner to encompass said one region therewith within said combustion chamber during a compression stroke of said engine, thereby providing stratified charges of said one region of said exhaust gases and said another region of said inflammable mixture charge, and igniting said peripheral inflammable mixture charbe by ignition means and burning said stratified charges of said exhaust gases and inflammable mixture charge so as to make the combustion proceed to the central portion from the peripheral portion in the combustion chamber.

Claim 68

A stratified charge type combustion process for an overhead valve type of an internal combustion engine, wherein an inflammable mixture of air and fuel supplied into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine is ignited and burned, comprising the steps of supplying exhaust gases into a central portion of said combustion chamber and concurrently supplying an inflammable mixture into a peripheral portion of said combustion chamber during an intake stroke independently of said inflammable mixture, in order to make said exhaust gases stay in said central portion of said combustion chamber without diffusing throughout said combustion chamber, forming one region containing a high concentration of exhaust gases in said central portion of said combustion chamber and forming another region containing said inflammable mixture charge in a manner to encompass said one region therewith within said combustion chamber during a compression stroke of said engine, thereby providing stratified charges of said one region of said exhaust gases and said another region of said inflammable mixture charge, and igniting said peripheral inflammable mixture charbe by ignition means and burning said stratified charges of said exhaust gases and inflammable mixture charge so as to make the combustion proceed to the central portion from the peripheral portion in the combustion chamber.