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US4574754A
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Stratified charge combustion system and method for gaseous fuel internal combustion engines
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1984-10-11
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2004-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A stratified charge combustion system is disclosed for use in a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine. The stratified charge combustion system comprises a combustion chamber, an ignition source in communication with the combustion chamber, and a gaseous fuel injection valve assembly in communication with the combustion chamber and in spaced relationship from the ignition source. An entry port for the gaseous fuel defined by the valve assembly is recessed outside the combustion chamber, and a transitional surface that curves away from the direction of fuel injection is located adjacent the entry port. When gaseous fuel is injected, it strikes the transitional surface at such an angle and speed that it clings to and follows the transitional surface under the Coanda Effect and then aerodynamically clings to and follows a wall of the combustion chamber as the gaseous fuel flows to the ignition source.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren A. Rhoades, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:41
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M21/00; F02M21/02; F02M21/0218; F02M21/0248; F02M21/0275; F02B; F02B17/00; F02B17/005; F02M21/0257; F02M21/026; F02M21/0269; F02M21/0281; F02B2275/00; F02B2275/14; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S123/00; Y10S123/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
353 words
A stratified charge combustion system for use in a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine comprising: (a) a combustion chamber defined by the fixed inside surface of a cylindrical lining and the inside surfaces of opposed combustion chamber ends, at least one of the opposed ends being a piston positioned in the cylindrical lining to move reciprocatingly along the longitudinal axis of the lining; (b) an ignition source mounted in the combustion chamber immediately adjacent a fixed inside surface; (c) a gaseous fuel injection valve assembly in communication with the combustion chamber and in spaced relationship from the ignition source with a portion of the inside surfaces extending between the fuel injection valve assembly and the ignition source, the fuel valve assembly defining an entry port for the entrance of gaseous fuel, the entry port being recessed outside of a fixed inside surface, the entry port being sized and shaped to inject gaseous fuel in an arc of about 180° or less around the axis of the fuel valve generally toward the ignition source; (d) means for pressuring the gaseous fuel prior to injection; and (e) a curved transitional surface extending from the entry port toward the portion of the inside surfaces extending between the fuel injection valve assembly and the ignition source, the curved transitional surface curving away from the direction of the entry port, the curved transitional surface having a curvature for the particular direction and configuration of the entry port, for the particular configuration of the portion of the inside surfaces extending between the injection valve assembly and the ignition source, the particular arrangement of the fuel injection valve assembly in the combustion chamber, and for the particular pressure of the gaseous fuel to produce the Coanda Effect in the injected gaseous fuel flow after it passes through the entry port and follows the curved transitional surface under the Coanda Effect as the curved transitional surface curves away from the direction of the entry port, and also to produce a flow of the gaseous fuel that clings to and follows the particular configuration of the inside surfaces to the ignition source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
353 words
A stratified charge combustion system for use in a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine comprising: (a) a combustion chamber defined by the fixed inside surface of a cylindrical lining and the inside surfaces of opposed combustion chamber ends, at least one of the opposed ends being a piston positioned in the cylindrical lining to move reciprocatingly along the longitudinal axis of the lining; (b) an ignition source mounted in the combustion chamber immediately adjacent a fixed inside surface; (c) a gaseous fuel injection valve assembly in communication with the combustion chamber and in spaced relationship from the ignition source with a portion of the inside surfaces extending between the fuel injection valve assembly and the ignition source, the fuel valve assembly defining an entry port for the entrance of gaseous fuel, the entry port being recessed outside of a fixed inside surface, the entry port being sized and shaped to inject gaseous fuel in an arc of about 180° or less around the axis of the fuel valve generally toward the ignition source; (d) means for pressuring the gaseous fuel prior to injection; and (e) a curved transitional surface extending from the entry port toward the portion of the inside surfaces extending between the fuel injection valve assembly and the ignition source, the curved transitional surface curving away from the direction of the entry port, the curved transitional surface having a curvature for the particular direction and configuration of the entry port, for the particular configuration of the portion of the inside surfaces extending between the injection valve assembly and the ignition source, the particular arrangement of the fuel injection valve assembly in the combustion chamber, and for the particular pressure of the gaseous fuel to produce the Coanda Effect in the injected gaseous fuel flow after it passes through the entry port and follows the curved transitional surface under the Coanda Effect as the curved transitional surface curves away from the direction of the entry port, and also to produce a flow of the gaseous fuel that clings to and follows the particular configuration of the inside surfaces to the ignition source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 1, wherein the center of the arc of injected gaseous fuel falls about on a line extending from the injection valve assembly to the ignition source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
The stratified charge combustion system according to claim 1, wherein: (a) the combustion system comprises a loop scavenged two-cycle system having air intake ports in one side of the cylindrical lining and exhaust ports in the opposite side of the cylindrical lining; (b) one opposed end is a piston; (c) the other opposed end is a dome shaped cylinder head; (d) the ignition source is centrally mounted in the cylinder head; and (e) the fuel injection valve assembly is mounted in the cylinder head on the air intake port side of the ignition source and at less than about 45° off of a line extending from the center of the intake ports to the ignition source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 3, wherein: (a) the fuel injection valve assembly is mounted in the cylinder head at least about one half the distance along the inside surface of the cylinder head away from the ignition source; and (b) the center line of the injection valve assembly is aligned between a position perpendicular to the inside surface of the cylinder head and an angle of about 45° to the inside surface of the cylinder head with the injection valve assembly tilted away from the ignition source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
The stratified charge combustion system according to claim 1, wherein: (a) the combustion system comprises a uniflow scavenged two-cycle system with a plurality of intake ports in the bottom of the cylindrical lining; (b) one opposed end is a piston; (c) the other opposed end is a cylinder head, a plurality of exhaust valves being mounted in the cylinder head; (d) the ignition source is centrally mounted in the cylinder head; and (e) the fuel injection valve assembly is mounted in the cylinder head with some of the exhaust valves positioned between the ignition source and the injection valve assembly, the fuel injection valve assembly being aligned between two of the exhaust valves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 5, wherein: (a) the injection valve assembly is mounted in the cylinder head at least about one half the distance along the inside surface of the cylinder head away from the ignition source; and (b) the center line of the injection valve assembly is aligned between a position perpendicular to the inside surface of the cylinder head and an angle of about 45° from the perpendicular in any direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 6, wherein the center of the arc of injected gaseous fuel falls anywhere between a position on a line extending to the ignition source and a position about 30° off of that line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 1, wherein: (a) the combustion system comprises a two stroke cycle; (b) each of the opposed ends is a piston; (c) the system has air inlet ports in one end of the cylindrical lining that are opened and closed by one piston and exhaust ports in the opposite end of the cylindrical lining that are opened and closed by the other piston; (d) the ignition source is mounted in the cylindrical lining between the pistons; and (e) the fuel injection valve assembly is mounted in the cylindrical lining generally in the same transverse plane as the ignition source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 1, 3, 5, or 8, wherein the entry port is defined by a shrouded valve and the valve seat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 9, wherein the valve seat angle is from about 15° to about 45°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 9, wherein the entry port is recessed between about 1/4 inch and about 1 inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 1, 3, 5, or 8, wherein the entry port is defined by a shrouded seat and the valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 12, wherein the entry port is recessed between about 1/4 inch and about 1 inch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 12, wherein the valve seat angle is from about 15° to about 45°.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 1, 3, 5, or 8, wherein the entry port comprises at least one aperture in a cap of a capped valve seat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
86 words
The stratified charge combustion system of claim 1, wherein: (a) the combustion system comprises a four-cycle system; (b) one opposed end is a piston; (c) the other opposed end is a cylinder head; (d) a plurality of exhaust valves and intake valves are mounted in the cylinder head; (e) the ignition source is centrally mounted in the cylinder head; and (f) the fuel injection valve assembly is mounted in the cylinder head with the intake valves positioned between the ignition source and the injection valve assembly.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
280 words
A method for producing stratified charge combustion in a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine, which has a combustion chamber defined by the fixed inside surface of a cylindrical lining and the inside surfaces of opposed combustion chamber ends, at least one of which is positioned in the cylindrical lining to move reciprocatingly along the longitudinal axis of the lining, an ignition source mounted in the combustion chamber immediately adjacent a fixed inside surface, and a gaseous fuel injection valve assembly in communication with the combustion chamber and in spaced relationship from the ignition source with a portion of the inside surfaces extending between the injection valve assembly and the ignition source, the fuel injection valve assembly defining an entry port, the method comprising the steps of: (a) pressurizing the gaseous fuel prior to injection; (b) providing a curved transitional surface that curves away from the direction of the entry port at a curvature for the particular direction and configuration of the entry port, for the particular configuration of the portion of the inside surfaces extending between the injection valve assembly and the ignition source, for the particular arrangement of the injection valve assembly in the combustion chamber, and for the particular pressure of the gaseous fuel; (c) injecting the pressurized gaseous fuel at such an angle and speed that the gaseous fuel strikes the transitional surface and clings to and follows the transitional surface under the Coanda Effect, and then aerodynamically clings to and follows the portion of the inside surfaces extending between the injection valve assembly and the ignition source as the gaseous fuel flows to the ignition source; and (d) igniting the air/fuel mixture adjacent the ignition source.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
280 words
A method for producing stratified charge combustion in a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine, which has a combustion chamber defined by the fixed inside surface of a cylindrical lining and the inside surfaces of opposed combustion chamber ends, at least one of which is positioned in the cylindrical lining to move reciprocatingly along the longitudinal axis of the lining, an ignition source mounted in the combustion chamber immediately adjacent a fixed inside surface, and a gaseous fuel injection valve assembly in communication with the combustion chamber and in spaced relationship from the ignition source with a portion of the inside surfaces extending between the injection valve assembly and the ignition source, the fuel injection valve assembly defining an entry port, the method comprising the steps of: (a) pressurizing the gaseous fuel prior to injection; (b) providing a curved transitional surface that curves away from the direction of the entry port at a curvature for the particular direction and configuration of the entry port, for the particular configuration of the portion of the inside surfaces extending between the injection valve assembly and the ignition source, for the particular arrangement of the injection valve assembly in the combustion chamber, and for the particular pressure of the gaseous fuel; (c) injecting the pressurized gaseous fuel at such an angle and speed that the gaseous fuel strikes the transitional surface and clings to and follows the transitional surface under the Coanda Effect, and then aerodynamically clings to and follows the portion of the inside surfaces extending between the injection valve assembly and the ignition source as the gaseous fuel flows to the ignition source; and (d) igniting the air/fuel mixture adjacent the ignition source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the injected gaseous fuel is restricted to a flow arc of about 180° or less directed generally toward the ignition source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the center of the arc of injected gaseous fuel is directed about on a line extending from the injection valve assembly to the ignition source.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the combustion system is a loop scavenged two-cycle system, the gaseous fuel is injected at or near the time of closing of the exhaust ports on the compression stroke, and injection ends before the combustion chamber pressure is higher than the fuel injection pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the combustion system is a uniflow scavenged two-cycle system and the gaseous fuel is injected at or near the closing of the exhaust valves.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the combustion system is a four-cycle system and the gaseous fuel is injected on the compression stroke near the closing of the intake valves.
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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) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |