System and device for the ignition of an internal combustion engine using a lean air-fuel mixture
US4041922A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1975 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved engine for burning a lean air-fuel mixture includes a main combustion chamber into which the air-fuel mixture is introduced and an auxiliary combustion chamber wherein the air-fuel mixture is initially ignited. A spark plug in the auxiliary combustion chamber has central and side electrodes which define a spark gap. A corona discharge is established in an electrostatic field between the central electrode and a field electrode. The ions in the corona discharge collect on fuel particles in the air-fuel mixture so that these particles are electrically charged and deposited on the field electrode, the walls of the auxiliary combustion chamber, and the side electrode. The fuel particles which come toward the central electrode are electrostatically atomized by the corona discharge and accelerated away. As this is occurring, the electrically charged air-fuel mixture accelerates away from the entrance to the auxiliary combustion chamber with a resulting increase in flow rate and turbulence in the auxiliary combustion chamber. Upon establishment of an electrical arc across the spark gap, the rich air-fuel mixture in the auxiliary combustion chamber is ignited and the resultant f…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.