Patent · US Expired

Internal combustion engine using premixed combustion of stratified charges

US6668789B1 · kind B1 · utility

17Cited by
13References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 23, 2001
Grant dateDec 30, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 23, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02B1/12
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

During a combustion cycle, a first stoichiometrically lean fuel charge is injected well prior to top dead center, preferably during the intake stroke. This first fuel charge is substantially mixed with the combustion chamber air during subsequent motion of the piston towards top dead center. A subsequent fuel charge is then injected prior to top dead center to create a stratified, locally richer mixture (but still leaner than stoichiometric) within the combustion chamber. The locally rich region within the combustion chamber has sufficient fuel density to autoignite, and its self-ignition serves to activate ignition for the lean mixture existing within the remainder of the combustion chamber. Because the mixture within the combustion chamber is overall premixed and relatively lean, NOx and soot production are significantly diminished.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.