FUEL-STRATIFIED COMBUSTION CHAMBER IN A DIRECT-INJECTED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

摘要

A combustion chamber is provided within an internal combustion engine, the chamber bounded by a cylinder bore, a primary end, and a secondary end. The secondary end reciprocates between a TDC position nearest the primary end and a BDC position. Induction and exhaust ports are timed to open and close to transfer air into, and gasses from, the chamber. The chamber becomes fuel stratified when the secondary end is positioned within a stratified distance of the primary end. When stratified, the chamber is comprised of a central region, a perimeter region, and a transfer passageway between regions. A fuel injector at the primary end injects fuel only into the central region and only prior to ignition. The perimeter region pumps air into the central region prior to ignition, creating tumble turbulence. Combustion is initiated near TDC in the central region and concluded near TDC in the transfer passageway.

主权项

1. A combustion chamber apparatus for use within an internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising:
a cylinder bore; a primary end; a secondary end; and a chamber volume bounded by the cylinder bore, the primary end, and the secondary end, the chamber volume based on a cylinder bore diameter and dependent on the position of the secondary end with reference to the primary end; wherein the cylinder bore is configured to seal to the primary end to prevent incidental leakage of chamber gasses; wherein the secondary end is configured to reciprocate within the cylinder bore between a top dead center (TDC) position nearest the primary end and a bottom dead center (BDC) position, and is configured to seal to the cylinder bore while reciprocating to prevent incidental leakage of chamber gasses; wherein the secondary end is configured to be linked to a crankshaft through a connecting rod for the purpose of exporting mechanical energy from the engine; wherein the chamber volume is configured to become fuel-stratified whenever the secondary end is closer than a stratified distance of TDC, and the chamber volume is configured to become fuel-unstratified whenever the secondary end is farther than the stratified distance from TDC; wherein the chamber volume when stratified comprises two regions, one is named a central region and the other is named a perimeter region, with a transfer passageway between the two regions, and wherein the chamber volume when unstratified comprises a single region; wherein the single region is configured to contain substantially no fuel and does not need to support efficient combustion; wherein the perimeter region includes a volume bounded by an area of the cylinder bore between the primary end and the secondary end, an area of the primary end adjacent to the cylinder bore and near the cylinder bore, and an area of the secondary end adjacent to the cylinder bore and near the cylinder bore, and is configured to contain substantially no fuel and does not need to support efficient combustion; wherein the central region includes a volume bounded by a central area of the primary end and a central area of the secondary end, and can be centered on the axis of the cylinder bore, and is configured to contain fuel at the time of ignition; wherein the transfer passageway includes a volume bounded by the remaining areas of the primary end and secondary end not occupied by the two regions, and can be annular, and is configured to contain substantially no fuel at the time of ignition; wherein the central region and the transfer passageway are configured to combust fuel efficiently when the secondary end is positioned within a combusting distance of TDC; wherein an induction port apparatus located within the bounds of the cylinder bore and primary end not occupied by the central region or the transfer passageway is configured to open and close to transfer air into the chamber volume; wherein an exhaust port apparatus located within the bounds of the cylinder bore and primary end not occupied by the central region or the transfer passageway is configured to open and close to transfer gasses from the chamber volume; wherein an ignition source is configured to control the timing and location of ignition within the central region; and wherein a direct fuel injector is configured to inject fuel into the central region.