| 摘要 |
A reciprocating piston i.c. engine, eg for driving the electric generator 28 of a hybrid vehicle, comprises two or more cylinders 11, 12,15,16 each having an intake port 3 and an exhaust port 5. A conduit 10 extends between a first cylinder 11,15 and a second cylinder 12,16 to provide a common path for the exhaust line 5 of the first cylinder 11,15 and the intake line 3 of the second cylinder 12,16. Each cylinder may include a fuel injection valve 19 and a spark plug (20, fig.2). A heat exchanger 27 may be provided between the intake and the exhaust. Exhaust gas from the first cylinder 11,15, which may comprise 50% residual air and 50% stoichiometric exhaust gas, is directed by the conduit 10 to the second cylinder 12, 16 where fuel is injected and a second combustion event takes place, eg by HCCI. Exhaust gas from the second cylinder 12,16, containing very little or no residual air, is treated by a catalytic converter 25 before discharge. |
