IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBUSTION ENGINES

摘要

Improvements to the construction and operation of reciprocating internal combustion engines are described. The invention may have particular application to compression ignition engines. The constructional modifications relate to components designed to be inserted between a cylinder head and piston bore where those components effect a reduction in the combustion volume thereby reducing the geometrical compression ratio of the engine. These components may be integrated with the cylinder head and include a cylindrical sleeve or a spacer plate. These components can further incorporate a heating/cooling system to regulate the combustion chamber temperature during various phases of the engine's operation. A method is described which may be used in conjunction with the modified engine whereby turbulence from a turbo charging unit is preserved in the intake air thus enhancing air/fuel mixing. Further variations are made to the timing regime of the engine including delaying closure of the inlet valves and early opening of the exhaust valves. Further operating modifications include varying the shape of the air/fuel mixture cloud which is injected into the combustion volume so that the mixture is forced symmetrically radially outward from the point of injection and combining this step with turbo charging the intake air in such a manner so as to produce turbulence in the air fuel mixture within the combustion volume. This latter operating regime includes early opening of the exhaust valve and late closure of the inlet valve. Modified piston shapes are described as are modifications to the combustion chamber shape resulting from the use of the spacer place or ring components designed to reduce the geometrical compression ratio of the regime.