Systems for a pre-chamber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11236662-B2
Application number	US-202016918680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2020
Priority date	Jul 1, 2020
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

Systems are provided for a pre-chamber. In one example, a pre-chamber comprises a passage outside of a primary combustion chamber for flowing fuel directly from a fuel injector to an interior volume of the pre-chamber.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a pre-chamber fluidly coupled to a primary combustion chamber, the pre-chamber comprising a connecting passage fluidly coupling a fuel injector to the pre-chamber outside of the primary combustion chamber, wherein the fuel injector is the only fuel injector and is positioned to inject fuel directly into the primary combustion chamber and the connecting passage.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-chamber further comprises an air passage arranged outside of the primary combustion chamber, the air passage fluidly coupling the pre-chamber to an intake passage.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a check valve arranged along the air passage.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein an ignition device is positioned to provide a spark within an interior volume of only the pre-chamber.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-chamber comprises a plurality of openings fluidly coupling the pre-chamber to the primary combustion chamber.

6. An engine, comprising:
a pre-chamber fluidly coupled to a primary combustion chamber, wherein a piston is configured to oscillate within the primary combustion chamber, wherein the pre-chamber comprises an air passage fluidly coupling the pre-chamber to an intake passage, wherein the air passage is arranged outside of the primary combustion chamber, and wherein the pre-chamber further comprises a connecting passage configured to couple the pre-chamber to a fuel injector positioned to inject directly into the primary combustion chamber and the connecting passage, wherein the fuel injector is the only fuel injector and where the connecting passage is arranged outside of the primary combustion chamber.

7. The engine of claim 6 , wherein the air passage comprises a valve for adjusting a flow of intake air therethrough.

8. The engine of claim 6 , wherein the connecting passage and the air passage are arranged above a fire deck in a cylinder head.

9. The engine of claim 6 , wherein the connecting passage comprises a straight-hole shape, a cone shape, a symmetric venturi shape, or an asymmetric venturi shape.

10. The engine of claim 6 , wherein the piston is configured to adjust a volume of only the primary combustion chamber and not the pre-chamber.

11. The engine of claim 6 , wherein the pre-chamber comprises a spark plug configured to provide a spark directly therein.

12. The engine of claim 6 , wherein the pre-chamber comprises a plurality of lower openings fluidly coupling the pre-chamber to the primary combustion chamber, wherein the plurality of lower openings is angled relative to a central axis along with the piston oscillates.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Zhang Xiaogang
• Yi James
• Wooldridge Steven
• Czekala Michael Damian

Classifications

• Y02T10/12

  Improving ICE efficiencies · CPC title

• F02B77/085

  with sensors measuring combustion processes, e.g. knocking, pressure, ionization, combustion flame · CPC title

• F02B19/12 Primary

  with positive ignition (engines with non-timed positive ignition, and with incandescent chambers F02B9/08) · CPC title

• F02B19/1019

  with only one pre-combustion chamber (F02B19/1004 take precedence) · CPC title

• F02B19/10

  with fuel introduced partly into pre-combustion chamber, and partly into cylinder · CPC title