Electric field generating apparatus for combustion chamber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9347419-B2
Application number	US-201213524343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2012
Priority date	Dec 9, 2011
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

An electric field generating apparatus for a combustion chamber, may include an electric field generator located within a space of the combustion chamber where combustion flames may be produced to create electric fields within the space of the combustion chamber through an applied predetermined voltage, a lead-in wire connected to the electric field generator to flow the predetermined voltage to the electric field generator, and a high voltage providing unit connected to the lead-in wire for selectively applying the predetermined voltage to the lead-in wire in accordance with an output signal of a controller generated depending on an operation condition of an engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric field generating apparatus for a combustion chamber, comprising:
an electric field generator located within a space of the combustion chamber where combustion flames are produced to create electric fields within the space of the combustion chamber through an applied predetermined voltage;
a lead-in wire connected to the electric field generator to flow the predetermined voltage to the electric field generator; and
a high voltage providing unit connected to the lead-in wire for selectively applying the predetermined voltage to the lead-in wire in accordance with an output signal of a controller generated depending on an operation condition of an engine,
wherein the electric field generator is located around a spark plug for generating an ignition spark and producing the combustion flames within the combustion chamber, and is fixed to the lead-in wire to be placed within the space of the combustion chamber, and
wherein the lead-in wire couples the electric field generator to a central electrode of the spark plug.

2. The electric field generating apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the electric field generator and the lead-in wire include a conductive material to which the predetermined voltage is applied.

3. The electric field generating apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the conductive material has thermal and chemical stability in a predetermined temperature oxidation environment.

4. The electric field generating apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the conductive material is a heat-resisting material.

5. The electric field generating apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the lead-in wire connects to the electric field generator via a portion where a gasket is inserted into a cylinder head and a cylinder block forming the combustion chamber.

6. The electric field generating apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the high voltage providing unit includes a high-voltage generator for generating the predetermined voltage, and a high-voltage controller connected to the high-voltage generator for selectively flowing the predetermined voltage of the high-voltage generator toward the lead-in wire in accordance with the output signal of the controller generated depending on the operation condition of the engine.

7. The electric field generating apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the high-voltage controller includes a switching device which connects a current flow direction of the high-voltage generator not connected to the lead-in wire when the output signal of the controller is applied, and disconnects the current flow direction of the high-voltage generator connected to the lead-in wire when the output signal of the controller is not applied.

8. The electric field generating apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the output signal of the controller is generated, considering an RPM of the engine, a valve variable timing, and an ignition delay timing.

9. The electric field generating apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the high-voltage controller is integrated with the high-voltage generator.

Assignees

• Kim Hongbin
• Kauh Sang Ken
• Choi Youn-Sok
• Shon Kyoung-Min
• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Snu R&Db Foundation

Inventors

• Kim Hongbin
• Kauh Sang Ken
• Choi Youn-Sok
• Shon Kyoung-Min

Classifications

• F02P9/002

  Control of spark intensity, intensifying, lengthening, suppression (by means of current control in the storage devices F02P3/05, F02P3/09, during starting F02P15/12) · CPC title

• F02P15/00 Primary

  Electric spark ignition having characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F02P1/00 - F02P13/00 {and combined with layout of ignition circuits (not combined F02B, F02C, F02G, F02K)} · CPC title

• F02P9/007

  by supplementary electrical discharge in the pre-ionised electrode interspace of the sparking plug, e.g. plasma jet ignition · CPC title

• F02P23/045

  using electromagnetic microwaves · CPC title

• F02M27/04 Primary

  by electric means, {ionisation, polarisation} or magnetism · CPC title