CA1061204A - Pulse-actuated fuel-injection spark plug - Google Patents
Pulse-actuated fuel-injection spark plugInfo
- Publication number
- CA1061204A CA1061204A CA287,034A CA287034A CA1061204A CA 1061204 A CA1061204 A CA 1061204A CA 287034 A CA287034 A CA 287034A CA 1061204 A CA1061204 A CA 1061204A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fuel
- chamber
- spark plug
- rod
- storage means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 82
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims description 25
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000009191 jumping Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen oxide Inorganic materials O=[N] MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 229940090044 injection Drugs 0.000 description 5
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000012212 insulator Substances 0.000 description 3
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 2
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- HFGPZNIAWCZYJU-UHFFFAOYSA-N lead zirconate titanate Chemical compound [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Ti+4].[Zr+4].[Pb+2] HFGPZNIAWCZYJU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052451 lead zirconate titanate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000136 polysorbate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000009420 retrofitting Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M57/00—Fuel-injectors combined or associated with other devices
- F02M57/06—Fuel-injectors combined or associated with other devices the devices being sparking plugs
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M2200/00—Details of fuel-injection apparatus, not otherwise provided for
- F02M2200/21—Fuel-injection apparatus with piezoelectric or magnetostrictive elements
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
A replacement spark plug for reciprocating internal combustion engines that functions as a fuel injector and as a spark plug to provide a "stratified-charge" effect. The conventional carburetor is retained to supply the main fuel-air mixture which may be very lean because of the stratified charge. The replacement plug includes a cylindrical piezo-electric ceramic which contracts to act as a pump whenever an ignition pulse is applied to a central rod through the ceramic. The rod is hollow at its upper end for receiving fuel, it is tapered along its lower length to act as a pump, and it is flattened at its lower end to act as a valve for fuel injection from the pump into the cylinder. The rod also acts as the center electrode of the plug, with the spark jumping from the plug base to the lower end of the rod to thereby provide spark ignition that has inherent proper timing with the fuel injection.
A replacement spark plug for reciprocating internal combustion engines that functions as a fuel injector and as a spark plug to provide a "stratified-charge" effect. The conventional carburetor is retained to supply the main fuel-air mixture which may be very lean because of the stratified charge. The replacement plug includes a cylindrical piezo-electric ceramic which contracts to act as a pump whenever an ignition pulse is applied to a central rod through the ceramic. The rod is hollow at its upper end for receiving fuel, it is tapered along its lower length to act as a pump, and it is flattened at its lower end to act as a valve for fuel injection from the pump into the cylinder. The rod also acts as the center electrode of the plug, with the spark jumping from the plug base to the lower end of the rod to thereby provide spark ignition that has inherent proper timing with the fuel injection.
Description
~061Z04 'i .
., . ::: .
PULSE-ACTUATED FUEL-INJECTION SPARK PLUG
' ;~ BACKGROUND OF THE INVEMTION
The invention relates to a combined spark plug and fuel in~ection pump and more particularly it relates to a plug that is responsive directly and solely to an ignition pulse to in~ect fuel and provide a spark.
Certain exhaust emissions from internal combustlon englnes are of acute environmental concern. The emissions that are of primary concern include hydrocarbons, carbon
., . ::: .
PULSE-ACTUATED FUEL-INJECTION SPARK PLUG
' ;~ BACKGROUND OF THE INVEMTION
The invention relates to a combined spark plug and fuel in~ection pump and more particularly it relates to a plug that is responsive directly and solely to an ignition pulse to in~ect fuel and provide a spark.
Certain exhaust emissions from internal combustlon englnes are of acute environmental concern. The emissions that are of primary concern include hydrocarbons, carbon
2-,, ....... ~ .
.
..... . .. .
.. ~..... . . . ,, , ~
1~6~Z04 monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. Cne successful approach to the reduction of such exhaust emissions is the "strati~ied charge" concept which has resulted in engines such as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 3,830,205, issued to Date and Yagi on August 20, 1974. In such engines, a small volume of fuel-rich mixture is supplied to a small auxiliary chamber ad~acent -~
the main combustion chamber. A spark plug is located in the sm~ll chamber and because of the richness of the fuel in the chamber, the fuel is easily ignited by the plug. A fuel-lean lQ mixture is supplied to the main chamber which is ignited by ~ -the burning fuel in the small chamber. This arrangement results in the use of a very lean fuel mixture to the main chamber, low combustion temperatures in the main chamber, high combustion temperatures in the small cha~ber, long combustion times in both the small and main chamber, and complete combustion in both chambers. These conditions meet the often conflicting conditions for the reduction of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, -~
and nitrogen oxides. However, the requirement for these -engines of an auxiliary combustion chamber, additional valving, ;
and additional fuel and air passages virtually precludes the ;`
retrofitting of existing internal combustion engines for stratified-charge operation. Moreover, the redesign and retooling required for existing manufactures to mass produce such engines would be a very costly and time consuming `
conversion. ;-SUMMAP~Y OF IHE INVENTION: -~
., .
In brief the invention is a spark plug that is responsive to an ignition pulse for injecting fuel into the combu~tion chamber of a reciprocating internal combustion '' '' ' ~.
2~
.
engine and for igniting the injected fuel, including:
fuel storage means; means for receiving fuel for passage to said storage means; means for receiving an ignition pulse; and means responsive solely to an ignition pulse applied to said pulse receiving means for injecting fuel from said fuel storage means into the combustion chamber and for igniting the injected Euel, said responsive means comprising: first and second electrodes; a pieæoelectric material electrically connected between said electrodes and defining with said first electrode said storage means;
and means for normally blocking the flow of fuel from said storage means, said piezoelectric material being re-sponsive to a pulse applied across said electrodes to de~
form and thereby cause a pressure buildup in said storage means and to cause said blocking means to open for injec-tion of the fuel in said storage means into the combus-.
tion chamber, and said first electrode being centrally -located within said storage means and having an upper end as an element of said fuel receiving means and a lower end as an element of said blocking means. -It is an object of the invention to operate con-ventional internal combustion engines in the stratified charge mode.
Another object is to retrofit conventional in-ternal combustion engines to operate in the stratified : , charge mode with minimal modification and expense.
Another object is to provide a spark plug that is directly responsive solely to an ignition pulse to develop a spark across a pair of electrodes and to inject ~-fuel in the space adjacent the electrodes.
.
~ ~' 4 ... .
L2~4 Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent in a description of a specific embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, to en-able one skilled in the art to readily practice the in-vention which is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing.
'- ~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING: ~:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a reciprocat-ing internal combustion engine system according to the invention.
~igure 2 is a cross-sectional diagram o a spark plug in the engine system of Figure 1 for injecting and igniting fuel for stratified charge mode of operation of the engine system. ~v '`
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, ....
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DESCRIPTION 0~ AN EMBODIMENr:
Referring to the drawing there is shown in Figure I
a four-cycle reciprocating internal combustion engine system 10 including an ignition system 12, a fuel pump 14, a carburetor 16, a cylinder 17 with a combustion chamber 18, a piston 19, an intake valve 20, an exhaust valve 22, all conventional, and a fuel-inJection spark plug 24 according to the invention.
In general, the engine system 10 operates conventionally, the modifications to the conventional system being the provision of the spark plug 24, a fuel line connection 26 between the fuel pump 14 and the plug 24, and a change in carburetor jets to provide a lean fuel mixture from the carburetor to the combustion chamber 18. These simple modifications enable the engine system : ` 10 to be operated in the stratified-charge mode whereby the spark plug 24 is responsive solely to a pulse from the ignition system 12 to inject a small amount of fuel into the upper part of the combustion chamber 18, and to easily and simultaneously ignite .~-.
this rich fuel mixture which in turn ignites the lean ~uel : -mixture in the remainder of the ch~mber 18.
Referring to Figure 2, the spark plug 24 is shown in detail in cross section and comprises a base 28 that includes a ground electrode 30, a center electrode 32 mounted within a cylinder 34 of piezoelectric material such as a polarized ceramic .
(for example lead zirconate titanate) by means of threads at the upper end that are mated with threads in the upper end of the cylinder 34, a nut 36 and washer 37 for locking the electrode 32 and cylinder 34 togèther and for providing good eleckrical contact between the electrode 32 and the piezoelectric cylinder 34. The ~ cylinder 34 is held to the base 28 by means of a threaded collar ;, : -5-~.
: - .
~6~2C)~
.~.
39, and a ceramic insulator 41 is secured to the base 28 to extend from the cylinder 34 to the lower end of the electrode 32.
A metal insert 43 is provided in the lower tip of the insulator 41 for sealing engagement with an enlarged end 45 of the electrode 32. At the upper end of the electrode 32 an opening .
47 is provided for receiving fuel under pressure from the fuel pump 14 into the spark plug 24. A ball valve 49 is provided within a central passage 51 in the electrode 32 and is spring loaded towards the opening 47 by means of a spring 50 to ensure that fuel does not flow back towards the fuel pump 14. Inner :
fuel passages 53 connect the central passage 51 with a fuel :
storage chamber 55 defined by a central cylindrical passage in the piezoelectric cylinder 34 and the insulator 41. me elec-trode 32 is tapered from its upper end to the lower end to complete the definition of the chamber 55.
In operation of the fuel-injection spark plug 24 there is a continuous fuel pressure from the fuel pump 14 through the opening 47 to ensure that the fuel chamber 55 is filled with fuel at all times. An exposed surface area 57 is provided at the upper end of the electrode 32 for receiving -an ignition pulse from the ignition system 12. Upon application of an ignition pulse between the area 57 and the base 28, ~hich ;. is threaded for mounting in the grounded cylinder 17, the piezo- :
electric cylinder 34, which is constructed to have its axis of polari.zation in the longitudinal direction P~ contracts very rapidly in the longitudinal direction. The contraction of the ..
cylinder 34 is so rapid that the rod 32 cannot move instantaneously '~
? with the cylinder 34. The rod 32 therefore compresses and the end 45 remalns temporarily in sealing engagement with the insert 43.
'. ' :
,,.
:1~612C~4 A verY large force is thereby applied over the tapered surface area of the electrode 32 in a longitud~nal direction to the fuel within the chamber 55. Upon eventual elongation of the electrode 32 the enlarged end 45 is moved away from the insert 43 and the fuel is inuected from the chamber 55 under high pressure into the combustion chamber 18, creating a fuel-rich vapor in the upper portion of the chamber 18. Substantially simultaneously with the fuel inJection the pulse applied between the electrodes 30 and 32 builds to the voltage breakdown point of the vapor between the electrodes, causing current flow be-tween the electrodes and ignition of the fuel-rich vapor. The fuel in~ection and its ignition thereby occur inherently at the precisely correct time with respect to each other and at the precisely correct time in the engine cycle with only the simple modifications to a conventional engine system that have been described.
-While an embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, further embodiments or combinations of the in- `
vention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. As one example, the spark plug 24 may be adapted with the same ease to a two-cycle engine system as has been adapted to the ~our-cycle system 10 that has been described.
.
. .
.
..... . .. .
.. ~..... . . . ,, , ~
1~6~Z04 monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. Cne successful approach to the reduction of such exhaust emissions is the "strati~ied charge" concept which has resulted in engines such as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 3,830,205, issued to Date and Yagi on August 20, 1974. In such engines, a small volume of fuel-rich mixture is supplied to a small auxiliary chamber ad~acent -~
the main combustion chamber. A spark plug is located in the sm~ll chamber and because of the richness of the fuel in the chamber, the fuel is easily ignited by the plug. A fuel-lean lQ mixture is supplied to the main chamber which is ignited by ~ -the burning fuel in the small chamber. This arrangement results in the use of a very lean fuel mixture to the main chamber, low combustion temperatures in the main chamber, high combustion temperatures in the small cha~ber, long combustion times in both the small and main chamber, and complete combustion in both chambers. These conditions meet the often conflicting conditions for the reduction of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, -~
and nitrogen oxides. However, the requirement for these -engines of an auxiliary combustion chamber, additional valving, ;
and additional fuel and air passages virtually precludes the ;`
retrofitting of existing internal combustion engines for stratified-charge operation. Moreover, the redesign and retooling required for existing manufactures to mass produce such engines would be a very costly and time consuming `
conversion. ;-SUMMAP~Y OF IHE INVENTION: -~
., .
In brief the invention is a spark plug that is responsive to an ignition pulse for injecting fuel into the combu~tion chamber of a reciprocating internal combustion '' '' ' ~.
2~
.
engine and for igniting the injected fuel, including:
fuel storage means; means for receiving fuel for passage to said storage means; means for receiving an ignition pulse; and means responsive solely to an ignition pulse applied to said pulse receiving means for injecting fuel from said fuel storage means into the combustion chamber and for igniting the injected Euel, said responsive means comprising: first and second electrodes; a pieæoelectric material electrically connected between said electrodes and defining with said first electrode said storage means;
and means for normally blocking the flow of fuel from said storage means, said piezoelectric material being re-sponsive to a pulse applied across said electrodes to de~
form and thereby cause a pressure buildup in said storage means and to cause said blocking means to open for injec-tion of the fuel in said storage means into the combus-.
tion chamber, and said first electrode being centrally -located within said storage means and having an upper end as an element of said fuel receiving means and a lower end as an element of said blocking means. -It is an object of the invention to operate con-ventional internal combustion engines in the stratified charge mode.
Another object is to retrofit conventional in-ternal combustion engines to operate in the stratified : , charge mode with minimal modification and expense.
Another object is to provide a spark plug that is directly responsive solely to an ignition pulse to develop a spark across a pair of electrodes and to inject ~-fuel in the space adjacent the electrodes.
.
~ ~' 4 ... .
L2~4 Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent in a description of a specific embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, to en-able one skilled in the art to readily practice the in-vention which is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing.
'- ~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING: ~:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a reciprocat-ing internal combustion engine system according to the invention.
~igure 2 is a cross-sectional diagram o a spark plug in the engine system of Figure 1 for injecting and igniting fuel for stratified charge mode of operation of the engine system. ~v '`
:' '~`,' :`' . '' ' , .
, ....
'.~
.....
'''`.''''. ' . :
: ::
~ 4a ~61Z~L
DESCRIPTION 0~ AN EMBODIMENr:
Referring to the drawing there is shown in Figure I
a four-cycle reciprocating internal combustion engine system 10 including an ignition system 12, a fuel pump 14, a carburetor 16, a cylinder 17 with a combustion chamber 18, a piston 19, an intake valve 20, an exhaust valve 22, all conventional, and a fuel-inJection spark plug 24 according to the invention.
In general, the engine system 10 operates conventionally, the modifications to the conventional system being the provision of the spark plug 24, a fuel line connection 26 between the fuel pump 14 and the plug 24, and a change in carburetor jets to provide a lean fuel mixture from the carburetor to the combustion chamber 18. These simple modifications enable the engine system : ` 10 to be operated in the stratified-charge mode whereby the spark plug 24 is responsive solely to a pulse from the ignition system 12 to inject a small amount of fuel into the upper part of the combustion chamber 18, and to easily and simultaneously ignite .~-.
this rich fuel mixture which in turn ignites the lean ~uel : -mixture in the remainder of the ch~mber 18.
Referring to Figure 2, the spark plug 24 is shown in detail in cross section and comprises a base 28 that includes a ground electrode 30, a center electrode 32 mounted within a cylinder 34 of piezoelectric material such as a polarized ceramic .
(for example lead zirconate titanate) by means of threads at the upper end that are mated with threads in the upper end of the cylinder 34, a nut 36 and washer 37 for locking the electrode 32 and cylinder 34 togèther and for providing good eleckrical contact between the electrode 32 and the piezoelectric cylinder 34. The ~ cylinder 34 is held to the base 28 by means of a threaded collar ;, : -5-~.
: - .
~6~2C)~
.~.
39, and a ceramic insulator 41 is secured to the base 28 to extend from the cylinder 34 to the lower end of the electrode 32.
A metal insert 43 is provided in the lower tip of the insulator 41 for sealing engagement with an enlarged end 45 of the electrode 32. At the upper end of the electrode 32 an opening .
47 is provided for receiving fuel under pressure from the fuel pump 14 into the spark plug 24. A ball valve 49 is provided within a central passage 51 in the electrode 32 and is spring loaded towards the opening 47 by means of a spring 50 to ensure that fuel does not flow back towards the fuel pump 14. Inner :
fuel passages 53 connect the central passage 51 with a fuel :
storage chamber 55 defined by a central cylindrical passage in the piezoelectric cylinder 34 and the insulator 41. me elec-trode 32 is tapered from its upper end to the lower end to complete the definition of the chamber 55.
In operation of the fuel-injection spark plug 24 there is a continuous fuel pressure from the fuel pump 14 through the opening 47 to ensure that the fuel chamber 55 is filled with fuel at all times. An exposed surface area 57 is provided at the upper end of the electrode 32 for receiving -an ignition pulse from the ignition system 12. Upon application of an ignition pulse between the area 57 and the base 28, ~hich ;. is threaded for mounting in the grounded cylinder 17, the piezo- :
electric cylinder 34, which is constructed to have its axis of polari.zation in the longitudinal direction P~ contracts very rapidly in the longitudinal direction. The contraction of the ..
cylinder 34 is so rapid that the rod 32 cannot move instantaneously '~
? with the cylinder 34. The rod 32 therefore compresses and the end 45 remalns temporarily in sealing engagement with the insert 43.
'. ' :
,,.
:1~612C~4 A verY large force is thereby applied over the tapered surface area of the electrode 32 in a longitud~nal direction to the fuel within the chamber 55. Upon eventual elongation of the electrode 32 the enlarged end 45 is moved away from the insert 43 and the fuel is inuected from the chamber 55 under high pressure into the combustion chamber 18, creating a fuel-rich vapor in the upper portion of the chamber 18. Substantially simultaneously with the fuel inJection the pulse applied between the electrodes 30 and 32 builds to the voltage breakdown point of the vapor between the electrodes, causing current flow be-tween the electrodes and ignition of the fuel-rich vapor. The fuel in~ection and its ignition thereby occur inherently at the precisely correct time with respect to each other and at the precisely correct time in the engine cycle with only the simple modifications to a conventional engine system that have been described.
-While an embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, further embodiments or combinations of the in- `
vention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. As one example, the spark plug 24 may be adapted with the same ease to a two-cycle engine system as has been adapted to the ~our-cycle system 10 that has been described.
.
. .
Claims (6)
1. A spark plug responsive to an ignition pulse for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of a re-ciprocating internal combustion engine and for igniting the injected fuel, including:
fuel storage means;
means for receiving fuel for passage to said storage means;
means for receiving an ignition pulse; and means responsive solely to an ignition pulse applied to said pulse receiving means for injecting fuel from said fuel storage means into the combustion chamber and for igniting the injected fuel, said responsive means comprising:
first and second electrodes;
a piezoelectric material electrically connected between said electrodes and defining with said first electrode said storage means; and means for normally blocking the flow of fuel from said storage means, said piezoelectric material being responsive to a pulse applied across said electrodes to deform and thereby cause a pressure buildup in said storage means and to cause said blocking means to open for injection of the fuel in said storage means into the combustion cham-ber, and said first electrode being centrally located within said storage means and having an upper end as an element of said fuel receiving means and a lower end as an element of said blocking means.
fuel storage means;
means for receiving fuel for passage to said storage means;
means for receiving an ignition pulse; and means responsive solely to an ignition pulse applied to said pulse receiving means for injecting fuel from said fuel storage means into the combustion chamber and for igniting the injected fuel, said responsive means comprising:
first and second electrodes;
a piezoelectric material electrically connected between said electrodes and defining with said first electrode said storage means; and means for normally blocking the flow of fuel from said storage means, said piezoelectric material being responsive to a pulse applied across said electrodes to deform and thereby cause a pressure buildup in said storage means and to cause said blocking means to open for injection of the fuel in said storage means into the combustion cham-ber, and said first electrode being centrally located within said storage means and having an upper end as an element of said fuel receiving means and a lower end as an element of said blocking means.
2. A spark plug as defined in claim 1, wherein said fuel storage means is a cylindrical fuel chamber and said first electrode is a rod mounted within said fuel chamber with the axis of the rod coaxial with the axis of the fuel chamber, said rod being secured at its fuel re-ceiving end to said piezoelectric material and having an enlarged end at its opposite end as a element of said blocking means, said enlarged end normally sealing the lower end of said fuel chamber, said rod being responsive to said deformation of said piezoelectric material to move said enlarged end away from the lower end of said fuel chamber to permit the injection of fuel into the combustion chamber.
3. A spark plug as defined in claim 2, wherein said rod is tapered from its upper end to its lower end to maximize the pressure applied to the fuel in said fuel chamber upon deformation of said piezoelectric material.
4. A spark plug as defined in claim 1, for use in a reciprocating internal combustion engine system for operation in a stratified charge mode, said system in-cluding:
a combustion chamber including an intake valve, said spark plug extending into said chamber;
a carburetor adjusted to provide a lean air-fuel mixture through said intake valve to said combustion chamber;
a source of ignition pulses connected to said spark plug; and means for supplying fuel to said spark plug, said plug being operable in response solely to a pulse from said source to inject supplied fuel into said cham-ber and to ignite the injected fuel to burn and ignite the lean air-fuel mixture in the remainder of the chamber and thereby establish a stratified charge mode of opera-tion for the engine system.
a combustion chamber including an intake valve, said spark plug extending into said chamber;
a carburetor adjusted to provide a lean air-fuel mixture through said intake valve to said combustion chamber;
a source of ignition pulses connected to said spark plug; and means for supplying fuel to said spark plug, said plug being operable in response solely to a pulse from said source to inject supplied fuel into said cham-ber and to ignite the injected fuel to burn and ignite the lean air-fuel mixture in the remainder of the chamber and thereby establish a stratified charge mode of opera-tion for the engine system.
5. The spark plug and internal combustion en-gine system as defined in claim 4, wherein said spark plug further includes:
a fuel inlet valve connected to said fuel sup-plying means for preventing fuel backflow from said stor-age means to said fuel supplying means.
a fuel inlet valve connected to said fuel sup-plying means for preventing fuel backflow from said stor-age means to said fuel supplying means.
6. The spark plug and internal combustion en-gine system as defined in claim 4 wherein said fuel storage means is a cylindrical fuel storage chamber;
said first electrode is a tapered rod mounted in said fuel storage chamber coaxially with said fuel sto-rage chamber; and said responsive means is responsive to a pulse from said source for moving said rod axially within said fuel storage chamber to maximize the fuel pressure within said fuel storage chamber for injection of fuel therefrom into said combustion chamber.
said first electrode is a tapered rod mounted in said fuel storage chamber coaxially with said fuel sto-rage chamber; and said responsive means is responsive to a pulse from said source for moving said rod axially within said fuel storage chamber to maximize the fuel pressure within said fuel storage chamber for injection of fuel therefrom into said combustion chamber.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/734,918 US4095580A (en) | 1976-10-22 | 1976-10-22 | Pulse-actuated fuel-injection spark plug |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1061204A true CA1061204A (en) | 1979-08-28 |
Family
ID=24953583
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA287,034A Expired CA1061204A (en) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-09-19 | Pulse-actuated fuel-injection spark plug |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4095580A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5352821A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU516091B2 (en) |
| BE (1) | BE859713A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1061204A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2746361A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2394687A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1561017A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1087079B (en) |
| SE (1) | SE423849B (en) |
Families Citing this family (63)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2529074C2 (en) * | 1975-06-30 | 1982-01-28 | Josef 7906 Blaustein Schaich | Device for the formation of mixture zones in the compression chamber of a four-stroke reciprocating engine |
| US4815422A (en) * | 1974-12-24 | 1989-03-28 | Josef Schaich | Four stroke piston engine |
| US4343272A (en) * | 1980-03-12 | 1982-08-10 | Buck Alan C | Devices for supplementing conventional liquid fuels in internal combustion engines with gaseous fuel supplements |
| US4380978A (en) * | 1980-04-22 | 1983-04-26 | Rockwell International Corporation | Electrostatic diesel fuel injector |
| US4448160A (en) * | 1982-03-15 | 1984-05-15 | Vosper George W | Fuel injector |
| CA1209196A (en) * | 1983-04-11 | 1986-08-05 | John D. Ridley | Ignition source for internal combustion engine |
| DE3731211A1 (en) * | 1987-09-17 | 1989-03-30 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | FUEL INJECTION VALVE |
| US4982708A (en) * | 1989-06-22 | 1991-01-08 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Fuel injection nozzle for internal combustion engines |
| GB9210115D0 (en) * | 1992-05-11 | 1992-06-24 | United Fuels Ltd | Improvements in or relating to internal combustion engines |
| US5291872A (en) * | 1992-07-02 | 1994-03-08 | Motorola | Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine |
| HU9203004D0 (en) * | 1992-09-21 | 1992-12-28 | Sandor David Papp | Injection valve |
| DE19638025A1 (en) * | 1996-09-18 | 1998-03-19 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Fuel injector with integrated spark plug |
| DE19828849A1 (en) | 1998-06-27 | 1999-12-30 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Fuel injection valve with integrated spark plug for direct injection of fuel into combustion chamber of IC engine and its ignition |
| US6199365B1 (en) | 1998-10-15 | 2001-03-13 | Mide Technology Corp. | Piezoelectric chemical ignition device |
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Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2795214A (en) * | 1955-05-20 | 1957-06-11 | Ii Thurston W Shook | Combined fuel injection and ignition system for internal combustion engines |
| US3418980A (en) * | 1965-09-01 | 1968-12-31 | Physics Internat Company | Fuel injector-ignitor system for internal combustion engines |
| US3980061A (en) * | 1972-03-07 | 1976-09-14 | Mcalister Roy E | Fuel injection-spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine |
| US3926169A (en) * | 1974-06-21 | 1975-12-16 | Fuel Injection Dev Corp | Combined fuel vapor injector and igniter system for internal combustion engines |
-
1976
- 1976-10-22 US US05/734,918 patent/US4095580A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1977
- 1977-09-19 CA CA287,034A patent/CA1061204A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-09-19 GB GB38984/77A patent/GB1561017A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-10 SE SE7711353A patent/SE423849B/en unknown
- 1977-10-13 BE BE181735A patent/BE859713A/en unknown
- 1977-10-13 AU AU29638/77A patent/AU516091B2/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-14 DE DE19772746361 patent/DE2746361A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1977-10-18 IT IT28742/77A patent/IT1087079B/en active
- 1977-10-21 JP JP12669777A patent/JPS5352821A/en active Pending
- 1977-10-21 FR FR7731801A patent/FR2394687A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS5352821A (en) | 1978-05-13 |
| AU2963877A (en) | 1979-04-26 |
| US4095580A (en) | 1978-06-20 |
| BE859713A (en) | 1978-02-01 |
| DE2746361A1 (en) | 1978-04-27 |
| GB1561017A (en) | 1980-02-13 |
| AU516091B2 (en) | 1981-05-14 |
| SE7711353L (en) | 1978-04-23 |
| FR2394687A1 (en) | 1979-01-12 |
| IT1087079B (en) | 1985-05-31 |
| SE423849B (en) | 1982-06-07 |
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