US2222440A - Engine ignition means - Google Patents

Description

Nav. 19, 1940. w. l.. NAWMAN ENGINE IGNITION MEANS 'Filed Feb. 17, 1959 Err-1E- Rnv E L@ m M/ .m

Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PTET OFFCE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to an ignition means for internal combustion engines.

An object of the invention is to provide an ignition means for an internal combustion engine which may be embodied as a sturdy, integral part of the engine with all of the parts thereof confined entirely to the engine cylinder and operated automatically by the movement lo of the engine piston to the head end of the cylinder' without the use of any external mechanical or electrical parts as heretofore customarily relied upon for igniting the compressed gas in the engine cylinder. 15 Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective ignition means of the character above which will provide a uniform ring of the compressed gas throughout the entire combustion space of the cylinder.

.,0 The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanyg5 ing and forming part of the speciiication. It is to :be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claim.

30 Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a part of an internal combustion engine embodying an ignition means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

35 Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the positions of the parts of the ignition means.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing a second position of the parts of the ignition means.

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figures 2 and 3, showing the parts of the ignition means in a third position.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of an in- 45 ternal combustion engine showing a modified form f the ring means.

The ignition means of the present invention consists briey in the provision of a chamber in the engine in communication with the engine 50 cylinder and into and from which is reciprocated an auxiliary piston which causes the compression and ignition of gases within the chamber, whereupon the ignited gases are passed into the engine cylinder to effect an ignition of the gases 55 therein. In accordance with the present inven- (Cl. 12B-143) tion the aforementioned relative recip-rocal movementI of the chamber and auxiliary piston is effected in timed relation to the movement oi the engine piston, whereby ignition will take place substantially at a top dead center position of the engine piston in the customary manner. Also, the chamber and auxiliary piston are so formed as to cause a uniform discharge of the ignited products entirely throughout the cornbustion space of the engine cylinder, thereby l0 eecting a most complete and effective ignition of the compressed charge of fuel in the cylinder.

With reference more specifically t0 the accompanying drawing, the engine and ignition` means therein depicted comprise an engine cas- 15 ing 6 providing an internal engine cylinder 'i and formed with inlet and discharge passages and 9 for the intake of fuel into the cylinder and the discharge of spent products therefrom. Mounted in the passages 3 and 9 are valves II 20 and l2 which are opened and closed in timed relation t0 the movement of the piston, so as to carry out the cycle of operation of the engine in accordance with the usual two or four cycle operation. Mounted within the cylinder I is an engine piston I3 which reciprocates to and from the head end i4 of the cylinder to operate on the gases in the cylinder in accordance with the cycle of operation of the engine.

The ignition means of the present invention comprises an auxiliary chamber i6 Whichis ar'- ranged in communication with the engine cylinder 'and a plug member or auxiliary piston I1 which is adapted for movement into and from the chamber to compress explosive gases in the chamber to a self-igniting pressure' and drive means is provided for causing the relative reciprocal movement of the member l1 and the chamber It in timed relation to the movement of the engine piston I3, so as to cause an igni- 40 tion of the gases at a proper time in the operating cycle.

In the most simple embodiment of the invention as herein illustrated, the chamber I6 and the member I'I are provided on the piston and 45 engine casing so that the reciprocation of the member I'I into and out of the chamber will be effected in proper timed relation to the movement of the engine piston itself, and without the use of any intervening drive mechanism. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the chamber I6 is provided directly in the head end I8 of the piston and the member I1 supported on the head end I 4 of the cylinder, while in the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5,

the chamber I 6 is provided in the head end of the engine casing, while the member I'I is provided on the piston.

The chamber I 6, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, is of generally cylindrical shape and is provided-with a reduced neck portion I9 at the open end thereof. This latter portion is preferably of cylindrical form and adapted for a sliding fit with a cylinder head portion 2| on the member II, whereby such head portion on engagement through the neck I9 will cause a compression of the gases contained within the chamber. In accordance with the present construction, the head portion 2I has an axial length somewhat less than that of the chamber and is positioned immediately ahead of a reduced member portion 22, whereby upon movement of the head 2l completely into the chamber as illustrated in Figure 4, the'portion 22 will become aligned with the neck I9, so as to define an annular passage between the portion 22 and the neck for the cylindrical discharge of the ignited products within the chamber. As will be understood, the head portion 2l of the auxiliary piston is of sufcient length relative to the length of the chamber and the volume of the chamber to cause a compression of the fuel gases therein to the point of self-ignition, whereby upon movement of the head portion 2l past the neck I9, such ignited gases will be allowed to pass around the head 2! and out through the annular passage defined between the neck I9 and the reduced portion 22. vIn this manner a substantially continuous sheet of re is discharged from the ignition means into all parts of the combustion chamber. Preferably, the axis of the chamber IB and that of the member I1 is coincident with the central axis of the engine cylinder, whereby the discharge of the ignited products will be most effectively distributed throughout the combustion space of the engine cylinder and completely across the head end of the piston.

The several positions of the member I'I and chamber I6 are illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. In

Figure 2 the member I'I is about to enter the neck portion I9 of the chamber to compress the gases contained therein. In Figure 3 the head portion 2| is just passing to a detached position with respect to the neck I9 so as to open the annular passage aforesaid. In Figure 4 the piston I7 is shown in fully inserted position into the chamber I6.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the piston I1 is as aforementioned, mounted directly on the head casing of the engine cylinder. As here shown, the member is provided with a threaded shank 23 which is engaged through a threaded opening 24 in the head of the casing and is secured in position by means of a lock-washer 25 and nut 26 placed on the threaded shank at the exterior of the casing.

In the form of the invention as illustrated in Figure 5, the chamber I6' is embodied in the head casing as aforementioned. As here shown, the chamber is formed in an inserted piece 21 which is set in an opening 28 in the cylinder head and secured in place b-y means of a lockwasher 29 and nut 3l engaged with a threaded portion of the insert at the outer side of the casing. The auxiliary piston member I'I in this form of the vinvention is attached to the piston I3 for movement therewith and is connected to the head end 32 of the piston in a curved conical base 33 which connects the head end 32 of the piston to the reduced portion 22 of the auxiliary piston. In this form of the invention compressed ignited gases discharged from the chamber I6 now downwardly from the chamber in a continuous ring of fire and strike the downwardly and outwardly curved surface 33, whereby the ignited gases are spread uniformly across the entire combustion space of the engine cylinder and across the head end of the piston. 'Ihis form of the invention is described and claimed in a divisional application, vSerial No. 327,947, filed April 10, 1940.

I claim:

In combination with an internal combustion engine having a cylinder and a reciprocating piston therein and fuel inlet and discharge means connected to said cylinder, said piston having a chamber opening to the head end thereof and formed with an internal cylindrical enlargement and a reduced cylindrical open portion at the outer end thereof, and a member projecting into the cylinder in alignment with said chamber and having a cylindrical portion thereof formed to slidably engage in said reduced chamber portion to cause a compression and ignition of gases in said chamber upon movement of said member portion therein, said member portion and said enlargement being formed to dene a complete and uniform annular space around said portion in said chamber, said member having a portion of reducedcross-sectional area adjacent to said rst portion positioned to register with said reduced chamber portion upon insertion of said first member portion into said chamber to provide an annular discharge passage for conducting and dispersing the gases compressed in said chamber into said cylinder.

y WILLIAM L. NAWMAN.

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