Southwest Research Institute

Rainer J Rothbauer

Charles Edward Roberts, Jr

Thomas W Ryan, Iii

Chad H Stovell

A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl including at least one surface feature as a target for the fuel spray, the surface feature angled 20&#xb0; to 80&#xb0; from the piston face. The surface feature may protrude from the inner surface of the bowl or may be recessed into the inner surface. Such surface features may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing.

Piston bowl with spray jet targets

A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl including a generally concave portion including a flat bottom surrounding a central protruding dome. The relatively flat bottom portion is bounded by two radial concave surface portions which are disposed below two convex separation features for the injected fuel spray. Such surface geometries may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing.

Piston bowl with flat bottom

A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface and a dome that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl and the dome each including at least one surface feature as a target for the fuel spray. The surface feature may protrude from the inner surface of the bowl or may be recessed into the inner surface. Such surface features may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing.

Piston bowl with deflecting features

A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl including at least one surface feature that forms at least one edge portion as a target for the fuel spray, the edge portion defined by two or more surface portions. The surface feature may protrude from the inner surface of the bowl or may be recessed into the inner surface. Such surface features may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing.

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San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Rainer J Rothbauer