Achates Power, Inc.

Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.

Rishikesh Venugopal

Donald W Stanton

Bhargav Ranganath

Fabien G Redon

Ryan G Mackenzie

Gerhard Regner

Jason W Mackey

Thomas C Geyer

Neerav Abani

John M Deur

Thomas Bodin

A compression-ignited, opposed-piston engine equipped for multi-fuel operation includes at least one cylinder, a pair of pistons slidably disposed in the cylinder for opposing movement between respective bottom and fop center locations, and spaced-apart intake and exhaust ports near respective ends of the cylinder. The pistons include end surfaces constructed to form a shaped combustion chamber when the pistons are near top center locations during a compression stroke of the engine. At least one gaseous fuel injector communicates with the bore of the cylinder through an injector site in the cylinder between the intake port and the exhaust port. At least one liquid fuel injector communicates with the bore through an injector site in the cylinder. A fuel injection system coupled to the at least one gaseous fuel injector and to the at least one liquid fuel injector is operable to cause the at least one gaseous fuel injector to inject a main charge of gaseous fuel when the pistons are between the bottom and top center locations and to cause the at least one liquid fuel injector to inject a pilot charge of liquid fuel.

Dual-fuel constructions for opposed-piston engines with shaped combustion chambers

A combustion chamber for an opposed-piston engine has a rotationally skewed shape in a longitudinal section that is orthogonal to a chamber centerline, between diametrically-opposed openings of the combustion chamber through which fuel is injected. The rotationally skewed shape interacts with swirl to generate a tumble bulk charge air motion structure that increases turbulence.

Skewed combustion chamber for opposed-piston engines

A combustion chamber for an opposed-piston engine has an elongated asymmetrical shape in longitudinal section that runs along a chamber centerline, between diametrically-opposed openings of the combustion chamber through which fuel is injected. The asymmetry apportions combustion chamber volume to provide additional clearance on a side of the chamber centerline toward which swirl is directed, thereby giving a fuel plume space to swing without hindrance in response to swirl.

Asymmetrically-shaped combustion chamber for opposed-piston engines

A piston and an engine are provided that includes various precise configuration parameters, including dimensions, shape and/or relative positioning of combustion chamber features. More particularly, configuration parameters for a piston crown and a piston bowl located within the piston crown are provided. The piston bowl configuration results in a combustion process that yields decreased heat transfer to a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine as well as reduced NOx emissions.

Piston for internal combustion engine

A piston and an engine are provided that includes various precise configuration parameters, including dimensions, shape and/or relative positioning of the combustion chamber features, resulting in a combustion process that yields improved mixing of fuel and intake air and increased uniformity of load on the engine pistons. The piston provides a piston bowl with a concave curvilinear portion that may be semi-spherical and extends inwardly to a depth; an angled surface extends inwardly from the crown surface to intersect the concave curvilinear portion at an edge at a depth; and a curved surface that extends inwardly from the crown surface to intersect the concave curvilinear portion at a tangent at a depth. The angled surface may be part of a frusto-conical surface that may extend from both sides of the angled surface to an area proximate the curved surface.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Rishikesh Venugopal