Precombustion chamber, stratified charge internal combustion engine

Abstract

A gaseous fuel is used in a precombustion chamber for igniting lean fuel-oxidant mixtures in a main combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The precombustion chamber preferably utilizes a highly combustible gaseous fuel which burns clean with little or no deposits and produces no pollutants. The combustion gas products from the precombustion chamber are injected into the main combustion chamber at high temperature and at high velocity to produce highly efficient turbulent mixing of a lean fuel-oxidant mixture in the main combustion chamber and to produce effective ignition and efficient burning of the fuel at the lean fuel-oxidant ratios in the main combustion chamber for increased engine efficiency and lowered emissions as compared to existing engine systems using conventional spark ignition. The precombustion chamber mechanism incorporates injection structure for producing standing waves in the main combustion chamber to provide a plurality of highly effective ignition points. In preferred forms of the present invention hydrogen is utilized as the gaseous fuel for the precombustion chamber to provide absolutely clean combustion. An electrolytic generator can be incorporated with the precombustion chamber mechanism for generating hydrogen and oxygen gases to operate the precombustion chamber. The electrolytic generator includes an automatic water feed system for replacing the water used to generate the hydrogen and oxygen gases and incorporates an electrode and internal pressurization arrangement for automatically shutting off the generation of hydrogen and oxygen gases on engine shut-down and for storing a sufficient quantity of hydrogen and oxygen gases to facilitate subsequent engine start-up.