The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 09, 1992
Filed:
Jun. 11, 1991
Susumu Ariga, San Antonio, TX (US);
Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for operating a 2-stroke or 4-stroke reciprocating compression-ignition internal combustion engine, of the direct injection type, to reduce fuel consumption and to reduce NO.sub.x emissions. A staged fuel injection process involving two fuel injectors, but only one type of fuel, is used. A low pressure fuel injection device injects a pilot fuel charge into the combustion chamber when the combustion chamber is near its lowest pressure and its maximum volume. The pilot fuel charge stratifies within the combustion chamber, and undergoes a preflame reaction with a resultant release of heat energy. Near the end of the compression stroke of the piston, when the combustion chamber is near its minimum volume, a high pressure fuel injector injects a main fuel charge into the combustion chamber. The main fuel charge is ignited by the burning pilot fuel charge, and combustion of the main fuel charge is accelerated by the heat energy released by the pilot fuel charge preflame reaction. This accelerated combustion process reduces the ignition delay and premix combustion rate, and results in reduced fuel consumption and NO.sub.x emissions, without adversely affecting either combustion noise levels or particulate emission.