Pulse-actuated fuel-injection spark plug
Abstract
A replacement spark plug for reciprocating internal combustion engines that functions as a fuel injector and as a spark plug to provide a "stratified-charge" effect. The conventional carburetor is retained to supply the main fuel-air mixture which may be very lean because of the stratified charge. The replacement plug includes a cylindrical piezoelectric ceramic which contracts to act as a pump whenever an ignition pulse is applied to a central rod through the ceramic. The rod is hollow at its upper end for receiving fuel, it is tapered along its lower length to act as a pump, and it is flattened at its lower end to act as a valve for fuel injection from the pump into the cylinder. The rod also acts as the center electrode of the plug, with the spark jumping from the plug base to the lower end of the rod to thereby provide spark ignition that has inherent proper timing with the fuel injection.
- Inventors:
-
- Livermore, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 863115
- Patent Number(s):
- 4095580
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02M - SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- pulse-actuated; fuel-injection; spark; plug; replacement; reciprocating; internal; combustion; engines; functions; fuel; injector; provide; stratified-charge; effect; conventional; carburetor; retained; supply; main; fuel-air; mixture; lean; stratified; charge; cylindrical; piezoelectric; ceramic; contracts; pump; whenever; ignition; pulse; applied; central; rod; hollow; upper; receiving; tapered; length; flattened; valve; injection; cylinder; center; electrode; jumping; base; inherent; proper; timing; main fuel; fuel injector; spark plug; internal combustion; combustion engine; fuel injection; air mixture; fuel-air mixture; combustion engines; central rod; center electrode; piezoelectric ceramic; ignition pulse; /123/
Citation Formats
Murray, Ian, and Tatro, Clement A. Pulse-actuated fuel-injection spark plug. United States: N. p., 1978.
Web.
Murray, Ian, & Tatro, Clement A. Pulse-actuated fuel-injection spark plug. United States.
Murray, Ian, and Tatro, Clement A. Sun .
"Pulse-actuated fuel-injection spark plug". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863115.
@article{osti_863115,
title = {Pulse-actuated fuel-injection spark plug},
author = {Murray, Ian and Tatro, Clement A},
abstractNote = {A replacement spark plug for reciprocating internal combustion engines that functions as a fuel injector and as a spark plug to provide a "stratified-charge" effect. The conventional carburetor is retained to supply the main fuel-air mixture which may be very lean because of the stratified charge. The replacement plug includes a cylindrical piezoelectric ceramic which contracts to act as a pump whenever an ignition pulse is applied to a central rod through the ceramic. The rod is hollow at its upper end for receiving fuel, it is tapered along its lower length to act as a pump, and it is flattened at its lower end to act as a valve for fuel injection from the pump into the cylinder. The rod also acts as the center electrode of the plug, with the spark jumping from the plug base to the lower end of the rod to thereby provide spark ignition that has inherent proper timing with the fuel injection.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978}
}