US2100143A - Internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

l NOV. 23,1393?. F' c MOCK INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed oct. 2d, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 NVENTOR.

Ham/f C. Moc/r MMM /mz ATTORNEY.

' Patente-J Nov. 23,1937

, 'UNITED' STATES APArlazN'r OFFICE Eclipse Aviation Corporation,

East Orange,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 20, 1933, Serial No. 694,483

19 Claims. (Cl. 123-32) This invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to engines of the type employing fuel injection.

Several attempts have heretofore been made to vdesign an internal-combustion engine ofthe type employingl fuel injection, insuch a manner as to secure eicient operation thereof with fuels of the `less volatile type, and incertain ofthe prior constructions, the injected fuel has been directed to impinge upon a reciprocating engine element normally heated to a relatively high temprature during operation. A fuel spray thus directed, it was thought, materially increased the degree and rate of vaporizatlon of .the fuel by }5 reason of the heat abstracted from such engine element. In such prior instances, however,` it' has been determined that the increase in the vaporization of the fuel has not been appreciable, this' being due to the fact that a large portion of the fuel, injected upon the engine element at a relatively high ve1ocity, was vnot reflected from Y said element in the manner supposed, but skidded across said element into contact with the rela tively cool cylinder wall, to which the fuel arl-ly posits in the engine cylinders and impairment v of lubrication due to the liquid fuel adhering to the cylinder wall.

One -of the 'objects of the present invention'is y to'provvide' a novel method and means for securing more rapid land complete evaporation of 40 the fuel 'charge in engines of the type utilizing an-injected charge of fuel in order to avoid the abovediflicultie's.

Another object of the invention is to provide a n'ovelinternal combustion engine construction l wherein certain `of the engine elements heated by the combustion of the fuel are employed for rap-- idly evaporating successive fuel charges and effecting, in la relatively short interval of time, a

homogeneous and thoroughly vaporized mixture 60 thereof with the airl charge Adrawn into the engine, whereby thelatter may be operated eiicientlyat high speeds.

of the above character, a novel construction 56 wherein-the fuel sprayjs ydirectedcntgi highly Still another object is to provide in an engine y heated engine elements, thus not only eectingl a more rapid evaporation of thefuel but also enabling such elements to be maintained at a relatively lower temperature resulting in a material increase in the capabilities and perform- 5 ance of high powered engines.

Another object is to provide an internal combustion engine wherein the fuel spray is directed upon a heated engine element and wherein the intake and exhaust4 ports of the engine are so, 10 arranged with respect to each other and to the fuel spray as to effect an unusually'rapid evaporation o1. fuel and mixture thereof with air.

Another object is to provide in an internal combustion engine of the above character, a novel ,15 method 'and means for cniining` the injected spray of fuel between surfaces of higher temperature than the cylinder walls until the entrance velocity of the injected fuel has appreciably decreased, thus materially increasing the rate and.20

degree of evaporationvof the fuel.

A further object is to provide in an internal combustion engine of the above' type, a novel construction whereby the injected fuel and incoming air charge are directed upon the surface of a heated engine element which is so constituted as to direct the fuel and resultant mixture away from the relatively cooler vwalls of the engine cylinderl in order to avoid adherence of liquid fuel to said walls and consequent nonvaporization thereof, such an arrangement serving' to increase evaporation of the fuel and enabling eilicient operation of the engine upon a relatively lean combustible mixture.

Another object and feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel surface on one or more of the engine elements normally heated to a relatively high temperature during operation of the engine, whereby the fuel particles of the injected spray, directed upon such element or o elements, receive a series of impacts and will thus become more thoroughly vaporiz'ed. Y

A still further object is to provide in an interna combustion engine, a novel method and means for timing the injection of fuel` thereto, whereby 45 l 'the same may be injected at various times in the engine cycle for securing most eiilcientoperation during starting and during' normal running.

`A further object is to provide an internal combustion engine constructlon'of the above charac- 5o ter soconstituted as to be unusually efcient in operation, light-in weight, economical of manufacture and enabling the eiilcient user/of relatively heavy or safety fuels.

Qther objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter. from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. `1 is' a vertical sectional view of an internal combustion engine illustrating one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of an internal combustion engine illustrating another form of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

A Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of an engine constructed in accordance with still another form;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the piston of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of still another modication;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional viewl of still another modication;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the engine shown in Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a fuel pump and control therefor; L

Figs. 10, 11, and 12 illustrate the control cams for the pump;

Fig. 13 is a view illustrating a modified form of the cam of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 14 is a view of the form shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the deection -of the fuel at various piston positions.

In the operation of internal combustion engines of the type employing injection of the less volatile fuels, rapid and complete evaporation of the fuel charge and consequent rapid absorption of heat is highly desirable and in fact neces- 'sary if it is desired to operate the engine efficiently at high speeds. By the present invention, such rapid absorption of heat by the injected fuel spray is obtained by utilizing the heat in the hot exhaust gases in the cylinder at the time of injection; by so positioning the intake and exhaust valves that the air charge is heated not only by the piston and walls of the cylinder but also by the exhaust valve; and by directing the fuel spray l against the highly heated surface of the engine piston' and/or head of the exhaust valve and maintaining'the spray in cont-act with such surface and away from the relatively cooler cylinder wall until theV velocity of the spray, yet unvaporized, has materially decreased.

In utilizing the above features, it has been found that a material increase in the turbulence and evaporation of the fuel charge is vobtained by subjecting the fuel spray to a succession ofr impacts. In certain forms of the invention, such impacts are imparted to the fuel by corrugating or grooving the heated engine element against y.

which the fuel spray is directed. This construction, moreover, serves to increase the angle of reflection of the spray so that the latter will be directed away from the relatively cooler cylinder walls where it would 'otherwise adhere and rey main in an unvaporized condition, causing the disadvantages mentioned above. In addition to the above, the construction referred to, in irrcreasing the evaporation of the fuel, enables the engine element, against which the fuel is directed, to be operated at a temperature lower than that hitherto found possible, thus avoiding the burning and destruction of such elements.

With the above in mind and referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, an internal combustion engine embodying the present invention is illustrated therein as comprising a cylinder 8 having a piston 9 reciprocatingly mounted therein. A fuel injecting device I0 is positioned in the side wall of the cylinder in such a manner as to direct a conical spray of fuel against the top of the piston, such spray being indicated by the lines II, it being noted that the same impinges upon the piston at an angle. In order to abstract the maximum amount of heat from the heated elements of the engine for the purpose of increasing the degree of evaporation and in order to prevent contact between the fuel spray and the relatively cool cylinder wall, a semi-circular fuel deflecting flange I2 is provided upon the top of the piston adjacent the exhaust valve I3,

the said flange being provided with an inwardly turned ledge or lip I4 for directing the fuel spray upwardly against the exhaust valve and away from the cylinder wall as shown. The surface of the top of the piston enclosed by said flange is provided with corrugations or ribs I5 arranged transversely to the direction of the fuel spray II and the corrugated or ribbed portion is preferably gradually curved upwardly to the flange I2, it having been determined that such a conlstruction not only increases the effective heating surface for evaporating the fuel, but also pre-v vents the fuel from skidding across the top of the piston where it would otherwise contact the relatively cool cylinder wall and remain thereon in a liquid condition. This arrangement, moreover,

subjects the fuel spray to a plurality of impacts thus enabling a more eflicient vaporization of the fuel.

It may be noted from Fig. 14 that 'as the piston 6 reciprocates in the cylinder, the oblique spray I I impinges against different serrations or grooves throughout the piston travel and that the spray of fuel is diffused throughout the entire combustion chamber by virtue of the variations in angle of incidence.

In order to control and efficiently direct a charge of air into said cylinder to form therein a homogeneous combustible mixture for the fuel spray, there is provided an intake valve I6 positioned adjacent the fuel injecting means I0. Preferably, ysuch valve is provided with a-shroud 4or directing flange II for the purpose of conducting the incoming charge of air directly upon the heated corrugated portion of the piston, as indicated by the arrows I8, whereby the fuel spray will meet the whirl of air, become intimately mixed therewith, and will be directed against the heated head of the exhaust valve I3 ashereinbefore described. It will be noted that suitable ignition means I9 have been provided for igniting the resultant combustible mixture and that' such means are positioned in the cylinder wallI opposite the fuel injecting device, so that the fuel spray is directed generally toward the ignition means, thus enabling ready combustion of the fuel during operation Aof the engine. A further feature resides in the provision of means for enabling the top of the piston 9 to be maintained at a higher temperature than the remaining portion .the piston adjacent the top thereof, it being apparent that such groove appreciably decreases the heat conductivity between the top of the piston and the remaining portion thereof, which latter presents a substantial surface tothe relatively cool walls of the cylinder. I

Referring to Fig. 2, the modification illustrated therein is embodied'in an engine utilizing center fuel injection. As shown, the cylinder 8 is provided with a dome-shaped head 23 having a fuel injecting device I positioned in the center thereof and having also intake and exhaust valves I6 and I3 respectively positioned upon either side of the central portion thereof into the form of arounded cusp 24, while the flange I2 is gradually curved into the piston head as shown. In this form, the intake valve is preferably provided with a shroud or deflecting flange I1 positioned in such a manner that the incoming charge of air will be directed tangentially into the cylinder, as indicated by the arrows 25, thus effecting a spiral whirl of combustible mixture about the central portion 24 of the piston. With this arrangement, as the piston travels downwardly during the suction stroke, it will be apparent that the air charge will be directed toward successive portions of the Piston head with its accumulated lfuel in order to insure an intimate mixture. Suitable ignition means I9, which may comprise a combined heater and spark plug for starting and normal running respectively, is provided in the side of the domeshaped head 23.

VThe ange I2 of the piston 8 shields the combined heater and spark plug I9 from the direct path of the whirling gases at the top of the piston stroke, but is preferably cut away at 1 toprovide indirect communication between the cylinder and Plug.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the construction is such that'an air whirl is created with a double vortex movement of fuel and vapor. To this end,l the piston head is provided with a flange I2 extending around the piston but terminating upon either side of the fuel injecting device I0 and the fuel issuing from -the latter is ldivided into two sprays, 26 and 21 respectively, which are directed toward the end portions of said flange, see Fig. 5. In order to increase the heating surface with which the fuel `spray contacts and in order also to increase the number of impacts between the fuel and the flange, the latter is provided'with corrugations or ribs 29 arranged transversely to the direction of passage 'of the fuel. Directly opposite the fuel injecting device I0, the flange is symmetrically curved inwardly in the form of a rounded cusp 29,-Fig. 5, to effect the .hretofore'mentioned double vortex movement of the fuel. The air charge is preferably directed into the paths of the fuel sprays adjacentthe fuel injecting devices by means of a shroud or other suitable deflecting device 30 carried by the intake valve I6, the flow of the air charge being indicated by the arrows 3I, it being noted that the same is whirled' along with each spray as shown in Fig. 5. A suitable combined heating device and spark plug I9 is provided in the cylinder opposite the fuel-injecting device Ill.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 6, the piston 9 is formed with a cup-shaped depression having corrugations I5 against which the fuel impinges.

'I'he intake valve I6 has been turned ninety degrees ,from the position shown in Fig. 2 whereby the baille I1 causes the incoming airk to intersect the fuel spray and be directed past the exhaust valve I3 and downwardly against the corrugations in a whirl as indicated by arrows 22. This both cools the exhaust valve and applies the heat so abstracted toward vaporization of the fuel. It will be noted that in the form illustrated in Fig. 6, the spa-rkplug I9 isl located substantially at the axis of the swirling'mlxture and therefore the mixture will have less cooling action on the spark plug. The fuel to air ratio will also be higher in the region of the spark plug with a resultant improvement in ignition.

. In the forms of the invention heretofore de scribed, the corrugated or ribbed heated engine element against which the fuel spray has been directed has taken the form of the engine piston.v

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a construction wherein another heated engineelement may be employed for aiding in the vaporization of the fuel, such element being the engine exhaustvalve I3. As shown, two exhaust and two' intake valves, I3 and I6 respectively, are employed and the head of each exhaust valve is concave and is provided with corrugations or ribs 32 arranged substantially4 transversely to the direction of the angularlyrelated fuel sprays 33, 34 issuing from the fuel injecting device I0, see Fig. 7. Each valvev is also provided with an inwardly turned 'lip |311' which is similar i-n function to the lip I4 on the piston. In this arrangement, the sprays, after impinging' against the exhaust valve heads, are

deflected' against the heated piston head, 4thus abstracting heat from not only: the exhaust valve but also the top of the piston, thereby enabling a complete and rapid vaporization of the fuel and permitting these engine parts to be'maintained at a relatively lower temperature than heretofore. By the provision lof the lip I'3d, any

possibilityA of the fuel being deflected onto the cylinder wall is avoided. A suitable ignition device I9 is positioned in the cylinder opposite the fuel injecting nozzle I0.

Means are provided by the present invention for variably timing the injection of fuel'into the engines heretofore described iii order to ob. tain eiiicient operation during starting and also during running in `either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. As shown.' Figs. 9 to 12, such means are constituted by a fuel pump 35 adapted. to be connected with* the fuel injecting devices III and having an operatingmember 36 pivotally mounted as at 31 to a portion ofthe fuel pump casing 38. Movement of the operating member to actuate the fuel pump is effected by means of a rotatable member 39 drivablyconnected in any suitable manner toa rotatable engine driven shaft 4 0. Such rotatable member is provided with va plurality of cam members 4I, .42,-and 43 and this assembly isfso arproper injection of fuel for normal running of the engine in a clockwise direction, while Fig/ l2 illustrates the profile of cam 4I for operating the fuel pump in order to secure proper/injection during normal running of the engine in a counterclockwise direction. Fig. 11 illustrates the profile of the starting cam 42, wherein it will be noted that two lobes 45 and 46 may be provided for effecting injection of fuel into the cylinder against a heated element therein as heretofore described, at the beginning of the suction stroke and at the top `of the firing stroke. Such an arrangement permits ready starting of the engine and enables the latter to pick up its load efciently. After the engine has been started and is running smoothly, themember 39 may be operated in the proper direction to bring either cam 4| or .cam 43 into engagement with the roller 44 depending upon the direction of rotation of the engine.

An alternative construction of the starting cam'4 2 is illustrated in Fig. 13, useful for starting with a warm air charge, wherein it will be noted that an-initial injection of fuel may be effected at the beginning of the compression stroke,l by means of cam 48, so that the spray will traverse the cylinder space Without striking a cold wall; and a supplementary injection may be also effected by the cam 49 at approximately the top center of the firing stroke.

There is thus provided by the present invention a novel method and means for injecting fuel into the cylinders of internal combustion engines to obtain more rapid and more complete vaporization thereof, thus enabling the efficient use of relatively heavy or safety fuels and realizing higher fuel eiciencies with increased power. The manner in which the injected fuel is di- .rected towards an engine element, normally heated to a relatively high temperature during operation of the engine, and is maintained out of contact with the relatively cool walls of the cylinder, until the velocity of the fuel spray has been materially reduced, enables a substantial amount of heat to be abstracted from such ele- ;ment to secure rapid vaporization ofthe fuel,

and to moreover enablelsuch engine element to remain at a relatively cooler temperature than heretofore. This arrangement also prevents the fuel spray from impinging against the relatively cool cylinder wall, to which an appreciable portion of the spray would adhere and not become vaporized. The provision of the ribbed or corrugated surface of the engine element, against which the fuel spray is directed, not only increases the surface available for evaporation of the fuel, but also subjects the particles of the fuel spray to a series of impacts in order'to further break up such particles and effect more complete vaporization thereof. The fuel injection timing arrangement disclosed permits efcient injectionof fuel into the engine at various vtimes during the engine cycle to enable ready starting of the engine, and normal running thereof in either direction.

While several embodiments of the invention y have been disclosed and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be` embodied in other forms, as well understood by those skilled in the art. Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the in' vention.

What ii claimed is: 1. InV an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a reciprocating engine element in said' cylinder, said element having an undulating corugated surface having 4a series of round corner grooves having prominent edges at the boundary of the grooves and heated to a relatively high temperature by the combustion of fuel in said cyl- A to the injection means for igniting said fuel.

2. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a piston reciprocatingly mounted therein, a plurality of undulating corrugations provided on the top of said piston the depth of which is less than the width, means positioned in the side wall of the cylinder at an acute angle to the cylinder axis for injecting fuel into said cylinder against said corrugations, and means in the cylinder opposite to the fuel injection means for iguiting said fuel.

3. In an internal combustion engine having a 'cylinder and a piston reciprocatingly mounted therein, intake and exhaust valves in said cylinder, means for injecting fuel into said cylinder,

comprising a plurality of undulating corrugations on the top of said piston, a fuel jet in the side wall of the cylinder and inclined at an acute angle with the cylinder axis from which the fuel is directed at an acute angle with the top of the piston,

a. flange on the piston having an inwardly curved lip for deecting said fuel upwardly in the cylinder and away from the walls thereof, and deflecting means associated with said intake valve for directing incoming gases toward said flange.

5. In combination with a cylinder having a piston reciprocatingly mounted therein, of intake and exhaust valves for said cylinder, a plurality of corrugationsprovided on the top of said piston to one side thereof and located directly beneath said exhaust valve, means for injecting fuelinto said cylinder against said corrugations during the suction stroke of said piston, and means for deflecting said fuel upwardly and away from the ,walls of said cylinder so that the fuel will be directed against said exhaust valve.

6. The combination with a cylinder having a piston reciprocatingly mounted therein, of intake and exhaust valves for said cylinder, a plurality of corrugations provided on the top of said piston to one side thereof and located directly beneath said exhaust valve, means for injecting fuel into'said cylinder against said corrugations,

7. In an internal combustion engine having a` cylinder and a piston reciprocatingly mounted therein, a plurality of undulating corrugations provided in the top of said piston, said corrugations having a width greater than their depth means for injecting fuel into said cylinder against said corrugations, said fuel injection means being` positioned in the side wall of the cylinder and inclined at an acute angle with the cylinder axis,

means for'igniting said fuel, and said piston hav- :aid cylinder, means for injecting fuel into said aylinder against the top of said piston, an inwardly curved surface on the piston for deflecting saidy fuel upwardly and away from the cylinder wall to cause said fuel to impinge upon said exhaust valve, and ignition means positioned in the Wall of the cylinder opposite said fuel injecting .means and adjacent said exhaust valve.

9. In an internal combustion engine having a .cylinder and a piston reciprocatingly mounted therein, said cylinder being provided with a domeshaped head, a plurality of corrugations provided on the top of said piston, fuel injecting means positioned in the center of said head and adapted to inject a conical spray of fuel into said'cylinder against the corrugated top of said piston, intake `and exhaust valves positioned in said head upon either side of said first named means, means associated with said intake valve and directing air into said cylinder to create a spiral turbulence of air and fuel therein when said valve is open, and means formed on said piston for directing the fuel upwardly and away from the side Wall of said cylinder.

10. In an internal combustion engine having a `cylinder and a piston reciprocatingly mounted therein, exhaust and intake valves in the upper portion of said cylinder,'fuel injecting means 1ocated in the side Wall of said cylinder adjacent s aid intake valve, said fuel injecting means being adapted to direct a conical spray of fuel against the top of said piston, and deflecting means positioned in said cylinder adjacent said fuel injecting means and beneath said intake valve, said deflecting means being so arrangedv as to be scoured by an incoming charge of air when said intake valve is open and to direct said air toward the top of said piston. g.

11. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder and a piston reciprocatingly mounted y therein, exhaust and intake valves in the upper portion of said cylinder, fuel injecting means located in a side wall ofsaid cylinder adjacent said intake valve, a vcorrugated fuel deflecting ange formed on the top of said piston and terminatingupon either side of said fuel injecting means, said flange being provided with an inverted cusp opposite said first named means whereby fuel sprays directed toward the ends of said `ange adjacent the fuel injecting means will create a double vortex, and means associated with said intake valve for directing a charge of incoming air to said fuel sprays.

12. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder and a piston reci-procatingly mounted therein, an intake valve, an exhaust valve having a concave corrugated head, means for injecting a fuel spray into said cylinder to impinge` on said head at an angle, said exhaust valve being so arranged that the fuel will thereafter be deflected toward the top of said piston, and ignition means iii said cylinder.

13. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder andj a piston reciprocatingly mounted therein, an intake valve, an exhaust valve having 'of the injected fuel comprising a plurality of corrugations on the piston head having a width greater than their depth, means comprising an upwardly extending flange on the piston head and having anv inwardly curved lip portion thereon for directing the fuel upwardly in said cylinder and away vfrom the side walls thereof, an ignition device in the side wall of said cylinder,

and said flange being arranged to shield said ignition device from the path of the introduced air at the top of the piston stroke.

15. The combination with a cylinder of a piston reciprocating therein, means for introducing air into the cylinder in a rotating mass, an ignition devicerin the cylinder at substantially the axis of rotation of the mass, and a fuel injection device in the cylinder for directing fuel through the rotating mass.

16. The combination with a cylinder of a piston reciprocating therein, a shrouded valve in the cylinder for introducing air into the cylinder in a rotating mass, yan ignition device in the cylinder at substantially the axis of rotation of the mass, and a fuel injection device in the cylinder for directing fuel through the rotating mass.

17. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, said piston having an undulating corrugated surface having a series-of round corner grooves with prominent edges at the boundary of the grooves which are heated to a relatively high temperature by the combustion of fuel in said cylinder, means in the wall of the cylinder for injecting fuel into said cylinder against said corrugated surface, an intake valve in the head of said cylinder having a deector for directing incoming air against said grooves whereby the same are caused to heat the air and cause the air tomix with the heated fuel deflectedI by said grooves, and means in the cylinder Wall for igniting said fuel.

18. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, said piston having an undulating corrugated surface having a series of round corner grooves with prominent edges at the boundary of the grooves which are heated to a relatively high temperature by the combustion of fuel in said cylinder, said series of grooves being arranged in a surface curving generally upwardly from an air and cause the air to mix with the heated fuel deflected by said grooves, and means in the cylinder wall for igniting said fuel.

v19. In an internal combustion engine havv ing a cylinder, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, said piston having an undulating gen- -cylinder for injecting fuel into said cylinder against said corrugating surface, an intake valve in the head of said cylinder having a deector coacting with the cylinder for directing incoming air to one side of said valve and toward one side of said piston surface whereby the air is caused /to swirl adjacent the groovesand the same are caused to heat the air and mix it with the heated fuel deflected by said grooves, and means in the 5 cylinder wall for igniting said fuel.

` FRANK c. MocK.

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