Plasma ignition for direct injected internal combustion engines

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the creation, placement and control of an area of electrical ionization within an internal combustion engine combustion chamber. This area of electrical ionization is positioned so that all of the fuel being injected into the combustion chamber must pass next to or through the area of electrical ionization to ensure that combustion has been initiated for all of the fuel as it is injected. This area of electrical ionization can be kept on as long as it is necessary to insure that the all of the fuel that is injected into the combustion chamber can be completely combusted. An engine equipped with this electrical ionization device has its fuel economy enhanced by timely, controlled, and complete combustion of all of the fuel injected into its combustion chamber. Furthermore, the pollutant emissions of both oxides of nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons are reduced dramatically. Further, cold starting capability of this engine is greatly enhanced by a major reduction in the time necessary for the engine to warm up and a major reduction of pollutants created by the engine during the warm-up period. Additionally, this method of combustion also allows the engine to operate at a higher speed (rpm) allowing an increase in peak power output.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fuel combustion initiation device for an engine, comprising: 
 at least three electrodes having electrode tips, said electrode tips being disposed in at least one of a combustion chamber and a pre-combustion chamber, said electrode tips defining an area disposed in close proximity to a location where fuel is injected; and    a source of electrical energy that supplies said electrodes with power, said electrode tips being arranged so that electrical power is capable of selectively flowing from each electrode to the other electrodes to form a zone of ionization.    
     
     
         2 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said electrode tips form a polygon.  
     
     
         3 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said electrode tips include six electrode tips disposed around the location where fuel is injected.  
     
     
         4 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an insulated sleeve, said electrodes being at least partially disposed in said insulated sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising a fuel injector disposed inside said insulated sleeve.  
     
     
         6 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said electrode tips being arranged so that injected fuel must pass through as an area defined by said electrode tips.  
     
     
         7 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising at least three high voltage electrical sources, each of said electrical sources supplying power to one of said electrodes.  
     
     
         8 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a signal generation circuit that controls said source of electrical power to create the zone of electrical ionization.  
     
     
         9 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an engine timing signal source that controls the zone of electrical ionization by selectively energizing said electrodes to assist combustion.  
     
     
         10 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a ceramic sleeve that extends from said combustion chamber through a cylinder head, said ceramic sleeve including wires embedded therein forming said electrodes in the cylinder head, one end of said wires being connected to a set of terminals for connected to said source of electrical power.  
     
     
         11 . A fuel combustion initiation device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an engine management computer for controlling an engine timing signal.