Combustion chamber system with spool-type pre-combustion chamber

Abstract

A combustion chamber system comprises a pre-combustion chamber and a final combustion chamber separated by means of a combustion control wall. The pre-combustion chamber is structured so as to define a multi-stage annular structure comprising a plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections fluidically connected together in an axially stacked array wherein the final combustion chamber is co-axially housed or accommodated internally within the annular pre-combustion chamber structure.

What is claimed as new and desired to be prtoected by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is:  
     
         1 . A combustion chamber system, comprising: 
 a pre-combustion chamber comprising a first end wall, a second end wall disposed opposite said first end wall such that the distance defined between said first and second end walls defines the length of said pre-combustion chamber, a first side wall, and a second side wall disposed opposite said first side wall such that the distance defined between said first and second side walls defines the width of said pre-combustion chamber, wherein said length of said pre-combustion chamber is substantially greater than said width of said pre-combustion chamber;    a final combustion chamber fluidically connected to said pre-combustion chamber;    an ignition device operatively associated with said pre-combustion chamber so as to initiate combustion of a combustible mixture within said pre-combustion chamber;    said pre-combustion chamber comprising a plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections fluidically connected together and arranged within a multi-stage axially stacked annular array around an axis and having a predetermined axial extent; and    wherein said final combustion chamber, having a predetermined axial extent is accommodated internally within said multi-stage axially stacked annular array of said pre-combustion chamber sections.    
     
     
         2 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the aspect ratio of said pre-combustion chamber, defined as the ratio of said length of said pre-combustion chamber to said width of said pre-combustion chamber, is at least 2:1.    
     
     
         3 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the aspect ratio of said pre-combustion chamber is within the range of 2:1 to 16:1.    
     
     
         4 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 interior surface portions of said pre-combustion chamber are substantially smooth.    
     
     
         5 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said axial extent of said pre-combustion chamber and said axial extent of said final combustion chamber are substantially equal.    
     
     
         6 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said pre-combustion chamber and said final combustion chambers are coaxially disposed with respect to each other.    
     
     
         7 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 an end wall of said final combustion chamber is provided with an exhaust port for exhausting combustion products toward a member upon which work is to be performed.    
     
     
         8 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a combustion control wall, having an aperture defined therein, is interposed between and separates said pre-combustion chamber and said final combustion chamber.    
     
     
         9 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said pre-combustion chamber comprising a plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections fluidically connected to each other comprises a first radially inner cylindrical member, a second radially outer cylindrical member, an axially oriented partition wall for separating opposite ends of said pre-combustion chamber sections, and at least one radially oriented partition wall for dividing said pre-combustion chamber into said plurality of pre-combustion sections.    
     
     
         10 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said pre-combustion chamber comprising said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections fluidically connected together comprises a two-stage axially stacked annular array.    
     
     
         11 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said two-stage axially stacked annular array pre-combustion chamber comprises: 
 a first annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and having a first end portion disposed at a predetermined circumferential location with respect to said axis, an igniter disposed within said first end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section, and an annular flow path which extends circumferentially from said first end portion to a second end portion which is disposed at a predetermined circumferential location which is disposed adjacent to said first predetermined circumferential location at which said first end portion is located;    a second annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and having a first end portion disposed at a predetermined circumferential location with respect to said axis which is substantially axially aligned with said second end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section, and an annular flow path which extends circumferentially from said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section to a second end portion which is disposed at a predetermined circumferential location which is disposed adjacent to said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section is located, and which is fluidically connected to said final combustion chamber; and    an axially oriented port fluidically interconnecting said second end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section with said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section such that said first and second annular pre-combustion chamber sections are fluidically connected together.    
     
     
         12 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said pre-combustion chamber comprising said plurality of pre-combustion chamber section fluidically connected together comprises a three-stage axially stacked annular array.    
     
     
         13 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said three-stage axially stacked annular array pre-combustion chamber comprises: 
 a first annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and having a first end portion disposed t a predetermined circumferential location with respect to said axis, an igniter disposed within said first end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section, and an annular flow path which extend circumferentially from said first end portion to a second end portion which is disposed at a predetermine circumferential location which is disposed adjacent to said first predetermined circumferential location at which said first end portion is located;    a second annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and having a first end portion disposed at a predetermined circumferential location with respect to said axis which is substantially axially aligned with said second end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section, and an annular flow path which extends circumferentially from said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section to a second end portion which is disposed at a predetermined circumferential location which is disposed adjacent to said first predetermined circumferential location at which said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section is located;    a first axially oriented port fluidically interconnecting said second end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section with said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section such that said first and second annular pre-combustion chamber sections are fluidically connected together;    a third annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and fluidically connected to said final combustion chamber; and    a second axially oriented port fluidically interconnecting said second end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section with said third annular pre-combustion chamber section such that said second and third annular pre-combustion chamber sections are fluidically connected together.    
     
     
         14 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said first annular pre-combustion chamber section comprises an uppermost one of said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections such that the combustion process within said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections proceeds axially downwardly.    
     
     
         15 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said first annular pre-combustion chamber section comprises a lowermost one of said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections such that the combustion process within said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections proceeds axially upwardly.    
     
     
         16 . A combustion chamber system for use in connection with the driving of a working piston, comprising: 
 a pre-combustion chamber comprising a first end wall, a second end wall disposed opposite said first end wall such that the distance defined between said first and second end walls defines the length of said pre-combustion chamber, a first side wall, and a second side wall disposed opposite said first side wall such that the distance defined between said first and second side walls defines the width of said pre-combustion chamber, wherein said length of said pre-combustion chamber is substantially greater than said width of said pre-combustion chamber;    a final combustion chamber fluidically connected to said pre-combustion chamber;    an ignition device operatively associated with said pre-combustion chamber so as to initiate combustion of a combustible mixture within said pre-combustion chamber;    said pre-combustion chamber comprising a plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections fluidically connected together and arranged within a multi-stage axially stacked annular array around an axis and having a predetermined axial extent; and    wherein said final combustion chamber, having a predetermined axial extent is accommodated internally within said multi-stage axially stacked annular array of said pre-combustion chamber sections.    
     
     
         17 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the aspect ratio of said pre-combustion chamber, defined as the ratio of said length of said pre-combustion chamber to said width of said pre-combustion chamber, is within the range of 2:1 to 16:1.    
     
     
         18 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 interior surface portions of said pre-combustion chamber are substantially smooth.    
     
     
         19 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said axial extent of said pre-combustion chamber and said axial extent of said final combustion chamber are substantially equal.    
     
     
         20 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said pre-combustion chamber and said final combustion chambers are coaxially disposed with respect to each other.    
     
     
         21 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 an end wall of said final combustion chamber is provided with an exhaust port for exhausting combustion products toward a member upon which work is to be performed.    
     
     
         22 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 a combustion control wall, having an aperture defined therein, is interposed between and separates said pre-combustion chamber and said final combustion chamber.    
     
     
         23 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said pre-combustion chamber comprising a plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections fluidically connected to each other comprises a first radially inner cylindrical member, a second radially outer cylindrical member, an axially oriented partition wall for separating opposite ends of said pre-combustion chamber sections, and at least one radially oriented partition wall for dividing said pre-combustion chamber into said plurality of pre-combustion sections.    
     
     
         24 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said pre-combustion chamber comprising said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections fluidically connected together comprises a two-stage axially stacked annular array.    
     
     
         25 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein said two-stage axially stacked annular array pre-combustion chamber comprises: 
 a first annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and having a first end portion disposed at a predetermined circumferential location with respect to said axis, an igniter disposed within said first end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section, and an annular flow path which extends circumferentially from said first end portion to a second end portion which is disposed at a predetermined circumferential location which is disposed adjacent to said first predetermined circumferential location at which said first end portion is located;    a second annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and having a first end portion disposed at a predetermined circumferential location with respect to said axis which is substantially axially aligned with said second end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section, and an annular flow path which extends circumferentially from said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section to a second end portion which is disposed at a predetermined circumferential location which is disposed adjacent to said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section is located, and which is fluidically connected to said final combustion chamber; and    an axially oriented port fluidically interconnecting said second end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section with said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section such that said first and second annular pre-combustion chamber sections are fluidically connected together.    
     
     
         26 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said pre-combustion chamber comprising said plurality of pre-combustion chamber section fluidically connected together comprises a three-stage axially stacked annular array.    
     
     
         27 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein said three-stage axially stacked annular array pre-combustion chamber comprises: 
 a first annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and having a first end portion disposed t a predetermined circumferential location with respect to said axis, an igniter disposed within said first end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section, and an annular flow path which extend circumferentially from said first end portion to a second end portion which is disposed at a predetermine circumferential location which is disposed adjacent to said first predetermined circumferential location at which said first end portion is located;    a second annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and having a first end portion disposed at a predetermined circumferential location with respect to said axis which is substantially axially aligned with said second end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section, and an annular flow path which extends circumferentially from said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section to a second end portion which is disposed at a predetermined circumferential location which is disposed adjacent to said first predetermined circumferential location at which said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section is located;    a first axially oriented port fluidically interconnecting said second end portion of said first annular pre-combustion chamber section with said first end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section such that said first and second annular pre-combustion chamber sections are fluidically connected together;    a third annular pre-combustion chamber section defined between said radially inner and radially outer cylindrical members and fluidically connected to said final combustion chamber; and    a second axially oriented port fluidically interconnecting said second end portion of said second annular pre-combustion chamber section with said third annular pre-combustion chamber section such that said second and third annular pre-combustion chamber sections are fluidically connected together.    
     
     
         28 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein: 
 said first annular pre-combustion chamber section comprises an uppermost one of said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections such that the combustion process within said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections proceeds axially downwardly.    
     
     
         29 . The combustion chamber system as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein: 
 said first annular pre-combustion chamber section comprises a lowermost one of said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections such that the combustion process within said plurality of pre-combustion chamber sections proceeds axially upwardly.