I.C. Engines

Abstract

An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type with injection of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, provided with catalytic means for initiating the combustion of the air/fuel charge in the combustion chamber of the or each cylinder. The major part of the combustion chamber of each cylinder is afforded by a recess formed in the piston crown, and a catalytic element of mesh, grid, perforated or sintered or other construction, is carried by the piston in a position at least partly overlying the said recess, the fuel being injected into the said recess to contact and pass through the catalytic element, being ignited by its contact with the catalytic element.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. An internal combustion engine of reciprocating-piston type having a cylinder with a combustion chamber, and a piston with a crown in the cylinder, the major portion of the volume of said combustion chamber being afforded by a recess formed in the crown of the piston, the recess .Iadd.having an open mouth at its upper side and .Iaddend.having a bottom, a catalytic element .Iadd.of foraminous sheet construction through whose thickness gas can flow freely, said element being carried .Iaddend.in the cylinder .[.carried.]. by the piston, .[.and.]. .Iadd.said catalytic element being effective without additional ignition means to initiate combustion of a fuel vapour and air mixture and having a cover portion extending crosswise of said recess, said cover portion being .Iaddend.mounted in a position overlying .Iadd.and spaced from .Iaddend.the bottom of said recess .Iadd.and enclosing a space beneath it within the recess, and said element having at least one portion depending from said covered portion towards the bottom of said recess, means for introducing combustion air into the combustion chamber, .Iaddend.and means for injecting fuel into .Iadd.said space enclosed by said cover portion in .Iaddend.said recess, when the piston is at about its top-dead-centre position, .Iadd.in a manner .Iaddend..[.direction.]. such that substantially the whole of the injected fuel will .Iadd.travel into .Iaddend.contact .Iadd.with .Iaddend.the surface of the catalytic element to initiate its combustion. .[. 
     
     
       2.  An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 in which the catalytic element has a structure formed with multiple apertures extending through its thickness, through which apertures the injected fuel mixed with combustion air passes..]. 
     
     
       3. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1, .Iaddend.in which the catalytic element is of grid construction. 
     
     
       4. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1, .Iaddend.in which the catalytic element is of matrix construction. 
     
     
       5. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1, .Iaddend.in which the catalytic element is of sintered construction. 
     
     
       6. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1, .Iaddend.in which the catalytic element extends completely across the open .[.top.]. .Iadd.mouth .Iaddend.of the recess, whereby the fuel/air mixture leaving the recess passes outwardly through the catalytic element. 
     
     
       7. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 6, in which the catalytic element is formed with an aperture through which the fuel is injected into the interior of the said .[.recess.]. .Iadd.space .Iaddend.by the said means for injection. 
     
     
       8. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 7, in which the catalytic element is .[.of basket.]. .Iadd.carried by an insert member of bowl .Iaddend.shape .[.and construction and is.]. mounted in the said recess, with the .[.top wall.]. .Iadd.cover portion .Iaddend.of the .[.basket.]. .Iadd.element .Iaddend.extending completely across the open top of the .[.recess.]. .Iadd.bowl and with the depending portion projecting down into the bowl. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       9. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8, in which the interior of the .[.basket-shaped catalytic element.]. .Iadd.bowl .Iaddend.is divided into a plurality of compartments by .[.at least one dividing wall extending transversely to the said top wall and depending therefrom, the dividing wall also being permeable to the flow of combustion gas,.]. .Iadd.the said depending portion, .Iaddend.and in which the said means for fuel injection is arranged to inject fuel through the said aperture separately into each of said compartments. 
     
     
       10. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9, in which the said recess is cylindrical in form and in which the .[.basket-shaped catalytic element.]. .Iadd.bowl .Iaddend.is also cylindrical in form and fits the recess. 
     
     
       11. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 10, in which the said .[.dividing wall.]. .Iadd.depending portion .Iaddend.extends diametrically across the .[.basket-shaped catalytic element.]. .Iadd.bowl.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       12. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.11, .Iaddend.in which there are more than two of the said compartments in the .[.cylindrical catalytic element.]. .Iadd.bowl .Iaddend.respectively separated by .Iadd.depending portions which are .Iaddend.radial .[.dividing walls.]. .Iadd.with respect to the bowl.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       13. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1, .Iaddend.wherein the catalytic element is of gauze construction. 
     
     
       14. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1, .Iaddend.wherein the catalytic element is of mesh construction. .Iadd. 15. An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for injecting fuel into said space includes a nozzle projecting through said cover portion of said catalytic element into said space..Iaddend.