Granted Patent B2

US 12,650,107 · App. 18/850,532 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventors: Wolfgang Fimml (Maurach in Tirol, AT); Guenther Waldner (Achenkirch, AT)

Assignee: Innio Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG

F02M55/004F02B19/12F02B19/16

Abstract

Claims (47)

1 . A system, comprising:

a prechamber assembly for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an elongated prechamber sleeve, comprising:

an axis of elongation;

at least one first opening configured to receive at least one fuel injector, for injection of hydrogen, the at least one first opening being surrounded by at least one first sleeve seat surface;

at least one second opening configured to receive at least one igniter;

at least one third opening having at least one second sleeve seat surface configured to contact and seal with at least one first channel seat surface of a riser channel sleeve;

at least one prechamber volume connected to the at least one first opening, the at least one second opening, and the at least one third opening:

at least one fuel injector configured to inject fuel into the at least one prechamber volume, the at least one fuel injector being arranged at least substantially parallel to the axis of elongation and having at least one injector seat surface configured to press against and seal with the at least one first sleeve seat surface;

the at least one igniter configured to ignite a fuel-air-mixture inside the at least one prechamber volume, the at least one igniter protruding into the at least one second opening and having a substantially cylindrical shape and a device axis which forms an acute angle with the axis of elongation;

the riser channel sleeve having at least one riser channel, wherein the riser channel sleeve has at least one second channel seat surface configured to contact at least one cylinder head surface of a cylinder head;

wherein the at least one second sleeve seat surface is configured to press against the at least one first channel seat surface due to the at least one fuel injector being mounted to the cylinder head; and

wherein the at least one second channel seat surface is configured to press against the at least one cylinder head surface due to the at least one fuel injector being mounted to the cylinder head.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second opening has at least one third sleeve seat surface and a front portion of the at least one igniter has at least one igniter seat surface, wherein the at least one igniter seat surface is configured to seal with the at least one third sleeve seat surface such.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one igniter comprises a spark plug arranged in a spark plug sleeve and the at least one igniter seat surface is arranged on the spark plug sleeve.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein

the at least one first opening is arranged on a front surface; and/or

the at least one second opening is arranged on a lateral surface; and/or

the at least one third opening is arranged on a surface opposite the front surface of the elongated prechamber sleeve.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one prechamber volume has, along the axis of elongation, a first cross section and a second cross section of different sizes, the cross section of larger size being arranged at a cylinder height of the at least one igniter.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first opening for the at least one fuel injector is coaxial with the axis of elongation, the at least one second opening for the at least one igniter is disposed in a side wall of the elongated prechamber sleeve, and the at least one prechamber volume is asymmetric relative to the axis of elongation.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one prechamber volume has a first radial distance from the axis of elongation to a first interior side having the at least one second opening, the at least one prechamber volume has a second radial distance from the axis of elongation to a second interior side opposite from the first interior side, and the first radial distance is less than the second radial distance.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising the cylinder head, wherein, due to the at least one fuel injector being mounted to the cylinder head, the at least one second sleeve seat surface presses against the at least one first channel seat surface and the at least one second channel seat surface presses against the at least one cylinder head surface.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising the internal combustion engine having the cylinder head.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one fuel injector of a piston-cylinder-unit is configured to inject 100% of the fuel comprising the hydrogen, provided to that piston-cylinder-unit per combustion cycle.

11 . A system, comprising:

a prechamber assembly of an internal combustion engine, wherein the prechamber assembly comprises:

a body forming a prechamber volume;

a first opening in the body fluidly coupled to the prechamber volume, wherein the first opening is along a central axis of the body, and the first opening is configured to receive a fuel injector;

a second opening in the body fluidly coupled to the prechamber volume, wherein the second opening is configured to receive an igniter, and the second opening is oriented at an acute angle relative to the central axis; and

a third opening in the body fluidly coupled to the prechamber volume, wherein the third opening is configured to fluidly couple to a riser channel of a riser;

wherein the body is configured to press against the riser to seat the riser with the third opening due to the fuel injector being mounted to a cylinder head; and

wherein the body is configured to press the riser against the cylinder head to seat the riser with the cylinder head due to the fuel injector being mounted to the cylinder head.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the second opening is axially between the first and third openings.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first and third openings are disposed on axially opposite ends of the body, and the second opening is disposed in a side wall of the body.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the prechamber volume is asymmetric relative to the central axis, the prechamber volume has a first radial distance from the central axis to a first interior side having the second opening, the prechamber volume has a second radial distance from the central axis to a second interior side opposite from the first interior side, and the first radial distance is less than the second radial distance.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the riser channel is oriented at another acute angle relative to the central axis, the riser channel is radially between the central axis and the second opening at an interface between the riser and the third opening, and the riser channel is angled toward the second opening for the igniter.

16 . The system of claim 11 , comprising the riser having one or more openings along a tip portion of the riser, and the tip portion of the riser is configured to protrude into a main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.

17 . The system of claim 11 , comprising the cylinder head, the internal combustion engine, or a combination thereof, having the prechamber assembly.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first opening for the fuel injector is coaxial with the central axis of the body.

19 . A method, comprising:

injecting a fuel into a prechamber volume of a body of a prechamber assembly of an internal combustion engine via a fuel injector, wherein the fuel injector is disposed in a first opening in the body along a central axis of the body;

igniting the fuel in the prechamber volume via an igniter, wherein the igniter is disposed in a second opening in the body oriented at an acute angle relative to the central axis; and

channeling through a riser channel of a riser between the prechamber volume and a main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, wherein the riser is disposed in a third opening in the body;

wherein the body presses against the riser to seat the riser with the third opening due to the fuel injector being mounted to a cylinder head; and

wherein the body presses the riser against the cylinder head to seat the riser with the cylinder head due to the fuel injector being mounted to the cylinder head.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first opening for the fuel injector is coaxial with the central axis, the second opening for the igniter is disposed in a side wall of the body, the prechamber volume is asymmetric relative to the central axis, the prechamber volume has a first radial distance from the central axis to a first interior side having the second opening, the prechamber volume has a second radial distance from the central axis to a second interior side opposite from the first interior side, and the first radial distance is less than the second radial distance.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (13)