Patent ID: 6725828
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: F02B,F02F,F02M,Y02T

Abstract:
A method for controlling combustion in a direct-injection internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each having an intake port, an exhaust port, an ignition source, a fuel injector, and a piston, the method comprising:injecting fuel from the fuel injector directly into a cylinder to form a hollow cone fuel spray, the hollow cone fuel spray creating a vortex that draws fuel vapor away from the fuel spray toward a spark location outside of the fuel spray to form a stratified fuel-air mixture; enveloping a lower portion of the vortex within a combustion bowl of the piston defined by a raised rim forming an outer periphery of first and second recesses and an inner periphery defined by a protuberance generally centered within the hollow cone fuel spray to improve stability of the vortex and increase time that a combustible mixture is present at the spark location; and generating a spark from the ignition source at the spark location within a recirculation zone of the vortex to initiate combustion.