Patent Description:
Internal combustion engines and especially internal combustion engines which are powered with a lean fuel air mixture of a gaseous fuel and air, for example a mixture of natural gas and air, may comprise a pre-chamber, which is also referred to as a pre-combustion chamber, per cylinder for ignition purposes. Large-bore engines may benefit from those pre-chambers as it is otherwise difficult to consistently achieve complete and thorough combustion using lean fuel air mixtures.

Known pre-chamber arrangements typically comprise a pre-chamber tip including the actual pre-chamber which is defined by an encircling wall of the tip. Flow transfer passages are fluidly connecting the pre-chamber and the exterior of the pre-chamber arrangements, and in particular fluidly connecting the pre-chamber and the main combustion chamber of the respective cylinder. The flow transfer passages allow the flow of the lean mixture of gaseous fuel and air from the main combustion chamber into the pre-chamber during the compression stroke. The lean mixture of gaseous fuel and air in the pre-chamber is then ignited in the pre-chamber by an igniter such as a spark plug. The ignition of the lean mixture causes a flame front of hot gases that propagates from the pre-chamber through the flow transfer passages into the main combustion chamber. The flame front is led by the flow transfer passages to form ejecting torches which are directed in different directions such that a homogenous and more preferred ignition of the gaseous mixture in the main combustion chamber can be achieved.

In preferred embodiments, the lean mixture of the gaseous fuel and air which is transferred into the pre-chamber at the compression stroke of the cylinder can also be enriched by adding small quantities of gaseous fuel directly into the pre-chamber via a separate fuel feed passage and, consequently, the enriched mixture is ignited by the spark plug.

The tip of the pre-chamber arrangement experiences high temperature loads during operation and is thus particular prone to wear. Accordingly, it is required to maintain or replace pre-chamber arrangement after certain runtime periods which is usually cost and time consuming.

For avoiding that the whole pre-chamber arrangement needs to be replaced during maintenance, the use of pre-chamber assemblies is known which allow for interchangeably mounting the tip to a carrier of the pre-chamber assembly.

For example, <CIT> discloses a pre-chamber assembly with an interchangeable tip. Further technological background is known from <CIT> and <CIT>.

Starting from the prior art, it is an objective to provide an improved design of a pre-combustion chamber assembly which in particular contributes to simplified installation and maintenance procedures of the pre-combustion chamber assembly in an internal combustion engine. Further, it is an objective to provide an internal combustion engine which is equipped with such a pre-combustion chamber assembly.

This objective is solved by the subject matter according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are set forth in the present specification, the Figures as well as the dependent claims.

Accordingly, a pre-combustion chamber assembly for use in an internal combustion engine is provided which comprises a pre-combustion chamber tip and a carrier which are releasably mounted to one another. The tip and the carrier are designed such that, in an engaged state of the tip and the carrier, the tip is dis-engageable from the carrier upon being displaced relative to the carrier along a release direction which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the assembly. The assembly is configured to be mounted to a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine such that the tip is force-fittingly connected to the carrier by being pressed against the carrier.

Furthermore, an internal combustion engine, in particular a gas engine, is provided which is equipped with the above-described pre-combustion chamber assembly.

Since the provided internal combustion engine comprises the above described pre-combustion chamber assembly, technical features which are described in connection with the pre-combustion chamber assembly in the present disclosure may also refer and be applied to the proposed internal combustion engine, and vice versa.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the Figures, like elements are denoted by identical reference numerals and repeated description thereof may be omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

<FIG> shows a pre-combustion chamber assembly <NUM>, also referred to as the "assembly" in the following, which is installed in an internal combustion engine, in particular a gas engine which is powered with a lean fuel air mixture of a gaseous fuel and air, for example a mixture of natural gas and air. In <FIG>, a section of one exemplary cylinder <NUM> of the engine is shown. The engine preferably comprises a plurality of cylinders, for example six, eight or twelve cylinders, wherein one pre-combustion chamber assembly <NUM> is provided per cylinder.

In the following, the structural and function configuration of the assembly <NUM> installed in the cylinder <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and associated to the present invention is described which applies accordingly to the other assemblies associated to the other cylinders of the engine, respectively.

In <FIG>, the assembly <NUM> is shown in a mounted state in which it is firmly fastened to a cylinder head <NUM> of the cylinder <NUM> associated thereto. In this state, the assembly <NUM> protrudes into a combustion chamber <NUM> formed within the cylinder <NUM>.

The assembly <NUM> has an elongated shape. In other words, an extension of the assembly <NUM> along its longitudinal axis L is greater than along a traverse direction, i.e. being travers to the longitudinal axis L. In the mounted state, the assembly <NUM> is received in a mounting recess <NUM> in the form of a through-hole provided in the cylinder head <NUM>. An inner surface of the mounting recess <NUM> has an inner surface which is designed complementary to a part of an outer surface of the assembly <NUM> such that, in the mounted state, the inner surface of the mounting recess <NUM> and the outer surface of the assembly <NUM> are in tight contact. For installing the assembly <NUM> on the cylinder <NUM>, i.e. the cylinder head <NUM>, the assembly <NUM> is inserted into the recess from outside the cylinder <NUM> along a assembling direction until the inners surface of the mounting recess <NUM> is in tight contact to the outer surface of the assembly <NUM> such that a tip portion of the assembly <NUM> is inserted into the combustion chamber <NUM>. Accordingly, for dissembling the assembly <NUM> from the cylinder, the assembly <NUM> is removed from the cylinder <NUM> by being displaced in a disassembling direction which is opposed to the assembling direction. The assembling and dissembling directions are parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the assembly <NUM>.

Further, the assembly <NUM> is provided with a multi-part configuration. In other words, the assembly <NUM> is built up from multiple pieces. Specifically, the assembly <NUM> comprises a pre-combustion chamber tip <NUM>, also referred to as the "tip" in the following, and a carrier <NUM> which are releasably mounted to one another. The tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> are provided in the form of turning parts, i.e. produced, inter alia, by turning, e.g. on a lathe. Accordingly, the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> are made from a semi-finished product having a symmetry about an axis which, in the shown configuration, coincides with a longitudinal axis L of the assembly <NUM>, but alternatively may also be displaced, parallel and/or traverse to the longitudinal axis L.

The tip <NUM> is configured to protrude into the combustion chamber <NUM> in the mounted state of the assembly <NUM> and includes a pre-combustion chamber <NUM> which is defined and delimited by an encircling wall <NUM> of the tip <NUM>. Flow transfer passages <NUM> are fluid-communicatively connecting the pre-combustion chamber <NUM> and the exterior of the assembly <NUM>, i.e. the pre-combustion chamber <NUM> and the main combustion chamber <NUM> of the cylinder <NUM>. By such a configuration, the flow transfer passages <NUM> are configured to allow a flow of the fuel air mixture form the main combustion chamber <NUM> into the pre-combustion chamber <NUM> during compression stroke of a piston (not shown) accommodated in the cylinder <NUM>.

For igniting the fuel air mixture present in the pre-combustion chamber <NUM>, an ignition device (not shown), for example a spark plug, is received in the carrier <NUM> such that a tip portion thereof protrudes into the pre-combustion chamber <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> is provided with an ignition device receiving recess <NUM> which extends lengthwise through the carrier <NUM> and which is designed to receive the ignition device.

The ignition device is configured to ignite the fuel air mixture in the pre-combustion chamber <NUM> which causes a flame front of hot gases that propagates from the pre-chamber through the flow transfer passages into the main combustion chamber. By doing so, the flame front is led by the flow transfer passages <NUM> to form ejecting torches which cause a homogenous ignition of the gaseous mixture in the main combustion chamber <NUM>.

Optionally, the carrier <NUM> may further accommodate or comprise an injection device for injecting fuel medium into the pre-combustion chamber <NUM>. Specifically, the injection device may be configured to directly inject fuel medium into the pre-combustion chamber <NUM>, i.e. without guiding the fuel medium through the main combustion chamber <NUM> and without mixing it with air before entering the pre-combustion chamber <NUM>. In this way, the fuel air mixture transferred into the pre-combustion chamber from the main combustion chamber <NUM> through the flow transfer passages <NUM> at the compression stroke is enriched by being supplemented with the fuel medium discharged from the injection device. In such a configuration, the carrier <NUM> may be provided with an injection device receiving recess <NUM> for accommodating the injection device in the assembly <NUM>. A fuel supply passage <NUM> fluid-communicatively connects the further receiving recess <NUM> to the pre-combustion chamber <NUM>. As such, the fuel supply passage <NUM> guide fuel medium discharged from the injection device into the pre-combustion chamber <NUM>.

As set forth above, the assembly <NUM> is configured and designed such that the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> are releasably coupled to one another. In other words, the assembly <NUM> is configured and designed such that the tip <NUM> can be selectively engaged with or disengaged from the carrier <NUM>. By such a configuration, the assembly <NUM> is provided with a modular design allowing that its tip portion, i.e. the pre-combustion chamber tip <NUM>, can be interchangeably replaced. As a result, the portion of the assembly <NUM> which is particularly prone to wear during operation can be easily renewed, i.e. by replacing the tip <NUM>. When having reached the end of its intended operating duration or lifetime, the tip <NUM> can be replaced by a new tip <NUM>. Compared to known pre-combustion chamber arrangement in which the tip and the carrier component are inextricably coupled to one another, e.g. by weld, the proposed solution does not require replacement of the whole pre-combustion chamber arrangement when the tip has reached the end of its lifetime. In this way, the proposed assembly contributes to a cost-efficient maintenance and repair of the engine.

Compared to <FIG> in which the assembly is depicted in the mounted state, i.e. installed in the cylinder head <NUM>, <FIG> shows the assembly <NUM> in a state in which it is decoupled from the engine. However, in both configurations and states depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the tip <NUM> is partially received in and engage with the carrier <NUM>.

In the following, the structural interface between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> is described which enables to releasably couple the tip <NUM> to the carrier <NUM>.

The tip <NUM> comprises an engagement section which is arranged opposed to a tip end section of the tip <NUM> and which is designed to be structurally coupled to and received in the carrier <NUM>. To that end, the carrier <NUM> comprises a locking section which is constituted by a recessed portion at a front end of the carrier <NUM> and which is designed complementary to the engagement section of the tip <NUM>.

The engagement section of the tip <NUM> and the locking section of the carrier <NUM> are designed such that a form-fit or form-locking connection between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> is provided along the longitudinal axis L when being in the engaged state. The form-fit connection between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> is designed to lock a translational movement of the tip <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L in a direction pointing away from the carrier <NUM>. Accordingly, by being provided with the form-fit connection between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>, the tip <NUM> and the carrier are prevented from being disengaged from one another when the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> are subject to opposing forces, i.e. pointing away from one another, along the longitudinal axis L.

For interlocking the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> in the engaged state along the longitudinal axis L, the engagement section of the tip <NUM> is provided with an engagement collar <NUM> which is designed complementary to an undercut section <NUM>, also referred to as locking element, of the carrier's locking section. Upon being displaced relative to the carrier <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L in the direction pointing away from the carrier <NUM>, the collar <NUM> of the tip <NUM> is pushed against and tightly fit to the undercut section <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>, thereby engaging the form-fit connection.

In the context of the present disclosure, the term "engaged state" refers to any state in which the tip <NUM> is engaged or interlocked with the carrier <NUM>. Thus, in both configurations depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> are shown in an engaged state. Specifically, in <FIG>, the assembly <NUM> is in its mounted state, i.e. being installed in the cylinder head <NUM>, in which the tip <NUM> is force-fittingly connected and thus tightly fit to the carrier <NUM> as will be described below. In <FIG>, by contrast, the assembly <NUM> is decoupled from the engine, i.e. the cylinder head <NUM>, and the tip <NUM> is loosely coupled to, but still engaged with the carrier <NUM> by means of the form-fit connection.

Further, the term "disengaged state" refers to a state of the assembly <NUM> in which the tip <NUM> is disengaged from the carrier <NUM>, i.e. is not received or accommodated in the locking section thereof. Thus, the tip <NUM> is not limited in its degrees of freedom relative to the carrier <NUM> compared to the engaged state in which at least one degree of freedom of the tip <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM> is locked.

In the proposed assembly <NUM>, the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> are designed such that, in the engaged state of the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>, the tip <NUM> is dis-engageable from the carrier <NUM> upon being displaced relative to the carrier <NUM> along a release direction R which is transverse to the longitudinal axis L of the assembly <NUM>. As can be gathered from <FIG>, in the shown configuration, the release direction R is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. In other words, in the state depicted in <FIG>, the tip <NUM> can be disengaged or removed from the carrier <NUM> upon moving the tip <NUM> in the release direction R relative to the carrier <NUM>. By doing so, the tip <NUM> is removed from the carrier <NUM> upon being guided through a removal/insertion opening or recess <NUM>. Accordingly, in a state in which the assembly <NUM> is in the disengaged state, the tip <NUM> is engageable to the carrier <NUM> upon being displaced relative to the carrier <NUM> along a locking direction which is opposed to the release direction R.

The removal/insertion recess <NUM> is provided at one side at a tip end of the carrier <NUM>. Alternatively, the removal/insertion recess <NUM> may be provided at opposing sides of the carrier <NUM>. In this alternative configuration, the tip <NUM> may be engaged with or disengaged from the carrier <NUM> either by being moved relative to the carrier <NUM> in the release direction R or in a direction opposed thereto. Further, the removal/insertion recess <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> has a shape, i.e. an inner contour and an inner surface, which is designed complementary to an outer shape, i.e. an outer contour and outer surface of the engagement section, of the tip <NUM>. Accordingly, for engaging the tip <NUM> with the carrier <NUM>, the two components need to be properly oriented to one another. Specifically, in order to allow that the tip <NUM> can be inserted into the removal/insertion recess <NUM>, the locking section of the carrier <NUM>, i.e. its removal/insertion recess <NUM>, requires that the tip <NUM> is oriented such that it longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier <NUM>. More specifically, the longitudinal axis of the tip <NUM> needs to lie within a plane to which the locking section of the carrier <NUM> is mirror symmetric.

As set forth above, <FIG> shows the assembly <NUM> in the mounted state in which the tip <NUM> is force-fittingly connected and thus tightly fit to the carrier <NUM>. In other words, in the mounted state, the tip <NUM> is force-fittingly connected to the carrier <NUM> at a connecting surface. The connecting surface is constituted by a front surface of the carrier <NUM> and an end surface of the tip <NUM>. In the shown configuration, the connecting surface extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and substantially in parallel to the release direction R.

In the mounted state, as set forth above, the tip <NUM> is force-fittingly connected to the carrier <NUM>. For doing so, the assembly <NUM> is configured to be mounted to a cylinder head configuration of the internal combustion engine such that the tip <NUM> is force-fittingly connected to the carrier <NUM> by being pressed against the carrier <NUM>. Specifically, in the mounted state, the tip <NUM> is coupled to a cylinder head plate <NUM> and the end surface of the tip <NUM> is pressed against the front surface of the carrier <NUM> hold in the cylinder head <NUM>.

A sealing element <NUM>, in particular provided in the form of a sealing ring, is provided between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> at the connecting surface. Specifically, the end surface of the tip <NUM> is provided with a circumferential groove which encircles the pre-combustion chamber <NUM> and which is configured to receive the sealing element <NUM>. By such a configuration, a tight connection between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> of the assembly <NUM> may be ensured. Alternatively or additionally, the front end of the carrier <NUM> may be provided with a circumferential groove for receiving the sealing element <NUM>.

As can be gathered from <FIG>, a bearing play <NUM> is provided between the collar <NUM> of the tip <NUM> and the undercut section <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L. Thus, in a state in which the tip <NUM> is loosely coupled, i.e. not force-fittingly connected to the carrier <NUM>, the tip <NUM> is allowed to be displaced relative to the carrier <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L to a certain extent, i.e. which is defined and delimited by the bearing play <NUM>. In other words, in the engaged state, the tip <NUM> is displaceable relative to the carrier <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L to a certain extent. This is achieved by the form-fit connection between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> which is provided with the bearing play <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L.

More specifically, the assembly <NUM> is designed such that, in the engaged state, the tip <NUM> is displaceable relative to the carrier <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L between a first end position and a second end position. In the context of the present invention, the term "end position" refers to a position beyond which the tip cannot be further moved relative to the carrier <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, the tip <NUM> is depicted in its first end position. The assembly <NUM> is designed such that a translational movement of the tip <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM> along the release direction R is allowed or enabled when the tip <NUM> is arranged in the first end position. In this position, the end surface of the tip <NUM> is fit to or contacts the front end of the carrier <NUM>.

In the second end position, the tip <NUM> is displaced relative to the carrier <NUM> along the longitudinal axis L in the direction pointing away from the carrier <NUM> to a maximum extent compared to the first end position. In the second end position, the collar <NUM> of the tip <NUM> contacts the undercut section <NUM>. Specifically, a circumferential surface of the collar <NUM> which faces the undercut section <NUM> in a longitudinal direction lies upon an opposing circumferential inner surface of the undercut section <NUM>.

As can be gathered from <FIG>, the locking section of the carrier <NUM> is provided with a locking protrusion <NUM> which delimits the removal/insertion recess <NUM>. The locking protrusion <NUM> is designed such that it prevents or blocks a movement of the tip <NUM> in the release direction R relative to the carrier <NUM> when the tip <NUM> is arranged in the second end position. In other words, when the tip <NUM> is placed in the second end position, a translational movement of the tip <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM> along the release direction R is locked.

By such a configuration, the proposed assembly <NUM> may prevent that the tip <NUM> is unintendedly disengaged from the carrier <NUM>, for example during installation or maintenance of the assembly <NUM>. As to substance, in order to replace or disengage the tip <NUM> from the carrier <NUM>, the tip <NUM>, at first, is required to be moved into first end position before it can be released from the engagement with the carrier <NUM>, i.e. upon being moved into the release direction R. If the tip <NUM> is not moved into the first end position, it cannot be released from the carrier <NUM>. In other words, when being placed in the second end position, the form-looking connection between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> is provided along the release direction R which prevents the tip <NUM> from being displaced relative to the carrier <NUM> in the release direction R and thus for being disengage from the carrier <NUM>. However, when being placed in the first end position, the form -looking connection between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> is released, thereby allowing that the tip <NUM> can be displaced relative to the carrier <NUM> in the release direction R and thus from being dis-engaged from the carrier unit <NUM>.

In the configuration shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an outer surface of the engagement section of the tip <NUM> is symmetric around the longitudinal axis of the tip <NUM>. Accordingly, the tip <NUM> may be engaged to the carrier <NUM> in any rotational orientation around its longitudinal axis. In other words, when being engaged with the carrier <NUM>, i.e. loosely coupled thereto, the tip <NUM> can be rotate around its longitudinal axis relative to the carrier <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a pre-combustion chamber assembly <NUM> according to a further embodiment in which, compared to the configuration depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, a relative rotational orientation between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> is pre-set. Accordingly, in this configuration, the tip <NUM> is engageable to the carrier <NUM> in merely one predefined rotational orientation around its longitudinal axis relative to the carrier <NUM>. In other words, the assembly <NUM> is designed such that the tip <NUM> can only be inserted into the carrier body <NUM> in one preset relative rotational orientation between the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>. In this way, an orientation of the tip <NUM> in the mounted state of the assembly <NUM> is predefined, thereby facilitating proper installation of the assembly <NUM> in the cylinder <NUM>.

For doing so, the tip <NUM>, i.e. its engagement section, is provided with an outer surface or contour which is non-symmetric around its longitudinal axis. In other words, an outer contour of a cross-sectional profile of the engagement section, in particular which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tip <NUM>, is not point symmetric. Specifically, for providing the non-symmetric shape of the tip <NUM>, the outer surface thereof is provided with a coding recess <NUM> which ensures that the tip can only be inserted into the carrier <NUM> in one rotational orientation relative to the carrier <NUM>. Accordingly, as can be gathered from <FIG>, the removal/insertion recess <NUM> is provided with a shape that is non-mirror symmetric in particular relative to a plane of symmetry which is spanned by the release direction R and the longitudinal axis L.

Further, in the configuration depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the assembly <NUM> is designed such that, when being positioned into its first end position in which the end surface of the tip <NUM> fits to the front surface of the carrier <NUM>, a translational movement of the tip <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM> along the release direction R is locked by means of the locking protrusion <NUM>. However, when being placed in the second end position as depicted in <FIG>, the translational movement of the tip <NUM> relative to the carrier <NUM> along the release direction R is released.

It will be obvious for a person skilled in the art that these embodiments and items only depict examples of a plurality of possibilities. Hence, the embodiments shown here should not be understood to form a limitation of these features and configurations.

According to the invention, a pre-combustion chamber assembly for use in an internal combustion engine is provided, comprising a pre-combustion chamber tip and a carrier which are releasably mounted to one another. The assembly is configured and designed to be mounted to a cylinder head of the engine such that the tip is force-fittingly connected to the carrier by being pressed against the carrier.

The tip and the carrier are designed such that, in an engaged state of the tip and the carrier, the tip is dis-engageable form the carrier upon being displaced relative to the carrier along a release direction which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the assembly.

Further, the assembly may be configured and designed such that, in the engaged state of the tip and the carrier, a form-fit connection between the carrier and the tip is provided which locks a translational movement of the tip relative to the carrier along the longitudinal axis, particularly in a direction pointing away from the carrier.

Still further, the carrier and the tip are designed such that, in an dis-engaged state of the tip and the carrier, the tip is engageable to the carrier upon being displaced relative to the carrier along a locking direction being opposed to the release direction.

Typically, during installation or de-installation of pre-combustion chamber arrangements, a pre-combustion chamber arrangement is inserted into a cylinder head or removed therefrom by being moved along an assembling or disassembling direction which is parallel to its longitudinal axis. In order to facilitate installation, deinstallation or maintenance procedures, the proposed pre-combustion chamber assembly is provided with a structural configuration in which the tip is dis-engageable from the carrier upon being moved relative to carrier in a direction being transverse to the assembling or dissembling direction, i.e. the longitudinal axis of the assembly. In this way, the assembly may be prevented from being unintendedly disengaged or disassembled when being installed to or deinstalling from an engine, thereby facilitating installation or maintenance procedures for an operator.

The proposed pre-combustion chamber assembly may be intended to be used in any suitable internal combustion engines, such as large-bore engines employed in vessels or power plants. Specifically, the assembly may be used in gas engines, i.e. which run on gaseous fuel, such as natural gas. However, the proposed assembly is not limited to these applications.

When being equipped in an engine, the proposed assembly may be associated to one cylinder. Accordingly, the number of assemblies installed in the engine may depend on the number of cylinders. Specifically, an engine may be equipped with one assembly per cylinder.

More specifically, the tip and the carrier may be connected to one another at a connecting surface. The connecting surface may be constituted by an end surface of the tip and a front surface of the carrier which, in the engaged state, face each other. The assembly may be provided such that the connecting surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the assembly and/or parallel to the release direction.

In a further development, a sealing element, in particular a sealing ring, may be provided at the connecting surface, i.e. between the tip and the carrier. Specifically, the sealing element may be received in a circumferential groove provided at the tip, in particular at its end surface, and/or the carrier, in particular at its front surface.

Additionally or alternatively, the carrier and the tip may be configured and designed such that, in the engaged state, the tip is displaceable relative to the carrier along the longitudinal axis to a certain extent. For doing so, the form-fit connection between the tip and the carrier may be provided with a bearing play along the longitudinal axis.

In a further development, the assembly may be configured such that, in the engaged state, the tip is displaceable relative to the carrier along the longitudinal axis between a first position, in particular a first end position, and a second end position, in particular a second end position. When being placed in the first position, a translational movement of the tip relative to the carrier along the release direction may be allowed, and wherein when being place in the second end position, the translational movement of the tip relative to the carrier along the release direction may be locked.

Additionally, the assembly may be provided such that in the mounted state in which the tip and the carrier contact each other at the connecting surface, the tip is positioned in the first or second position relative to the carrier.

In a further development, the assembly may be designed and configured such that, in the engaged state, a relative rotational orientation between the carrier and the tip, in particular around the longitudinal axis, is preset or predefined, in particular structurally fixed. Further, the tip may be provided with an engagement section which forms a structural interface for releasably mounting the tip to the carrier. For locking or coding the relative rotational position between the tip and the carrier in the engaged state, the engagement section may be provided with a shape or contour, in particular an outer shape or contour, which is non-symmetric around a longitudinal axis of the tip.

Furthermore, an internal combustion engine, in particular a gas engine, may be provided which is equipped with a pre-combustion chamber assembly as described above.

With reference to the Figures, a pre-combustion chamber assembly <NUM> for an internal combustion engine is suggested, comprising a pre-combustion chamber tip <NUM> and a tip carrier <NUM> which are releasably mounted to one another. The tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> are designed such that, in an engaged state of the tip <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>, the tip <NUM> is dis-engageable form the carrier <NUM> upon being displaced relative to the carrier <NUM> along a release direction R which is transverse to a longitudinal axis L of the assembly <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Pre-combustion chamber assembly (<NUM>) for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising a pre-combustion chamber tip (<NUM>) and a carrier (<NUM>) which are releasably mounted to one another, wherein the assembly (<NUM>) is suitable for being mounted to a cylinder head (<NUM>) of the internal combustion engine such that the tip is force-fittingly connected to the carrier (<NUM>) by being pressed against the carrier (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the tip (<NUM>) and the carrier (<NUM>) are designed such that, in an engaged state of the tip (<NUM>) and the carrier (<NUM>), the tip (<NUM>) is dis-engageable from the carrier (<NUM>) upon being displaced relative to the carrier (<NUM>) along a release direction (R) which is transverse to a longitudinal axis (L) of the assembly (<NUM>).