internal combustion engine

Abstract

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine (100-1; 100-2) comprising a pre-chamber (2) and a pre-chamber extraction device (4) for extracting residual gas from the pre-chamber (2), wherein the pre-chamber extraction device (4) is configured to connect the pre-chamber (2) fluidically with different vacuum chambers (5a, 5b).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a pre-chamber and a pre-chamber extraction device for extracting residual gas from the pre-chamber.

[0002] Such an internal combustion engine is known from DE 10 2020 107 953 A1.

[0003] The present invention is based on the objective of enabling reliable extraction of residual gas from the pre-chamber in a simple manner.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by an internal combustion engine with the features of claim 1.

[0005] The internal combustion engine according to the invention comprises a pre-chamber, also called an ignition chamber, fluidically connected to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, in which an ignitable fuel-air mixture can be ignited by means of an ignition device housed therein. The pre-chamber can be designed either as a so-called active pre-chamber, in which fuel is injected directly into the pre-chamber, or as a so-called passive pre-chamber, in which fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and, during a compression stroke, the fuel-air mixture is conveyed into the pre-chamber.

[0006] The internal combustion engine according to the invention further comprises a pre-chamber extraction device for the targeted active extraction of residual gas, i.e., of burnt and / or unburned fuel-air mixture, from the pre-chamber after an ignition process. According to the invention, the pre-chamber extraction device is configured to connect the pre-chamber simultaneously or alternately with several different vacuum chambers in order to effect the active extraction of residual gas from the pre-chamber into the respective vacuum chamber by means of the vacuum present in the vacuum chambers relative to the pre-chamber. A vacuum chamber is understood here to mean any type of space exhibiting negative pressure, regardless of its specific structural design. A vacuum chamber explicitly also includes a section of a vacuum-operated channel or line.Preferably, all vacuum chambers that can be connected to the prechamber via the prechamber extraction device are formed by an intake tract of the internal combustion engine.

[0007] By connecting to the vacuum chambers, the use of a feed pump or other type of conveying device can be dispensed with, thus enabling simple extraction of residual gas from the prechamber. Furthermore, because the prechamber extraction device is designed to connect the prechamber to different vacuum chambers, reliable extraction of residual gas from the prechamber can be achieved, as the absence of vacuum in several different vacuum chambers is less likely than when connecting the prechamber to a single vacuum chamber.

[0008] The internal combustion engine according to the invention therefore enables reliable extraction of residual gas from the pre-chamber in a simple manner.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the internal combustion engine comprises an intake tract with a throttle valve and a vacuum chamber of the several different vacuum chambers connectable to the pre-chamber by the pre-chamber extraction device is formed by a downstream area of ​​the intake tract adjacent to the throttle valve, i.e. an area of ​​the intake tract located between the throttle valve and the combustion chamber, in which a vacuum is present during a vacuum operation of the internal combustion engine.

[0010] Additionally or alternatively, in a preferred embodiment, the internal combustion engine comprises an intake tract with a compressor and a vacuum chamber of several different vacuum chambers connectable to the pre-chamber by the pre-chamber extraction device is formed by an upstream area of ​​the intake tract adjacent to the compressor, in which a vacuum is generated by the compressor when the compressor is running.

[0011] Preferably, the prechamber extraction device comprises a valve arrangement for the controlled connection of the prechamber to the various vacuum chambers. This enables particularly reliable extraction of residual gas from the prechamber. The valve arrangement can, for example, include several switching valves, each arranged in the connecting line of one of the different vacuum chambers, thus enabling control of the outflow from the prechamber into the respective vacuum chamber. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the valve arrangement includes a switching valve or a mixing valve connected to several vacuum chambers, thus enabling selective connection of the prechamber to one or more vacuum chambers.

[0012] Preferably, the pre-chamber extraction device further comprises a control unit configured to actuate the valve arrangement depending on the current load condition of the internal combustion engine. The control unit can be a separate control unit explicitly designed to control the valve arrangement, or it can be formed by any existing control unit of the internal combustion engine.The control unit can, for example, be configured to connect the pre-chamber in a partial load condition of the internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is typically operated in naturally aspirated mode, by means of the valve arrangement to a vacuum chamber formed by a region of the intake tract adjacent downstream of the throttle valve, and to connect the pre-chamber in a high load condition of the internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is typically operated supercharged, i.e., an overpressure relative to the environment is generated by the compressor, by means of the valve arrangement to a vacuum chamber formed by a region of the intake tract adjacent upstream of the compressor.

[0013] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of an internal combustion engine according to the invention, and Fig. 2 a schematic diagram of an alternative internal combustion engine according to the invention.

[0014] Fig. Figure 1 shows an internal combustion engine 100-1 according to the invention with a combustion chamber 1 and a pre-chamber 2 connected to the combustion chamber 1.

[0015] The internal combustion engine 100-1 comprises an intake manifold 3 with a compressor 3.1 and a throttle valve 3.2.

[0016] The internal combustion engine 100-1 comprises a pre-chamber extraction device 4, which is configured to fluidically connect the pre-chamber 2 to two different vacuum chambers 5a, 5b for the purpose of extracting residual gas from the pre-chamber 2, wherein a first vacuum chamber 5a is formed by a region 3.3 of the intake tract 3 adjacent downstream to the throttle valve 3.2, and wherein a second vacuum chamber 5b is formed by a region 3.4 of the intake tract 3 adjacent upstream to the compressor 3.3.

[0017] The pre-chamber extraction device 4 comprises a line arrangement 4.1, via which the pre-chamber 2 is fluidically connected to the first vacuum chamber 5a and to the second vacuum chamber 5b.

[0018] The pre-chamber extraction device 4 comprises a valve arrangement 4.2 with a first switching valve 4.2.1 for controlling a fluidic connection between the pre-chamber 2 and the first vacuum chamber 5a, and with a second switching valve 4.2.2 for controlling a fluidic connection between the pre-chamber 2 and the second vacuum chamber 5b.

[0019] The pre-chamber extraction device 4 comprises a control unit 4.3, which is operatively connected to the valve arrangement 4.2 and which is configured to control the valve arrangement 4.2 based on a current load condition of the internal combustion engine 100-1.

[0020] The control unit 4.3 is specifically designed to control the valve arrangement 4.2 in the case of a partial load condition of the internal combustion engine 100-1 in such a way that the pre-chamber 2 is fluidically connected to the first vacuum chamber 5a, and to control the valve arrangement in the case of a high load condition of the internal combustion engine 100-1 in such a way that the pre-chamber 2 is fluidically connected to the second vacuum chamber 5b.

[0021] Fig. Figure 2 shows an alternative internal combustion engine 100-2 according to the invention, wherein for features that are identical or similar to those known from the internal combustion engine 100-1, the corresponding reference numerals are given. Fig. 1 can be used.

[0022] The internal combustion engine 100-2 differs from the internal combustion engine 100-1 in that the valve arrangement 4.2 of the internal combustion engine 100-2 comprises only one switching valve 4.2.3, via which the pre-chamber 2 can be selectively connected to the first vacuum chamber 5a and / or to the second vacuum chamber 5b. Reference symbol list 100-1; 100-2 Internal combustion engine 1 combustion chamber 2. Antechamber 3 Intake tract 3.1 Compressors 3.2 Throttle valve 3.3 Intake area 3.4 Intake area 4 Pre-chamber extraction device 4.1 Cable arrangement 4.2 Valve arrangement 4.2.1 first switching valve 4.2.2 second switching valve 4.2.3 Diverter valve 4.3 Control unit 5a first negative pressure chamber 5b second negative pressure chamber QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2020 107 953 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Internal combustion engine (100-1; 100-2) comprising a pre-chamber (2) and a pre-chamber extraction device (4) for extracting residual gas from the pre-chamber (2), characterized by , that the pre-chamber extraction device (4) is set up to connect the pre-chamber (2) fluidically with different vacuum chambers (5a, 5b). [2] Internal combustion engine (100-1; 100-2) according to claim 1, comprising an intake tract (3) with a throttle valve (3.2), wherein a vacuum chamber (5a) of the different vacuum chambers (5a, 5b) is formed by a region (3.3) of the intake tract (3) adjacent downstream to the throttle valve (3.2). [3] Internal combustion engine (100-1; 100-2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an intake tract (3) with a compressor (3.1), wherein a vacuum chamber (5b) of the different vacuum chambers (5a, 5b) is formed by a region (3.4) of the intake tract (3) adjacent upstream to the compressor (3.1). [4] Internal combustion engine (100-1; 100-2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-chamber extraction device (4) has a valve arrangement (4.2) for controlled connection of the pre-chamber (2) with the different vacuum chambers (5a, 5b). [5] Internal combustion engine (100-1; 100-2) according to claim 4, wherein the pre-chamber extraction device (4) comprises a control unit (4.3) which is configured to control the valve arrangement (4.2) depending on a current load condition of the internal combustion engine (100-1; 100-2).

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