engine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel gas remaining in the air supply passage of an engine can lead to abnormal combustion due to unintended ignition, which is not adequately addressed in existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

The engine design includes a surge tank positioned above the intake port, with a communication passage connecting it to the intake port, and gas fuel injectors placed below the central axis of this passage, ensuring quick discharge of gas fuel and preventing residual fuel from causing abnormal combustion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the fuel gas is injected into the air supply passage, then the gas fuel can be supplied to the intake port, but the fuel gas may remain in the air supply passage causing abnormal combustion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas fuel supply efficiencyVSAvoidabnormal combustion prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The injection port is positioned asymmetrically on the lower side of the communication passage relative to its central axis, creating an asymmetric flow pattern that directs gas fuel toward the intake port while preventing accumulation in the surge tank area. This asymmetric configuration resolves the contradiction by optimizing both supply efficiency and residual fuel prevention simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The injection port is oriented to inject gas fuel in a direction that utilizes the vertical dimension of the communication passage. By injecting from the lower side upward and outward, the gas fuel is directed along a three-dimensional path that promotes complete discharge through the intake port while preventing pooling in the surge tank, thus resolving the contradiction between supply efficiency and abnormal combustion prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the injection port is positioned on the communication passage, then the gas fuel can be injected into the air supply, but the fuel gas may remain in the passage if not properly discharged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas fuel injection capabilityVSAvoidresidual gas fuel
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The injection port is positioned asymmetrically on the lower side of the communication passage rather than at the center or upper side. This asymmetric positioning creates a flow pattern that naturally directs gas fuel toward the intake port discharge path, preventing residual fuel accumulation. The asymmetric design simultaneously maintains easy injection operation and eliminates harmful residual gas fuel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of gas fuel remaining in the passage into a benefit by using the injection port's lower-side positioning to create a flow pattern where any residual fuel is naturally directed toward the intake port discharge. The configuration turns what could be a harmful accumulation into a controlled flow that promotes complete discharge, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and harmful factor elimination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP4675099A1engine
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4675099A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4675099A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4675099A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide an engine capable of avoiding remaining of gas fuel and suppressing the occurrence of abnormal combustion. [Solution] An engine includes: a cylinder head; an intake port that is formed in the cylinder head; a surge tank placed on one side in an up-down direction with respect to an inlet portion of the intake port; a communication passage that communicates between the surge tank and the intake port; and a gas fuel injector that injects a gas fuel. An injection port of the gas fuel injector is provided in the communication passage only on an other side in the up-down direction with respect to a central axis of the communication passage.