Laser Ignition Distributor with Axially Staggered Reflective Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser ignition systems for multi-cylinder internal combustion engines require a distributor that can efficiently direct laser pulses to various combustion chambers over a wide range of crankshaft angles, ensuring precise timing and minimal light attenuation.
Innovation Solution
A compact distributor with a rotatable shaft featuring axially staggered flat reflective surfaces and optical transmitters/receivers, utilizing polished mirrors or prisms for efficient light redirection, ensuring that the laser pulses are sequentially directed to each cylinder with minimal attenuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a distributor is used to direct laser beams sequentially to multiple cylinders, then a single laser source can serve multiple cylinders, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor rotor is segmented into multiple flat reflective surfaces arranged axially staggered along the shaft length. Each reflective surface corresponds to a specific cylinder and directs laser beams to that cylinder. This segmentation allows a single rotor to serve multiple cylinders independently, resolving the contradiction by dividing the distribution function into discrete segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective surfaces are arranged in the axial dimension rather than radially. By staggering the mirrors along the axial length of the rotor shaft, the system distributes laser beams to multiple cylinders in different axial positions. This dimensional arrangement enables multi-cylinder coverage while maintaining a compact rotor structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the distributor directs laser beams over a wide range of crankshaft angles, then ignition timing can be precisely controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor rotor is designed to rotate dynamically with the crankshaft, maintaining synchronized positioning. The axial staggering of reflective surfaces combined with rotational motion enables the system to direct laser beams to different cylinders at different crankshaft angles, providing wide ignition timing control range through dynamic operation rather than complex mechanical adjustments.
3Loss of energy
If polished mirrors are used for light reflection, then light transmission efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor uses multiple flat reflective surfaces with uniform polishing across all mirrors. This homogeneous treatment ensures consistent light reflection efficiency for each cylinder while using standard manufacturing processes. The axial staggering arrangement allows each mirror to be manufactured independently with the same specifications, balancing performance requirements with manufacturing feasibility.
4Ease of manufacture
If prisms are used instead of mirrors, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but light reflection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor employs polished mirror surfaces with high reflectivity specifically at the axial positions where laser beams need to be directed. By concentrating manufacturing precision only where needed (the reflective surfaces) rather than throughout the entire component, the system achieves high light transmission efficiency while keeping overall manufacturing complexity manageable. The flat mirror geometry simplifies the manufacturing process compared to curved optics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for precise and efficient distribution of laser pulses to multiple engine cylinders over a wide range of crankshaft angles, maintaining performance and ensuring effective ignition across varying engine phases.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of flat reflective surfaces on the rotor which lie in planes normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft... an optical transmitter for directing light from a laser source to impinge at an angle sequentially on the reflective surfaces as the shaft rotates
Implementation Method 2
The optical transmitters and receivers may be optical fibres or lens systems designed such that substantially all the light emitted by the laser source is received after reflection by a respective one of the reflective surfaces by a single one of the receivers
Implementation Method 3
The reflective surfaces are preferably polished mirrors but it is alternatively possible to employ prisms and to rely upon total internal reflection at one of the surfaces of the prism
Data Source
AI summary
A distributor is described for a multi-cylinder laser ignited internal combustion engine. The distributor includes a shaft rotatable by the engine and a plurality of flat reflective surfaces on the shaft. The surfaces lie in planes normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft and are axially staggered from one another along the length of the shaft. An optical transmitter directs light from a laser source to impinge at an angle sequentially on the reflective surfaces as the shaft rotates, and a plurality of optical receivers spaced from one another each receive the light reflected from a respective one of the mirror surfaces and direct the reflected light to a respective one of the engine cylinders.