Piston Crown Cavity Geometry for Stable Tumble Flow Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

In spark-ignition internal combustion engines with a protrusion on the piston and a cavity associated with the spark plug, the tumble flow is often decelerated, reducing turbulence energy and fuel efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The engine design includes a protrusion on the piston with a cavity positioned to retard the initial flame front interference, featuring inclined surfaces with specific angle differences to minimize tumble flow deceleration, while maintaining a high geometric compression ratio and efficient fuel injection patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a protrusion is formed on the piston top surface with a cavity in the middle, then flame propagation is increased and fuel efficiency is improved, but the tumble flow is decelerated and turbulence energy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoidtumble flow speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a cavity only in the central region of the protrusion where the spark plug is located, rather than modifying the entire piston surface. This localized cavity structure allows the tumble flow to maintain its velocity along the piston's outer peripheral surface while still achieving the desired flame propagation enhancement in the combustion chamber center region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion is segmented into different functional zones: an outer peripheral region that maintains smooth surfaces for tumble flow passage, and a central region containing the cavity for flame propagation enhancement. This segmentation allows different parts of the protrusion to serve different purposes without interfering with each other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a protrusion is formed on the piston to increase geometric compression ratio, then combustion efficiency is improved, but the tumble flow path is obstructed and turbulence is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidtumble flow obstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity is extracted from the center of the protrusion, creating a void space that allows the tumble flow to pass through or around the protrusion structure without significant obstruction. This extraction of material from the protrusion center reduces the flow path blockage while maintaining the compression ratio enhancement benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cavity introduces a vertical dimension to the protrusion structure, allowing the tumble flow to move through the three-dimensional space created by the cavity rather than being constrained to a two-dimensional surface path. This dimensional change provides additional flow paths that reduce obstruction effects.

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

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

This configuration enhances flame propagation, maintains high turbulence energy, and increases fuel efficiency by ensuring the tumble flow is not excessively decelerated, thus promoting stable combustion.

Implementation Method 1

a so-called tumble port capable of generating a tumble flow (vertical vortex) within a combustion chamber may be employed as an intake port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTumble flow: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

combustion is promoted by turbulence, which is generated by collapse of a tumble flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 3

a spark plug 105 and a fuel injection valve 106 mounted in the cylinder head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpark ignition: Electric Spark

Implementation Method 4

flame propagation is increased

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlame propagation: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3584422B1Spark-ignition internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • EP3584422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3584422B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3584422B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a spark-ignition internal combustion engine in which a protrusion (31) including an intake-side inclined surface (34) and an exhaust-side inclined surface (35) is formed on a top surface (10) of a piston (5), and a cavity (40) is formed in the protrusion (31) at a position associated with a spark plug, the intake-side inclined surface (34) and the exhaust-side inclined surface (35) are formed in such a way that an angle defined by an orthogonal plane orthogonal to a center axis of a cylinder and the exhaust-side inclined surface (35) is smaller than an angle defined by the orthogonal plane and a valve head bottom surface of an exhaust valve, and an inclination angle difference between the exhaust-side inclined surface (35) and the valve head bottom surface of the exhaust valve is larger than an inclination angle difference between the intake-side inclined surface (34) and a valve head bottom surface of an intake valve by 3 degrees or larger.