US 12,168,952 B1
Prechamber ignited engine and operating methods therefor
Charlie Chang-Won Kim, Dunlap, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/234,418.
Int. Cl. F02B 19/10 (2006.01); F02B 9/06 (2006.01); F02B 47/08 (2006.01); F02B 51/02 (2006.01)
CPC F02B 19/1085 (2013.01) [F02B 9/06 (2013.01); F02B 47/08 (2013.01); F02B 51/02 (2013.01); F02B 2201/02 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating an engine comprising:
directly admitting a prechamber fuel into a prechamber of a prechamber ignition device fluidly connected to a cylinder in an engine;
urging air pressurized in the cylinder into the prechamber via moving a piston toward a top-dead-center position in the cylinder;
directly admitting exhaust into the prechamber via an exhaust feed opening fluidly connecting an uncooled exhaust conduit to the prechamber;
autoigniting the prechamber fuel in the prechamber;
producing jets of gases advanced from the prechamber ignition device through at least one ignition port of the prechamber ignition device into the cylinder; and
igniting a main charge of a fuel in the cylinder via reactive species produced in the prechamber and conveyed into the cylinder in the jets of gases.