阅读说明：本技术 发动机的燃烧室结构 (Combustion chamber structure of engine ) 是由 今村悟志 福马真生 中原康志 井上淳 松本浩太 植木义治 河野通治 本田雄哉 大西谦 于 2018-05-31 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种发动机的燃烧室结构,其包括：活塞的顶面；气缸壁面；燃烧室顶面；以及火花塞,具有点火部,并且在所述活塞处于压缩上止点或其近傍时的时期进行点火。所述活塞的顶面具有：腔室,沿所述气缸轴向凹设而成；相随面部,在包围所述腔室的外周部分的局部与在所述活塞处于压缩上止点时位于气缸轴向上方的所述燃烧室顶面中的对应区域隔开间隙地相随；以及倾斜面部,在所述相随面部和所述腔室的周缘之间的区域与所述相随面部相连续地设置,并且以在所述活塞处于压缩上止点时指向所述火花塞的所述点火部的方式形成。所述相随面部和所述对应区域以该相随面部和该对应区域这一组合来构成在所述活塞上升时生成挤压流的挤压流生成部。(A combustion chamber structure of an engine, comprising: a top surface of the piston; the wall surface of the cylinder; a combustion chamber ceiling; and a spark plug having an ignition portion and igniting when the piston is at or near compression top dead center. The top surface of the piston has: the cavity is formed by axially and concavely arranging the cylinder; a following surface portion that follows a portion of an outer peripheral portion surrounding the chamber with a gap from a corresponding region in the top surface of the combustion chamber located axially above the cylinder when the piston is at compression top dead center; and an inclined surface portion that is provided continuously with the accompanying surface portion in a region between the accompanying surface portion and a peripheral edge of the chamber, and that is formed so as to be directed toward the ignition portion of the spark plug when the piston is at compression top dead center. The accompanying surface portion and the corresponding region constitute a pressing flow generating portion that generates a pressing flow when the piston rises, with the combination of the accompanying surface portion and the corresponding region.)

1. A combustion chamber structure of an engine, which is a combustion chamber structure of a spark ignition engine, characterized by comprising:

a top surface of the piston;

a cylinder wall surface configured to allow the piston to slide;

a combustion chamber top surface formed on the cylinder head; and

a spark plug attached to the combustion chamber ceiling surface, having an ignition portion arranged to face the combustion chamber, and configured to ignite at a predetermined timing when the piston is at or near compression top dead center; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the top surface of the piston has:

a chamber that is recessed in the cylinder axial direction in a region including a region below the ignition portion of the ignition plug in a plan view seen in the cylinder axial direction;

a following surface portion that follows a part of an outer peripheral portion surrounding the chamber with a gap from a corresponding region in the combustion chamber top surface located axially above the cylinder when the piston is at a compression top dead center, as viewed in a plan view in the cylinder axial direction; and

an inclined surface portion that is provided continuously with the accompanying surface portion in a region between the accompanying surface portion and a peripheral edge of the chamber in a plan view as viewed in the cylinder axial direction, and that is formed so as to be directed toward the ignition portion of the spark plug when the piston is at compression top dead center; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the accompanying surface portion and the corresponding region constitute a pressing flow generating portion that generates a pressing flow when the piston rises, with the combination of the accompanying surface portion and the corresponding region.

2. The combustion chamber structure of an engine according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the chamber is arranged in the following manner: the bottom of the chamber is located deeper than an inclined top portion of the inclined surface portion on the opposite side of the combustion chamber top surface side with respect to the inclined top portion on the combustion chamber top surface side in the cylinder axial direction.

3. The combustion chamber structure of an engine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

the chamber is formed in a bowl shape that is convex in a direction away from the combustion chamber top surface in the cylinder axial direction.

4. The combustion chamber structure of the engine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that:

the spark plug includes a ground electrode having an L-shape in side view and a center electrode provided so as to face a distal end portion of the ground electrode with a discharge gap therebetween,

the ignition portion of the spark plug is constituted by a combination of the ground electrode and the center electrode,

the spark plug is disposed such that the discharge gap between the ground electrode and the center electrode is open toward the inclined surface portion.

5. The combustion chamber structure of the engine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

the inclined surface portion follows a corresponding inclined region in the top surface of the combustion chamber located axially above the cylinder with a gap therebetween when the piston is at compression top dead center,

the inclined surface portion and the corresponding inclined region constitute a second extrusion flow generating portion that generates an extrusion flow when the piston ascends, with the combination of the inclined surface portion and the corresponding inclined region.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a combustion chamber structure of a spark ignition engine.

Background

A spark ignition type engine in a vehicle such as an automobile has the following structure: fuel is injected from an injector into a combustion chamber, and a mixture containing atomized fuel is formed by introducing air or the like from an intake port, and the mixture is ignited with a spark plug.

Patent document 1 discloses an engine in which fuel is injected near compression top dead center and ignition is performed by a spark plug (spark ignition). Further, in the engine of patent document 1, a chamber is provided on the top face of the piston.

By providing the chamber on the top face of the piston in the spark ignition engine as described above, it is possible to easily secure a moving distance for atomizing the fuel injected from the injector, and it is possible to achieve sufficient atomization during the period before ignition.

However, when the conventional technique represented by the technique disclosed in patent document 1 is adopted, the following may occur: gas that was not completely swept away during the previous exhaust stroke may remain near the top surface of the combustion chamber. In such a state where residual gas is accumulated in the vicinity of the top surface of the combustion chamber, ignitability of the spark plug is adversely affected.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a combustion chamber structure of an engine, including: scavenging near the top surface of the combustion chamber can be reliably performed, and high ignitability of the air-fuel mixture can be ensured.

The combustion chamber structure of the engine of the present invention is a combustion chamber structure of a spark ignition type engine, comprising: a top surface of the piston; a cylinder wall surface configured to allow the piston to slide; a combustion chamber top surface formed on the cylinder head; and an ignition plug attached to the top surface of the combustion chamber, having an ignition portion arranged to face the combustion chamber, and configured to ignite at a predetermined timing when the piston is at or near compression top dead center; wherein the top surface of the piston has: a chamber that is recessed in the cylinder axial direction in a region including a region below the ignition portion of the ignition plug in a plan view seen in the cylinder axial direction; a following surface portion that follows a part of an outer peripheral portion surrounding the chamber with a gap from a corresponding region in the combustion chamber top surface located axially above the cylinder when the piston is at a compression top dead center, as viewed in a plan view in the cylinder axial direction; and an inclined surface portion provided continuously with the accompanying surface portion in a region between the accompanying surface portion and a peripheral edge of the chamber in a plan view as viewed in the cylinder axial direction, and formed so as to be directed toward the ignition portion of the spark plug when the piston is at a compression top dead center; wherein the accompanying surface portion and the corresponding region constitute a pressing flow generating portion that generates a pressing flow when the piston ascends, by combining the accompanying surface portion and the corresponding region.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a cylinder axis of an engine to which a combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the first embodiment is applied.

Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a combustion chamber structure of the engine.

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a piston of the engine.

Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of the top surface of the piston.

Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the piston (sectional view taken along line V-V of fig. 4).

Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the piston (sectional view taken along line VI-VI of fig. 4).

Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the piston (sectional view taken along line VII-VII of fig. 4).

Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a positional relationship among a chamber of a piston, an ignition portion of a spark plug, and an injector.

Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the intake side flat surface portion and the intake side inclined surface portion on the top surface of the piston and the intake side top surface portion on the cylinder head.

Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between a side standing surface portion on the top surface of the piston and an ignition portion of the spark plug.

Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing a fuel injection period and an ignition timing.

Fig. 12 is a schematic plan view showing fuel injected into a combustion chamber and a swirl flow generated in the combustion chamber.

Fig. 13A is a schematic sectional view showing a partial structure of the combustion chamber when the piston rises in the first half of the compression stroke.

Fig. 13B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a partial structure of the combustion chamber when the piston is near compression top dead center.

Fig. 14 is a timing chart showing a fuel injection period and an ignition timing according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a cylinder axis of an engine to which a combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the reference example is applied.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a cylinder head portion in fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a piston of the engine of fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the ignition plug and the injector with respect to the piston.

Fig. 19 is a top view of the top surface of the piston.

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along line XX-XX of fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken along line XXI-XXI of fig. 19.

Fig. 22 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the fuel injection period and the ignition timing and the crank angle.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view showing the combustion chamber in a state where the piston is in the vicinity of compression top dead center.

Fig. 24A is a sectional view showing the combustion chamber in a state where the piston is near compression top dead center.

Fig. 24B is a sectional view showing the combustion chamber in a state after the piston descends to compression top dead center.

Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the swirl generated in the combustion chamber and the ignition portion of the spark plug.

Fig. 26 is a plan view showing fuel injected into a combustion chamber and a vortex flow generated in the combustion chamber.

Fig. 27 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cylinder head of an engine to which a combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the third embodiment is applied.

FIG. 28 is a plan view of the top surface of the combustion chamber.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the ignition plug and the injector with respect to the piston.

Fig. 30 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the ignition plug and the injector with respect to the piston.

Fig. 31 is a top view of the top surface of the piston.

Fig. 32 is a front view of the piston (view when viewed from the intake side).

Fig. 33 is a back view of the piston (view when viewed from the exhaust side).

Fig. 34 is a side view of the piston.

FIG. 35 is a line XXXV-XXXV cut away of FIG. 31.

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXVI-XXXVI of FIG. 31.

Fig. 37 is a perspective view of the piston (a perspective view when viewed from the exhaust side).

Fig. 38 is a perspective view of the piston (a perspective view when viewed from the intake side).

Fig. 39 is a sectional view showing the combustion chamber when the piston is at top dead center.

Fig. 40 is a sectional view of the combustion chamber showing a compression stroke.

Fig. 41 is a sectional view for explaining the relationship between the flow of intake air and the ejector (nozzle head).

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment except for the essential structure thereof.

[ first embodiment ]

1. Integral structure of engine

A combustion chamber structure of a spark ignition engine according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an engine to which a combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the first embodiment is applied, and fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of the combustion chamber structure of the engine shown in fig. 1. In fig. 1, 2, and 3 and subsequent figures, XYZ directions are shown. The Z direction is a cylinder axial direction, the X direction is an extension direction of a crankshaft (an engine output shaft direction), and the Y direction is a direction orthogonal to both the Z direction and the X direction.

The engine according to the present embodiment is a multi-cylinder engine including a cylinder and a piston and mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile as a power source for driving the vehicle to travel. The engine includes an engine body 1, and an intake/exhaust manifold and various pumps (not shown) incorporated in the engine body 1. The fuel supplied to the engine body 1 contains, for example, gasoline as a main component.

As shown in fig. 1, the engine body 1 includes a cylinder block 3, a cylinder head 4, and a piston 5. The cylinder block 3 has a plurality of cylinders 2 (only one cylinder is shown in fig. 1) arranged in the X direction. In the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the cylinder wall surface, that is, the inner wall surface of the cylinder 2 is constituted by the cylinder liner 20 fitted inside the cylinder block 3. In the following description, the inner wall surface of the cylinder 2 may be referred to as a cylinder wall surface 2.

The cylinder head 4 is mounted on the cylinder block 3, closing an upper opening of the cylinder. The piston 5 is housed in each cylinder so as to be slidable back and forth, and is connected to a crankshaft 7 via a connecting rod 8.

A combustion chamber 6 is formed above the top surface 50 of the piston 5 on the + Z side. The combustion chamber top surface 6U of the combustion chamber 6 is constituted by a top surface portion including the intake side top surface portion 43 and the exhaust side top surface portion 44 of the cylinder head 4.

The cylinder head 4 is formed with an intake passage 9 and an exhaust passage 10 communicating with the combustion chamber 6. An intake port 41, which is a downstream end of the intake passage 9, and an exhaust port 42, which is an upstream end of the exhaust passage 10, are formed on the combustion ceiling surface 6U. An intake valve 11 for opening and closing the intake port 41 and an exhaust valve 12 for opening and closing the exhaust port 42 are assembled to the cylinder head 4.

The engine body 1 according to the present embodiment is a double overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine, and two intake ports 41 and two exhaust ports 42 are provided for each cylinder 2, and two intake valves 11 and two exhaust valves 12 are provided.

The intake valve 11 and the exhaust valve 12 are so-called mushroom valves. The intake valve 11 includes a mushroom-shaped valve body 11a that opens and closes the intake side opening 41, and a stem 11b that extends perpendicularly from the valve body 11 a. Similarly, the exhaust valve 12 includes a mushroom-shaped valve body 12a that opens and closes the exhaust side opening 42, and a stem 12b that extends perpendicularly from the valve body 12 a. The valve body 11a of the intake valve 11 has a valve face 11c that faces the combustion chamber 6. The valve body 12a of the exhaust valve 12 has a valve face 12c facing the combustion chamber 6.

The combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U in the engine body 1 has a ridge shape (flat ridge shape) that is slightly convex upward (toward the + Z side).

In the present embodiment, the combustion chamber wall surface defining the combustion chamber 6 is constituted by the cylinder wall surface 2, the top surface 50 of the piston 5, the combustion chamber top surface 6U which is the bottom surface of the cylinder head 4 (the surface on the (-Z side), the valve surface 11c of the intake valve 11, and the valve surface 12c of the exhaust valve 12. That is, the cylinder block 3, the cylinder head 4, the piston 5, the intake valve 11, and the exhaust valve 12 can be said to be combustion chamber components constituting the combustion chamber 6.

An intake-side valve gear 13 and an exhaust-side valve gear 14 that drive an intake valve 11 and an exhaust valve 12, respectively, are provided on the cylinder head 4. The intake valve 11 and the exhaust valve 12 are driven based on the interlocking of these valve trains 13 and 14 with the rotation of the crankshaft 7. When the intake valve 11 and the exhaust valve 12 are driven, the valve body 11a of the intake valve 11 opens and closes the intake port 41, and the valve body 12a of the exhaust valve 12 opens and closes the exhaust port 42.

An intake variable valve timing mechanism (intake VVT)15 is incorporated in the intake valve drive mechanism 13. Further, an exhaust variable valve timing mechanism (exhaust VVT)16 is incorporated in the exhaust valve operating mechanism 14. The intake VVT15 is an electric VVT provided on the intake camshaft, and the exhaust VVT16 is an electric VVT provided on the exhaust camshaft. The opening/closing timing of the intake valve 11 is changed by continuously changing the rotational phase of the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft 7 within a predetermined angular range by the intake VVT15, and the opening/closing timing of the exhaust valve 12 is changed by continuously changing the rotational phase of the exhaust camshaft with respect to the crankshaft 7 within a predetermined angular range by the exhaust VVT 16.

The ignition plug 17 is attached to the intake side top surface portion 43 of the cylinder head 4, and the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 is disposed so as to face the combustion chamber 6 from the combustion chamber top surface 6U. The ignition plug 17 discharges a spark from the ignition portion 170 in response to power feeding from an ignition circuit (not shown) to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber 6.

Further, an injector (fuel injection valve) 18 is attached to a portion of the cylinder head 4 corresponding to the top of the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U, and the injector 18 is disposed so that the injection hole 181 faces the combustion chamber 6 from the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U. A fuel supply pipe 19 (not shown) connected to the high-pressure fuel pump is connected to the injector 18. A common rail (not shown) shared by all the cylinders of the engine body 1 is provided between the high-pressure fuel pump and the fuel supply pipe. With this structure, high-pressure fuel is injected from the injection hole 181 of the injector 18 into the combustion chamber 6.

The top surface 50 of the piston 5 is provided with a chamber 51 recessed to the-Z side. Next, the structure of the piston 5 including the chamber 51 will be described.

2. Construction of the piston 5

The structure of the piston 5 will be described with reference to fig. 3 to 7. Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of the piston 5, fig. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the structure of the top surface 50 of the piston 5, and fig. 5 to 7 are schematic sectional views showing the structure of the top surface 50 of the piston 5.

As shown in fig. 3, the piston 5 includes a piston head portion 5A and a piston skirt portion 5S connected thereto on the lower side (Z side). The piston head 5A has a cylindrical shape, has a top surface 50 constituting a partial wall surface (bottom surface) of the combustion chamber 6 on an upper side surface, and has a side peripheral surface in sliding contact with the cylinder wall surface 2.

The skirt portion 5S is disposed on the + Y side and the-Y side of the piston head 5A, and is a portion that suppresses head shake during reciprocation of the piston 5.

A pin hole boss portion 5B that partitions a pin hole extending in the X direction is provided on the lower side (-Z side) of the piston head portion 5A. The piston pin is inserted through the pin hole of the pin boss portion 5B.

The top surface 50 of the piston 5 is a surface facing the combustion chamber top surface 6U in the Z direction, and includes a bowl-shaped chamber 51 located at a substantially central portion in the radial direction (the X direction and the Y direction). The chamber 51 is a portion recessed (recessed) toward the-Z side and receives fuel injection from the injector 18.

In a plan view seen from the + Z side, an upper convex portion 57, an intake side plane portion 55, an exhaust side plane portion 56, an intake side inclined portion 61, and an exhaust side inclined portion 62 are provided on an outer peripheral portion of the chamber 51 surrounding the ceiling surface 50. The upper convex portion 57 is provided on the outer peripheral portions of the-X side and the + X side with respect to the chamber 51, and is provided so as to protrude in a truncated cone shape toward the + Z side.

An intake-side plane portion (equivalent to a "following surface portion") 55 is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the + Y side with respect to the chamber 51, and an exhaust-side plane portion 56 is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the-Y side with respect to the chamber 51. In the piston 5 according to the present embodiment, the intake-side flat surface portion 55 is configured to have an area larger than that of the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56. By thus making the area of the intake-side flat surface portion 55 larger than the area of the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56, the squish flow generated between the intake-side flat surface portion 55 and the intake-side top surface portion 43 when the piston 5 is in the compression stroke is relatively larger than the squish flow generated between the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 and the exhaust-side top surface portion 44, and the scavenging effect of the residual gas can be further improved.

Further, in the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the intake side planar portion 55 and the corresponding region of the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U that faces the intake side planar portion 55 on the + Z side are disposed facing each other with a gap (see fig. 2), and the squish flow generating portion is configured by a combination of the intake side planar portion 55 and the corresponding region of the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U. This structure will be described later.

An intake side inclined surface portion (corresponding to "inclined surface portion") 61 is provided in a region between the chamber 51 and the intake side plane portion 55, and rises toward the + Z side as it extends from the + Y side toward the-Y side.

In the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 and the corresponding inclined region of the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U that faces the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 on the + Z side are disposed so as to face each other with a gap therebetween (see fig. 1), and the second extruded flow generating portion is configured by a combination of the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 and the corresponding inclined region of the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U. This structure will be described later.

The exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62 is provided in a region between the chamber 51 and the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56, and rises toward the + Z side as it extends from the-Y side toward the + Y side.

As shown in fig. 4, the chamber 51 includes a side upright surface portion 512, an exhaust side upright surface portion 513, an intake side upright surface portion 514, and a bottom surface portion 511. The side rising surface portion 512, the exhaust side rising surface portion 513, and the intake side rising surface portion 514 are provided at the peripheral edge portion of the chamber 50 when the top surface 50 of the piston 5 is viewed in plan. In this regard, the bottom surface portion 511 is provided in the inner region of the chamber 51.

As shown in fig. 5, in the chamber 51, the bottom surface portion 511, the exhaust side standing surface portion 513, and the intake side standing surface portion 514 are each formed as a curved surface. The exhaust side standing surface portion 513 and the intake side standing surface portion 514 stand upright with respect to the bottom surface portion 511 in the Z direction, and are in contact with the bottom surface portion 511 at a boundary portion.

An intake side plane portion (accompanying surface portion) 55 is provided in a region on the + Y side surrounding the outer peripheral portion of the chamber 51 on the top surface 50 of the piston 5. Further, an intake-side inclined surface portion (inclined surface portion) 61 is provided between the periphery of the chamber 51 and the intake-side planar portion 55 in the Y direction. The intake-side inclined surface portion 61 is an inclined surface portion provided so as to rise to the + Z side as it extends from the + Y side to the-Y side. The intake side inclined surface portion 61 is continuous with the intake side plane portion 55 at the + Y side, and is continuous with the intake side standing surface portion 514 of the chamber 51 at the inclined top portion P55 at the-Y side.

Here, as shown in fig. 5, the bottom P511 of the chamber 51 is set at a position of the depth DP on the-Z side with respect to the inclined top P55. In the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the bottom portion P511 is disposed on the-Z side with respect to the intake side planar portion 55.

Similarly, the top surface 50 of the piston 5 is provided with an exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 in a region on the-Y side surrounding the outer peripheral portion of the chamber 51, and an exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62 is provided between the peripheral edge of the chamber 51 and the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56. The exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62 is provided so as to rise toward the + Z side as it extends from the-Y side toward the + Y side. The exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62 is continuous with the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 on the-Y side, and is continuous with the exhaust-side standing surface portion 513 of the chamber 51 on the + Y side.

Next, as shown in fig. 6, in the chamber 51, the bottom surface portion 511 is configured as a curved surface having a radius of curvature R511, and the side standing surface portion 512 is configured as a curved surface having a radius of curvature R512. The respective centers of curvature of the bottom surface portion 511 and the side standing surface portion 512 are located on the + Z side.

In the piston 5 according to the present embodiment, the curvature radius R511 and the curvature radius R512 satisfy the following relationship.

[ equation 1] R511 > R512

The relation of [ equation 1] is in other words: the side standing surface portion 512 is formed as a curved surface standing in the Z direction with respect to the bottom surface portion 511.

As shown in the enlarged portion of fig. 6, the side standing surface portion 512 and the bottom surface portion 511 are curved surfaces that are in contact with each other at a boundary portion P51 therebetween.

As shown in fig. 7, the bottom surface portion 511 and the side standing surface portion 512 of the chamber 51 are provided so as to be smoothly continuous with each other. Thus, the side raised portion 512 functions as a guide portion for guiding the air flow 1 of the air-fuel mixture to the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 when the cylinder air flow in the combustion chamber 6 is collected in the chamber 51 as the piston 5 ascends in the compression stroke.

3. Positional relationship between the chamber 51 of the piston 5, and the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and the injector 18

The positional relationship between the chamber 51 of the piston 5, the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17, and the injector 18 will be described with reference to fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a positional relationship among the chamber 51 of the piston 5, the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17, and the injector 18.

As shown in fig. 8, the chamber 51 on the top surface 50 of the piston 5 is provided in a region including a region below (in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface) the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17. The combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U (not shown in fig. 8) is provided with two intake ports 41 and two exhaust ports 42. The intake port 41 and the exhaust port 42 partially overlap the chamber 51 in a plan view seen from the Z direction (direction perpendicular to the paper plane).

The two intake ports 41 are provided with a space therebetween in the X direction, and the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 is located therebetween.

Here, as shown by a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in fig. 8, the ignition plug 17 has a cylindrical ignition plug main body 174 and an ignition portion 170 provided at a distal end of the ignition plug main body 174. The ignition portion 170 of the spark plug 17 is composed of a center electrode 171 and a ground electrode 172. The center electrode 171 and the ground electrode 172 are disposed with a discharge gap G therebetween. The ground electrode 172 is a distal end portion continuous with the facing portion 173, and the facing portion 173 and the ground electrode 172 are L-shaped as a whole in a side view.

The injector 18 is provided above a substantially central portion of the chamber 51 on the top surface 50 of the piston 5, and is capable of injecting fuel from the injection hole 181 (see fig. 2) into the chamber 51.

As shown in fig. 8, in the engine main body 1, the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 is disposed in a portion between the portion where the injector 18 is provided and the intake side planar portion 55 in a plan view seen from the Z direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface). The ignition plug 17 is disposed in a state where the facing portion 173 faces away from the injector 18.

4. The relationship between the intake side flat surface portion 55 and the intake side inclined surface portion 61 in the top surface 50 of the piston 5 and the intake side top surface portion 43 in the cylinder head 4

The relationship between the intake side plane portion 55 and the intake side inclined surface portion 61 on the top surface 50 of the piston 5 and the intake side top surface portion 43 on the cylinder head 4 will be described with reference to fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the intake side flat surface portion 55 and the intake side inclined surface portion 61 on the top surface 50 of the piston 5 and the intake side top surface portion 43 on the cylinder head 4.

As shown in fig. 9, the intake side top surface portion 43 in the cylinder head 4 includes: a flat surface portion 43a parallel to a mating surface of the cylinder block 3 and the cylinder head 4 with each other, that is, perpendicular to the cylinder axis, and following the intake side flat surface portion 55 in the top surface 50 of the piston 5; the inclined surface portion 43b follows the intake side inclined surface portion 61. As shown in fig. 9, when the piston 5 is near the compression Top Dead Center (TDC), the flat surface portion 43a of the intake side top surface portion 43 of the cylinder head 4 faces the intake side flat surface portion 55 of the piston 5 with a slight gap G53 therebetween, and the inclined surface portion 43b faces the intake side inclined surface portion 61 with a slight gap G55 therebetween.

The gap G53 and the gap G55 may be the same or different.

In the present embodiment, the intake side inclined surface portion 61 of the piston 5 is provided so as to point toward the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 when the piston 5 is near the compression Top Dead Center (TDC) (assuming a line DR).

In the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the extrusion flow generating portion is configured by a combination of the plane portion 43a in the intake-side top surface portion 43 and the intake-side plane portion 55 in the top surface 50 of the piston 5, and the second extrusion flow generating portion is configured by a combination of the inclined surface portion 43b in the intake-side top surface portion 43 and the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 in the top surface 50 of the piston 5. This will be described later.

Although not shown in fig. 9, the exhaust-side top surface portion 44 (see fig. 1) of the cylinder head 4 is also configured with a flat surface portion that follows the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 of the top surface 50 of the piston 5 and an inclined surface portion that follows the exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62, in the same manner as described above. Thus, when the piston 5 is near the compression Top Dead Center (TDC), the exhaust-side top surface portion 44 in the cylinder head 4 and the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 and the exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62 in the top surface 50 of the piston 5 also face each other with a slight gap therebetween.

5. Side standing surface portion 512 of top surface 50 of piston 5 and ignition portion 170 of spark plug 17

The positional relationship between the side standing surface portion 512 of the top surface 50 of the piston 5 and the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 will be described with reference to fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between the side standing surface portion 512 of the top surface 50 of the piston 5 and the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17.

As shown in fig. 10, the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 is located on the back side of the paper with respect to the injector 18, and is disposed at a position between the intake ports 41. Fig. 10 shows a state in which the intake port 41 is closed by the intake valve 11.

The side raised surface portions 512 located at two positions on the top surface 50 of the piston 5 are configured to position the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 between them when the piston 5 is near the compression Top Dead Center (TDC).

6. Relationship between fuel injection period and ignition timing

The fuel injection period and the ignition timing according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing a fuel injection period and an ignition timing.

As shown in fig. 11, the engine according to the present embodiment can be operated at least in the fuel injection period and the ignition timing in the mode I and the mode II.

(1) Mode I

The mode I is a mode that is adopted when the engine main body 1 is in an operating state from a high-load low rotation region to a high-load medium rotation region.

As shown in fig. 11, in pattern I, PF1 injection at the front stage in the middle of the intake stroke and PF2 injection at the rear stage immediately before compression Top Dead Center (TDC) are performed. The pre-stage injection PF1 starts, for example, at a period T1 in the first half of the intake stroke and ends at a period T2 in the second half of the intake stroke. The period T1 and the period T2 are set to a period before and after the piston 5 has fallen by about half a crank angle of a stroke from TDC of the exhaust stroke (for example, 70 ° CA after TDC). In this way, by injecting PF1 at the early stage in the middle of the intake stroke, the time for forming the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber 6 can be sufficiently ensured.

The post-stage injection PF2 starts, for example, at a later period T3 of the compression stroke and ends at a period T4 immediately before the compression Top Dead Center (TDC). The period T3 may be set, for example, 10 ° CA before compression Top Dead Center (TDC). In this way, knocking can be prevented by performing the post-stage injection of PF2 before the compression Top Dead Center (TDC).

Ignition IG1 by the spark plug 17 is performed at a period T5 near the compression Top Dead Center (TDC).

Further, in mode I, by executing the post-stage injection PF2, the gas flow in the combustion chamber 6 (in-cylinder flow) can be enhanced immediately before ignition. Further, the fuel pressure is set to a high pressure of, for example, 30MPa or more, whereby the injection period of the fuel and the formation period of the air-fuel mixture (mixing period) can be shortened, and the gas flow in the combustion chamber 6 can be further enhanced. The fuel pressure may be set to 120MPa, for example, as an upper limit value.

(2) Mode II

The mode II is a mode for performing SI combustion, which is employed when the engine body 1 is in an operating state in a high rotation speed region.

As shown in fig. 11, in the pattern II, the fuel injection PF11 is started from the period T11 in the first half of the intake stroke and ended at the period T12 in the first half of the compression stroke. In the mode II, the fuel injection PF11 is intensively performed during the period from the intake stroke to the compression stroke.

Ignition IG11 by the spark plug 17 is performed at a period T15 before compression Top Dead Center (TDC).

As described above, the fuel injection PF11 in the mode II is intensively performed from the intake stroke to the compression stroke, so that a homogeneous or substantially homogeneous air-fuel mixture can be formed in the combustion chamber 6. In the mode II, the vaporization time of the fuel can be ensured as long as possible in a state where the rotation speed of the engine body 1 is high, and the unburned loss can be reduced.

In this way, in the engine body 1 that performs the operation in the high rotation speed region in the mode II, the air-fuel ratio of the mixture is set to substantially the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, so that the exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber 6 can be purified by the three-way catalyst, and the abnormal combustion can be avoided by performing the SI combustion.

7. Vortex flow generated in the combustion chamber 6

The swirl generated in the combustion chamber 6 will be described with reference to fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a schematic plan view showing the fuel injected into the combustion chamber 6 and the swirl generated in the combustion chamber 6.

As shown in fig. 12, in a plan view seen from the Z-axis direction (direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet), fuel is radially injected from the injector 18 disposed at a substantially central portion of the combustion chamber 6 (injected fuel 18E). Specifically, the fuel injector is configured to inject fuel from the injector 18 into a chamber 51 provided in the top surface 50 of the piston 5.

In the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the axis of direction of fuel injection from the injector 18 does not face the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17. That is, the directional axis of the injected fuel 18E from the injector 18 passes through both sides of the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17. This can suppress the occurrence of the wetting of the spark plug.

In the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the facing portion 173 of the ignition plug 17 faces the-Y side, and the ignition portion 170 faces away from the injection hole 181 of the injector 18. With this configuration, the occurrence of the spark plug wetting can be suppressed.

In the combustion chamber 6, a swirl flow 2 revolving around the peripheral edge portion of the chamber 51 is generated as indicated by an arrow. Based on the airflow 2 of the vortex flow thus generated at the peripheral portion of the chamber 51, the mixing of the air and the fuel is sufficiently performed, and is guided to the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and the vicinity thereof.

As described with reference to fig. 7, the mixture is lifted toward the + Z side (near side of the paper) toward the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and the vicinity thereof during the swirl of the swirling airflow 2 by the side rising surface portion (guide portion) 512 provided at the peripheral edge portion of the chamber 51.

Further, as described above, the residual gas in the vicinity of the ignition portion 170 can be swept away by the mixture gas guided to the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and the vicinity thereof.

8. The extrusion flow generated in the combustion chamber 6

The flow of the extrusion flow generated in the combustion chamber 6 will be described with reference to fig. 13A and 13B. Fig. 13A is a schematic sectional view showing a state of the combustion chamber 6 when the piston 5 ascends in the first half of the compression stroke, and fig. 13B is a schematic sectional view showing a state of the combustion chamber 6 when the piston 5 is near the compression Top Dead Center (TDC). Fig. 9 used in the foregoing description is also used as appropriate.

As shown in fig. 13A, in a state where the piston 5 is moving upward toward the + Z side as indicated by arrow a in the compression stroke, the air-fuel mixture present in the portion indicated by arrow B is compressed as the distance between the intake-side flat surface portion 55 and the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 of the piston 5 and the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U is narrowed.

As shown in fig. 13B, in a state where the piston 5 reaches the vicinity of the compression Top Dead Center (TDC), the intake-side plane portion 55 of the piston 5 and the plane portion 43a of the cylinder head 4 face each other with a slight gap G53 left therebetween, and the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 and the inclined surface portion 43B face each other with a slight gap G55 left therebetween (see also fig. 9).

As described above, in the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the intake-side flat surface portion 55 in the piston 5 and the flat surface portion 43a in the cylinder head 4 are formed so as to follow each other with the gap G53, and the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 and the inclined surface portion 43b are formed so as to follow each other with the gap G55. The intake side inclined surface portion 61 of the piston 5 is provided so that the axis of directivity (assumed as line DR) of the piston 5 is directed toward the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 in a state where the piston 5 is near TDC (see fig. 9).

As described above, since the intake side flat surface portion 55 and the intake side inclined surface portion 61 are provided in the piston 5 and the flat surface portion 43a and the inclined surface portion 43b are provided in the cylinder head 4, the air-fuel mixture compressed between the intake side flat surface portion 55 and the intake side inclined surface portion 61 of the piston 5 and the intake side top surface portion 43 of the cylinder head 4 is discharged as the air flow 3 of the squish flow toward the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 from the gap between the intake side inclined surface portion 61 and the inclined surface portion 43. That is, the squeeze-flow generating portion is constituted by a combination of the intake-side planar portion 55 in the piston 5 and the planar portion 43a in the cylinder head 4, and the second squeeze-flow generating portion is constituted by a combination of the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 and the inclined surface portion 43 b.

Thus, in the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and the residual gas around the ignition portion can be scavenged by the airflow 3 of the squeezing flow generated when the piston 5 is lifted.

Although not shown in fig. 13A and 13B, the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 and the exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62 in the piston 5 and the exhaust-side top surface portion 44 (see fig. 1) in the cylinder head 4 also face each other with a slight gap left therebetween in a state where the piston 5 is near the TDC. Therefore, as the piston 5 moves upward, an air flow of the air-fuel mixture is also generated from the area on the exhaust side in the combustion chamber 6 along the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U. This enables scavenging of the injection hole 181 of the injector 18 in the combustion chamber 6 and the residual gas around the injection hole to be performed.

9. Effect

As described with reference to fig. 9, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, since the intake-side inclined surface portion (inclined surface portion) 61 is formed so as to point toward the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 (the pointing axis DR points toward the ignition portion 170) when the piston 5 is in the vicinity of the compression Top Dead Center (TDC), the squish flow generated by the squish flow generating portion formed by combining the intake-side planar portion (accompanying surface portion) 55 and the planar portion 43a of the cylinder head 4 can be sent toward the ignition portion 170. Thus, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and the residual gas around the ignition portion can be scavenged by the squish flow.

Further, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, since the chamber 51 is provided in the top surface 50 of the piston 5, the moving distance between the fuel and the fresh air can be increased, and the fuel can be atomized reliably during the period before ignition.

Therefore, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, by adopting the structure in which the cavity 51 is provided in the top surface 50 of the piston 5, it is possible to reliably perform scavenging in the vicinity of the combustion chamber top surface 6U (particularly, the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and the vicinity thereof) while securing the moving distance for atomizing the fuel, and it is possible to secure high ignitability of the air-fuel mixture.

In the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, as described with reference to fig. 5, the bottom portion P511 of the cavity 51 is located at a position deeper than the inclined top portion P55 on the-Z side with respect to the inclined top portion P55 of the intake side inclined surface portion (inclined surface portion) 61, and therefore, the mixture of the fuel and the fresh air can be retained in the cavity 51. That is, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, by disposing the bottom portion P511 of the chamber 51 at a position deeper than the inclined ceiling portion P55 on the-Z side with respect to the inclined ceiling portion P55, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of: the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber 6 flows in a direction away from the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 under the influence of the flow of the air flow along the intake-side inclined surface portion (inclined surface portion) 61 toward the ignition portion 170. As a result, the ignitability of the air-fuel mixture can be further improved in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment.

In the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the chamber 51 is in the shape of a bowl (convex) in the direction of separation from the combustion chamber top surface 6U (the (-Z side), in other words, the bowl-shaped chamber 51 in which no convex obstacle is present on the bottom surface portion 511 is used, and therefore, flame propagation after ignition can be smoothly performed in the entire combustion chamber 6.

Further, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, since the ignition plug 17 is disposed so that the discharge gap G opens toward the intake-side inclined surface portion (inclined surface portion) 61, the gas flow 3 of the squish flow reaches the discharge gap G without being blocked, and a higher scavenging effect of the residual gas can be obtained. As a result, the ignitability of the air-fuel mixture can be further improved in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment.

Further, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine main body 1 according to the present embodiment, when the piston 5 is in the vicinity of the compression Top Dead Center (TDC), the intake-side inclined surface portion (inclined surface portion) 61 of the piston 5 and the inclined surface portion (corresponding inclined region) 43b of the cylinder head 4 are in a state of following each other with the gap G55 therebetween, and the second extruded flow generating portion is configured by a combination of these, so that the residual gas in the vicinity of the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U can be scavenged more reliably.

Therefore, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the present embodiment, the squib flow 3 can reliably scavenge the ignition portion 170 of the spark plug 17 and its vicinity, and high ignitability of the air-fuel mixture can be ensured.

[ second embodiment ]

A spark ignition type engine according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a timing chart showing the fuel injection period and the ignition timing according to the present embodiment.

In the engine according to the present embodiment, the same configuration is employed except that the fuel injection period is partially different from that of the first embodiment, and the remaining portions are the same, so that only the fuel injection period and the ignition timing will be described.

As shown in fig. 14, the engine according to the present embodiment can be operated at least in the fuel injection period and the ignition timing in the mode I and the mode II. Since the mode II is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the mode I will be described below.

In the mode I according to the present embodiment, the fuel injection PF21 is performed from the middle of the intake stroke to the first half of the compression stroke, but unlike the first embodiment, the fuel injection immediately before the compression Top Dead Center (TDC) is not performed. That is, in the pattern I according to the present embodiment, the fuel injection PF21 starts the fuel injection at the middle period T21 of the intake stroke and ends at the first half period T22 of the compression stroke.

Here, the start timing T21 of the fuel injection PF21 may be 280 ° CA before compression Top Dead Center (TDC), for example.

Further, the ignition IG21 of the ignition plug 17 is executed at a time T25 near the compression Top Dead Center (TDC) as in the mode I of the first embodiment.

In mode I according to the present embodiment, by setting the period of fuel injection PF21 as shown in fig. 14, an air-fuel mixture for realizing ci (compression ignition) combustion can be formed in the outer peripheral portion of the combustion chamber 6, and an air-fuel mixture for realizing si (spark ignition) combustion can be formed in the central portion of the combustion chamber 6.

The air-fuel mixture in the central portion of the combustion chamber 6 preferably has an excess air ratio λ of 1 or less, and the air-fuel mixture in the outer peripheral portion preferably has an excess air ratio λ of 1 or less (preferably less than 1). The air-fuel ratio (a/F) of the mixture in the central portion of the combustion chamber 6 may be, for example, 13 or more, and the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio may be, for example, 14.7 or less.

Further, the air-fuel ratio of the mixture in the outer peripheral portion of the combustion chamber 6 may be set to, for example, 11 or more, and the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio may be, for example, 14.7 or less, or 11 or more, or 12.5 or more, or 13 or less.

That is, in the present embodiment, in a state where the rotation speed of the engine main body 1 is high, since the reaction time of the fuel injected by the fuel injection PF21 is short, the post-stage injection (the post-stage injection PF2 in the first embodiment) for suppressing the reaction of the air-fuel mixture can be omitted.

In the present embodiment, since the same configuration as that of the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the first embodiment is adopted, the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and the vicinity thereof can be reliably scavenged by the airflow 3 of the squish flow, and high ignitability of the air-fuel mixture can be ensured, as in the first embodiment.

[ modified examples ]

The first and second embodiments described above employ the following configuration: the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 in the top surface 50 of the piston 5 and the inclined surface portion 43b in the cylinder head 4 face each other with a slight gap G55 when the piston 5 is near the compression Top Dead Center (TDC), and constitute a second extrusion flow generating portion in combination thereof. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible to adopt, for example, an embodiment in which the intake-side slant surface portion 61 and the slant surface portion 43b do not follow each other. In this case, the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 can also function to guide the flow of the squib to the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17.

In the first and second embodiments, the intake side plane portion 55 is used as an example of the accompanying surface portion, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a concave surface or a convex surface may be used as the follow-up surface.

Similarly, in the first and second embodiments, the intake side inclined surface portion 61 having a planar shape is used as the inclined surface portion, but the present invention is not limited to this. The inclined surface portion may be, for example, a concave curved surface or a convex curved surface.

In the first and second embodiments, the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 and the exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62 in the piston 5 are each configured to be flat, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It can also be constructed, for example, with a concave or convex curve.

In the first and second embodiments, the chamber 51 of the piston 5 is configured to have a cross section of a combination of one bottom surface portion 511 and two side raised surface portions 512 in a cross section taken along line VI-VI of fig. 4 (cross section shown in fig. 6), but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a curved surface or a flat surface may be inserted between the bottom surface portion 511 and the side standing surface portion 512.

In the first and second embodiments, the bottom surface portion 511 and the side standing surface portion 512 are in contact with each other at the boundary portion P51, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. It is also possible to use a structure that intersects at a slight angle. Even so, the discharge hardly affects the in-cylinder airflow.

In the first and second embodiments, the intake-side flat surface portion 55 of the piston 5 has a larger area than the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to employ, for example, the intake-side flat portion and the exhaust-side flat portion having the same area.

However, in consideration of the function of scavenging the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and the residual gas around the ignition portion by making the flow of the airflow 3 from the squish flow on the intake side stronger than the flow of the airflow from the exhaust side, it is preferable to adopt the same configuration as that of the first and second embodiments.

In the first and second embodiments, the combustion ceiling surface 6U is formed in a flat ridge shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It may also take a higher ratio of roof shapes. When such a high ratio of the roof-shaped combustion ceiling is employed, there is an advantage in that a strong tumble flow is generated.

In the first and second embodiments, the intake passage and the like connected to the intake port 41 are not particularly mentioned, but various modifications may be made in the present invention. For example, a swirl control valve may be provided in one of the inlet ducts connected to the two inlet ports. In the case of such a configuration, the swirl control valve is controlled to open and close, whereby the swirl flow 2 can be more actively generated in the combustion chamber 6.

Specifically, by closing the swirl control valve, swirl, which is swirl around the cylinder axis, can be easily generated.

Next, a description will be given of a combustion chamber structure of an engine according to a third embodiment, but before that, a description will be given of a combustion chamber structure (reference example) of another engine that is the basis of the third embodiment.

[ reference example ]

1. Integral structure of engine

Fig. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an engine to which a combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the first reference example is applied, and fig. 16 is a main portion cross-sectional view of the cylinder head shown in fig. 15.

As shown in fig. 15, the basic configuration of the engine to which the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the reference example is applied is common to the engines according to the first and second embodiments described above. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to parts corresponding to the first and second embodiments in relation to the basic structure of the engine, and the description thereof may be omitted or simplified.

The engine body 1 according to the reference example is capable of performing combustion as follows: normal SI combustion in which a mixture gas in a combustion chamber is forcibly ignited by a spark plug; retarding SI combustion in which a fuel injection timing is set near compression Top Dead Center (TDC); SICI combustion, which is formed by combining SI combustion and CI combustion. In the SI combustion, fuel is injected in the middle of the intake stroke and the air-fuel mixture is forcibly ignited near the TDC of the compression stroke, whereas in the retarded SI combustion, fuel is injected before and after the TDC of the compression stroke and the air-fuel mixture is forcibly ignited in the initial stage of the expansion stroke thereafter. In SICI combustion, air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber is forcibly ignited and combusted by flame propagation, and unburned air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is combusted by self-ignition.

In the SICI combustion, the following may occur: combustion is accomplished by flame propagation without self-ignition. The combustion method as described above is selected according to the operating region. For example, the SI combustion is selected in a high speed and high load region of the engine, the retarded SI combustion is selected in a low speed and high load region, and the SICI combustion is selected in a low load region regardless of the speed.

In the reference example, the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U has a shallower ridge shape than the first and second embodiments, and the ignition plug 17 is attached to the cylinder head 4 such that the ignition portion 170 is disposed on the + Y side (intake port side) with respect to the Y-direction center portion of the combustion chamber 6.

The injector 18 is located on the-Y side with respect to the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17, and is disposed in the center portion in the X direction in the combustion chamber 6.

Further, as shown in fig. 16, fuel can be injected from the injector 18 to at least the exhaust port side (-Y side) in the combustion chamber 6.

2. Detailed structure of piston

The structure of the piston 5, particularly the structure of the top surface 50, will be described in detail with reference to fig. 17 to 21. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the piston 5, fig. 18 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship between the top surface 50 of the piston 5, the ignition plug 17, and the injector 18, and fig. 19 is a plan view of the top surface 50. In addition, fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along line XX-XX of fig. 19, and fig. 21 is a sectional view taken along line XXI-XXI of fig. 19.

The piston 5 includes a piston head 5A and a piston skirt 5S connected thereto on the lower side (Z side). The piston head 5A is formed of a cylindrical body, and has a top surface 50 forming a partial wall surface (bottom surface) of the combustion chamber 6 on an upper side surface thereof, and a side peripheral surface in sliding contact with an inner wall surface of the cylinder 2. The piston skirt 5S is disposed on the + X side and the-X side of the piston head 5A to suppress head shake during reciprocation of the piston 5. As shown in fig. 21, a pin hole boss portion 5B that partitions a pin hole extending in the X direction is provided below the piston head portion 5A. The piston pin 81 is inserted through the pin hole of the pin hole boss portion 5B. The piston pin 81 is a pin that connects the small head 8S of the connecting rod 8 and the piston 5.

The ceiling surface 50 is a surface facing the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U in the Z direction, and includes a substantially annular chamber 5C located at a substantially central portion in the radial direction (X direction and Y direction). The chamber 5C is a portion recessed to the-Z side, and is also a portion that receives fuel injection from the injector 18. An intake side planar portion 55, an exhaust side planar portion 56, and a pair of side upper surfaces 57 are disposed on the outer periphery of the chamber 5C of the top surface 50. The intake-side plane portion 55 is a plane provided in a region adjacent to the + Y side of the chamber 5C, the exhaust-side plane portion 56 is a plane provided in a region adjacent to the-Y side of the chamber 5C, and the pair of side upper surfaces 57 are substantially flat surfaces adjacent to the + X side and the-X side of the chamber 5C, respectively. Further, a convex portion 53 that is raised to the + Z side with respect to the bottom of the chamber 5C is provided in the inner portion of the chamber 5C.

The intake side plane portion 55 is provided in the following manner: when the piston 5 is near the Top Dead Center (TDC), it follows the intake side top surface portion 43 of the cylinder head 4 shown in fig. 16 with a slight gap. The exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 is also provided in the following manner: when the piston 5 is near the Top Dead Center (TDC), it follows the exhaust-side top surface portion 44 of the cylinder head 4 shown in fig. 16. Here, in the engine body 1, the reverse flow generating portion is configured based on a combination of the intake side planar portion 55 and the intake side top surface 43. Specifically, the reverse-extrusion-flow generating section is a section that generates the air-fuel mixture flow from the radially central region to the radially outer edge region of the combustion chamber 6 when the piston 5 descends from a state near the Top Dead Center (TDC) to the-Z side.

Chamber 5C includes a small chamber 51 and a large chamber 52. As shown in fig. 18, the small chamber 51 is recessed at a position corresponding to the ignition portion 170 of the spark plug 17, that is, at a position directly below the ignition portion 170. The large chamber 52 is recessed in a position adjacent to the small chamber 51, and has a larger projected area than the small chamber 51 in a plan view from the + Z side. For example, the projected area of the large chamber 52 is about 8 times larger than the projected area of the small chamber 51. The convex portion 53 is disposed near the center of the top surface 50 in the XY direction. The convex portion 53 is provided at a substantially central portion of the combustion chamber 6 in the XY direction, and is provided at a position directly below the nozzle head 18N (see fig. 18) of the injector 18.

The small chamber 51 includes a first peripheral edge 510 as an outer peripheral edge that divides the small chamber 51. The large chamber 52 includes a second peripheral edge 521 as an outer peripheral edge that divides the large chamber 52. The first peripheral edge 511 has a substantially fan-like shape in a plan view from the + Z side, and forms an intersection with the convex portion 53, the intake side planar portion 55, and the large chamber 52. The second periphery 521 has a substantially C-shape in a plan view from the + Z side. That is, the large chamber 52 has a substantially C-shape in a plan view of the top surface 50 from the + Z side. The second peripheral edge 521 is a boundary line with the convex portion 53, the intake-side planar portion 55, the exhaust-side planar portion 56, and the small chamber 51.

A portion of the first periphery 510 is a common peripheral portion that doubles as a portion of the second periphery 521. In other words, a section of the first peripheral edge 510 of the small chamber 51 borders a portion of the second peripheral edge 521 of the large chamber 52. More specifically, the first peripheral edge 510 excluding the arc-shaped portions that form the boundaries with the convex portion 53 and the intake-side planar portion 55 is a portion common to a portion of the second peripheral edge 521. A part of the second periphery 521 corresponds to an open portion (open end) of the C-shape. As shown in fig. 18 and the like, the common peripheral edge portion is a ridge line 54 protruding upward. That is, in the reference example, the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52 are adjacent to each other with the ridge line 54 as a boundary.

As shown in fig. 19 and the like, the large chamber 52 has a C-shape surrounding the substantially circular convex portion 53 in a plan view from the + Z side. The small chamber 51 is formed at a position sandwiched by the C-shaped open portions of the large chamber 52. Thus, the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52 define a substantially annular chamber 5C surrounding the projection 53 on the top surface 50, although the chamber is defined by the ridge line 54.

Further, the ignition portion 170 of the spark plug 17 is disposed above (on the + Z side) the position sandwiched by the C-shaped open portion in the large chamber 52 in a plan view from the + Z side.

The peripheral edge 531 of the outer periphery of the convex portion 53 is in contact with a part of the first peripheral edge 510 of the small chamber 51 and a part of the second peripheral edge 521 of the large chamber 52 by boundaries. In the present reference example, the convex portion 53 is formed in a mountain shape, and the peripheral edge portion 531 is a mountain foot of the mountain.

The nozzle head 18N of the injector 18 is provided with a plurality of injection holes 181 in a radial shape, and fuel is injected from each injection hole of the nozzle head 18N toward the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52. At this time, the injected fuel 18E is smoothly introduced into the chambers 51 and 52 along the first and second peripheral edges 510 and 521, which are inclined surfaces.

Further, the fuel injected from each injection hole of the nozzle head 18N of the injector 18 is injected in a relatively large amount toward the large chamber 52 and in a relatively small amount toward the small chamber 51.

As shown in fig. 21, the depth h2 of the large chamber 52 with the intake-side flat surface portion 55 and the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 as the reference is deeper than the depth h1 of the small chamber 51. Thus, the chamber 5C is formed such that the bottom surface thereof is raised toward the + Z side from the exhaust port side (+ X side) toward the intake port side (-X side). More specifically, the bottom surface of the chamber 5C gradually rises upward (+ Z side) from the-Y side toward the position just below the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17.

Further, as described above, since the projected area of the large chamber 52 is larger than that of the small chamber 51, the large chamber 52 is formed with a larger volume than the small chamber 51 in consideration of the depths (recessed depths) h1, h2 of the respective chambers 51, 52, respectively.

3. Fuel injection period, ignition timing and crank angle

The relationship between the fuel injection period and the ignition timing and the crank angle will be described with reference to fig. 22. Fig. 22 is a timing chart showing a relationship between a fuel injection period and an ignition timing and a crank angle.

As shown in fig. 22, the engine body 1 according to the reference example can be operated at least in the fuel injection period and the ignition timing in the mode I and the mode II.

The mode I is a mode used when the above-described retarded SI combustion is performed, and the fuel injection period PF1 is before and after the TDC of the compression stroke and the ignition period is in the initial stage of the expansion stroke. That is, the fuel injection by the injector 18 is performed from the period T11 at which the crank angle at the end of the compression stroke before TDC is-CA 11, and the fuel injection is performed until the period T12 at which the crank angle at the beginning of the expansion stroke after TDC is + CA 12. Thereafter, at a time T13 at which the specified crank angle is + CA13 in the initial stage of the expansion stroke, the air-fuel mixture is ignited by the ignition plug 17. Of the crank angles mentioned above, -CA11 is, for example, 15 ° before TDC (more preferably, 10 ° before TDC), + CA12 is, for example, 5 ° after TDC (more preferably, 2 ° after TDC), and + CA13 is, for example, 8 to 10 ° after compression TDC (more preferably, 9 ° after TDC). According to this mode I, since fuel is injected before and after TDC, knocking can be prevented.

The mode II is a mode employed when the above SI combustion and SICI combustion are performed, the fuel injection period PF2 is the middle of the intake stroke, and the ignition period is near TDC of the compression stroke. That is, the crank angle when the piston 5 is lowered by about half of the stroke from the TDC of the exhaust stroke is CA2, and the periods T21 to T22 before and after the crank angle CA2 are the fuel injection period PF 2. The ignition timing is a period T23 to TDC. CA2 is for example 70 ° after TDC.

Further, in order to prevent knocking, in addition to fuel injection at CA2, fuel injection may be additionally performed at a crank angle CA3 before TDC.

4. Counter-extrusion flow

The reverse-extrusion flow generated in the combustion chamber 6 will be described with reference to fig. 23, 24A, and 24B. Fig. 23 and 24A are sectional views showing the combustion chamber 6 when the piston 5 is near TDC, and fig. 24B is a sectional view showing the combustion chamber 6 in a state where the piston 5 is lowered to after TDC.

First, as shown in fig. 23, a virtual line LSP passing through the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 and extending in the Z direction is drawn.

As shown in fig. 23, a portion located on the-Y side with respect to the virtual line LSP (portion a, indicated by arrow a) and a portion located on the + Y side with respect to the virtual line LSP (portion B; indicated by arrow B) when the piston 5 is near the TDC are compared. As is clear from fig. 23, in the structure of the combustion chamber 6 according to the present embodiment, the volume of the portion B is smaller than the volume of the portion a.

In the combustion chamber 6, based on the difference in the combustion chamber volume as described above, a reverse flow is generated that guides the air-fuel mixture from the-Y side to the + Y side as the piston 5 descends in the expansion stroke. That is, the combustion chamber 6 forms a reverse-extrusion-flow generating portion based on the difference in the combustion chamber volume.

As shown in fig. 24A, when the piston 5 is near TDC, the top surface 50 of the piston 5 is closest to the combustion chamber top surface 6U. Therefore, the intake side flat surface portion 55 faces the intake side top surface portion 43 with a slight gap therebetween (see the portion indicated by the arrow C), and the exhaust side flat surface portion 56 faces the exhaust side top surface portion 44 with a narrow gap therebetween.

As shown in fig. 24B, in the expansion stroke after the TDC, as the piston 5 moves down, the intake-side flat surface portion 55 moves away from the intake-side top surface portion 43 (see the portion indicated by the arrow D), and the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 also moves away from the exhaust-side top surface portion 44. At this time, as indicated by the hatched arrows indicated, a reverse-extrusion flow toward the + Y side (an air flow that guides the mixture to the region on the + Y side) is generated. Therefore, it can be said that in the reference example, the intake-side flat surface portion 55 and the intake-side top surface portion 43 constitute a reverse flow generating portion.

Although the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 and the exhaust-side top surface portion 44 are also in a state of following each other, the area of the piston 5 and the combustion-chamber top surface 6U facing the intake-side flat surface portion 55 and the intake-side top surface portion 43 is larger than the area of the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 and the exhaust-side top surface portion 44, and therefore, a reverse flow as indicated by an arrow is generated.

Here, by providing the exhaust-side flat portion 56 and the exhaust-side ceiling surface portion 44 which face each other in a close proximity in the state shown in fig. 24A, it is possible to prevent the injected fuel from directly adhering to the inner wall surface (liner) of the cylinder 2 when fuel injection is performed near TDC.

5. Vortex flow

The swirl generated in the combustion chamber 6 will be described with reference to fig. 25 and 26. Fig. 25 is a sectional view showing the swirl FS generated in the combustion chamber 6, and fig. 26 is a plan view showing the swirl FS generated in the combustion chamber 6.

As shown in fig. 26, fuel is injected radially from a nozzle tip 18N of the injector 18 provided at a radially central portion of the combustion chamber 6 (injection fuel 18E). That is, the fuel is injected from the injector 18 toward the inside of the large chamber 52 on the exhaust port side, that is, the-Y side, and toward the small chamber 51 on the intake port side, that is, the + Y side. As described above, a relatively large amount of fuel is injected into the large chamber 52, and a relatively small amount of fuel is injected into the small chamber 51.

Here, the directional axis of the fuel injection toward the small chamber 51 is not directed toward the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17. That is, the directional axis of fuel injection toward the small chamber 51 passes by both sides of the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17. This can suppress the occurrence of the wetting of the spark plug. Further, in the reference example, the back portion (base portion 174) of the ground electrode 172 of the spark plug 17 is directed toward the-Y side (radially outer side of the combustion chamber 6). This also suppresses the occurrence of the spark plug wetting.

As shown by the hollow arrows in fig. 26, a swirl FS that revolves around the outer edge portion of the annular chamber 5C (the combination of the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52) is generated in the combustion chamber 6. Then, the mixture of the fresh air and the fuel is guided to the vicinity of the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 by the swirl FS.

When the virtual line L52B is drawn on the bottom surface of the annular chamber 5C, the bottom surface rises upward (toward the front side of the sheet in fig. 26) as it extends from the point P1 to the point P3 via the point P2. Therefore, as shown in fig. 25, the air-fuel mixture guided by the swirl FS gradually rises toward the + Z side as it flows from the + X side toward the vicinity of the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17. This allows the combustion chamber 6 to sweep away residual gas in the vicinity of the ignition portion 170.

6. Effect

As described with reference to fig. 16 and the like, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, the nozzle head 18N of the injector 18 is configured to be able to inject fuel toward the exhaust port side (Y side) having a relatively high temperature, and therefore, even when fuel injection is performed in the vicinity of compression top dead center in order to suppress the occurrence of pre-ignition, sufficient atomization of fuel can be achieved in a short time.

In the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, as described with reference to fig. 16 and 26, since the large chamber 52 is provided in the region including the exhaust port side (-Y side) in the top surface 50 of the piston 5, the fuel travels along the bottom surface shape of the large chamber 52 after being injected into the large chamber 52. Therefore, the moving distance of the fuel required for atomizing the fuel can be ensured as compared with the case without the chamber. As described with reference to fig. 16 and the like, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1, the injector 18 is disposed in the center portion of the combustion chamber top surface 6U in a plan view seen from the + Z side, and therefore, the distance from the nozzle tip 18N of the injector 18 to the large chamber 52 is short, and the fuel can be rapidly injected into the large chamber 52.

Further, as described with reference to fig. 23, 24A, and 24B, since the reverse-extrusion-flow generating portion is provided in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, the air-fuel mixture atomized on the exhaust port side (-Y side) can be guided to the ignition portion 17170 side of the ignition plug 17 as the piston 5 descends during the expansion stroke. Thus, in the reference example, combustion can be performed using oxygen in the entire combustion chamber 6, and it is possible to suppress the unburned fuel from remaining in the combustion chamber 6 and to suppress a decrease in emission performance.

In the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, as described with reference to fig. 16 and the like, the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 is disposed on the intake port side (+ Y side) with respect to the central portion of the combustion chamber top surface 6U, and therefore, the cooling performance can be ensured.

Therefore, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, even when the engine is operated in the high load operation region, the occurrence of pre-ignition can be suppressed, and high-speed combustion and homogeneous combustion of the entire combustion chamber 6 can be realized.

Further, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, as described with reference to fig. 23, since the backward extrusion flow generating portion is formed by the difference in the combustion chamber volume between the portion B on the intake port side and the portion a on the exhaust port side, an airflow (backward extrusion flow) from the exhaust port side or the center portion to the intake port side (+ Y side) can be generated as the piston 5 descends during the expansion stroke, and the air-fuel mixture atomized at the exhaust port side can be guided to the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 on the intake port side. As a result, the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example can realize homogeneous combustion as a whole by oxygen in the combustion chamber 6, and can suppress a decrease in emission performance.

As described with reference to fig. 24A and 24B, the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example includes the reverse flow generating portion based on the partial region of the combustion chamber top surface 6U (the intake side top surface portion 43) and the partial region of the top surface 50 of the piston 5 (the intake side flat surface portion 55) that follow each other and are close to each other. Therefore, a reverse extrusion flow can be generated in the combustion chamber 6 by the negative pressure between the above-described regions (the portion indicated by the arrow D in fig. 24B) generated after the piston 5 passes the TDC.

Accordingly, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, combustion can be performed using oxygen in the entire combustion chamber 6, and a decrease in emission performance can be suppressed.

In the reference example, since the intake side top surface portion 43 and the intake side flat surface portion 55 are each configured as a flat surface, the manufacturing is easier than the case where these regions are configured as curved surfaces, and the reverse flow generating portion can be provided while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost.

Further, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, the exhaust-side top surface portion 44 and the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 also face each other on the exhaust port side, and as shown in fig. 24A, when the piston 5 is near TDC, the exhaust-side top surface portion 44 and the exhaust-side flat surface portion 56 can be brought close to each other, and therefore, at the time of fuel injection, adhesion of fuel to the exhaust port side of the cylinder liner can be suppressed. Thus, in the present embodiment, the generation of the deposit can be suppressed.

In the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, the area of the exhaust side top surface portion 44 and the exhaust side flat surface portion 56 facing each other is smaller than the area of the intake side top surface portion 43 and the intake side flat surface portion 55 facing each other in a plan view seen from the + Z side, and therefore, it is difficult to prevent the generation of the reverse extrusion flow when the piston 5 descends to the-Z side.

As described with reference to fig. 25 and 26, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, the bottom surface of the cavity 5C is formed so that the depth gradually becomes shallower from the exhaust port side toward the ignition portion 170 side of the ignition plug 17. Therefore, when the piston 5 rises, the swirl FS in the chamber 5C is raised toward the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17. As a result, the mixture of the fresh air and the fuel is guided to the vicinity of the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17, and the ignition portion 170 and the residual gas in the vicinity thereof can be swept away.

Further, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, even when a reverse flow generated when the piston 5 descends is used, the air-fuel mixture can be smoothly guided toward the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17.

As described with reference to fig. 19 and the like, in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, since the peripheral edge portion of the convex portion 53 and the peripheral edge portions (the first peripheral edge portion 510 and the second peripheral edge portion 521) of the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52 are provided so as to be in boundary contact with each other, the fuel injected from the injector 18 is smoothly guided into the chambers 51 and 52 along the peripheral edge portion (the peak portion) of the mountain-shaped convex portion 53. As a result, the fuel can be efficiently supplied to the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52 in the combustion chamber 6, and the time from the injection of the fuel by the injector 18 to the atomization can be shortened.

In the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, as shown in fig. 19 and the like, the large chamber 52 has a substantially C-shape in plan view, and the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 is disposed above (on the + Z side) the position sandwiched by the open portion of the C-shape (the position where the small chamber 51 is disposed), so that the air-fuel mixture can be guided to the vicinity of the ignition portion 170 by the swirl FS in the combustion chamber 6 so as to be movable (see fig. 26 and the like). This ensures high ignitability in the combustion chamber 6.

The combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example is configured to be able to inject a small amount of fuel into the small chamber 51 at a time before ignition of the ignition plug 17. Therefore, in the combustion chamber 6, a fire can be formed based on the ignition of the fuel supplied to the small chamber 51. Further, in the large chamber 52 into which a relatively large amount of fuel is injected, atomization can be promoted. Therefore, even when the transfer rate of the air-fuel mixture to the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 is decreased in the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1, high ignitability can be reliably ensured.

In the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52 are disposed adjacent to each other, and therefore, the flame ignited in the small chamber 51 can be propagated also into the large chamber 52. This makes it possible to perform homogeneous combustion of the entire combustion chamber 6 without leaving unburned fuel in the combustion chamber 6.

In the combustion chamber 6 of the engine main body 1 according to the reference example, since the chamber 5C formed by combining the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52 is formed in an annular shape in a plan view, as described with reference to fig. 26, the air-fuel mixture flows from the exhaust port side having a relatively high temperature to the intake port side having a relatively low temperature and is guided to the vicinity of the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 as the piston 5 approaches the TDC. Further, as shown in fig. 16 and 24, since the ignition portion 170 of the spark plug 17 is provided so as to overlap a part of the cavity 5C in a plan view seen from the + Z side, excellent ignitability can be secured.

In the combustion chamber 6 of the engine body 1 according to the reference example, since the top surface (combustion chamber top surface 6U) of the combustion chamber 6 is formed in a roof ridge shape, tumble flow can be formed in the combustion chamber 6, and homogeneous combustion of the entire combustion chamber 6 can be achieved.

[ third embodiment ]

Next, the combustion chamber structure of the spark ignition engine according to the third embodiment will be described in detail. Since the basic configuration of the third embodiment is common to the reference example, the same reference numerals are attached to the components common to the reference example in the following description to omit or simplify the description thereof, and the differences from the combustion chamber configuration according to the reference example will be mainly described in detail.

Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of a cylinder head of an engine to which a combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the third embodiment is applied, and fig. 28 is a plan view of a top surface of the combustion chamber.

The combustion ceiling surface 6U has a ridge shape as in the reference example. The combustion ceiling surface 6U of the reference example is a shallow (small-gradient) ridge shape as shown in fig. 16, whereas the combustion ceiling surface 6U of the third embodiment is a deep (large-gradient) ridge shape. That is, the combustion chamber 6 of the third embodiment is configured such that the volume of the combustion chamber 6 is larger than that of the reference example, thereby reducing the compression ratio.

In the deep-ridge combustion ceiling surface 6U, when the injector 18 is provided between the two intake ports 41 to ensure the necessary opening area of each intake port 41, it is necessary to provide the two intake ports 41 closer to the center of the cylinder 2 in the X direction. Therefore, in the second reference example, as shown in fig. 28, the two intake ports 41 are provided in such a manner that their parts are located on the exhaust port side with respect to the center 2a of the cylinder 2.

Along with this, the injector 18 (nozzle head 18N) is also disposed offset to the exhaust port side with respect to the center 2a of the cylinder 2. The offset amount of the injector 18 is set at the following position: mainly at the time of the fuel injection of the mode II, that is, in the middle of the intake stroke, the fuel injected from the nozzle head 18N rides on the main flow of the intake air introduced from the intake port 41 into the combustion chamber 6 and is easily diffused. In this example, the injector 18 is offset to the exhaust port side by about 2mm with respect to the center 2a of the cylinder 2.

Fig. 41 is a sectional view for explaining the relationship between the flow of intake air and the injector 18 in the middle of the intake stroke. As shown in the drawing, a main flow Ms of intake air introduced into the combustion chamber 6 through the intake passage 9 forms a tumble flow while being introduced into the combustion chamber 6 along the upper side wall surface of the intake passage 9. In this state, if the center of the injector 18 is located at the center 2a of the cylinder 2, a part of the fuel is injected from the nozzle head 18N below the main flow Ms of the intake air, and it becomes difficult to get on the main flow Ms of the intake air. In contrast, according to the configuration in which the injector 18 is offset toward the exhaust port side with respect to the center 2a of the cylinder 2, the fuel is injected from the nozzle head 18N above or in the vicinity of the main flow Ms of the intake air, and therefore, the fuel easily spreads by riding on the main flow Ms of the intake air.

In this embodiment, the center of the injector 18 (nozzle head 18N) is offset to the exhaust port side by about 2mm with respect to the center 2a of the cylinder 2, but such an offset amount may be set so that the fuel injected from the injector 18 can be favorably diffused by the main flow Ms of the intake air. For example, the offset amount by which the center of the injector 18 (nozzle head 18N) is offset toward the exhaust port side with respect to the center 2a of the cylinder 2 is preferably in the range of 2 to 5% of the diameter (cylinder diameter) of the cylinder 2.

The top surface 50 of the piston 5 of the third embodiment is common to the structure of the reference example in that it includes the chamber 5C, the intake-side planar portion 55, the exhaust-side planar portion 56, and the pair of side upper surfaces 57. However, the following points have different specific configurations from the reference example.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship of the ignition plug 17 and the injector 18 with respect to the piston 5, and fig. 30 is a plan view showing the arrangement relationship. Fig. 31 is a plan view of the top surface 50 of the piston 5, fig. 32 to 34 are a front view (view when viewed from the intake port side), a back view (view when viewed from the exhaust port side), and a side view of the piston 5, respectively, and fig. 35 and 36 are cross-sectional views taken along the line XXXV-XXXV and the line XXXVI-XXXVI in fig. 31, respectively. Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the piston 5 as viewed from the exhaust side, and fig. 28 is a perspective view of the piston 5 as viewed from the intake side.

The chamber 5C of the third embodiment has a smoothly continuous shape without being divided into the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52 by the ridge line 54 (in other words, without passing through the ridge line 54). That is, as shown in fig. 31, the chamber 5C includes the convex portion 53 and one annular chamber (hereinafter, referred to as an annular chamber 58) smoothly continuing to the convex portion 53 so as to surround the same. Although the annular chamber 58 is not divided by the ridge line 54, the bottom surface of the annular chamber 58 (chamber 5C) gradually rises from the exhaust side toward the upper side (+ Z side) toward the position directly below the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17, as in the reference example. The pair of side upper surfaces 57 is formed in a mountain shape protruding upward (+ Z side) corresponding to the combustion ceiling surface 6U of the third embodiment.

As shown in fig. 31 to 34, in the ceiling surface 50, an intake-side inclined surface portion 61 is provided between the intake-side planar portion 55 and the annular chamber 58 and between the pair of side upper surfaces 57, and an exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62 is provided between the exhaust-side planar portion 56 and the annular chamber 58 and between the pair of side upper surfaces 57.

The intake side inclined surface portion 61 is a flat inclined surface inclined from the tip end portion of the intake side planar portion 55 toward the exhaust port side in a high-low manner, and the exhaust side inclined surface portion 62 is a flat inclined surface inclined from the tip end portion of the exhaust side planar portion 56 toward the intake side in a high-low manner. As shown in fig. 39, each of the inclined surface portions 61 and 62 is a surface that faces closely to and extends substantially parallel to the ridge portion of the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U when the piston 5 is at the top dead center position.

An annular chamber 58 is formed on the top surface 50 in a manner biased toward the exhaust port side. As shown in fig. 31, the convex portion 53 has a dimension 53Y in the Y direction larger than a dimension 53X in the X direction, that is, an oval shape (oblong shape) elongated in the Y direction when viewed in the cylinder axial direction. The center 53a of the convex portion 53 is offset toward the exhaust port side with respect to the center 5a of the top surface 50 (the center 2a of the cylinder 2) corresponding to the injector 18. Thus, the center of the convex portion 53 is located directly below the ejector 18 (nozzle head 18N).

The annular chamber 58 includes a peripheral edge, i.e., an inner peripheral edge 581 and an outer peripheral edge 582, that demarcate the annular chamber 58. The inner peripheral edge 581 forms a boundary with the convex portion 53, and the outer peripheral edge 582 forms a boundary with the intake-side inclined surface portion 61, the exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62, and the side upper surface 57.

The portion of the outer peripheral edge 582 on the exhaust side with respect to the center 5a (XXXV — XXXV line in fig. 31) of the ceiling surface 50 (exhaust side outer peripheral edge 582b), that is, the portion that forms the boundary line with the side upper surface 57, is in the shape of an arc along a substantially perfect circle centered on the center 5 a. On the other hand, a portion located on the intake port side with respect to the center 5a of the top surface 50 (intake side outer peripheral edge 582a), that is, a portion that becomes a boundary line intersecting the side upper surface 57, is in the shape of an arc along an ellipse centered on the center 5a or an arc along an elongated circle in the X direction. As a result of the annular chamber 58 and the projection 53 being formed in this manner, the annular chamber 58 is biased toward the exhaust port side on the top surface 50.

In the third embodiment, as shown in fig. 27 and 29, the ignition plug 17 is provided on the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U in an opposite direction to the reference example. Specifically, the spark plug 17 is disposed in the spark plug recess 45 formed in the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U such that the distal end of the ground electrode 172, i.e., the end on the reverse base side of the facing portion 173, faces radially inward of the combustion chamber 6 when viewed in the cylinder axial direction. In the third embodiment in which the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U is a deep-shaped ridge shape and the intake side inclined surface portion 61 is provided on the ceiling surface 50, the arrangement of the ignition plug 17 as described above can improve the scavenging effect around the ignition portion 170 in the compression stroke. That is, in the third embodiment in which the top surface 50 of the piston 5 is provided with the intake side inclined surface portion 61 corresponding to the ridge portion of the combustion chamber top surface 6U, as shown by the arrow in fig. 40, at the time of the compression stroke, as the intake air or the air-fuel mixture is compressed between the intake side top surface portion 43 of the combustion chamber top surface 6U and the intake side flat surface portion 55 of the piston 5, a squish flow that flows along the intake side inclined surface portion 61 toward the combustion chamber top surface 6U is generated. At this time, since the spark plug 17 is provided so that the distal end of the ground electrode 172 faces the radially inner side of the combustion chamber 6, the residual gas in the spark plug recess 45 is easily swept away by the extrusion flow. That is, the scavenging effect around the ignition portion 170 can be improved.

The chamber shape of the annular chamber 58 is set to the following shape: in the mode I, when the piston 5 is at or near the compression top dead center position, the fuel injected from the injector 18 can be smoothly rolled up along the combustion chamber top surface 6U. In detail, as shown in fig. 39, the annular chamber 58 includes: a run-up portion 59a located on the inner peripheral side of the annular chamber 58 and guiding the fuel 53 injected from the injector 18 outward along a convex portion when the piston 5 is at the compression top dead center position or its vicinity; the rolling portion 59b is located on the outer periphery of the running-up portion 59a, and rolls up the fuel guided along the running-up portion 59a toward the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U. The run-up portion 59a has an arc-shaped cross section smoothly continuous with the convex portion 53, and the turning-up portion 59b has an arc-shaped cross section having a smaller radius of curvature than the run-up portion 59 a. In portions corresponding to the intake-side inclined surface portion 61 and the exhaust-side inclined surface portion 62, the turning-up portion 59b is extended further upward by providing these inclined surface portions 61, 62 accordingly. Thereby, as shown by the broken-line arrows in fig. 39, the fuel injected from the nozzle head 18N is efficiently swirled along the roof portion of the combustion chamber top surface 6U, thereby promoting atomization of the fuel.

Further, a portion (a portion of a dotted circle in fig. 30) of the intake side outer peripheral edge 582a of the annular chamber 58 corresponding to the tip ends of the pair of side upper surfaces 57 is curvedly directed toward the ignition portion 170 of the ignition plug 17 when viewed in the cylinder axial direction. That is, when the intake side outer peripheral edge 582a is extended from the portion corresponding to the ends of the pair of side upper surfaces 57, the portion of the intake side outer peripheral edge 582a corresponding to the ends of the pair of side upper surfaces 57 is formed in a state where the intake side outer peripheral edge 582a passes through the ignition portion 170. As a result, the air-fuel mixture flowing from the exhaust port side to the intake port side along the annular chamber 58 is guided to the ignition portion 170, as indicated by arrows in fig. 30.

As shown in fig. 32 to 34, in the piston 5 of the third embodiment, a stepped portion 63 is formed on the outer periphery of the upper end portion of the piston head portion 5A of the piston 5. The stepped portion 63 is a portion for forming a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the piston head 5A and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 2 to allow unburned gas to escape during the expansion stroke, thereby suppressing the occurrence of knocking noise.

The above is the combustion chamber structure of the third embodiment. The combustion chamber structure of the third embodiment is a deep ridge type structure in which the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U is set to be deep by increasing the volume of the combustion chamber 6 to reduce the compression ratio, but the basic structure thereof is common to the reference example. Therefore, the combustion chamber structure of the third embodiment can also obtain substantially the same operational effects as the combustion chamber structure of the reference example. That is, since the nozzle head 18N is configured to be able to inject the fuel toward the exhaust port side at a relatively high temperature (the (-Y side), sufficient atomization of the fuel can be achieved in a short time even when the fuel is injected in the vicinity of the compression top dead center in order to suppress the occurrence of pre-ignition. Further, since the fuel travels along the bottom surface shape of the annular chamber 58 after being injected into the annular chamber 58, the fuel moving distance required for atomizing the fuel can be secured as compared with the case where no chamber is provided. Further, when the piston 5 descends to the-Z side in the expansion stroke, a reverse flow is generated to introduce the air-fuel mixture to the intake port side, so that combustion can be performed by oxygen in the entire combustion chamber 6, and a decline in emission performance can be suppressed.

Further, when the piston 5 is raised toward the + Z side in the compression stroke, the swirl component (swirl FS) in the annular chamber 58 is raised toward the ignition portion 17A of the ignition plug 17. This can sweep away residual gas in the vicinity of the ignition portion 17A of the ignition plug 17, and improve ignition stability.

7. Modification example

Although the reference example has been described above, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to this, and the following modifications may be adopted.

(1) In the above-described reference example, the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52 are provided in contact with each other via the ridge line 54, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, from the viewpoint of the flow of the mixture (vortex FS) and the propagation of the flame, the first chamber, i.e., the small chamber, and the second chamber, i.e., the large chamber, may be disposed substantially adjacent to each other, and may be structurally separated from each other.

In the above-described reference example, the chamber 5C is configured by a combination of the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52, but an integrated annular chamber may be configured, or an annular chamber may be configured by a combination of three or more chambers.

Further, the following structure may be adopted: the first chamber is not necessarily provided, and the second chamber is provided at least in a region on the exhaust port side.

(2) In the above-described reference example and the third embodiment, the intake side plane portion 55 and the intake side top surface portion 43 are provided so as to be respectively planar, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It may also be formed, for example, with curved surfaces facing each other.

(3) In the above reference example, an example having the following structure is shown: of the small chamber 51 and the large chamber 52 provided on the top surface 50 of the piston 5, the large chamber 52 has a projected area larger than that of the small chamber 51, and the large chamber 52 has a depth h2 larger than that of the small chamber 51, i.e., a depth h 1. The invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible to set the depths of the large chamber and the small chamber to be the same, and set the volume of the large chamber to be larger than the volume of the small chamber only by the difference in projected area.

(4) In the above-described reference example and the third embodiment, the two intake ports 41 are provided in the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U, but the present invention may be configured as follows: a swirl control valve is provided in the intake passage 9 communicating with one of the intake ports 41, so that a swirl FS can be actively generated in the combustion chamber 6.

In a situation where the swirl FS is actively used, the swirl control valve closes one of the intake ports 41, and thus a swirl, i.e., a swirl around the cylinder axis, can be easily generated. Therefore, in combustion such as the above-described SI combustion or SICI combustion (mode II), it is preferable to operate the swirl control valve.

(5) In the above-described reference example and the third embodiment, the intake port 41 and the exhaust port 42 are opened in the combustion chamber ceiling surface 6U, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the opening may be formed in the side circumferential surface of the cylinder 2 in the upper portion of the combustion chamber 6.

(6) In the above-described reference example and the third embodiment, the top surface of the combustion chamber 6 (combustion chamber top surface 6U) is formed in a flat ridge shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may also take, for example, a higher ratio of roof shapes, etc. This is more excellent in generating a stronger tumble flow.

(7) In the above-described reference example, the back-pressure flow generating portion is configured by the difference in the combustion chamber volume between the portion a and the portion B as shown in fig. 23 and the combination of the intake side plane portion 55 and the intake side top surface portion 43 as shown in fig. 24A and 24B, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the reverse flow generating portion may be configured only by the difference in the combustion chamber volume between the portion a and the portion B, or may be configured only by the combination of the intake side plane portion 55 and the intake side top surface portion 43.

The present invention is summarized as follows according to the first to third embodiments described above.

A combustion chamber structure of a spark ignition engine according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a top surface of the piston; a cylinder wall surface configured to allow the piston to slide; a combustion chamber top surface formed on the cylinder head; and an ignition plug attached to the top surface of the combustion chamber, having an ignition portion arranged to face the combustion chamber, and configured to ignite at a predetermined timing when the piston is at or near compression top dead center; wherein the top surface of the piston has: a chamber that is recessed in the cylinder axial direction in a region including a region below the ignition portion of the ignition plug in a plan view seen in the cylinder axial direction; a following surface portion that follows a part of an outer peripheral portion surrounding the chamber with a gap from a corresponding region in the combustion chamber top surface located axially above the cylinder when the piston is at a compression top dead center, as viewed in a plan view in the cylinder axial direction; and an inclined surface portion provided continuously with the accompanying surface portion in a region between the accompanying surface portion and a peripheral edge of the chamber in a plan view as viewed in the cylinder axial direction, and formed so as to be directed toward the ignition portion of the spark plug when the piston is at a compression top dead center; wherein the accompanying surface portion and the corresponding region constitute a pressing flow generating portion that generates a pressing flow when the piston ascends, by combining the accompanying surface portion and the corresponding region.

In the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the above aspect, since the inclined surface portion is formed so as to be directed toward the ignition portion of the spark plug when the piston is at compression top dead center, the extrusion flow generated by the extrusion flow generation portion in which the accompanying surface portion and the corresponding region are combined can be sent toward the ignition portion of the spark plug. In this way, in the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the above-described aspect, the residual gas in the ignition portion of the spark plug and the periphery thereof can be scavenged by the squish flow.

In the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the above aspect, since the chamber is provided in the top face of the piston, the moving distance between the fuel and the fresh air can be increased, and the fuel can be atomized reliably during the period before ignition.

Therefore, in the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the above-described aspect, by providing the cavity in the top surface of the piston, it is possible to reliably perform scavenging in the vicinity of the top surface of the combustion chamber (particularly, the ignition portion of the spark plug and the periphery thereof) while sufficiently ensuring the moving distance for atomizing the fuel, and it is possible to ensure high ignitability of the air-fuel mixture.

In the combustion chamber structure of an engine according to another aspect of the present invention, the chamber is provided as follows; the bottom of the chamber is located deeper than an inclined top portion of the inclined surface portion on the opposite side of the combustion chamber top surface side with respect to the inclined top portion on the combustion chamber top surface side in the cylinder axial direction.

In the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to this other aspect, the bottom of the chamber is located at a position deeper than the inclined top of the inclined surface portion, and therefore, the air-fuel mixture of the fuel and the fresh air can be left in the chamber. That is, in the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the above-described aspect, by disposing the bottom portion of the chamber in the above-described manner, it is possible to suppress occurrence of: the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber flows in a direction away from the ignition portion due to the influence of the flow of the air toward the ignition portion of the ignition plug along the inclined surface portion. In this way, in the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the above-described aspect, the ignitability of the air-fuel mixture can be further improved.

In the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to another aspect of the present invention, the chamber is formed in a bowl shape that is convex in a direction away from the combustion chamber top surface in the cylinder axial direction.

In the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to this other aspect, the chamber is in the shape of a bowl that is convex (convex) in a direction away from the combustion chamber top surface, in other words, a bowl-shaped chamber in which no convex obstacle is present on the bottom surface portion is used, and therefore, flame propagation after ignition can be smoothly performed on the entire combustion chamber.

In the combustion chamber structure of an engine according to another aspect of the present invention, the ignition portion of the spark plug is configured by a combination of the ground electrode and the center electrode, and the spark plug is disposed such that the discharge gap between the ground electrode and the center electrode is open to the inclined surface portion.

In the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to this other aspect, since the ignition plug is disposed so that the discharge gap thereof is open toward the inclined surface portion, the squish flow can reach the discharge gap without being blocked, and a higher scavenging effect of the residual gas can be obtained. In this way, in the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to the above-described aspect, the ignitability of the air-fuel mixture can be further improved.

In the combustion chamber structure of an engine according to another aspect of the present invention, the inclined surface portion follows a corresponding inclined region in the combustion chamber top surface located axially above the cylinder with a gap therebetween when the piston is at compression top dead center, and the inclined surface portion and the corresponding inclined region constitute a second squish flow generating portion that generates a squish flow when the piston rises, by combining the inclined surface portion and the corresponding inclined region.

In the combustion chamber structure of the engine according to this other aspect, the inclined surface portion of the piston and the corresponding inclined region of the combustion chamber ceiling surface are also arranged so as to follow each other with a gap therebetween, and the second extruded flow generating portion is configured by a combination of these, so that the residual gas in the vicinity of the combustion chamber ceiling surface can be more reliably scavenged.