阅读说明：本技术 用于向预燃烧室供应燃气的密封件和方法 (Seal and method for supplying combustion gases to a pre-combustion chamber ) 是由 H·赖茨 R·特兰凯尔 于 2020-02-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：燃气(G)通过管(30)供给到内燃发动机(1)的预燃烧室(21)。预燃烧室(21)形成在腔体(20)内,腔体容纳在发动机主体(2)的空腔(10)中,而管(30)容纳在发动机主体(2)与空腔(10)连通的通道(16)中。可以由弹性体制成的密封件(40),包括限定内部空间(42)的壁(41),该内部空间在第一、第二和第三开口(50,60,70)处穿过壁(41)开口。壁(41)的第一部分(43)限定第一和第二开口(50,60),被布置在空腔(10)内,以使腔体(20)可通过开口(50,60)插入密封件的内部空间(42),而壁(41)的第二部分(44)包括第三开口(70)被容纳在通道(16)中,使得管(30)能够经由第三开口(70)插入密封件的内部空间(42)中。管(30)通过腔体(20)中的入口(23)与预燃烧室(21)流体连通,通过密封件的密封区域(51,61,71)密封。(The combustion gas (G) is supplied to a pre-combustion chamber (21) of the internal combustion engine (1) through a pipe (30). The pre-combustion chamber (21) is formed in a cavity (20) housed in a cavity (10) of the engine body (2), while the tube (30) is housed in a passage (16) of the engine body (2) communicating with the cavity (10). A seal (40), which may be made of an elastomer, includes a wall (41) defining an interior space (42) that opens through the wall (41) at first, second, and third openings (50, 60, 70). The first portion (43) of the wall (41) defines first and second openings (50, 60) arranged within the cavity (10) such that the cavity (20) is insertable into the interior space (42) of the seal through the openings (50, 60), while the second portion (44) of the wall (41) comprises a third opening (70) to be received in the channel (16) such that the tube (30) is insertable into the interior space (42) of the seal via the third opening (70). The tube (30) is in fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber (21) through an inlet (23) in the cavity (20), sealed by a sealing area (51, 61, 71) of the seal.)

1. A seal (40) for use in a device for supplying combustion gas (G) to an internal combustion engine (1),

the internal combustion engine (1) includes an engine main body (2),

the engine body (2) defines:

a combustion chamber (3) for receiving a combustion gas,

a cavity (10) communicating with said combustion chamber (3), and

a channel (16) communicating with said cavity (10);

the device comprises:

a cavity (20) defining a pre-combustion chamber (21), and

a tube (30);

-said duct (30) is arranged to supply gas (G) to said pre-combustion chamber (21) in the position of use of the device, wherein said cavity (20) is mounted in said cavity (10) of the engine body (2), said pre-combustion chamber (21) being in fluid communication with the combustion chamber (3) of the engine (1), and the duct (3) is mounted in the passage (16) of the engine body (2), being in fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber (21) of the combustion chamber body (20);

wherein the seal (40) comprises a wall (41), said wall (41) surrounding an inner space (42) and comprising a first and a second portion (43, 44);

an interior space opening (42) through the wall (41) at the first, second and third openings (50, 60, 70);

a first portion (43) extending between the first and second openings (50, 60), a second portion (44) extending between the third opening (70) and the first portion (43);

the first portion (43) comprises:

a first sealing area (51) disposed between the first opening (50) and the second portion (44), and

a second sealing region (61) disposed between the second opening (60) and the second portion (44);

each of the first and second sealing regions is capable of sealingly engaging the cavity, the interior space received by the cavity extending through the first and second sealing regions in a use position of the device. Each of the first and second sealing regions (51, 61) is capable of sealingly engaging the cavity (20) when the cavity (20) is received in the interior space (42) to extend through the first and second sealing regions (51, 61) in the use position of the device;

the second portion (44) comprises a third sealing area (71) arranged between the third opening (70) and the first portion (43),

the third sealing area (71) is sealingly engageable with the tube (30) when the tube (30) is received in the interior space (42) to extend through the third sealing area (71) in fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber (21) of the cavity (20) in the use position of the device.

2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the wall (41) defines oppositely directed inner and outer surfaces (45, 46), the inner surface (45) bounding the interior space (42);

and each first, second and third sealing region (51, 61, 71) in the inner surface (45) of the wall defines one of a respective first, second and third inner annular rib (52, 62, 72), each inner annular rib (52, 62, 72) surrounding one of the respective first, second and third sealing regions (51, 61, 71) of the interior space (42).

3. The seal of claim 2, wherein the outer surface (46) of the wall (41) defines one of respective first, second and third outer annular ribs (53, 63, 73) at each of the first, second and third sealing regions (51, 61, 71), each outer annular rib (53, 63, 73) surrounding one of the respective first, second and third sealing regions (51, 61, 71) of the interior space (42).

4. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first portion (43) extends along a first axis (X5) through the first and second openings (50, 60), and the second portion (44) extends along a second axis (X6), the second axis (X6) being non-collinear with the first axis (X5) and passing through the third opening (70).

5. The seal of claim 1, wherein the wall (41) comprises an integral body of elastomeric material defining both the first and second portions (43, 44).

6. An internal combustion engine (1) comprising an engine body (2) and a device comprising a seal (40) according to claim 1, a cavity (20) and a tube (30),

the engine body (2) defines:

a combustion chamber (3) for receiving a combustion gas,

a cavity (10) communicating with said combustion chamber (3), and

a channel (16) communicating with said cavity (10);

the device is mounted in the engine body (3) in the position of use.

7. The internal combustion engine (1) of claim 6, wherein the wall (41) in each of the first and second sealing regions (51, 61) is arranged compressively between the engine body (2) and the cavity (20), and

the wall (41) in the third sealing region (71) is arranged in a compressed manner between the engine body (2) and the pipe (30).

8. A method of supplying gas (G) to an internal combustion engine (1),

an internal combustion engine (1) includes an engine main body (2),

the engine body (2) defines:

a combustion chamber (3) for receiving a combustion gas,

a cavity (10) communicating with the combustion chamber (3), and

a channel (16) communicating with said cavity (10);

the method comprises the following steps:

providing an apparatus comprising:

a cavity (20) defining a pre-combustion chamber (21),

a tube (30), and

a seal (40);

the seal (40) comprises a wall (41), the wall (41) surrounding an inner space (42) and comprising a first and a second portion (43, 44);

the inner space (42) opens through the wall (41) at the first, second and third openings (50, 60, 70);

the first portion (43) extending between the first and second openings (50, 60), the second portion (44) extending between the third opening (70) and the first portion (43);

the first portion (43) comprises:

a first sealing area (51) disposed between the first opening (50) and the second portion (44), and

a second sealing region (61) disposed between the second opening (60) and the second portion (44);

the second portion (44) comprising a third sealing area (71) arranged between the third opening (70) and the first portion (43);

and mounting the device in an engine body (2), wherein:

a first portion (43) of said wall (41) being arranged in the cavity (10);

a second portion (44) of the wall (41) is arranged in the channel (16);

said cavity (20) being housed in the inner space (42) of the seal (40) so as to extend through the first and second sealing areas (51, 61) inside the cavity (10) of the engine body (2), the pre-combustion chamber (21) being in fluid communication with the combustion chamber (3);

said tube (30) being housed in the inner space (42) of the seal (40) to extend through a third sealing area (71) within the passage (16) of the engine body (2), in fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber (21) of the cavity (20) to supply the pre-combustion chamber (21) with combustion gas (G);

each of said first and second sealing regions (51, 61) being in sealing engagement with the cavity (20); and is

The third sealing region (71) is in sealing engagement with the tube (30).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the seal (40) is installed in the engine body (2) prior to introducing the cavity (20) and the tube (30) into the interior space (42) of the seal (40).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the wall (41) in each of the first and second sealing regions (51, 61) is compressively disposed between the engine body (2) and the cavity (20), and

the wall (41) in the third sealing region (71) is arranged in a compressed manner between the engine body (2) and the pipe (30).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to internal combustion engines having a pre-combustion chamber supplied with combustion gases, and in particular to a method of sealingly mounting a tube carrying combustion gases in the pre-combustion chamber in an engine body cavity.

Background

Gas engines are typically equipped with a pre-combustion chamber in fluid communication with a combustion chamber. The combustion gases are supplied directly to the pre-combustion chamber where they are ignited to ignite the main intake air in the combustion chamber.

The combustion gases may extend via a tube extending through a passage in the engine body (typically the cylinder head) to a cavity in the cylinder head in which a pre-combustion chamber is housed and defined.

The tubes in fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber must be sealed to prevent leakage of the gas.

In one conventional arrangement, the gas feed tube is sealed to the cavity in the cylinder head by a metal sealing tube disposed between its outlet end and the inlet to the cavity, with metal-to-metal interference contact on the circumference of each end of the tube.

This requires precise dimensional and surface quality control and is also a technically demanding and expensive solution.

Care is also taken to align the inlet aperture of the cavity with the tube precisely and to avoid unsealing of the cavity in the cylinder head cavity by the sealing force exerted on the tubular seal by axial compression of the tube.

Satisfactory remanufacture of the seal after maintenance may also be difficult.

In another conventional arrangement, the gas supply pipe and the cavity are each sealed to the cylinder head by a separate set of O-ring seals, so that the gas supply pipe in the inner end region of the cylinder head channel is mounted as a conduit for conveying gas from the outlet end of the gas supply pipe to the inlet aperture of the pre-combustion chamber.

The O-ring is relatively soft and care must be taken during installation to avoid damage from wear of the cylinder head material when the O-ring is inserted into a corresponding channel or cavity of the cylinder head along with the cavity or gas supply tube.

Moreover, since the cylinder head may be made of a relatively more porous material than the intake pipe and the cavity, its porosity must be carefully controlled to avoid leakage of the combustion gases through the cylinder head into the surrounding environment or the coolant passages.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect of the invention, the invention provides a seal for use in a device for supplying combustion gases to an internal combustion engine.

The internal combustion engine includes an engine body defining a combustion chamber, a cavity in communication with the combustion chamber, and a passage in communication with the cavity.

The apparatus includes a cavity and a tube defining a pre-combustion chamber.

The tube is arranged to supply combustion gas to the pre-combustion chamber in a position of use of the device, wherein the cavity is mounted in a cavity of the engine body, the pre-combustion chamber being in fluid communication with a combustion chamber of the engine, the tube being mounted in a passage of the engine body, in fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber of the cavity.

The seal includes a wall that surrounds an interior space and includes a first portion and a second portion. The interior space passes through the wall opening at the first, second and third openings.

The first portion extends between the first and second openings and the second portion extends between the third opening and the first portion.

The first portion includes a first sealing region disposed between the first opening and the second portion, and a second sealing region disposed between the second opening and the second portion.

Each of the first and second sealing regions is capable of sealingly engaging the cavity, the interior space received by the cavity extending through the first and second sealing regions in a use position of the device.

The second portion includes a third sealing area disposed between the third opening and the first portion, the third sealing area being sealingly engageable with the tube extending through the third sealing area into fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber in the cavity in the device use position when the tube is connected to the interior space.

In an embodiment, the walls may define opposing directions, an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface bounding an interior space, the wall inner surface at each of the first, second and third sealing regions defining a respective one of first, second and third inner annular ribs, each of the inner annular ribs surrounding the interior space corresponding to one of the first, second and third sealing regions. In such embodiments, the outer wall surface in each of the first, second and third sealing regions may define a respective one of first, second and third outer annular ribs, each of which surrounds a respective one of the first, second and third sealing regions of the interior space.

In an embodiment, the first portion may extend along a first axis through the first and second openings, and the second portion extends along a second axis collinear with the first axis and through the third opening.

In an embodiment, the wall may comprise an integral body of elastomeric material defining both the first portion and the second portion.

In a related aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for supplying combustion gases to an internal combustion engine, as described above, comprising a cavity defining a pre-combustion chamber, a tube and a seal.

In another related aspect, the invention provides an internal combustion engine comprising an engine body, and an apparatus comprising a cavity, a tube and a seal defining a pre-combustion chamber, the apparatus being mounted in a position of use of the engine body, as described above.

In an embodiment, each wall in the first and second sealing regions may be compressively disposed between the engine body and the cavity, and the wall in the third sealing region may be compressively disposed between the engine body and the tube.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for supplying gas to an internal combustion engine including an engine body defining a combustion chamber, a cavity in communication with the combustion chamber, and a passage in communication with the cavity.

The method includes providing an apparatus including a cavity defining a pre-combustion chamber, a tube, and a seal.

The seal includes a wall surrounding an interior space and including a first portion and a second portion. The interior space passes through the wall opening at the first, second and third openings.

The first portion extends between the first and second openings and the second portion extends between the third opening and the first portion.

The first portion includes a first sealing region disposed between the first opening and the second portion, and a second sealing region disposed between the second opening and the second portion.

The second portion includes a third sealing region disposed between the third opening and the first portion.

The method further comprises mounting the device in an engine block, wherein: a first portion of the wall is disposed in the cavity; a second portion of the wall is disposed within the channel; the cavity is received in the interior space of the seal to extend through the first and second sealing regions within the engine cavity, wherein the pre-combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber; said tube being housed in the inner space of the seal to extend through a third sealing area within the passage of the engine body, in fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber of the cavity to supply combustion gases to the pre-combustion chamber; each of the first and second sealing regions being in sealing engagement with the cavity; and the third sealing region is in sealing engagement with the tube.

In an embodiment, the seal may be installed in the engine body prior to introducing the cavity and the tube into the interior space of the seal.

In an embodiment, each wall in the first and second sealing regions may be compressively disposed between the engine body and the cavity, and the wall in the third sealing region may be compressively disposed between the engine body and the tube.

The optional features of the embodiments described above may be combined together as appropriate in any desired combination.

Drawings

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following illustrative embodiments including a seal, which is now described by way of example only and not limiting of the scope of the claims, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a seal;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the seal;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the seal;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the seal at IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a cavity defining a pre-combustion chamber;

FIG. 6 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the cavity;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a tube;

FIG. 8 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the tube;

FIG. 9 is a central longitudinal sectional view through cavities and passages in the engine body;

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 9, showing the seal installed in the cavity and channel of the engine body, the seal also shown in the central longitudinal section as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 10;

fig. 12 is a view corresponding to fig. 10, showing the cavity and the tube mounted in the seal in the position of use of the device, the cavity and the tube also being shown in a central longitudinal section as shown in fig. 6 and 8; and is

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a portion of fig. 12.

Reference numerals and characters appearing in multiple figures denote the same or corresponding features in each reference numeral.

Detailed Description

Referring to the figures, the device includes a chamber 20, a tube 30 and a seal 40, as will be explained further below.

Referring to fig. 9, the internal combustion engine 1 includes an engine body 2 defining a combustion chamber 3, a cavity 10 communicating with the combustion chamber 3, and a passage 16 communicating with the cavity 10.

The engine 1 may be a gas engine, that is to say an engine powered by gas that exists in the gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure and is supplied to the engine in gaseous form. The engine body 2 may be a cylinder head of the engine, which may be made of a unitary block of solid material such as cast iron, wherein the lower surface 4 of the cylinder head forms the upper wall of the combustion chamber and the remaining walls of the combustion chamber are formed by another part of the engine body (not shown), optionally with a cylinder liner, as is known in the art. The combustion chamber may be one of several combustion chambers, each of which may contain a piston that drives a crankshaft and may be supplied with a mixture of gas and air via separate or combined intake valves (not shown). The remaining details of the engine are conventional in the art.

The upper end region 11 of the cavity 10 may be open at an outer surface (not shown) of the engine body 2, for example at an upper surface of a cylinder head, so that the cavity 20 may be inserted into the cavity through the upper end region 11 thereof. The cavity 10 may be substantially cylindrical about its central longitudinal axis X1, which lies in the plane of the section of fig. 9 and which narrows towards the opposite or lower end region 12 leading to the combustion chamber 3.

The channel 16 opens into the cavity 10 at an opening 13 and may be substantially cylindrical about its central long axis X2, which lies in the plane of the cross-section of fig. 9. The inner surface of the channel may include a smooth, annular and, optionally, a cylindrical region about its central long axis X2 near the opening 13 that engages the third sealing region of the seal member 40 in compression in the use position, as explained further below.

The inner surface of the cavity 10 may comprise a smooth, annular and optionally cylindrical region around the central longitudinal axis X1 of the cavity, respectively, in engagement with the first and second sealing regions of the seal 40 in a compressed state in the position of use, as explained further below. The openings 13 are arranged axially between these smooth annular areas, as seen in the direction of the central longitudinal axis X1 of the cavity 10.

At least in the region comprising the opening 13, both the cavity 10 and the passage 16 may be formed in a monolithic blank of material forming the cylinder head or the engine body, for example by casting and/or machining a monolithic block of iron or other material.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the cavity 20 may be made of a suitable metal and defines a pre-combustion chamber 21 within the cavity. The metal or other material of the cavity 20 is less permeable to combustion gases than the material of the engine block 2.

In this specification, a pre-combustion chamber refers to a chamber supplied with combustion gases that are ignited to assist in igniting a charge or mixture in the combustion chamber.

An igniter assembly 22 may be disposed in the cavity to extend into the pre-combustion chamber 21. The igniter assembly 22 may include a spark igniter for inducing a spark in the pre-combustion chamber in response to an electrical ignition current. Alternatively or additionally, the igniter assembly 22 may include a fuel injector for injecting liquid fuel into the pre-combustion chamber. Which ignites the pre-combustion chamber by compression of the charge in the combustion chamber 3 or by a spark from a spark igniter. The igniter assembly 22 may be controlled by electrical and/or fluid connections (not shown) to an engine ignition system and/or fuel supply system (not shown) via the upper end region 26 of the cavity.

The pre-combustion chamber is arranged to receive combustion gas G via a combustion gas supply inlet 23 in the cavity and is also in fluid communication with the outside of the cavity through one or more outlet holes 24 provided at a top end 25 of the cavity.

A valve assembly (not shown), optionally an actuating assembly controlled by an engine control system (not shown), may also be provided in the cavity 20 to control the flow of gas through the gas supply inlet 23 and maintain the pressure in the combustion chamber 3.

The cavity 20 may be generally cylindrical about its central long axis X3, which lies in the cross-sectional plane of fig. 6, with the gas supply inlet 23 disposed at least part of its axial length. The gas supply inlet 23 may open through the outer surface of the cavity 20 between two substantially smooth, annular and optionally cylindrical regions of the outer surface of the cavity which, in the position of use, are in pressing engagement with the first and second sealing regions, respectively, of the seal 40, as described below.

Referring to fig. 7 and 8, a tube 30 is provided to supply combustion gas to the pre-combustion chamber 21. As shown, the tube 30 may be generally cylindrical, lying in the cross-sectional plane of fig. 8 about its central long axis X4, and may be made of a suitable metal, for example. The metal or other material of the tube may be less permeable to the combustion gases than the material of the engine body 2. The tube may comprise a generally smooth, annular, and optionally cylindrical region about its central major axis X4, and forms a portion of the outer surface 32 adjacent the outlet end 33, with the internal bore or cavity 34 open and placed in compressive engagement with the third sealing region of the seal 40 in the position of use, as explained further below.

As shown in fig. 1-4, the seal 40 includes a wall 41 that surrounds an interior space 42 of the seal. The wall 40 includes a first portion 43 and a second portion 44.

The interior space 42 opens through the wall 41 at the first opening 50, the second opening 60 and the third opening 70.

The first portion 43 of the wall extends between the first and second openings 50, 60, and the second portion 44 extends between the third opening 70 and the first portion 43 of the wall.

The first portion 43 of the wall includes a first sealing region 51 disposed between the first opening 50 and the second portion 44 of the wall, and a second sealing region 61 disposed between the second opening 60 and the second portion 44 of the wall.

The second portion 44 comprises a third sealing area 71 which is arranged between the third opening 70 and the first portion 43 of the wall.

It can be seen that the wall 41 defines oppositely directed inner and outer surfaces 45, 46. The inner surface 45 defines the interior space 42. The first and second portions 43, 44 may be integrally formed with each other and may form a continuous barrier such that the inner surface 45 is not ruptured between the three sealing regions 51, 61, 71 except for the fluid passage forming the interior space 42 and opening through the wall at the three openings 50, 60, 70.

The wall 41 may comprise or consist of the entirety of the elastomeric material defining the first portion 43 and the second portion 44. The elastomeric material may be selected to resist gas flow resistance and other conditions of use.

The wall 41 may include an integral body of elastomeric material defining both the first portion 43 and the second portion 44, as well as a reinforcement or frame. Such as a frame made of metal or plastic material, which may be relatively harder or more resilient than the elastomeric material, while still allowing elastic deformation of the wall during installation of the seal. The reinforcement or frame may support the elastomeric material and help to maintain the sealing area in the correct position, in the use position, after the seal is positioned in the cavity and the passage, with the cavity and the tube passing through the opening, consolidating the sealing area by compressing the cavity or the tube against the engine block.

The seal 40 may be made by molding and may consist essentially of the wall 41.

The first portion 43 of the wall may extend along a first axis X5 through (optionally centrally) the first and second openings 50, 60, and the second portion 44 extends along a second axis X6, the second axis X6 being non-collinear (that is, non-collinear) with the first axis X5 and through (optionally centrally) the third opening 70, for example, as shown.

As shown, the second axis X6 may be perpendicular to the first axis X5, or the second axis X6 may be considered to intersect the first axis X5 at an acute angle, or be projected onto a plane (e.g., the plane of fig. 4) containing the first axis X5.

The first portion 43 of the wall may form a first cylinder and the second portion 44 may form a second cylinder, optionally with a smaller second cylinder extending radially outward from the first cylinder, e.g., as shown.

The inner surface 45 of each wall 41 in the first, second and third sealing zones 51, 61, 71 may define a respective one of the first, second and third inner annular ribs 52, 62, 72, each of which surrounds a respective one of the first, second and third sealing zones of the inner space 42.

Alternatively or additionally, the outer surface 46 of each wall 41 in the first, second and third sealing regions 51, 61, 71 may define a respective one of first, second and third outer annular ribs 53, 63, 73, each surrounding a respective one of the first, second and third sealing regions of the interior space 42.

Alternatively, only one or both of the inner and/or outer annular ribs may be provided. For example, the inner and/or outer annular ribs may be arranged in the first and second sealing regions, or in the third sealing region.

In one or more sealing zones, an inner annular rib and an outer annular rib are provided, which may be arranged opposite each other (that is to say, pointing oppositely and at the same axial position with respect to the long axis of the respective portion of the seal wall), as shown in the figures. Each rib may be formed to have a rounded, optionally semi-circular, profile, as shown, or a square or other angled profile as is known in the art, for ease of installation and to provide an effective seal. More than one inner and/or outer rib may be arranged in the or each sealing region.

Referring now to fig. 10-13, in the position of use of the device, the cavity 20 is mounted in the cavity 10 of the engine body 2, with the pre-combustion chamber 21 in fluid communication with the combustion chamber 3 of the engine, and the tube 30 is mounted in the passage 16 of the engine body 2 in fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber 21 of the cavity 20, and the meeting position of the two components is arranged to enclose a seal 40 to prevent leakage of combustion gases from the fluid connection between the tube 30 and the pre-combustion chamber 21, as will be explained below.

The seal 40 is mounted in the engine body 2 such that the first portion 43 of the wall 41 is disposed in the cavity 10 and the second portion 44 of the wall 41 is disposed in the passage 16, as shown in fig. 10 and 11.

As described below, the seal 40 may be installed in the engine body 2 before the cavity 20 and the tube 30 are introduced into the inner space of the seal. This helps to minimise sliding contact between the seal and the adjacent surface to ensure that the seal is not damaged during installation.

The seal 40 including the wall 41 may be resiliently deformable such that it may be folded or rolled or pressed into a suitable shape for insertion into the cavity 10, whereupon the first and second portions 43, 44 of the wall resiliently return to their original state shape (e.g. during moulding of the defining wall 41) within the cavity 10 and the interior space of the channel 16.

In the case of sealing zones 51, 61, 71 provided with outer annular ribs 53, 63, 73, as shown in fig. 11, the outer annular ribs 53, 63, 73 can be pressed against the corresponding smooth annular zones of the cavity 10 and the channel 16, respectively.

For example, the cavity 20 is slidingly inserted into the cavity 10 along its central long axis X1 via its open upper end region 11 and slidingly passes through the first opening 50, so that the cavity 20 is housed in the inner space 42 of the seal 40, in its position of use, as shown in fig. 12 and 13, extending through the first and second sealing regions 51, 61.

In this position shown, the tip 25 of the cavity 20 extends into the combustion chamber 3, so that the pre-combustion chamber 21 is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber 3 via the outlet aperture 24. The cavity 20 may be sealed in contact with the engine body 2 near its tip 25 at the narrowed neck in the lower end region 12 of the cavity 10, optionally with another seal (not shown) arranged in this region to maintain pressure in the combustion chamber 3.

The tube 30 is slidingly inserted into the channel 16 along its central long axis X2 and is received in the interior space 42 of the seal 40 to extend through the third sealing area 71 within the channel 16. In its position of use, the inner bore or lumen 34 of the tube is in fluid communication with the gas supply inlet 23 of the cavity 20 with the pre-combustion chamber 21.

The supply end (not shown) of the tube 30 is connected to the gas supply of the engine to supply gas G to the pre-combustion chamber 21.

Reference to the cavity 20 or tube 30 being "received" in the interior space 42 of the seal is understood to mean that at least a portion of the cavity or tube is received in the interior space 42 of the seal, so that the or each sealing region surrounds (i.e. extends completely around) the respective portion to provide a complete seal. As shown in the example shown, in the use position of the device, the cavity 20 may extend through the interior space 42 of the seal and through the first and second openings 50, 60 thereof, while the tube 30 extends through the third opening 70 into the interior space 42 of the seal terminating at the outlet end 33 thereof within the interior space 42 of the seal.

As shown, by assembling the seal 40 with the cavity 20 and the tube 30 in the space defined by the cavity 10 and the channel 16, each of the first and second sealing regions 51, 61 sealingly engages the outer surface of the cavity 20, and the third sealing region 71 sealingly engages the outer surface of the tube 30.

It can thus be seen that in the position of use of the device shown in figures 12 and 13, each of the first and second sealing regions 51, 61 can sealingly engage with the cavity 20 when the cavity 20 is received in the interior space 42 of the seal to extend through the first and second sealing regions 51, 61, and the third sealing region 71 can sealingly engage with the tube 30 when the tube 30 is received in the interior space 42 of the seal to extend through the third sealing region 71 to be in fluid communication with the pre-combustion chamber 21.

The wall 41 in each of the first seal region 51 and the second seal region 61 is arranged compressively between the engine body 2 and the chamber 20. Further, the wall 41 of the third seal region 71 is arranged pressed between the engine body 2 and the pipe 30.

In case the sealing areas 51, 61, 71 are provided with inner annular ribs 52, 62, 72, the inner annular ribs 52, 62, 72 may be pressed against respective smooth annular areas of the cavity 20 and of the tube 30 as previously described and best seen in fig. 13, respectively.

In the case of the relative arrangement of the inner annular ribs with respect to the respective outer annular ribs, as shown in the figures, in the position of use, the respective smooth annular regions of the cavity 20 and of the tube 30 are arranged relatively (i.e. in the same position along the respective axis of the cavity or of the tube) in the respective smooth annular regions of the cavity 10 and of the channel 16.

The outer surface profile of the cavity 20 and tube 30 includes the smooth, annular region which may be contoured to be slidingly engaged and compressed or the like, and thus progressively consolidate the sealing region of the seal (including where the annular ribs are provided) as they progress to the sealing region, and thus installed in the use position.

As can be seen in fig. 13, the sealing regions 51, 61 axially surround the cavity 20 on either side of the gas supply inlet 23 of the cavity 20, so as to be fluidly isolated within the interior space 42 of the seal 40, only in fluid communication with the tube bore or lumen 34, by urging the annular portions of the sealing regions 51, 61 of the outer surface of the cavity 20 to be part of the gas supply inlet 23. This provides a gas seal and ensures that the combustion gases do not come into contact with the engine body 2 in the region of the fluid connection between the tube 30 and the cavity 20.

Industrial applicability

The seal 40 may be installed by elastically deforming it before it is introduced into the cavity and passage of the engine body 2, and may be removed in the same manner. Since all the three above-mentioned sealing areas are joined together by the wall 41 of the seal, supported in the correct mounting position by the wall 41, while the cavity and the duct are introduced through the openings 50, 60, 70 of the seal inside the engine body 2, it provides simplified assembly and maintenance procedures when the gases are supplied to the pre-combustion chamber of the engine.

The seal 40 forms an impermeable cover around the interface between the gas supply tube 30 and the cavity 20 and seals to the respective outer surface portions of the two components to close the interface. This prevents the gas from escaping from the interface through the cylinder head, regardless of its relative porosity.

The seal 40 receiving cavity 20 accommodates minor variations in position relative to the gas supply tube 30 and thus provides for easier and more satisfactory installation and sealing of the two components, which is not compromised by minor relative movement therebetween.

In summary, the combustion gas G is supplied to the pre-combustion chamber 21 of the internal combustion engine 1 via the pipe 30. The pre-combustion chamber 21 is formed inside a cavity 20 housed in the cavity 10 of the engine body 2, while a tube 30 is housed in the passage 16 of the engine body 2 in communication with the cavity 10. The seal 40 may be made of an elastomer and includes a wall 41 defining an interior space 42, and first, second and third openings 50, 60, 70 opening through the wall 41. The first portion 43 of the wall 41 defining the first and second openings 50, 60 is arranged in the cavity 10 such that the cavity 20 can be inserted into the inner space 42 of the seal through the openings 50, 60. While the second portion 44 of the wall 41 including the third opening 70 is received in the channel 16 so that the tube 30 can be inserted into the interior space 42 of the seal through the third opening 70. The tube 30 is sealed in fluid communication with the prechamber 21 via the inlet 23 in the cavity 20 by respective sealing areas 51, 61, 71 arranged near the seal openings 50, 60, 70.

Many further modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

In the claims, reference signs and symbols are provided merely in parentheses, purely for convenience of reference, and shall not be construed as limiting the features.