US 12,241,390 B2
Actuation system for an internal combustion engine
Harold J. Schock, Brighton, MI (US); Thomas R. Stuecken, Eagle, MI (US); Jennifer Higel, Hayesville, NC (US); and Gary Hunter, Dexter, MI (US)
Assigned to Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (US); and Mid Michigan Research, LLC, Brighton, MI (US)
Filed by Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (US); and Mid Michigan Research, LLC, Brighton, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/420,997.
Application 18/420,997 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/038767, filed on Jul. 29, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/227,503, filed on Jul. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0209759 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. F01L 13/00 (2006.01); F01L 1/02 (2006.01); F01L 1/047 (2006.01); F01L 1/344 (2006.01); F01L 1/352 (2006.01); F01L 1/053 (2006.01)
CPC F01L 13/0036 (2013.01) [F01L 1/022 (2013.01); F01L 1/047 (2013.01); F01L 1/34413 (2013.01); F01L 1/3442 (2013.01); F01L 1/352 (2013.01); F01L 2001/0473 (2013.01); F01L 2001/0537 (2013.01)] 35 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a first camshaft;
a second camshaft comprising a hollow end concentrically surrounding a section of the first camshaft;
a phaser coupled to a phased one of the camshafts;
a primary piston combustion chamber;
an internal combustion prechamber comprising a prechamber cavity therein with at least one opening configured to allow prechamber combustion to move from the prechamber cavity to the primary piston combustion chamber;
a prechamber valve assembly comprising at least one of: a prechamber air valve, a prechamber fuel valve or a prechamber mixed air/fuel valve, the prechamber valve assembly having an outlet thereof located in the internal combustion prechamber;
a main valve assembly comprising at least one of: a main valve assembly air valve, a main valve assembly fuel valve or a main valve assembly mixed air/fuel valve, the main valve assembly having an outlet thereof located in the primary piston combustion chamber;
the phaser being configured to move the phased one of the camshafts differently than another of the camshafts;
the phased one of the camshafts actuated by the phaser operably actuating the prechamber valve assembly;
the another of the camshafts operably actuating the main valve assembly;
a third camshaft laterally offset from the first camshaft and the second camshaft;
an air exhaust valve associated with the primary piston combustion chamber being opened or closed by rotation of the third camshaft, one of the first camshaft and the second camshaft opening or closing the main valve assembly air valve which is an air inlet valve associated with the primary piston combustion chamber; and
the prechamber valve assembly being laterally located between the first camshaft and the third camshaft.