US 12,264,636 B2
Low compression natural gas engine piston bowl for improved combustion stability
Aaron S. Ness, Battle Ground, IN (US); Andrew J. Loetz, West Layafette, IN (US); John R. Brubaker, Battle Ground, IN (US); and Christopher L. Batta, West Layafette, IN (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/511,375.
Application 18/511,375 is a division of application No. 17/677,370, filed on Feb. 22, 2022, granted, now 11,840,983.
Prior Publication US 2024/0093659 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. F02B 23/00 (2006.01); F02F 3/24 (2006.01)
CPC F02F 3/24 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A piston configured to reciprocate in the bore of an engine, the piston comprising:
an annular body including a crown portion defining a longitudinal axis, a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a plane containing the longitudinal axis and the radial direction, and a contoured combustion bowl;
wherein in the plane containing the longitudinal axis and the radial direction, the contoured combustion bowl is radially surrounded by an annular cooling gallery that defines a maximum annular radial width, the contoured combustion bowl has a swirl pocket including a cylindrical surface defining a minimum diameter of the swirl pocket radially proximate to the maximum annular radial width of the annular cooling gallery, and a ratio of the minimum diameter to the maximum annular radial width ranges from 6.3 to 7.7; and
wherein the swirl pocket further includes a conical diverging surface extending radially outwardly, and axially upwardly from the cylindrical surface of the swirl pocket, and the annular cooling gallery further includes a conical surface that is radially proximate to the conical diverging surface, and that is parallel to the conical diverging surface.