An internal combustion engine including a fuel reformation cylinder for reforming a fuel and an output cylinder for yielding an engine power by combusting a fuel or a reformed fuel, wherein at least a part of the surfaces constituting a volume-variable reaction chamber of the fuel reformation cylinder has a highly heat-insulative material.

The present invention relates to an internal-combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber provided with a single intake valve (2), a single exhaust valve (3), two plugs (4a, 4b) and a fuel injector (5). Furthermore, the combustion chamber comprises means for forming an aerodynamic swirling motion structure of the intake gas in the combustion chamber. Besides, fuel injector (5) is oriented so as to inject the fuel into the central area of the combustion chamber in the direction of the aerodynamic swirling motion structure.

The present invention relates to an internal-combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber provided with a single intake valve (2), a single exhaust valve (3), two plugs (4a, 4b) and a fuel injector (5). Furthermore, the combustion chamber comprises means for forming an aerodynamic swirling motion structure of the intake gas in the combustion chamber. Besides, fuel injector (5) is oriented so as to inject the fuel into the central area of the combustion chamber in the direction of the aerodynamic swirling motion structure.

When an amount of a backward tumble flow is smaller than an amount of a forward tumble flow, the intake-side valve recess is used as a first valve recess and the exhaust-side valve recess is used as a second valve recess. When the amount of the backward tumble flow is larger than the amount of the forward tumble flow, the exhaust-side valve recess is used as a first valve recess and the intake-side valve recess is used as a second valve recess. An inclination angle of the first valve recess is larger than an inclination angle of the second valve recess when comparing the inclination angle such that a height of the recess decreases gradually toward an inner side of a cross-section.

A method is provided for monitoring the operation of intake valves of an internal combustion engine, where at least one or more cylinders of the engine have more than one intake valve, and adapted to operate in different modes where at least one of the intake valves for a particular cylinder can be selectively activated, or deactivated so as not to open during a firing sequence for the cylinder. The method includes a) monitoring the intake manifold air pressure; b) during a time window with respect to the intake phase for said respective cylinder, determining the condition of whether the manifold pressure drops by a threshold or to a particular threshold level; and c) determining the functionality of the intake valves dependent on the outcome of step b).

A method is provided for monitoring the operation of intake valves of an internal combustion engine, where at least one or more cylinders of the engine have more than one intake valve, and adapted to operate in different modes where at least one of the intake valves for a particular cylinder can be selectively activated, or deactivated so as not to open during a firing sequence for the cylinder. The method includes a) monitoring the intake manifold air pressure; b) during a time window with respect to the intake phase for said respective cylinder, determining the condition of whether the manifold pressure drops by a threshold or to a particular threshold level; and c) determining the functionality of the intake valves dependent on the outcome of step b).

Provided is an in-combustion chamber flow control device used in an engine having an intake passage connected to an intake opening formed in a ceiling surface of a combustion chamber, at an angle inclined with respect to a direction of an axis of a cylinder. This in-combustion chamber flow control device comprises a plasma actuator (28) disposed inside the combustion chamber (16). The plasma actuator comprises: a dielectric body (38) disposed along the ceiling surface (16a) of the combustion chamber, at a position closer to a center of the ceiling surface than the intake opening (18a); an exposed electrode (40) disposed on one side of the dielectric body facing the combustion chamber; and an embedded electrode (42) disposed on a side opposite to the exposed electrode across the dielectric body. The embedded electrode is disposed at a position closer to the intake opening than the exposed electrode.

Provided is an in-combustion chamber flow control device used in an engine having an intake passage connected to an intake opening formed in a ceiling surface of a combustion chamber, at an angle inclined with respect to a direction of an axis of a cylinder. This in-combustion chamber flow control device comprises a plasma actuator (28) disposed inside the combustion chamber (16). The plasma actuator comprises: a dielectric body (38) disposed along the ceiling surface (16a) of the combustion chamber, at a position closer to a center of the ceiling surface than the intake opening (18a); an exposed electrode (40) disposed on one side of the dielectric body facing the combustion chamber; and an embedded electrode (42) disposed on a side opposite to the exposed electrode across the dielectric body. The embedded electrode is disposed at a position closer to the intake opening than the exposed electrode.

A diesel engine comprises: a cylinder head covering one end of a cylinder; a piston having a crown surface opposed to the cylinder head, and performing a reciprocating movement within the cylinder; and a fuel injector attached to the cylinder head. The cylinder head is formed with an intake port so as to generate a swirl flow within the cylinder. The crown surface of the piston is formed with a cavity which is recessed toward an opposite side of the cylinder head and which has a circular shape in planar view, and a notch which is recessed radially outward from a peripheral edge of the cavity. The fuel injector is formed with an injection hole oriented toward an inside of the cavity.

A diesel engine comprises: a cylinder head covering one end of a cylinder; a piston having a crown surface opposed to the cylinder head, and performing a reciprocating movement within the cylinder; and a fuel injector attached to the cylinder head. The cylinder head is formed with an intake port so as to generate a swirl flow within the cylinder. The crown surface of the piston is formed with a cavity which is recessed toward an opposite side of the cylinder head and which has a circular shape in planar view, and a notch which is recessed radially outward from a peripheral edge of the cavity. The fuel injector is formed with an injection hole oriented toward an inside of the cavity.