Internal combustion engine (1) with a controller (2) and at least one combustion chamber (3) and an at least one ignition amplifier (4) associated with the combustion chamber (3), whereby the at least one combustion chamber (3), on the one hand via a feeding device (5) for a fuel-air mixture, can be supplied with energy, and on the other hand can be supplied with energy by the associated ignition amplifier (4), whereby the controller (2) is designed to change the excess-air ratio () of the fuel-air mixture in a detection mode for the at least one combustion chamber (3), and at least one sensor (6) is provided, whose signals can be supplied to the controller (2) and whose signals are characteristic of the combustion event in at least one combustion chamber (3) and that the controller (2) is designed such that, depending on the signals supplied by at least one sensor (6), a representative detection signal is generated associated with a status of the at least one ignition amplifier (4) associated with at least one combustion chamber (3).

A spark plug with shuttle electrode is provided for an internal combustion engine which includes a combustion chamber in which a main charge diluted with a neutral gas is ignited, the spark plug housing a lamination cavity in which a central electrode opens and in which a lamination injector is able to inject under pressure a pilot charge consisting of an easily flammable combustive-AF fuel mixture, the cavity being connected to the combustion chamber by a lamination duct, while a shuttle electrode is interposed between the central electrode and a ground electrode and can translate in the lamination duct.

A pre-chamber spark plug for an internal combustion engine having: a body with a passage in which an insulator is fastened and a center electrode protrudes; at least one ground electrode extending in a straight line forms a spark gap with the center electrode; a pre-chamber-forming cap which delimits a pre-chamber and shields the center and ground electrodes from a combustion chamber after the spark plug has been installed in the engine, wherein the cap has at least one opening which permits a gas exchange between the pre-chamber and the space outside the pre-chamber. The ground electrode includes a reinforcing component welded to an end surface of a supporting component, and the supporting component is either welded to an end surface of the body or is welded to a step that is formed on the end surface.

A prechamber assembly for a combustion engine includes a prechamber component having one or more transfer ports, and a housing component having an igniter housing area. The prechamber component and the housing component are coupled together to at least partially define a prechamber. The housing component includes a first portion having a first material, and a second portion having a second material different from the first material, wherein the second portion is between the prechamber and the first portion.

The invention relates to an engine having prechamber ignition, in particular a gas engine, that comprises a main combustion space in a cylinder of the engine for combusting an air-fuel mixture and a prechamber having an ignition device arranged therein and a fuel injector arranged therein, wherein the prechamber has at least one transfer port that fluidically connects the prechamber to the main combustion space. The engine is characterized in that the fuel injector arranged in the prechamber is the only fuel injector via which fuel can be introduced into the associated main combustion space.

A spark plug with shuttle electrode is provided for an internal combustion engine which includes a combustion chamber in which a main charge diluted with a neutral gas is ignited, the spark plug housing a lamination cavity in which a central electrode opens and in which a lamination injector is able to inject under pressure a pilot charge consisting of an easily flammable combustive-AF fuel mixture, the cavity being connected to the combustion chamber by a lamination duct, while a shuttle electrode is interposed between the central electrode and a ground electrode and can translate in the lamination duct.

A sparkplug assembly having a prechamber volume is operatively associated with the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine such that the prechamber volume is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. To purge exhaust gasses from the prechamber volume prior to ignition, the sparkplug assembly is operatively associated with a high-pressure air/fuel source that directs a pressurized air/fuel purge charge to the prechamber volume. The pressurized air/fuel purge charge may be at stoichiometric conditions. The high-pressure air/fuel source is configured to direct the pressurized air/fuel purge charge during at least a portion of the compression stroke to maintain a largely stoichiometric mixture of air and fuel in the prechamber volume.

A prechamber is provided for attachment to an inlet of a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The prechamber decreases the compression ratio of the combustion chamber. Some examples of the prechamber include a means of adding a spark plug to an engine that was originally designed to ignite fuel/air through compression of the fuel/air. Other examples of the prechamber include internal structures to introduce swirl in fuel/air as it is injected. Still other examples of the prechamber include a plurality of fuel injectors, with each fuel injector being structured to introduce a different type of fuel into the prechamber. A means of selecting a specific type of fuel based on engine operating conditions is also provided.

A prechamber ignition device in an internal combustion engine is provided having a body piece formed of a first type of material and a tip piece formed of a second type of material. A distal end of the body piece has a cladding, which may be of the second type of material, for preventing corrosion of the first type of material from which the body piece is formed.

An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle is disclosed that includes a cylinder, a cylinder head, a piston that can slide inside the cylinder, a first chamber defined between the cylinder, the cylinder head, and the piston, a second chamber distinct from the first chamber and communicating with the first chamber via one or more ports, fuel inlet means configured to introduce a fuel mixture into at least one between the first and second chambers, and an ignition device arranged at the second chamber and configured to ignite the fuel mixture in the second chamber, characterized by comprising a vent line configured to vent gas from the second chamber, the vent line having an inlet end arranged at the second chamber.