PRECHAMBER SPARK PLUG RECEIVING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement with a prechamber spark plug, comprising a housing bush, into which a fuel channel for supplying fuel into a prechamber is introduced. A valve member of a switching valve for regulating the fuel stream through the fuel channel is arranged in or on the wall of the housing bush.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A prechamber spark plug receiver assembly comprising: a housing bushing comprising a wall and configured to receive a spark plug; at least one fuel duct defined in the wall and configured to supply fuel to a prechamber; and a switching valve comprising an adjustable valve member introduced into the wall and configured to be adjusted between a closed position and an open position to regulate fuel flow through the fuel duct.

16. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 15, further comprising an actuator arranged in or on the wall of the housing bushing and configured to actuate the valve member.

17. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 16, wherein the actuator is integrated into the wall.

18. The prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement of claim 16, wherein the actuator is arranged on the end side of the wall.

19. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 18, wherein the valve member is connected to the actuator by means of a connecting rod that is routed through the wall.

20. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 16, wherein the actuator is a solenoid.

21. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 20, wherein the solenoid is arranged peripherally in the form of a ring in or on the wall.

22. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 15, further comprising a spring element integrated into the wall and configured to bias the valve member toward the closed position.

23. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 15, wherein a plurality of fuel ducts are defined in the wall and distributed over the periphery of the wall.

24. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 23, wherein each one of the plurality of fuel ducts is controlled by a corresponding one of a plurality of associated valve members of a plurality of associated switching valves.

25. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 24, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust the plurality of associated valve members.

26. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 15, wherein the switching valve comprises a valve housing that is configured to be fitted onto the housing bushing.

27. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 15, wherein the housing bushing is a water-cooled water bushing.

28. The prechamber spark plug receiver assembly of claim 15, wherein the valve member is arranged in or on the wall.

29. A gas engine comprising: a cylinder head; a housing bushing comprising a wall and configured to receive a spark plug; at least one fuel duct defined in the wall and configured to supply fuel to a prechamber; and a switching value comprising an adjustable valve member introduced into the wall and configured to be adjusted between a closed position and an open position to regulate fuel flow through the fuel duct.

30. The gas engine of claim 29, further comprising an actuator arranged in or on the wall of the housing bushing and configured to actuate the switching valve.

31. The gas engine of claim 29, wherein the valve member is arranged in or on the wall.

32. The gas engine of claim 29, wherein the actuator is arranged on the end side of the wall.

33. The gas engine of claim 31, wherein the valve member is connected to the actuator by means of a connecting rod that is routed through the wall.

34. The gas engine of claim 29, further comprising a spring element integrated into the wall and configured to bias the valve member toward the closed position.

Description

[0021] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments can be gathered from the further claims, the description of the figures and the drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement comprising a prechamber spark plug in a liquid-cooled bushing into which a switching valve for regulating the fuel flow is also introduced, and

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement with a switching valve illustrated in detail.

[0024] Identical components are provided with the same reference symbols throughout the figures.

[0025] As can be gathered from FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 2, a prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement 1 is arranged on a cylinder head 2 of a gas engine, said prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement serving to ignite a combustion gas/air mixture in a prechamber 6 with the aid of an ignition arrangement 7. A spark plug 3 of the prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement 1 is accommodated in a spark plug housing 4 which is inserted into a housing bushing 5 which is likewise a constituent part of the prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement 1. The housing bushing 5 is embodied as a water-cooled bushing.

[0026] The spark plug housing 4 of the spark plug 3 is of multipartite construction and comprises two housing parts 4a and 4b which are pressed against the inner wall of the receiving housing bushing 5. The two housing parts 4a and 4b are of sleeve-like design, where the first housing part 4a engages around the second housing part 4b.

[0027] A fuel duct 8 is made in the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5, which fuel ductwith respect to the longitudinal axis 9 of the spark plug 3extends in the axial direction through the wall and is connected to a distributor groove 10 which is made peripherally in the form of a ring in the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5 and, for its part, is flow-connected to an inflow duct 11 in the cylinder head 2 by means of which the fuel is supplied.

[0028] The fuel is therefore conducted into the fuel duct 8 in the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5 in the direction of the prechamber 6 by means of the inflow duct 11 and the distributor groove 10. On that side which faces the prechamber 6, the fuel duct 8 issues into a peripheral annular gap 13, which extends as far as the prechamber 6, via a further distributor groove 12, which can be embodied as a duct. There, the fuel can be ignited by means of the ignition arrangement 7.

[0029] The distributor groove 12, on that side which faces the prechamber 6, is made in the first housing part 4a of the spark plug 3 and runs in the radial direction. The annular gap 13, into which the distributor groove 12 issues, runs in the axial direction and is located between the surrounding first housing part 4a and the radially inner, second housing part 4b. On that side which faces the prechamber 6, the annular gap 13 bends radially inward in the manner of a truncated cone and issues into the prechamber 6.

[0030] In the flow path of the fuel duct 8, a switching valve 14, with which the fuel flow through the fuel duct 8 can be regulated, is located in the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5. The fuel duct 8 runs above the switching valve 14 in the axial direction and below the switching valve 14on that side which faces the prechamber 6inward at an angle until the radially further inner distributor groove 12 is reached.

[0031] The switching valve 14 is inserted into a recess in the wall and is completely integrated into the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5. In an alternative embodiment, the switching valve 14 is only partially integrated into the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5 and protrudes beyond the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5 either on the radially inner side or on the radially outer side. Furthermore, an embodiment is also possible in which the switching valve 14 is arranged on the outer side or inner side of the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5; in this case, for example, the fuel duct 8 issues into the switching valve 14 and is routed further in the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5 on that side of the switching valve 14 which faces the prechamber 6.

[0032] The switching valve 14 comprises an adjustable valve member which can be adjusted by an actuator between a closed position, which blocks the fuel duct, and an open position, which releases the fuel duct. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator is integrated into the switching valve 14.

[0033] However, the actuator can also be located outside the switching valve. In FIG. 1, an actuator 15, which is connected to the valve member of the switching valve 14 by means of a connecting member 16, for example a connecting rod, is drawn using dashed lines at the axial end side of the prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement 1, in particular on the end side of the liquid-cooled bushing 5. The actuator movement of the actuator 15 is transmitted to the valve member of the switching valve 14 by means of the connecting member 16.

[0034] A plurality of fuel ducts 8 can be made in the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5 in a manner distributed over the periphery. Each fuel duct 8 is blocked or released by a switching valve 14, where a common switching valve may possibly be provided for all of the fuel ducts 8. However, it is also possible to provide one switching valve 14 for each fuel duct 8.

[0035] The switching valve 14 is located, for example, in a recess in the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5. The recess may extend peripherally in the form of a ring as a groove on the outer side of the wall. As an alternative to a recess or a groove, it is also possible to arrange the switching valve 14 on the outer side of the liquid-cooled bushing 5 and to fasten a valve housing of the switching valve to the liquid-cooled bushing or another housing component of the prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement.

[0036] A specific implementation of a switching valve 14 in a prechamber spark plug receiving arrangement 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The switching valve 14 is arranged in a sleeve-like valve housing 17 which is fitted onto the liquid-cooled bushing 5 and connected to said liquid-cooled bushing, for example screwed to said liquid-cooled bushing. The switching valve 14 has, as actuator 18, a solenoid, the windings of said solenoid being arranged peripherally in the form of a ring in the switching valve 14 and engaging around the wall of the liquid-cooled bushing 5.

[0037] The switching valve 14 further comprises a valve member 19 and also one or more spring elements 20 which forces/force the valve member 19 into a closed position in which the fuel duct or fuel ducts 8 are blocked. The valve member 19 is preferably designed as a peripheral ring which is pushed axially into the closed position by one or more spring elements 20. The spring elements 20 are designed as helical springs for example.

[0038] The solenoid 18, as actuator, is situated axially at a distance from the valve member 19 and the spring element or spring elements 20. When the solenoid 18 is energized, a force is exerted onto the valve member 19, which force adjusts the valve member 19 into the open position against the force of the spring element 20, as a result of which the fuel duct 8 is released and fuel can flow through the fuel duct 8 in the direction of the prechamber 6. When energization of the solenoid 18 is terminated, the valve member 19 is adjusted back into the closed position by the force of the spring element or spring elements 20.

[0039] The switching valve 14, including the valve housing 17, forms a coherent structural unit which is fitted onto the liquid-cooled bushing 5. The valve housing 17, together with the switching valve 14, engages around the liquid-cooled bushing 5. Connection ducts for flow-connection to the upper and lower sections of the fuel duct 8 run in the valve housing 17, so that, when the valve member 19 is open, the fuel can flow from the upper section of the fuel duct 8, via the switching valve 14, into the lower section of the fuel duct without leaking.