Appeal No. 97-2806
Application No. 08/391,234
The invention pertains to sensors for detecting the degree
of ionization in a combustion chamber in combustion engines with
direct fuel injection and to combustion engines equipped with
such sensors. More particularly, rather than separately locating
the sensor in the combustion chamber or incorporating the sensor
in other engine components, the invention seeks to obviate the
creation of new holes in the combustion chamber and to minimize
costs by locating the sensor in the same duct as the fuel
injector.
Representative independent claim 9 is reproduced as follows:
9. A sensor for detecting a degree of ionization in a
combustion chamber of a combustion engine, which combustion
chamber is partly bounded by a cylinder head having a duct which
opens into the chamber and in which a fuel injector for injecting
fuel directly into the combustion chamber is arranged, the sensor
comprising: a substantially sleeve-shaped electrode arranged in
the duct surrounding the fuel injector, the electrode being in
communication with the combustion chamber and means connected to
the electrode for detecting the degree of ionization in the
combustion chamber.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Kizler et al. 4,359,893 Nov. 23, 1982
(Kizler)
Suzuki et al. 4,461,170 Jul. 24, 1984
(Suzuki)
Bullis et al. 4,463,729 Aug. 7, 1984
(Bullis)
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007