초록 ▼

An engine assembly includes a plenum member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening defined therein. The engine assembly further includes an air source in fluid communication with the inlet opening. The engine assembly still further includes a fuel combustion assembly having an engine block ha

An engine assembly includes a plenum member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening defined therein. The engine assembly further includes an air source in fluid communication with the inlet opening. The engine assembly still further includes a fuel combustion assembly having an engine block having a piston cylinder defined therein, an engine head secured to the engine block and having an intake port defined therein, and a piston which translates within the piston cylinder. The piston, the piston cylinder, and the engine head cooperate so as to define a combustion chamber. The engine assembly further includes a gaseous fuel supply valve which controls the amount of gaseous fuel advanced from a gaseous fuel source to the first intake conduit. The engine assembly still further includes an intake conduit interposed between the outlet opening and the intake port. The engine assembly still further includes a port oil injector operable to inject lubricating oil through an oil opening in the intake conduit and an intake valve positionable between an open position and a closed position. The lubricating oil lubricates the intake valve as the lubricating oil advances from the intake conduit to the combustion chamber during an intake stroke of the engine assembly, and combusts so as to ignite the mixture of natural gas and air in the combustion chamber during a compression stroke of the engine assembly. A method of operating the engine assembly is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An engine assembly, comprising:a plenum member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening defined therein;an air source in fluid communication with said inlet opening;a fuel combustion assembly which includes (i) an engine block having a piston cylinder defined therein

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An engine assembly, comprising:a plenum member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening defined therein;an air source in fluid communication with said inlet opening;a fuel combustion assembly which includes (i) an engine block having a piston cylinder defined therein, (ii) an engine head secured to said engine block and having an intake port defined therein, and (iii) a piston which translates within said piston cylinder, wherein said piston, said piston cylinder, and said engine head cooperate so as to define a combustion chamber;an intake conduit interposed between said outlet opening and said intake port so as to provide fluid communication between said plenum member and said combustion chamber, said intake conduit having an oil opening defined therein;a gaseous fuel source in fluid communication with said intake conduit;a gaseous fuel supply valve which controls the amount of gaseous fuel advanced from said gaseous fuel source to said intake conduit;a port oil injector operable to inject lubricating oil through said oil opening; andan intake valve positionable between an open position and a closed position, wherein (i) said intake valve enables fluid communication between said intake port and said combustion chamber when said intake valve is positioned in said open position, and (ii) said intake valve prevents fluid communication between said intake port and said combustion chamber when said intake valve is positioned in said closed position,whereby said lubricating oil (i) lubricates said intake valve as said lubricating oil advances from said intake conduit to said combustion chamber during an intake stroke of said engine assembly, and (ii) combusts so as to ignite a mixture of gaseous fuel and air in said combustion chamber during a compression stroke of said engine assembly.