초록

A spark-ignition, direct injection internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector effective to produce a fuel spray pattern which is relatively compact at low loads and relatively large at high loads.

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The invention claimed is: 1. Method for operating a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine including a variable volume combustion chamber comprising a cylinder and reciprocating piston, a spark plug having a spark gap and a direct in-cylinder fuel injector for effecting a fuel

The invention claimed is: 1. Method for operating a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine including a variable volume combustion chamber comprising a cylinder and reciprocating piston, a spark plug having a spark gap and a direct in-cylinder fuel injector for effecting a fuel spray pattern within the combustion chamber, comprising: providing a fuel injector tip having a plurality of through-holes arranged in a through-hole pattern to produce a fuel spray pattern having a relatively compact fuel cone angle at the low-load limit of the engine and a relatively wide fuel cone angle at the high-load limit of the engine; and, locating the fuel injector and spark gap such that a portion of the fuel spray pattern from the injector will intersect the spark gap at the low-load limit of the engine. 2. The method for operating a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said through-holes is effective to direct a fuel plume along a respective through-hole axis that is neither parallel to nor coplanar with the injector centerline. 3. The method for operating a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said through-hole pattern produces a fuel spray pattern of generally increasing fuel cone angle between the low load and the high load limits of the engine. 4. The method for operating a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said through-hole pattern produces a fuel spray swirl generally opposing a bulk intake air swirl. 5. Method for operating a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine including a variable volume combustion chamber comprising a cylinder and reciprocating piston, a spark plug having a spark gap and a direct in-cylinder fuel injector for effecting a fuel spray pattern within the combustion chamber, comprising: providing a fuel spray pattern from said fuel injector having a relatively compact fuel cone angle at the low-load limit of the engine, a relatively wide fuel cone angle at the high-load limit of the engine and a generally increasing fuel cone angle between the low load and the high load limits of the engine; and, locating the fuel injector and spark gap such that a portion of the fuel spray pattern from the injector will intersect the spark gap at the low-load limit of the engine. 6. The method for operating a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 5 wherein providing a fuel spray pattern comprises providing a fuel injector tip having a plurality of through-holes wherein each through hole directs a fuel plume along a respective through-hole axis that is neither parallel to nor coplanar with the injector centerline. 7. The method for operating a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 6 wherein each through hole directs a fuel plume to swirl in general opposition to a bulk intake air swirl. 8. Spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine apparatus, comprising: a variable volume combustion chamber including a cylinder, a cylinder head including an intake and an exhaust valve, and a reciprocating piston; a spark plug having a spark gap for producing an ignition spark within the combustion chamber; a fuel injector for injecting fuel within the combustion chamber; said fuel injector including a fuel injector tip having a plurality of through-holes arranged in a through-hole pattern to produce a fuel spray pattern with a fuel cone angle that generally increases with increasing fuel mass injection; and said fuel injector and spark plug being cooperatively located such that the fuel spray pattern intersects the spark gap. 9. The spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said through-holes directs a fuel plume along a respective through-hole axis that is neither parallel to nor coplanar with the injector centerline. 10. The spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said through-holes directs a fuel plume to swirl in general opposition to a bulk intake air swirl. 11. The spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the reciprocating piston includes a recessed bowl.