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A bathtub combustion chamber, also known simply as a bathtub chamber, is a type of combustion chamber design used in internal combustion engines. Here’s a breakdown of its features and benefits:
- Shape: The combustion chamber is shaped like an inverted bathtub. This design places the valves at the bottom of the tub, allowing all valves (typically intake and exhaust) to be arranged in a single row.
- Valve Arrangement: Due to the single-row valve arrangement, the design of the valve-operating camshaft and rocker gear is simplified compared to engines with more complex valve arrangements.
- Turbulence Control: The long, oval shape of the bathtub chamber helps control excessive turbulence within the combustion chamber. This is beneficial for optimizing combustion efficiency and reducing emissions.
- Squish Effect: The flat areas where the piston comes close to the head surface create a squish effect. This squish effect helps in swirling the air-fuel mixture, enhancing combustion stability and efficiency.
- Gas Flow Efficiency: Modern engines with wide cylinders and short piston strokes can accommodate larger valves with bathtub-shaped combustion chambers. This configuration promotes efficient gas flow during intake and exhaust processes.
Overall, the bathtub combustion chamber design aims to balance combustion efficiency, turbulence control, and simplicity in valve operation, making it a preferred choice in many internal combustion engine designs.
See Related Terms:
- Hemispherical combustion chamber
- Wedge combustion chamber
- Squish combustion chamber
- Piston-crown combustion chamber