Engine ignition system and method using sparkplug dry firing to extend service life
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJames Jay Cress, Chris Hoops
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ignition system for an engine includes a sparkplug, ignition circuitry electrically connected to the sparkplug, and an ignition control unit structured to energize the ignition circuitry to fire the sparkplug at an ignition timing, detect a fault condition caused by an abnormal response of the sparkplug to the energizing, and to energize the ignition circuitry to dry fire the sparkplug at an offset timing such as during an exhaust, stroke based on the detection of the fault condition. Dry firing the sparkplug reduces a break down voltage required to subsequently fire the sparkplug and extends sparkplug service life.
Claims20
An ignition system for an engine comprising:
- a sparkplug;
- ignition circuitry electrically connected to the sparkplug;
- an ignition control unit coupled with the ignition circuitry, the ignition control unit being structured to:
- energize the ignition circuitry at an ignition timing;
- detect a fault condition of a cylinder in the engine caused by an abnormal response of the sparkplug to the energizing of the ignition circuitry at the ignition timing;
- energize the ignition circuitry to dry fire the sparkplug at an offset timing based on the detection of the fault condition;
- and
- reduce a break down voltage required to fire the sparkplug based on the energizing of the ignition circuitry to dry fire the sparkplug at the offset timing.
A method of extending a service life of a prechamber ignition device in an engine comprising:
- firing a sparkplug in the prechamber ignition device at an ignition timing to spark-ignite an ignition charge of a fuel and air in the prechamber ignition device;
- conveying combustion gases of the spark-ignited ignition charge into a cylinder in the engine to ignite a main charge of the fuel and air in the cylinder;
- dry firing the sparkplug at an offset timing;
- and
- limiting a break down voltage required to subsequently fire the sparkplug at the ignition timing based on the dry firing of the sparkplug at an offset timing.
An ignition system for an engine comprising:
- an ignition control unit structured to command energizing ignition circuitry electrically connected to a sparkplug in the engine;
- the ignition control unit being further structured to:
- command energizing the ignition circuitry to fire the sparkplug at an ignition timing;
- detect a fault condition of the cylinder caused by an abnormal response of the sparkplug to energizing of the ignition circuitry at the ignition timing;
- command energizing the ignition circuitry to dry fire the sparkplug at an offset timing based on the detection of the fault condition;
- and
- reduce a break down voltage required to fire the sparkplug based on the energizing of the ignition circuitry at an offset timing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.