Spark plug tester ignition system
AssigneeChampion Spark Plug Company
InventorsSam J. Green, Richard E. Callahan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved high voltage pulse power supply for a spark plug test fixture. AC line voltage is applied through a voltage step-down transformer, a half wave rectifier and an electronic switch to the primary winding of a conventional ignition coil. During the rise time of positive half cycles, the rectified voltage is applied through the electronic switch to the ignition coil primary. As the positive half cycle begins to fall towards the zero crossover, the electronic switch is opened. The magnetic field collapse in the ignition coil produces a high voltage negative pulse which is applied to a spark plug under test. The peak voltage of the negative pulse is adjusted by controlling the peak current in the ignition coil primary.
Claims10
In a spark plug test fixture, an improved power supply for applying high voltage pulses to a spark plug comprising, in combination, a transformer having primary and secondary windings, means for connecting said primary winding to a source of alternating current, a half wave rectifier, an electronic switch, an ignition coil having primary and secondary windings, means for connecting said ignition coil secondary winding to such spark plug, means connecting said transformer secondary winding, said rectifier, said electronic switch and said ignition coil primary winding in a closed series circuit whereby, when said electronic switch is closed, half cycles of a predetermined polarity are applied from said transformer secondary winding through said diode and said electronic switch to said ignition coil primary winding, and means for periodically opening said electronic switch to establish a high voltage across said ignition coil secondary winding for application to such spark plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.