Ignition system
OwnerBasil E. Wainwrightinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for producing spark ignition of an internal combustion engine is disclosed including a spark generator which supplies spark generating pulses to spark plugs of the engine. The spark produced by each pulse is sustained after the pulse has died away by means of a generator which applies to the spark plugs a voltage capable of sustaining but not initiating sparks across the spark plugs. The generator is per se capable of developing a continuous output so as to maximize the spark energy and to allow the duration of the spark to be selected as desired. The output of the generator may be applied to the spark plugs continuously in which case the effect of increased impedance to the spark produced on combustion is used to terminate the spark. Alternatively, the output of the generator can be switched to terminate the spark.
Claims10
Apparatus adapted for use with an internal combustion engine including a spark ignition system having a relatively low voltage source and spark pulse generating means (2) for supplying to a spark plug (5) via a given path (18) electrical pulses of a magnitude to initiate spark ignition across a spark plug, comprising
- (a) d-c to d-c converter means (7) for producing from said relatively low voltage source a relatively high voltage current for sustaining the spark initiated by one of said pulses;
- and
- (b) voltage isolating means for independently connecting the spark pulse generating means and said converter means with said spark plug, respectively, said isolating means including
- (1) first means (S) connected in series in said given path for connecting the spark pulse generating means with the spark plug;
- and
- (2) means including a series-connected inductor (L) for connecting said converter means with said given path at a junction (J) between said first means and the spark plug, whereby said first means isolates the converter means from the pulse generating means, and the inductor isolates the converter means from the pulses from the spark pulse generator means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.