# US 4,393,849 A · Variable ignition distributor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,393,849 A - Document ID: US4393849A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/257,174 - Filed: 1981-04-24 - Granted: 1983-07-19 - Earliest claimed: 1980-05-10 - Inventors: Kim J. Sae - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393849A ## CPC - F02P 7/021: {Mechanical distributors} - F02P 7/026: {Distributors combined with other ignition devices, e.g. coils, fuel-injectors} - F02P 9/00: Electric spark ignition control, not otherwise provided for - F02B 1/04: with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder - F02P: IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES ({anti-pollution means for internal-combustion engines F02B17/00}; specially adapted for rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines F02B53/12; {ignition of gas turbine plants F02C7/26; ignition of jet propulsion plants F02K9/95; starting of combustion engines F02N9/00}; ignition of combustion apparatus in general, glowing plugs F23Q; measuring of physical variables in general G01; controlling in general G05; data processing in general G06; electrical components in general see Section H; {ignition coils H01F38/12}; sparking plugs H01T13/00) - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) ## Abstract A variable ignition distributor for furnishing a high-voltage spark to a spark plug in a first cylinder and for furnishing a low-voltage spark to a spark plug in a second cylinder. A conventional distributor is modified so that a rotor of the distributor carries an ignition electrode for furnishing high voltage to the spark plug in the first cylinder and a variable electrode carried by the rotor furnishes low voltage to a spark plug in the second cylinder. The low voltage is generated at the same time as the high voltage so that there need be only one terminal connected to the ignition coil. Preferably, the variable electrode is adjustable so that the low voltage charge is furnished as a function of the operating speed of the engine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable ignition distributor for furnishing a high-voltage spark to a spark plug in a first cylinder to initiate an explosion of a fuel-air mixture therein and for furnishing a low voltage spark to a spark plug in a second cylinder to enhance ionization of fuel supplied to the second cylinder prior to explosion of the fuel-air mixture in the second cylinder, said variable ignition distributor being usable with a distributor cap connected to an ignition coil and connected to the spark plugs in the first and the second cylinders and comprising: a rotor disposed within the distributor cap; an ignition electrode carried by said rotor for transferring a high voltage spark from the ignition coil to the spark plug in the first cylinder; circuit means responsive to transfer of said high voltage spark for generating a low voltage spark; and a variable electrode carried by said rotor for transferring said low voltage spark to the second cylinder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The variable ignition distributor of claim 1, wherein said variable electrode is secured to the said ignition electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The variable ignition distributor of claim 1, wherein said circuit means comprises an induction coil wound around said ignition electrode and a condenser connected in parallel to said induction coil, one end of said coil being connected to said variable electrode and the current and the voltage of the ignition electrode being induced to the other end of the said coil, said variable ignition distributor further comprising a tension spring, a centrifugal contact point for inducing the low voltage spark in the other end of said coil, and a bimetal, said spring connecting said contact point with said bimetal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The variable ignition distributor of claim 1, wherein a centrifugal electrode is fitted to a top end of said variable electrode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The variable ignition distributor of claim 1, wherein the distributor cap has a fixed terminal and a contact point connected to said spark plug in said second cylinder, and a lead interlaid within said distributor cap, interconnecting said fixed terminal and said contact point. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The variable ignition distributor of claim 1, wherein the low voltage spark supplied to the spark plug in the second cylinder is determined depending upon a gap defined between the variable electrode and a centrifugal contact point associated therewith. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The variable ignition distributor of claim 1, wherein said distributor is used with an engine having a plurality of cylinders, a position angle between the variable electrode and the ignition electrode being determined by the position of contact points of spark plugs in cylinders in an expansion stroke and contact points of spark plugs in cylinders in an intake stroke. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The variable ignition distributor of claim 3, wherein the temperature is compensated by the bimetal. ### Claim 9 In a distributor for an internal combustion engine comprising: a distributor cap; an inlet terminal provided on said distributor cap connectable to an ignition coil of the engine; a plurality of terminals provided on said distributor cap connectable to individual spark plugs disposed in cylinders of the engine; a rotor disposed within said distributor cap and positionable on a camshaft of a distributor system of the engine; a contact member carried by said rotor for establishing an electrical circuit between the inlet terminal and individual ones of said terminals connectable to individual spark plugs as said rotor is rotated by said camshaft to thereby furnish main ignition charges to the spark plugs connected to said individual ones of said plurality of terminals, the improvement comprising: a variable ignition electrode carried by said rotor for furnishing a low voltage spark to one of said individual ones of said terminals to thereby generate a spark in one of the cylinders to facilitate ionization of fuel in the cylinder prior to the main ignition charge being furnished said one cylinder; and means reponsive to establishment of an electrical circuit between the inlet terminal and an individual one of said terminals for furnishing power to said variable ignition electrode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The improvement of claim 9, wherein said variable ignition electrode transfers the low voltage spark directly to individual ones of said plurality of terminals. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The improvement of claim 10, further comprising: fixed contact points positioned on said distributor cap so as to receive charges from said variable ignition electrode during rotation of the rotor; and leads interlaid within the distributor cap interconnecting said fixed contact points with respective ones of said plurality of terminals.