# US 4,397,291 A · Means for mounting ignition control modules

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- Number: US 4,397,291 A
- Document ID: US4397291A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/301,105
- Filed: 1981-09-10
- Granted: 1983-08-09
- Earliest claimed: 1981-09-10
- Assignees: Wells Manufacturing Corporation
- Inventors: Arthur D. Johnson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397291A

## CPC

- F02P 7/035: {without mechanical switching means}
- F02P 15/008: {Reserve ignition systems; Redundancy of some ignition devices}
- 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)

## Abstract

The invention includes an ignition control assembly including a first ignition control module adapted to be connected to the distributor and to control electrical operation of the distributor, and a redundant ignition control module including circuit means adapted to be connected to the distributor to control electrical operation of the distributor. The control modules are mounted in a location remote from the distributor. The mounting includes a heat sink for maintaining the control modules at relatively low temperatures. A switch and circuitry are also provided for alternatively providing an electrical connection between the first control module and the distributor and between the redundant control module and the distributor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ignition control assembly for use in a vehicle having an engine, the engine including a distributor, the ignition control assembly comprising:
a first ignition control module including circuit means adapted to be selectively connected to the distributor for controlling electrical operation of the distributor,
a redundant ignition control module including circuit means adapted to be selectively connected to the distributor for controlling electrical operation of the distributor,
means for mounting said first control module and said redundant control module in a location remote from said distributor,
means for alternatively providing an electrical connection between said first control module and the distributor and between said redundant control module and the distributor,
wherein said means for mounting includes a metal plate having opposite sides, one of said sides including a planar surface, said modules being supported by said surface and the other side of said plate including means for dissipating heat, said means for dissipating heat including a plurality of parallel spaced apart vanes extending from said other side.

### Claim 2

In a vehicle having an internal combustion engine including spark plugs, a distributor adapted to transmit electrical current from an ignition coil to the spark plugs, an ignition control assembly comprising:
a first ignition control module including circuit means for controlling electrical current from said ignition coil to said distributor,
a redundant ignition control module including circuit means for controlling electrical current from said ignition coil to said distributor,
means for mounting said first ignition control module and said second ignition control module in a location remote from said distributor, and
means for alternatively providing an electrical connection between said first control module and the distributor and said redundant control module and the distributor,
wherein said means for mounting includes a metal plate having opposite sides, one of said sides including a planar surface, said modules being supported by said surface and the other side of said plate including means for dissipating heat, said means for dissipating heat including a plurality of parallel spaced apart vanes extending from said other side.