US 4,537,174 A · Output supply control apparatus for internal combustion engine magneto generator

Abstract

An output supply control apparatus controls the supply of an output from an internal combustion engine magneto generator to its loads so as to effectively utilize the magneto generator. The desired ignition energy is obtained by charging a discharge capacitor of a contactless ignition system with a high induced voltage produced upon the rapid interruption of the short-circuit current in the generating coil, and also any other load such as a battery or lamp is energized by the high induced voltage exceeding a predetermined value. A constant voltage supply for the contactless ignition system ignition signal generating circuit is operated by the generating coil output current preceding the interruption. A regulator is included which monitors a lamp load voltage to commutate or transfer an excess output to the battery load and is operable in response to an overvoltage. The positive-going and negative-going half cycle outputs of the generating coil are interrupted and the resulting high induced voltages are used to charge the ignition capacitor and the battery, respectively.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An apparatus for controlling the supply of an output from a magneto generator of an ignition system comprising:

a generating coil of said magneto generator;
a shorting semiconductor switching element for substantially short-circuiting an output from said generating coil;
an interruption control circuit for turning off said shorting semiconductor switching element when a short-circuit current flowing therethrough reaches a predetermined value;
a capacitor disposed to be charged by a high voltage induced in said generating coil when said shorting semiconductor switching element is turned off;
an ignition coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding;
an ignition signal generating circuit voltage regulator circuit connected in series with said shorting semiconductor switching element to receive an output supplied from said generating coil in response to the turning on of said shorting semiconductor switching element and generate a constant voltage output;
an ignition signal generating circuit for receiving said constant voltage output from said voltage regulator circuit as a power supply and generating an ignition signal;
an ignition semiconductor switching element responsive to said ignition signal from said ignition signal generating circuit to turn on and thereby supply a stored charge on said capacitor to the primary winding of said ignition coil;
and
a spark plug connected to the secondary winding of said ignition coil.

7 more elements

An apparatus for controlling the supply of an output from a magneto generator of an ignition system comprising:

a generating coil of said magneto generator for generating a plurality of cycles of AC output for each revolution of said magneto generator;
a shorting semiconductor switching element for substantially short-circuiting a half cycle output of one polarity from said generating coil;
an interruption control circuit for turning off said shorting semiconductor switching element when a set value of short-circuit current flows therethrough;
a capacitor disposed to be charged by a high voltage induced in said generating coil when said shorting semiconductor switching element is turned off;
an ignition coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding;
an opposite polarity half cycle conducting diode for conducting a current caused by a half cycle output of the opposite polarity from said generating coil;
an ignition signal generating circuit for generating an ignition signal at an ignition timing;
an ignition semiconductor switching element responsive to said ignition signal from said ignition signal generating circuit to turn on and thereby supply a stored charge on said capacitor to the primary winding of said ignition coil;
and
a spark plug connected to the secondary winding of said ignition coil.

7 more elements

A contactless ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a generating coil of a magneto generator;
a shorting semiconductor switching element for substantially short-circuiting a half cycle output of one polarity from said generating coil;
an interruption control circuit for turning off said shorting semiconductor switching element when a set value of short-circuit current flows therethrough;
a capacitor disposed to be charged by a high voltage induced in said generating coil upon the turning off of said shorting semiconductor switching element;
an ignition coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding;
a high voltage responsive circuit for detecting the high voltage induced in said generating coil upon the turning off of said shorting semiconductor switching element, whereby each time said high voltage exceeds a predetermined value, a half cycle output of one polarity from said generating coil is continuously supplied to another load different from said capacitor;
a discharge blocking diode connected in series in a charging circuit of said capacitor;
an ignition signal generating circuit for generating an ignition signal at an ignition timing;
an ignition semiconductor switching element responsive to the ignition signal from said ignition signal generating circuit to turn on and thereby supply a stored charge on said capacitor to said primary winding of said ignition coil;
and
a spark plug connected to said secondary winding of said ignition coil.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Output supply control apparatus for internal combustion engine magneto generator

Life of this patent

Output supply control apparatus for internal combustion engine magneto generator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14