Temperature detector and control for an igniter
AssigneeSimmonds Precision Engine Systems, Inc.
InventorDennis M. DeFreitas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temperature sensor for detecting temperature of a heating element of an igniter such as a glow plug includes optic means disposable near the igniter for receiving at least a portion of electromagnetic energy emitted by the heating element and coupling the received electromagnetic energy to a circuit means for producing an output related to the temperature of the igniter in relation to a characteristic of the received electromagnetic energy. In one embodiment, the optic means comprises optic fibers that receive electromagnetic energy emitted by the heating element and couple that energy to a photosensitive detector.
Claims17
A temperature detector apparatus comprising:
- a compressed high volume air flow through combustor;
- an igniter exposed to the path of an air/fuel mixture to the combustor;
- the igniter being heated by electrical energy in the presence of said high volume air flow to ignite the air/fuel mixture;
- and a temperature sensor comprising optic means disposed with respect to the igniter such that a portion of electromagnetic energy radiated from the igniter enters said optic means;
- and circuit means for converting said portion of electromagnetic energy to an output representative of the igniter temperature, said circuit means comprising control means for regulating said electrical energy delivered to the igniter as a function of said output to maintain the igniter substantially at a predetermined temperature through ignition of the air/fuel mixture.
A method for controlling temperature of an igniter of the type having a heating element used for combustion, comprising the steps of:
- a. disposing the igniter in the path of an air/fuel mixture to a compressed high volume air flow through combustor;
- b. supplying electrical energy to the igniter to heat the igniter in the presence of the high volume air flow to ignite the air/fuel mixture;
- c. detecting optically at least a portion of electromagnetic energy emitted by the heated igniter;
- d. converting the detected electromagnetic energy to a signal that represents temperature of the igniter;
- and
- e. regulating electrical energy to the igniter in response to said signal to maintain the igniter substantially at a predetermined temperature through ignition of the air/fuel mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.