Apparatus and method for combustion initiation
AssigneeNology Engineering, Inc.
InventorsWerner Funk, Travis L. Eiler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for combustion initiation in an internal combustion engine is provided. A capacitive spark plug boot uses the engine cylinder head as an outer capacitor member. The capacitive spark plug boot contains a transformer, an inner capacitor member and an insulator. The insulator surrounds the inner capacitor member, with an outer surface of the insulator sized to engage a cylinder head cavity surrounding the spark plug. The capacitor stores electrical energy received from the transformer, and delivers it to the spark plug upon formation of a spark.
Claims31
A capacitor for an ignition system comprising an electrical current source and a spark plug mounted in a cylinder head, the capacitor comprising:
- a transformer;
- an inner capacitor member electrically coupled to the transformer;
- the inner capacitor member structured to carry electric current from the transformer to the spark plug;
- an insulator surrounding the inner capacitor member, an outer surface of the insulator sized to engage the cylinder head;
- wherein the inner capacitor member, the insulator and the cylinder head comprise a capacitor.
A spark plug boot configured to individual coil-on-plug ignition systems, each ignition system comprising an electrical current source and a spark plug mounted in a cylinder head cavity, the spark plug boot comprising:
- a transformer structured to communicate with the electrical current source;
- an inner capacitor member structured to carry electric current from the electrical current source to the spark plug;
- and
- an insulator surrounding the an inner capacitor member center element, an outer surface of the insulator sized to engage a surface of the cylinder head cavity;
- wherein the inner capacitor member, the insulator and the cylinder head comprise a capacitor that has a capacitance which is optimized for each coil-on-plug ignition system.
A method for optimizing a storage capacity of a capacitor included within a coil-on-plug ignition system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a capacitor, the capacitor comprising an inner capacitor member substantially surrounding a transformer, an insulator surrounding the inner capacitor member, the outer surface of the insulator sized to engage a cylinder head, with the inner capacitor member, the insulator and the cylinder head comprising the capacitor;
- determining an available electric current from the coil-on-plug ignition system communicating with the capacitor;
- selecting an optimum capacitance value for the coil-on-plug ignition system by finding a maximum capacitance value and subtracting a safety margin;
- and
- adjusting a capacitance of the capacitor to approximate the optimum capacitance value.
A spark plug boot for a coil-on-plug ignition system comprising an electrical current source and a spark plug mounted in a cylinder head cavity, the spark plug boot comprising:
- a transformer structured to communicate with the electrical current source;
- an inner capacitor member structured to carry electric current from the transformer to the spark plug;
- and
- an insulator surrounding the inner capacitor member;
- and
- an outer member positioned about at least a portion of the insulator, the outer member sized to engage the cylinder head cavity, the outer member selected from the group consisting of:
- a cylinder with an inner surface engaging the spark plug boot, and a deflectable rib attached to an outer surface of the cylinder, the deflectable rib structured to slidably engage the cylinder head;
- a cylinder including two substantially half-cylinder sections, each section having two edges, with one section edge attached to the cylinder so that the half-cylinder sections are deflectably attached to the cylinder and can thereby deflectably engage the cylinder head;
- and
- a cylinder including two substantially half-cylinder members attached to the cylinder, the half-cylinder members having a maximum diameter near a middle of the cylinder, with the diameter decreasing toward each end of the cylinder, the half-cylinder members including a longitudinal slot so that the half-cylinder members can deflectably engage the cylinder head;
- wherein the center element, the insulator and the outer member comprise a capacitor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.