Plasma ignition plug for an internal combustion engine
OwnerSerge V. Monros, David G. Yurthinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plasma ignition plug for an internal combustion engine has a thorium alloyed tungsten anode separated from a vanadium- or beryllium-alloyed copper cathode by a boron nitride ceramic powder insulator. A generally semi-spherical titanium emitter is electrically coupled to the anode and disposed within an end of the insulator so as to form an annular gap with a torus on the end of the cathode. The surface of the emitter protrudes slightly beyond the rim of the torus on the cathode. High amplitude pulses driven into the anode arc across the annular gap to the cathode at more than twenty-four spots simultaneously, generating a plasma ignition front.
Claims19
A plasma ignition system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a distributor in the internal combustion engine for distributing electrical energy pulses for ignition;
- a plasma ignition plug having a generally semispherical anode disposed within a generally toroidal cathode defining an annular spark gap;
- a plug wire connecting the plasma ignition plug to the distributor for transmitting the electrical energy pulses from the distributor to the plasma ignition plug;
- and
- means for controlling current, amperage, or timing of the electrical energy pulses, wherein the means for controlling is in-line with the plug wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.