EP1457671B1 - Zündspulenanordnung - Google Patents

Zündspulenanordnung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1457671B1
EP1457671B1 EP03100660A EP03100660A EP1457671B1 EP 1457671 B1 EP1457671 B1 EP 1457671B1 EP 03100660 A EP03100660 A EP 03100660A EP 03100660 A EP03100660 A EP 03100660A EP 1457671 B1 EP1457671 B1 EP 1457671B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ignition coil
coil assembly
secondary winding
housing
fixing means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03100660A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1457671A1 (de
Inventor
Klaus Gernert
Sami Ruotsalainen
Peter Weyand
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Delphi Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
Delphi Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Delphi Technologies Inc filed Critical Delphi Technologies Inc
Priority to DE60317301T priority Critical patent/DE60317301T2/de
Priority to AT03100660T priority patent/ATE377706T1/de
Priority to EP03100660A priority patent/EP1457671B1/de
Publication of EP1457671A1 publication Critical patent/EP1457671A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1457671B1 publication Critical patent/EP1457671B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T13/00—Sparking plugs
    • H01T13/40—Sparking plugs structurally combined with other devices
    • H01T13/44—Sparking plugs structurally combined with other devices with transformers, e.g. for high-frequency ignition
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02P—IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P3/00—Other installations
    • F02P3/02—Other installations having inductive energy storage, e.g. arrangements of induction coils
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F38/00—Adaptations of transformers or inductances for specific applications or functions
    • H01F38/12—Ignition, e.g. for IC engines

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to an ignition coil assembly.
  • Traditionally gasoline engines have used ignition systems including one single coil to control all of the spark plugs, via e.g. a mechanical distributor, generally of the kind having a rotary distributor arm.
  • a mechanical distributor generally of the kind having a rotary distributor arm.
  • Such a system has the drawback that it necessitates a bundle of high-tension cables which connect the secondary of the ignition coil to the distributor, and the distributor to each of the spark plugs.
  • Such cables must be heavily insulated to contain the voltage and must also be coated with an outer jacket that can withstand high temperatures and chemical attack. Apart from the cost of the bundle of cables, the latter is subject to electrical losses, which give rise to substantial electromagnetic interference (EMI).
  • EMI electromagnetic interference
  • an ignition coil assembly is mounted on top of each spark plug in the engine.
  • Such an ignition coil assembly generally comprises a central magnetic core around which two spools of plastic material are arranged coaxially. Primary and secondary windings are wound on these spools, and these components are integrated into a housing, into which they are encapsulated by moulding over with plastic material.
  • the bottom of the housing normally has a connecting portion, in which a high-tension terminal is accommodated for connection to the spark-plug. In the housing, this high-tension terminal is connected to a first end of the secondary winding.
  • the housing is further provided with fixing flanges for its mounting to the engine block.
  • Such an ignition coil assembly typically also includes a metallic shield enclosing the windings to close the magnetic circuit, as well as a driving circuit.
  • the housing has a connector part for connection to an associated cable bundle, which delivers the power for exciting the primary winding.
  • One pin of this connector is connected to the opposite, second end of the secondary wiring, so as to provide a ground connection.
  • Known "plug top coil” assemblies are described in FR 2 822 584 and FR 2 641 579 .
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an improved ignition coil assembly that causes less electromagnetic interference. This object is achieved by an ignition coil assembly as claimed in claim 1.
  • An ignition coil assembly in accordance with the invention comprises a primary winding, a secondary winding and a magnetic core.
  • the primary and secondary windings are coaxially arranged around the magnetic core.
  • the primary and secondary windings as well as the magnetic core are accommodated in a plastic housing, which further comprises a fixing means for fixing to an engine.
  • a high-tension terminal is connected to a first end of the secondary winding for connecting a spark plug of the engine.
  • the fixing means comprises an electrically conductive portion, which permits an electric contact with the engine upon fixing thereto.
  • the secondary winding has an opposite second end, which is connected to the electrically conductive portion of the fixing means.
  • the second end of the secondary winding is directly put to ground, via the fixing means.
  • the secondary return path used in the ignition coil assembly of the invention is extremely short, thereby minimising the electromagnetic noise generated by the coil assembly.
  • the present ignition coil assembly allows simplifying the connector structure and cable harness, by eliminating the need for the secondary winding ground cable, which also leads to cost savings.
  • the fixing means may comprise any portion of the plastic housing designed for fixing, e.g. with a hole, this fixing portion also preferably integrating a metallic element connected with the second end of the secondary winding and that comes into contact with the engine upon fixing thereto.
  • the fixing means comprises a plastic flange portion integrally formed with the plastic housing, the flange portion having a bore therein and a metallic mounting bushing integrated in the bore.
  • the second end of the secondary winding is connected to the metallic mounting bushing.
  • the metallic mounting bushing has a double function: firstly, to reinforce the fixing means by providing a robust portion of the housing and secondly, to provide a ground connection by contact with the engine block.
  • a preferred metal for the mounting bushing is brass.
  • a metallic shield surrounds the primary and secondary windings in the housing.
  • the second end of the secondary winding is connected to the shield and the latter is connected to the electrically conductive portion of the fixing means.
  • the housing may further include a connector part for connection to an associated cable bundle, that provides the power for exciting the primary winding.
  • a driving circuit for the primary winding is preferably also integrated in the plastic housing.
  • the housing further comprises a plug connecting portion in which the high-tension terminal is accommodated.
  • This plug connecting portion may be adapted to be directly connected to the top of a spark-plug.
  • the high-tension terminal of the present ignition coil assembly is preferably connected to the plug via a flexible rubber boot including a conductive spring.
  • the flexible boot has one end attached to the plug connecting portion and the other end adapted for mounting over a spark-plug in the engine.
  • the various components accommodated in the housing are preferably encapsulated, to seal the high voltage, keep the components in place and insulate them from each other. This may be done by filling the housing with resin or other adequate synthetic material.
  • Fig.1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ignition coil assembly 10 mounted on top of a spark plug 12 in a plug well (indicated in phantom lines 13) of a gasoline engine.
  • the ignition coil assembly 10 includes a plastic housing 14, which is moulded in such a way as to define a cavity 16, in which a magnetic core 18, a primary winding 20 and a secondary winding 22 are accommodated.
  • the primary and secondary winding 20, resp. 22, are preferably coaxially arranged around the magnetic core 18, the secondary winding 22 surrounding the primary winding 20.
  • the primary winding 20 is herein directly wound on the magnetic core 18, but could also be supported by a spool.
  • the secondary winding 22 is wound on a plastic spool 24 enclosing the primary winding 20.
  • the magnetic core 18 is e.g. a plastic-coated sintered iron core with a central part of cylindrical cross-section.
  • the plastic housing 14 further includes a plug connecting portion 26, in which a high-tension terminal 28 is accommodated, the high-tension terminal 28 being connected with a first end of the secondary winding 22 by means of a wire 29.
  • the assembly 10 further comprises a flexible rubber boot 30 attached to the plug connecting portion 26 and fitted over the spark plug 12. Inside the boot 30, a metallic spring 32 is arranged so as to be compressed between the high-tension terminal 28 and the metallic head 34 of the spark plug, whereby electric contact is ensured.
  • Reference sign 36 indicates a printed circuit board with a driving circuit for driving the primary winding 20. Accordingly, both ends of the primary winding 20 are connected to the printed circuit board 36, which is e.g. so designed that one end of the primary winding is connected to the driving circuit and the other end to the battery voltage.
  • the housing 14 also includes a connector part 38, with pins 40 (only one can be seen in Fig.1) that are connected to the printed circuit board 36.
  • Connector part 38 is formed as a socket to receive a plug (not shown) from an associated cable bundle, which provides the power required for driving circuit and exciting the primary winding 20.
  • Reference sign 42 indicates a metallic shield that surrounds the secondary winding 22 on most of its periphery.
  • the metallic shield is e.g. a cylindrically shaped foil of magnetic steel.
  • Fixing of the ignition coil assembly 10 to the engine is carried out by means of fixing means which preferably comprise a fixing flange 44 having a bore 46 therein and a metallic mounting bushing 48, e.g. of brass, integrated in the bore 46.
  • fixing means which preferably comprise a fixing flange 44 having a bore 46 therein and a metallic mounting bushing 48, e.g. of brass, integrated in the bore 46.
  • the second end of the secondary winding 22-opposite the first end connected to the high-tension terminal 28- is connected to this mounting bushing 48.
  • the second end of the secondary winding 22 is connected to the mounting bushing 48 via the metallic shield 42.
  • a first wire 50 connects the second end of the secondary winding 22 to the shield 42 and a second wire 52, extending in the plastic flange 44, connects the shield 42 to the bushing 48.
  • a metallic bolt (not shown) is inserted through the mounting bushing and screwed in a threaded bore in the cylinder head so as to firmly fix the
  • the secondary winding 22 Upon fixing of the ignition coil assembly, the secondary winding 22 is put to ground. Indeed, the second end of the secondary winding 22 is in electrical contact with the engine block via the first wire 50, the metallic shield 42, the second wire 42, the metallic bushing 48 and the fixing bolt screwed in the cylinder head. Hence, a very short secondary return path is provided via the fixing means, which reduces electromagnetic interferences and further eliminates the need for a special ground cable in the associated cable bundle. It will be noted that this is achieved, although the housing 14 and flange 44 are made of plastic, i.e. non-conductive material.
  • the components accommodated in the cavity 16 are preferably encapsulated. This is done by filling the cavity 16-typically under vacuum-with a resin or other adequate synthetic material 54 (symbolised by dots in Fig.1). Although not used in the present embodiment, the cavity may be closed by a cover.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Zündspulenanordnung (10) für einen Verbrennungsmotor, umfassend:
    eine Primärwicklung (20);
    eine Sekundärwicklung (22);
    einen Magnetkern (18), wobei die Primär- und die Sekundärwicklung (20; 22) koaxial um den Magnetkern (18) herum angeordnet sind;
    ein Kunststoffgehäuse (14), in dem die Primärwicklung (20), die Sekundärwicklung (22) und der Magnetkern (18) aufgenommen werden, wobei das Kunststoffgehäuse (14) Befestigungsmittel (44) zur Befestigung der Zündspulenanordnung (10) an einem Motor umfasst;
    einen Hochspannungsanschluss (28), der mit einem ersten Ende der Sekundärwicklung (22) für den Anschluss an eine Zündkerze (12) des Motors verbunden ist;
    eine metallische Abschirmung (42), die die Primär- und die Sekundärwicklung (20; 22) in dem Gehäuse (14) umgibt;
    wobei die Befestigungsmittel (44) einen elektrisch leitenden Teil (48) umfassen, der mit einem elektrisch leitenden Teil des Motors bei Befestigung an demselben in Kontakt kommt; und
    wobei die metallische Abschirmung (42) mit dem elektrisch leitenden Teil (48) der Befestigungsmittel (44) verbunden ist;
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    die Sekundärwicklung (22) ein entgegengesetztes, zweites Ende aufweist, das mit der metallischen Abschirmung (42) so verbunden ist, dass das entgegengesetzte, zweite Ende der Sekundärwicklung (22) über die metallische Abschirmung (42) mit dem elektrisch leitenden Teil (48) der Befestigungsmittel (44) verbunden ist
  2. Zündspulenanordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Befestigungsmittel einen zur Befestigung ausgelegten Teil (44) des Gehäuses umfassen, in den ein metallisches Bauteil (48) integriert ist, wobei das metallische Bauteil (48) mit dem zweiten Ende der Sekundärwicklung (22) verbunden ist
  3. Zündspulenanordnung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    das Befestigungsmittel einen Flanschteil (44) umfasst, das mit dem Kunststoffgehäuse (14) einstückig geformt ist, wobei das Flanschteil (44) eine Bohrung (46) und eine in die Bohrung (46) integrierte, metallische Befestigungsbuchse (48) aufweist; und
    das zweite Ende der Sekundärwicklung (22) mit der metallischen Befestigungsbuchse (48) verbunden ist
  4. Zündspulenanordnung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch einen Ansteuerkreis im Gehäuse, der zur Ansteuerung der Primärwicklung (20) dient
  5. Zündspulenanordnung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuse (14) ein Verbinderteil (38) für den Anschluss an ein zugeordnetes Kabelbündel umfasst.
  6. Zündspulenanordnung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuse (14) einen Steckverbindungsteil (26) aufweist, in dem der Hochspannungsanschluss (28) aufgenommen wird
  7. Zündspulenanordnung nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, gekennzeichnet durch eine flexible Muffe (30), wobei ein Ende derselben am Steckverbindungsteil (28) befestigt ist und ein anderes Ende derselben, dazu dient, über eine Zündkerze im Motor montiert zu werden
  8. Zündspulenanordnung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Bauteile im Gehäuse (14) gekapselt sind.
EP03100660A 2003-03-14 2003-03-14 Zündspulenanordnung Expired - Lifetime EP1457671B1 (de)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE60317301T DE60317301T2 (de) 2003-03-14 2003-03-14 Zündspulenanordnung
AT03100660T ATE377706T1 (de) 2003-03-14 2003-03-14 Zündspulenanordnung
EP03100660A EP1457671B1 (de) 2003-03-14 2003-03-14 Zündspulenanordnung

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03100660A EP1457671B1 (de) 2003-03-14 2003-03-14 Zündspulenanordnung

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1457671A1 EP1457671A1 (de) 2004-09-15
EP1457671B1 true EP1457671B1 (de) 2007-11-07

Family

ID=32748963

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03100660A Expired - Lifetime EP1457671B1 (de) 2003-03-14 2003-03-14 Zündspulenanordnung

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1457671B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE377706T1 (de)
DE (1) DE60317301T2 (de)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102007026669A1 (de) * 2007-06-08 2009-01-15 Robert Bosch Gmbh Zündspule
JP6375880B2 (ja) * 2014-11-05 2018-08-22 株式会社デンソー 内燃機関用点火コイル
US10084291B2 (en) * 2015-10-20 2018-09-25 Delphi Technologies Ip Limited Ignition coil being adjustable to accommodate different mounting environments

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990002261A1 (en) * 1988-08-29 1990-03-08 Robert Bosch Gmbh Ignition circuit with interference suppression
FR2641579A1 (fr) * 1989-01-09 1990-07-13 Siemens Bendix Automotive Elec Transformateur individuel pour l'alimentation d'une bougie d'allumage d'un melange air-carburant dans un moteur a combustion interne et dispositif d'allumage equipe d'un tel transformateur
JPH08293421A (ja) * 1995-04-24 1996-11-05 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 内燃機関用点火装置
US6437674B1 (en) * 2001-01-31 2002-08-20 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Ignition apparatus having built-in noise suppression
FR2822584B1 (fr) * 2001-03-21 2003-06-20 Sagem Bobine d'allumage a rayonnement electromagnetique reduit

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE377706T1 (de) 2007-11-15
EP1457671A1 (de) 2004-09-15
DE60317301T2 (de) 2008-08-28
DE60317301D1 (de) 2007-12-20

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