GB609277A - - Google Patents

Abstract

609,277. Ignition systems. BENDIX AVIATION CORPORATION. March 11, 1946, No. 7502. Convention date, March 15, 1945. [Class 7 (iv)] In an ignition system comprising a storage condenser, a current supply for charging the condenser and an electronic discharge valve which initiates the discharge of this condenser through a spark-gap (a transformer being used if desired between the discharge valve and the gap to raise the gap voltage to a spark-producing value), the discharge valve including an anode and a cathode between which the main discharge takes place and a grid which is biassed to make the valve conductive for initiating the main discharge, a contact maker is provided for connecting the grid of the discharge valve to the high potential side of a condenser for permitting a charge in this latter condenser to make the valve conductive. As shown, a condenser 21 is charged by a magneto 10 having a tapped secondary winding 14, through two half-wave rectifiers 20. The rectifiers may be cold-cathode point-to-plane rectifiers. A full wave rectifier could be used. The discharge of the condenser through a distributer 36 to the primary 38 of each in turn of a number of transformers 39, each associated with a sparking - plug is controlled by a strobotron cold-cathode gaseous discharge tube 23. The tube 23 is normally non-conductive since it is connected to earth through a resistance 28. The tube is rendered conductive by a contact-breaker 32 which periodically connects a second condenser 30, charged through a resistance 31 at the same time as the condenser 21, to a grid 26 of the tube. The contactbreaker 32 closes just after the contact-breaker 15 of the magneto has opened. The resistance 28 allows a potential to build up between the grid 26 and the cathode 23 of the tube when the contact-breaker 32 closes. Instead of the magneto a direct current generator may be used to charge the condenser.