US3399658A - Spark ignition system - Google Patents

Spark ignition system Download PDF

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Publication number
US3399658A
US3399658A US545405A US54540566A US3399658A US 3399658 A US3399658 A US 3399658A US 545405 A US545405 A US 545405A US 54540566 A US54540566 A US 54540566A US 3399658 A US3399658 A US 3399658A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
winding
capacitor
turn
inductor
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
US545405A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gilbert Brian
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.)
ZF International UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Lucas Industries Ltd
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 Lucas Industries Ltd filed Critical Lucas Industries Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3399658A publication Critical patent/US3399658A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • F02P3/06—Other installations having capacitive energy storage
    • F02P3/08—Layout of circuits
    • F02P3/0876—Layout of circuits the storage capacitor being charged by means of an energy converter (DC-DC converter) or of an intermediate storage inductance
    • F02P3/0884—Closing the discharge circuit of the storage capacitor with semiconductor devices
    • 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
    • F02P3/04—Layout of circuits
    • F02P3/0407—Opening or closing the primary coil circuit with electronic switching means
    • F02P3/0435—Opening or closing the primary coil circuit with electronic switching means with semiconductor devices

Definitions

  • This invention relates to spark ignition systems for internal combustion engines.
  • a spark ignition system comprises in combination a switch which can be turned on and off by signals applied to a control electrode forming part of the switch, means for applying signals to said control electrode to turn the switch on and ofl and thereby produce the required sparks, a transformer having a primary winding in series with said switch, and a secondary winding coupled to said triggering electrode, said transformer increasing the drive to said triggering electrode when the switch is turned off and so reducing the time taken to turn the said switch otf, and a capacitor connected in circuit with said switch in such a position that when the switch starts to turn otf current flowing through the switch is diverted through the capactor untl the capacitor is charged, the position of said capacitor being such that it does not dissipate energy stored in said primary winding.
  • FIGURES 1 and 2 are circuit diagrams illustrating two examples of the invention.
  • terminals 11, 12 which in use are connected to the battery of a vehicle so as to be positive and negative, Conveniently, the positive terminal is earthed as indicated.
  • an engine-driven interrupter 13 Connected in series between the terminals 11, 12 is an engine-driven interrupter 13, a resistor 14, and an inductor 15.
  • the interrupter 13 is bridged by a capacitor 16, and a point intermediate the resistor 14 and inductor 15 is connected to the terminal 12 through parallel paths containing respectively a capacitor 17 and a resistor 18, and is also connected through the secondary winding 19 of a transformer 21 to the gate of a gate controlled switch 22.
  • the winding 19 is bridged by a resistor 23.
  • the switch 22 is a device havng properties similar to a controlled rectifier, plus the additional property that it can be switched oif by a negative signal between its gate and cathode.
  • the device 22 has its cathode con nected to the terminal 12, and its anode connectedto the terminal 11 through a series circuit including the primary winding 20 of the transformer 21, the primary winding 24 of an ignition transformer 25, and a resistor 26.
  • the winding 20 and switch 22 are bridged by a capacitor 27, and the secondary winding 28 of the transformer 25 is con nected through a distributor 29 to the plugs 30 of the engine in turn.
  • the purpose of the resistors 18, 23 is to minimize or prevent oscillations in the circuit including the gate of the switch 22.
  • the capacitors 16, 17 limit the rate of rise of voltage across the nterrupter 13, thereby minimising arcing.
  • the capacitor 27 in addition to its function already described, limits the voltage across the switch 22 to an acceptable value.
  • the connections between the supply terminals 11, 12 and the gate of the switch 22 are the same as those shown in FIGURE 1, and are designated by the same reference numerals.
  • the cathode of the switch 22 is con nected to the terminal 12, and the anode of the switch 22 is connected to one end of the winding 20 as before.
  • the other end of the winding 20 is connected to the terminal 11 through a diode 31, an inductor 32 and a resistor 33 in series.
  • the way in which the sparlgs are produced is somewh'at different, In order to understand the operation, assume that thecapacitor 34 is charged and the switch 22 is turned off.
  • the capacitor 34 discharges through the winding 24 and the switch 22 and winding 20 to produce the required spark.
  • the switch 22 is turned ofi, the energy stored in inductor 32 is transferred to the capacitor 34, the winding 24 being bridged by the diode 35 while the capacitor 34 is being charged. The cycle is then rpeated to produce the next spark. It will be appre- Ciated that the transformer 21 assists in turning the switch 22 oif as in FIGURE 1, andthat the capacitor 34 is charged to a voltage considerably in excess of the battery voltage.
  • the capacitor 34 aiso perforrns the function of the capacitor 27 in FIGURE 1, in that it maintains current flow in the winding 32 until the switch 22 is fully off, whereupon the stored energy is transferred to capacitor
  • the transformer 21 assists in turning on the switch 22 rapidly as well as switching it oi.
  • this effect is not important, but it is of assistance in FIGURE 2, because the spark is produced when the switch 22 is turned on.
  • FIGURE 2 the spark is not produced when the switch 22 is turned oif, it is still of importance that the switch 22 should be turned off rapidly, so that maximum energy is transferred from the inductor 32 to the capacitor 34, with a minimum of dissipation in switch 22.
  • the switch 22 could be replaced by other forms of switch the conduction of which can be contro1ied by signals applied to a control eiectrode.
  • the switch 22 could be replaced by a transistor.
  • a transistor does not of course require a bias to turn it oif, it being only necessary to remove the bias which turns the transistor on.
  • the circuit components would of course be chosen to provide a bias to the transistor as long as the transistor is required to conduet.
  • spa rlg ignition system for an internal cornbustion engine, comprising in combination a D.C. source, a series circuit connected across said D.C. source and including a storage winding, the prirnary winding of a feedback transformer and a semi-conductor switch which can be turned on and otf by.signais applied to a controi elec trede forming part of the switch, means operable in timed relationshipto the engine for applying signals to said control electrode to turn said switch on and to turn said switch off, a secondry winding on said feedback transforrner, mens coupling said secondary winding to said control electrode whereby said feedback transformer assists rapid turn-oi of said switch, a capacitor, means coupling said capacitor in the circuit whereby said capacitor maintains current flow in said storage winding when said switch starts to turn otf untilsaidswitch is fnlly off, said capacitor having no effect on said feedback transformer but ensuring that current flow in said storage winding is interrupted rapidly, and meansutilising the energy available when
  • a system as ciaimed in claim 1 including an ignition transformer having a secondry winding coupled to said piugs in turn through a distributor and a primary winding constituted by said storage winding, each spark being produced when the switch is fully turned off.
  • a system asc1airned in claim 1 including a diode in said series circuit positioned between said storage winding and said prirnary winding, said capacitor being connected across the series circuit of said primary winding and said switch in series with the primary winding of an ignition transformer the secondary winding of which is connected to the plugs of the engine in turn through a distributor, the energy storcd in the storage inductor being transferred to the capacitor when said switch is fully ofi and being retained by said diode, and each spark being produced by discharge of the capacitor when said switch is turned on.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
US545405A 1965-05-05 1966-04-26 Spark ignition system Expired - Lifetime US3399658A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB18904/65A GB1136913A (en) 1965-05-05 1965-05-05 Spark ignition systems

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3399658A true US3399658A (en) 1968-09-03

Family

ID=10120419

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US545405A Expired - Lifetime US3399658A (en) 1965-05-05 1966-04-26 Spark ignition system

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3399658A (id)
DE (1) DE1539228B2 (id)
ES (1) ES326674A1 (id)
GB (1) GB1136913A (id)
NL (1) NL6606144A (id)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3626200A (en) * 1968-10-02 1971-12-07 Hitachi Ltd Electric pulse generator means

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3263124A (en) * 1963-08-14 1966-07-26 Stuermer Karl Solid state capacitor discharge ignition system
US3297911A (en) * 1964-04-14 1967-01-10 Tung Sol Electric Inc Capacitive discharge ignition circuit using a gate controlled semiconductor switch

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3263124A (en) * 1963-08-14 1966-07-26 Stuermer Karl Solid state capacitor discharge ignition system
US3297911A (en) * 1964-04-14 1967-01-10 Tung Sol Electric Inc Capacitive discharge ignition circuit using a gate controlled semiconductor switch

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3626200A (en) * 1968-10-02 1971-12-07 Hitachi Ltd Electric pulse generator means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1539228B2 (de) 1973-05-30
DE1539228A1 (de) 1972-03-23
NL6606144A (id) 1966-11-07
ES326674A1 (es) 1967-03-01
GB1136913A (en) 1968-12-18
DE1539228C3 (id) 1974-01-03

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