US3776204A - Speed limiting systems for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Speed limiting systems for internal combustion engines Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3776204A
US3776204A US00157252A US3776204DA US3776204A US 3776204 A US3776204 A US 3776204A US 00157252 A US00157252 A US 00157252A US 3776204D A US3776204D A US 3776204DA US 3776204 A US3776204 A US 3776204A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
transistor
turned
switching device
capacitor
thyristor
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
US00157252A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
P Harris
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 US3776204A publication Critical patent/US3776204A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • F02P9/00—Electric spark ignition control, not otherwise provided for
    • F02P9/002—Control of spark intensity, intensifying, lengthening, suppression
    • F02P9/005—Control of spark intensity, intensifying, lengthening, suppression by weakening or suppression of sparks to limit the engine speed

Definitions

  • a speed limiting system for an internal combustion engine has a switching device in series with the primary winding of an ignition coil, a spark being produced when the switching device is turned off.
  • the speed limiting system comprises a thyristor connected in a circuit across the primary winding and a transistor which is coupled to the switching device and is turned on as a result of opening of the switching device.
  • a speed limiting system is intended for use with an internal combustion engine having an ignition coil with a primary winding and a secondary winding, means connecting said secondary winding to the plugs of the engine in turn, and an engine driven switching device through which the primary winding is connected to a dc source, the engine driven switching device being turned on and off in timed relationship to the engine and a spark being produced when said switching device is turned off to break current flow in said primary winding, said system comprising a thyristor connected in a circuit across said primary winding, -a transistor which is coupled to the switching device and is turned on as a result of opening of said switching device, means for initiating flow of gate current to the thyristor at a predetermined instant of time after the transistor has been turned on, and maintaining gate current for a predetermined period of time, and means for holding said transistor on until gate current is supplied to the thyristor, said thyristor preventing production of a further spark if said switching device is turned off during said predetermined period of time,
  • the arrangement has the important advantage that the circuit cannot be re-triggered by signals received from the engine driven switching device. This is of particular importance where, as is usual, the engine driven switching device is a contact breaker, because when a contact breaker opens, it produces an oscillatory signal which dies away and is then followed by a further signal at a later point in the cycle. This further signal appears before the supply of gate current to the thyristor is allowed.
  • FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating one example of the invention.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are graphs illustrating the operation of the circuit.
  • the ignition coil of the vehicle includes a primary winding 54 which is connected in series with-a contact breaker 55 between the lines 51, 52, the contact breaker 55 being bridged by a capacitor 56 in the usual way, and the secondary winding 57 of the ignition coil being connected through a distributor 58 to the spark plugs 59 of the engine in turn.
  • the junction of the winding 54 and contact breaker 55 is connected through a diode 61, a resistor 62 and a resistor 63 in series to the base of an n-p-n transistor 64, the junction of resistors 62 and 63 being connected to the line 52 through a capacitor 65, and the base of the transistor 64 being connected to the line 52 through a resistor 66.
  • the collector of the transistor 64 is connected through a resistor 67 to a supply .line 68 which is coupled to the line 51 through a resistor 69 and is earthed through a Zener diode 71.
  • the collector of the transistor 64 is further connected to a capacitor 72 and a resistor 73 in series to the base of an n-p-n transistor 74, the junction of the capacitor 72 and resistor 73 being connected to the line 68 through a resistor 75.
  • the transistor 74 has its emitter connected to the line 52 and its collector connected through a resistor 76 to the line 68, and further connected through a capacitor 77 and a resistor 78 in series to the base of an n-p-n transistor 79, the emitter of which is connected to the line 52.
  • the junction of the capacitor 77 and resistor 78 is connected to the line 68 through a resistor 81, and the collector of the transistor 79 is connected through a resistor 82 to the line 68, through a resistor to the base of the transistor 64, and through a capacitor 83 and a resistor 84 in series to the base of an n-p-n transistor 85.
  • the junction of the capacitor 83 and resistor 84 is connected to the line 68 through a resistor 86, whilst the transistor 85 has its emitter connected to the line 52 and its collector connected through a resistor 87 and a diode 88 in series to the line 51
  • the junction of the resistor 87 and diode 88 is connected to the gate of a thyristor 89, the cathode of which is connected to the line 51 and its anode of which is connected to the junction of the winding 54 and contact breaker 55.
  • the gate-anode path of the thyristor 89 is bridged by a resistor 91.
  • the contact breaker 55 is opened and closed in timed relationship to the engine, and when it is closed energy is stored in the winding 54. On opening the contact breaker 55, the energy stored in "the winding 54 produces a spark at the appropriate plug 59 in the usual way.
  • the interval between successive openings of the contact breaker 55 will be dependent on the speed of the engine, and will decrease as the speed of the engine increases.
  • the circuit is designed to prevent production of sparks when the engine speed is above a predetermined value, corresponding to the length of time between successive openings of the contact breaker 55 being below a predetermined value.
  • the circuit operates in a manner which is illustrated by FIG. 2.
  • the first four wave forms from the top relate to the transistors 64, 74, 79 and respectively, and indicate whether the respective transistors are conducting or not conducting.
  • the bottom waveform illustrates the gate current supplied to the thyristor 88.
  • the instants at which the contact breaker 55 open are indicated by the numerals zero on the time scale.
  • the waveform at the junction of the contact breaker 55 and winding 54 is in the form of a short burst of oscillations, and these oscillations are smoothed by the diode 61 and capacitor 65 and then serve to turn on the transistor 64.
  • vAs the contact breaker 55 opens the transistors 74, 79 and 85 are all on and no gate current is supplied to the thyristor 88, but conduction of the transistor 64 results in current flowing through the resistor 75 being diverted by way of the capacitor 72 and the collector-emitter path of the transistor 64, so that the transistor 74 turns off as indicated in FIG. 2, and remains off for a period of time t1, which represents the time taken for the capacitor 72 to charge.
  • a further resistor 100 is connected between the collector of the transistor 74 and the base of the transistor 64 so that during the time t1 the transistor 64 is held on by current flowing through this additional resistor and the resistor 76.
  • the transistor 79 stays off until the capacitor 77 has charged, and this time period is represented in FIG. 2 by :2. At the end of the period :2, the capacitor 77 is charged, and the transistor 79 turns on again. The transistor 64 can now turn off if no base current is being received from the capacitor 63.
  • the capacitor 83 which when the transistor 79 was turned off discharged through resistor 82 and resistor 84, starts to charge through the collector-emitter of the transistor 79, and resistor 86 so turning off the transistor 85.
  • the transistor, 85 remains off for a period of time :3 during which the capacitor 83 charges, and then is turned on again by current flowing through the resistors 86 and 84.
  • gate current can be supplied to the thyristor 89.
  • the anode of the thyristor 89 will be at a considerably higher potential than the line 51 when the contact breaker 55 opens, so that the thrysistor 89 can still conduct even though its cathode is connected to the positive line.
  • This arrangement of the thyristor 89 has the advantage that because the cathode is connected to the positive line there is no possibility of the thyristor 89 conducting if the engine stalls.
  • the contact breaker 55 When the contact breaker 55 opens, it produces a further pulse sometime after the opening. This is a known feature of ignition systems, but it could cause some difficulty if the transistor 64 were not held on for the period of time t1+t2.
  • the period t2 is chosen so that this additional pulse occurs during the period 12, since the circuit is so designed that the transistor 64 is intended to be conducting during this period, the additional pulse from the contact breaker has no effect.
  • the circuit At the end of the period t3, the circuit remains in its steady state as indicated in FIG. 2 with the transistors 74,79 and 85 all conducting. The cycle then re-starts when the contact breaker 55 opens, as clearly shown-in FIG. 2.
  • the thyristor 89 can be supplied with gate current during the period of time t3, but the gate current is inhibited before the contact breaker opens again, so that the thyristor 89 plays no part in the operation of the circuit.
  • the thyristor 89 When the contact breaker 55 opens, the thyristor 89 is supplied with gate current through resistor 91 as clearly seen in FIG. 3, and so the current in the winding 54 is maintained by way of the thyristor, and no spark is produced. However, the transistor 64 is turned on again and so another cycle re-commences, with the transistor 74 being turned on after a period tlin the new cycle, where tlis of course equal to t1. The only difference is that the transistor is now off at the beginning of the new cycle, and in fact remains off until the end of the period 13 in the previous cycle, as indicated in FIG. 3.
  • the transistor 85 is on again at the end of the period :2- in the new cycle, at which point it turns off to perform its function of allowing the thyristor 89 to conduct. It should be noted that although in the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 the transistor 85 remains off until the end of the period t3 in the first cycle, it is possible for the transistor 85 to turn on before this stage. Thus, at the end of the period tlin the second cycle, the transistor 79 turns off, and if the transistor 85 is still off at this stage, it will automatically turn on. Because for simplicity the periods 11, t2 and :3 have been shown as equal in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is not possible for the period tlto terminate before the period t3.
  • the period tlcan terminate before the period t3, and so the transistor 85 will turn on again at this point in time.
  • the operation is of course unaffected by this feature, because the important feature of the transistor 85 is that it should be nonconducting after the period t2 in the first cycle or t2- in the second cycle.
  • one or more of the resistors 75, 81,86 is variable so that the three delay periods can be set to suit different requirements.
  • the circuit can also be used when the contact breaker 55 is replaced by some form of semi-conductor device which is turned on and off by the engine.
  • a speed limiting system for an internal combustion engine having an ignition coil with a primary winding and a secondary winding, means connecting said secondary winding to the plugs of the engine in turn, and an engine driven switching device through which the primary winding is connected to a dc.
  • the engine driven switching device being turned on and off in timed relationship to the engine and a spark being produced when said switching device is turned off to break current flow in said primary winding
  • said system comprising a thyristor connected in a circuit across said primary winding, a transistor which is coupled to the switching device and is turned on as a result of opening of said switching device, means for initiating flow of gate current to the thyristor at a predetermined instant of time after the transistor has been turned on, and allowing gate current for a predetermined period of time, and means for holding said transistor on until gate current is supplied to the thyristor, said thyristor preventing production of a further spark if said switching device is turned off during said predetermined period of time, and said predetermined instant of time being chosen so that the switching device is never turned off before said predetermined period of time commences.
  • a system as claimed in claim 1 including a first capacitor which charges when the first-mentioned transistor is turned on, a second transistor which is held off while the first capacitor charges and is then turned on again, a feedback circuit from the second transistor to the first transistor, a second capacitor which charges when the second transistor turns on, a third transistor which is turned off when the second capacitor is charging and then turns on again, a feedback circuit from the third transistor to the first transistor, said feedback cir cuit providing the required means: for holding the first transistor on, a third capacitor which charges when the third transistor turns on again, and a fourth transistor which is turned off while the third capacitor is charging and then turns on again, the fourth transistor serving when it is off to allow gate current to be supplied to the thyristor.
  • a system as claimed in claim 2 including a feedback circuit from the second transistor to the first transistor for holding the first transistor on when the second transistor is off.
  • a system as claimed in claim 2 including means for varying the charging rate of the first capacitor.
  • a system as claimed in claim 2 including means for varying the charging rate of the second capacitor.
  • a system as claimed in 2 including means for varying the charging rate of the third capacitor.

Landscapes

  • 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)
US00157252A 1970-06-27 1971-06-28 Speed limiting systems for internal combustion engines Expired - Lifetime US3776204A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB3128770 1970-06-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3776204A true US3776204A (en) 1973-12-04

Family

ID=10320889

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00157252A Expired - Lifetime US3776204A (en) 1970-06-27 1971-06-28 Speed limiting systems for internal combustion engines

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3776204A (sv)
JP (1) JPS5429656B1 (sv)
DE (1) DE2131064C2 (sv)
FR (1) FR2099793A5 (sv)
GB (1) GB1347975A (sv)
SE (1) SE381710B (sv)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3871347A (en) * 1972-11-20 1975-03-18 Motorola Inc Constant dwell ignition system
US3900013A (en) * 1972-03-28 1975-08-19 Magneti Marelli Spa Electronic system to control operator circuits as a function of speed of machine rotating member
US3967603A (en) * 1973-05-22 1976-07-06 Roger Jean Habert Speed sensitive switching device
US3967604A (en) * 1973-06-14 1976-07-06 Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd. Device for preventing an internal combustion engine from revolving at more than the predetermined speed
US4171687A (en) * 1976-03-05 1979-10-23 Lumenition Limited Revolution limiters
US4211195A (en) * 1977-10-12 1980-07-08 Colt Industries Operating Corp. Overspeed ignition system
FR2467996A1 (fr) * 1979-10-17 1981-04-30 Bosch Gmbh Robert Dispositif de branchement pour limiter la vitesse de rotation d'un moteur
US4297977A (en) * 1979-01-19 1981-11-03 Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd. Ignition system for an internal combustion engine
US4459951A (en) * 1981-06-29 1984-07-17 Yamaka Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha Overheat preventing system for internal combustion engines
US6116212A (en) * 1999-06-03 2000-09-12 Briggs & Stratton Corporation Engine speed limiter
US6595897B1 (en) 2002-03-01 2003-07-22 Briggs & Stratton Corporation Combination speed limiter and transmission interlock system

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1465670A (en) * 1973-03-22 1977-02-23 Lucas Electrical Ltd Speed limiting systems for wankel engines
DE2405382C2 (de) * 1974-02-05 1982-09-23 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Einrichtung zur Drehzahlbegrenzung von Brennkraftmaschinen
DE2443403C2 (de) * 1974-09-11 1986-02-20 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Schaltungsanordnung zur Unterdrückung einzelner Zündvorgänge in einer Zündanlage für Brennkraftmaschinen

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3153746A (en) * 1961-07-03 1964-10-20 Duane E Atkinson Internal combustion engine overspeed control
US3356082A (en) * 1964-12-02 1967-12-05 Lucas Industries Ltd Spark ignition circuit
DE2004464A1 (de) * 1969-02-03 1970-08-06 Joseph Lucas (Industries) Ltd., Birmingham (Grossbritannien) Schaltung zum Begrenzen der Drehzahl einer Brennkraftmaschine
US3563219A (en) * 1969-07-23 1971-02-16 Ford Motor Co Maximum engine speed limiter
US3581720A (en) * 1968-11-22 1971-06-01 Silicon Systems Inc Electronic engine r.p.m. limiting device
US3601103A (en) * 1969-10-13 1971-08-24 Ladell Ray Swiden Engine-condition-responsive cutoff apparatus

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1228850B (de) * 1961-07-03 1966-11-17 Duane Edward Atkinson Einrichtung zur UEberwachung von Drehzahlueberschreitungen einer Brennkraftmaschine
FR1453705A (fr) * 1965-11-15 1966-06-03 Lucas Industries Ltd Circuit d'allumage électrique
FR1562923A (sv) * 1968-01-15 1969-04-11

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3153746A (en) * 1961-07-03 1964-10-20 Duane E Atkinson Internal combustion engine overspeed control
US3356082A (en) * 1964-12-02 1967-12-05 Lucas Industries Ltd Spark ignition circuit
US3581720A (en) * 1968-11-22 1971-06-01 Silicon Systems Inc Electronic engine r.p.m. limiting device
DE2004464A1 (de) * 1969-02-03 1970-08-06 Joseph Lucas (Industries) Ltd., Birmingham (Grossbritannien) Schaltung zum Begrenzen der Drehzahl einer Brennkraftmaschine
US3563219A (en) * 1969-07-23 1971-02-16 Ford Motor Co Maximum engine speed limiter
US3601103A (en) * 1969-10-13 1971-08-24 Ladell Ray Swiden Engine-condition-responsive cutoff apparatus

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3900013A (en) * 1972-03-28 1975-08-19 Magneti Marelli Spa Electronic system to control operator circuits as a function of speed of machine rotating member
US3871347A (en) * 1972-11-20 1975-03-18 Motorola Inc Constant dwell ignition system
US3967603A (en) * 1973-05-22 1976-07-06 Roger Jean Habert Speed sensitive switching device
US3967604A (en) * 1973-06-14 1976-07-06 Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd. Device for preventing an internal combustion engine from revolving at more than the predetermined speed
US4171687A (en) * 1976-03-05 1979-10-23 Lumenition Limited Revolution limiters
US4211195A (en) * 1977-10-12 1980-07-08 Colt Industries Operating Corp. Overspeed ignition system
US4297977A (en) * 1979-01-19 1981-11-03 Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd. Ignition system for an internal combustion engine
FR2467996A1 (fr) * 1979-10-17 1981-04-30 Bosch Gmbh Robert Dispositif de branchement pour limiter la vitesse de rotation d'un moteur
US4459951A (en) * 1981-06-29 1984-07-17 Yamaka Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha Overheat preventing system for internal combustion engines
US6116212A (en) * 1999-06-03 2000-09-12 Briggs & Stratton Corporation Engine speed limiter
US6595897B1 (en) 2002-03-01 2003-07-22 Briggs & Stratton Corporation Combination speed limiter and transmission interlock system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE381710B (sv) 1975-12-15
FR2099793A5 (sv) 1972-03-17
GB1347975A (en) 1974-02-27
DE2131064C2 (de) 1983-06-23
JPS5429656B1 (sv) 1979-09-25
DE2131064A1 (de) 1972-01-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3776204A (en) Speed limiting systems for internal combustion engines
US3563219A (en) Maximum engine speed limiter
US4176645A (en) Motor ignition system control circuit for maintaining energy storage in spark coil constant in wide speed range
US3892219A (en) Internal combustion engine ignition system
US4083347A (en) High energy spark ignition system, particularly for internal combustion engines
GB1359055A (en) Ignition systems
US3791364A (en) Ignition system for internal combustion engine
US3714507A (en) Controlled variable spark capacitor discharge ignition system
CA1109928A (en) Ignition dwell circuit for an internal combustion engine
ES341258A1 (es) Un dispositivo de encendido para uso en un motor de combus-tion interna.
US3665903A (en) Speed limiting systems for internal combustion engines
GB1408399A (en) Ignition system for internal combustion engines
US3874355A (en) Ignition device for internal combustion engine equipped with protective device
US3324351A (en) Unit impulse ignition systems
US3318296A (en) Electronic apparatus
US4204508A (en) Ignition system for internal combustion engine
US3791356A (en) Device for controlling ignition times for internal combustion engine
US4212280A (en) Ignition system for internal combustion engines
US4977883A (en) Ignition control apparatus for an internal combustion engine
US3264521A (en) Voltage suppression network for ignition systems
US3237620A (en) Semiconductor ignition system
US4491122A (en) Anti-reverse operation of solid state inductive magneto
US3905347A (en) Electronic ignition device for internal combustion engines
US3965878A (en) Spark ignition systems for internal combustion engines
US3704699A (en) Capacitor discharge ignition system with revolution limiter