US3782353A - Capacitive type ignition arrangement for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Capacitive type ignition arrangement for internal combustion engines Download PDF

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US3782353A
US3782353A US00185162A US3782353DA US3782353A US 3782353 A US3782353 A US 3782353A US 00185162 A US00185162 A US 00185162A US 3782353D A US3782353D A US 3782353DA US 3782353 A US3782353 A US 3782353A
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ignition
capacitor
arrangement
switch
storage capacitor
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US00185162A
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H Kammerer
H Moller
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02PIGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P3/00Other installations
    • F02P3/06Other installations having capacitive energy storage
    • F02P3/08Layout of circuits
    • F02P3/0807Closing the discharge circuit of the storage capacitor with electronic switching means
    • F02P3/0838Closing the discharge circuit of the storage capacitor with electronic switching means with semiconductor devices

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  • references Cited element between the storage capacitor and the igni- UNITED STATES PATENTS 11011 capacitor is an inductance. 3,312,860 4/1967 Strum 123/148 E 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CAPACITIVE TYPE IGNITION ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates to ignition arrangements for internal combustion engines.
  • the storage capacitor is connected to an ignition capacitor by means of a switching element and a current limiting element.
  • the ignition capacitor is connected to an ignition transformer, more specifically the primary winding of the ignition transformer via a second switch, while the secondary winding of the ignition transformer is connected to at least one spark plug.
  • the two switch elements are activated alternatingly.
  • each transfer energy from the storage capacitor to the ignition capacitor causes a loss of the energy in the current limiting resistance.
  • efficiency of such an arrangement is very low.
  • Such an arrangement is only functional when a DC. power supply of high power output at a high voltage is used.
  • the present invention comprises storage capacitor means and ignition capacitor means.
  • An ignition transformer has a primary and a secondary winding. The secondary winding of the ignition transformer is connected to spark generating means, while its primary winding is connected in parallel with the ignition capacitor through second switch means, when said second switch means are in the conductive state.
  • the ignition capacitor is connected to the storage capacitor through first switch means.
  • the current limiting element connected in series with the first switch means comprise an inductance.
  • the use of the inductance causes almost lossless transfer of energy between the storage and the ignition capacitor. Further, the presence of the inductance causes a resonant voltage rise across the capacitor, so that the voltage available across the primary winding of the ignition transformer at ignition time is substantially higher than the voltage existing across the storage capacitor.
  • the ignition arrangement may be directly connected to the battery, without use of a DC. power supply.
  • FIG. I shows an ignition arrangement in accordance with the present invention, wherein an inductance is used
  • FIG. 2 shows an ignition arrangement wherein a second primary winding of the ignition transformer serves as current limiting element
  • FIG. 3 shows an ignition arrangement wherein the primary winding of a second ignition transformer serves as inductive impedance in the energy transfer circuit between the storage and the ignition capacitor.
  • the source of energy for the ignition arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is a battery 10 which is connected to a DC. power supply stage 11. The output of this stage is connected to a storage capacitor 12 of microfarads. It is further connected with first switch means, here a thyristor 13. Connected in series with thyristor 13, is an inductive impedance 14 and an ignition capacitor 15 of one microfarad. The primary winding 16a of an ignition transformer 16 is connected in parallel with ignition capacitor 15 via second switch means, namely a thyristor 17. A spark plug 18 is connected to the secondary winding 16b of the ignition transformer I6. The spark plug 18 is of course located in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, which is not shown. A diode 19 is connected, with opposing polarity, in parallel with thyristor 17.
  • capacitor 12 is constantly charged to the output voltage of stage Ill.
  • thyristor 13 becomes conductive through a control voltage applied at its gate, a part of the electrical energy stored in storage capacitor 12 is transferred through thyristor l3 and inductance 14 to the ignition capacitor 15.
  • the inductive impedance 14 in series with ignition capacitor 15 forms a series-resonant circuit, thus causing the voltage across the capacitor 15 to exceed the voltage across capacitor 12.
  • the current through the circuit goes to zero, blocking thyristor 13.
  • the second switch, thyristor 17 becomes conductive causing the energy stored in ignition capacitor 15 to be discharged through the primary winding 16a of ignition transformer 16 and thyristor 17.
  • Inductive impedance 14 together with diode 19, effect automatic regulation of the required primary voltage. For example, if a great deal of energy is required for the spark, the remaining energy stored in ignition capacitor is small and the voltage difference appearing between the two terminals of inductive impedance 14 at the beginning of the next energy transfer between capacitors 12 and 15, is low. Thus, during the next energy transfer, the voltage at the ignition capacitor 15 greatly exceeds the supply voltage across capacitor 12, so that a high voltage is available for the next ignition, thus supplying a higher energy to the next ignition. However if an ignition process requires only little energy, the remaining voltage on capacitor 15 remains relatively large, causing the voltage difference at the two terminals of inductive impedance 14 to be small, so that the voltage across ignition capacitor 15 does not exceed the supply voltage by much.
  • the capacitance of storage capacitor 12 greatly exceeds the capacitance of ignition capacitor 15. It may be exceeded by much more than a factor of 10. This causes the charging of each ignition capacitor to cause only a partial discharge of the storage capacitor, and therefore keeps the losses generated in stage 11 during the charging of the storage capacitor at a minimum. Low losses result when the voltage at the storage capacitor 12 is a maximum prior to charging, thus causing little charging current to flow through stage 11, keeping the losses in the stage generated by its internal impedance at a minimum.
  • the circuit of FIG. 2 will now be discussed. Elements which correspond to the elements of FIG. 1 have the same reference numeral.
  • the difference between the circuit of FIG. 2 and that of FIG. 1 is that the inductive impedance 14 is replaced by a second primary winding a of the ignition transformer which is labelled 20 in FIG. 2.
  • the ignition transformer has a first primary winding 20b which is connected to ignition capacitor 15 via a thyristor 17 as in FIG. 1.
  • the second primary winding 20a is connected to the cathode of thyristor 13 on one end, and to ignition capacitor 15 at the other end.
  • the secondary winding 20c of the ignition capacitor is again connected to spark plug 18.
  • a spark is generated at spark plug 18 both when energy is transferred from capacitor 12 to capacitor 15, and when capacitor 15 is discharged through winding 20b.
  • thyristors 13 and 17 are alternatingly put into the conductive condition at the ignition time.
  • the diode 19 connected in parallel with thyristor 17, but with opposite polarity effects automatic regulation of the required ignition voltage. This is the case since, here, too, energy remaining on capacitor 15 after one ignition, causes less energy to be drawn from storage capacitor 12 prior to the subsequent ignition.
  • the main advantage of this ignition arrangement relative to that of FIG. 1 is that the losses during transfer from capacitor 12 to capacitor 15, are only half of those of the arrangement of FIG. 1, since the frequency of energy transfer is half that of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Again, the components in FIG. 3 which are the same as those of FIGS. 1 and 2, have the same reference numbers.
  • a second ignition transformer, 21, is present.
  • the primary winding, 21a, of ignition transformer 21, is the inductive impedance connected in series with thyristor 13.
  • the secondary winding 21b of the ignition transformer 21 also has a spark plug connected thereto.
  • the ignition arrangement of FIG. 3 operates similarly to that of FIG. 2.
  • Thyristors 13 and 17 are switched alternatingly to the conductive state, each at the ignition time.
  • the control of thyristors 13 and 17 may take place by a control voltage furnished at the respective gates by means 23 shown in FIG. 3 such as a multivibrator or a magnetic pulse generator.
  • the spark frequency of the arrangement according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is twice as high as that of FIG. 1.
  • the diode 19 does not serve to lengthen the pulse which is generated at the time of energy transfer between capacitors 12 and 15, since it is effective only upon discharge of the ignition capacitor through the primary winding of the ignition transformer.
  • diode 19 in arrangements of FIGS. 2 and 3 is only effective for every alternate spark.
  • the first spark may be made particularly short and of high energy by means of an appropriate design of the primary winding 200 or 21a.
  • the second spark is then made substantially longer and weaker by a corresponding design of the primary windings 20b and 16a.
  • diode 19 can be omitted, thus causing all the sparks to be of equal strength and duration.
  • an ignition arrangement comprising, in combination, storage capacitor means; ignition capacitor means; first switch means connecting said storage capacitor means to said ignition capacitor means when in a conductive state; first ignition transformer means having a primary winding connected in series to said first switch means and a secondary winding; first spark generating means connected to said secondary winding; second ignition transformer means having a primary winding and a secondary winding; second spark generating means connected to said secondary winding; and second switch means connecting said primary winding of said second transformer means in parallel with said ignition capacitor means when said second switch means is in a conductive state.
  • an ignition arrangement comprising, in combination, storage capacitor means; ignition capacitor means; first switch means connecting said storage capacitor means to said ignition capacitor means when in a conductive state; ignition transformer means having a first primary winding connected in series to said first switch means, a second primary winding, and a secondary winding; and second switch means connecting said second primary winding to said ignition capacitor means when said second switch means is in a conductive state.
  • an ignition arrangement comprising, in combination, storage capacitor means having a first and second terminal; ignition capacitor means having a first terminal directly connected to said first terminal of said storage capacitor means and a second terminal; first switch means connecting said second terminal of said storage capacitor means to said second terminal of said ignition capacitor means when in a conductive state; inductive impedance means series-connected to said first switch means; ignition transformer means having a primary winding and a secondary winding; spark generating means connected to said secondary winding; and second switch means connecting said primary winding in parallel with said ignition capacitor means when said second switch means is in a conductive state,

Abstract

Energy from a storage capacitor is transferred to an ignition capacitor when a first switch is made conductive, and the spark is initiated by discharge from the ignition capacitor through the ignition transformer upon closing of a second switch. The current limiting element between the storage capacitor and the ignition capacitor is an inductance.

Description

0 finned Mates Patent 11 1 1111 3,782,353 Kamrnerer et a1. Jan. 1, 1974 1 CAPACITIVE TYPE IGNITION 3,372,681 3/1968 Phi11ips 123/148 E ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERNAL 2,847,489 8/1958 Short 123/148 E 3,504,658 4/1970 Chauls 123/148 E (:OMBUSTION ENGINES 3,465,738 9/1969 Ger1ach.... 123/148 E [75] Inventors: Heinz Kammerer, Nellingen; Heinz 3,045,148 7/1 62 McNulty 23/ 8 E Muller, Stuttgart, both of Germany ,392,192 1/1946 Robinson 123/148 E 3,331,362 7/1967 Mitchel] 123/148 E 1 Assigneel Robert Bosch Gmbfl, Stuttgart, 3,489,129 1/1970 lssler 1 123/148 E Germany 3,316,449 4/1967 Quinn 123/148 E 22 F1 d: S t. 30, 1971 a i 1 l e W Primary Examiner-Laurence M. Goodridge pp 135,162 Assistant Examiner-Ronald B. Cox
Attorney-Michael S. Striker [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct, 6, 1970 Germany P 20 48 960.5 [57] ABSTRACT Energy from a storage capacitor is transferred to an [52] 11.5. C1. 123/148 E, 123/148 gni i n pa i or when a first switch is made conduc- [51] Int. Cl. F02 1/00 tivc, and h p rk i ini i ted y i charge from he [58] Field of Search 123/148 E ignition c pacit r through the ignition transformer upon closing of a second switch. The current limiting [56] References Cited element between the storage capacitor and the igni- UNITED STATES PATENTS 11011 capacitor is an inductance. 3,312,860 4/1967 Strum 123/148 E 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CAPACITIVE TYPE IGNITION ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ignition arrangements for internal combustion engines. In particular, it relates to such ignition arrangements wherein the storage capacitor is connected to an ignition capacitor by means of a switching element and a current limiting element. Further, the ignition capacitor is connected to an ignition transformer, more specifically the primary winding of the ignition transformer via a second switch, while the secondary winding of the ignition transformer is connected to at least one spark plug. The two switch elements are activated alternatingly.
A known arrangement of this type operates to generate a plurality of sequential sparks. Specifically, a storage capacitor is charged from a battery through a DC. power supply. The energy stored in the storage capacitor is transferred to the ignition capacitor through the current limiting element when the first switch means are in the conductive state. The current limiting impedance is a resistance. At the desired ignition time, the ignition capacitor is discharged through the primary of the ignition transformer thereby inducing a spark in the spark plug or in other spark generating element in the secondary winding. The primary winding of the ignition transformer does not load the power supply, since at the time the second switch is closed, the first switch is opened.
The above-described ignition arrangement has the disadvantage that each transfer energy from the storage capacitor to the ignition capacitor causes a loss of the energy in the current limiting resistance. Thus the efficiency of such an arrangement is very low. Such an arrangement is only functional when a DC. power supply of high power output at a high voltage is used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve the efficiency of the above-described ignition arrangement, thereby decreasing the necessity for a high supply voltage by utilization of the available energy.
The present invention comprises storage capacitor means and ignition capacitor means. An ignition transformer has a primary and a secondary winding. The secondary winding of the ignition transformer is connected to spark generating means, while its primary winding is connected in parallel with the ignition capacitor through second switch means, when said second switch means are in the conductive state. The ignition capacitor is connected to the storage capacitor through first switch means. The current limiting element connected in series with the first switch means comprise an inductance.
The use of the inductance causes almost lossless transfer of energy between the storage and the ignition capacitor. Further, the presence of the inductance causes a resonant voltage rise across the capacitor, so that the voltage available across the primary winding of the ignition transformer at ignition time is substantially higher than the voltage existing across the storage capacitor. With appropriate design of the ignition transformer and the inductance, the ignition arrangement may be directly connected to the battery, without use of a DC. power supply.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to the construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I shows an ignition arrangement in accordance with the present invention, wherein an inductance is used;
FIG. 2 shows an ignition arrangement wherein a second primary winding of the ignition transformer serves as current limiting element; and
FIG. 3 shows an ignition arrangement wherein the primary winding of a second ignition transformer serves as inductive impedance in the energy transfer circuit between the storage and the ignition capacitor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawing.
The source of energy for the ignition arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is a battery 10 which is connected to a DC. power supply stage 11. The output of this stage is connected to a storage capacitor 12 of microfarads. It is further connected with first switch means, here a thyristor 13. Connected in series with thyristor 13, is an inductive impedance 14 and an ignition capacitor 15 of one microfarad. The primary winding 16a of an ignition transformer 16 is connected in parallel with ignition capacitor 15 via second switch means, namely a thyristor 17. A spark plug 18 is connected to the secondary winding 16b of the ignition transformer I6. The spark plug 18 is of course located in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, which is not shown. A diode 19 is connected, with opposing polarity, in parallel with thyristor 17.
In this arrangement, capacitor 12 is constantly charged to the output voltage of stage Ill. When thyristor 13 becomes conductive through a control voltage applied at its gate, a part of the electrical energy stored in storage capacitor 12 is transferred through thyristor l3 and inductance 14 to the ignition capacitor 15. The inductive impedance 14 in series with ignition capacitor 15 forms a series-resonant circuit, thus causing the voltage across the capacitor 15 to exceed the voltage across capacitor 12. At this time the current through the circuit goes to zero, blocking thyristor 13. At the ignition time, the second switch, thyristor 17, becomes conductive causing the energy stored in ignition capacitor 15 to be discharged through the primary winding 16a of ignition transformer 16 and thyristor 17. This causes a high voltage pulse to be induced in the secondary winding of ignition transformer 16, which in turn causes a spark to be generated at spark plug 18. The energy which is not utilized in the spark is returned to capacitor 15 with reverse polarity, since ignition capacitor 15 and ignition transformer 16 form a resonant circuit. When the current of this resonant circuit passes through zero, the remaining energy is completely stored in capacitor 15 and the second thyristor 17 blocks. Because of diode 19 which has the inverse polarity to thyristor 17, the energy stored in the capacitor is again available to primary coil 160, thus causing the spark at spark plug 18 to continue past its otherwise existing time period. The length of the spark is almost doubled.
Inductive impedance 14 together with diode 19, effect automatic regulation of the required primary voltage. For example, if a great deal of energy is required for the spark, the remaining energy stored in ignition capacitor is small and the voltage difference appearing between the two terminals of inductive impedance 14 at the beginning of the next energy transfer between capacitors 12 and 15, is low. Thus, during the next energy transfer, the voltage at the ignition capacitor 15 greatly exceeds the supply voltage across capacitor 12, so that a high voltage is available for the next ignition, thus supplying a higher energy to the next ignition. However if an ignition process requires only little energy, the remaining voltage on capacitor 15 remains relatively large, causing the voltage difference at the two terminals of inductive impedance 14 to be small, so that the voltage across ignition capacitor 15 does not exceed the supply voltage by much. Thus a small amount of electrical energy is transferred from storage capacitor 12 to ignition capacitor 15. Such automatic regulation is particularly desirable when a series of sparks is to be generated in rapid sequence, since it insures reliable ignition of the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder and a high efficiency of the engine.
The capacitance of storage capacitor 12 greatly exceeds the capacitance of ignition capacitor 15. It may be exceeded by much more than a factor of 10. This causes the charging of each ignition capacitor to cause only a partial discharge of the storage capacitor, and therefore keeps the losses generated in stage 11 during the charging of the storage capacitor at a minimum. Low losses result when the voltage at the storage capacitor 12 is a maximum prior to charging, thus causing little charging current to flow through stage 11, keeping the losses in the stage generated by its internal impedance at a minimum.
The circuit of FIG. 2 will now be discussed. Elements which correspond to the elements of FIG. 1 have the same reference numeral. The difference between the circuit of FIG. 2 and that of FIG. 1 is that the inductive impedance 14 is replaced by a second primary winding a of the ignition transformer which is labelled 20 in FIG. 2. The ignition transformer has a first primary winding 20b which is connected to ignition capacitor 15 via a thyristor 17 as in FIG. 1. However, as stated above, the second primary winding 20a is connected to the cathode of thyristor 13 on one end, and to ignition capacitor 15 at the other end. The secondary winding 20c of the ignition capacitor is again connected to spark plug 18.
In the arrangement of FIG. 2, a spark is generated at spark plug 18 both when energy is transferred from capacitor 12 to capacitor 15, and when capacitor 15 is discharged through winding 20b. Thus in this particular case, thyristors 13 and 17 are alternatingly put into the conductive condition at the ignition time. Here, too, the diode 19 connected in parallel with thyristor 17, but with opposite polarity, effects automatic regulation of the required ignition voltage. This is the case since, here, too, energy remaining on capacitor 15 after one ignition, causes less energy to be drawn from storage capacitor 12 prior to the subsequent ignition. The main advantage of this ignition arrangement relative to that of FIG. 1 is that the losses during transfer from capacitor 12 to capacitor 15, are only half of those of the arrangement of FIG. 1, since the frequency of energy transfer is half that of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Again, the components in FIG. 3 which are the same as those of FIGS. 1 and 2, have the same reference numbers. In the arrangement of FIG. 3, a second ignition transformer, 21, is present. The primary winding, 21a, of ignition transformer 21, is the inductive impedance connected in series with thyristor 13. The secondary winding 21b of the ignition transformer 21 also has a spark plug connected thereto. The ignition arrangement of FIG. 3 operates similarly to that of FIG. 2.
Thyristors 13 and 17 are switched alternatingly to the conductive state, each at the ignition time. The control of thyristors 13 and 17 may take place by a control voltage furnished at the respective gates by means 23 shown in FIG. 3 such as a multivibrator or a magnetic pulse generator. The spark frequency of the arrangement according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is twice as high as that of FIG. 1. In the arrangements of FIGS. 2 and 3, the diode 19 does not serve to lengthen the pulse which is generated at the time of energy transfer between capacitors 12 and 15, since it is effective only upon discharge of the ignition capacitor through the primary winding of the ignition transformer. Thus diode 19 in arrangements of FIGS. 2 and 3, is only effective for every alternate spark. However, this is very advantageous in double-spark or multi-spark ignition arrangements, since the first spark may be made particularly short and of high energy by means of an appropriate design of the primary winding 200 or 21a. The second spark is then made substantially longer and weaker by a corresponding design of the primary windings 20b and 16a.
It is also within the scope of this invention that diode 19 can be omitted, thus causing all the sparks to be of equal strength and duration.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a capacitive type ignition arrangement for internal combustion engines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications, structural and circuit changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
1. In an internal combustion engine, an ignition arrangement, comprising, in combination, storage capacitor means; ignition capacitor means; first switch means connecting said storage capacitor means to said ignition capacitor means when in a conductive state; first ignition transformer means having a primary winding connected in series to said first switch means and a secondary winding; first spark generating means connected to said secondary winding; second ignition transformer means having a primary winding and a secondary winding; second spark generating means connected to said secondary winding; and second switch means connecting said primary winding of said second transformer means in parallel with said ignition capacitor means when said second switch means is in a conductive state.
2. In an internal combustion engine, an ignition arrangement, comprising, in combination, storage capacitor means; ignition capacitor means; first switch means connecting said storage capacitor means to said ignition capacitor means when in a conductive state; ignition transformer means having a first primary winding connected in series to said first switch means, a second primary winding, and a secondary winding; and second switch means connecting said second primary winding to said ignition capacitor means when said second switch means is in a conductive state.
3. In an internal combustion engine, an ignition arrangement, comprising, in combination, storage capacitor means having a first and second terminal; ignition capacitor means having a first terminal directly connected to said first terminal of said storage capacitor means and a second terminal; first switch means connecting said second terminal of said storage capacitor means to said second terminal of said ignition capacitor means when in a conductive state; inductive impedance means series-connected to said first switch means; ignition transformer means having a primary winding and a secondary winding; spark generating means connected to said secondary winding; and second switch means connecting said primary winding in parallel with said ignition capacitor means when said second switch means is in a conductive state,
4. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, further comprising means alternatingly switching said first and second switch means to said conductive state.
5. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second switch means comprise a thyristor.
6. An arrangement as set forth in claim 5, further comprising diode means connected, with opposing p0- larity, in parallel with said thyristor.
7. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first switch means comprise a thyristor.
8. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein the capacitance of said storage capacitor substantially exceeds the capacitance of said ignition capacitor means. i
9. An arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein the capacitance of said storage capacitor means is more than ten times the capacitance of said ignition capacitOI means.

Claims (9)

1. In an internal combustion engine, an ignition arrangement, comprising, in combination, storage capacitor means; ignition capacitor means; first switch means connecting said storage capacitor means to said ignition capacitor means when in a conductive state; first ignition transformer means having a primary winding connected in series to said first switch means and a secondary winding; first spark generating means connected to said secondary winding; second ignition transformer means having a primary winding and a secondary winding; second spark generating means connected to said secondary winding; and second switch means connecting said primary winding of said second transformer means in parallel with said ignition capacitor means when said second switch means is in a conductive state.
2. In an internal combustion engine, an ignition arrangement, comprising, in combination, storage capacitor means; ignition capacitor means; first switch means connecting said storage capacitor means to said ignition capacitor means when in a conductive state; ignition transformer means having a first primary winding connected in series to said first switch means, a second primary winding, and a secondary winding; and second switch means connecting said second primary winding to said ignition capacitor means when said second switch means is in a conductive state.
3. In an internal combustion engine, an ignition arrangement, comprising, in combination, storage capacitor means having a first and second terminal; ignition capacitor means having a first terminal directly connected to said first terminal of said storage capacitor means And a second terminal; first switch means connecting said second terminal of said storage capacitor means to said second terminal of said ignition capacitor means when in a conductive state; inductive impedance means series-connected to said first switch means; ignition transformer means having a primary winding and a secondary winding; spark generating means connected to said secondary winding; and second switch means connecting said primary winding in parallel with said ignition capacitor means when said second switch means is in a conductive state.
4. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, further comprising means alternatingly switching said first and second switch means to said conductive state.
5. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second switch means comprise a thyristor.
6. An arrangement as set forth in claim 5, further comprising diode means connected, with opposing polarity, in parallel with said thyristor.
7. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first switch means comprise a thyristor.
8. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein the capacitance of said storage capacitor substantially exceeds the capacitance of said ignition capacitor means.
9. An arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein the capacitance of said storage capacitor means is more than ten times the capacitance of said ignition capacitor means.
US00185162A 1970-10-06 1971-09-30 Capacitive type ignition arrangement for internal combustion engines Expired - Lifetime US3782353A (en)

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US4733646A (en) * 1986-04-30 1988-03-29 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Automotive ignition systems
US5163411A (en) * 1990-05-18 1992-11-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Capacitor discharge ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine
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US6009864A (en) * 1992-12-24 2000-01-04 Orbital Engine Co. ( Australia) Pty. Limited Capacitive ignition system for internal combustion engines
US20130207545A1 (en) * 2010-06-25 2013-08-15 Universite De Lorraine Device for the Controlled Generation of Electric Arcs
CN104008872A (en) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-27 大陆汽车有限公司 Ignition apparatus
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US3921606A (en) * 1972-11-27 1975-11-25 Ducellier & Cie Ignition device for an internal combustion engine
US3937200A (en) * 1973-07-18 1976-02-10 Brunswick Corporation Breakerless and distributorless multiple cylinder ignition system
US4733646A (en) * 1986-04-30 1988-03-29 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Automotive ignition systems
US5163411A (en) * 1990-05-18 1992-11-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Capacitor discharge ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine
EP0557395A1 (en) * 1990-11-15 1993-09-01 Orbital Engine Company (Australia) Pty. Ltd. Capacitative discharge ignition system for internal combustion engines
US5531206A (en) * 1990-11-15 1996-07-02 Kitson; Mark R. Capacitative discharge ignition system for internal combustion engines
EP0557395B1 (en) * 1990-11-15 1999-02-03 Orbital Engine Company (Australia) Pty. Ltd. Capacitative discharge ignition system for internal combustion engines
US5429103A (en) * 1991-09-18 1995-07-04 Enox Technologies, Inc. High performance ignition system
US6009864A (en) * 1992-12-24 2000-01-04 Orbital Engine Co. ( Australia) Pty. Limited Capacitive ignition system for internal combustion engines
US20130207545A1 (en) * 2010-06-25 2013-08-15 Universite De Lorraine Device for the Controlled Generation of Electric Arcs
US20150085415A1 (en) * 2012-04-20 2015-03-26 Abb Research Ltd Passive circuit for improved failure mode handling in power electronics modules
US9293909B2 (en) * 2012-04-20 2016-03-22 Abb Research Ltd Passive circuit for improved failure mode handling in power electronics modules
CN104008872A (en) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-27 大陆汽车有限公司 Ignition apparatus
US20140239838A1 (en) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-28 Continental Automotive Gmbh Ignition apparatus
US9147999B2 (en) * 2013-02-25 2015-09-29 Continental Automotive Gmbh Ignition apparatus
CN104008872B (en) * 2013-02-25 2018-10-19 大陆汽车有限公司 Ignition installation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1361873A (en) 1974-07-30
FR2109781A5 (en) 1972-05-26
DE2048960A1 (en) 1972-04-13

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