US3893438A - Capacitor ignition device for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Capacitor ignition device for internal combustion engines Download PDF

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Publication number
US3893438A
US3893438A US428710A US42871073A US3893438A US 3893438 A US3893438 A US 3893438A US 428710 A US428710 A US 428710A US 42871073 A US42871073 A US 42871073A US 3893438 A US3893438 A US 3893438A
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United States
Prior art keywords
winding
ignition
transformer
transistor
storage capacitor
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Expired - Lifetime
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US428710A
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English (en)
Inventor
Rudolf Diener
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Autoelektronik AG
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Autoelektronik AG
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    • 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
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B1/00—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression
    • F02B1/02—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression with positive ignition
    • F02B1/04—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression with positive ignition with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A capacitor ignition device for combustion engines comprising a charging transformer which is equipped with a secondary winding which together with the pick-up winding as the primary winding forms a transformer, and the secondary winding of the charging transformer in series with a blocking diode is connected in parallel with the primary winding of an ignition transformer, in order that for each ignition spark generated during flow of the pick-up current in the pick-up winding through the transmission of energy in the primary winding of the ignition transformer, the spark head which is generated by discharge of the storage capacitor is prolonged by a spark tail.
  • the present invention relates to a new and improved construction of capacitor ignition device or circuit arrangement for internal combustion engines wherein for each ignition spark a storage capacitor is charged with electrical energy stored during current flow through a take-up winding, by an output of a charging transformer forming an inductive storage by interrupting the pick-up current, and wherein upon ignition of a thyristor the storage capacitor is discharged through the primary winding of an ignition transformer.
  • a battery, the pick-up winding, the collector-emitter path of a transistor and the primary winding of a feedback transformer are connected in series, and the transistor circuit contains means for limiting the collector current to a maximum value in order to block the transistor in each case upon reaching a maximum collector current via the feedback transformer and thus to interrupt the current flow through the pick-up winding, and for the thyristor as well as the transistor there is provided a control pulse generator wherein for each ignition spark, by means of a control pulse, the thyristor is fired for discharge of the storage capacitor and for charging of the storage capacitor the transistor under the action of the feedback transformer is switched into its conductive state.
  • the power losses and thus the inherent heating are negligibly small, which is of decisive importance for the good functional reliability of the ignition system since the ignition devices contain semiconductor elements and are arranged beneath the hood of the engine at the neighborhood of the engine where they oftentimes are heat-up to almost the permissible boundary temperature of the semi-conductor elements.
  • the ignition sparks which are independent of voltage fluctuations of the battery, are so strong that there is ensured for positive ignition. Owing to the stark or strong ignition sparks the spark plugs hardly tend to become covered with carbon or soot.
  • the ignition sparks are of brief duration, generally amounting to 300 usec.
  • Prior art known capacitor ignition devices for generating relatively long ignition sparks contain as the storage capacity two capacitors which are continuously maintained in a charged condition by an oscillator, and specifically one such capacitor at a higher voltage, for instance 400 volts, and the other at a lower voltage, for instance 50 volts. Due to successive discharge of both capacitors through the primary winding of the ignition transformer there are produced ignition sparks each having a respective short, powerful spark head and a subsequent rather slow decaying spark tail. Such ignition devices are complicated and owing to the high power losses are generally subject to disturbances in operation.
  • Another and more specific object of the present invention relates to an improved construction of capacitor ignition device of the previously mentioned type for combustion engines for generating ignition sparks with a short, powerful spark head and a subsequent slower decaying spark tail.
  • the charging transformer is equipped with a secondary winding which together with the pick up winding as primary winding forms a transformer, and the secondary winding of the charging transformer in series with a blocking diode is connected in parallel with the primary winding of an ignition transformer, in order that for each ignition spark during flow of the pick-up current in the pick-up winding through the transmission of energy in the primary winding of the ignition transfonner the spark head which is generated by discharge of the storage capacitor is prolonged by a spark tail.
  • the expenditure required for generating longer ignition sparks is thus only very slight and the advantages of faultless and reliable ignition with negligibly lower power losses remains practically unaltered.
  • the inductance of the secondary winding of the charging transformer as well as the inductance of the primaryand secondary windings of the ignition transformer as well as the electrode spacing of the spark plugs it is possible to easily prolong the duration of the spark tail to four to five times the duration of the spark head, so that ignition spark exceeding 1.5 msec duration can be obtained, by means of which the gas which has been compressed in the cylinder, for practically all encountered situations, can be ignited for good combustion thereof.
  • the primary winding of the ignition transformer is advantageously formed of two partial windings which are connected in series with the secondary winding and wherein one partial winding is electrically connected to the storage capacitor, so that for generating a powerful spark head the storage capacitor is only discharged through this partial winding, whereas both partial windings have current flowing therethrough from the secondary winding of the charging transformer.
  • FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a simple constructional embodiment of capacitor ignition device designed according to the teachings of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the oscillogram of a long ignition spark obtained with the capacitor ignition device of FIG. 1.
  • the pick-up coil or winding 1a of a charging transformer 1 which possesses an iron core 1d, is connected at its one end or terminal by an ignition switch Z with the positive pole of a power source, here the battery B and at its other end or terminal by means of the collector-emitter path of a transistor Tr and the primary winding 2a of a feedback transformer 2 with ground.
  • the negative pole or terminal of the battery B is likewise connected with ground, as shown.
  • a resistor R connects the emitter of the transistor Tr with its base which is electrically coupled with a control pulse generator or transmitter 6.
  • a control thyristor is provided to serve as a means for limiting the collector current to a predetermined maximum value. As shown in FIG. 1, the anode of the control thyristor 5 is connected with the base of the transistor Tr and its cathode is connected with ground.
  • a voltage divider composed of the resistor R and R, is connected in parallel with the control thyristor 5, and at the junction point of this voltage divider R,,, R, there is connected the control electrode of the control thyristor 5, as shown, so that the control thyristor 5 fires or ignites as soon as the collector current has reached that intensity at which the base current of the transistor Tr generates at the voltage divider R R the firing or ignition voltage for the thyristor.
  • the output or delivery winding lb of the charging transformer 1, as is usual for such ignition circuits, is connected with its one end or terminal with the pick-up winding la and at its other end or terminal via a diode D, with a storage capacitor C,, the other capacitor plate or coating of which is connected via the primary winding 30' of an ignition transformer 3 with ground.
  • the secondary winding 3b of the ignition transformer 3, through the agency of a distributor, supplies the spark plugs of the internal combustion engine, which have only been indicated in FIG. I by a spark gap or path 8.
  • the thyristor 4 To discharge the storage capacitor C, through the primary winding 3a of the ignition transformer 3 there is provided the thyristor 4, the anode of which is coupled with the storage capacitor C, and the cathode of which is connected with ground.
  • the ignition electrode of the thyristor 4 is connected with ground by means of a resistor R, and is additionally connected with the control pulse generator 6 which is controlled by the interrupter 7 such that upon opening the interrupter contacts it always delivers a control pulse.
  • control pulse generators are known in the art, and one control pulse generator which is particularly suitable for this ignition circuit has been disclosed, for instance, in Swiss Pat. No. 518,035, or in US. Pats. Nos. 3,677,254 and 3,678,299.
  • the charging transformer 1 possesses a secondary winding 1c which together with the pick-up winding or coil 1a forms a transformer or transducer.
  • the one end of the secondary winding 10 is connected with ground and the other end or terminal thereof is connected via a blocking diode D with the primary winding of the ignition transformer 3.
  • the primary winding of the ignition transformer 3 consists of two partial windings or coils 3a, 3a (windings with taps) which are connected in series, wherein the connection point or junction of both such partial windings is connected with the storage capacitor C, and the free end of the partial winding 30 is coupled via the blocking diode D, with the secondary winding 10, so that the capacitor C, only discharges through the partial winding 3a, and both partial windings 3a, 3a together with the blocking diode D and the secondary winding 1c of the charging transformer 1 form a current circuit which is connected with ground.
  • both of the windings 3a, 3a are bridged by a diode D If after closing the ignition switch Z there is delivered for the first time a control pulse, due to opening of the interrupter contacts 7, to the base of the transistor Tr by means of the control pulse generator 6, then the transistor Tr becomes conductive and current flows from the battery B through the pick-up winding 1a of the charging transformer l, the collector-emitter path of the transistor Tr and the primary winding 2a of the feedback transformer 2.
  • the current flowing through the pick-up winding la reaches an intensity such that by means of the transistor base current the voltage drop at the voltage divider R R is so large that the control thyristor 5 tires or ignites, then the voltage at the base of the transistor Tr breaks down and the transistor Tr is rapidly brought into its blocked or non-conductive state via the feedback transformer 2.
  • the current flow through the pick-up winding 1a is interrupted and the energy stored at the charging transformer 1 drives the voltage at the pick-up winding lb and output winding respectively, to about 400 volts.
  • the storage capacitor C is charged through the agency of the diode D, and the diode D With the interrupter contacts closed the the storage capacitor is charged.
  • the thyristor 4 With renewed opening of the interrupter contacts 7 the thyristor 4 is tired by a control pulse of the control pulse generator 6, so that the storage capacitor C discharges through the conductive thyristor 4 to ground and from ground through the primary winding 3a of the ignition transformer 3 and in the secondary winding 3b of such ignition transformer there is induced a high voltage, which during the ignition sparks of the spark plugs generates a pronounced spark head I (FIG. 2).
  • the transistor Tr As already mentioned, is rendered conductive and immediately thereafter the current flow through the pick-up winding la is interrupted.
  • the increase of the current flow in the pick-up winding la of the charging transformer l induces a current at the secondary winding lc which additionally flows through the primary winding 3a, 3a of the ignition transformer 3 and produces the spark tail ll (FIG. 2) during the ignition sparks.
  • a capacitor ignition arrangement for an ignition combustion engine having spark plugs comprising an ignition transformer including primary winding means and a secondary winding connectable with each of the spark plugs;
  • a thyristor having a control electrode
  • a charging transformer having a pick-up winding and an outputwinding on a ferromagnetic core
  • a transistor having an emitter, a collector, and a base
  • control pulse generator synchronized with said engine; and a control circuitry responsive to control pulses delivered from said control pulse generator, said control circuitry including said transistor, switch-on means for triggering conductive said transistor with each control pulse, and cut-off means sensitive to the strength of the collector current of said transistor to block the transistor upon reaching a maximum collector current, and also having an output connected with the control electrode of said thyristor so that with each control pulse said thyristor is triggered conductive and a firing pulse is delivered,
  • the charging transformer is equipped with an additional winding, said additional winding and the pick-up winding of said charging transformer forming a transducer which delivers electrical energy when current flows through said pick-up winding, and
  • said charging transformer comprising the ferromagnetic core, the pick-up winding, the output winding and the additional winding, has an air gap, the size of the air gap together with the inductance of the additional winding and the inductances of the primary winding means and the secondary winding of the ignition transformer as well as the spark plug electrode spacing determining the duration of the afterdischarge.
  • the primary winding means of the ignition transformer comprise two partial windings which are connected in series with the blocking diode and the additional winding of the charging transformer, one of the partial windings being connected with the storage capacitor, so that the storage capacitor is discharged only through said one partial winding of the primary windin g means.

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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)
US428710A 1972-12-22 1973-12-27 Capacitor ignition device for internal combustion engines Expired - Lifetime US3893438A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1878672A CH556972A (de) 1972-12-22 1972-12-22 Zuendeinrichtung fuer einen verbrennungsmotor mit einem kondensator.

Publications (1)

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US3893438A true US3893438A (en) 1975-07-08

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US428710A Expired - Lifetime US3893438A (en) 1972-12-22 1973-12-27 Capacitor ignition device for internal combustion engines

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US (1) US3893438A (es)
JP (1) JPS4996137A (es)
AR (1) AR199236A1 (es)
BR (1) BR7309976D0 (es)
CA (1) CA988151A (es)
CH (1) CH556972A (es)
CS (1) CS178160B2 (es)
DD (1) DD114124A5 (es)
ES (1) ES420682A1 (es)
FR (1) FR2211982A5 (es)
GB (1) GB1451930A (es)
IT (1) IT997669B (es)
NL (1) NL7316785A (es)
SE (1) SE386236B (es)
SU (1) SU550994A3 (es)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4046125A (en) * 1975-10-17 1977-09-06 Mackie Ronald D Capacitive discharge ignition system
FR2394686A1 (fr) * 1977-06-17 1979-01-12 Nutek Inc Systeme d'allumage par decharge de circuit capacitif pour moteurs a combustion interne
US4448182A (en) * 1979-09-10 1984-05-15 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Ignition system for internal combustion engines
US4506650A (en) * 1982-06-05 1985-03-26 Kabushiki Kaisha Sigma Electronics Planning Ignition device for internal combustion engines
US4562823A (en) * 1983-07-15 1986-01-07 Nippon Soken, Inc. Ignition device for internal combustion engine
US6701904B2 (en) 2001-05-17 2004-03-09 Altronic, Inc. Capacitive discharge ignition system with extended duration spark

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2591078B2 (ja) * 1987-07-03 1997-03-19 日本電装株式会社 内燃機関用点火装置
JP5516895B2 (ja) * 2008-02-07 2014-06-11 セム アクティエボラグ Ｃｄｉシステムにおけるエネルギ支援のためのシステム

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3316449A (en) * 1964-06-22 1967-04-25 Tung Sol Electric Inc Ignition circuit
US3406672A (en) * 1965-03-10 1968-10-22 Lucas Industries Ltd Spark ignition systems
US3796204A (en) * 1970-12-28 1974-03-12 Bosch Gmbh Robert Ignition arrangement for internal combustion engines

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3316449A (en) * 1964-06-22 1967-04-25 Tung Sol Electric Inc Ignition circuit
US3406672A (en) * 1965-03-10 1968-10-22 Lucas Industries Ltd Spark ignition systems
US3796204A (en) * 1970-12-28 1974-03-12 Bosch Gmbh Robert Ignition arrangement for internal combustion engines

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4046125A (en) * 1975-10-17 1977-09-06 Mackie Ronald D Capacitive discharge ignition system
FR2394686A1 (fr) * 1977-06-17 1979-01-12 Nutek Inc Systeme d'allumage par decharge de circuit capacitif pour moteurs a combustion interne
US4448182A (en) * 1979-09-10 1984-05-15 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Ignition system for internal combustion engines
US4506650A (en) * 1982-06-05 1985-03-26 Kabushiki Kaisha Sigma Electronics Planning Ignition device for internal combustion engines
US4562823A (en) * 1983-07-15 1986-01-07 Nippon Soken, Inc. Ignition device for internal combustion engine
US6701904B2 (en) 2001-05-17 2004-03-09 Altronic, Inc. Capacitive discharge ignition system with extended duration spark

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CS178160B2 (es) 1977-08-31
SE386236B (sv) 1976-08-02
JPS4996137A (es) 1974-09-11
DE2357732B2 (de) 1977-02-10
BR7309976D0 (pt) 1974-08-15
DE2357732A1 (de) 1974-07-11
CH556972A (de) 1974-12-13
IT997669B (it) 1975-12-30
GB1451930A (en) 1976-10-06
ES420682A1 (es) 1976-04-16
FR2211982A5 (es) 1974-07-19
CA988151A (en) 1976-04-27
AR199236A1 (es) 1974-08-14
SU550994A3 (ru) 1977-03-15
NL7316785A (es) 1974-06-25
DD114124A5 (es) 1975-07-12

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