Abstract:
A core for an ignition coil comprises a core element formed as a core stack with a plurality of laminations and having a mounting bore with an insulating layer, a connecting element for connecting the core element to a holder and inserted in the mounting bore, and elements for establishing an earth contact between the core element and the connecting element and including a projection formed by at least one of the laminations of the core stack formed so that the projection extends into the mounting bore and when the connecting element is inserted into the mounting bore it removes the insulating layer from the projection and establishes the earth contact.
Abstract:
Misfire detection system for an internal combustion engine. If misfire is found to occur due to vapor lock temporarily happening, it will erroneously be judged that the structure of the engine or the fuel supply system is out of order. However, vapor lock is an interruption of the flow of fuel in a gasoline engine caused by formation of vapor or gas bubbles, and does not mean the engine or the fuel supply system is degraded in its structure. On the contrary, if misfire is detected in such situation, the misfire detection degrades the reliability of the system. The misfire detection is therefore inactivated during conditions in which vapor lock is liable to occur, by discontinuing the detection, or by deliberately deeming no misfire to occurs even if it is so detected. Alternatively, the reference level for misfire detection is raised during such conditions.
Abstract:
A high tension cord cover disposed at an engine cylinder head for covering a groove in which high tension cords pass through for supplying an ignition voltage current to a spark plug of the engine. The cover is made of an insulation material and having a cord retaining section at the bottom surface facing the groove for retaining the cords in parallel with each other. A plate like conductor is embedded in the cover keeping a predetermined distance therefrom and sandwiching a portion of the insulation cover, whereby a capacitor, which constitutes a capacitive divider in cooperation with a second capacitor for detecting misfire through the ignition voltage, is formed between the conductive cores of the high tension cords and the plate like conductor. The conductor can be electrically shielded. A second member made of an insulation material can be provided in the groove underneath the cover for retaining the cords such that the conductor embedded in the cover is kept the predetermined distance from the cords.
Abstract:
An ignition system for an internal combustion engine that has at least two spark plugs for each of the cylinders. The number of spark plugs ignited is controlled in accordance with the operational condition of the engine. The system includes an ignition control means for controlling the ignition in such a manner that an all-point ignition in which all the spark plugs are ignited is carried out in a condition where the temperature of the engine is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, and so that a decreased number-point ignition in which the ignition of at least one of the spark plugs is discontinued is carried out in a condition where the temperature of the engine is higher than the predetermined value. By selecting the two-point ignition in a low temperature region in which the temperature of the cooling water is low, reductions in fuel firing performance and combustion speed are prevented, and by selecting the one-point ignition in a high temperature region in which the temperature of the cooling water is high, an increase in the amount of NOx due to excessively high combustion speed is prevented. The ignition may also be controlled on the basis of engine load and exhaust gas recirculation valves.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a semiconductor switch, in particular as an ignition voltage switch for applying an ignition voltage to a spark plug of an internal combustion engine, having a cascade circuit formed of series-connected semiconductor components for connecting an operating voltage through to a load, wherein the semiconductor components each have a depletion-layer capacitance, and the connection existing between each two semiconductor components forms a parasitic ground capacitance determined by the electrical field distribution. For symmetrical voltage distribution without additional wiring elements, it is provided that a breakover current (i.sub.k) flowing through the semiconductor components (T.sub.1 -T.sub.n) prior to attainment of the conductive state is located, relative to a displacement current (i.sub.ver), within the range i.sub.ver
Abstract:
The arrangement for determining rotation angle of two rotating parts in an internal combustion engine includes a first rotating part having a protruding member extending laterally from the first rotating part, the first rotating part being connected with a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine; a second rotating part having a protruding element extending laterally, therefrom the second rotating part being connected to a camshaft of the internal combustion engine and the second rotating part being positioned adjacent to the first rotating part; a pickup device for generating a first output signal when the protruding member passes by the pickup device during rotation of the rotating parts and for generating a second output signal when the protruding element passes by the pickup device during rotation of the rotating parts; and a signal processing device for receiving the first and second output signals from the pickup device, for determining a time interval between one of the first and one of the second output signals and for calculating an angular displacement between the first and second rotating part from the time interval. The arrangement includes only one pickup device for generating both first and second output signals and the protruding member and protruding element are shaped and positioned so that each of the first output signals and the second output signals is generated by the single pickup device and the first and second output signals are different and distinguishable from each other.
Abstract:
A unipolar ignition of the invention provides a current waveform at the ignitor plug which initially rises relatively slowly, followed by a transition to a fast rising current which quickly peaks and thereafter slowly dissipates. Such a current waveform provides an initially hotter and longer lasting spark which does not harm the ignitor plug of the system or shorten its life expectancy. Neither does the spark create stress on the solid state circuitry which delivers the energy to the ignitor plug. To provide the foregoing spark and current characteristics, an inductor having a saturable core is in series with the ignitor plug, and it provides an initially high inductance which limits the rate of current rise at the plug as energy is transferred from an energy storage device to the plug. As the current through the inductor increases, its core begins to saturate and the effective inductance begins to decrease, allowing the current to rise more quickly. As energy is transferred to the ignitor plug. The increasing saturation, decreasing inductance and increasing current complement one another, causing the rate of current rise to increase quickly to a high value desirable for ignition. Related features of the invention provide for easy diagnostics of the spark and for timing an ignition sequence and providing a repetition rate which aids in a successful ignition.
Abstract:
A method and assembly for installing a plurality of ignition coils (12) on an engine block. The invention includes molding a housing (1) from an electrically insulating material. The housing having a plurality of receptacles (4) for the coils and including inserts for attachment of the housing to the engine block. The coils are placed in receptacles with appropriate wiring, and the connections (23, 24) of the receptacles are connected to the primary and secondary windings of the coils. When all connections are made, an electrically insulating resin (25) is poured into the housing which embeds the coils and their cable connections. Finally, the housing is fixed on the engine block with the appropriate receptacle properly aligned with its respective sparkplug.
Abstract:
A misfire-detecting system for an internal combustion engine detects a value of sparking voltage generated by the igniting device of the engine after generation of an ignition command signal, compares the value of the detected sparking voltage with a predetermined value, and determines whether or not a misfire has occurred in the engine, based upon the result of the comparison. The misfire-detecting system can discriminate between a misfire attributable to the fuel supply system of the engine and one attributable to the ignition system of the engine, from a detected peak value of the sparking voltage.
Abstract:
An ignition generator includes an energy source having a transformer, and a first circuit connected to a first secondary winding of the transformer. The first circuit includes a series connection of a first energy storage capacitor, an inductor and an ignition spark plug, and a free wheel diode connected in parallel to the inductor and the ignition spark plug. Circuitry is provided for shorting the first circuit to produce sparks between the electrodes of the spark plug. The generator further includes a second circuit which is electrically equivalent to the first circuit and which is connected to a second secondary winding of the transformer. The second circuit includes a second energy storage capacitor and impedance means connected in series. A comparator is provided for comparing the voltage of the second voltage energy storage capacitor with a reference voltage. Shorting of the first circuit is carried out according to an output of the comparator.