Ignition arrangements for internal combustion engines

Claim 2

In an ignition arrangement for internal combustion engines, comprising in combination, spark coil means having an input side with primary winding means and an output side with secondary winding means; at least one spark plug connected to said secondary winding means to receive induced electrical energy therefrom to cause the spark plug to spark; a discharge circuit connected to said primary winding means and including ignition capacitor means and electronic discharge switch means for periodically supplying electrical energy to said primary winding means by the discharge of said ignition capacitor means whenever said discharge switch means is conductive; a DC circuit connected to said primary winding means; a source of DC in said DC circuit; and Voltage-operated electronic opening switch means arranged in said DC circuit and connected to said spark coil means so that when said ignition capacitor means discharges a voltage is produced which causes said opening switch means to become nonconductive whereby a voltage is induced in said ignition coil which is dependent on the sum of the electrical energy stored in said ignition capacitor means and the magnetic energy stored in said spark coil means.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said opening switch means comprise voltage-operated controlled electronic rectifier means connected in said DC circuit to be normally closed by said DC source, and wherein said spark coil means are connected to said controlled electronic rectifier means so that said voltage of said spark coil means opposes the action of said DC source on said controlled electronic rectifier means to cause the latter to become nonconductive.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said ignition capacitor means and said discharge switch means are connected in series, and said primary winding means include main winding means shunting said ignition capacitor means and said discharge switch means, and said opening switch means comprise an anode connected to said main winding means and a cathode, a negative voltage comprised by said DC circuit, and wherein said cathode is connected to said negative voltage.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 3, including a positive voltage in said DC circuit, and wherein one end of said main winding means is connected to said positive voltage, and further including storage winding means comprised by said primary winding means and connecting said one main winding means end to said anode.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said main winding means and said storage winding means have an at least approximately equal number of turns.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the sum of the capacitances of said output side referred to said main winding means is less than the capacity of said ignition capacitor means.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 4, including series-connected resistance means and capacitor means shunted across said opening switch means.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 4, including voltage stabilization means shunted across said opening switch means.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 4, including resistance means and capacitor means connected in parallel and shunted across said opening switch means.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 8, including diode means for connecting said voltage stabilization means to said opening switch means.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein one end of said main winding means is connected to said ignition capacitor means and to said anode.

Claim 13

A combination as defined in claim 11, including supplementary winding means comprised by said primary winding means and connecting said one main winding means end to said anode.

Claim 14

A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said main winding means has a tap intermediate its ends and connected to said anode.

Claim 15

A combination as defined in claim 3, including limiting resistance means connected between said anode and said main winding means.

Claim 16

A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said discharge switch means comprise controlled electronic rectifier means connected to permit said ignition capacitor means to discharge through said main winding means when said discharge switch controlled electronic rectifier means is conductive.

Claim 17

A combination as defined in claim 15, including a DC to AC converter having an input connected to said source of DC, and having an output with positive and negative terminals, the negative terminal being connected to said negative voltage; and wherein said discharge switch controlled electronic rectifier means has a cathode and an anode, said cathode being connected to said positive voltage, and said anode and said ignitiOn capacitor means being connected to said positive output terminal.

Claim 18

A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said DC to AC converter is push-pull and said output thereof includes a bridge rectifier.

Claim 19

A combination as defined in claim 17, including automatic monitoring circuit means connected to the output of said DC to AC converter for monitoring the voltage at said output and shutting off said DC to AC converter whenever said output voltage exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 20

A combination as defined in claim 2, including engine-operated circuit interrupter means connected in said DC circuit for controlling the charge and discharge of said ignition capacitor means.

Claim 21

A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said DC circuit comprises a positive voltage and a negative voltage, and said discharge switch means comprise controlled electronic rectifier means having gate means and connected to permit said ignition capacitor means to discharge through said main winding means when said discharge switch controlled electronic rectifier means is conductive; and including first control resistance means connecting said gate means to said positive voltage; series-connected first control capacitor means and second control resistance means connecting said gate means to said negative voltage; a first transistor, a first switching path comprised by said first transistor and rendered conductive by the opening of said circuit interrupter means, said first switching path being connected between said positive voltage and the junction between said first control capacitor means and said second control resistance means.

Claim 22

A combination as defined in claim 20, including a second transistor, and a second switching path comprised by said second transistor and rendered conductive by the opening of said circuit interrupter means; a second control capacitor means connected at one end to said negative voltage, said second switching path being connected between said positive voltage and the other end of said second control capacitor means, whereby said second control capacitor means charges when said second switching path conducts and discharges when said second switching path is nonconductive; a third transistor, and a third switching path comprised by said third transistor and connected to be rendered conductive when said circuit interrupter means is open and when the latter is closed until shortly before it again opens by the charging and discharging of said second control capacitor means; differentiating means connected to said third switching path for producing voltage peaks when said third switching path becomes conductive; and wherein said first transistor means is connected to said differentiating means so as to render said first switching path conductive when said voltage peaks are produced.

Claim 23

A combination as defined in claim 21, wherein said circuit interrupter means are connected between said negative voltage and the base of said second transistor.

Claim 24

A combination as defined in claim 22, including a first charging resistance means connected between said second control capacitor means and said second switching path.

Claim 25

A combination as defined in claim 23, including first diode means series connected with said first charging resistance means to permit charging current to flow to said second control capacitor means.

Claim 26

A combination as defined in claim 23, including series-connected second charging resistance means and third control capacitor means shunting said first charging resistance means.

Claim 27

A combination as defined in claim 25, including series-connected second diode means and discharge resistance means connected between said other end of said second control capacitor means and said circuit interrupter means where the latter is connected to said base, for permitting said second control capacitor means to discharge when said second switching path is nonconductive.

Claim 28

A combination as defined in claim 26, wheRein said third transistor comprises a control path; first and second resistance means connecting respective ends of said control path to said one end and said other end of said second control capacitor means; third diode means connected in parallel with said control path so as not to pass discharge current from said second control capacitor means; and third resistance means connecting the anode of said third diode means to said positive voltage.

Claim 29

A combination as defined in claim 27, a fourth transistor, and a fourth switching path comprised thereby, said fourth transistor being connected to said differentiating means so that said voltage peaks thereof render said fourth switching path nonconductive; a fifth transistor, and a fifth switching path comprised thereby, said fifth transistor being connected to said fourth transistor so that said fifth switching path is rendered conductive in dependence on said fourth switching path being rendered nonconductive; and wherein said first transistor is connected to said fifth switching path so that said first switching path is rendered conductive when said fifth switching path conducts.

Claim 30

A combination as defined in claim 28, including fourth resistance means series connected between said gate means and said series-connected first control capacitor means and said second control resistance means

Claim 31

A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said circuit interrupter means are connected in said DC circuit to cause said opening switch means to conduct when said circuit interrupter means closes.

Claim 32

A combination as defined in claim 30, wherein said DC circuit comprises a positive voltage and a negative voltage, and said circuit interrupter means are connected between said positive and negative voltages; and including a transistor having a base and a switching path controlled thereby, said base being connected to said circuit interrupter means at the junction between the latter and said positive voltage and biased to permit conduction through said switching path when said circuit interrupter means are closed; control capacitor means having first and second terminals, said switching path being connected between said positive voltage and said first terminal; charging diode means having an anode connected to said second terminal; series-connected further control capacitor means and charging resistance means connected between the cathode of said charging diode and said negative voltage.

Claim 33

A combination as defined in claim 31, including a further transistor, and a control path and a further switching path comprised thereby, said control path being connected to the cathode of said charging diode means so that said further switching path is rendered conductive when said switching path is conductive; and a still further transistor having a control path and a switching path, said further switching path being connected to said control path of said still further transistor so that said switching path of the latter is rendered conductive when said further switching path conducts: two series-connected resistance means having first and second terminals, said first terminal thereof being connected to said negative voltage, and said switching path of said still further transistor being connected between said positive voltage and said second terminal of said two series-connected resistance means; and gate means comprised by said opening switch means and connected to the junction between said two series-connected resistance means.

Claim 34

A combination as defined in claim 29, wherein said circuit interrupter means is connected to said DC circuit to cause said opening switch means to conduct when said circuit interrupter means closes, and said DC circuit comprises a positive voltage and a negative voltage, and said circuit interrupter means are connected between said positive and negative voltages; and including a sixth transistor having a base and a sixth switching path controlled thereby, said base being connected tO said circuit interrupter means at the junction between the latter and said positive voltage and biased to permit conduction through said sixth switching path when said circuit interrupter means are closed; fourth control capacitor means having first and second terminals, said sixth switching path being connected between said positive voltage and said first terminal; charging diode means having an anode connected to said second terminal; series-connected fifth control capacitor means and third charging resistance means connected between the cathode of said charging diode means and said negative voltage; a seventh transistor, and a control path and a seventh switching path comprised thereby, said control path being connected to the cathode of said charging diode means so that said seventh switching path is rendered conductive when said sixth switching path conducts; an eighth transistor having a control path and an eighth switching path, said seventh switching path being connected to said control path of said eighth transistor so that said eighth transistor path is rendered conductive when said seventh switching path conducts; two series-connected resistance means having first and second terminals, said first terminal thereof being connected to said negative voltage, and said eighth switching path being connected between said positive voltage and said second terminal of said two series-connected resistance means; and gate means comprised by said opening switch means and connected to the junction between said two series-connected resistance means; common resistance means connecting said positive voltage to said second, third, fourth, and sixth switching paths; and voltage stabilization means connected between said negative voltage and the junction between said common resistance means and said second, third, fourth, and sixth switching paths.

Claim 35

A combination as defined in claim 33, including capacitor means shunting said voltage stabilization means.

Claim 36

A combination as defined in claim 34, including fifth resistance means connected between said circuit interrupter means and said common resistance means, a base comprised by said second transistor, and decoupling diode means connected between the respective said base of said second and sixth transistors and the junction between said circuit interrupter means and said fifth resistance means.