Ignition system

Claim 2

A spark igniter circuit comprising a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, each end of secondary winding being connected to first and second electrode means respectively which form first and second spark gaps having one end thereof coupled to a first electrode means which forms a first spark gap with respect to a reference potential, and the other end of said secondary winding being coupled to a second electrode means which forms a second spark gap with respect to the reference potential, a capacitor connected across said secondary winding to receive charge therefrom, an oscillator circuit connected to said primary winding and applying pulses thereto of a given frequency to cause a plurality of high voltage pulses to be developed in said secondary winding thereby charging said capacitor, with the same being discharged, to create simultaneous spark discharges at said first and second spark gaps at a frequency less than said given frequency, a voltage regulator circuit connected to said oscillator circuit for limiting the frequency of oscillations of said oscillator to limit the rate of spark discharge between said first and second spark gaps, said voltage regulator circuit including a first transistor having its load electrodes connected in series with said oscillator circuit and a control electrode, a second transistor connected in circuit with the control electrode of said first transistor, and a zener diode connected to the control electrode of said second transistor to cause conduction thereof upon a voltage applied thereto exceeding a predetermined voltage whereby an increase of voltage applied to said regulator circuit causes a decrease in the frequency of operation of said oscillator and a decrease of voltage applied thereto causes an increase in the frequency of operation of said oscillator.

Claim 3

The spark igniter circuit of claim 1 further including a variable voltage resistance element connected in series with said zener diode to cause regulation of voltage values above said predetermined voltage value.

Claim 4

A spark igniter circuit comprising a supply potential, first and second transistors each having emitter, base and collector electrodes, with said emitter electrode of said first transistor being connected to said supply potential and said collector electrode being connected to said base electrode of said second transistor with said first transistor progressively clamping said emitter to said base of said second transistor by variable conduction of said first transistor, a zener diode, a voltage dependent resistance, said zener diode and voltage dependent resistance being connected in series between said base of said first transistor and a reference potential, said zener diode providing precise definition of the conduction voltage point and said voltage dependent resistance providing automatic regulation of said base current in said first transistor for voltages above said zener diode breakover voltage, said emitter electrode of said second transistor being connected to said supply potential to regulate voltage, a third transistor having emitter, base and collector electrodes, said collector electrode of said second transistor being connected to said collector electrode of said third transistor, a transformer having primary, secondary, and feedback windings, first and second resistors, said emitter of said third transistor being connected to said primary winding and feedback winding and coupled to said base electrode by said feedback winding and said first resistance in series, said base electrode of said third transistor being connected by said second resistance to said collector electrode of said second transistor, first and second capacitors, first and second diodes, with said secondary of said transformer being connected to said first capacitor, said first diode and said first capacitor connected across said secondary winding for rectifying the signal thereof, two spark gaps, said second diode being connected between the junction of said first capacitor and said first diode and one of said spark gaps, said second capacitor being connected across said first and second diodes with said diodes being poled so said secondary winding and said first capacitor charge said second capacitor with signals of one polarity only, thereby forming voltage doubling means, said spark gaps being connected between a reference potential and said voltage doubling means with said spark gaps firing simultaneously and the frequency of said spark gap firing being less than the oscillator frequency.

Claim 5

A spark igniter circuit comprising a supply potential, first and second transistors each having emitter, base and collector electrodes, with said emitter electrode of said first transistor being connected to said supply potential and said collector electrode being connected to said base electrode of said second transistor with said first transistor progressively clamping said emitter to said base of said second transistor by variable conduction of said first transistor, a zener diode, a voltage dependent resistance, said zener diode and voltage dependent resistance being connected in series between said base of said first transistor and a reference potential, said zener diode providing precise definition of the conduction voltage point and said voltage dependent resistance providing automatic regulation of said base current in said first transistor for voltages above said zener diode breakover voltage, said emitter electrode of said second transistor being connected to said supply potential to regulate voltage, a third transistor having emitter, base and collector electrodes, said collector electrode of said second transistor being connected to said collector electrode of said third transistor, a transformer having primary, secondary, and feedback windings, first and second resistors, said emitter of said third transistor being connected to said primary winding and feedback winding and coupled to said base electrode by said feedback winding and said first resistance in series, said base electrode of said third transistor being connected by said second resistance to said collector electrode of said second transistor, first and second capacitors, first and second diodes, with said secondary of said transformer being connected to said first capacitor, said first diode and said first capacitor connected across said secondary winding for rectifying the signal thereof, two spark gaps, said second diode being connected between the junction of said first capacitor and said first diode and one of said spark gaps, said second capacitor being connected across said first and second diodes with said diodes being poled so said secondary winding and said first capacitor charge said second capacitor with signals of one polarity only, thereby forming voltage doubling means, said spark gaps being connected between a reference potential and said voltage doubling means with said spark gaps firing simultaneously and the frequency of said spark gap firing being less than the oscillator frequency.

Claim 6

The spark igniter circuit of claim 1 wherein said oscillator frequency comprises a range on the order of 1,000 to 10,000 Hz, and the range of frequencies of said spark discharges comprises the range of on the order of 0.5 to 2 Hz.