Fluid fuel igniter control system

Claim 1

For use in igniting an oil fueled burner of the type having a nozzle adapted to emit a cone spray of oil, an air blower adapted to produce an air stream in the general direction of the axis of the cone and electrodes forming an air spark gap positioned so that said spark gap is located immediately outside of the cone spray and within the air stream, a spark ignition voltage generator comprising a transformer having a high voltage secondary winding adapted to be connected to said electrodes, and a first primary winding connected in series with a first capacitance, first means for charging said first capacitance first means for repetitively discharging said first capacitor through said first primary winding, and a second primary winding connected in series with a second capacitance, second means for charging said second capacitance, and second means for repetitively discharging said second capacitance, second means for charging said second capacitance, and second means for repetitively discharging said second capacitance through said second primary winding with means for effecting the repetitive discharges of said second capacitance through said second primary winding a short time following the discharge of the first named capacitance, wherein said first primary winding and said first capacitance are proportioned to produce an electric arc at said electrodes of short duration and wherein said second primary winding and second capacitance are proportioned to provide for the continuation of said electrical arc for a significant period whereby the said arc and the resulting incandescent matter are deflected into the fuel area by the airstream to ignite the oil spray.