Arrangement for preventing current flow in the ignition coil of an internal combustion engine during standstill conditions

Claim 2

In an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft and an ignition circuit, an arrangement for preventing current flow in said ignition circuit during standstill conditions, comprising, in combination, first switch means connected to said ignition circuit for interrupting the current through said ignition circuit in response to a control signal, thereby creating a spark; control signal furnishing means for furnishing said control signal in synchronism with the rotation of said crank shaft; energy storage means furnishing a storage signal indicative of the energy stored therein; means continually supplying energy to said energy storage means; first control means comprising semi-conductor switching means connected to said energy storage means for discharging energy from said energy storage means in response to each of said control signals; and second control means interconnected between said energy storage means and said first switch means for furnishing an additional control signal to said first switch means in response to a storage signal indicative of energy storage exceeding a predetermined energy storage.

Claim 3

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ignition circuit means comprise an ignition coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a source of D.C. voltage; and wherein said first switch means connect said primary winding of said ignition coil to said source of D.C. voltage, and disconnect said primary winding from said source of D.C. voltage in response to said control signals.

Claim 4

An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said energy storage means comprise a storage capacitor; and wherein said storage signal is the voltage across said capacitor.

Claim 5

An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second control means comprise threshold circuit means furnishing said additional control signal when said voltage across said storage capacitor exceeds a predetermined voltage.

Claim 6

An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first switch means comprise a switching transistor having a collector, emitter, and base.

Claim 7

An arrangement as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a first transistor having a collector-emitter circuit and a base; and means connecting said collector-emitter circuit to said base of said switching transistor.

Claim 8

An arrangement as set forth in clain 3, further comprising voltage stabilizing means interconnected between said source of D.C. voltage and said storage capacitor.

Claim 9

An arrangement as set forth in clain 3, further comprising voltage stabilizing means interconnected between said source of D.C. voltage and said storage capacitor.

Claim 10

An arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein said threshold circuit means comprise a threshold circuit tRansistor having an emitter-collector circuit and a base; and Zener diode means connecting said base of said threshold circuit transistor to said storage capacitor.

Claim 11

An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein said semi-conductive switching means comprise a switching transistor having an emitter-collector circuit connected in parallel with said storage capacitor, and resistance means connected in series with said emitter-collector circuit of said switching transistor.

Claim 12

An arrangement as set forth in claim 9, wherein said switching transistor has a base; and wherein said first control means further comprise RC circuit means interconnecting said control signal furnishing means and said base of said switching transistor.

Claim 13

An arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein said control signal furnishing means comprise a mechanical switch; further comprising cam means operated in synchronism with the rotation of said crank shaft for oeprating said mechanical switch means.

Claim 14

An arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein said control signal furnishing means comprise magnetic means, said magnetic means having rotor means driven in synchronism with the rotation of said crank shaft, and winding means in operative proximity of said rotor means for furnishing said control signals.

Claim 15

In an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft, an ignition system, comprising, in combination, ignition spark furnishing means furnishing a spark upon activation; first switch means connected to said ignition spark furnishing means for activating said ignition spark furnishing means in response to a control signal; control signal furnishing means for furnishing said control signal in synchronism with the rotation of said crank shaft; energy storage means comprising storage capacitor means, for furnishing a storage signal indicative of the energy stored therein; first control means connected between said energy storage means and said control signal furnishing means for controlling the energy stored in said energy storage means as a function of the control interval between successive ones of said control signals; and second control means interconnected between said energy storage means and said first switch means for furnishing an additional control signal to said first switch means in response to a storage signal indicative of energy storage resulting from a control interval exceeding a predetermined control interval, said second control means comprising a threshold circuit transistor having an emitter-collector circuit and a base; and Zener diode means connecting said base of said threshold circuit transistor to said storage capacitor.

Claim 16

In an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft, an ignition system, comprising, in combination, ignition spark furnishing means furnishing a spark upon activation; first switch means connected to said ignition spark furnishing means for activating said ignition spark furnishing means in response to a control signal; control signal furnishing means for furnishing said control signal in synchronism with the rotation of said crank shaft; energy storage means comprising storage capacitor means, for furnishing a storage signal indicative of the energy stored therein; first control means connected between said energy storage means and said control signal furnishing means for controlling the energy stored in said energy storage means as a function of the control interval between successive ones of said control signals; and second control means interconnected between said energy storage means and said first switch means for furnishing an additional control signal to said first switch means in response to a storage signal indicative of energy storage resulting from a control interval exceeding a predetermined control interval, said second control means comprising a threshold circuit transistor having an emitter-collector circuit and a base; and Zener diode means connecting said base of said threshold circuit transistor to said storage capacitor.