US3753429A — Internal combustion engine ignition system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 283 words

An electronic ignition arrangement for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination an ignition capacitor; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a spark plug connected across said secondary winding; an electronic switch having a control input and connected to said capacitor and to said primary winding to form with the latter a discharge path for said ignition capacitor; stationary support means; rotary support means mounted in proximity to said stationary support means for rotation about an axis of rotation; a charging winding mounted on said stationary support means and connected to said ignition capacitor for charging the latter; a yoke arrangement including two spaced legs of ferromagnetic material mounted on said stationary support means; a pair of windings each wound around a respective one of said legs and connected together to form a control winding connected across said control input for controlling the conductivity of said switch; first permanent magnet means on said rotary support means having a first field distribution and operative upon rotation of said rotary support means both for producing flux changes through said charging winding resulting in the flow of charging current into said capacitor and also for producing flux changes through said pair of windings resulting in the generation thereacross of opposing voltages preveNting conduction by said switch; and second permanent magnet means on said rotary support means having a second field distribution and operative upon rotation of said rotary support means both for producing flux changes through said charging winding resulting in the flow of charging current into said capacitor and also for producing flux changes through said pair of windings resulting in the generation thereacross of a voltage rendering said switch conductive.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 283 words

An electronic ignition arrangement for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination an ignition capacitor; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a spark plug connected across said secondary winding; an electronic switch having a control input and connected to said capacitor and to said primary winding to form with the latter a discharge path for said ignition capacitor; stationary support means; rotary support means mounted in proximity to said stationary support means for rotation about an axis of rotation; a charging winding mounted on said stationary support means and connected to said ignition capacitor for charging the latter; a yoke arrangement including two spaced legs of ferromagnetic material mounted on said stationary support means; a pair of windings each wound around a respective one of said legs and connected together to form a control winding connected across said control input for controlling the conductivity of said switch; first permanent magnet means on said rotary support means having a first field distribution and operative upon rotation of said rotary support means both for producing flux changes through said charging winding resulting in the flow of charging current into said capacitor and also for producing flux changes through said pair of windings resulting in the generation thereacross of opposing voltages preveNting conduction by said switch; and second permanent magnet means on said rotary support means having a second field distribution and operative upon rotation of said rotary support means both for producing flux changes through said charging winding resulting in the flow of charging current into said capacitor and also for producing flux changes through said pair of windings resulting in the generation thereacross of a voltage rendering said switch conductive.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said legs are parallel and extend in direction radially of said axis, and wherein said first and second permanent magnet means comprise a plurality of permanent magnets spaced about said axis and defining a cylinder.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said yoke arrangement includes a magnetiferous cross piece physically connecting together said two legs at corresponding ends thereof, said cross piece extending at least approximately parallel to said axis.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 44 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said yoke arrangement includes a non-magnetiferous cross piece physically connecting together said two legs so that a control voltage is generated across one of said pair of windings when the engine turns in the correct direction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said two legs of said yoke arrangement are at least approximately bar-shaped members.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said two legs are spaced apart in the direction parallel to said axis.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 96 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said rotary support means includes a hub coaxial with said axis, said hub rotating about said axis with said plurality of magnets, and further wherein said second magnet means includes at least a first magnetiferous projection on said hub for magnetically cooperating with one of said two legs of said yoke arrangement so as to vary, once during each complete rotation of said plurality of permanent magnets, the magnetic flux in said one leg while the magnetic flux in the other said leg is at least approximately unchanging.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 95 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said rotary support means includes a hub coaxial with said axis, said hub rotatating about said axis with said plurality of magnets, and further wherein said second magnet means includes at least a first recess in said hub for magnetically cooperating with one of said two legs of said yoke arrangement so as to vary, once during each complete rotation of said plurality of permanent magnets, the magnetic flux in said one leg while the magnetic flux in the other said leg is at least approximately unchanging.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 87 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said second magnet means includes at least a first magnet, said first magnet being one of said plurality of permanent magnets, said first magnet incorporating at least a first notch for magnetically cooperating with one of said two legs of said yoke arrangement so as to vary, once during each complete rotation of said plurality of permanent magnets, the magnetic flux in said one leg while the magnetic flux in the other said leg is at least approximately unchanging.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 84 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein one end of the first control winding section is a control connection and one end of the second control winding section is a reference connection, said first and second winding sections being wound in the same direction as seen either from said control connection or said reference connection and looking towards said common axis, the number of turns of said first and second winding sections being such that said opposing voltages are at least approximately equal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein each magnet of said plurality of permanent magnets is polarized along a radius of said cylinder, successive magnets of said plurality of permanent magnets having alternating polarity.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 185 words

The arrangement defined in claim 11, wherein said second permanent maGnet means includes first and second neighboring permanent magnets, said plurality of permanent magnets including said first and second neighboring magnets, said first permanent magnet including an extension of one pole, said one pole being positioned nearer to said two legs when said first magnet is moved past said yoke arrangement than the other pole of said first magnet, said second permanent magnet including an extension of theother pole, said other pole being the opposite of said one pole and being positioned nearer to said two legs when said second magnet is moved past said yoke arrangement than the opposite pole of said second magnet, the two extensions projecting in circumferentially opposed directions into the common space between said first and second magnets, said two extensions being spaced apart, in a direction parallel to said axis, an amount equal to the spacing between said two legs so that in a predetermined rotational position of said plurality of permanent magnets each said extension is aligned with the end of a respective leg of said yoke arrangement.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 88 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 12, including a respective magnetiferous plate covering that pole of each magnet of said plurality of permanent magnets that is positioned nearer to said yoke arrangement when the respective said magnet passes by the latter during rotation of said plurality of permanent magnets, the respective plate of said first and second magnets having a tongue constituting said extension, the surfaces of the two tongues at least approximately defining part of a common cylindrical surface having as its axis said axis of rotation.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 98 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 12, wherein said rotary support means includes a magnetiferous hollow cylindrical housing, said plurality of permanent magnets being mounted within said housing in physical contact within the surface thereof, said housing including a central hub for accepting a driven shaft to rotate said housing, said hub being coaxial with said axis, and further wherein said yoke arrangement includes a magnetiferous cross piece physically connecting together said two legs at corresponding ends thereof, said cross piece extending at least approximately parallel to said axis, said cross piece being positioned directly opposite said hub.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 216 words

The arrangement defined in claim 12, wherein said yoke arrangement includes a non-magnetiferous cross piece physically connecting together said two legs so that a control voltage is generated across one of the two control winding sections when the engine turns in the correct direction, further wherein one end of the first winding section is a control connection and one end of the second winding section is a reference connection, said first and second winding sections being wound in the same direction as seen either from said control connection or from said reference connection and looking toward said axis, the number of turns of said first and second winding sections being such that said opposing voltages are at least approximately equal, the other end of said first winding section and the other end of said second winding section being connected together, and further wherein a first diode is shunted across the other of said first and second winding sections across which said control voltage is generated when the engine turns in the wrong direction, said first diode being connected so as to short circuit said other of said first and second windings when the engine turns in the wrong direction, whereby no control voltage is generated and the engine is prevented from operating in the wrong direction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 277 words

The arrangement defined in claim 12, wherein said yoke arrangement includes a non-magnetiferous cross piece physically connecting together said two legs so that a control voltage is generated across one of the two control winding sections when the engine turns in the correct direction, further wherein one end of the first winding section is a control connection and one end of the second winding sEction is a reference connection, said first and second winding sections being wound in the same direction as seen either from said control connection or from said reference connection and looking toward said axis, the number of turns of said first and second winding sections being such that said opposing voltages are at least approximately equal, the other end of said first winding section and the other end of said second winding section being connected together, and further including a first auxiliary winding on that one of said legs that carries the other of said first and second winding sections across which said control voltage is generated when the engine turns in the wrong direction, said first auxiliary winding connected between said control connection and said reference connection, a diode connected in series with said first auxiliary winding so as to conduct when the engine turns in the wrong direction, said first auxiliary winding being wound in the opposite direction with respect to said other of said first and second winding sections and having a number of turns sufficient to balance out the control voltage induced in said other of said first and second winding sections, whereby there is no control voltage present to cause the engine to turn in the wrong direction.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 189 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 12, wherein said yoke arrangement includes a non-magnetiferous cross piece physically connecting together said two legs so that a control voltage is generated across one of the two control winding sections when the engine turns in the correct direction, and further wherein one end of the first winding section is a control connection and one end of the second winding section is a reference connection, said first and second winding sections being wound in the same direction as seen either from said control connection or from said reference connection and looking toward said common axis, the number of turns of said first and second winding sections being such that said opposing voltages are at least approximately equal, and further including a first diode connected in series between the other end of said first winding section and said reference connection; a second diode connected in series between the other end of said second winding section and said control connection, the anode of said first diode being connected to said reference connection and the anode of said second diode being connected to said control connection.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 58 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 15, further wherein a second diode is shunted across said one of said first and second section windings, said second diode being connected so as to be non-conductive when the engine turns in the correct direction, whereby said control voltage can appear across said one of said first and second section windings.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 65 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 16, further including a second auxiliary winding, said second auxiliary winding being carried on the other of said two legs, said second auxiliary winding being wound in the same direction as said one of said first and second winding sections and being connected in series with said first auxiliary winding and between said control connection and said reference connection.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 52 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said magnetiferous projection in a predetermined rotational position of said plurality of permanent magnets is radially aligned with said one leg, said projection being fixedly radially aligned with that pole of a magnet of said plurality of magnets that is nearer to said projection.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said magnetiferous projection converges towards said hub in the direction of rotation of the latter.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 71 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 7, further including a second magnetiferous projection positioned on said hub so as to precede said first projection in the direction of rotation of said plurality of magnets, said second projection varying to a smaller degree, at any given engine speed, the flux thrOugh said one leg than said first projection so as to advance the spark when the engine speed exceeds a predetermined rpm.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said recess in a predetermined rotational position of said plurality of permanent magnets is radially aligned with said one leg, said recess being fixedly radially aligned with that pole of a magnet of said plurality of magnets that is nearer to said recess.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 58 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said yoke arrangement includes a magnetiferous cross piece physically connecting together said two legs at corresponding ends thereof, said cross piece extending at least approximately parallel to said axis, said corresponding ends of said two legs being spaced farther from said hub than the opposite ends of said two legs.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 58 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said arrangement yoke includes a magnetiferous cross piece physically connecting together sadi two legs at corresponding ends thereof, said cross piece extending at least approximately parallel to said axis, said corresponding ends of said two legs being spaced farther from said hub than the opposite ends of said two legs.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said cross piece includes a magnetiferous extension piece that projects from said cross piece in the direction opposite to that of said two legs.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 26, wherein said extension piece has a cross section at least approximately the same as that of said cross piece.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 27 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 26, wherein said extension piece is located approximately in the center of said cross piece and projects at right angles therefrom.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 28 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 26, wherein said extension piece includes a transverse piece that is located at least approximately within the projection of said cross piece.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 9, wherein the depth of said notch decreases in the direction of rotation of said plurality of magnets.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 70 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 9, including a second notch located in said first magnet so as to precede said first notch in the direction of rotation of said plurality of magnets, said second notch varying to a smaller degree, at any given engine speed, the flux through said one leg than said first notch so as to advance the spark when the engine speed exceeds a predetermined rpm.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 10, wherein the other end of said first control winding section and the other end of said second control winding section are connected together.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 24 words

The arrangement as defined in claim 10, further including a capacitor connected between said reference connection and said control connection for suppressing interference voltages.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-08-20	1977-02-19	1977-08-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-08-20	1981-02-19	1981-08-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-08-20	1985-02-19	1985-08-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Internal combustion engine ignition system

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