Ignition system

Claim 2

An ignition system comprising a primary circuit, a secondary circuit and triggering means, a. the secondary circuit including a secondary winding, a distRibutor electrically responsive to the secondary winding, a plurality of contacts each of which is adapted to be electrically connected to a combustion ignition device, the distributor being mounted to permit relative motion between it and the contacts to effect sequential electrical connection between the secondary winding and the contacts, b. the primary circuit including in series arrangement an electrical energy source, a primary winding and an electronic valve, the primary winding being in inductive relationship with the secondary winding, and c. the triggering means including i. a magnetic device having: a first magnetic domain, and a second magnetic domain, at least said first domain being capable of retaining net magnetization after being subjected to a magnetic field, the magnitude of at least one of the magnetic properties of said first domain being substantially different than the magnitude of the corresponding magnetic property of said second domain, said domains being separated by a domain wall when said first domain has a net magnetization in a first direction and said second domain has a net magnetization in a second direction substantially opposite from said first direction, ii. magnetic means for producing a magnetic field sufficient to reverse the net magnetization of said second domain from said second direction to said first direction, iii. control means for subjecting said magnetic device to said magnetic means in response to predetermined criteria, and iv. means for sensing a change in the magnetic flux adjacent to said magnetic device, d. the electronic valve being responsive to the sensing means to permit electric current from the electrical energy source to flow through the primary winding upon occurrence of the flux change to induce a current in the secondary winding for supplying electrical energy to the contacts.

Claim 3

An ignition system as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensing means includes a coil of conductive wire mounted immediately adjacent said magnetic means.

Claim 4

An ignition system as defined in claim 1 wherein the magnetic means for producing the magnetic field is a permanent magnet.

Claim 5

An ignition system as defined in claim 3 wherein the permanent magnet and the magnetic device are mounted for movement relative to one another.

Claim 6

An ignition system as defined in claim 4 wherein the movement is controlled by the control means.

Claim 7

An ignition system as defined in claim 4 wherein said magnetic device is mounted on a rotor mounted for rotary movement adjacent to the sensing means and permanent magnet.

Claim 8

An ignition system as defined in claim 6 including a distributor shaft drivingly connected to an engine cam shaft and wherein the rotor is drivingly connected to said shaft.

Claim 9

An ignition system as defined in claim 7 wherein the distributor is mounted for rotary motion relative to the contacts and wherein rotation of the distributor rotates is in direct relation to rotation of the rotor.

Claim 10

An ignition system as defined in claim 8 wherein the number of contacts and magnetic devices equal the number of combustion ignition devices to be fired and each magnetic devices corresponds to a particular contact.

Claim 11

An ignition system as defined in claim 8 wherein the number of contacts and said magnetic devices equal the number of combustion ignition devices to be fired and the distributor is drivingly connected to the distributor shaft.

Claim 12

An ignition system as defined in claim 4 including a capacitor mounted across the primary winding.

Claim 13

An ignition system as defined in claim 4 wherein the sensing means provides a signal indicating the occurrence of the flux change, the electronic valve being responsive to the sensing means signal.

Claim 14

An ignition system as defined in claim 12 including an amplifier for amplifying the signal and wherein the electronic valve has a control element, the amplified signal being directed to the control element such that upon The receipt of the amplified signal the electronic valve is closed.

Claim 15

An ignition system as defined in claim 13 wherein the electronic valve is a semiconductor controlled rectifier.

Claim 16

An ignition system as defined in claim 12 including a set of magnetic devices for each combustion ignition device to be fired, each set of magnetic devices providing a plurality of signals equal in number to the number of magnetic devices in the set and wherein the plurality of signals is provided while the distributor is in electrical contact with the contact corresponding to the magnetic device set providing the signals.

Claim 17

An ignition system as defined in claim 12 wherein the number of magnetic devices is an integral multiple of the number of combustion ignition devices intended to be fired and wherein each magnetic device is a wire of an alloy of 48 percent iron and 52 percent nickel.

Claim 18

An ignition system as defined in claim 16 wherein each wire has a diameter approximately 0.0159 inch and a length approximately 0.625 inch.

Claim 19

An ignition system as defined in claim 4 wherein the criteria is the speed of an engine in which the combustion ignition devices are mounted.

Claim 20

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising: a. a secondary circuit including a secondary winding in series with an electrically conductive distributor rotor, a plurality of fixed contacts spaced equiangularly about a disc, each contact corresponding to and adapted to be electrically connected to a spark plug, the distributor rotor being mounted for rotary movement relative to the contacts and to effect sequential electrical connection between the secondary winding and the contacts, b. a primary circuit including in series arrangement a battery, a primary winding and an electronic valve having a control element, the primary winding being in inductive relationship with the secondary winding, c. triggering means including i. a primary rotor having a plurality of wires mounted thereon, the primary rotor and distributor rotor being driven by the engine, the number of wires being an integral multiple of the number of fixed contacts, each wire having a first magnetic domain, and a second magnetic domain, at least said first domain being capable of retaining net magnetization after being subjected to a magnetic field, the magnitude of at least one of the magnetic properties of said first domain being substantially different than the magnitude of the corresponding magnetic property of said second domain, said domains being separated by a domain wall when said first domain has a net magnetization in a first direction and said second domain has a net magnetization in a second direction substantially opposite from said first direction. ii. a permanent magnet mounted adjacent to the primary rotor for producing a magnetic field to effect reversal of the direction of magnetization of the second domain to said first direction when the wire is juxtaposed to the permanent magnet, the direction of magnetization of the second domain being reversed as the wire leaves the said magnetic field. iii. sensing means including a coil conductive wire immediately adjacent to the permanent magnet for sensing a change in magnetic flux, the sensing means providing a signal indicating the occurrence of the flux change, the signal being directed to the control element of the electronic valve, d. the electronic valve being responsive to the signal such that it closes upon receipt of the signal permitting the battery to energize the primary winding inducing a current in the secondary winding and supplying electrical energy through the distributor rotor to the contact corresponding to the wire which effected the signal.

Claim 21

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising: a. a secondary circuit including a secondary winding in series with an electrically conductive distributor rotor, a plurality of fixed contacts spaced equiangularly about a disc, each contact corresponding to and adapted to be electrically connected to a spark plug, the distributor rotor being mounted for rotary movement relative to the contacts and to effect sequential electrical connection between the secondary winding and the contacts, b. a primary circuit including in series arrangement a battery, a primary winding and an electronic valve having a control element, the primary winding being in inductive relationship with the secondary winding, c. triggering means including i. a primary rotor having a plurality of wires mounted thereon, the primary rotor and distributor rotor being driven by the engine, the number of wires being an integral multiple of the number of fixed contacts, each wire having a first magnetic domain, and a second magnetic domain, at least said first domain being capable of retaining net magnetization after being subjected to a magnetic field, the magnitude of at least one of the magnetic properties of said first domain being substantially different than the magnitude of the corresponding magnetic property of said second domain, said domains being separated by a domain wall when said first domain has a net magnetization in a first direction and said second domain has a net magnetization in a second direction substantially opposite from said first direction. ii. a permanent magnet mounted adjacent to the primary rotor for producing a magnetic field to effect reversal of the direction of magnetization of the second domain to said first direction when the wire is juxtaposed to the permanent magnet, the direction of magnetization of the second domain being reversed as the wire leaves the said magnetic field. iii. sensing means including a coil conductive wire immediately adjacent to the permanent magnet for sensing a change in magnetic flux, the sensing means providing a signal indicating the occurrence of the flux change, the signal being directed to the control element of the electronic valve, d. the electronic valve being responsive to the signal such that it closes upon receipt of the signal permitting the battery to energize the primary winding inducing a current in the secondary winding and supplying electrical energy through the distributor rotor to the contact corresponding to the wire which effected the signal.

Claim 22

An ignition system as defined in claim 19 wherein the sensing means provides a signal to which the electronic valve is responsive only upon occurrence of the flux change caused by the wire leaving the said magnetic field.