High frequency type ignition system

Claim 2

In combination with an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having breaker points associated therewith for initiating a high-frequency continuous-wave spark signal, said system including an oscillator for generating said spark signal, said oscillator having an output transformer for supplying said spark signal to said engine, said oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback including at least part of the magnetic circuit of said output transformer, and wherein said breaker points control application of means for at least partially saturating said feedback coupling to stop said oscillator, the improvement comprising means for removably applying a magnetic bias to at least part of said electromagnetic feedback coupling including said output transformer and in a direction for setting the magnetic state thereof so that said oscillator will start when said breaker points open irrespective of the at-rest magnetic state in said feedback coupling following the stopping of said oscillator.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic bias means comprises a winding magnetically coupled to said electromagnetic coupling, and circuit means for passing DC current through said winding when said breaker points are closed.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic feedback coupling comprises a transformer having a saturable core and an output transformer.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said magnetic bias applying means comprises a winding on said output transformer, and circuit means for passing DC current through said output transformer winding when said breaker points are closed.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said saturable core transformer has a saturation control winding connected in series with said magnetic bias winding on the output transformer.

Claim 7

In an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having breaker points associated therewith for initiating a high-frequency spark signal created by an oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback coupling, said coupling comprising a saturable core transformer having a saturating (control) winding thereon, and an output transformer, the improvement comprising a magnetic bias winding on said output transformer, and circuit means for connecting said bias winding in series with said control winding and said breaker points and including impedance means for determining the amount of current flow when said breaker points are closed.

Claim 8

In an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having breaker points associated therewith for initiating a high-frequency spark signal created by an oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback coupling, said coupling comprising a saturable core transformer having a saturating (control) winding thereon, and an output transformer, the improvement comprising a magnetic bias winding on said output transformer, and circuit means for connecting said bias winding in series with said control winding and said breaker points and including impedance means for determining the amount of current flow when said breaker points are closed.

Claim 9

In combination with an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having engine-timed current flow control means associated therewith for controlling initiation and termination of a high-frequency continuous-wave spark signal, said system including an oscillator for generating said spark signal, said oscillator having an output transformer for supplying said spark signal to said engine, said oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback including at least part of the magnetic circuit of said output transformer, and wherein said current flow control means controls application of means for at least partially saturating said oscillator feedback coupling to stop said oscillator, the improvement comprising means for removably applying a magnetic bias to at least part of said oscillator electromagnetic feedback coupling including said output transformer and in a direction for setting the magnetic state thereof so that said oscillator will always start when said engine-timed current flow control means stops said current flow irrespective Of the at-rest magnetic state following the stopping of said oscillator.

Claim 10

In combination with an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having engine-timed current flow control means associated therewith for controlling initiation and termination of a high-frequency continuous-wave spark signal, said system including an oscillator for generating said spark signal, said oscillator having an output transformer for supplying said spark signal to said engine, said oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback including at least part of the magnetic circuit of said output transformer, and wherein said current flow control means controls application of means for at least partially saturating said oscillator feedback coupling to stop said oscillator, the improvement comprising means for removably applying a magnetic bias to at least part of said oscillator electromagnetic feedback coupling including said output transformer and in a direction for setting the magnetic state thereof so that said oscillator will always start when said engine-timed current flow control means stops said current flow irrespective Of the at-rest magnetic state following the stopping of said oscillator.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said magnetic bias means comprises a winding magnetically coupled to said electromagnetic feedback coupling, and circuit means for passing and cutting off DC current through said winding under control of said current flow control means.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said electromagnetic feedback coupling comprises a transformer having a saturable core and an output transformer.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 9 wherein said magnetic bias applying means comprises a winding on said output transformer, and circuit means for passing DC current through said output transformer winding when said current flow control means is passing current.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 10 wherein said saturable core transformer has a saturation control winding connected in series with said magnetic bias winding on the output transformer.

Claim 15

In an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having engine-timed current flow control means associated therewith for initiating a high-frequency spark signal created by an oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback coupling, said coupling comprising a saturable core transformer having a saturating control winding thereon, and an output transformer, the improvement comprising a magnetic bias winding on said output transformer, and circuit means for connecting said bias winding in series with said control winding and said engine-timed current flow control means and including impedance means for determining the amount of current flow when said current flow control means is passing current.

Claim 16

In an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having engine-timed current flow control means associated therewith for initiating a high-frequency spark signal created by an oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback coupling, said coupling comprising a saturable core transformer having a saturating control winding thereon, and an output transformer, the improvement comprising a magnetic bias winding on said output transformer, and circuit means for connecting said bias winding in series with said control winding and said engine-timed current flow control means and including impedance means for determining the amount of current flow when said current flow control means is passing current.

Claim 17

In combination with an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having engine-timed current flow control means associated therewith for controlling initiation and termination of a continuous-wave high-frequency spark signal, said signal including an oscillator for generating said spark signal, said oscillator having an output transformer for supplying said spark signal to said engine, said oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback including at least part of the magnetic circuit of said output transformer, and wherein said current flow control means controls application of means for at least partially saturating said oscillator feedback coupling to stop said oscillator, the improvement comprising means for removably applying a magnetic bias to at least part of said oscillator electromagnetic feedback coupling, and semiconductor means associated with said saturating means for ensuring a predetermined polarity of saturation when said oscillator is stopped.

Claim 18

In combination with an ignition system for use with an internal combustion engine having engine-timed current flow control means associated therewith for controlling initiation and termination of a continuous-wave high-frequency spark signal, said signal including an oscillator for generating said spark signal, said oscillator having an output transformer for supplying said spark signal to said engine, said oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback including at least part of the magnetic circuit of said output transformer, and wherein said current flow control means controls application of means for at least partially saturating said oscillator feedback coupling to stop said oscillator, the improvement comprising means for removably applying a magnetic bias to at least part of said oscillator electromagnetic feedback coupling, and semiconductor means associated with said saturating means for ensuring a predetermined polarity of saturation when said oscillator is stopped.

Claim 19

The invention according to claim 13, wherein said semiconductor means comprises a diode, and circuit means for connecting said diode in series with said feedback coupling saturating means.

Claim 20

In an ignition system including a source of DC current and an inverter-type oscillator, said system being adapted for use with an internal combustion engine having engine-timed current flow control means associated therewith for controlling initiation and termination of a continuous-wave high-frequency spark signal created by said oscillator, said oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback coupling, said coupling comprising an output transformer for applying said spark signal to said engine, said output transformer having a magnetic core and a control winding in addition to at least one feedback winding for said oscillator, the improvement comprising first circuit means for connecting said source of DC current to said control winding when said oscillator is not oscillating in order to apply a magnetic bias to said core, a diode, and second circuit means for connecting said diode in series with said current flow control means and said control winding whereby said oscillator will always stop with the polarity of the magnetic fluX aiding the magnetic bias created by said DC current.

Claim 21

In an ignition system including a source of DC current and an inverter-type oscillator, said system being adapted for use with an internal combustion engine having engine-timed current flow control means associated therewith for controlling initiation and termination of a continuous-wave high-frequency spark signal created by said oscillator, said oscillator employing electromagnetic feedback coupling, said coupling comprising an output transformer for applying said spark signal to said engine, said output transformer having a magnetic core and a control winding in addition to at least one feedback winding for said oscillator, the improvement comprising first circuit means for connecting said source of DC current to said control winding when said oscillator is not oscillating in order to apply a magnetic bias to said core, a diode, and second circuit means for connecting said diode in series with said current flow control means and said control winding whereby said oscillator will always stop with the polarity of the magnetic fluX aiding the magnetic bias created by said DC current.