Ignition system for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines having automatic spark advance

Claim 2

Triggering apparatus for an ignition system for an internal combustion engine for operating a plurality of individual circuits each having a switching means selectively actuated for transferring of energy, comprising a generator having winding means for establishing triggering signals for each of said switching means, said generator including a cyclically moving means including a first means for establishing first polarity triggering signals in said winding means and a second means similarly coupled to said winding means for establishing second polarity signals in said same winding means, a separate winding means connected to each of said switching means with the first polarity signal actuating the corresponding switching means, and circuit means connecting the opposite end of each separate winding means to a different one of said switching means to establish actuation thereof prior to actuation from said corresponding winding means, and an electronic control switch means interconnected to said winding means to effectively disable the circuit means for said second polarity signals and selectively operable to enable said circuit means for said second polarity signals and thereby provide an automatic spark advance control.

Claim 3

The triggering apparatus of claim 1 having means included to actuate said control switch means above a selected speed of said internal combustion engine, and means associated with said electronic control switch means to maintain said electronic control switch means actuated until such time as the engine speed drops a selected level.

Claim 4

In an ignition system for a multiple cylinder internal-combustion engine having individual firing circuits for each cylinder, each firing circuit having a main switching means selectively actuated for transferring of energy to the associated firing means, the improvement in an engine driven triggering signal source and its interconnecting circuit means comprising a generator having a plurality of winding means for establishing a triggering signal for each of said switching means, said generator including a cyclically moving means including a first means for establishing a first polarity triggering signal in each one of said plurality of winding means and a second means similarly coupled to said winding means for establishing an opposite second polarity signal in each one of said same plurality of winding means, said plurality of winding means including a separate winding means connected to each of said switching means with the first polarity signal actuating the corresponding switching means, and circuit means interconnecting the opposite ends of each one of said separate winding means to a different one of said switching means to selectively transmit the opposite second polarity signal to a different one of said switching means from that associated with the first polarity signal to establish actuation thereof at a different time than from said corresponding separate winding means whereby each of said winding means is selectively operable to operate either one of the two switching means with only the first polarity signal operable in one speed range and only the second polarity signals operable in a second speed range to provide an automatic spark advance control.

Claim 5

In an ignition system for a multiple cylinder internal-combustion engine having individual firing circuits for each cylinder, each firing circuit having a main switching means selectively actuated for transferring of energy to the associated firing means, the improvement in an engine driven triggering signal source and its interconnecting circuit means comprising a generator having a plurality of winding means for establishing a triggering signal for each of said switching means, said generator including a cyclically moving means including a first means for establishing a first polarity triggering signal in each one of said plurality of winding means and a second means similarly coupled to said winding means for establishing an opposite second polarity signal in each one of said same plurality of winding means, said plurality of winding means including a separate winding means connected to each of said switching means with the first polarity signal actuating the corresponding switching means, and circuit means interconnecting the opposite ends of each one of said separate winding means to a different one of said switching means to selectively transmit the opposite second polarity signal to a different one of said switching means from that associated with the first polarity signal to establish actuation thereof at a different time than from said corresponding separate winding means whereby each of said winding means is selectively operable to operate either one of the two switching means with only the first polarity signal operable in one speed range and only the second polarity signals operable in a second speed range to provide an automatic spark advance control.

Claim 6

The ignition system of claim 3 including an electronic control switch means interconnected to said winding means to effectively disable all of the circuit means for said second polarity signals and selectively operable to enAble all of said circuit means for said second polarity signals.

Claim 7

The ignition system of claim 4 including speed responsive means coupled to and driven in synchronism with said internal-combustion engine and operable to actuate said control switch means above a selected speed.

Claim 8

The ignition system of claim 5 including means associated with said electronic control switch means to maintain said electronic control switch means actuated above said selected speed and to de-energize said electronic control switch means when the engine speed drops below a selected level appropriately related to said selected speed.

Claim 9

An ignition system triggering apparatus for a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine including multiple channel main firing switch means having individually triggered input means and providing an automatic advance firing of the several cylinders above a selected speed, comprising a stator having a plurality of trigger windings mounted in circumferentially spaced relation, a rotating magnetic member driven in synchronism with the engine and rotatably mounted coaxially to the stator, said magnetic member having a first magnetic discontinuity sequentially coupled to the windings and generating a family of triggering pulses of first polarity, said rotating magnetic member having a second discontinuity of an opposite magnetic flux change from said first discontinuity and sequentially coupled to said windings and generating a second family of triggering pulses of an opposite polarity, said second discontinuity being spaced from said first discontinuity in accordance with a first angle dependent on said circumferential spacing between said trigger windings and with a second preselected angle of advance firing for the engine, and circuit means connecting each of said triggering windings to the individually triggered input means of the main firing means for two of said cylinders and wherein each triggering winding initiates a retard firing of one of the cylinders at selected engine speeds and said same triggering winding initiates an advanced firing of a different cylinder at other engine speeds.

Claim 10

An ignition system triggering apparatus for a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine including multiple channel main firing switch means having individually triggered input means and providing an automatic advance firing of the several cylinders above a selected speed, comprising a stator having a plurality of trigger windings mounted in circumferentially spaced relation, a rotating magnetic member driven in synchronism with the engine and rotatably mounted coaxially to the stator, said magnetic member having a first magnetic discontinuity sequentially coupled to the windings and generating a family of triggering pulses of first polarity, said rotating magnetic member having a second discontinuity of an opposite magnetic flux change from said first discontinuity and sequentially coupled to said windings and generating a second family of triggering pulses of an opposite polarity, said second discontinuity being spaced from said first discontinuity in accordance with a first angle dependent on said circumferential spacing between said trigger windings and with a second preselected angle of advance firing for the engine, and circuit means connecting each of said triggering windings to the individually triggered input means of the main firing means for two of said cylinders and wherein each triggering winding initiates a retard firing of one of the cylinders at selected engine speeds and said same triggering winding initiates an advanced firing of a different cylinder at other engine speeds.

Claim 11

The ignition system triggering apparatus of claim 7 wherein said main switch means are threshold responsive switch means and wherein said circuit means includes a first polarity branch circuit means having unidirectional conducting means connected to conduct the first polarity signals from each one end of said windings and a second opposite polarity branch circuit means including an electronic switch means connected to conduct the second polarity signals from each opposite end of said windings.

Claim 12

The ignition system triggering apparatus of claim 8 wherein said electronic switch means is a triggered means, a sensing switching means connected to actuate said electronic switch means, and means generating a voltage signal sensibly proportional to the speed of the engine and connected to actuate the sensing switching means to actuate the electronic switch means above a selected speed so as to cause said electronic switch means to conduct and apply said opposite polarity pulses to the said threshold responsive switch means, whereby each said opposite polarity pulse triggers a different one of said threshold responsive switch means from the threshold responsive switching means triggered by the first polarity pulse of the corresponding winding to automatically advance the firing.

Claim 13

The ignition system triggering apparatus of claim 8 wherein said electronic switch means includes a common solid state switch and a plurality of individual isolating diode means for conducting the opposite polarity signals of each of said trigger windings.

Claim 14

In the ignition system of claim 10 wherein said common switch is a controlled rectifier means having one main terminal connected to a common return line and the other main terminal connected to the windings in series with said individual isolating diode means, a sensing switching means connected to a gate means of the contRolled rectifier means, signal means for generating a signal sensibly proportional to speed, and circuit means connecting the signal means to the input of said sensing switching means, such that the common solid state switch switches above said selected speed to a conductive state opposite to that state obtained below said selected speed.

Claim 15

In the ignition system of claim 7 wherein said circuit means includes first branch circuits including unidirectional conducting means for transmitting said first polarity signals from the first ends of said plurality of trigger windings and second branch circuits including unidirectional conducting means for transmitting said second polarity signals from the opposite second ends of said windings, a common connection from each main firing means to the corresponding sides of said unidirectional conducting means in a first branch circuit of one winding for transmitting first polarity signals therefrom and in a second branch circuit of a different winding for transmitting second polarity signals therefrom, so as to selectively actuate said main switching means, said first branch circuit having its return path directly from the main firing switch means back to the winding, and said second branch circuit having its return path passing through a common controlled switch means, said common connection including an auxiliary path means required for biasing purposes joining into said return paths prior to their separation, a unidirectional conducting means being provided in said auxiliary path and having a forward threshold voltage level closely approximating the threshold triggering voltage level of said main firing switch means to effectively maintain full signal transfer through said first branch circuit for all levels up to said threshold voltage level.

Claim 16

In the ignition system of claim 12 wherein said circuit means provides for corresponding connection of each of said windings through similar first and second branch circuits, each of said first branch circuits including a first diode means connected to a first end of one of said windings, a controlled rectifier having gate and cathode means, a resistor connected in series between said diode means and the gate of said controlled rectifier means, a common bias voltage storage capacitor connected to the cathode of said controlled rectifier, and a return resistor connected from the other end of said capacitor to the opposite end of the same winding; each of said second branch circuits including a second diode means connected to the junction of said opposite end of the winding and said return resistor, a common connection between the output sides of said first diode means of one winding and said second diode means for a different second winding, a third diode means connected to the first end of said second winding, a common controlled switch means connected between said third diode means and said common bias capacitor, said control switch means being in series for currents flowing through said second diode means but not included in the path for currents flowing through said first diode means, said common controlled switch means being selectively actuated to establish an angularly advanced firing of the engine.

Claim 17

In the ignition system of claim 13 wherein said controlled switch means includes a gated unidirectional conducting switch means having an input gate means, a transistor interconnected between said gate and to a control power source, a speed responsive means providing a voltage varying sensibly with engine speed, said transistor having an input circuit connected to said speed responsive means.

Claim 18

In the ignition system of claim 14 having a bias voltage capacitive storage means charged by the output signals of said windings, and establishing a voltage output sensibly proportional to the speed of the engine, a drain transistor means connected across said capacitive means in series with a resistance means, said resistance means having at least one portion connected in common in serieS with said controlled switch means and connected to actuate said drain transistor to partially discharge said capacitive storage means and prevent overcharging of said capacitive storage means.

Claim 19

In the ignition system of claim 14 wherein said speed responsive means is a bias voltage capacitive means charged by the output signals of said windings, including a voltage dividing resistor network connected across said capacitive means to turn on said transistor at a selected voltage of said capacitive means.

Claim 20

In the ignition system of claim 14 wherein said speed responsive means includes an electronic tachometer circuit including a resistance-capacitance network connected in series with a unidirectional conducting means to the trigger windings to conduct said first polarity signals.

Claim 21

In the ignition system of claim 17 wherein said unidirectional conducting means includes a Zener diode means connected to said network and to each of said windings by a separate diode means.

Claim 22

In the ignition system of claim 14 wherein a separate power alternator is provided having high and low speed windings and said speed responsive means includes an electronic tachometer circuit including a resistance-capacitance network connected in series with diode means to said high speed winding of the alternator, a Zener diode connecting the output of the network to the input circuit of said transistor.

Claim 23

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine employing a threshold responsive triggered switching means including a trigger signal generator having a plurality of windings for generating timed spaced trigger signals, a firing energy source means having at least one output varying sensibly in amplitude with the speed of the engine, and having a self-biasing capacitive circuit means operatively connected in the triggering circuitry associated with the switching means and establishing a modifying signal substantially proportional to the output of the trigger signal generator to thereby effectively establish a variable threshold switching voltage essentially matched to the output voltage of the trigger signal generator, said generator establishing time spaced alternate polarity pulses in each winding, the improvement in the interconnection of said generator to said switching means comprising a first polarity branch circuit means to complete individual circuits for conducting the first polarity signal of each of said generator windings to a first one of said switching means for time spaced operation of said switching means, a second opposite polarity branch circuit means which includes an electronic switch means effectively in series with said windings to complete individual circuits for conducting the opposite polarity signal of each of said generator windings to a different second one of said switching means with said electronic switch means being common to all of said second circuit means, said second polarity branch circuit being connected to actuate the switching means at a different time than the actuation from said corresponding winding means to provide an automatic advance control, said electronic switch means having an input control means, a speed sensing means capable of producing a control voltage varying sensibly with engine speed, said speed sensing means connected to said input control means to actuate said electronic switch means when said control voltage exceeds a selected level, only one of said first and second polarity pulses being operable with the electronic switch means not operated and only the other of said polarity pulses being operable with the electronic switch means operated.

Claim 24

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine employing a threshold responsive triggered switching means including a trigger signal generator having a plurality of windings for generating timed spaced trigger signals, a firing energy source means having at least one output varying sensibly in amplitude with the speed of the engine, and having a self-biasing capacitive circuit means operatively connected in the triggering circuitry associated with the switching means and establishing a modifying signal substantially proportional to the output of the trigger signal generator to thereby effectively establish a variable threshold switching voltage essentially matched to the output voltage of the trigger signal generator, said generator establishing time spaced alternate polarity pulses in each winding, the improvement in the interconnection of said generator to said switching means comprising a first polarity branch circuit means to complete individual circuits for conducting the first polarity signal of each of said generator windings to a first one of said switching means for time spaced operation of said switching means, a second opposite polarity branch circuit means which includes an electronic switch means effectively in series with said windings to complete individual circuits for conducting the opposite polarity signal of each of said generator windings to a different second one of said switching means with said electronic switch means being common to all of said second circuit means, said second polarity branch circuit being connected to actuate the switching means at a different time than the actuation from said corresponding winding means to provide an automatic advance control, said electronic switch means having an input control means, a speed sensing means capable of producing a control voltage varying sensibly with engine speed, said speed sensing means connected to said input control means to actuate said electronic switch means when said control voltage exceeds a selected level, only one of said first and second polarity pulses being operable with the electronic switch means not operated and only the other of said polarity pulses being operable with the electronic switch means operated.

Claim 25

The ignition system of claim 20 wherein said electronic switch means is a solid state unidirectional switching means connected in the second opposite polarity branch circuit return paths to said windings, wherein said input control means is a level sensing switching means connected between the input means of the unidirectional switching means and the said speed senSing means, and where said speed sensing means generates an output signal sensibly proportional to the speed of the engine and is connected to actuate said level sensing switching means to initiate conduction of said unidirectional switching means.

Claim 26

The ignition system of claim 21 wherein said solid state unidirectional switching means includes a controlled rectifier connected as a common series element in series with a plurality of isolating diodes connected one each to each of said windings, said controlled rectifier having a gate as said input means.

Claim 27

The ignition system of claim 21 wherein said speed sensing means includes a voltage dividing network connected across said self-biasing capacitive circuit means and where the output of said voltage dividing network connects to the input of said level sensing switching means.

Claim 28

The ignition system of claim 21 wherein said speed sensing means includes a pulsed tachometer circuit connected to the windings and including unidiectional means to transmit only one of said polarity signals.

Claim 29

The ignition system of claim 24 wherein said unidirectional means only transmits the first polarity signals.

Claim 30

The ignition system of claim 21 wherein said source means includes a separate alternator as a main power source, and said speed sensing means includes a pulsed tachometer circuit connected to the alternator and including unidirectional means to transmit one polarity of the alternator output.

Claim 31

The ignition system of claim 26 wherein said alternator has a low speed winding and a high speed winding, and said tachometer circuit is connected to said high speed winding.

Claim 32

The ignition system of claim 21 wherein said speed sensing means maintains said unidirectional switching means continuously on at all speeds above said selected speed and thereby applying said opposite polarity pulses to trigger a different one of said threshold switching means from the switching means triggered by the first polarity pulse of the corresponding winding, said opposite polarity pulses also being applied to said self-biasing capacitive circuit means, and drain means responsive to the opposite polarity pulse conduction through said electronic switch means and operable to conduct current sensibly proportional to the current passing through said electronic switch means and thereby establishing a controlled discharge of said self-biasing capacitive circuit means to prevent overcharging of the self-biasing capacitive circuit means.

Claim 33

An electrical power system for firing of an internal combustion engine employing a triggered switch means and for supplying separate electrically powered load means, comprising a main alternator having a plurality of power windings having output means for driving of said load means, said main alternator also having said power windings connected to output means having control switching means connected to supply triggering power to said triggered switch means, and a separate trigger generator connected to the control switching means, said trigger generator including a separate trigger winding for each engine cylinder and a magnetic rotor establishing alternate polarity pulses in each winding, a first polarity branch circuit means connecting said windings to complete individual circuits for conducting the first polarity signal of each of said trigger windings to a first one of said control switching means, a second opposite polarity branch circuit means including an electronic switch means connecting each of said windings to complete individual circuit for conducting the opposite polarity signal of each of said generator windings to a different one of said control switching means from that associated with the first polarity signal to establish actuation thereof at a different time than said corresponding separate winding means to provide an automatic spark advance control, with said electronic switch means being common to all of said second circuit means, and means responsive to the engine speed to actuatE said electronic switch means whereby said first polarity pulse signals are operable in one speed range and said second polarity pulse signals are operable in a second speed range.

Claim 34

An electrical power system for firing of an internal combustion engine employing a triggered switch means and for supplying separate electrically powered load means, comprising a main alternator having a plurality of power windings having output means for driving of said load means, said main alternator also having said power windings connected to output means having control switching means connected to supply triggering power to said triggered switch means, and a separate trigger generator connected to the control switching means, said trigger generator including a separate trigger winding for each engine cylinder and a magnetic rotor establishing alternate polarity pulses in each winding, a first polarity branch circuit means connecting said windings to complete individual circuits for conducting the first polarity signal of each of said trigger windings to a first one of said control switching means, a second opposite polarity branch circuit means including an electronic switch means connecting each of said windings to complete individual circuit for conducting the opposite polarity signal of each of said generator windings to a different one of said control switching means from that associated with the first polarity signal to establish actuation thereof at a different time than said corresponding separate winding means to provide an automatic spark advance control, with said electronic switch means being common to all of said second circuit means, and means responsive to the engine speed to actuatE said electronic switch means whereby said first polarity pulse signals are operable in one speed range and said second polarity pulse signals are operable in a second speed range.

Claim 35

The electrical power system of claim 29 wherein said engine includes a shaft with a flywheel secured to one end, said main alternator being a multipole alternator excited by a multipolar magnet ring secured to said flywheel, and said trigger generator includes said magnet rotor which is an annular member secured to said shaft and having said trigger windings mounted in equicircumferential spacing about said annular member.