US3885541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual ignition coil for internal combustion engine
Assignee: TDY Industries LLC
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Filing: 1973-07-23
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A stored energy ignition system of the capacitor discharge type in which the spark plugs of the engine are fired twice during each combustion interval. To provide ignition of the spark plugs, one of which is provided for each cylinder, a magneto type system driven from the engine crankshaft is used to charge a pair of capacitors used in the system. Electronic triggering devices or electronic switches, such as silicon controlled rectifiers, are used to discharge each respective capacitor. The dual coils are separated one from the other magnetically, physically and electrically through insulating intermediate discs, such as for example a carbon disc. The arrangement of the coils in the single casing is such that should one of the coils fail the other will have a sufficient voltage output to fire the associated spark plug. During the normal double firing of the system, the secondary combustion occurring results in a substantial reduction of unburnt gases being passed to the atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur G Hufton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:53
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P1/00; F02P1/08; F02P1/086; F02P15/00; F02P15/008; F02P15/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A capacitor discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each of the engine spark plugs twice during each combustion interval comprising: a dual ignition coil apparatus; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between said separating means and a terminal of said spark plug; a pair of electronic switching means operable in timed relationship one to the other to provide ignition impulses to the primaries of said coils at slightly spaced time intervals; said means for separating the high voltage windings of the coils comprising a carbon material disc, each of said high voltage coils fixed to an opposite surface of the disc at points spaced one from the other, said disc further having connected to its central portion a high voltage output lead.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A capacitor discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each of the engine spark plugs twice during each combustion interval comprising: a dual ignition coil apparatus; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between said separating means and a terminal of said spark plug; a pair of electronic switching means operable in timed relationship one to the other to provide ignition impulses to the primaries of said coils at slightly spaced time intervals; said means for separating the high voltage windings of the coils comprising a carbon material disc, each of said high voltage coils fixed to an opposite surface of the disc at points spaced one from the other, said disc further having connected to its central portion a high voltage output lead.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the ignition system is of the capacitor discharge type and in which a magneto coupled to the engine crankshaft is used to provide appropriately spaced capacitor charging pulses and triggering pulses coupled to the control electrodes of said electronic switches for providing the discharge of the capacitors in timed relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said electronic switches are of the semi-conductor controlled rectifier type and wherein said triggering pulses are applied across their gate and cathode terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said internal combustion engine includes one spark plug corresponding to each engine cylinder and wherein said dual coils are incorporated within a single casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said windings of each of said coils are wound about two spaced ferrite tubular cores, said dual coils further housed in a substantially cylindrical shaped casing having a low voltage input terminal at one end and said high voltage output lead proximate the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
A capacitor discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each of the engine spark plugs twice during each combustion interval comprising: a dual ignition coil apparatus; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between said separating means and a terminal of said spark plug; a pair of electronic switching Means operable in timed relationship one to the other to provide ignition impulses to the primaries of said coils at slightly spaced time intervals; said means for separating the two high voltage coils comprising a disc of high electrical insulating quality and a pair of high voltage diodes each connected between a terminal of a different one of said high voltage windings and the terminal of said lead to provide the electrical separation of the two coils.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A capacitor discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each of the engine spark plugs twice during each combustion interval comprising: a dual ignition coil apparatus; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between said separating means and a terminal of said spark plug; a pair of electronic switching Means operable in timed relationship one to the other to provide ignition impulses to the primaries of said coils at slightly spaced time intervals; said means for separating the two high voltage coils comprising a disc of high electrical insulating quality and a pair of high voltage diodes each connected between a terminal of a different one of said high voltage windings and the terminal of said lead to provide the electrical separation of the two coils.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
163 words
An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having one spark plug for each cylinder and having the capability of firing each of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, comprising: a dual ignition coil apparatus; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage windings of each of said coils one from the other; a pair of electronic switching means, each connected to a different one of said coils for providing a pulse thereto in timed relationship thus to provide ignition pulses at slightly spaced time intervals; said electronic switching means comprising in each case a semi-conductor controlled rectifier having its principal electrodes coupled between an electrical energy storage device and an associated coil primary; said separating means comprising a disc of carbon material, each of said high voltage coils fixed at spaced points on opposite surfaces of said disc, said disc further having a single output high voltage lead connected between its central portion and the spark plug terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
163 words
An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having one spark plug for each cylinder and having the capability of firing each of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, comprising: a dual ignition coil apparatus; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage windings of each of said coils one from the other; a pair of electronic switching means, each connected to a different one of said coils for providing a pulse thereto in timed relationship thus to provide ignition pulses at slightly spaced time intervals; said electronic switching means comprising in each case a semi-conductor controlled rectifier having its principal electrodes coupled between an electrical energy storage device and an associated coil primary; said separating means comprising a disc of carbon material, each of said high voltage coils fixed at spaced points on opposite surfaces of said disc, said disc further having a single output high voltage lead connected between its central portion and the spark plug terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the ignition system is of the capacitor discharge type and in which a magneto operatively connected to a rotary part of the engine is used to provide the timed spaced triggering pulses to the control electrodes of said electronic switching means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having one spark plug for each cylinder and having the capability of firing each of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, comprising: a dual ignition coil apparatus; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage windings of each of said coils one from the other; a pair of electronic switching means, each connected to a different one of said coils for providing a pulse thereto in timed relationship thus to provide ignition pulses at slightly spaced time intervals; said electronic switching means comprising in each case a semi-conductor controlled rectifier having its principal electrodes coupled between an electrical energy storage device and an associated coil primary; said separating means comprising a disc of electrically insulating material and a pair of opposed polarity high voltage diodes connected to said disc through a common conductor, said high voltage windings being connected between said common conductor and the spark plug terminal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
160 words
An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having one spark plug for each cylinder and having the capability of firing each of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, comprising: a dual ignition coil apparatus; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage windings of each of said coils one from the other; a pair of electronic switching means, each connected to a different one of said coils for providing a pulse thereto in timed relationship thus to provide ignition pulses at slightly spaced time intervals; said electronic switching means comprising in each case a semi-conductor controlled rectifier having its principal electrodes coupled between an electrical energy storage device and an associated coil primary; said separating means comprising a disc of electrically insulating material and a pair of opposed polarity high voltage diodes connected to said disc through a common conductor, said high voltage windings being connected between said common conductor and the spark plug terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said coils comprises a ferrite core of a tubular configuration and wherein a common high voltage output lead is passed between said separating means and the terminal of the spark plug.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
164 words
An energy storage ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each individual one of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, including a pair of separately and sequentially triggered electronic switches, each providing a discharge path from an associated storage element comprising: a dual ignition coil arrangement; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between the separating means and a terminal of each spark plug for providing a pair of time-spaced output firing pulses to the spark plug responsive to passage of a pulse through each of said coils; said separating means comprising a carbon disc having a high voltage winding of each of said coils coupled to an oPposite face of said disc, said disc further having connected to a central portion of one of its faces a single output high voltage lead, said lead connected to the spark plug.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
164 words
An energy storage ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each individual one of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, including a pair of separately and sequentially triggered electronic switches, each providing a discharge path from an associated storage element comprising: a dual ignition coil arrangement; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between the separating means and a terminal of each spark plug for providing a pair of time-spaced output firing pulses to the spark plug responsive to passage of a pulse through each of said coils; said separating means comprising a carbon disc having a high voltage winding of each of said coils coupled to an oPposite face of said disc, said disc further having connected to a central portion of one of its faces a single output high voltage lead, said lead connected to the spark plug.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
An energy storage ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each individual one of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, including a pair of separately and sequentially triggered electronic switches, each providing a discharge path from an associated storage element comprising: a dual ignition coil arrangement; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between the separating means and a terminal of each spark plug for providing a pair of time-spaced output firing pulses to the spark plug responsive to passage of a pulse through each of said coils; said separating means comprising an element of high electrical insulating characteristic and wherein a high voltage blocking diode is coupled intermediate each of said high voltage coil windings and said output lead.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
144 words
An energy storage ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each individual one of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, including a pair of separately and sequentially triggered electronic switches, each providing a discharge path from an associated storage element comprising: a dual ignition coil arrangement; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between the separating means and a terminal of each spark plug for providing a pair of time-spaced output firing pulses to the spark plug responsive to passage of a pulse through each of said coils; said separating means comprising an element of high electrical insulating characteristic and wherein a high voltage blocking diode is coupled intermediate each of said high voltage coil windings and said output lead.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
157 words
An energy storage ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each individual one of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, including a pair of separately and sequentially triggered electronic switches, each providing a discharge path from an associated storage element comprising: a dual ignition coil arrangement; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between the separating means and a terminal of each spark plug for providing a pair of time-spaced output firing pulses to the spark plug responsive to passage of a pulse through each of said disc having a high voltage winding of each of said coils coupled to an opposite face of said disc, said disc further having connected to a central portion of one of its faces a single output high voltage lead, said lead connected to the spark plug.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
157 words
An energy storage ignition system for an internal combustion engine for firing each individual one of the engine''s spark plugs twice during each combustion interval, including a pair of separately and sequentially triggered electronic switches, each providing a discharge path from an associated storage element comprising: a dual ignition coil arrangement; means for physically and electrically separating the high voltage winding of each of said coils, one from the other; a single high voltage output lead coupled between the separating means and a terminal of each spark plug for providing a pair of time-spaced output firing pulses to the spark plug responsive to passage of a pulse through each of said disc having a high voltage winding of each of said coils coupled to an opposite face of said disc, said disc further having connected to a central portion of one of its faces a single output high voltage lead, said lead connected to the spark plug.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |