Patent US3908622A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3908622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ignition system
Assignee: HAYS ENTERPRISES
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Filing: 1973-07-26
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An ignition system is described wherein a magnetic pulse is producted in a distributor, the pulse is amplified and used to bias into saturation a switching transistor in the circuit to the primary of an ignition coil. The ignition circuit is open for the major period of operation and is only closed for a sufficient time to reach saturation or near-saturation current in the primary of the coil. It has been found that the magnetic pick-up unit provides an increasing angle of dwell with increasing engine speed, thereby permitting use of a narrow band of dwell degrees. This permits the design of a single circuit which is compatible with all existing ignition coils and ballast resistors. The system is, therefore, ideally suited for the retrofit market since it minimizes the number of parts which must be replaced to only a cam flux wheel, a magnetic pick-up coil and the amplifier and switching network. The circuit also includes pulse-generating means which is operative at low engine speeds such as during starting to supplement the pulse from the pick-up coil and trigger the switching transistor.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie T Long
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:01
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P7/00; F02P7/06; F02P7/067; F02P3/00; F02P3/02; F02P3/04; F02P3/0407; F02P3/0435; F02P9/00; F02P9/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having a storage battery, a distributor and coil with primary and secondary windings with connector means between the high tension post of the secondary and the rotor of the distributor which comprises: a. primary circuit means to supply battery voltage to the primary of said coil; b. a switching transistor with the emitter and collector thereof connected in circuit in said circuit means; c. base biasing circuit means biasing said switching transistor into a non-conducting mode; d. voltage pulse generating means comprising a magnetic field, means to vary the magnetic flux of said field in response to the rotational speed of an engine and to generate a cyclic variation of said magnetic flux for each cylinder of said engine in a timed manner and pick-up coil means positioned in said field for generation of a timed train of induced voltage pulses responsive to said cyclic variation of said magnetic flux; e. amplifier means normally biased into a non-conducting mode; and connected for conduction in response to said voltage pulses, whereby said voltage pulses generate a timed train of amplified pulses from said amplifier; and f. means to apply said train of amplified pulses to said base biasing means of said switching transistor to forward bias said switching transistor momentarily into a conducting mode only during the duration of each of said voltage pulses thereby applying battery current to the said primary windings of said coil for momentary periods sufficient to reach substantial saturation current in said primary.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having a storage battery, a distributor and coil with primary and secondary windings with connector means between the high tension post of the secondary and the rotor of the distributor which comprises: a. primary circuit means to supply battery voltage to the primary of said coil; b. a switching transistor with the emitter and collector thereof connected in circuit in said circuit means; c. base biasing circuit means biasing said switching transistor into a non-conducting mode; d. voltage pulse generating means comprising a magnetic field, means to vary the magnetic flux of said field in response to the rotational speed of an engine and to generate a cyclic variation of said magnetic flux for each cylinder of said engine in a timed manner and pick-up coil means positioned in said field for generation of a timed train of induced voltage pulses responsive to said cyclic variation of said magnetic flux; e. amplifier means normally biased into a non-conducting mode; and connected for conduction in response to said voltage pulses, whereby said voltage pulses generate a timed train of amplified pulses from said amplifier; and f. means to apply said train of amplified pulses to said base biasing means of said switching transistor to forward bias said switching transistor momentarily into a conducting mode only during the duration of each of said voltage pulses thereby applying battery current to the said primary windings of said coil for momentary periods sufficient to reach substantial saturation current in said primary.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ignition system of claim 1 wherein a Zener diode is connected in said primary circuit means, parallel to said switching transistor and oriented to conduct reverse current surges induced in said primary by discharges from the secondary winding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The ignition system of claim 1 wherein said amplifier means includes an amplifier transistor with conductor means to apply battery voltage between the emitter and collector and between the base and emitter thereof to bias said transistor into a non-conducting mode, amplifier-transistor base biasing circuit means therefor including said pick-up coil connected between said base and emitter whereby said induced voltage surges provide forward bias to drive said amplifier transistor into momentary conducting modes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The ignition system of claim 3 including a third transistor in an emitter follower circuit to said amplifier transistor, conductor means to apply the train of amplified, momentary voltage surges from said amplifier transistor to the base of said third transistor and conductor means to apply the resultant train of further amplified voltage surges to the base biasing circuit of said switching transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ignition system of claim 1 wherein the duration of said momentarY periods increase with increased speed of said engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ignition system of claim 5 wherein the durations of said momentary periods at an engine speed of 1000 revolutions per minute are from 75 to 125 percent of 15 dwell degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ignition system of claim 6 wherein the duration of said momentary periods at an engine speed of 4000 revolutions per minute are from 75 to 125 percent of 30 dwell degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ignition system of claim 1 including capacitive means in circuit to said amplifier means and in parallel connection to said pick-up coil means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ignition system of claim 3 wherein said amplifier-transistor base biasing means includes resistance means in circuit between said base and emitter of said amplifier transistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ignition system of claim 9 including capacitive means in said amplifier-transistor base biasing means in parallel connection to said pick-up coil means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
In an ignition system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a coil comprising primary and secondary windings, circuit means in series with said primary winding and including inductive coil means for magnetically producing a train of voltage pulses in time with the rotation of an engine the improvement comprising: bias means connected to said circuit means to bias said circuit into a non-conduction and means to apply said train of voltage pulses to said bias means for momentarily rendering said circuit means conductive only during the duration of each of said voltage pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
In an ignition system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a coil comprising primary and secondary windings, circuit means in series with said primary winding and including inductive coil means for magnetically producing a train of voltage pulses in time with the rotation of an engine the improvement comprising: bias means connected to said circuit means to bias said circuit into a non-conduction and means to apply said train of voltage pulses to said bias means for momentarily rendering said circuit means conductive only during the duration of each of said voltage pulses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ignition system of claim 11 including capacitive means in said bias means in parallel connection to said inductive means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ignition system of claim 11 wherein said circuit means includes switching transistor means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ignition system of claim 13 wherein said means to apply said train of voltage pulses includes amplifier means in circuit to the biasing means of said switching transistor means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |