Ignition system for internal combustion engines

Claim 2

An ignition system for an spark-ignition type internal combustion engine comprising an ignition device capable of performing the spark timing control function, and a temperature detecting element for detecting the temperature having an effect on the engine torque efficiency, whereby said ignition device is operated so that the spark timing under a low temperature condition is advanced as compared to that used under a high temperature condition according to the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element, wherein said ignition device comprises a housing for said ignition device; and a vacuum spark advance mechanism secured to said housing, said vacuum spark advance mechanism including first, second and third diaphragms disposed within a single casing, a first control rod secured at one end thereof to said first diaphragm, a second control rod secured at one end thereof to said second and third diaphragms, said one end of said first control rod and the other end of said second control rod being slidably interconnected by way of a compression spring disposed therebetween, a first vacuum chamber defined between said first diaphragm and said second diaphragm, an air chamber defined between said second diaphragm and said third diaphragm, and a second vacuum chamber defined between said third diaphragm and said casing, the other end of said first control rod being connected to the movable breaker plate, said first vacuum chamber being communicated through a temperature change-over valve with a first vacuum intake port disposed in an inlet pipe downstream of a carburetor throttle valve, said second vacuum chamber being directly communicated with a second vacuum intake port disposed slightly upstream of the fully closed position of said carburetor throttle valve, whereby said temperature change-over valve exposes said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the engine temperature is high, and said temperature change-over valve communicates said vacuum chamber to said first vacuum intake port when the engine temperature is low.

Claim 3

An improved ignition system operable from an electric power source for use in a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine having first and second negative pressure sources and at least one spark plug, to further advance the spark at a selected engine temperature corresponding to less than a given temperature and to relatively retard the spark above that given temperature, comprising: an ignition coil having a primary winding connectable in circuit with said power source for receiving electric current therefrom, and a secondary winding connectable in circuit with said spark plug; a breaker housing having a base plate and a cam shaft connectable to rotate in synchronism with said engine; breaker means having a stationary contact fixed on said base plate, a breaker arm rotatably mounted on said base plate and abutting on said cam shaft, and a movable contact fixed at one end of said breaker arm, whereby said movable contact is disengaged from said stationary contact according to the movement of said breaker arm actuated by said cam shaft, said contacts being connected in series with said primary winding for interrupting said power source electric current so as to induce a high voltage in said secondary winding; first vacuum advance means, including a first vacuum chamber, for rotating said base plate in one direction for advancing spark timing in proportion to negative pressure applied to said first vacuum chamber; first pipe means extending from said first vacuum chamber and connectable to said first source of negative pressure for supplying negative pressure to said first vacuum chamber; second vacuum advance means, including a second vacuum chamber, for rotating said base plate in said one direction in proportion to negative pressure applied to said second vacuum chamber; second pipe means extending from said second vacuum chamber and connectable to said second source of negative pressure for supplying negative pressure to said second vacuum chamber; temperature detecting means for detecting temperatures of said engine; and valve means, provided in said second pipe means, for opening and closing said second pipe means to said second negative pressure source when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting means is respectively substantially below and substantially above said given engine temperature, wherein said first and second vacuum means include a single casing secured to said housing, three diaphragms in said casing forming therewith said first and second vacuum chambers and third and fourth chambers having respective ports to the atmosphere, the third chamber being between the first and second chambers and the fourth on the other side of said second chamber, and control rod means connecting said three diaphragms through said fourth chamber to said base plate.

Claim 4

An improved ignition system operable from an electric power source for use in a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine having first and second negative pressure sources and at least one spark plug, to further advance the spark at a selected engine temperature corresponding to less than a given temperature and to relatively retard the spark above that given temperature, comprising: an ignition coil having a primary winding connectable in circuit with said power source for receiving electric current therefrom, and a secondary winding connectable in circuit with said spark plug; a breaker housing having a base plate and a cam shaft connectable to rotate in synchronism with said engine; breaker means having a stationary contact fixed on said base plate, a breaker arm rotatably mounted on said base plate and abutting on said cam shaft, and a movable contact fixed at one end of said breaker arm, whereby said movable contact is disengaged from said stationary contact according to the movement of said breaker arm actuated by said cam shaft, said contacts being connected in series with said primary winding for interrupting said power source electric current so as to induce a high voltage in said secondary winding; first vacuum advance means, including a first vacuum chamber, for rotating said base plate in one direction for advancing spark timing in proportion to negative pressure applied to said first vacuum chamber; first pipe means extending from said first vacuum chamber and connectable to said first source of negative pressure for supplying negative pressure to said first vacuum chamber; second vacuum advance means, including a second vacuum chamber, for rotating said base plate in said one direction in proportion to negative pressure applied to said second vacuum chamber; second pipe means extending from said second vacuum chamber and connectable to said second source of negative pressure for supplying negative pressure to said second vacuum chamber; temperature detecting means for detecting temperatures of said engine; and valve means, provided in said second pipe means, for opening and closing said second pipe means to said second negative pressure source when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting means is respectively substantially below and substantially above said given engine temperature, wherein said first and second vacuum means include a single casing secured to said housing, three diaphragms in said casing forming therewith said first and second vacuum chambers and third and fourth chambers having respective ports to the atmosphere, the third chamber being between the first and second chambers and the fourth on the other side of said second chamber, and control rod means connecting said three diaphragms through said fourth chamber to said base plate.

Claim 5

An ignition system as in claim 2 wherein said selected temperature corresponds to about 40° C. engine coolant temperature.

Claim 6

In an ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said ignition device having a movable breaker plate and said engine having a first and a second negative pressure source, the improvement in said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed within said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed within said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; means for relating the displacement of said movable breaker plate to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature detected by said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing, when the temperature detected by said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragm; and said first, second and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first diaphragm and said third diaphragm, an air chamber between said third diaphragm and said second diaphragm, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 7

In an ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said ignition device having a movable breaker plate and said engine having a first and a second negative pressure source, the improvement in said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed within said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed within said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; means for relating the displacement of said movable breaker plate to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature detected by said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing, when the temperature detected by said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragm; and said first, second and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first diaphragm and said third diaphragm, an air chamber between said third diaphragm and said second diaphragm, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 8

An ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said igniton device having a movable breaker plate, and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; means for relating the displacement of said movable breaker plate to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second, and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 9

An ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said igniton device having a movable breaker plate, and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; means for relating the displacement of said movable breaker plate to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second, and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said relating means comprises: a first control rod secured at one end thereof to said first diaphragm; a second control rod secured at one end thereof to said second and third diaphragms; compression spring interconnection means for slidably interconnecting said one end of said first control rod and the other end of said second control rod; and means for connecting the other eend of said first control rod to said movable breaker plate.

Claim 11

In an ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said ignition device having a movable breaker plate, and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, the improvement in said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; means for linking said first and second diaphragms, said linking means having a connection point, the movement of said connection point being related to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; connection means for relating the movement of said movable breaker plate to the movement of said connection point; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure, thereby further advancing the spark timing, when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 12

In an ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said ignition device having a movable breaker plate, and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, the improvement in said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; means for linking said first and second diaphragms, said linking means having a connection point, the movement of said connection point being related to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; connection means for relating the movement of said movable breaker plate to the movement of said connection point; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure, thereby further advancing the spark timing, when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 13

An ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said ignition device having a movable breaker plate and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; linking means for linking said first and second diaphragms, said linking means having a connection point, the displacement of said connection point being related to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; connection means for relating the movement of said movable breaker plate to the movement of said connection point; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chambers; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 14

An ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said ignition device having a movable breaker plate and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; linking means for linking said first and second diaphragms, said linking means having a connection point, the displacement of said connection point being related to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; connection means for relating the movement of said movable breaker plate to the movement of said connection point; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chambers; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 15

In an ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, aid ignition device having a movable breaker plate, and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, the improvement in said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; linking means for connecting said first and second diaphragms, said linking means passing through at least one of said first and second vacuum chambers, said linking means having a connection point, the movement of said connection point being related to the sum of the displacements of first and second diaphragms; connection means for relating the movement of said movable breaker plate to the movement of said connection point; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing, when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second, and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 16

In an ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, aid ignition device having a movable breaker plate, and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, the improvement in said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; linking means for connecting said first and second diaphragms, said linking means passing through at least one of said first and second vacuum chambers, said linking means having a connection point, the movement of said connection point being related to the sum of the displacements of first and second diaphragms; connection means for relating the movement of said movable breaker plate to the movement of said connection point; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing, when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second, and third diaphragms within said casing defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 17

An ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said ignition device having a movable breaker plate and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; linking means for linking said first and second diaphragms passing through at least one of said first and second vacuum chambers, said linking means having a connection point, the movement of said connection point being related to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; connection means for relating the movement of said movable breaker plate to the movement of said connection point; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing, when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second and third diaphragms defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 18

An ignition device for a spark-ignition type internal combustion engine, said ignition device having a movable breaker plate and said engine having first and second negative pressure sources, said ignition device comprising: a casing; a first vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a first diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said first vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; a second vacuum chamber disposed in said casing having a second diaphragm responsive to the pressure differential between said second vacuum chamber and the atmosphere; linking means for linking said first and second diaphragms passing through at least one of said first and second vacuum chambers, said linking means having a connection point, the movement of said connection point being related to the sum of the displacements of said first and second diaphragms; connection means for relating the movement of said movable breaker plate to the movement of said connection point; first pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said first negative pressure source to said first vacuum chamber; second pipe means for supplying negative pressure from said second negative pressure source to said second vacuum chamber; means for detecting the temperature of said engine; valve means, provided in said first pipe means, responsive to said detecting means, for connecting said first vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the temperature of said detecting means is above a selected temperature, and for connecting said first vacuum chamber to said first negative pressure source, thereby further advancing the spark timing, when the temperature of said detecting means is below said selected temperature; a third diaphragm disposed within said casing between said first and second diaphragms; and said first, second and third diaphragms defining said first vacuum chamber between said first and third diaphragms, an air chamber between said third and second diaphragms, and said second vacuum chamber between said second diaphragm and said casing.

Claim 19

Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said linking means and said connection means comprise: a first control rod secured at one end thereof to said first diaphragm; a second control rod secured at one end thereof to said second and third diaphragms; compression spring interconnecting means for interconnecting said one end of said first control rod and the other end of second control rod; and means for connecting the other end of said first control rod to said movable breaker plate.

Claim 20

Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said first negative pressure source is a vacuum intake port disposed in an inlet pipe downstream of a carburetor throttle valve in said engine.

Claim 21

Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said second negative pressure source is a vacuum intake port disposed slightly upstream of the fully closed position of a carburetor throttle valve of said engine.

Claim 22

Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said selected temperature corresponds to an engine coolant temperature of about 40° C.