Apparatus for supplying high voltage to spark plug of internal combustion engine

Claim 1

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector; an electrically insulative resin portion provided in each of said coil towers for fixedly retaining an associated spark coil winding in a coil tower; a metal bracket for fixing said distributor plate and said coil towers to a cylinder head of said multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; and an igniter for intermitting electrical current flowing through said spark coil winding fixedly mounted on said base portion, said igniter being electrically connected to embedded portions of said connecting lines between said first and second ends.

Claim 2

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector; an electrically insulative resin portion provided in each of said coil towers for fixedly retaining an associated spark coil winding in a coil tower; a metal bracket for fixing said distributor plate and said coil towers to a cylinder head of said multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; and an igniter for intermitting electrical current flowing through said spark coil winding fixedly mounted on said base portion, said igniter being electrically connected to embedded portions of said connecting lines between said first and second ends.

Claim 3

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector; and a sensor for sensing an operating condition of said internal combustion engine mounted on said base portion.

Claim 4

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector; and a sensor for sensing an operating condition of said internal combustion engine mounted on said base portion.

Claim 6

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector; an electrically insulative resin portion provided in each of said coil towers for fixedly retaining an associated spark coil winding in a coil tower; and a metal bracket for fixing said distributor plate and said coil towers to a cylinder head of said multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; wherein said distributor plate is separate from said coil towers, said distributor plate and said coil towers being fixed to said metal bracket through a fixing member.

Claim 7

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector; an electrically insulative resin portion provided in each of said coil towers for fixedly retaining an associated spark coil winding in a coil tower; and a metal bracket for fixing said distributor plate and said coil towers to a cylinder head of said multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; wherein said distributor plate is separate from said coil towers, said distributor plate and said coil towers being fixed to said metal bracket through a fixing member.

Claim 10

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector; an electrically insulative resin portion provided in each of said coil towers for fixedly retaining an associated spark coil winding in a coil tower; and a metal bracket for fixing said distributor plate and said coil towers to a cylinder head of said multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; an igniter for interrupting primary electric current flowing through said spark coil windings fixedly mounted on said base portion, said igniter including a radiator plate having a flange, said flange and said base portion being fixedly fastened to said metal bracket.

Claim 11

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector; an electrically insulative resin portion provided in each of said coil towers for fixedly retaining an associated spark coil winding in a coil tower; and a metal bracket for fixing said distributor plate and said coil towers to a cylinder head of said multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; an igniter for interrupting primary electric current flowing through said spark coil windings fixedly mounted on said base portion, said igniter including a radiator plate having a flange, said flange and said base portion being fixedly fastened to said metal bracket.

Claim 17

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; and a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding and projecting up from said base portion adjacent to said associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector.

Claim 18

An apparatus for supplying a high voltage to each spark plug associated with a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising: a distributor plate made of an electrically insulative material having a base portion and a connector; said distributor plate, base portion, and connector being of unitary construction; said connector being adapted for connection to a voltage source; coil towers associated with each spark plug projecting from said base portion; at least one spark coil winding mounted within each coil tower for being electrically connected to an associated spark plug; and a plurality of connecting lines having first and second ends and a substantial portion of each connecting line being embedded in said base portion, said first ends being electrically connected to an associated spark coil winding and projecting up from said base portion adjacent to said associated spark coil winding, said second ends projecting into said connector.