Eltra Corporation

Allied Corporation

Prestolite Electric Inc.

William J Roberts

Michael T Grunden

Carl K Dudley

Gerald M Owen

A capacitor-discharge ignition system discharges a load capacitor to drive an ignition coil for producing an ignition spark. The ignition system includes an oscillator generating complimentary pulse trains that activate a pair of power FETs to drive a transformer. The transformer generates an output voltage that is doubled in magnitude and stored in the load capacitor until the load capacitor is triggered by a trigger circuit to provide an ignition spark. A signal generated by a feedback circuit in response to the occurrence of an ignition spark is employed to inhibit further discharge of the load capacitor as well as to deactivate the transformer. An auxiliary D.C.-to-D.C. converter driven by the oscillator provides a supply voltage for the components of the ignition system.

Driving circuit for a capacitor discharge ignition system

A bias control circuit controlling the power transistor Q2 in a transistor amplifier circuit for supressing the arc formed across the contacts 12, 14, 16 in a glow plug controller 10 for diesel engines. The bias circuit generates a load line for the contacts 12, 14, 16 which has a high voltage, low current portion and a high current, low voltage portion. The arc is formed when the contact 14, which may be slow operating, is required to break a high current, high voltage line.

Power limiter for electrical contacts

A control circuit for a direct current trolling motor powered by a storage battery includes a transistor placed in series between the motor and the battery, a selector switch, and one or more voltage regulating devices such as zener diodes. The selector switch includes a movable or wiper element connected to the battery, and a plurality of contacts, one of which connects the battery directly to the motor, and one of which is unconnected. At least one contact is connected to a zener diode connected to the base terminal of the transistor, to regulate the speed of the motor in a stepwise manner.

Motor speed control circuit

A fuel and ignition control for a pulse combustion furnace includes both analog and digital timing means for fail safe operation, fuel valve control means which depend on proper cyclic operation for proper function, and flame detection means which are fail safe due to the necessity of its components providing a critical phase shift angle. The fuel control valve means includes energy storage means which is stepwise depleted to positively limit the time of valve energization in the absence of detection of flame, and is also disabled after a predetermined time by the digital timing means.

Fuel and ignition control

A speed limiting indicating device for an internal combustion engine having an engine speed sensor providing a first signal indicative of engine speed, means responsive to said first signal for providing a speed limit signal indicative of said engine speed exceeding a predetermined speed limit, said speed limit signal means including a logic gate having its input connected to said first signal for providing said speed limit signal at said predetermined limit speed.

Speed switch

An electronic ignition system having an automatic shutdown feature is disclosed. In a first embodiment of the invention, should an output terminal of an integrated circuit (10, 10a) remain in a high voltage condition for a prolonged period of time, a capacitor (C100) which is charged from a constant voltage and alternately discharged through a terminal (105) of the integrated circuit, is allowed to charge, and gradually reaches the threshold voltage of a transistor (Q200) which is connected to shunting transistor (Q1), which diverts current from transistor (Q2) in series with an ignition coil primary winding (76, 76a) and gradually deenergizes the ignition system. In a second embodiment, a capacitor (C200) is charged from a constant voltage, and alternately discharged by being shorted by an inverting transistor (Q300) connected to a terminal (205) of an integrated circuit (200, 200a), which provides a signal which is the compliment of an output terminal. Thus, an ignition system according to the invention remains energized for a short period of time following the accidental or intentional stopping of an engine, and then is gradually deenergized, without producing a spark which may cause the engine to unexpectedly start.

Automatic shut-off circuit for electronic ignition system

An idle speed control system for controlling the idle speed of an internal combustion engine, to conserve fuel by allowing a lowered idle speed, whenever possible, as well as offering more than normal power when needed, is disclosed. This idle speed control system includes an actuator for moving a secondary idle stop member into operative position, having both a vacuum-operated section and a solenoid section for maintaining the actuator in operative position, regardless of the state of the vacuum-operated portion. The idle speed control system further includes a control circuit responsive to engine speed which applies an output signal to the vacuum-operated section of the actuator when engine speed falls below a predetermined minimum, maintains it for a predetermined period of time, momentarily removes it to determine if the engine is presently capable of idling above the predetermined minimum speed, and reapplies the output signal if engine speed then dips below the predetermined minimum speed. Once applied, the output signal is removed either by the timer function, or when engine speed increases above the predetermined maximum idle speed. The control circuit also provides a signal to the solenoid portion of the actuator, in response to predetermined major accessory loads which may be imposed upon the engine in a vehicle.

Idle speed controller

A phase-lock loop ties a reference input frequency such as for the rotational speed of an engine with an engine timing signal. The engine timing signal is a sawtooth with a peak to peak amplitude and with the phase of the timing signal corresponding to the instantaneous amplitude of the timing signal between its peak to peak extremes. The phase-lock loop comparison, produces a drive or speed signal which is also indicative of the reference signal frequency. The level of the drive or speed signal, is that necessary to maintain the period of the timing signal in correspondence with the reference input signal. A third signal may be generated, proportional to the engine rotational speed signal, or to any other engine parameter which is compared to the timing signal to produce a trigger signal at the appropriate phase angle of the engine rotational cycle.

Ignition spark advance using a constant peak to peak amplitude timing

An electronic vacuum modulator is disclosed for controlling air flow to a throttle valve modulator mechanism for limiting the maximum speed of an engine and, optionally, for also limiting the maximum vehicle speed. An electric signal having a frequency proportional to engine speed is converted into an electric signal which smoothly and progressively controls a solenoid valve as the engine speed increases over a narrow range at a predetermined maximum engine speed. The valve is controlled such that the modulator mechanism progressively closes a carburetor throttle valve in the engine to limit the engine speed by limiting the available power. Optionally, a vehicle speed signal also is converted into an electronic signal which smoothly and progressively controls the solenoid valve as the vehicle speed increases over a narrow range at a predetermined maximum vehicle speed.

Growing community of inventors

Toledo, OH, United States of America

William J Roberts