SUSTAINED ARC IGNITION SYSTEM

Circuitry for maintaining an arc or spark across a spark gap for a desired length of time is described. A high-voltage, direct-current (dc) source is connected in series with a secondary winding of a high voltage, step-up transformer or coil and a spark gap. The high-voltage source is controlled by a solid state switch which is responsive to a timing device such as a set of ignition contact points or a magnetic pulse generator operating in synchronism with a spark ignition engine. The timing device also provides signals to a current switching circuit which interrupts current flow through a primary winding of the high-voltage coil at the prescribed time that a spark is desired at the spark gap. The control circuit may include both a switch and a multivibrator if the timer is of the pulse-generating magnetic type.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Government-owned invention available for licensing. Copy of application available NTIS.
• Corporate Authors:

  Lewis Research Center

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  Cleveland, OH  United States  44135
• Authors:
  • Birchenough, A G
• Publication Date: 1975-6-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 21 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clocks; Direct current; Electric arcs; Electric circuits; Ignition systems; Internal combustion engines; Patent applications; Pollution control; Spark gaps; Spark ignition engines; Spark plugs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Switches
• Old TRIS Terms: Arc generators; Circuits; Multivibrators; Timing circuits; Voltage transformers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00092700
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: PAT-APPL-583 485
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 5 2002 12:00AM