Method for actuating a spark gap

US10190564B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BORGWARNER BERU SYSTEMS GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Ganghua Ruan · Stuttgart, DE
• Dejan Kienzle · Heilbronn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 18, 2016
• Grant date: Jan 29, 2019
• Expiry date: Mar 15, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F02P3/055
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for actuating a spark plug, in which the spark plug is assigned a first ignition coil and second ignition coil. Triggered by a start signal, the primary winding of the first ignition coil is charged, and the primary winding of the second ignition coil is charged with a delay D, for which 0≤D, by supplying a direct current, wherein, while each primary winding, is charged, the respective secondary winding is blocked; the primary current supplied to the primary windings is measured; after a period T, the primary winding of the first ignition coil is discharged, and with the delay D the primary winding of the second ignition coil is discharged; the secondary current flowing through the spark plug is measured; thereafter the primary windings of the first and second ignition coil start to be charged alternately when the secondary current falls below a threshold; the primary windings are discharged alternately when the primary current reaches an upper threshold; the above steps are repeated until the duration of discharge between two electrodes of the spark plug 1 reaches a predefined value Z.