Patent · US Expired

Spark plug load testing for an internal combustion engine

US4291383A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
5References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 1979
Grant dateSep 22, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 20, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02B2075/027
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The spark voltage waveform at the secondary of the ignition coil of an internal combustion (IC) engine is sensed over a plurality of successive engine cycles. The instantaneous sub-cyclic position of the engine crankshaft is measured at successive crankshaft angle increments within each engine cycle and each sensed spark voltage signal is identified by the instantaneous value of crankshaft position at which it appears, thereby providing identification of each spark voltage signal with an associated cylinder of the engine. The number of samples for each cylinder together with the peak KV voltage magnitude and time duration of each are measured and the maximum, minimum and mean values of peak KV and spark duration for the spark signals associated with each cylinder together with the number of samples obtained are compared with the values obtained for each other cylinder to provide an indication of the relative sub-cyclic ignition efficiency of the ignition secondary circuit and the individual cylinders.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.