Miniature railgun engine ignitor

US5211142A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Ronald D. Matthews · Austin, US
• Steven P. Nichols · Austin, US
• William F. Weldon · Austin, US
• Mark M. Koeroghlian · Austin, US
• Richard W. Faidley · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 31, 1991
• Grant date: May 18, 1993
• Expiry date: Dec 31, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/12
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A plasma ignitor system capable of injecting a high energy plasma jet into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine or continuous combustion system. The plasma ignitor features a high energy current pulse source and a geometrically configured coaxial, dual-rail or three-rail ignitor system for deeper and more accurate injection of plasma into a combustion chamber of either large or small dimension.