Plasma arc ignition system
US5568801A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02P3/01
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ignition system for igniting fuel within an engine, comprising at least one ignition plug disposed in the engine, wherein the ignition plug has a pair of electrodes. A high voltage generator is connected to the ignition plug for applying a gated high voltage high frequency AC signal across the pair of electrodes so as to initiate ionization of the air/fuel mixture and create an infant plasma channel between the pair of electrodes. A plasma arc current generator is connected to the ignition plug for generating a predetermined magnitude of alternating current for a predetermined period of time so as to sustain the plasma channel and ignite the fuel, and a controller is provided for selectively enabling and disabling the high voltage generator and the plasma arc current generator at predetermined times.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.