Method for igniting a fuel-air mixture of a combustion chamber, particularly in an internal combustion engine by generating a corona discharge
US8701638B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02P23/04
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for igniting a fuel-air mixture in an internal combustion engine. An electric transformer excites an oscillating circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. A capacitor is formed by an ignition electrode together with the wall of a combustion chamber through which it extends. The excitation of the oscillating circuit is controlled by generating a corona discharge igniting the fuel-air mixture. Before each ignition time the voltage applied to a primary winding of the transformer is incrementally increased, and the intensity of the current flowing in the primary winding is measured repeatedly at the same primary voltage. The variation of the values of the related primary current is determined, and the incremental increase in the primary voltage is aborted at a value thereof at which the variation of the primary current intensity reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.