Spark plug cap with misfire detecting capacitor for internal combustion engine

• US 5,363,046 A
• Filed: 02/02/1993
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Maruyama, Shigeru, Baba, Shigeki, Hisaki, Takashi, Shimasaki, Yuichi, Kanehiro, Masaki, Ishioka, Takuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US08/012,524
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 324/126, 324/393, 324/395, 324/399, 324/400, 324/402, 73/116
• US Class Current: 324/402
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 13/00 Sparking plugs structurally combined with other parts of internal-combustion engines connection of ignition coil to spark plug connector F02P3/02; with fuel injectors F02M57/06 ; spark plug connector per se H01T13/04 – H01T13/06; predominant aspects of sparking plug, see H01T13/40 – H01T13/44
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/12 Testing characteristics of the spark, ignition voltage or current testing of sparking plugs H01T13/60
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 2017/006 using a capacitive sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 2017/125 Measuring ionisation of combustion gas, e.g. by using ignition circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/16 using capacitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 13/06 Covers forming a part of the plug and protecting it against adverse environment
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 13/40 structurally combined with other devices combined or associated with fuel injectors F02M57/06; structurally combined with other parts of internal-combustion engines F02P13/00

Abstract

A spark plug cap having a capacitor for detecting ignition voltage of an internal combustion engine to determine if misfire occurs. The spark plug cap covers the terminal of a spark plug and has a conductor for carrying ignition voltage current from an ignition coil to spark plug terminals to generate an electronic spark between spark plug electrodes and an insulator surrounding the conductor. In the spark plug cap, a second conductor is located around the first conductor keeping a predetermined distance from the first conductor such that a capacitor, which constitutes a capacitance divider with a capacitor for ignition voltage detection, is formed between the first and the second conductors. A ceramic insulator may be positioned between the first and the second conductors to provide higher insulation property.

Claims

1. A spark plug cap for engaging and covering a terminal of a spark plug for an internal combustion engine, said spark plug cap comprising:

a first conductor selectively electrically connected to an ignition coil and to the spark plug terminal for carrying ignition voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plug terminal, to thereby generate an electric spark between spark plug electrodes; and

an insulator surrounding the first conductor;

a second conductor radially located around a portion of the first conductor, wherein a predetermined distance is maintained from the first conductor such that a capacitor, which constitutes a capacitive divider with a capacitor for ignition voltage detection, is formed with the first and the second conductors,

wherein the first conductor, a portion of the insulator, and the second conductor are integrated in a cap portion of said spark plug cap, and wherein said cap portion is configured to engage and cover the terminal of the spark plug at a distal end of the first conductor to provide the electrical connection of the first conductor to the spark plug terminal.

2. A spark plug cap according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor is a metal shaft and the insulator is made from a hard plastic.

3. A spark plug cap according to claim 2, wherein the cap carries the ignition coil and the metal shaft conductor is connected to the terminal of the secondary winding of the ignition coil.

4. A spark plug cap according to claim 2, wherein the insulator serves as a housing of the cap.

5. A spark plug cap according to claim 2, wherein the hard plastic is a saturated polyester resin.

6. A spark plug cap according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor is a cable core and the insulator is a synthetic rubber wrapping the cable core.

7. A spark plug cap according to claim 1, wherein the second conductor is a metal tube encircling the first conductor.

8. A spark plug cap according to claim 1, wherein the second conductor is metal tube segments encircling the conductor.

9. A spark plug cap for engaging and covering a terminal of a spark plug for an internal combustion engine, said spark plug cap comprising:

a first conductor selectively electrically connected to an ignition coil and the spark plug terminal for carrying high ignition voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plug terminal to thereby generate an electric spark between spark plug electrodes; and

a first insulator surrounding the first conductor;

a second conductor radially located around a portion of the first conductor, wherein a predetermined distance is maintained from the first conductor; and

a second insulator provided between the first and the second conductors such that a capacitor, which constitutes a capacitance divider with a capacitor for ignition voltage detection, is formed with the first and the second conductors,

wherein the first conductor, the second insulator, and the second conductor are integrated in a cap portion of said spark plug cap, and wherein the cap portion is configured to engage and cover the terminal of the spark plug at a distal end of the first conductor to provide the electrical connection of the first conductor to the spark plug terminal.

10. A spark plug cap according to claim 9, wherein the second insulator is made of a material having high insulation property.

11. A spark plug cap according to claim 10, wherein the material is a ceramic.

12. A spark plug cap according to claim 9, wherein the first conductor is a metal shaft and the first insulator is made of a hard plastic.

13. A spark plug cap according to claim 12, wherein the cap carries the ignition coil and the metal shaft conductor is connected to the terminal of the secondary winding of the ignition coil.

14. A spark plug cap according to claim 12, wherein the first insulator serves as a housing of the cap.

15. A spark plug cap according to claim 12, wherein the hard plastic is a saturated polyester resin.

16. A spark plug cap according to claim 9, wherein the first conductor is a cable core and the first insulator is a synthetic rubber wrapping the cable core.

17. A spark plug cap according to claim 9, wherein the second conductor is a metal tube encircling the first conductor.

18. A spark plug cap according to claim 9, wherein the second conductor is metal tube segments encircling the first conductor.