Spark monitor and kill circuit

• US 6,850,071 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Automotive Test Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, Bernie C., Potter, James M., Pederson, Neal R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vincent Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/651,326
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 324378-402, 123/406.11, 123/406.12, 123/406.13, 123/198.DC
• US Class Current: 324/396
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 15/003 Layout of ignition circuits for gas turbine plants ignition of gas turbine plants per se F02C7/26
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/12 Testing characteristics of the spark, ignition voltage or current testing of sparking plugs H01T13/60

Abstract

The method and apparatus of the present invention are useful for the monitoring of the electrical signals within an internal combustion spark plug circuit and the killing of a spark plug within that circuit. The invention essentially consists of connecting a transformer to the high voltage side of the spark plug circuit. Through the use of impedance and inductance, the present invention can either produce a low voltage replica of the waveform of the high voltage electrical signal which is directed to a spark plug or can effectively prohibit that spark plug from firing by short circuiting the low voltage side of the transformer of the device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for shorting a spark plug within an internal combustion engine spark plug circuit, said spark plug circuit including a first low voltage electrical circuit, a power source attached to said first low voltage electrical circuit, a first transforming means attached to said first low voltage electrical circuit and a high voltage electrical circuit, means for generating a high voltage electrical impulse within said high voltage electrical circuit, a spark plug attached to said high voltage electrical circuit, said apparatus for monitoring and shorting comprising:

a. a second transforming means attached to said high voltage electrical circuit and a second low voltage electrical circuit;

b. short circuit means attached to said second low voltage electrical circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for generating a high voltage electrical impulse is selected from the group consisting of a distributor and electronic control unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for generating a high voltage electrical impulse is coupled with a switching device, said switching device being selected from the group including a magnetic reluctance position sensor, a hall effect position sensor and an optical position sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first transforming means is an ignition coil.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein second transforming means is an ignition coil.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shorting means is selected from the group including a jumper wire, a low voltage relay, or a solid state switch.

7. An apparatus for monitoring the performance of an internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine including a first low voltage electrical circuit, a power source attached to said first low voltage electrical circuit, first transforming means attached to said first low voltage electrical circuit and a high voltage electrical circuit, means for generating a high voltage electrical signal within said high voltage electrical circuit, a spark plug attached to said high voltage electrical circuit, said apparatus for observing comprising:

a. second transforming means attached to said high voltage electrical circuit consisting of a primary winding and a secondary winding;

b. observation means for observing said high voltage electrical signal connected to said primary winding of said second transforming means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for producing a high voltage electrical impulse is selected from the group consisting of a distributor and electronic control unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for generating a high voltage electrical impulse is coupled with a switching device, said switching device being selected from the group including a points, magnetic reluctance position sensor, a Hall Effect position sensor and an optical position sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first transforming means is an ignition coil.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein second transforming means is an ignition coil.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said observation means is an oscilloscope.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said observation means is any diagnostic device capable of receiving an electronic signal.

14. A method for shorting a single spark plug within an internal combustion, said method comprising the steps of:

a. applying a high voltage electrical impulse to a high voltage electrical circuit containing a spark plug;

b. electrically connecting said high voltage current to a transformer;

c. electrically shorting said low voltage side of said transformer;

d. inducing low impedance in said high voltage electrical circuit with said transformer and said completed low voltage circuit;

e. allowing said high voltage electrical impulse to pass to ground and prohibiting said spark plug from attaining a threshold firing voltage.

15. A method for observing the performance of a spark plug, said method comprising the steps of:

a. applying a source voltage to a transformer;

b. transforming said source voltage current to high voltage current;

c. electrically connecting said high voltage electrical signal to a spark plug;

d. electrically connecting said high voltage current to a second transformer;

e. creating a low voltage replica of said high voltage electrical signal without effectively lowering the voltage of said high voltage;

f. firing said spark plug;

g. displaying the characteristics of said low voltage replica.