Direct spark ignition system

Patent · Mon Dec 01 23:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6945706

Gann, R A

This patent describes a direct spark ignition system having a gas burner, an electrically operable valve connected to the burner to admit fuel thereto, a gated oscillator having a timing circuit for timing a trial ignition, a spark generator responsive to the oscillator for igniting fuel emanating from the burner, and a flame sensor for sustaining oscillations of the oscillator while a flame exists at the burner. The spark generator has an inverter connected to a low voltage dc source and responsive to the oscillator for converting the dc voltage to a high ac voltage, a means for rectifying the high ac voltage, a capacitor connected to the rectifying means for storing the rectified high voltage, an ignition coil in series between the storage capacitor and a switch, and a means for periodically turning on the switch to produce ignition pulses through the coil. The ignition system is powered from the dc source but controlled by the oscillator. An improvement described here is wherein the inverter is comprised of a step-up transformer having its primary winding connected in series with the dc source and a common emitter transistor having its collector connected to the primary winding. The transistor has its base connected to be controlled by the oscillator to chop the dc into ac in the primary winding, and a diode connected between the storage capacitor and the collector of the transistor, the diode being poled to couple into the capacitor back EMF energy when the transistor is turned off.

• Assignee: ITT Corp., New York, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4625193
• OSTI ID: 6945706
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
421000* -- Engineering-- Combustion Systems
ALTERNATING CURRENT
BURNERS
CAPACITORS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CURRENTS
DIRECT CURRENT
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRIC SPARKS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLAME PROPAGATION
FLOW REGULATORS
GAS BURNERS
IGNITION
IGNITION SYSTEMS
INVERTERS
OSCILLATIONS
OSCILLATORS
PULSES
RECTIFIERS
TIMING CIRCUITS
TRANSFORMERS
VALVES