Title of Invention

AN IGNITION INDICATOR SYSTEM FOR A SPARK PLUG INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Abstract

An ignition indicator system for a spark internal combustion engine, comprising an ignition coil and a spark plug, characterized in that the high tension output terminal of the said coil is connected to one electrode of an inert gas filled discharge lamp and also to the spark plug, with the other electrode of the said lamp open, the said electrodes, however, being spaced from each other, within the lamp, by a predetermined distance.

Full Text

This invention relates to an ignition indicator system for a spark plug internal combustion engine. When ignition of the air-fuel mixture within the cylinder of a spark plug internal combustion engine does not take place, it is the usual practice to manually disconnect the high tension (HT) cable from the spark plug cap and bring the terminal of the said cable near earth point (chassis) in order to determine whether sparking takes place between the HT cable terminal and ground. Needless to say, this procedure is cumbersome apart from the fact that it causes damage to the HT cable which has to be detached and attached to the plug cap from time to time for the purpose. There is also the danger of the operator getting a high voltage shock while carrying out the above procedure. According to another version of the known art, an air gap is provided, in series, between the ignition coil and the spark plug. Thus, if there is sparking at the spark plug, a spark will also occur at the air gap as the voltage from the ignition coil to the spark plug will have to jump across the air gap, indicating that sparking is taking place at the spark plug. The air gap is surrounded by a transparent/translucent insulating cover to render the gap 2 out of human contact. The spark at the air gap will be visible through the transparent/translucent cover. However, such arrangement results in heavy drain of energy at the air gap. Besides, it is not desirable that the spark plug gets only a depleted energy for use. Thus, this invention enables sparking at the plug to be visually determined, with hardly any loss of energy, and without detaching the HT cable from the spark plug cap in cases where a HT cable is provided. This invention is equally applicable to the case of our other invention covered by Patent Application No.l49/CHE/04 wherein the high tension cable has been dispensed with. Other features of this invention not hereinbefore expressly set forth will be apparent from the following further description. The ignition indicator system for a spark plug internal combustion engine, according to this invention, comprises an ignition coil, an inert gas filled discharge lamp and a spark plug, characterised in that the high tension output terminal of the said coil is connected to one electrode of the said lamp and also to the spark plug, with the other electrode 3 ot" the said lamp open, the said electrodes however, being spaced from each other within the lamp by a predetermined distance. Where a high tension cable is provided, the said cable is connected to the spark plug through a cap provided for the latter. This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings the single Figure in which illustrates, by way of example, and not b\ way of limitation. one ol"its various possible embodiments. The embodiment illustrated will be seen to comprise an Ignition cod C connected be a high tension (111") cable T to ihe spark piug P oi the engine, the spark plug cap b connected by IIT cable T forms a snug-lit with spark plug P. Voltage from the ignition anl C is apphcd to the spark plug P through the cable T and the cap ]■. "the embodiment illustrated will also be seen to be provided vvnii an inert gas iilied discharge lamp I. one electrode .11 of which is connected to the HT cable T between the said coil C and the said spark phig P while the other electrode .12 is left open. The lamp I, is protected by" a transparent transhucent unsulatmg cover F. The two electrodes Jl and J2 of the lamp are separated by a predetermined distance, within the lamp, enabling the leakage current to be conducted between the electrodes to make the lamp L glow, thus indicating the passage of HT current to the spark plug P. Since it is the leaktage current alone which is involved, there is hardly any loss of energy from the HT output. Where the HT cable is dispensed with as in the case of our invention covered by our Patent Application referred to above, the high tension output terminal of the said coil is directly connected to one electrode of an inert gas filled discharge lamp and also to the spark plug, with the other electrode open, to achieve the same result. The terms and expressions herein au-e of description and not of limitation, having regard to the scope and ambit of this invention. Ve Claim: . An ignition indicator system for a spark plug internal combustion engine, comprising an ignition coil, an inert gas filled discharge lamp and a spark plug, characterised in that the high tension output terminal of the said coil is connected to one electrode of the said lamp and also to the spark plug, with the other electrode of the said lamp open, the said electrodes, however, being spaced from each other, within the lamp, by a predetermined distance. 2.An ignition indicator system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a high tension cable connects the said output terminal of the said coil to the spark plug, one electrode of the said lamp being connected to the said cable, with the other electrode of the said lamp open. 3.An ignition indicator system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the high tension output terminal of the said coil is connected to the spark plug through a spark plug cap. 4. An ignition indicator system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the said lamp has a transparent insulating cover. 6 . An ignition indicator system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 3 wherein the said lamp has a translucent insulating cover. 6. An ignition indicator system for a spark plug internal combustion engine substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

0464-che-2004 abstract.pdf

0464-che-2004 claims-duplicate.pdf

0464-che-2004 claims.pdf

0464-che-2004 correspondence-others.pdf

0464-che-2004 correspondence-po.pdf

0464-che-2004 description (complete)-duplicate.pdf

0464-che-2004 description (complete).pdf

0464-che-2004 drawings.pdf

0464-che-2004 form-1.pdf

0464-che-2004 form-19.pdf

0464-che-2004 form-26.pdf