Abstract: An ignition system having first and second modes of operation is part of an engine which develops motive power by burning fuel received in a main combustion chamber. An auxiliary combustion chamber that is integral with the main combustion chamber is provided. These chambers have a common passageway through which the auxiliary chamber receives a portion of the fuel. An electrical igniter is integral with the auxiliary chamber, the igniter having an electrically conductive base and an electrode insulated from such base. An ignition transformer is included that has a primary and secondary winding wherein the secondary winding is coupled to the electrode. A capacitorless excitation circuit is provided that is coupled to the primary winding for generating an electrical arc within the auxiliary chamber during the second mode of operation.

Abstract: An inductive-capacitive charge-discharge ignition system includes an ignition transformer primary winding and a capacitor to be charged by a unipolar alternating current source. An electronic switch connects the primary winding and capacitor in parallel during the discharge mode of the system so that the discharge current from the capacitor aids the discharge current in the primary winding. Rectifiers may be used between the outputs of the source and the primary winding and capacitor. Another version of this system employs DC power to charge the primary winding, and the unipolar source to charge the capacitor, with a rectifier between the source and capacitor. Another capacitor may be used in the secondary winding of the ignition transformer. The system may be controlled by a variety of timers. A high velocity igniter arc having luminous particles surrounding a more concentrated filament of such luminous particles is developed by the system extending across the entire base of an igniter.

Abstract: An ignition system includes an alternating current power source which feeds a transformer having a primary winding, the primary winding being coupled to an electronic switch. The electronic switch intermittently interrupts current flowing in the primary winding and in the output circuit of the power source. Such electronic switch is made operable by virtue of the peak excursions of the alternating current thus supplying the necessary collector or emitter potential, depending upon the manner in which the electronic switch is connected, for the entire igniter firing cycle. A capacitor in series with the output circuit of the power source and with the primary winding enables current to be transferred out of the power source to such primary winding. Such electronic switch also provides discrete separation between successive output waveforms of successive ignition firing cycles. The system employs a temporary change accumulator inductor in the output circuit in series with the primary winding.

Abstract: A system for providing homogenized mixtures of hydrocarbon fuel and water utilizes a chamber in which the fuel and water is injected in a predetermined ratio. The chamber contains a transducer which is electrically excited and therefore vibrates the mixture at high frequency rates so as to homogenize it prior to the mixture being fed to a fuel injector or carburetor.

Abstract: An AC powered ignition system employs a rectangular wave power source and a timer for controlling igniter firings. Such timer intermittently interrupts the flow of DC bias current in active stages of the AC power source so as to create a large transient current and high induced voltage in an output transformer. The large transient current is intermodulated with a Kettering type transient to provide high energy firing levels to igniters in a fuel burning engine. The output transformer is coupled to an ignition transformer and to a reactance compensating capacitor to energize a distributor and igniters connected to the distributor.

Abstract: An AC powered ignition system employs a rectangular wave power source and a logic circuit for controlling igniter firing. Such logic circuit intermittently interrupts the flow of DC bias current in active stages of the AC power source and activates an electronic switch to charge the output winding of the AC power source and the primary winding of an ignition transformer by means of a DC source, and then discharge such windings into a capacitor at the same time as the AC power source provides its alternating current output by deactivating such electronic switch. Large transient intermodulated currents and voltages result thereby to provide high energy firing levels to igniters in a fuel burning engine. Provisions are made to include a second capacitor in series with the output and primary windings and/or a second electronic switch that prevent residual charge in the AC power source from appearing as a voltage or current during periods between igniter firing.

Abstract: An ignition system includes an alternating current power source which feeds a transformer having a primary winding, the primary winding being coupled to an electronic switch. The electronic switch intermittently interrupts current flowing in the primary winding and in the output circuit of the power source. Such electronic switch is made operable by virtue of the peak excursions of the alternating current thus supplying the necessary collector potential to such switch during each firing cycle of the system. A capacitor in series with the output circuit of the power source and with the primary winding enables current to be transferred out of the power source to such primary winding. Such electronic switch also provides discrete separation between successive output waveforms of successive ignition firing cycles.

Abstract: A distributorless ignition system has an alternating current power source for providing power to fire the igniters. The alternating current power source is coupled through a capacitor to a plurality of ignition transformers, one transformer for each igniter. Each transformer has an electronic switch in its primary winding circuit initiated by independent logic means for each switch. A timer, driven by the engine, triggers one logic circuit at a time so that only one electronic switch and consequently one igniter is fired at such one time, maintaining the other logic circuits and electronic switches quiescent during such firing. The system has short lengths of high tension wires connecting each ignition transformer secondary winding to its respective igniter.

Abstract: An alternating current power source which is generally used to feed an ignition transformer primary winding may be electronically controlled so as to rapidly activate and deactivate the power source for each ignition cycle. An electronic switch intermittently interrupts current flowing in the primary winding and in the output circuit of the power source. Such electronic switch is made operable by virtue of the peak excursions of the alternating current, thus supplying the necessary collector potential to such switch during each firing cycle of the system. Such control system can have these type of controls in the collector circuit of the power source, the emitter circuit of such power source, the DC power input circuit for such power source, or in the output circuit of the power source's output transformer. A capacitor in series with the output circuit of the power source and with the primary winding enables current to be transferred out of the power source to such primary winding.

Abstract: A Kettering type ignition system is improved by modulating the transient output from such system with an AC component signal to substantially increase the energy delivered to the igniters. The system provides for impedance matching of the AC source to the impedance of the ignition transformer. Ignition transformers with single and multiple primary windings are utilized.

Abstract: A transient modulation ignition system is provided having a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding. A timer is utilized for intermittently providing ignition timing to the system. A non-DC power source is also provided the output of which is coupled to the primary winding for modulating the source output with energy stored in the primary winding. The secondary winding of the transformer feeds a conventional distributor which fires igniters to ignite the fuel in the engine.

Abstract: A muliple energy modulated ignition system having a transient signal provided by precharging an ignition transformer primary winding modulated by a non-DC power source, to provide high energy firing levels to igniters in the ignition transformer secondary circuit. Several versions of the timer and method of interconnecting the timer to the ignition transformer primary and to an output winding of the non-DC power source, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering high electrical energy levels by means of an igniter to an air-fuel mixture within an engine, is disclosed. The method and apparatus utilizes any of a variety of igniters of simple construction in an ignition system powered by an non-DC source to obtain extremely high current excursion peaks and extremely high alternating voltage levels feeding the igniters sequentially with the result of obtaining high intensity and high velocity plasma arcs of ionized matter. Such ionized matter may be subjected to a magnetic field integral with each igniter to substantially increase the energy level of the plasma, visually noting the increase in plasma intensity with audible increase in plasma velocity in an experimental set-up. The plasma generates ozone from the air component of the mixture or in the experimental set-up from the air surrounding the igniter, which ozone materially increases the fuel combustion rate and consequently improves engine operating efficiency.

Abstract: Energy provided by two circuits each of which has inductive and capacitive components which provide initial conditions for the ignition firing cycle, makes possible high modulated power components of the system for delivery to a high voltage distributor. Such conventional distributor sequences the igniter firing.

Abstract: An alternator energized ignition system is provided for producing a transient ringing waveform forced by high voltage output of the alternator. A configuration of this system also provides for feeding DC power to result in the conventional transient that modulates the transient ringing waveform to produce very high ignition energy economically.

Abstract: An ignition system makes use of the Kettering transient voltage induced into the primary winding of an ignition transformer and utilizes a circuit which provides several voltage transients which are intermodulated to provide extremely high energy levels and a plurality of firing pulses during any one igniter firing period. An ignition transformer with multiple primary windings is utilized, the output or secondary winding feeding a conventional distributor.

Abstract: An ignition system providing a transient waveform intermodulates with an AC waveform in an ignition transformer to provide higher voltage and current outputs for longer periods of time than conventional systems. A simple, reliable and inexpensive timing device is provided for generation of the transient waveform at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: An ignition system providing variable ignition timing periods to an engine during operative mode of the system includes an angularly modulated waveform generator, an electronic control circuit electrically coupled to the generator, such control circuit being intermittently biased by the generator during the system's operation, and a power source which provides output power whose amplitude varies as a function of time, the power source being electrically connected to the control circuit. An integrator circuit may be interposed between the waveform generator and the electronic control circuit. The generator has a variable capacitor which is driven by the distributor shaft and therefore such generator provides angular modulated wave trains used to intermittently bias the control circuit. The power source is activated by the control circuit to provide non-DC output power to the ignition transformer so as to energize the igniters of the system with high energy alternating power.

Abstract: A high energy ignition system makes use of induced transient voltages in an ignition transformer to intermodulate a plural number of such transients and thereby provide extremely high voltages to fire an igniter. The transformer output is connected in conventional manner to a standard distributor to sequentially energize igniters.

Abstract: A digital combination locking system having a plurality of push buttons, each push button allocated to a different numerical digit. The push buttons are connected to selector switches for presetting any desired combination of digits. A plurality of semiconductor switches powered by direct current are serially connected, the last one of the series being connected to an electrical self latching locking mechanism for unlocking the lock upon selection, by operation of the push buttons, of the proper preset combination of digits. An alarm logic circuit is also provided so as to detect when two or more push buttons have been improperly operated or operated out of their proper sequence to set off an alarm that can only be shut off upon properly selecting the preset digit combination. Means are also provided for remotely enabling the presetting or clearing of the combinations of any of a plurality of such digital locking systems.