Abstract: A discharge device of the present invention including a pair of electrodes opposingly disposed in a sealed tube is characterized by the provision of a conductive member surrounding one of the electrodes in the sealed tube. An ignition system with a series gap has a built-in discharge device provided with a series gap, with one end connected to the center electrode side of the spark plug and with the other end connected to the high-tension cable side extending from the high-voltage distribution side. In this ignition system, a discharge device has a conductive member which surrounds one of the electrodes of the sealed tube, and one of the electrodes enclosed with the conductive member of this discharge device works as a cathode.

Abstract: A spark gap producing apparatus that introduces an auxiliary gap in the electrical path between the spark source and the spark plug of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The spark apparatus can be permanently installed such that it maintains a reliable auxiliary gap. Alternatively, it may be installed in a motorized form such that it can be computer controlled. the computer would control the gap size and, therefore, the capacitance of the spark gap apparatus. Thus, depending on the efficiency needs of the engine, the computer would compensate. In still another embodiment, the driver himself would have direct manual control over the gap size. Since spark "hotness" is controlled by the gap size, the driver would have complete control over the efficiency and power of the engine.