초록 ▼

An ignition apparatus having twin spark high-voltage outputs incorporates features of a pencil coil wherein at least a portion of a transformer assembly is disposed within a spark plug well when installed in an internal combustion engine, thereby reducing the space required on the top of the engine.

An ignition apparatus having twin spark high-voltage outputs incorporates features of a pencil coil wherein at least a portion of a transformer assembly is disposed within a spark plug well when installed in an internal combustion engine, thereby reducing the space required on the top of the engine. A secondary winding spool is configured to retain a secondary winding in first and second portions, wound either the same way for use in waste spark ignition systems or in opposite orientations for two-plug-per-cylinder systems. An alternate configuration includes an isolated shield that is internal to the case.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A pencil coil ignition apparatus comprising: a pencil coil transformer assembly including a central core, a primary and a secondary winding, and an outer core, said central core being elongated and having a main axis, said primary and secondary windings being radially o

The invention claimed is: 1. A pencil coil ignition apparatus comprising: a pencil coil transformer assembly including a central core, a primary and a secondary winding, and an outer core, said central core being elongated and having a main axis, said primary and secondary windings being radially outwardly of said central core; a case configured to house said transformer assembly, said case including a first high-voltage (HV) connection at a first end thereof configured for direct mounting on a spark plug, said case further including a second HV connection at a second end thereof opposite said first end. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer core comprises a magnetically permeable shield. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said central core and said shield are substantially axially coextensive. 4. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a secondary spool configured to receive and retain said secondary winding wound in a progressive winding pattern. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said secondary winding includes a first and a second end connection coupled respectively to said first and second HV connections. 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said secondary spool includes a generally cylindrical body with (i) a first winding bay defined by a first, annular winding receiving surface bounded by a first pair of retaining flanges and (ii) a second winding bay defined by a second, annular winding receiving surface bounded by a second pair of retaining flanges. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first winding bay includes a first portion of said secondary winding and said second winding bay includes a second portion of said secondary winding, said secondary spool including an axially central region wherein respective ones of said first and second pairs of retaining flanges are disposed in said central region. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said centrally disposed one of said second pair of retaining flanges includes at least a first and a second winding bay lead-in groove wherein said first lead-in groove is configured to allow said first portion of said secondary winding wound in said first winding bay to be continued into said second portion of said secondary winding would in said second winding bay wherein said first portion and said second portion of said secondary winding are both wound in one of a clockwise (CW) orientation and a counterclockwise (CCW) orientation. 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said secondary spool includes a center tap feature configured to allow said first and second portions of said secondary winding to be coupled together at a center tap node, said first portion of said secondary winding being wound in one of a clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) orientation in said first winding bay, said centrally disposed one of said second pair of retaining flanges including at least first and second winding bay lead-in grooves wherein said second lead-in groove is configured to allow said second portion of said secondary winding to enter said second winding bay to be wound in the other one of said CW and CCW orientations. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said case includes an axially-extending, generally annular body portion in which said transformer assembly is housed, said center tap conductor axially-extending and radially offset from said main axis, said case further including a trough disposed radially outwardly of said annular body portion defining a channel through which said center tap conductor extends. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said case further includes a connector body extending from said annular body portion, said connector body including said second HV connection, said connector body further including a system connector having conductive terminals for communication of power and control signals to said apparatus, said connector body further including a mechanism for electrical termination of said center tap conductor. 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said shield is annular in shape and includes a notch to allow for said center tap conductor. 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said trough is further configured to maintain said center tap conductor radially outwardly of a footprint established by said annular-shaped shield. 14. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said case includes an annular body portion comprising an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of said inner wall to define a shield chamber there between, said shield chamber being closed at said first end of said apparatus and having an opening at said second end of said apparatus, said shield chamber being configured to receive said shield. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 further including an annular seal configured to close said opening of said shield chamber, said annular seal including a snorkel that extends axially relative to a remainder of said seal, said snorkel including a through-bore for providing communication between said shield chamber and an external atmosphere. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said through-bore of said snorkel includes a restriction configured to (i) permit communication of air between said shield chamber and said external atmosphere but (ii) prevent flow of an epoxy potting material through the through-bore into the shield chamber. 17. A pencil coil ignition apparatus comprising: a pencil coil transformer assembly including a central core, a primary and a secondary winding, and an outer core, wherein said outer core comprises a magnetically permeable shield, said central core being elongated and having a main axis, said primary and secondary windings being radially outwardly of said central core; a case configured to house said transformer assembly, said case including a first high-voltage (HV) connection at a first end thereof configured for direct mounting on a spark plug, said case further including a second HV connection at a second end thereof opposite said first end, wherein said case includes an annular body portion comprising an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of said inner wall to define a shield chamber there between, said shield chamber being closed at said first end of said apparatus and having an opening at said second end of said apparatus, said shield chamber being configured to receive said shield; and an annular seal configured to close said opening of said shield chamber, said annular seal including a snorkel that extends axially relative to a remainder of said seal, said snorkel including a through-bore for providing communication between said shield chamber and an external atmosphere, wherein said through-bore of said snorkel includes a restriction configured to (i) permit communication of air between said shield chamber and said external atmosphere but (ii) prevent flow of an epoxy potting material through the through-bore into the shield chamber.