Ignition system
Ignition systems are used by heat engines to initiate combustion by igniting the fuel-air mixture. In a spark ignition versions of the internal combustion engine (such as petrol engines), the ignition system creates a spark to ignite the fuel-air mixture just before each combustion stroke. Gas turbine engines and rocket engines normally use an ignition system only during start-up.
Early cars used
Magneto and mechanical systems
Ignition magneto systems
An ignition magneto (also called a high-tension magneto) is an older type of ignition system used in spark-ignition engines (such as petrol engines). It uses a magneto and a transformer to make pulses of high voltage for the spark plugs. The older term "high-tension" means "high-voltage".
Used on many cars in the early 20th century, ignition magnetos were largely replaced by induction coil ignition systems. The use of ignition magnetos is now confined mainly to engines without a battery, for example in lawnmowers and chainsaws. It is also used in modern piston-engined aircraft[citation needed] (even though a battery is present), to avoid the engine relying on an electrical system.
Induction coil systems
As
Distributor-based systems
An improved ignition system was invented by
Electronic systems
The first electronic ignition (a
The Fiat Dino was the first production car to come standard with EI in 1968, followed by the Jaguar XJ Series 1[9] in 1971, Chrysler (after a 1971 trial) in 1973 and by Ford and GM in 1975.[8]
In 1967, Prest-O-Lite made a "Black Box" ignition amplifier, intended to take the load off the distributor's breaker points during high rpm runs, which was used by Dodge and Plymouth on their factory Super Stock Coronet and Belvedere drag racers.[8] This amplifier was installed on the interior side of the cars' firewall, and had a duct which provided outside air to cool the unit.[citation needed] The rest of the system (distributor and spark plugs) remains as for the mechanical system. The lack of moving parts compared with the mechanical system leads to greater reliability and longer service intervals.
A variation coil-on-plug ignition has each coil handle two plugs, on cylinders which are 360 degrees out of phase (and therefore reach
Engine Control Units
Modern automotive engines use an engine control unit (ECU), which is a single device that controls various engine functions including the ignition system and the fuel injection.[11][12] This contrasts earlier engines, where the fuel injection and ignition were operated as separate systems.
Gas turbine and rocket engines
Gas turbine engines (including jet engines) use capacitor discharge ignition,[citation needed] however the ignition system is only used at startup or when the combustor(s) flame goes out.
The
See also
References
- ^ Patterson, Ron; Coniff, Steve (November–December 2003). "The Model T Ford Ignition System & Spark Timing" (PDF). Model T Times.
- ^ "Charles F. Kettering, inventor of electric self-starter, is born". HISTORY.
- ^ Kettering, Charles F. (3 September 1912). "Ignition apparatus for explosion-motors". Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Kettering, Charles F. (3 September 1912). "Ignition system". Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Kettering, Charles F. (17 April 1917). "Ignition system". Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Hawthorne, John A. (20 June 1967). "Ignition system". Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ a b c Super Street Cars, 9/81, p.34.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Super Street Cars, 9/81, p.35.
- ^ "The new Jaguar V12 - Motor Sport Magazine Archive". Motor Sport Magazine. 7 July 2014.
- ^ northstarperformance.com, fixya.com, i.fixya.net
- ^ "How the Engine Control Module Works". www.HowStuffWorks.com. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "How ECUs Work". www.haltech.com. Retrieved 29 April 2023.