Engine igniting coil device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6169471
  • Patent Number
    6,169,471
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 23, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 2, 2001
    24 years ago
Abstract
An engine igniting coil device adapted to be mounted in a cylindrical bore of an engine and directly connected with an ignition plug therein has a coil case containing an igniting coil assembly and made of conductive magnetic material which is held at the ground potential level, thus preventing a decrease of output factor of the igniting coil of produced magnetic flux when spreading about and passing through a cylinder head of the engine and eliminating the possibility of leakage discharge from a high-voltage portion of the igniting coil assembly to the coil case and the cylinder head.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to an open-magnetic-circuit-type engine igniting coil device.




Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-23296 discloses an open-magnetic-circuit-type engine igniting coil device which has a coil case, in which an ignition coil assembly consisting of a primary coil bobbin with a rod-shaped core inserted in its hollow center and a secondary coil bobbin coaxially surrounding the primary coil bobbin is mounted and integrally potted with melted insulating resin, and has an ignition-plug connector integrally formed on the coil case to allow a tip of an ignition plug to contact with a high-voltage terminal inwardly projecting in the connector portion.




Usually, melted insulating resin is injected into a slender cylindrical coil case in pre-evacuated state. In this case, it is needed to fill the coil case with an excessive amount of the liquid resin because poured resin is further drawn into the coil case when the latter is exposed to an atmosphere pressure.




In the conventional engine igniting coil device, an output terminal


71


of a secondary coil shown in

FIG. 9

is connected by fusion to a high-voltage terminal


12


′ having a U-shaped cross-section, which is attached to a secondary coil bobbin


8


′.




In another conventional arrangement shown in

FIG. 10

, an output terminal


71


of a secondary coil is wound on and soldered to a projecting high-voltage terminal


12


′ attached to a secondary coil bobbin


8


′.




Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 4-143461 discloses another engine igniting coil device comprising a cylindrical coil case having a high-voltage terminal connector in its open-bottom end and incorporating a coil assembly consisting of primary and secondary coil-wound bobbins with a core inserted in a hollow center of the coil bobbin and integrally potted therein with melted insulating resin, which is mounted in a bore in a cylinder head of an engine and is connected at its connector with an ignition plug of the engine.




The above-mentioned prior art devices, however, involve the following problems to be solved:




The first problem is that the conventional open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device having the rod-like core inserted in a hollow center of the coil assembly consisting of primary coil-wound and secondary coil-wound bobbins may allow a magnetic flux produced therein to spread outwardly and lose part of the magnetic flux when passing through the cylinder block of the engine, resulting in decreasing the output factor of the secondary coil. Consequently, the device must be larger to obtain a desired secondary output voltage.




An attempt to prevent spreading of the magnetic flux produced in the device by covering the coil case with magnetic plates was accompanied by a leakage-current discharge from the high-voltage portion to the magnetic plates.




The second problem is that an amount of melted insulating resin injected into an engine igniting coil device may be variable and an excess of melted resin may be spilled out and contaminate the outer surface of the coil case while the latter is transported to a curing furnace. To avoid this, it is necessary to increase the volume of the coil case.




In the coil case, residual air may form bubbles of melted resin, which may spray out and contaminate the outer surface of the coil case.




The cylindrical coil case having a narrow opening and long body can not be entirely filled with melted resin if air is left and shut in the coil case. Therefore, melted resin is poured gradually little by little into the coil case, which takes much time.




The third problem is that a conventional engine igniting coil device which is mounted in a bore in a cylinder head of an engine and attached directly to an ignition plug of the engine may be subjected to vibration of the engine and, therefore, requires the provision of means for decreasing the vibration transmitted therefrom.




The engine igniting coil device mounted in a bore in a cylinder head of an engine may also be subjected to a large thermal stress in an axial direction of its coil case and requires the provision of means for absorbing an axial thermal elongation and contraction of metal.




The fourth problem is that an engine igniting coil device has a large terminal connection. Typically, an output terminal of a secondary coil is connected by fusion to a U-shape type high-voltage terminal or by soldering to a projecting type high-voltage terminal attached to a secondary coil bobbin. Both terminal connecting means must be located outside of the secondary coil bobbin and separated from the coil case to provide a necessary insulation distance. This may increase the size of the engine igniting coil device.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device to be mounted in a cylindrical bore in a cylinder head of an engine and attached directly to a ignition plug of the engine, which comprises a coil case containing an assembly consisting of a secondary coil bobbin and a primary coil bobbin with a rod-like core and integrally potted therein with melted resin insulation, wherein the coil case itself is made of electroconductive magnetic material to prevent the magnetic flux produced therein from spreading outward and, in addition, the coil case is held at the ground potential level to prevent the occurrence of leakage current from a high-voltage portion to the coil case.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device comprising a coil case incorporating an igniting coil assembly, wherein a low-voltage terminal socket fitted on an upper cylindrical open end of the coil case has internal partitions for limiting a level of melted insulating resin poured into the low-voltage socket through its upper open-end by overflowing an excess of melted resin into cup-like spaces formed therein by the partitions to thus absorb excessive amount of poured melted resin without spilling out of the coil case.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device comprising a coil case containing an igniting coil assembly, wherein a low-voltage terminal socket fitted on an upper cylindrical open-end of the coil case is covered at its open end with a cap having a hole made therein for inserting a nozzle for injecting melted insulating resin into the low-voltage terminal socket without spraying melted resin out of the coil case.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device comprising a coil case containing an igniting coil assembly, wherein a pipe communicating an inside of the coil case with the inside of the low-voltage terminal socket is provided for the escape of gas from the inside of the coil case while melted insulating resin is poured into the coil case through the upper open-end portion of the low-voltage terminal socket.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device to be mounted in a cylindrical bore in a cylinder head of an engine and attached to a ignition plug therein, wherein a coil case is provided at its upper end with a damping member made of elastic material, which is interposed between the coil case and the cylinder head and is provided with a collar interposed for restricting tightening force of the bolt for securing the coil case to the cylinder head in order to effectively absorb vibration transmitted from the engine side.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device to be mounted in a cylindrical bore in a cylinder head of an engine and attached directly to an ignition plug, wherein a plug cover is provided with a lower damping member made of elastic material for holding an ignition plug in order to effectively absorb vibration transmitted from the engine side.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device to be mounted in a cylindrical bore in a cylinder head of an engine and attached directly to an ignition plug, wherein a coil case is provided at its inside with an elastic member whose upper end outwardly bent over the upper end of the coil case for fitting a bolt holding flange thereon in order to effectively absorb axial thermal elongation of the coil case.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device to be mounted in a cylindrical bore in a cylinder head of an engine and attached directly to a ignition plug, wherein a secondary coil bobbin has a protrusion formed at a center portion of its lower end for fitting thereon a cylindrical high-voltage terminal having a protruding clamp formed at the edge thereof to be bent for securing a secondary-coil output terminal to the high-voltage terminal in order to make the terminal connection very compact.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a sectional front view of an engine igniting coil device embodying the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a plan view of a core of the engine igniting coil device shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a plan view of a low-voltage terminal socket (with a cap removed) of the engine igniting coil device shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is an end view of a coil case of the engine igniting coil device shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 5

is a sectional side view of the low-voltage terminal socket of the engine igniting coil device shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 6

is a sectional front view of a bolted connection portion of the engine igniting coil device shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view showing a secondary coil bobbin with a secondary-coil output terminal wound on a high-voltage terminal.





FIG. 8

is a perspective view showing a secondary coil bobbin with a secondary-coil output terminal fixed on a high-voltage terminal with a bent clamp.





FIG. 9

is a perspective view showing an example of connecting means for connecting a secondary-coil output terminal with a high-voltage terminal on a conventional secondary coil bobbin.





FIG. 10

is a perspective view showing another example of connecting means for connecting a secondary-coil output terminal with a high-voltage terminal on a conventional secondary coil bobbin.





FIG. 11

is a sectional front view showing another construction of an engine igniting coil device according to the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.





FIG. 1

shows an open-magnetic-circuit-type engine igniting coil device which is designed to be directly attached to an ignition plug of the engine.




The engine igniting coil device comprises a coil case


1


, an ignition coil assembly mounted in the case


1


, a plug cover


2


fitted in an open bottom-end of the case


1


and a low-voltage-terminal socket


3


containing an igniter therein and being externally fitted on an upper open end of the case


1


.




The coil case


1


accommodates the ignition coil assembly of a primary coil bobbin


6


with a primary coil


5


having a hollow center with a rod-like core


9


inserted therein and a secondary coil bobbin


8


with a secondary coil


7


coaxially mounted on the primary coil


5


and bobbin


6


. The core


9


is provided at each end with a permanent magnet


10


for obtaining a large change in magnetic flux with an interrupted primary current.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the core


9


is composed of laminations of iron plates having different widths with a nearly circular cross-section having an increased space factor in the hollow center of the cylindrical coil bobbin


6


to effectively produce a magnetic flux therein.




A high-voltage terminal holder


11


is a center projection formed integrally with the end portion of the secondary coil bobbin


8


. A high-voltage terminal


12


bonded to the holder


11


has a spring contact


13


attached thereto for providing electrical connection with an ignition plug


15


.




The coil assembly is mounted in a given position in the coil case and fixed therein in such a manner that a holder portion


11


for the high-voltage terminal


12


is press-fitted in the small tubular hole


4


provided in a center portion of the plug case


2


and the spring contact


13


is outwardly projected from the small tubular hole


4


.




The coil case


1


with the assembly fixed at the given place therein is filled with melted insulating resin (e.g., epoxy resin) injected through its upper open-end to form a single solid device with solidified resin insulation therein.




The permanent magnets


10


attached one to each end of the core


9


are covered with damping members


14


, respectively, which can prevent intrusion of melted resin into the core


9


and absorb relatively large thermal stress produced in the longitudinal direction of the core


9


, thus preventing cracking of the insulating resin layer formed around the core


9


.




The plug cover


2


is provided at its end with a plug rubber


16


. The ignition plug


15


is inserted into the plug rubber


16


wherein its tip contacts the spring contact


13


for creating the electrical connection of the ignition coil device with the ignition plug


15


of the engine.




The low-voltage-terminal socket


3


contains an igniter


19


.




The socket


3


is fitted on an outwardly bent portion


29


of the elastic member


17


provided on the inside wall of the case


1


to assure a high sealing quality.





FIG. 3

shows an internal structure of the low-voltage-terminal socket


3


with a cap


20


removed.




Melted resin is poured by using an injection nozzle into the low-voltage terminal socket


3


through a port


22


provided in the cap


20


mounted thereon until the tips of ribs


21


formed on the inside wall of the cap


20


are immersed in liquid resin. Thus, the cap


20


is integrally secured to the low-voltage-terminal socket. The ribs


21


of the cap


20


serve as a cushion for dispersing thermal stress to the resin layer, thus preventing cracking of the resin layer above the igniter


19


.




The coil case


1


has a sealing rubber


24


fitted on its external wall under the low-voltage terminal socket


3


. This sealing rubber


24


tightly seals the open end of the cylindrical bore


231


in the cylinder head


23


of the vehicle engine when the coil case


1


is inserted into the cylindrical bore


231


of the cylinder head


23


.




With the coil case


1


positioned in the cylindrical bore


231


, a flange


25


integrally formed with the low-voltage terminal socket


3


is secured with a bolt


26


to the cylinder head


23


.




According to the present invention, the coil case


1


is made of conductive magnetic material having a high permeability (e.g., silicon steel) and is grounded.




In practice, the coil case


1


is held at the ground potential level through an electrical connection between the coil case


1


and a grounding terminal


27


in the low-voltage terminal socket


3


.




The coil case can also be held at the ground potential level through a seal cover


24


made of electro-conductive rubber, which is fitted on the coil case


1


and is in contact with the cylinder head of the engine. In this case, the coil case


1


can be reliably grounded with no electrical wiring.




Thus, the coil case


1


has an electromagnetic shielding effect and acts as a side core for concentrating a larger portion of magnetic flux produced by the open-magnetic-circuit type ignition coil assembly to the case


1


, thus preventing loss of the produced magnetic flux by passing through a cylinder block of the engine to cause a drop of a secondary output voltage.




Because the coil case


1


is maintained at the ground potential level, one is protected against an electrical shock by a discharge of leakage current from any internal high potential portion of the case


1


. Furthermore, the occurrence of a local corona discharge between the secondary coil


7


and the coil case


1


can be effectively prevented. This improves the durability of the insulating resin layer formed therebetween.




The tight connection of the coil case


1


with the cylinder head of the vehicle engine eliminates the possibility of electric discharge therebetween, thus improving the performance of the control system of the engine and peripheral devices.




As shown in

FIG. 4

, the coil case


1


has a slit


18


to form a gap of 0.5 to 1.5 mm in longitudinal direction and a C-shaped section to minimize an eddy current loss.




The coil case


1


is internally covered with an elastic member


17


such as rubber and elastomer. This elastic member


17


separates the resin layer from the inner wall of the coil case


1


and absorbs any thermal stress of the metal, thus preventing the resin layer from cracking.




In the engine igniting coil device according to the present invention, a low-voltage terminal socket


3


has cup-like spaces (small compartments)


32


(

FIGS. 3 and 5

) formed therein by inner partitions


31


of a specified height for limiting a level of melted insulation resin poured into the low-voltage socket through its upper open-end by allowing an excess of melted resin to overflow into the cup-like spaces


32


.




The socket


3


is thus correctly filled with liquid resin to the specified level limited by the height of the partitions


31


by transferring any excess of liquid resin into the spaces


32


.




According to the present invention, the low-voltage terminal socket


3


is covered with a cap


20


having a hole


22


provided therein for insertion of an injection nozzle


33


for pouring melted insulating resin into the low-voltage terminal socket


3


as shown in FIG.


5


.




Injecting liquid resin into the socket


3


by using the nozzle


33


inserted in the hole


22


of the cap


20


fitted on the socket can surely protect against splashing of liquid resin that may bubble and scatter out of the socket if the cap is removed.




In this case, melted resin is poured by using an injection nozzle into the low-voltage terminal socket


3


through a port


22


in the cap


20


mounted thereon until tips of ribs


21


formed on the inside wall of the cap


20


are immersed in liquid resin. Thus, the cap


20


is integrally fixed on the low-voltage-terminal socket. The ribs


21


of the cap


20


serve as a cushion for dispersing thermal stress to the resin layer, thus preventing cracking of the resin layer on the igniter


19


.




According to the present invention, the coil bobbin


8


is provided with a pipe


34


for communicating the inside of the coil case


1


with the inside of the low-voltage terminal socket


3


as shown in FIG.


5


. This pipe


34


is used for the escape of gas from the coil case


1


while melted insulating resin is poured into the low-voltage terminal socket


3


through an upper open-end thereof.




The coil case


1


can be entirely filled with melted insulating resin since the pipe


34


allows gas to freely escape from the coil case


1


.




In the engine igniting coil device of the present invention, an upper damping member


24


is fitted on the upper end of the coil case


1


in such manner that it is interposed between the cylinder head


23


and the lower-voltage terminal socket


3


with an integrally formed flange portion


25


to be secured by a bolt


26


to the cylinder head


23


. This upper damping member


24


can absorb the vibration of the engine.




The upper damping member


24


extends to cover the inside of a bolt hole made in the flange portion


25


of the low-voltage terminal socket


3


and holding the bolt


26


through a collar


35


interposed therebetween for restricting the tightening force of the bolt


26


.




As shown in

FIG. 6

, the collar


35


engages at its upper portion with the damping member


24


and has a specified gap δ between its end face and the cylinder head when the bolt


26


is not tightened.




When the bolt is firmly tightened, the collar


35


compresses the upper damping member


24


by the length δ but prevents further compression of the damping member


24


, thus assuring that it may effectively absorb the vibration of the engine.




This extended portion of the upper damping member


24


may be separate, especially for use in the hole of the flange portion


25


of the low-voltage terminal socket.




The upper damping member


24


fitted on the upper portion of the coil case


1


mounted in the cylindrical bore


231


can also serve as a sealing member for tightly sealing the cylindrical bore


231


against water and other foreign matters.




The cylindrical-bore sealing portion of the upper damping member


24


has an air vent


36


therein for the escape of air from the inside of the cylindrical bore


231


, thus preventing an increase in pressure of air warmed in the cylindrical bore


231


.




The upper damping member


24


also serves as a centering member for aligning the coil case


1


when mounting the latter in the cylindrical bore


231


. The cylindrical-bore sealing portion of the upper damping member


24


has an outwardly protruding rib


241


formed thereon for aligning the coil case


1


by abutting against the inner wall of the cylindrical bore


231


.




According to the present invention, a plug cover


2


(

FIG. 1

) is provided with a lower damping member


16


made of elastic material such as rubber, which serves as a plug rubber


16


for holding an ignition plug


15


and absorbing vibration transmitted from the engine.




The plug rubber (lower damping member)


16


can effectively absorb a vibration transmitted from the engine through the ignition plug, maintaining a reliable electrical connection between a spring contact


13


and the ignition plug


15


.




The plug rubber (lower damping member)


16


has an outwardly protruding rib


161


thereon for aligning the coil case


1


by abutting against the inner wall of the cylindrical bore


231


.




The rib


161


has a notch


37


made in a part thereof for the escape of air from the inside of the cylindrical bore


231


.




The plug rubber (lower damping member)


16


also serves as a protection member for preventing flashover of the ignition plug


15


.




According to the present invention, the coil case


1


is provided at an inner wall with an elastic member


17


whose upper end


29


is outwardly bent and folded over to sandwich or cover the upper end of the coil case


1


. The low-voltage terminal socket


3


having the integrally formed flange portion


25


is fitted on the bent-portion


29


of the elastic member


17


on the coil case


1


.




With the ignition coil device secured at its flanged portion


25


with a bolt


26


to the cylinder head


23


, the bent portion


29


of the elastic member


17


works as a damping member for absorbing a thermal stress produced in the coil case. Namely, the ignition coil device mounted in the bore


231


and directly attached to the ignition plug of the engine may be subjected to thermal elongation and contraction resulting from a large thermal stress produced therein in an axial direction. This thermal deformation can be effectively absorbed by the bent portion


29


of the elastic member


17


.




In the engine igniting coil device according to the present invention, as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, the electrical connection between an output terminal (wire)


71


of the secondary coil


7


and the high-voltage terminal


12


is made in such a manner that the tubular high-voltage terminal


12


with a terminal clamp


121


formed at an edge thereof is fitted on a high-voltage-terminal holding portion


11


formed at a center portion of the lower end of a secondary coil bobbin


8


, then the output terminal


71


of the secondary coil


7


is wound several turns around the tubular portion of the high-voltage terminal


12


, fixed thereat by bending the terminal clamp


121


, and finally connected thereto by fusing.




The above-mentioned connection between the secondary-coil output terminal


71


and the high-voltage terminal


12


requires only a small space with no projecting portion, assuring a necessary insulation distance from the coil case


1


(i.e., there is no need for separating the connection part further apart from the coil case). This may be effective to reduce the size of the engine igniting coil device.




According to the present invention, a contact


13




a


made of electroconductive rubber (

FIG. 11

) may be used instead of spring


13


for providing the electrical connection between the high-voltage terminal


12


and the ignition plug


15


.




In comparison with a conventional spring or leaf-spring type contact (for point or line contact), the contact


13




a


made of flexible electroconductive rubber has an increased surface contacting with the ignition plug


15


and can therefore prevent the occurrence of micro-discharges which may arise due to partial contact and may affect peripheral electric devices. The contact


13




a


can withstand vibrations and does not cause the flashover of the ignition plug


15


which may arise with friction powder and/or poor or broken contact. The use of the elastic contact


13




a


can always maintain an excellent electrical connection of the high-voltage terminal


12


with the ignition plug


15


.




As described above, the present invention provides an engine igniting coil device that has the following advantages:




In an open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device mountable into a cylindrical bore in a cylinder head of an engine and directly attachable to an ignition plug, a coil case for accommodating the inner coil assembly is made of magnetic material having electric conductivity and held at a ground potential level, thus effectively preventing decreasing the output factor of the device due to an iron loss of a part of the produced magnetic flux when spreading and passing through a cylinder block of the engine and preventing current from leaking from an internal high-voltage portion to the coil case and the cylinder block.




In an engine igniting coil device according to one aspect of the present invention, a low-voltage terminal socket fitted on an upper end of a coil case has internal partitions for limiting the level of melted insulating resin poured into the low-voltage socket through its upper open-end by overflowing an excess of melted resin into cup-like spaces formed therein by the partitions. Namely, the low-voltage terminal socket can absorb an excess of melted insulating resin by itself with no need for enlarging the volume of the coil case and without contaminating the external surface of the product (low-voltage terminal socket and the coil case) with spills of the melted resin.




In an engine igniting coil device according to another aspect of the present invention, a low-voltage terminal socket fitted on an upper end of a coil case is covered at its open end with a cap having a hole therein for inserting a nozzle for injecting melted insulating resin into the low-voltage terminal socket, thus eliminating the possibility of splashing bubbled melted resin out of the low-voltage terminal socket. This can prevent the product from being contaminated with resin.




In an engine igniting coil device according to another aspect of the present invention, a pipe communicating the inside of a coil case with the inside of a low-voltage terminal socket is provided for the escape of gas from the inside of the coil case while melted insulating resin is poured therein through the upper open-end portion of the low-voltage terminal socket. This pipe allows gas to freely escape from the coil case. The coil case can, therefore, be entirely filled with melted insulating resin.




In the engine igniting coil device directly attachable to an ignition plug of the engine according to another aspect of the present invention, an upper end of a coil case is provided with an upper damping member made of elastic material that is interposed between a cylinder head and the coil case and is fitted with a collar for restricting the tightening force of the bolt for securing the ignition coil device to the cylinder head, whereby the upper damping member can absorb vibration of the engine for keeping the ignition coil device in an optimal working condition.




In the engine igniting coil device directly attachable to an ignition plug of the engine according to the present invention, a plug cover is provided with a lower damping member made of elastic material which can absorb vibration transmitted from the engine, allowing the ignition coil device to work in an optimal working condition by keeping a reliable contact with an ignition plug of the engine.




In the engine igniting coil device directly attachable to an ignition plug of the engine according to another aspect of the present invention, the coil case is provided at an inner wall with an elastic member whose upper end is outwardly bent over the upper end of the coil case and a low-voltage terminal socket having the integrally formed flange portion is fitted on the bent-portion of the elastic member on the coil case. With the ignition coil device secured at its flanged portion with a bolt to the cylinder head, the bent portion of the elastic member can effectively absorb the thermal elongation and contraction of the device due to a large thermal stress produced therein in an axial direction.




In the engine igniting coil device according to another aspect of the resent invention, the electrical connection between an output terminal of a secondary coil and a high-voltage terminal is made in such a manner that the tubular high-voltage terminal with a terminal clamp formed at an edge thereof is fitted on a high-voltage-terminal holding portion formed at a center portion of the lower end of a secondary coil bobbin, then the output terminal of the secondary coil is wound several turns around the tubular portion of the high-voltage terminal, fixed thereon by bending the terminal clamp, and finally connected thereto by fusing. The connection between the secondary-coil output terminal and the high-voltage terminal requires only a small space with no projecting portion, thereby assuring a necessary insulation distance from the coil case. This is effective to create a compact engine igniting coil device.




According to another aspect of the present invention, a contact made of conductive rubber is used for providing the electrical connection between the high-voltage terminal and the ignition plug. The contact has an increased surface contacting with the ignition plug and can therefore prevent the occurrence of micro-discharges which may arise due to partial contact and affect peripheral electric devices. The contact can withstand vibrations and does not cause the flashover of the ignition plug, which may arise with friction powder and a poor or broken contact. The use of the elastic contact can always maintain an excellent electrical connection of the high-voltage terminal with the ignition plug.



Claims
  • 1. An open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device comprising a coil case containing an inner coil assembly composed of primary and secondary coil-wound bobbins having a rod-like core inserted in a hollow center of said bobbins and potted in the coil case with insulating resin for forming a single solid coil device, characterized in that a low-voltage terminal socket is fitted on an upper cylindrical open-end of the coil case, said socket having upwardly extending internal partitions for limiting a level of insulating resin in the socket to an upper edge of the partitions with an excess of the resin retained in cup-like spaced formed in the socket by the partitions.
  • 2. An open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said low-voltage terminal socket fitted on an upper cylindrical open-end of the coil case is covered at an open end of the socket with a cap having a hole for injecting insulating resin through the hole in the cap into the low-voltage terminal socket.
  • 3. An open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said low-voltage terminal socket is mounted on the coil case, and a pipe is provided inside the socket and coil case and communicates the inside of the socket with the inside of the coil case for allowing the escape of gas from the inside of the coil case while the insulating resin is poured into the coil case through an upper open-end portion of the low-voltage terminal socket.
  • 4. An open-magnetic-circuit type engine igniting coil device as defined in claim 2, characterized in that said low-voltage terminal socket is mounted on the coil case and a pipe is provided inside the socket and coil case and communicates the inside of the socket with the inside of the coil case for allowing the escape of gas from the inside of the coil case while the insulating resin is poured into the coil case through an upper open-end portion of the low-voltage terminal socket.
Priority Claims (4)
Number Date Country Kind
8-266500 Aug 1996 JP
8-266502 Aug 1996 JP
8-266505 Aug 1996 JP
8-266509 Aug 1996 JP
Parent Case Info

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/919,885 filed Aug. 28, 1997, allowed.

US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
4514712 McDougal Apr 1985
5537983 Nakajima Jul 1996
5632259 Konda et al. May 1997
5758624 Satou et al. Jun 1998
5767758 Sakamaki Jun 1998
5771870 Satou et al. Dec 1996
5778863 Oosuka et al. Jul 1998
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number Date Country
2 199 193 Jun 1988 GB
4-23296 Jan 1992 JP
4-143461 Jan 1992 JP
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/919885 Aug 1997 US
Child 09/338636 US