Patent Grant
9293249
The present disclosure relates to an ignition coil assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an ignition coil assembly for use with an internal combustion engine of a motorcycle.
Ignition coils are systems attached to or integrated with internal combustion engines used with vehicles such as automobiles and motorcycles. Ignition coils are induction coils that cooperate with a vehicle's battery to provide the energy required to power spark plugs. Specifically, the ignition coil typically converts relatively low voltage current from the vehicle's battery to the high voltage current required to generate a spark from the spark plug that ignites the air-fuel mixture within the internal combustion engine.
Ignition coil systems for motorcycles commonly include the ignition coil being positioned remotely from the spark plugs. Typically ignition coils are connected to the spark plugs by high-voltage insulated ignition wires that run from one location on the engine (i.e., the location of the ignition coil) to another location on the engine (i.e., the location of the spark plugs). Such an arrangement can cause clutter in and around the engine, expose the ignition wires to potentially harsh environments, and lead to sub-optimal performance of the ignition system and engine.
In accordance with one embodiment, an ignition coil assembly includes an ignition coil cover, a boot, and an ignition coil. The ignition coil cover includes a plurality of fins, an opening, and a channel. The boot includes a slotted opening and a centralized orifice and is configured to be disposed within the opening of the ignition coil cover. The ignition coil includes a seat and a tab. The ignition coil is configured to be disposed within the centralized orifice. The seat is capable of supporting the ignition coil within the centralized orifice of the boot. The tab is configured to be inserted into the slotted opening and the channel when the ignition coil is disposed within the centralized office and the boot is disposed within the opening.
In the accompanying drawings, structures are illustrated that, together with the detailed description provided below, describe exemplary embodiments of the claimed invention. Like elements may be identified with the same reference numerals for convenience. It should be understood that elements shown as a single component may be replaced with multiple components, and elements shown as multiple components may be replaced with a single component. The drawings are not to scale and the proportion of certain elements may be exaggerated for the purpose of illustration.
The apparatuses and methods disclosed in this document are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, methods, materials, etc. can be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific shapes, materials, techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a shape, material, technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be and should not be construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such. Selected examples of ignition coil assemblies are hereinafter disclosed and described in detail with reference made to figures.
Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of ignition coil assemblies including examples of such ignition coil assemblies where an ignition coil assembly can be directly mounted proximate to the spark plugs of an engine such that the need for ignition wires is eliminated. Ignition coil assemblies mounted proximate to the spark plugs can reduce current leakage and reduce electronic interference. In one exemplary application, ignition coil assemblies as described and disclosed herein can be arranged for use with motorcycle engines such as, for example, air cooled v-twin engines.
The boot 30 and ignition coil cover 40 can be arranged to cooperatively engage. In one example, the ignition coil cover 40 can include an opening 90 that accommodates the boot 30. As illustrated in exploded view of
The mounts 50, 60 and the posts 70, 80 can be arranged to be utilized cooperatively to discreetly and directly secure the ignition coil system 10 to an engine of a motorcycle in a position proximate to the spark plugs. Such positioning can result in the elimination of any exterior wiring from the ignition coil to the engine's spark plugs. As illustrated in
As previously discussed, the ignition coil cover 40 can include an opening 90 and a pair of apertures 100, 110. Furthermore, the ignition coil cover 40 can include at least one channel 160. The at least one channel 160 can be positioned in the top fin 120. Although only one channel 160 is illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
The fins 120, 130, 140, 150 can be aligned in a stadium style arrangement. This is to say that the each fin extends further forward and/or to the side than the fin above. An example of a stadium style arrangement is illustrated in
In one embodiment, the posts 70, 80 are generally disposed on opposing sides of the opening 90 and abut the underside of the top fin 120. In another example, the posts 70, 80 can abut any of the plurality fins 120, 130, 140, 150 of the ignition coil cover 40. In one embodiment, each post 70, 80 is substantially vertical and has a central axis 170 that is substantially perpendicular to the plurality of horizontal fins 120, 130, 140, 150. Alternatively, the posts 70, 80 can be oriented at an angle with reference to the horizontal fins 120, 130, 140, 150. One of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure would recognize that posts can be located elsewhere in the ignition coil assembly 10, including without limitation, the boot 30 or the ignition coil 20. In yet another embodiment posts may be omitted altogether.
Although the ignition coil assembly 10 is illustrated with the ignition coil cover 40 having a pair of apertures 100, 110, a pair of corresponding posts 70, 80, and corresponding mounts 70, 80 disposed on either side of the opening 90, it will be understood that an ignition coil assemblies can include other quantities and arrangements of apertures, posts and mounts. For example an ignition coil assembly may include more or less than two apertures, posts, and/or mounts. The functions performed by the mounts and posts can be served by a single component instead of individual components.
As illustrated in
Referring again to
As shown in
To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both.” When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995). Also, to the extent that the terms “in” or “into” are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to additionally mean “on” or “onto.” Furthermore, to the extent the term “connect” is used in the specification or claims, it is intended to mean not only “directly connected to,” but also “indirectly connected to” such as connected through another component or components.
While the present disclosure has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosure, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
The foregoing description of examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed, and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The examples were chosen and described in order to best illustrate principles of various examples as are suited to particular uses contemplated. The scope is, of course, not limited to the examples set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art.
This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/758,929 filed Jan. 31, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7117860 | Chittum | Oct 2006 | B1 |
| 20090194083 | Boerjes | Aug 2009 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 102061974 | May 2011 | CN |
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| 2000045860 | Feb 2000 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2014/014205, mailed May 27, 2014, 11 pages. |
| Ducati: “Multistrada 1200 ABS—Model Year 2010—Spare parts catalogue No. 915.1.301.1A,” retrieved on Nov. 12, 2014 from http://www.ducati.at/uploads/media/MTS1200SABS—Eu—2010.pdf. pp. 78 and 134; Figures 18b (A) and 031, 2 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140209077 A1 | Jul 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61758929 | Jan 2013 | US |
