Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7418956 | Ignition apparatus for an internet combustion engine An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine can be produced at low cost and small size by preventing the generation of a spark at a spark plug due to a turn-on voltage with a simple ignition coil construction having no energy loss. The apparatus include ... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7331332 | Method for operating an internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine includes multiple combustion chambers. The supply of fuel into at least one subset of the combustion chambers can temporarily be interrupted. It is provided that the fuel be injected into the combustion chambers directly and during a sw... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7320297 | Internal combustion engine There is provided an internal combustion engine that uses a blended fuel consisting of hydrocarbon and alcohol, and can efficiently operate relative to a wide range of required load. The internal combustion engine includes: intake ports 4a and 4... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7270089 | Method and apparatus for controlling transition between operating modes in a multimode engine At least one engine operating parameter other than total fuel energy content is taken into account when transitioning between operating modes in a dual fuel or other multimode engine (20) in order to maintain a smooth transition between modes. The parameter p... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7267115 | Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine The ignition apparatus includes an electronic control unit and an igniter. The igniter detects ions resulting from ignition, and sends an ion current output signal to the electronic control unit. The igniter has a waveform shaping circuit and an ion current detectin... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7215528 | Turn-on coil driver for eliminating secondary diode in coil-per-plug ignition coils A circuit for controlling an ignition coil that attenuates the feed forward voltage by slowing the initial turn-on of the coil driver is disclosed. The turn-on circuit includes a control signal input node, a capacitor, a resistor, a diode, and a coil driver. The con... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7159583 | Technique for drive current stabilization of an automotive ignition system Drive current stabilization is achieved through the management of a drive current. The drive current may include a control current that is provided to a control terminal of a switch, a current limit input current that is provided to a current limit circuit associate... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7156082 | Controlling spark for an engine with controllable valves A system and method to control spark in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine. Spark can be controlled in a cylinder while reducing the possibility of producing a spark at a spark plug coupled to an ignition coil. ... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7134407 | V-quad engine and method of constructing same A V-quad engine has two juxtaposed V-twin cylinder banks connected to a common crankshaft and fuel and ignition systems that cause the front cylinders in the two banks to fire simultaneously and the rear cylinders in the two banks to fire simultaneously. Conventiona... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7121254 | Compression-ignited IC engine and method of operation The present invention is a compression ignition internal combustion engine and method of operation which expands the load limit of quietly operating a premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) engine by injecting a secondary fuel B, in ratios lean of stoichiometri... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7049733 | Spark plug center electrode assembly A spark plug having a center electrode assembly that includes a center electrode and precious metal insert that is both mechanically interlocked and welded to the center electrode in a manner that permits trapped gases to escape from between the two components. Also... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7013871 | Closed loop MBT timing control using ionization feedback This feature of the present invention comprises a closed loop which uses estimated MBT timing criteria and ignition diagnostics (knock, partial-burn, and misfire) to control engine ignition. When the engine is not knock limited, it operates at its MBT timing. When t... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7013881 | Method for controlling ignition parameters of a spark plug for internal combustion engine The invention is a method for controlling ignition parameters of a spark plug (16) for an internal-combustion engine whose ignition is controlled by an engine control calculator, with the spark plug receiving a high voltage (U_HT) and a current (I_HT) from an... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6935323 | Low current extended duration spark ignition system A system for firing a spark plug is disclosed. The system includes a timing controller configured to send a first timing signal and a second timing signal. The system also includes an ignition transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding and a spark-... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6932064 | Capacitor discharge ignition A capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system includes a trigger circuit that generates a trigger signal in synchronism with operation of an engine for discharging an ignition capacitor. A timing circuit is connected to the trigger circuit for controlling the timing o... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6907871 | Ignition timing control system and method for variable-cylinder internal combustion engine as well as engine control unit There is provided an ignition timing control system for a variable-cylinder internal combustion engine, which is capable of optimally reducing torque before the start of fuel cut-off operation, irrespective of whether the engine is in an all-cylinder operation mode ... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6889676 | Vehicle ignition system using ignition module with reduced heat generation An ignition system for a vehicle includes a distributor having with a Hall Effect stator assembly and ignition module formed preferably as a thick film integrated (TFI) module, which receives a spark output (SPOUT) signal from an electronic control assembly (ECA). T... | 05/10/2005 |
| 6889675 | Vehicle ignition system using ignition module with reduced heat generation An ignition system for a vehicle includes a distributor having with a Hall Effect stator assembly and ignition module formed preferably as a thick film integrated (TFI) module, which receives a spark output (SPOUT) signal from an electronic control assembly (ECA). T... | 05/10/2005 |
| 6748937 | Hall effect ignition system A solid-state Hall effect ignition system which requires connection to only a single ignition coil lead wire. The lead wire connects to both an output transistor and to power supply circuitry arranged to provide an internal bias or supply voltage for the solid-state... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6718958 | Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine An operation of connecting primary coils and a wiring module of an ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is carried out smoothly. The ignition apparatus includes a casing (8), closed magnetic circuit cores (2), primary coils (4) e... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6651637 | Vehicle ignition system using ignition module with reduced heat generation An ignition system for a vehicle includes a distributor having with a Hall Effect stator assembly and ignition module formed preferably as a thick film integrated (TFI) module, which receives a spark output (SPOUT) signal from an electronic control assemb... | 11/25/2003 |
| 6575150 | Ignition timing control device for internal combustion engine In order to improve the control characteristics for ignition timing during transient operating conditions including engine startup, during engine transient operating conditions, a controller (1) sets an advance limit ADVLMT restricting the maximum value o... | 06/10/2003 |
| 6225752 | Spark plug for internal combustion engine A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is constituted by an insulating member (20) having an axial hole (26) formed along a central shaft (18); a rod-shape central electrode (12) accommodated in the axial hole; and a ground electrode (16) with whi... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6216678 | Method and apparatus for generating and identifying misfires An engine cylinder firing event is intentionally defeated by clipping the flyback voltage of the ignition system primary coil winding under the control of a misfire generator that develops a misfire logic signal from ignition dwell events and user inputs ... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6095124 | Spark plug and an internal combustion engine igniting system using the same A spark plug having a center electrode, a ground electrode, and an insulator. The ground electrode has a firing surface formed in a tip end side, and the firing surface is opposed to a side face of the center electrode. The insulator covers the outside of... | 08/01/2000 |
| 5797383 | Dual polarity type ignition system for a spark plug group In a dual polarity type ignition system for a spark plug group, a cylindrical metal shell is provided in which an insulator is provided. The insulator has an axial bore in which a center electrode is provided whose front end has a first noble metal tip. A... | 08/25/1998 |
| 4967718 | Ignition system for an internal combustion engine using thyristors An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprises a direct-current supply, at least one spark plug, an ignition coil with a primary winding and a secondary winding for connection to the supply and to the at least one plug, respectively, a fir... | 11/06/1990 |
| 4589398 | Combustion initiation system employing hard discharge ignition A system for initiating combustion of fuel, especially for internal combustion engines, employs a very rapid, intense high power electrical breakdown arc to increase the rate of combustion and thereby reduce the need for advanced engine timing. The use of... | 05/20/1986 |
| 4515140 | Contactless ignition device for internal combustion engines A contactless ignition device for internal combustion engines comprising an exciter coil and pulser coil inducing voltages of phases reverse to each other with the rotation of the internal combustion engine, a first capacitor and second capacitor charged ... | 05/07/1985 |
| 4491110 | Internal combustion engine combustion chamber pressure sensing apparatus To obtain higher current yield from ion current measurable across the electrodes of a spark plug upon application of a biasing potential thereto, occurring immediately after an ignition event due to ionization of burning hydrocarbons within the combustion... | 01/01/1985 |
| 4342305 | Ignition system for an internal combustion engine employing fuel injection An ignition system for an internal combustion engine which employs fuel injection. It uses the injection valve plungers to initiate spark control signals when they lift due to the fuel injection pressure. An electronic comparator output provides the contr... | 08/03/1982 |
| 4269161 | Variable fuel explosion chamber engine An expolsion chamber including a principle which allows a method of exploding various fuel vapors other than gasoline. High electrical energy input to the system is maximized as less combustible vapors are exploded. The two unique features of the system are: 1... | 05/26/1981 |
| 4245609 | Modulated AC ignition system An ignition system includes an alternating current power source which feeds a transformer having a primary winding, the primary winding being coupled to an electronic switch. The electronic switch intermittently interrupts current flowing in the primary w... | 01/20/1981 |
| 4229793 | Method and apparatus for controlling internal combustion engines A method and apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine by a digital computer. A pulse generator for generating reference pulse signals in synchronism with the rotation of the crankshaft of the engine is associated with the digital computer w... | 10/21/1980 |
| 4150653 | System employing a magnetosensitive element for producing an electric signal in synchronism with the periodic movement of a part and application thereof in internal combustion engines A phase-controlled pulse signal generator, comprising a magnetic field source born by a rotating shaft, and a Hall effect sensor submitted to the field, the sinusoidal signal delivered being processed by a phase correcting circuit controlled by the speed ... | 04/24/1979 |
| 4011851 | Distributor assembly for a vehicle In a distributor assembly having a conventional cap with terminals therein and a conventional rotor assembly having a rotor shaft and vacuum advance mechanism, the improvement comprising a cartridge assembly housing disposed between the cap and the rotor ... | 03/15/1977 |
| 4011476 | Signal generating mechanism A signal generating mechanism for producing a pulsed DC electrical voltage signal having a frequency proportional to the angular velocity of a rotating shaft. The signal generating mechanism may be used in the distributor of a breakerless ignition system ... | 03/08/1977 |
