Charles I Travis

US Patent:

40461238, Sep 6, 1977

Filed:

Jan 29, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/653368

Inventors:

Richard J. Jordan - Roseville MI
Charles W. Travis - Bloomfield Hills MI

International Classification:

F02P 100
F02B 300

US Classification:

1231465A

Abstract:

A contactless ignition system for internal combustion engines permitting the elimination of mechanical ignition points by replacing such ignition points by a radiation source and a radiation sensitive element mounted on the distributor breaker plate. The radiation source, such as a light emitting diode, emits a radiation beam, such as a light beam, impinging upon the cam portion of the distributor shaft and which is reflected onto the radiation sensitive element, such as a photoelectric cell, or photoresistor or photoconductor, for example, or preferably a phototransistor providing at its output an appropriate timing pulse for a given angular position of the distributor shaft.