Patent ID: 6972569
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: F02P

Abstract:
1. A testing apparatus for testing a waste-power ignition coil, the testing apparatus comprising: a first power source connectable to a primary side of a waste-power ignition coil under test; an ignition simulator comprising an actuator and a switching device having a first state, in which an output of the primary side of a waste-power ignition coil under test is electrically connected to ground to permit current to flow through the primary winding and having a second state, in which the output of the primary side of a waste-power ignition coil under test is electrically disconnected from ground to prevent current flow through the primary side of the waste-power ignition coil under test; a distributor comprising a rotor and a rotor cap, the rotor cap comprising a plurality of contacts, a first pair of opposing contacts being electrically connected to a first output of the secondary side of the waste-power ignition coil under test and a second pair of opposing contacts being electrically connected to a second output of the secondary side of the waste-power ignition coil under test; a second power source; and a motor connected to the second power source, the motor having an output shaft configured to rotate the actuator and rotor; wherein the rotor comprises a point at a distal end thereof disposed to travel adjacent each of the plurality of distributor rotor cap contacts and to be separated therefrom by a predetermined rotor gap; wherein the actuator is disposed proximal to the switching device to switch the switching device between the first state and the second state in accord with a rotation of the actuator, and wherein the rotor acts synchronously with the actuator to ground a respective one of first output and the second output of the secondary side of the waste-power ignition coil under test to simulate a waste-stroke phase for an associated spark plug and to provide a voltage from another of the first output and the second output of the secondary side of the waste-power ignition coil under test to simulate a power-stroke phase for an associated spark plug.