Two-cycle engine with exhaust temperature-controlled ignition timing

Abstract

A two-cycle internal combustion engine has an ignition timing that varies with engine speed. A plurality of ignition patterns (the relationship between ignition timing and engine speed) are used. The engine exhaust gas temperature is sensed and is used to determine the particular ignition pattern used at a particular time.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A two-cycle engine, comprising: 
 a cylinder;    a throttle;    a piston movable in the cylinder, for compressing a fuel-air mixture to be ignited in the cylinder, with exhaust gas from combustion of the fuel-air mixture being expelled from the cylinder;    an ignition source in the cylinder;    a controller for activating the ignition source at a particular point during the compressing movement of the piston, the controller activating the ignition source according to an ignition pattern in which the an ignition point during the compressing movement varies with operation speed of the engine and throttle position, the ignition pattern being selected from a plurality of different ignition patterns; and    a sensor for sensing a temperature of exhaust gas from the cylinder, the particular ignition pattern used by the controller being selected based upon the sensed exhaust gas temperature.    
     
     
         2 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the ignition source is a spark plug and the controller is a capacitor discharge ignition system.  
     
     
         3 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor contacts the exhaust gas.  
     
     
         4 . The engine of  claim 3 , wherein the engine further comprises an exhaust pipe for carrying the exhaust gas and the sensor is disposed in the exhaust pipe.  
     
     
         5 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein individual ignition patterns are provided for exhaust gas temperature ranges that cover about 50 C.  
     
     
         6 . A method of operating a two-cycle engine, comprising: 
 moving a piston in a cylinder to compress a fuel-air mixture in the cylinder;    activating an ignition source in the cylinder during the compression movement;    expelling exhaust gas from combustion of the fuel-air mixture from the cylinder;    controlling the activation of the ignition source according to an ignition pattern in which an ignition point during the compression movement varies with operation speed and throttle position of the engine; and    sensing a temperature of the exhaust gas expelled from the cylinder; and    selecting the ignition pattern from a plurality of ignition patterns based on the sensed exhaust gas temperature.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the ignition source is a spark plug and a capacitor discharge ignition system controls activation of the spark plug.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the exhaust gas temperature is sensed with a sensor that contacts the exhaust gas.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the engine further comprises an exhaust pipe for carrying the exhaust gas and the sensor is disposed in the exhaust pipe.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein individual ignition patterns are provided for exhaust gas temperature ranges that cover about 50 C.  
     
     
         11 . A two-cycle engine, comprising: 
 a cylinder;    a piston movable in the cylinder, for compressing a fuel-air mixture to be ignited in the cylinder, with exhaust gas from combustion of the fuel-air mixture being expelled from the cylinder;    an ignition source in the cylinder;    a controller for activating the ignition source at a particular point during the compressing movement of the piston, the controller activating the ignition source according to an ignition pattern in which the an ignition point during the compressing movement varies with operation speed of the engine, the ignition pattern being selected from a plurality of different basic ignition patterns; and    a sensor for sensing a temperature of exhaust gas from the cylinder, the basic ignition pattern used by the controller being modified based upon the sensed exhaust gas temperature.    
     
     
         12 . A two-cycle engine, comprising: 
 a cylinder;    a piston movable in the cylinder, for compressing a fuel-air mixture to be ignited in the cylinder, with exhaust gas from combustion of the fuel-air mixture being expelled from the cylinder;    an ignition source in the cylinder;    a controller for activating the ignition source at a particular point during the compressing movement of the piston, the controller activating the ignition source according to an ignition pattern in which the an ignition point during the compressing movement varies with operation speed of the engine, the ignition pattern being selected from a plurality of different ignition patterns; and    a sensor for sensing a temperature of exhaust gas from the cylinder, the plurality of ignition patterns including a first ignition pattern that is selected when the sensed exhaust gas temperature is a temperature correlated with an undesired operation condition.    
     
     
         13 . The engine of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature correlated with an undesired engine operation condition reflects a type of fuel being used to operate the engine.  
     
     
         14 . The engine of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature correlated with an undesired engine operation condition reflects an engine performance problem.  
     
     
         15 . The engine of  claim 14 , wherein the engine performance problem is selected from the group consisting of incorrect carburetion or incorrect fuel delivery.  
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a two-cycle engine, comprising: 
 moving a piston in a cylinder to compress a fuel-air mixture in the cylinder;    activating an ignition source in the cylinder during the compression movement;    expelling exhaust gas from combustion of the fuel-air mixture from the cylinder;    controlling the activation of the ignition source according to an ignition pattern in which an ignition point during the compression movement varies with operation speed of the engine selected from a plurality of basic ignition patterns; and    sensing a temperature of the exhaust gas expelled from the cylinder; and    modifying the ignition pattern selected from a plurality of ignition patterns based on the sensed exhaust gas temperature.    
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a two-cycle engine, comprising: 
 moving a piston in a cylinder to compress a fuel-air mixture in the cylinder;    activating an ignition source in the cylinder during the compression movement;    expelling exhaust gas from combustion of the fuel-air mixture from the cylinder;    controlling the activation of the ignition source according to an ignition pattern in which an ignition point during the compression movement varies with operation speed of the engine; and    sensing a temperature of the exhaust gas expelled from the cylinder; and    selecting a first ignition pattern from a plurality of ignition patterns when the sensed exhaust gas temperature is a temperature correlated with an undesired engine operation.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the temperature correlated with an undesired engine operation condition reflects a type of fuel being used to operate the engine.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the temperature correlated with an undesired engine operation condition reflects an engine performance problem.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the engine performance problem is selected from the group consisting of incorrect carburetion or incorrect fuel delivery.