An engine-knock controlling system for a carburetor-based engine includes one or more cylinders in which combustion occurs, wherein the system also includes a plurality of knock sensors coupled to an engine block, a first wiring harness, a first control unit, a second wiring harness, and a second control unit or an intermediate control unit, or a second control unit and intermediate control unit. The knock sensor(s) detects threatening engine-knock noise as an audible signal and transmits a signal through the wiring harnesses and control units to generate an ignition retarding action to correct the engine misfire and eliminate the knock/ping. Once the engine knock event is resolved, the processor of the first control unit transmits via the second wiring harness a signal to the second control unit or to the intermediate control unit, or to the second control unit and the intermediate control unit, to allow full-advance of ignition timing.

A valve comprising a stationary shell and a rotatable annular core is designed for installation on the block deck of a spark-ignition piston engine, with there being one valve installed on the engine's block for every cylinder in the block. Rotation of the annular core cyclically opens and closes the ignition pathway(s) extending between the internal volume of the valve's associated cylinder and the spark plug(s) initiating combustion within the cylinder, with the pathway(s) only being open during time intervals wherein the spark plug(s) are electrically activated as part of the engine's normal operating cycle. Control of the open-closed status of the ignition pathway(s) eliminates engine pre-fire events caused by hot points on the spark plug(s). The valve also provides improved technology for directing and regulating the flow of fuel, oxidant, and exhaust gases as they are transferred into and out of the valve's associated cylinder.

A torch igniter and a method of igniting a torch flame. An example embodiment includes a body including an oxidizer inlet configured to facilitate oxidizer flow through the body toward an output end of the body. The body includes a group of fuel inlet passages configured to distribute fuel in a direction tangential to the oxidizer flow through the body to create a swirling fuel-oxidizer mixture. A sparking element can be mounted on the body to produce a spark in the path of the swirling fuel-oxidizer mixture to ignite the mixture. The output end of the body is configured to emit a torch flame when the fuel-oxidizer mixture is ignited. Thus, a swirl torch igniter is configured for oxidizer and fuel flow through the igniter body to create an internal swirling fuel-oxidizer mixture to be ignited by a sparking element.

An engine-knock controlling system for a carburetor-based engine includes one or more cylinders in which combustion occurs, wherein the system also includes a plurality of knock sensors coupled to an engine block, a first wiring harness, a first control unit, a second wiring harness, and a second control unit or an intermediate control unit, or a second control unit and intermediate control unit. The knock sensor(s) detects threatening engine-knock noise as an audible signal and transmits a signal through the wiring harnesses and control units to generate an ignition retarding action to correct the engine misfire and eliminate the knock/ping. Once the engine knock event is resolved, the processor of the first control unit transmits via the second wiring harness a signal to the second control unit or to the intermediate control unit, or to the second control unit and the intermediate control unit, to allow full-advance of ignition timing.

An ignition system includes an ignition coil with a primary winding and a secondary winding having a terminal for providing a high voltage (HV). An electrode arrangement of an igniter includes first and second HV electrodes coupled to the terminal of the secondary winding. The igniter also has at least one ground electrode. A first spark gap is defined between the first HV electrode and the at least one ground electrode, and a second spark gap is defined between the second HV electrode and the at least one ground electrode. A first capacitor is disposed in-line between the first HV electrode and the terminal of the secondary winding and a second capacitor disposed in-line between the second HV electrode and the terminal of the secondary winding of the ignition coil. The ignition system includes a driver module coupled to a terminal of the primary winding, for driving the ignition coil.

A four-stroke opposed-piston engine contains a cylinder having a periphery and a combustion chamber and an ignition system, wherein the ignition system is fixed to the cylinder periphery and at least partially contained within the combustion chamber. During combustion, the ignition system is adapted to locate a spark within a fuel-rich predetermined region of the combustion chamber.

An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder bank comprising multiple cylinders, each cylinder comprises a rocker arm box for accommodating rocker arms of a valve train, and each cylinder comprises a rocker arm cover pivotable relative to the rocker arm box. The rocker arm cover carries an ignition coil contactable with a spark plug via an extension extending through a protective tube between the cylinder head and the rocker arm box or the rocker arm cover. The rocker arm cover comprises a first portion with a first introduction aid, into which the protective tube is threaded during closure of the rocker arm cover and a second portion with a second introduction aid, into which the spark plug extension is threaded during closure of the rocker arm cover to automatically and self-centringly form an electrical contact between the spark plug extension and the ignition coil.

An opposed-piston engine optionally contains an ignition system that is at least partially contained within the combustion chamber to enhance the combustion efficiency of a fuel-air mixture within the combustion system. More specifically, the ignition system contains at least one spark plug having an elongated center electrical delivery electrode, and, an elongated ground electrode. Accordingly, the elongated electrodes extend from an area adjacent to the inner periphery of the cylinder to a radially central area within the combustion chamber. Yet further, a cooling jacket is incorporated to provide cooling of the spark plug.

An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder bank comprising multiple cylinders, each cylinder comprises a rocker arm box for accommodating rocker arms of a valve train, and each cylinder comprises a rocker arm cover pivotable relative to the rocker arm box. The rocker arm cover carries an ignition coil contactable with a spark plug via an extension extending through a protective tube between the cylinder head and the rocker arm box or the rocker arm cover. The rocker arm cover comprises a first portion with a first introduction aid, into which the protective tube is threaded during closure of the rocker arm cover and a second portion with a second introduction aid, into which the spark plug extension is threaded during closure of the rocker arm cover to automatically and self-centringly form an electrical contact between the spark plug extension and the ignition coil.

A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the insulator. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life. In another embodiment the ground electrode and insulator is coaxial to the center electrode.