US1441681A - Protected electrode igniter - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1923,

W. 0. HEATH. PROTECTED ELECTRODE IGNITER.

FILED JAN. 14. I921.

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Patented Jinn. i923.

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WILLIAM G. 0F BELOIT, VJISQCONSIN, ASEIGNOE T0 FAIRBANKS, MORSE dz CCL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A GORI PQRATION OF ILLINOIS.

PROTECTED ELECTRODE IGNITEB.

Application filed January 14, 1921. Serial No. 437,340.

f0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L Vi iLLmM C. IILBLTH. a citizen oi? the United States. residing at Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of W onsin, have invented a certain new and u 1 Improvement i. Protected Electrode lgnitcrs, oi? which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates to the class of igniters used in internal combustion engines employing oil as fuel in which one of two electrodes located in the firing compartment of the engine is moved into and out of contact with the other to produce a low tension spark for firing the fuel charge.

The object is to provide a mechanism of this class with protection for the contact points of the electrodes as they operate thereby greatly increasing the eiticiency of the firing mechanism by preventing the dissipation of heat at the contact points and by excluding, in large degree, direct contact of fuel oil. with the contact points.

The invention consistsin means for carrying out the foregoing and other objects which can be easily and cheaply made, which is satisfactory in operation and not readily liable to get out of order. Mfore particularly the invention consists in detail of construction more fully set forth in the specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings in which similar numerals represent the same parts thruout the several views,

Figure 1 is an end view of the exterior of an igniter plug carrying mechanism illustrating this invention in its preferred form as applied to an engine cylinder, certain wall portions being broken away to show the interior construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 oi": Figure 1.

- Figure 3 is an end detail. view on the line 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a modified construction of essential parts of Figure 2.

For the purposes of illustration the essential parts of mechanism. of this invention are shown as applied to the conventional form oi an igniter body block 10 detachably inserted in the end wall 12 of an engine cylinder 14, the outer end. of this block being covered by the usual removable cover 16, and the whole secured in place by lag screw 17. In Preferred form of structure shown. in

the

Figure 2 the block 10 has projecting from its inner or engineend a relatively small cylindrical cup or chamber 18 having its end 20 open into the engine cylinder so that fumes oi. combustible material to be fired can enter the cup. Extending thru the block 10 and cup 18 is'a stationary electrode 22 of conventional construction insulated from the riaterial'oi the block 10 by a sleeve 24 and a nut 26. The outer end of this electrode is equipped with the usual electric wire connections 28 leading to a distant magneto (not shown.) The inner end ofthis electrode 22 extends partway into the interior of cup 18, being insulated from its walls by an air space as clearly shown. in Figure 2, and carries a stationary firing contact 30.

Journaled in block 10 at a suitable distance from. the electrode 22 is a rotatable electrode 22 not here insulatedttrom the block 10. The

outer end of this electrode 32 carries a crank arm 34 rocked in any suitable manner as by reciprocating rod 36 driven by the engine and resisted. by the spring 37.

The inner end of electrode 32 carries inside the engine cylinder a lever arm 38 having at its outer end a curved portion 40 terminating in the contact point 42, lying in the arc of a circle drawn about the center of rotation of the electrode member 32 so that the electrode 32 is rocked these two parts reciprocate thru a perforation 44 in the top of member 18 to cause contact 42 to engage contact 30 on electrode 22. This perforation made only large enough to permit ready m ovement as described.

The alternative form of construction shown in Figure l'difiers from that of Figure 2 only in that the tubular cup i6,-corresponding in all operative functions to the cup 18 is carried by the insulating sleeve 48 corresponding to sleeve 2%. llhe construction and mounting of protecting cups 18 and 46 is wholly immaterial. The point is that the cup provided protects the firing contacts 30 and 42. i

in the operation of the device fuel oil is thrown into the combustion space of the engine by mechanism not entering into this invention and. therefore not shown in detail and fumes from it pass thru openings 20 and 44-. into proximity with the contacts 4:0-42 and are fired by the spark produced in the ordinary manner as the contacts separate in moving fr m the; position of Figu e l to that of Figure lihen firing takes place intense heat produced within the chamber 1801' etc .il'ninediately adjacent to the contact members -lll lz; The presence of the protecting case serves the purpose of retain-.

ing a large quantity of this heat immediately adjacent to the contacts 5O' l2 during the time between successive firingstherefore it enables the firing to take place more surely and etliciently than is the case where thecontacts are allowed to be cooled in any manner whatever as for instance by being struck by a spray of cold oil during the intervening time. i

The presence of the protecting case 18 01 46 also serves the purpose of keeping the oil spray norm-ally supplied to the engine cylinder oil? from the contact points 80-42 thereby reducing it not preventing the usual forming of carbon onthese points. Stated inanother way,the advantage is' that there will be less formation ofcarbon around the spark points under conditions where this carbon is otherwise likely to form. The action of the protection sleeve tube seems to be in keeping the liquid particles of fuel which may form carbon, away from the points and also to produce a somewhat higher heat ejtiect around the points, resulting in the burning oi of such carbon as may otherwise form.

. Having thus describedmy invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is a 1-. In an igniter mechanism two electrodes carryingengageable contact points, rotatable means moving one electrode to engage and separate said contact points, and tubular enclosing member entered by one electrode at its end and by the other electrode at its side substantially enclosing the points as they engage each other. 2. In mechanism of the class described, a base plug for insertion in an opening in an engine combustion chamber wall, a cup protruding from the inside of the plug, an electrode thru the plug entering the bottom of said cup, another electrode rotatable in the plug parallel with the first electrode, and an arm on the inner end' oi the rotatable electrode, movable between two positions in one of which it enters .an opening in the cup and contacts the electrode therein and in the other of which it does not so contact.

3. i mechanism of the class described, a base plug for insertion in an opening in an engine combustion chamber wall, a cup protruding from the inside of the plug, an electrode thru the plug entering the bottom of said cup, another electrode rotatable in the plug parallel with the first electrode, and an arm on the inner end of the rotatable electrode movable between two positions in one of which it enters an opening in the cup and contacts the electrode therein and in the other of which it does not so Contact, and means for rotatingthe second electrode.

l. In mechanism 01 the class described a base plug for insertion in an opening in an engine combustion chamber, a cup protruding from the inside of the plug, an electrode thru the plug entering the bottom of said cup, another electrode rotatable in theplug parallel with the first electrode and an arin on the inner end of the rotatable electrode movable between two positions in one of which it enters an opening in. the cup and contacts the elect-rode therein, and in the other of which it does not so contact, means tor rotating the second electrode, and means for insulating one of said electrodes from the base plug.

In mechanism of the class described, a plate for securement to an opening in an engine wallfa tubular cup open at its end protruding from the plate into the engine, a stationary contact point in the cupopposits another opening in a side wall of the cup, another electrode outside the cup, movable to carry contact thru' said second opening in the cup, and means moving the second electrode to cause the second contact to engage and disengage the first, and. means insulating the electrodes when the contact points do not engage, for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK (l: Hornimg' tine. B. .ENGERSOLL.

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