US900798A - Sparking device for gas-engines and the like. - Google Patents

Description

cut invention; Fig. line 2-2 in Fig.

FREDUS A. THURSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPARKING DEVICE FOR GAS-ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Batented Oct. 13, 1908.

Application filed June 15, 1904. Serial No. 212,647.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I FREDUS A. TnnnsroN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sparking Devices for Gas-Engines and the Like, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accon'ipanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for producing sparks for lgniting the gas for gas engines and the like.

Prominent objects of the invention are, to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus of this kind; to increase the efficiency and effectiveness thereof; to procure quick and reliable action; to secure a large and brilliant flash; and to secure the above results in a practical and expeditious manner.

In the arrangement which I show herein for carrying out my invention, I provide mechanism conveniently in the form of a rotary armature with a cooperating commutator, by which an electrical circuit can be automatically short-circuited. The arrangement also permits the short-circuit to be temporarily opened or extended to include a circuit containing a sparking device, such for example as an electromagnet with a make and break armature. The circuit also includes preferably a self-induction coil or some other suitableinduction device, so that a short circuit is first made through the induction coil and then the sparking device or plug is instantaneously included in circuit and caused to operate to produce sparks, The result is that the sparks produced by the spark plug are of unusual size and brilliancy,and thus the effectiveness and efficiency of the apparatus is greatly increased.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the commutator and armature arrangement embodying my pres- 2 isa section aken on v 1; Fig. 3 is aview of a detail of construction; and Fig. 4: is a diagrammatic view showing the connections of the arrangement.

Referring first to Figsl, 2 and 3, 1 is a metal hub constructed with a central socket 2 and an outer flange The socket 2 re ceives a tubular shaft 4 '50 which it is secured by an adjusting screw 5 by which the hub is held in position subject to rotary adjustment as desired.

The flange 3 is consti'ucted with four projections 6, (3, and with in this flange is a ring 7 of insulating material-such for example as fiber. Four metallic segments or contacts 8, 8 are carried by the ring 7, being conveniently set into said ring so that their inner'surfaces are flush with the interior of the ring, or contacts. The segments 8, 8, are provided with threaded stems 9, 9, which are passed through the projections G, 6 on the hub 1, and are insulated therefrom by bushings 10, 10, of insulating material such as fiber. Nuts 11, 11, are provided on the outer ends of the stems 9, 9, and insulating washers 12, 12, are arranged between the nuts 11, 11 and the projections 6,6. A plate or cover 13 is fitted to the hub 1 so as to close the same. A rotary shaft 14 is arranged within the tubular support 4, and carries at its end a rotary metallic circuitcloser l5 whichis arranged to rotate within the ring 7 The circuit closer 15 is provided with a contact device 16 conveniently constructed with a sliding spring-controlled contact piece 17. The circuit closer also carries a second contact 18, which latter, however, is insulated from the circuit closer by being secured to and supported by insulation strips19 and 20 on. said armature. The contacts 17 and 18;are adapted to come'into contact with the segments 8, 8, one after the other as the arn'iature is rotated by the shaft 14. It will be seen that the contact 17 will, when the circuit closer is rotated inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, make connection with each segment 8 before the contact 18 andwill also leave or separate from such segment before said other contact. Aconductor in the form of a brass wire 21' is supported by the flange 3 of the hub 1, but insulated therefrom by a bushing 22 of insulating material, as shown in Fig. 1. vThis wire 21 extends radially inward and makes connection with the inner end .of the contact 18. It is provided with a binding post 23.

The device thus described, is connected as shown in Fig. 4. One side of a circuit 24 is connected with the binding post 23 so as to establish connection with the contact 18. This circuit 24 preferably includes a selfinduction coil 25 and a battery 26. side is connected with the engine cylinder.

The contact segments 8, 8, are connected with conductors 27, 27 which run to spark plugs Its other 28, in the engine cylinders. This spark plug can be'of any desirable construction, but is as a matter of further improvement, constructed as shown and described in my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 194,095, filed February 17,1904, This form of plug consists of an electromagnet which" acts as a spark plug and is'provided with a vibratory armature which opens and closes the circuit by its vibration.

The-operation of the arrangement is as follows. As the circuit closer is revolved and its contacts 17 and 18 connect with the 18, commutator segment 8, contact 7, and

thence to the other side of the circuit 24: by

the circuit closer 15 and engine frame.

When the contact 17 leaves this segment, the contact 18 remains in connection therewith for a short period of time, thus breaking the short circuit and including the spark plug 28 in circuit, the connections being as before, except that the circuit is made from the conductor 21, and contact 18, to the spark plug, and from the latter back to the other side of the circuit through the engine frame, Thus the circuit is closed through the plug 28 and said coil operates to make and break the circuit during the time the contact 18 is in contact with the segment 8. When the contact 18 leaves this segment, the circuit is broken and the operation of the plugs 28 is discontinued. In this way the four different spark plugs 28 are operated, it being understood that the arrangement is for a four cylinder engine.

The arrangement shown is especially effective because the sparks produced by the spark plugs, when the circuit is quickly and temporarily closed through them, are very large and brilliant, thus insuring the proper ignition of the gas in the cylinders.

It will be imderstood that a less or greater numbcr of commutator segments can be provided, and the circuit closer and commutator a rangement varied according to the number of spark plugs or sparking devices it is desired to operate. It will also be understood that changes and modifications can be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and also that devices other than that herein shown for changingthe'eircuit arrangements to secure the result herein mentioned, can be substituted for the com mutator arrangement herein set forth.

face of said ring, and make connection with said contacts thereon, said rotary member being also provided with a second contact member adapted to make connection with said ring contacts after the making connection therewith, of said spring controlled member, and a connection on the ring extending to" said contacts on' said rotary member.

2. A circuit distributing mechanism for spark producing apparatus, comprising an armature and commutator, one of which is rotatable relatively to the other, one of said members being provided with a plurality of separated contacts arranged in annular order, and the other being provided with a pair of contact devices insulated from one another and arranged one in advance of the other, and both being adapted to make coir nection With said separated contacts on the other member.

3. Av current distributing device, compris- ,8, 8, the contact 16 being arranged in advance of the coi'itact 18 and insulated there from. i

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of Way A. 1),, 1904-.

FREDUS A. TH URST( )N.

lVitnesses A. MILLER Bnm mu),

LC. LEE.

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