US1098214A - Spark-plug with priming device. - Google Patents

Description

I. V. BEAM.

SPARK PLUG WITH PRIMING DEVICE. APPLICATION IILBD DEC. 12, 1912.

Patented May 26, 1914.

- Eimira, county of UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

IRA V. BEAM,

OF ELMIBA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO NICHOLAS D.

DOXEY, OFELMIRA, NEW YORK.

SPARK-PLUG. WITH PRIMING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application filed December 12, 1912. Serial No. 736,439.

To all whom it may concern:

it known that I, IRA V. BEAM, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chemung, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Plu s with Priming Devices, of which the ollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to spark plugs for hydrocarbon motors, and more particularly to certain improvements adapted to permit the introduction of a priming fluid through the spark plug and has for its object the pro vision of a spark plug of this type which can be constructed in an inexpensive manner and which is nevertheless highly efficient in the performance of its functions.

The novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a spark plug embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the usual shell provided with the screw threads 11 by means of which it is adapted to be secured in the wall of a hydrocarbon motorl Arranged within the shell 10 is a tubular insulating member 13 provided with a collar 14 which is adapted to be clamped,

the end of the shell 10 by means of the nut 15. The lower end 16 of the shell 10 is preferably of cylindrical form and constitutes one terminal of the spark gap. The lower end 17 of the insulating member 13 is also cylindrical in section and slightly smaller than the shell 10 to provide a space 17', as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

Arranged within the tubular insulating member 13 is a bolt or a conductor 18 which is provided at its lower end with a head 19 of slightly smaller diameter than the interior of the portion 16 of the shell so as to provide a slight space between these parts, this space constituting the spark gap and the head 19 constituting the other terminal thereof.

It has been found that carbon is frequently deposited on the exposed parts of the spark plug and is liable to cause a short circuit of the terminals of the gap and in order to reduce this liability to a minimum, I have provided the space 17 between the against portion 17 of the insulating member and the interior of the shell so that in order to form a short circuit between the terminals of the spark gap it is necessary for the carbon to be deposited on the insulating member from the lower end thereof to the upper end of the space 17'.

The conductor 17 has its upper end screw threaded and a nut 20 is arranged thereon and clamped against a washer 21 which bears on the upper end of the insulating member 13. Above the nut 20 is a. cap member 22 having an interior chamber 23 which has an opening to atmosphere at its top as shown in Fig, 1. Arranged within the chamber 23 is a ball valve 24 which is pressed upwardly, mally close the opening between the chamber 23 and the atmosphere. The conductor 18 is provided on its exterior with a longitudinal slot 26 which preferablyextends the entire length of the conductor and communicates at its upper end with the chamber 23 and at its lower end with the interior of the motor cylinder.

The cap member 22 is also adapted to serve as a nut for the purpose of clamping a .wire or other electrical conductor between thelower end thereof and the nut 20 for the purpose of forming an electrical connection with the conductor 18.

When the spark plug is in use the pressure on the interior of the cylinder tends to force the gases upwardly through the slot 26, and the escape of the gases isprevented by the ball valve 24. When it is desired to introduce a priming fluid into the cylinder this may be accomplished by pressing the spout of an oil can downwardly on the ball valve 24, to open the valve, and injecting the fluid in the usual manner in which lubricant is discharged from an oil can. The fluid will flow downwardly from the chamber 23 through the slot 26, and accumulate on the lower side of the head 19 adjacent the spark gap so that when the fluid vaporizes the vapor will be in the vicinity 9f the spark gap, and ignition will readily take place.

I am aware of the fact that in prior constructions the part corresponding to my conductor 18 has been provided with a central bore for the purpose of injecting a priming fluid into the cylinder of the motor but on account of the small size of these conductors it is comparatively expensive to provide them with such a bore and therefore I have greatly improved and cheapened the cost of manufacture by providing the slot 26 in the outer surface of the conductor, this slot being cut by means of a saw or in any other suitable manner.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is,

A spark plug comprising a shell, at the inner end of which is arranged one terminal of the spark gap, a tubular insulating member secured within said shell, a conductor arrangedwithin said tubular member and having the other terminal of the spark gap at its inner end and a threaded outer end extending beyond said insulating member, said conductor having a longitudinal slot. in its outer surface extending from the outer end thereof to a point adjacent said terminals, a nut on the outer end of said conductor and cooperating with said head to clamp the conductor in position, a cap member screwed onto the outer end of said conductor and having an interior chamber in communication with said slot, and a passage from the exterior to said chamber, and a spring pressed valve arranged to normally close said passage and prevent the escape of gases through said slot, said valve being adapted to open, to permit the introduction of a priming fluid, by the application of inward pressure thereto. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

IRA V. BEAM.

Witnesses:

A. S. DIVEN, EDNA L. ToRREY.

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