US2376981A - Spark emtensifier - Google Patents

Description

y ,1945. E. M. ROIBINSON 2,376,981

SPARK INTENSIFIER 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1943 INVENTO [mme/f/W Fob/n5 BY I 9-. I

Arron/z Patented Mr, 29, 1945' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPARK INTENSIFIER Emmett M. Robinson, San Francisco, Calif. Application October 2, 1943, Serial No. 504,757

Claims. (01. 123-148) latter are connected by conductors with the distributor.

Another object of the invention is a spark intensifler constructed to greatly increase the efflciency of the spark produced at the spark gap in a spark plug in a manner to insure an effective spark for effecting a more complete combustion of gases in an internal combustion engine than heretofore without objectionable carbonization or burning of the spark points, and also, where my intensifier is used it functions to insure an effective spark at said spark gap even in the event of a leakage in the insulation of the spark plug to such an extent that no effective spark is produced at the gap in present systems.

' The ultimate results accomplished by my intensifler are: substantial elimination of present spark plug troubles over long periods of time for exceeding the ordinary life of sparkplugs in conventional installations, not using my intensifler; an increase in power of the engine by reason of more eifective ignition of the combustible gases; smoother operation of the engine due to positive ignition at each firing point in the firing cycle; increased economy in the operation of an engine. ready noted herein.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through my device, in position on a conventional distributor, and with certain elements in the device as well as one end of the high tension electrical conductor being shown in elevation.

Fig, 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

In detail, the portion of a conventional distributor adapted to support my device is indicated at I, and which portion comprises a centrally recessed cylindrical boss, having therein a conductor element 2 adapted to be friction'ally gripped by a tubular conductor sleeve extending from my device.

My device itself comprises a body member 3 of Other results are accomplished as al-.

insulation material, such as Bakelite," hard rubber, or any other suitable electrical insulating material. This body member is elongated and is formed with a cylindrical through bore extending longitudinally thereof and opening outwardly of the body at its opposite ends.

For convenience of description, my device will be considered as being positioned vertically as shown in the drawing, although in actual use it may be supported in any other position should the distributor or the support therefor be adapted to support the device in any position other than vertical. a

The lower end portion 4 of the bore through my device is of less diameter than the remaining upper portion 5 thereof, thus forming an annular shoulder 6 at the juncture between portions 4, 5.

A metal conductor tube 1 of outside diameter substantially that of the portion 4 of said bore is inserted into the upper open end of portion 5 and is moved into said bore until the slightly outward 1y flared rim 8 formed around the upper end of said tube rests against the shoulder 6. The length of said tube 1 is such that its lower end projects a substantial distance from the lower end of the body I. 'This lower end of tube 1 is preferably vertically slotted from the lower edge of the tube so thatthe lower end portion of the tube may be frictionally secured to the end of conductor 2.

Within the bore 5 is a cylindrical, open-ended tube 9 of insulation material such as glass, which tube freely slides in bore 5. At the end of tube 9 adjacent the rim 8 is a cylindrical metal sleeve Ill provided with an outwardly projecting flange II at one end, which flange is adapted to seat on rim 8. The sleeve I 0 is adapted to extend into tube 9 a short distance, and at the opposite end of tube 9 is a sleeve I2 that is similar to sleeve III; This sleeve I2 has a flange l3 corresponding to flange II, but disposed at the upper end of sleeve I2, and which flange I3 seats against an annular metal disk l4 that is secured inbore 5 at a point spaced from the upper open end of said bore.

The flanges II, I3 are preferably slightly spaced from the ends'of tube 9 as seen in Fig. l, and the sleeves III, I2 are spaced within the opposite ends of said tube.

Intermediate the opposite ends of tube 9, and therein, is a plurality of circular disks I5 of highly reflned tungsten, being almostpure or over 99% pure. Each of these disksare separated from each other by a circular disk I6 of relatively thin mica and the tungsten and mica disks are oi substantially the same diameter andare slidable in tube 8, being slightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of said tube.

adjacent turns of the coil relatively well open disk I! while a similar spring ll of the same material'is interposed between the lower disk I 01' the pile and the flange ll. These springs and said disks are, of course, assembled in tube! and coaxial bores 4, 5 centrally therein, and as all elements in said bores, such as the sleeves 1, l0; l2, rim 8, flanges II, l3, disks M, IE, IS, springs l1, IO and tube 9 are all coaxial with the central very easily assembled, the elements thereoiare such as lend themselves to quantity production and assembly without requiring complicated and expensive dies, jigs, etc.

install my deviceon the conventional distributor,

it is only necessary to remove terminal from the latter, and to substitute the projecting end of sleeve 1. The terminal 20 is then positioned in the upper end of bore position for use.

through spring I! to the pile of disks l5ljumps from'many points on the peripheries of thedisks IS' in its passage to spring ill on the way to the spark gap of each spark plug when the distribleading to each plug.

While the disks l5 and their separators of mica could have any desired shape other than circular,

said disks l5. Also, it is essential that the disks I! be of a material, such as tungsten, since the internal combustion engine.

The use of more than a singlepair of disks l5 providing a single spark gap in the intensifier I is also important, since a single gap will not produce the desired results. There should be a plurality of gaps of substantially the character disis not to be restricted as to dimensions of elements, I have found that using disks about to A coil spring II or phosphor bronze having" 5 and the device is in In operation the high voltage current passing is interposed betweenflange l3 and the upper between the flanges II, II before the annular Oi course, one or two disks or more or mica may be used between adjacent disks or tungsten-to give the spacing desired. Mica is specified herein because it produces the desired efiective insulation irrespective of temperature variations,,but it is to be understood that any insulator or metal may be used provided it possesses the equivalent properties or those specified, and the same is true of the phosphor bronze springs. These springs have durability under most severe usage as'hav'e the disks of tungsten and mica. For all practical purposes, the spark intensifier as a whole may be said to be substantially indestructible barring occurrence of unusual accidents thereto.

From numerous tests conducted under actual operating conditions, there appears to be substantially no carbonization on the spark plug points or along the elements forming saidpoints.

. axis of the body 3,,it is seen that the device is In most automobilestheinsulated high tension; conductor I9 is usually formed with a cylindrical; terminal 20 at itssend that is adapted to be fric-l tionally held inthe recess in the distributor boss and in contact or engagement with the con ductor 2 in the latter. The upper end of bore 51 is adapted to frictionally hold the conductor ter- 1 minal 20 inengagement with disk l4. Hence, to

I 5 across the slight gaps formed by mica disks closed in order to obtain the best results, and I have discovered that the maximum results are Oil on such elements in an ordinary circuit rapidly commences smoking, leaving a carbon deposit, but with my intensifier there is no smoking and no deposit, but instead there is a sharp clean spark localized at the desired point. The conventionally. produced spark appears yellowish with a luminous haze or field around the gap, whereas the spark produced with my intensifier in place is a fast, clean, blue spark, free from any halo or haze or yellowish cast. Where an insulator on a spark plug is leaky, either by reason of porosity or breakage, there is but little.

loss or efilciencyat the spark gap when my intensifier'ls in thecircuit, butv in the usual circuit the plug is practically valueless insofar as producing an eilective spark for combustion is concerned.

While I am aware that others have produced devices intended to intensify the spark at the spark gap in spark plugs by producing a spark gap in the high tension line leading to the distributor, I am not aware of anyintensifier that produces an eflicient and reliable intensifier adapted to accomplish the results of the one herein disclosed.

e metal disks and arow of electrical insulator utor brush or rotor closes the circuit between the 1 high tension conductor l9 and the conductor 1 Having described my invention, I claim: I v 1. A sparkv intensifier comprising a row of disks in axial alignment with the said insulator disks between adjacent pairs of said metal disks insulating said metal disks from each other; a

' softer metals lack suflicient resistance to deterioration'under the substantially constant usage i I required in operation of an automobile or an body member of electrical insulation material enclosing said metal disks and said insulator disks; yieldable electrical conductor means in said body respectively engaging the end metal disks of said row for yieldably holding said metal disks and said insulator disks in assembled relation; and means for engaging said electrical conductor meanswith the wires of a high tension circuit connected with a spark plug with said disks in series with such circuit to provide a plurality of spark gaps in said circuit beforethe current reaches such plug. v

2. A spark intensifier comprising a tubular member having a cylindrical throughbore; a row of circular. disks of uniform diameter in said bore and substantially coaxial therewith; the

. alternate disks in said row being 01' metaland of 11 of an inch in thickness, and a diameter of 1 electrical insulation material arranged so that the end disks are metal yieldable electrical conductor elements in said bore engaging said'end disks respectively and floatingly supporting said row of disks in said bore for axial movement to a position in said bore in' which the yieldable resistance of said conductors against said end disks is equalized; means supporting said conductor elements against said end disks under tension for yieldably holding the disks of said row together; and means for supporting the ends of high tension conductors in a high tension circuit in engagement with said yieldable conductors whereby a plurality of spark gaps in such circuit is provided between the peripheries of the metal disks of said row.

3. In a construction as defined in claim 2, a tube of rigid insulation material in said bore and substantially coaxial therewith enclosing said disks; the inner surface of said tube being glazed and said tube being axially movable in said bore between predetermined limits; stop means in said bore spaced from the opposite ends of said tube for limiting such movement of the latter.

4. A spark intensifier comprising a tubular member of refractory electrical insulation material having a cylindrical relatively highly glazed through bore, a row of circular metal disks in said bore coaxial therewith and a circular disk of electrical insulation material between the disks of each adjacent pair in said row, means at opposite ends of said member for connecting the end metal disks of said row with electrical conductors in a high tension circuit, the inner diameter of said member being slightly greater than the diameter of the disks in said row to provide a slight space between the edges of said disks and the glazed surface of said bore.

5. A spark intensifier comprising a vitreous tubular member of electrical insulation material having a through bore formed with a relatively highly glazed surface, a row of tungsten disks within said bore coaxial therewith, and a disk of mica between the disks of each adjacent pair thereof in' said row, an electrical conductor spring at each end of said row yieldably holding the disks together while permitting bodily movement of the row longitudinally in opposite directions against the resistance of one or the other of such springs, a housing of electrical insulation material enclosing said tubular member, and means carried by said housing for connecting the spring at each end of said row in a high tension circuit.

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