US2031293A - Ignition device - Google Patents

Description

E. C WAMELINK.

IGNITION DEVICE Feb, 1, 1936:.

Filed Feb. 18, 1935 Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED TAT 5% T QFFIQE Thisinvention relates to ignition devices,.particularly adapted for use in connection with internal combustion engines.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a spark plug having a pair of electrodes capable of being adjusted with respect to each other to prevent fouling and pitting resulting from arcing from interfering with the operation of the device as an ignition sparker for internal combustion engines.

Afurther object of this invention is to providea spark plug for an internal combustion engine of the above mentioned character having means associated therewith for indicating the relative position of one electrode to the other after the device has been inserted in the upper wall of an internal combustion engine cylinder.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide a sparking device for internal combustion engines including a vertical electrode having a cone- :shapedgapping point to which is presented at an angle a second electrode having a bevelled end surface .correspondingin angularity to the coneshaped gapping member.

A further object of this invention is to provide inflatingmeans associated with the vertical electrodes to prevent short circuiting and the resultant lossof high tension current should the associated parts become wet or moistened.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention illustrating the manner in which one of the electrodes is presented to the other electrode in the top wall of an engine cylinder;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the vertical electrode as positioned in the top wall of the cylinder and showing the adjustable electrodes for compensating for the wear upon the electrode surfaces;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the inflating member for the central vertical electrode and illustrating the manner in which the parts are associated;

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the adjustable electrodes, showing the same removed from the engine head cylinder for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the invention; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the face member intended to center the vertical electrode within its seat in the internal combustion engine head.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and wherein like reference characters will be employed to designate like parts throughout the same, the reference character 5 will generally be employed to designate a fragmentary portion of an internal combustion engine head having a vertical bore 6 enlarged and threaded as at l and terminating in the lower portion in a counter-sunk bevelled edge 8.

The invention comprises a sparking device adapted to be associated with the ignition system of a motor vehicle and includes an insulator plug 9 which is formed preferably round in cross section and is provided with a tapered portion Ill adapted to be seated upon the bevelled portion 8 of the opening 6 and said bevelled portion Ill terminates in a downwardly extending tapered portion ll extending well into the cylinder of the internal combustion engine. Interposed between the bevelled counter-sunk portion 8 of the opening 6 and the correspondingly shaped portion 50 of the insulator plug 9 is a washer H2 in order to adequately seal the cylinder against compression losses.

Embedded within the lower tapered portion ll of the insulator plug 3 is a rod it, the lower end of which is tapered outwardly as at M to form a cone-shaped sparking surface for the purpose of igniting the combustible fuel entering the internal combustion engine cylinder.

Also embedded in the insulator plug 8 in the upper end thereof is a terminal rod I5 having formed in the lower end thereof a bore l6 for receiving the upper end of the rod I3 in electrical contact fashion. The opposite end of the terminal rod is screw threaded as at H for the reception of ignition wires and thumb nuts commonly employed in connection with sparking devices.

Downwardly extending bores l8 are formed in the upper end of the insulator plug 9 at diametrically opposite points for the insertion of a suitable tool such as a metal punch when it is desired to rotate the plug 9 and bring different contact faces of the conical gap member l4 into operation, and may also allow ventilation.

Bracing means is provided for reinforcing the terminal rod l5 and comprises a collar 20 of insulating material to which may be secured a studded portion 2i having downwardly extending legs 22 connecting an outwardly flared connecting ring 23. It will be noted that the outwardly flared connecting ring 23 is of the same configuration and shape as the top portion of the insulator plug 9 whereby the collar 20 may be slid downwardly upon the terminal rod 15 until the outwardly flared portion 23 engages the top surface of the insulator plug 9 in order that an externally screw threaded nut 24 may be threaded into the screw threaded opening 1 in the engine head cylinder 5 whereby the flanged portion 25 of the externally screw threaded nut 24 may engage the outwardly flared ring 23 and securely clamp the insulator plug 9 and reinforcing member in place, within the opening 6.

Formed adjacent to and angularly with respect to the opening 6 is a screw threaded bore 21 in which is adapted to be mounted a screw threaded rod 28 having formed in the upper end thereof a screw driver receiving kerf 29 and a bevelled edge or top wall 30. The lower end of the screw threaded rod 28 is provided with a hardened steel tip 3| which has its upper end embedded in the screw threaded rod 28 and its lower end bevelled as at 32 in parallelism with the upper end 30 of the screw threaded rod 28. In this manner, the exact position of the sparking face 32 may be determined externally of the internal combustion engine cylinder by examining the position or location of the bevelled upper edge or surface 30. This will prevent the pointed end of the contact face 32 from becoming directly presented to the cone-shaped contact member l4 and will prevent the resultant wearing away of the face due to arcing and pitting.

When it is desired to adjust the spraking gap between the mechanical gap member l4 and the gapping face 32, a screw driver or the like may be inserted in the kerf 29 and the screw threaded rod 28 rotated until the exact spark desired is obtained. The rod 28 may be rotated so that the upper end surface 30 may at all times be located as shown in Figure 2.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A sparking device for internal combustion engines comprising a vertical electrode, means for insulating the vertical electrode from the ground connection, a conical contact element secured to the lower end of the vertical electrode, an adjustable electrode presented at an oblique angle to the conical gapping surface of the vertical electrode, and means for indicating the position of the adjustable electrode.

2. An ignition device for internal combustion engines comprising a vertical electrode, means for insulating the vertical electrode from ground connection, a conical sparking element secured to the lower end of the vertical electrode, an adjustable electrode presented to the first mentioned electrode at an oblique angle and means for determining the position of the second electrode with respect to the vertical electrode.

3. In combination with the engine head of an internal combustion engine having an opening with an insulator block detachably mounted within the opening, a vertical electrode mounted in the insulator block having a conical sparking surface and an adjustable electrode threaded in the engine cylinder head at an oblique angle with respect to the first mentioned electrode.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine head having an opening formed therein, of an insulator block mounted in said opening in a detachable fashion, a vertical electrode mounted within the insulator block, a conical sparking surface formed on the lower end of the electrode, an adjustable electrode presented to the first mentioned electrode at an oblique angle and threaded in a bore formed in the engine cylinder head and means for determining the position of the adjustable electrode with respect to the conical sparking surface of the first mentioned electrode.

5. In combination with an engine cylinder head having an opening therein, of an insulator block located within said opening, a vertical electrode mounted in the insulator block, a conical sparking surface formed on the lower end of the electrode, an externally threaded nut mounted in the opening in the cylinder head for locking the insulator plug in place, an adjustable electrode threaded in a bore formed in an oblique opening in the cylinder head in such a manner. that the free end of the adjustable electrode will be presented to the conical sparking surface of the vertical electrode and means on the adjustable electrode for determining the position of the adjustable electrode sparking surface.

EUGENE C. WAMELINK.

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