US1181247A

US1181247A - Electric sparking igniter.

Info

Publication number: US1181247A
Application number: US71619799A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry M Pope
Original assignee: MAXWELL MOTOR Co Inc
Current assignee: MAXWELL MOTOR COMPANY Inc; MAXWELL MOTOR Co Inc
Priority date: 1899-05-10
Filing date: 1899-05-10
Publication date: 1916-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1933-05-02

Description

H. M. POPE. ELECTRIC SPARKING IGN ITER. I APPLICATION FILED MAY 10 18.99. 1,181,247. Patented May 2,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

H. M. POPE. ELECTRIC SPARKING IGNITER. APPLICATION FILED MAY I0, 1899. 1 181 247. Patented May 2,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- mys.

HARRY M. POPE, 0F KARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MAXWELL MOTOR COMPANY, INC., 0! DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC SPARRING IGNITER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 11916.

Application filed may 10, 1899. Serial No. 716,197.

object to provide a device of this character which shall not be dependent upon the use of an electric battery for the creation of the current, the use of such a battery being undesirable under some conditions, as when, for example, the igniter is applied to a motor vehicle. The improved igniter has been devised with especial reference to its use in producing the igniting sparks for an internal combustion'engine, and some features of the invention are directly related to such use, although the invention, in its broadest aspect, is not of necessity restricted to such use.

One particular. object is to provide for the production of an igniter current of great intensity at certain periods only, with corresponding economy at other times as a resultant, and to this end the improved igniter embodies a permanent magnet and an armature wound for an alternating current, one of such parts being rotated with respect to the other. In. the application of the igniter to an internal combustion engine the rotated part'is driven in a definite relation to therotation of the engine shaft, so that the spark shall be produced at the proper instant with relation to the movement of the engine piston, such timing of the spark being possible without the aid of additional current controlling devices for the reason that the spark producing current is an alternating current and is strong enough to produce the spark only when it is at or near its maximum phase. The apparatus required is therefore exceedingly simple, particularly when the device is applied to a single cylinder engine; if it is applied to a two-cylinder engine or other multiple cylinder engine other controlling devices are necessary in ordeer that the spark shall be produced first in one cylinder and then in the next. In neither case is the required apparatus particularly delicate or liable to injury.

A further object of theinvention is to provide for the shifting or varying of the period of greatest intensity of the current Without affecting the other advantageous features-of the igniter, that is to say, to make it possibleto delay or to advance the production of the spark with reference to the movement of the engine piston, it being well understood that it is desirable, in internal combustion engines, to be able to vary the instant of ignition of the charge. This result is easily accomplished with this alternating current igniter by making the nonrotating part of the igniter adjustable so as to advance or delay the maximum phase, that 1s, the spark-producing phase of the' current.

The invention will be more particularly described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, for purposes of explanation. certain practical 6111- bodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings,-Figure l is a front elevation of a two-cylinder engine to which the invention is applied, the casing of the engine being partly broken out to show parts Within." Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the igniter and its connections as applied to a single cylinder engine, different positions of adjustment of the non-rotating parts beingindicated by dotted lines. Fig.

3 represents conventionallyv the alternate current curve, illustrating the shifting or variation in time of the-high-point of the current phase. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of an igniter unit and its connected parts as adapted for application to a twocylinder engine. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. i; with the casing broken off. Figs. 6 and '7 are detail views, in side and plan view, of the contact making and breaking devices shown in Figs. at and 5. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the igniter and its connections as applied to atwo-cylinder engine.

Referring first to the arrangement shown in Fig. 2-, which illustrates the application of the invention to a single cylinder engine, a permanent magnet is represented at A, within the fields of which is located an armature B wound for an alternate current. As represented in the figure the field magnet A is relatively stationary, although adjustable about. the axis of the armature, which is symmetrical with respect to the common axis of the armature and field and the armature is arranged to be rotated by any suitable means, but at a definite or constant speed ratio with the engine shaft so as to produce a constantly varying or approximately sine wave current. F roni'the coils of the armature connection is established through the primary coils of a transformer or inductor C, the secondary coils of said transformer or inductor being connected with the electrodes at D, located within the cylinder or explosion chamber E of the sin-i gle cylinder explosive engine. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be readily understood that the igniting spark will be produced at the electrodes I) only when the alternating current produced in the primary circuit is at or near the high point of its phase, as indicated by the heavy part in y f the continuous line 1, Which represents the ap-, proximately sine wave curve of the current in its normal position, and can pass by the transformer to the secondary circuit and thence to the electrodes in the cylinder of the explosion chamber. It will be evident also that the spark will he produced at regular intervals, depending upon the speed of rotation of the armature, so long as the relative positions of the permanent field magnet and the armature remain unchanged. If, however, the magnet be partially rotated about the axis of the armature, in the reverse direction to the rotation of the armature, as represented for example, by the lower dotted line position in Fig. 2, the high point of the current phase will also be shifted. as represented by'the heavy part a y" of thedotted line 2 of Fig. 3, and the instant of production of'the spark will be correspondingly advanced. On the other hand, if l the magnet be shifted in the opposite direction, as represented by the upper dotted line position in Fig. 2, the high point of the current phase will be shifted, as represented by the heavy part in, 3 of the broken line 3 of Fig. 3, and the instant of production of the spark willbe correspondingly delayed. The igniter would operate with no other parts than those already referred to and indeed Without any transformer, which is not an essential element. but in practice it is preferable to provide for a further intensification of the current, as by including in the primary circuit an ordinary condenser, which is sufiiciently represented at b, or for a plurality of sparks and therefore greater certainty of ignition by providing an ordinary vibrator, indicated at b-, in connection with the transformer or inductor, or to employ both of these devices together if it is desired to further insure the ignition. It will be undertsood that thesedevices operate with their own functions, and that the current, after passing the zero point, accumulates un til, at or near the high point, it reaches such a tension as to discharge with sufficient intensity to produce an igniting spark.

All of the parts employed in the improved igniter as applied to a single cylinder engine are sufiiciently represented by the conventional signs employed in Fig. 2, and it is unnecessary to show them more in detail, particularly as like parts are shown in detail. so far as their construction or relation has to do with the present invention, in

other figures of the drawings which illustrate the application of the invention to a two cylinder engine, now to be described.

In Fig. 1 two cylinders E are shown, the pistons being severally connected in the usual manner, 180 apart.= to a common shaft F. The igniter'unit is supported on the main casing F. and is inclosed and protected by a casing F. In this instance the magnet A .is rotatedin a determined relation to the rotation of the engine shaft and the armature B is relatively fixed, but adjustable about the axis of the magnet. As represented in Fig. 4 the magnet A is secured to the spindle A which is supported on ball bearings within the casing F and has secured at its lower end a gear a which meshes with a gear f on the shaft F, which in this case is equal to the gear a, so that the rotated part of the igniter is driven in definite or constant speed ratio witl1;,the.engine shaft, provision being made in the secondary circuit for taking off the current for the respective cylinders of the engine as the current reaches its maximum. at opposite points, either plus or minus, it being understood that the connection is made for each electrode circuit during a short period which indicates the maximum or minimum phase, point or time of the current, as represented by the heavy part a. 3 of the line 1, in Fig. 3. The armature B, wound for alternating current, is supported by a cap B which rests upon the casing F and is rotatable thereon to a limited extent, at the will of the operator, for the purpose of translating the high point of the current in one directionor the other to vary the instant of production of the spark and consequently, if the igniter is applied to an internal combustion engine, the instant of ignition of the charge.

As represented in Figs. 4 and 5, a spring 6 may be used to turn the armature in one llta arenas-v direction and a cord or wire 0* may be extended from the armature or cap to any point convenient to the operator to permit of the rotation or rotary adjustment of the armature in the opposite direction.- Any suitable means, however, may be employedfor effecting the rotary adjustment of the armature.

The devices for taking oil the current at the proper time to produce the spark in one and then in the other of the engine cylinders may be of any suitable or desired form. As shown in the drawings, two insulating disks A and B are secured respectively to the permanent field magnet A and the armature B. The disk A is provided at proper points with contact plates a and the disk B carries a corresponding number of pairs of separated contact. fingers b through which the circuit is closed by the contact of one of the plates at at the proper time, the said contact fingers being connected with the electrodes D, as shown in Fig. 8, and the secondary winding of the transformer or inductor C. The primary winding of said transformer or inductor is connected with the Winding of the armature B, preferably through a condenser b or vibrator b, or both, as also indicated in Fig. 8. It will be evident that with the contact plate or plates a of the circuit closer or switch, properly placed, the current in the secondary will be directed to one cylinder or the other at the maximum or minimum part of the phase of the alternate current generated, when it is of sufiicient intensity to produce the spark,

and will be delivered to the electrodes through the described connections or others suited for the purpose. The period or instant of the spark can be varied or adjusted at the will of the operator by the rotary adjustment of the armature, as already described with respect to Fig. 2, although in this case the adjustment is effected not only by translating the high point, but by changing the point where the contact plate a bridges the connection between the contact fingers to keep such circuit closings in harmony with the alternate current phases.

It is obviously immaterial, so far as this invention is concerned, whether the armature or the permanent field magnet is rotated, and what means be employed to adjust the non-rotating part, whether a device controlled by the operator or a device controlled by an ordinary governor, and, so far as the use" of an alternating current generator is concerned, whether the field be a permanent magnet or not. It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise construction and ar rangement of parts shown and described herein.

By the term fixed igniting device used in the claims, I mean a device in which one about its axis, means to rotate said rotating part at a. constant speed ratio with the en gine to generate a constantly varying cur rent, a contact plate carried with the rotatable part, separate contact fingers carried by the relatively fixed part and adapted to contact with said plate, and connections from said fingers to the electrodes.

2. The combination with an internal coinbustion engine and a casing therefor, said casing having an opening therein, of an electric igniter mounted detachably on the engine casing. comprisinga generator, and intermeshing gears for operating said generator from the engine, one of such gears be ing mounted on the engine and the other of such gears being mounted on the igniter.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine and a casing therefor, said casing having an opening therein, of an alternating electric current generator, a frame therefor adapted to be detachably secured to the engine casing andhaving a part pro jected into the engine casing through the opening therein. and intermeshing gains for operating the said generator from the engine, one of such gears being mounted on the engine and the other of such gears being carried by the generator frame.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft with a gear thereon and a casing therefor. said casing having an opening therein, of an elec tric igniter mounted on the engine casin and comprising an alternating current generator, a shaft projected within the engine casing and having a gear to be driven by the gear pn the crank shaft and carrying the rotatable part of the generator. and means carried by the shaft outside of the engine casing for taking 01? the highpoint of the current phase.

5. The combination with an internal con:- bustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a c 'ank shaft with a gear thereon, of a casing inclosingsaid crank shaft and gear and having an opening therein. an electric igniter mounted on the engine casing and comprising an alternating current generator, a shaft pro ecting within the engine casing and having on its inner end a gear adapted to be driven from the gear on the crank shaft and carrying the rotatable This specification signed and witnessed part cf the generator, and an electric switch this eighth day of May, A. D. 1899. outside'of the engine casin with connec- T tions for closing the circuit $0 the cylinders HARRX POPE 0f the engine successively; the movable mem- In the presence of her of said switch being carried .by said H. P. MAXIM,- shaft. HERMANN F. CUNTZ.

copies of this patent may be obtaineii for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenta,

I Washington, D. 0."