US1207753A - Igniter for gas-engines. - Google Patents

Description

A. B. HERRICK.

IGNITER FOR GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1915.

z 60 f z liiii 12 18 0: 20 {H 14 Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

.3 43 ez J 14 (MAJ/J WW% A. B. HERRICK.

IGNITER FOR GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED ra.4.191s.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2- wTTA/E6 56: I ZNI ENTOB Maw/ Jim v ALBERT B. HERRICK, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MATIE C. MESSLER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IGNITER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Application filed February 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT B. Hnnnrox, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Igniters for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in whichI have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The subject of the present invention is a timing and circuit breaking device adapted "particularly for use in an igniter which will be attached to an engine cylinder in place of the usual spark plug. In this device use is made of. the compression of the gases in the engine cylinder to actuate the mechanism for making and breaking the primary circuit. Means for adjusting the timing of the breaker are also employed, the whole device being incorporated in 'a spark plug and being adapted to replace the plug usually employed. The use of a self-contained generator in a spark plug actuated by the compression is now well known, but the present device is intended for use with an outside source of current and I have found that, by

separating the current-generating and sparktiming functions, a marked improvement in the accuracy of the timing and a faster break can be secured with an attendant increase in the fuel economy.

T0 the accomplishment of theforegoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mech anism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing :Figure 1 is a vertical section of the device showing it in place in a cylinder; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views of the make and break mechanism in various positions; Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but of a modified form of the device; Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the contact members; and Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing a I Specification of Letters Patent.

.mounted a piston 8.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 6,049.

modified form of my device; Fig. 12 is an elevation view of my device.

In the construction of Fig. 1, I show my device mounted in an engine cylinder 1 in place of the usual spark plug. employ a spark plug body 2, having an aperture 3 therethrough and provided with a. closed encircling bracket or casing a. The cylindrical barrel 5 of the plug extends above the horizontal plane of the bracket and is threaded for a portion 6 of its length. The aperture through the plug has the upper part in the form of a cylinder 7 in which is A collar 30 is then threaded onto the barrel of the plug and forms a stop so that the piston is limited in its upward movement. This piston has an aperture 9 therethrough in which is mounted the positive electrode 10 of the plug. This electrode has a long spark point 11 so that it will be adjacent the negative spark gap points 12 when the piston is in its uppermost position.

The piston 8 has two upwardly extending members 14- to which are connected the two members of a bowed cross arm 13, the latter being insulated from the piston by bushings 60. This cross arm 13 is pivotally connected to an upwardly extending connecting rod 15, carried on the lower horizontal arm of the bracket .(and preferably made of an insulating material). At the other end the cross arm has a horizontally projecting con tact pin 16 best illustrated in Fig. 9.

At the opposite side of the bracket from the connecting rod 15, a spring arm 17 is mounted on a block of insulating material 25 which is fastened to its bracket in any convenient manner as by the screws 19. This spring arm has a contact head 18 extending from one side thereof, this head be ing at an angle and having a serrated face 20. and its back covered with fiber or other insulating material 21. The spring arm 17 and contact head 18 are of such a height that when the piston is in the lowest position the contact pin 16 is just below the serrated face 20 and engages therewith at the beginning of the upward stroke of the piston.

In the top of the bracket a hole is tapped and 'an adjusting screw 22 and lock nut 23 a mounted therein. A coil spring 24 is carried by the ad usting screw 22 and by a pin 60 mounted on the cross arm 13. This spring 2% is used to vary the pressure on the cross arm 13 and the piston 8 so that upward movement of the piston will occur only when the pressure in the engine cylinder reaches wires of the primary coil and source of current, across which gap a condenser is placed as in the usual system. The electrode is connected to the positive side of a secondary circuit, the plug and the bracket serving as the return.

Tn the modified form shown in Fig. 8 the coil 61 is shown as mounted upon the bracket 4 and the cross arm has an extended portion 26 to which the adjusting spring 27 is fastened. The other end of the coil spring is fastened to an adjusting screw 28 which is mounted in a bracket 29 carried by the coil.

The operation of the device will be easily understood. The cross arm 13, contact pin 16, and the contact head 18 of the spring arm 17 are connected with the primary Winding of the coil and the source of current. The electrode 10 is connected with the positive wire of the secondary winding, the plug body and bracket serving as the ground. hen the compression in the engine reaches the proper amount and overcomes the pressure exerted on the cross arm 13 by the spring 24 the cross arm -will move rapidly upward, the contact pin 16 passing across the serrated face 20 of the contact head, thus rapidly making and breaking the circuit and causing a current in the secondary coil and a series of sparks across the points of the plug. As the combustion takes place, the pressure in the cylinder overcomes that exerted by the adjusting spring and the piston is forced up against the collar 30, thus limiting the upward movement of the piston. lln

this position the contact pin 16 will be out of engagement of the spring arm which will move enough to allow the contact pin to pass down along the insulated back 21 as soon as the exhaust stroke begins. As the spring 2% forces the arm and piston down no contact is made, but as soon as any pressure is exerted the contact is again made by the contact pin passing below the head and engaging the serrated face 20. The spring 2% prevents movementof the piston until the pressure in the cylinder has again been built up by the compression stroke suiliciently to cvercome the force of the spring. This spring can be adjusted and will be set so that the engine will fire just before the compression stroke is finished. Slight changes in timing can be obtained by adjustment of the screw 22and lock nut 23.

llt is evident that the compression actuated member may be placed elsewhere than in the spark plug and in Fig. 11 such a structure is shown. Tn abase plate there is mounted the spark plug 51 of the usual construction, but having a gas vent 52 leading to a conduit 53 in the plate and communicating with a piston chamber 5t formed in casing 55 also set in the plate and having the same timing mechanism already described, which is operated by movement of a piston 56. Controlling the conduit 53 is a valve in the form of a screw 5?. The valve 57 is set when the device is first applied, and serves to throttle down the gas entering the piston chamber upon combustion, in this way preventing the full efiect of the combustion pressure on the piston. Also the gas in the piston chamber is dead gas and this chamber receives almost no burning gas which saves the piston and cylinder.

The advantage of the present device is I that the charge is always fired at the maximum predetermined pressure in the cylinder. The firing is not dependent on the crank position but comes only when the pressure is a maximum, in that way very much increasing the economy since the firing is automatically determined by the compression and not by the operator, nor by a set mechanism which is adjusted for one set of conditions.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the tollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

T therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention Llln a high tension igniter for gas engines theseombination of a spark plug ha ing an apertureftherein and provided with fined spaoedelectro'des, and a movable memberimounted in suchaperture and adapted to be, actuatedby the'compression in the engine cylinder to break an electrical circuit thereby causing a spark across the electrodes of said plug. r I

2. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a spark plug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spaced electrodes, and a movable member mounted in such aperture and adapted to be actuated by compression in the engine cylinder to rapidly make and break an electrical circuit thereby causing a series of sparks across the electrodes of said plug.

3. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a spark plug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spaced electrodes, a movable member mounted in such aperture and adapted to be actuated by the compression in the engine cylinder to break an electrical circuit thereby causing a spark across the electrodes 13% of said plug, and means for adjusting the fixed spaced electrodes; a movable member mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by the compression in the engine cylinder; and a second member adapted to be actuated by said first member and adapted to'break an electrical circuit thereby causing a spark across the points of said plug.

5. In a high tension igniter forgas engines the combination of a spark plug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spacedelectrodes amovablemembermounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by the compression in the engine cylinder; and a second member adapted to be actuated by said first member to rapidly make and break an electrical circuit thereby causing a series of sparks across the electrodes of said plug.

6. In a high't'ension igniter for gas engines, the combination of a spark plug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spaced electrodes; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by the compression in the engine cylinder; and a movable contact member adapted to be actuated by the movement of said member and adapted to break an electrical circuit thereby causing aspark across the point of said plug.

7. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a spark plug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spaced electrodes; a movable memberv mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by the compression in the engine cylinder; a second member adapted to be actuated by said first member and adapted to break an electrical circuit thereby causing a spark across the points of said plug; and means for adjusting the pressure necessary to actuate said movable member.

8. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a spark plug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spaced electrodes; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by the compression in the engine cylinder: means for adjusting the pressure necessary to operate said piston; a movable contact arm connected to said piston and adapted to be operated by the same, said arm being adapted to break an electrical circuit thereby causing a spark across the points of said plug.

9. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a spark plug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spaced electrodes; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by the compression in the engine cylinder; means for adjusting the pressure necessary to operate said piston; other means for limiting the movement or said piston; a movable contact arm connected to and operable by said piston said arm being adapted to break an electrical circuit thereby causing a spark across the points of said plug.

10. In a high tension igniter for gas engines the combination of a spark plug having an aperture therein and provided with fixed spaced electrodes; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by the compression in the engine cylinder; means for adjusting the pressure necessary to operate said piston; stops mounted on said plug and adapted to engage said piston in its upward movement thereby limiting the same; a movable contact arm connected to and operable by said piston said arm being adapted to break an electrical circuit in its movement and thereby cause a spark across the points of said plug.

11. In a hightension igniter for gas engines, the combination of a spark plug having spaced electrodes and adapted to be supplied with a high tension current from an external source; said plug being mounted in an engine cylinder; means adapted to break the circuit to said plug; and other means operable by the compression in such engine cylinder and adapted to actuate said first named means. i

12. In a high tension igniter for gas engines, the combination of a spark plug having spaced electrodes and adapted to be supplied with a high tension current from an external source; said plug being mounted in an engine cylinder; means adapted to break the circuit to said plug; fluid pressure actuated means adapted to operate said first named means; and connections between the interior of said spark plug and said fluidpressure actuated means adapted to permit the latter to be operated by the compression in such engine cylinder.

13. In an igniter for gas engines the combination of a spark plug having an aperture therein; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by the compression in said engine cylinder; spring means for adjusting the pressure necessary to operate said piston; stops mounted on said plug and adapted to limit the upward movement of said piston; a pivotally mounted contact arm connected to said piston and operable thereby, said arm being adapted to break an electrical circuit during movement and thereby cause a spark across the points of said plug.

14. In an igniter for gas engines the com bination of a spark plug having an aperture therein; a piston mounted in such aperture and adapted to be operated by the comaomaa pression in said engine cylinder; spring same and said spring arm thereby causing a means for adjusting the pressure necessary spark across the points of said plug. 1a to operate said piston; aspiring arin mounted Signed by me, this 16th day of January on said plug and provided with a contact 11915.

head; a pivotally mounted contact arm, eon- ALBERT B. HERRICK. nected to said piston and operable thereby, Attested bymovement of said Contact arm being adapted H. B, FAY,

to break an electrical circuit through the MiARYGLADWEILL.

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