US1316560A - conrad - Google Patents

Description

N. l. CONRAD.

SPARK INDICATOR AND INTENSIFIER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. me.

1 ,3 1 6, 560 Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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SPARK INIHCATOR AND INTENSIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED maze. 1915.

1,316,560. PatentdSept. 23,1919.

41 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N. J. CONRAD.

SPARK \NDICATOR AND INTENSWHKRM APPLICATION FILED APR.29,1916.

1 ,3 1 6, 560. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- N. J. CONRAD.

SPARK INDICATOR AND INTENSIFIER.

AFRLICATION FILED APR. 29.1916.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- 17222872 jZzcizoZas cf Cbnrad UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS .I. CONRAD, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOIR. T SGHWEITZER & CONRAD, or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A oom-ona'rxon or IL moIs. I

SPARK INDICATOR AND INTENSIFIER Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed April 29, 1916. Serial No. 94,361.

full, clear, concise, and exact description,

- reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to ignition! mechanism for internal combustion engines and the like and more particularly to spark in-' dicating and intensifying mechanisms.

It has been generally recognized for some time that the use of an auxiliary gap in series with the spark plug or ignition gap in the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine or the like, improves the operation of the spark plug or ignition gap. This improvement in operation may be due to the increased steepness of the wave front of the discharge, or it may be due to some other effect, sufiice it to say that it is an accepted and easily demonstrable fact. The auxiliary gap offers an additional feature of providing a visual indication of the discharge. As heretofore constructed, these auxiliary gaps have generally taken the form of an attachment to the plug or have been built into the plug and have generally provided a sight opening or a transparent portion to enable the operator to observe the indication.

Placing the auxiliary gap or intensifier near the plug, or securing the intensifier to the plugs body, enables the operator to observe the action of the ignition mechanism of the individual cylinder.

I have found that with the intensifiers located at the cylinders it is impossible to observe the indication of more than one cylinder at a time and it is further impossible to observe the indication during the time that it is most valuable, namely, when the car is in motion. I have discovered also that entirely new, valuable information may be gained by a comparison of the sparks that occur at each of the intensifiers.

My invention provides a structure which makes possible a convenient and effective comparison of the sparks each with the other in a multi-cylinder engine. Such comparison is particularly valuable where a common source of current produces each discharge.

It permits of a proper initial adjustment of all of the gaps so that an even discharge to each plug may be secured and any variation in the sparks thereafter will indicate an abnormal condition.

In carrying out my invention, I group the \intensifiers or indicating gaps upon a common board which is placed upon the dash of the automobile, or in general, at thecentral control point in front of the operator.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one form of my invention in which Figure 1 is a partially diagrammatic plan vlew of my invention applied to the engine of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one form of I the ignition indicating instrument;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the same;

Fig. '1 is a front elevation of a simplified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail of construction showing the terminals of the connecting wires;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modification;

Fig. 7 is a cross section of the same;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of another modification;

Fig. 9 is a section of the same; and

Fig. 10 is a detail view of a modified form of grounding switch.

In Fig. l I have indicated a six cylinder engine 10 provided with spark plugs 11 of the usual or any preferred construction, which employ spark gaps within the cyliin ders of-the engine for igniting the charge. The current creating the sparks at the spark gaps of the plugs is supplied by a suitable source of high tension current 12. This source of high tension current '12 operates in connection with a distributer 13 to supply current to the plugs at the proper time intervals. Lead wires 1% running from the distributer 13 pass into the open end of the conduit 15 and are led out from the conduit 15 and provided with suitable terminals 16. The ends of the leads 14 which terminate in the terminals 16 have, heretofore in the art,

been connected directly to the spark plugs 11.

I provide a tube or sleeve 17 of insulation which bears suitable terminals or binding posts 18. The binding posts 18 are connected each to an auxiliary spark gap 1!) by suitable lead wires 20 contained within the sleeve or tube 17 The other terminal of the spark gap is connected byv means of a wire 21 to the corresponding spark plug 11 so that the gap 19 of each plug circuit is connected in series with the corresponding spark plug. The auxiliary spark gaps 19 are grouped together upon an indicating board 22 which is mounted upon the dashboard 23 of the automobile, in front of the driver, in such position that the driver may view all of the spark gaps simultaneously.

The ignition systems, of many automobiles are arranged so that the order of firing the cylinder is not consecutive in the positions of the cylinder. I arrange the auxiliary gaps 19 in such order that whatever be the order of firing the cylinders,

the sparks at the auxiliary gaps will ap-.

pear consecutively-in the group of contacts.

It is apparent that I may group the auxiliary spark gaps in any predetermined manner so long as the grouping is such that the operator may observe all of the gaps without shifting the gaze. However, I find it particularly advantageous to group the auxiliary gaps 19 in a circle or according to a closed figure which I designate a circular series.

It is obvious that the wires 20 and 21 may be bare wires. In such case the sleeve 17 is filled with a suitable insulating compound. It is apparent that the above described arrangement is particularly advantageous in applying my invention to existing systems of ignition, since it is necessary only to disengage the terminals 16 of the leads 14: from the various spark plugs and connect them to the terminals 18 upon the sleeve 17, the terminals of the leads 21 being then connected to the spark plugs. In installing my invention in new cars, the leads 1 L may be connected directly to one side of the auxiliary spark gaps.

I shall now describe the particular construction of the auxiliary spark gaps l9 and the manner in which they are built up into an indicating board or instrument. An annular block or ring 2-5 of insulation is provided with a number of recesses or apertures 26, corresponding in number to the spark plugs of the engine. These apertures or recesses may be formed entirely through the block 25 or may form only a sufficient depression to house the electrodes of the spark gaps 19. The electrodes for each aperture are formed as follows: A pair of metallic screws 27 and 28 are threaded into suitable holes in the block 25 from the back face thereof. A suitable hole is then drilled radially through the of the hole so formed. The pointed screws 29 and 30 project into the recess 26 with "their ends adjacent to each other to form v cular block of insulating material substan-' tially co-extensive with the block 25. The insulated wires 20 and 21 project through holes in the terminal block 35 and have mounted at their ends suitable contacts or sleeves 36 which are held against the terminals 27 and 28 by means of spring washers 37 lying below the collars formed upon the sleeves 36. The collar and the spring washer are preferably sunk in a recess or counter bore, although the same is not essential. A glass late or front 38 is held over the front 0 the block 35 by means of a suitable ring 39. The ring 39 is pro vided with an inturned flange which overhangs the edge of the glass plate 38 to hold the same in position. Suitable felt washers are employed on the edge of the glass plate 38. The ring 38 holds the block 25 and the terminal block 35 in alinement and to this end, in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the ring 39 is internally threaded to cooperate with suitable threads upon the terminal block 35. A mounting bracket 41 is connected either to the ring 39 or to theterminal board 35 for mounting the device upon the dashboard of the automobile or in such other position that the operator or attendant may view the action of the spark gaps to make comparison of the sparks which pass between the different sets of electrodes.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 4, the ring 39, instead of being threaded upon the terminal block 35, is secured thereto by means of suitable screws 42.

In the form of device shown in Figs. 2' and 3 an additional or testing gap 43 is provided. This gap comprises a pair of electrodes 44: and 45 mounted in a suitable block 46 of insulation. The block 4L6 is secured to a shaft 47 which is connected by means of a collar 48 and a spring washer *9 to a terminal clip, which is connected to the ground wire 50. The electrode id is provided with suitable spring means shown in Fig. 3 as a spring-pressed ball for engaging the inner ends of the electrodes 30. The electrode 45 is in the form of a pointed screw which is threaded through the shaft 47 and is adjustable relative to the terminal 44. The shaft L7 has secured upon its outer end a knob or handle 52 which permits the block 46 to be moved tion of the two devices is similar.

into position to test thecircuit of any one of the spark plugs or to be moved to an intermediate position where no such test is made. When the additional or testing spark gap 43 is connected to the electrode 30,'of one of the spark gaps 19, the testing spark gap forms a shunt of the spark plug. In one form of my invention, as is shown in Fig. 10, the spark gap 43 is replaced by a solid metallic connection. The func- The advantage of the additional spark gap l3 is that a visible indication of the passage of current to ground is afforded. In the form shown in Fig. 4 the ground or testing connection is omitted.

In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, I employ a unit construction of the spark gaps 19. In this modification a number of heads '58 and 59 respectively, and are adjustable relative to each other. The heads 58 and 59 are mounted upon a sleeve or barrel of glass 60. The electrode 56 is provided with a jam nut 61 and the end of the electrode passes through a bracket 62 which is mounted upon the base 56. A screw 63 connects the bracket 62 with one of the lead wires 20.

A thumb nut 64: holds the end of the threaded electrode 56 against the bracket 62. The electrode 57 is provided -with a shoulder 65. Theouter end of the electrode 57 is provided with a loop 66 which is clamped by means of a bolt 67 to the plate 5 6. A terminal 68secured to the bolt 67 projectsradially inward for a purpose later to be described.

A central testing gap 70 corresponding to the gap 43, shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is provided in the form of an additional spark gap unit 71, which differs from the unit structures 55 only in that the electrode 57 has a round threaded shank 7-2 instead of a flat eye 66. The electrode 57 is connected by the wire 50 to ground. The opposite electrode 56 is connected to a metal spider '73, having radially extending arms 74 In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a modification in which one of the electrodes of each of the spark gaps 19 is adjustable, and in which a common adjusting means is employed to vary the length of the spark gaps 70 simultaneously. The outer electrode 76 is mounted in substantially the manner shown in Fi 2 and 3 formounting the electrode 29. lhe end of the electrode 76 is preferably flat and has the edges chamfered out to form a suitable engaging space for the movable electrode 77 which is slidably mounted in the block of insulation 25 and passes through the terminal screw 28. The inner end of the electrode 77 projects into the central space which is partiallyfilled by a cam member 78. The cam member has a number of suitable cam faces for engaging the inner ends of the electrodes 77. The

electrodes 77 are normally held against the faces of the cam member 78 by means of the coiled springs 79. The throw of the cams on the cam member 78 is sufficient to move the movable electrode 77 into contact with the relatively stationary electrode 76. The movableelectrode has been shown in Figs. 8 and 9 at the extreme outward limits in its movement. A spring detent 80 holds the cam member 78 yieldingly in position and a special seat shown at 81 in Fig. 8, is provided for holding the cam member 78 in and those appearing at another gap. The operator soon becomes expert at judging and locating the difficulty which is indicated by the appearance of the particular spark gap when the same indicates an abnormal condition. The testing gap is valuable in locating trouble. Ignition troubles .are very difficult to locate and it is particularly well known that at low speeds, or when the engine is idling, a cylinder will not fire but when the speed of the engine is increased this failure of firing disappears or reappears only sporadically. My invention makes it easy to locate the. difliculty and apz'lg the proper remedy regardless of the sp Defects in timing of the firing of the cylinders are readily made apparent. Variations or defects which are imperceptible to the ear even at slow speed or idling are readily detected by the eye on the above instrument.

The persistency of vision aids materially in making the comparison of the sparks. At high speeds the sparks appear rela= tively stationary, and it is easy to make the Comparison.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details of construction shown and de 5 scribed, as it is obvious that my invention may appear in different forms and that proportions and dimensions are not of the essence of the invention, with the exception of the gaps 19 are to be so closely placed together as to be visible simultaneously.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a base-board, a series of auxiliary gaps arranged in a circular group upon said base-board, a plurality of spark plugs, said auxiliary gaps being connected in series with said spark plugs, and central contact means common to all the auxiliary spark gaps for connecting any one of said auxiliarv spark gaps in series to ground independently of said spark plu 2. In combination, a base-board, a series of auxiliary spark gaps arranged in a circular group, a common spark gap and contact means for connecting said common spark gap in series with anyone of said auxiliary gaps.

3. In combination, a base-board, a series of auxiliary spark gaps arranged in a circular group upon said base-board, said auxiliary gaps being adapted to be connected in series with the spark plugs of an engine, a common spark gap having one terminal connected to ground and contact means for connecting the other terminal in series with any one of said auxiliary gaps.

4c. In combination, a plurality of spark plugs, a plurality of auxiliary gaps adapted to be connected in series with said plugs, said auxiliary gaps being arranged in a group, a common spark gap and manual means for connecting said common gap in shunt of any desired spark plu 5. In combination, a base-board, a series of auxiliary spark gaps arranged in a circular series upon said baseboard, said board being adapted to be mounted upon the dash-board of an automobile, a tube of insulating material, a set of terminals connected to the auxiliary gaps, said terminals being mounted upon said tube and being connected each to an electrode of the corresponding auxiliary gap, and wires passingthrough said tube, said wires connecting the other electrode of each gap to a spark plug of the engine.

6. In combination, a base-board, a series of auxiliary spark gaps grouped together upon said base-board, said board being adapted to be mounted upon the dash-board of an automobile, a tube of insulating mate rial, a set of terminals, correspondin in number to said auxiliary gaps said terminals being mounted upon said tube, wires connecting said terminals with an electrode of the auxiliary gaps, said wires passing through said tube, and other wires passing through said tube and connecting the other electrode of each gap to a spark plug of the engine.

7. In combination, an annular ring of insulating material, said ring having recesses therein, electrodes projecting into said recesses, a transparent means covering said recesses, said ring having a central opening and contact means within the central opening of the ring to connect the electrodes in parallel with the spark plugs of an engine.

8. In combination, an annular ring of insulating material having a central opening and having recesses in the front face thereof, electrodes projecting laterally into said recesses to form spark gaps, terminals connecting said electrodes, said terminals being mounted on the back of said ring, transparent means covering said recesses, a central rotatable member of insulation having a handle projecting beyond said transparent means; and a separate terminal board back of said ring, said terminal board having readily separable connections for connecting said spark gaps in series with the spark plugs of an engine.

9. In combination, an annular ring of in sulating material, said ring having recesses in the front face thereof, electrodes projecting into said recesses to form auxiliary spark gaps, a shaft passing axially through said ring, a body of insulation mounted on saidshaft and lying within the ring, said body of insulation having switch means for controlling the effective connection of said electrodes, and transparent means covering said recesses, said spark gaps being adapted to be connected in series with the spark plugs of an engine.

10. In combination, a plurality of spark plugs, a plurality of auxiliary spark gaps connected in series with said plugs, and switching means for selectively shunting any one of said plugs, said switching means including a testin spark gap.

11. In combination, a plurality of spark plugs, a plurality of. spark gaps connected in series with said plugs, each of said gaps comprising a pair of electrodes, a source of high tension current adapted to be connected to one of said electrodes of each gap, the other electrode of each gap being adapted to be connected to the corresponding spark plug, and selective switching means for connecting said other electrode of each gap to ground, said switching means comprising a testing spark gap.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of April, A. I). 1916.

NICHOLAS J. CONRAD.

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