US1537586A - Self-cleaning spark plug - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1925.

A. CHAMPION SELF CLEANING SPARK PLUG Filed Oct. 28, 1922 [5 m 7 mm H0 mm Patented May v 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALBERT CHAMPION, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO A. C SPARK PLUG COM- PANY, 0F FLINT, MICHIGAN, CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

SELF-CLEANING SPARK PLUG.

Application filed October 28, i922. Serial No. 597,611.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, ALBERT CHAMPION, a citizen of the Republic of France and a resident of Flint, county of Genesee, and

State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Cleaning Spark Plugs, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,

such as will enable others skilled in the artprovlde an improved spark plug having a construction of grounded or shell electrode such that the liability to short circuit will be reduced to a minimum, such end being, attained by providing a grounded or shell electrode of such form and which is so arranged relative to the central insulated electrode that such oil or other liquid as may accumulate thereupon will run down and away from the spark gap of the plug, thus maintaining the same in a clean condition at all times.

In internal combustion engines, especially such as are designed to operate u 11 comparatively heavy hydrocarbons, t ere is a decided tendency .of the fuel used to condense within the cylinder and accumulate upon the spark plug and other internal parts of the cylinder; which condensate, should it accumulate to any considerable extent between the electrodes of the plu will result inshort circuiting the samean in preventing the engine from operating. In my improved spark plug, however, the stationary or shell electrode is of such form and is so arranged that such condensed fuel as may accumulate at the spark gap will naturally run down and away therefrom and fall from the shell electrode, thus maintaining the gap I always open and preventing short circuitmg of the plug.

The idea of invention above expressed ma be carried out in many ways, two of whlch are illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming a art ofthis specification; although it will e appreciated that my invention includes such other specific of Figure l.

-tionary or shell electrode.

forms of stationary electrode as come" within the scope of the concluding claims wherein the distinguishing features of my invention are particularly pointed out.

Referring now to the drawing: v Figure 1 is a view showing a section upon a vertical central plane of a spark plug having a grounded or shell electrode made in accordance with my invention. Figure 2 1s a now showing 1n Flgure 1 as seen the same. I

the In shown from 'a position eneath Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the plug as seen from a position at the left Fi re l showing a slightly modified form of sta- Figure 5 is 51. view showing the plu shown in Figure l as seen from a position neath the same.

Figure 6 is a view at .the lower end of the plug shown in Figure 4 as seen from a'position to the left thereof.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates the exterior metallic shell or casis a view similar to Figure 1, but

ing of a spark plug, the same being hollow and adapted to receive the insulating member 11; said insulating member being held in place within the casing by an inturned holding flange 12, as is usual in spark plugs of the single iece variety or type. It W111 be appreciate however, that my invention is in no way limited in the manner in which the insulating member is held in place wlthin the casin and is equally applicable tov plugs wherein said member is ty es of ar p Sp and is held thereremovable from the casing, in by a suitable gland nut.

Extending through the insulating memher is the usual central electrode 13 of the plug; and the reference 14=- designates the grounded or shell electrode. trode extends, as shown in the drawing downward some little distance below the lower extremity of the central electrode and is bent at right angles, and extends inward and terminates in a position beneath the power end of the central electrode;'the bent portion indicated by the reference numeral 15 lying below the level of the spark ga between the extremities of the centralan shell electrodes.

The laterally extending portion of the I l shell electrode is preferably so shaped as to This shell elecprovide downwardly diverging sides or walls 16, 17, which merge with one another alon the upper edge 18 of the horizontal portion to thereby provide a sharp ridge,

- as best shown in Figures 2 and 3. The'apex of the horizontal portion at the extremity thereof lies beneath andprovides a comparatively. sharpvedge opposite the lower end of the insulated electrode; from which it follows that when the plug is in use such liquid as may accumulate upon-the grounded electrode due to condensation of the fuel employed or of oil supplied for lubricating purposes will run down the inclined sides 16, 17 and drip from the lower edges there of;rit being understood that the plug will ordinarily be used in a vertical position like that in which it is illustrated. This running down of the condensed liquid will precventthe accumulation'of the same at the spark gap and prevent short circuiting of t the result being that the-spark e plu iept free at all times from'liquid gap is which. would otherwise tend to foul and short circuit the same. a I

In the'form' of my invention shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the construction of the insulator, the central electrode and the external shell or casin is substantially the same as hereinbe ore described. The

grounded or shell electrode, howeveF, is of somewhat different form; the same comprising a depending portion 19, a substantially horizontal ortion 20 extending to a .position beneat the central electrode, and an upwardly bent extremity 21 which lies beneath and opposite the lower end of the central electrode. It will be seen that this central portion 20 is disposed below the .level of the spark gap so that such oil as mayaccumulate upon the shell electrode will run down onto the, horizontal part 20 and drip therefrom without accumulating at the spark gap thus keeping the spark gap free from condensedoil or hydrocarbon and preventing short-circuitingIof the plug in substantially the same manner as hereinbefore explained. 1

Having thus described'and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a spark plug the combination with a central insulated electrode, of a grounded or shell electrode having angangularly bent portion with diverging sides extending throughout substantially -.the whole length of said. portion, said angularly bent portion being located beneath'the central electrode and arranged with its apex upward, so that such oil as may condense upon the same run down and drip from the lower may edges of the sides of said angularly bent portion. x

2. In a spark plug the combination with a central insulated electrode, of a grounded or shell electrode havinga vertical portion extending downwardfrom the shell, and a ho rizontal portion extending'from said verbetween the extremities of the electrodes and the fouling of the plug.

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALBERT CHAMPION.

Images