US1773920A

US1773920A - Ignition booster

Info

Publication number: US1773920A
Application number: US318115A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Mayforth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-11-09
Filing date: 1928-11-09
Publication date: 1930-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1947-08-26

Description

g- 1930- J. H. MAYFORTH 1,773,920

IGNITION BOOSTER Filed Nov. 9, 192

Patented Aug. 26, 1930 JOHN H. MAYZFORTH, OF QUEENS VILLAGE, NEW YORK IGNITION BOOSTER Application filed November 9, 1928. Serial No. 318,115.

This invention relates to the ignition circuits of internal combustion engines, and particularly to the provision of a booster in such circuits for increasing the voltage of the ignition circuit in the operation of starting the engine; and the object of the invention is to provide a booster of the class described involving an independent auxiliary source of electric supply adapted to be placed in series with the usual source of electric supply and controlled by a switch to intensify and increase the voltage of the ignition circuit in the operation of starting an engine and especially when electric starters are used which receive the supply of electric energy from the usual source; a further object being to provide a switch controlling the auxiliary booster circuit which is automatic or semiautomatic in operation and which may constitute a part of or be actuated by the choke operating member of the engine; a further object being to provide the booster ignition circuit with another switch for controlling the operation of said circuit; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in an ignition booster of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one method of carrying my invention into efiect; and,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing a modification.

t will be understood that my invention may be employed in connection with any type of ignition circuits used in internal combustion engines, and further I am not necessarily limited to the type, character or use of the engine. For the purpose of illustrating one use of my invention, I have diagrammatically illustrated at 5 in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the distributor of an ignition cirings in circuit with the distributor, and this circuit together with the battery and starter circuit is of the one wire or ground type, but other types may be employed.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have shown at 7 the usual storage battery employed in connection with engines or motor vehicles of various kinds and classes, and at 8 an electric starting motor in circuit with the battery 7 through a wire 9 in which is placed the usual starter button switch 10. In both figures of the drawing, I have shown at 11 an auxiliary source of current supply which may be of any desired voltage and a battery of any particular construction, it being preferred that a dry cell one and one-half volt battery be used. The negative pole of the battery 11 is placed in circuit with the positive pole of the storage battery 7 through a wire 12, whereas the positive pole of the battery 11 is adapted to be placed in circuit with the wire 13 leading to the ignition circuit through a wire 1 1 and a switch element which in Fig. 1 is designated at 15, and in Fig. 2 at 16. 1

The structure shown in Fig. 2 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 simply in the type of switch employed and the manner of its operation. In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the switch 30 element 15 preferably constitutes a part of or is actuated by a choke lever or rod 17 controlling the carbureter of the engine in the usual manner. From the structure shown in Fig. 1, the choke lever 17 is of the push pull 5 type and has arranged thereon and insulated therefrom an elongated switch part 18 which when the choke lever is in depressed or innermost position as indicated in dotted lines at 17 completes the circuit through two

contact elements

19 and 20, one element being at the end of the wire 13 and the other in circuit with the wire 12. When the choke 17 is moved upwardly or outwardly to its full extent as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, the circuit through the

contacts

19 and 20, will be broken, and a circuit will be completed through the contact 20 and another contact 21 in the wire 14. A manually controlled switch 22 is placed on the wire 12 and a similar switch 23 is placed on the wire 13. The switch 23 controls the ignition circuit tothe engine as is the common practice, whereas the switch22 controls the operation of the auxiliary circuit through the battery 11.

The operation of the construction shown in Fig. 1 will be as follows. Under normal operating conditions of the engine, in other words, when the same will start readily especially when operating in warm temperatures and the condition of the oil of the engine is 1n a freely flowing state, the switch 22 will be moved into an open position to direct the auxiliary circuit through the battery 11, and the depression of the starter button 10 will cause the engine to be started, the ignition circuit being supplied with electric energy solely from the battery 7 through the wire 12, the

contacts

19 and 20, the switch 23 and thus to the distributor 5. 1n this condition of engine operation, the choke 17 is in its innermost or inoperative position as indicated at 17 a in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and this will also be true regardless of the type of choke or choke actuating means employed, such chokes havin various t es of o eration.

In the aforesaid operation, and assuming that the engine starts readily, there will beno appreciable reduction on the voltage supplied to the ignition circuit. However, should the engine fail to start readily or should the battery 7 be in a discharged condition, the starting of the engine may be expedited by movlng the switch 18 into position to complete the circuit through the battery 11 by completing the circuits through the

contacts

20 and 21. ltu this position, it will be seen that the ignition circuit will be supplied with electric energy of the voltage discharged from the battery 7 plus the added voltage of the battery 11. For example, it the battery 7 1S discharging four volts instead of six with the added one and one-halt voltage of the battery 11, a total voltage supply of live and onehalt volts will be transmitted to the ignition circuit, thus producing a hot spark, facilitating the quick starting of the engine.

The result above described may also be accomplished in the starting of an engine in cold weather when the lubricating oils are in a heavy and more or less gummy state or at any time when the choke operating lever or rod is actuated or is found necessary to actuate to produce a quick starting of the engine.

In long continued use, the battery 11 will materially save and maintain a comparative lyhigh voltage in the battery 7 in eliminating the necessity of lengthy actuations of the starting motor 8 in the attempt to start an engine as will be apparent. T he control of the auxiliary circuit may be regulated through the switch 22 which may be arranged in a place accessible to the operator of a vehicle or other apparatus.

1n Fig. 2 of the drawing, 1 have shown 8.

switch 23 similar to the switch 28 controlling the ignition circuit through the wire 13 the same as in Fig. 1 of the drawing. In this construction, the switch element 16 normally completes the circuit to the battery 7 through the wire 12 by engagement of the free end of the switch element 16 with a contact 19 similar to the contact 19. In this construction, instead of actuating the switch element through a choke operating member or lever 1 employ an electromagnet 24 arranged to 0p erat-ively engage the switch element 16 so that in the completion of the circuit through the magnet 21, the switch element 16 will be moved out of engagement with the contact 19"- and into engagement with a contact 21 similar to the contact 21 to complete the circuit through the battery 11.

In the construction shown, the electromagnet 2% is energized by placing the same in circuit with the starting motor 8 through a wire 25 in which is placed a manually operated switch 26, which switch will serve the same purpose as the switch 22. In other words, when the circuit is broken through the wire 25, the circuit from the body 11 will be broken.

1n the construction shown in Fig. 2, the depression of the starter button 10 for starting the engine will also complete a circuit through the magnet 24:, when the switch 26 is in closed position to cause the switch element'16 to be moved into engagement with the contact 21 completing the ignition circuit through both of the batteries 7 and 11. As soon as the engine starts and the switch 10 moves into inoperative position, the current is broken through the magnet 24, thus releasing the switch element 16 and immediately completing the ignition circuit to the battery 7 alone. The operation of the circuit shownin Fig. 2 will otherwise be the same as that shown in Fig. 1 and will be con-' trolled and operated to suit the existing temperature conditions and to provide a quick i starting of the engine at all times. lt will also be noted on a consideration of Fig. 1, that the switch 22 maybe moved into engagement with a contact 1 1 in the wire 14 in the operation of breaking the circuit to the battery 11 so as to insure the completion of the ignition circuit from the battery 7 through the switch element 15 regardless of the position assumed by said element in the operation of the choke.

It will also be apparent that my improved auxiliary circuit may constitute a unit readily attachable to any motor vehicle or coupled with the ignition and starting circuit of engines of any kind or class, and if desired, may be built into the ignition and starting circuits in the construction of the vehicle. While I have diagrammatically illustrated two methods of carrying my invention into effect, it will be understood that I am not necessarily limited to the arrangements herein shown and described and various changes I therein and modifications thereof may be through one of said circuits, and said switch element being in operative engagement with the choke control which is actuated in the I act of starting the engine. 1

2. The combination with a storage battery for supplying electric energy to starting and ignition circuits of an internal combustion engine, of a voltage booster involving a battery and a switch element for placing the booster battery in series with said storage battery to increase the voltage transmitted through one of said circuits, said switch element being in operative engagement with the choke control which is actuated in the act of starting the engine, and another switch controlling the booster circuit.

3. A voltage booster for starting and ignition circuits of an internal combustion engine comprising a battery adapted to be placed in series with the electric su ply to said circuits, a switch controlling sald elec tric supply, said switch being in operative engagement with the choke control which is actuated in the act of starting the engine whereby the circuit through said booster battery is completed when said choke control is actuated.

4. The combination with the starting and ignition circuits and choke control of an internal combustion engine, of a voltage booster involving a battery, a switch arranged upon and actuated by said choke control for placing the booster battery in series with the usual current supply to said circuits, to facilitate the quick starting and operation of the engine in actuating said choke control.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 8th day of November, 1928.

JOHN H. MAYFORTH.