US2028749A - Spark plug - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1936. R, olv-1N E1- AL v 2,028,749

SPARK PLUG Filed Dec. 4. 1929 alfa: nn

Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPARK PLUG Application December 4, 1929, Serial No. 411,545

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to the treatment of hydrogen compounds in general, and particularly to such compounds as hydrocarbon fuels, and resides in a novel-method for treating such com- 5. pounds tol increase or decrease their hydrogen content, and includes novel processes and articles of manufacture which enhance the useful results attainable through said method. Our invention, thus, comprises not only the method for vary- 1Q ing the existing hydrogen content of hydrogen compounds, but of utilizing the altered 'compounds in conjunction with new processes and articles of manufacture whereby certain novel and beneficial results are obtained. It has, among its objects, the cheapening of production of hydrocarbon fuels; the increase of the combustibility thereof; and the improvement of combustion in internal combustion engines. Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the hereinafter more detailed description thereof.

In carrying out our invention we utilize the well-known fact that the metal palladium and some of its alloys, (for example, palladium 60%, silver 40%) have the characteristics of combining with hydrogen, over a wide range of temperatures, to form a surface coating, presumably consisting of PdzH-z. We have observed, and we believe that the discovery is new with us, that palladiumand some of its alloys have the characteristic of combining, over a wide vrange of temperature, similarly, with hydrocarbon compounds, both saturated and unsaturated. We have also observed, and` we believe that this discovery is new with us, that a stream of molecular hydrogen directed against a contact surface comprising hydrogen-treated palladium or palladium alloy continues indefinitely to yield a liberation of nascent hydrogen. In utilizing the palladiumhydrogen compound above described, we employ it as a. contact agent to liberate nascent hydrogen from a. substance capable of giving up some or all of its hydrogen content in the presence of a substance capable of combining with such liberated nascent hydrogen. Our invention thus comprises subjecting a hydrocarbon compound to the influence of nascent hydrogen in the presence of another substance capable of combining therewith.

Fig. 1 isa conventional illustration, partly in section, of an ordinary spark plug to which our invention may be applied, and represents a practical adaptation of the invention in the form of an article of manufacture;

115g.v 2 is an end view of a `spark plug showing (Cl. 12S-169) another mode of applying our invention to a known construction of spark plug.

Fig. 3 is an end view of a spark plug, showing still another modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a` fragmentary vertical sectional View of a spark plug showing still another mode of applying our invention thereto; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a'rider adapted to be snapped over the lateral electrode of a spark plug as shown in Fig. 2.

In Figure 1 we have illustrated a typical spark plug in which A' represents the outside shell of the spark plug, and B the insulated portion thereof. Cl represents a horizontal or lateral electrode and C2 a vertical electrode, the igniting spark passing across the gap between these electrodes.

In one embodiment of our invention, we plate either or both of the electrodes CI and C2 with palladium or palladium alloy, as shown in Fig. 1.

In another embodiment of our invention, we plate the rim 3' of the spark plug (Figure 4) with palladium or palladium alloy; while in still another modification, we may incorporate a wire of palladium or palladium alloy'as at 4 (Figure 3), between the horizontal electrode CI and a point at right-angles on the rim or at any other point.

In another embodiment of our invention, we provide a rider 5 (Figure 5), the loop portion of which is plated with palladium or palladium alloy. This rider may bey conveniently snapped over the electrode Cl as at 5' of Figure 2. By the use of such rider, the invention may be applied to 'existing internal' combustion engines without disassembling the engine or making mechanical changes in it, using, infact, the 'existing spark plug, the contact agent being detachable and merely snapped into place and heldby friction.

As a result of thus positioning our contact agent near the point of ignition, as aboveexplained, the operation of our invention is automatically carried on by the functioning of the engine itself as follows: The functioning of an internal combustion engine implies the introduction of a hydrocarbon fuel charge, the compression of such charge, the combustion thereof; the removal of exhaust gases. During each of these cycles, our palladium member is in contact with hydrocarbon compounds or molecular hydrogen so that its surface readily becomes coated with the palladium-hydrogen compound heretofore described. In fact, we have observed, and we believe 'that this discovery is new with us, that a palvladium member such as we 'employ positioned instant of ignition, due to the presence of hydrocarbon compounds, and enhanced by the heat and pressure which prevail at that cycle of .in-

ternal combustion operation, our contact member liberates .considerable quantities of nascent hydrogen which, through causing rapid chemical reactions, greatly enhance the process of combus` tion. The eect of our invention is to provide a more readily combustible substance at the point of ignition, which increases the speed of naine propagation, the completeness of combusti-on,

- and, thus, the effectiveness of the power stroke.

It may be pointed out that in the practice ofl ourinvention, the functioning of the palladium contact agent may continue indenitely witheu't loss of eiciency or depreciation. Each new charge of fuel brings a fresh supply of dissocianle hydrocarbon to be converted into naseent hydrogen which, in turn, nds other sub-stances, as oxygen, with which to combine, the combination resulting in improved combustion.

Our invention will also be iound useful in the artcf refining petroleum, through providing a simple means for reducing or eliminating unsaturated hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon mixtures, a step which is at present accomplished with much greater difficuity and expense; and in the subtraction of hydrogen from hydrocarbon compounds which forms the basis of various processes of cracking 'Ihe invention has many other uses not only connected with the refining of peteleum but iii-ether industries in which iiydrocarbon compounds are made or used.

The invention will further be found of great value to all u'sers of internai combustion engines, since it operates to produce greater power from a given quantity o fuel, better acceleration, at

l inemcient engine speeds and easier starting and operation at all tinies, and particularly before the engine has rl '.ciied its normal working temperature. The use of our invention in connectionwith the engines, of automobiles gives an immediate and continuing sense of power and a marked improvement in the smoothness of power ow.

In the foregoing, we have given only a few of the embodiments of our invention, but we believe 'them sumcient to enable one skilled in the art to employ it in conjunction with the manufacture and use of many other hydrocarbon compounds winch are equivalent to those we have sited.

, Many modications of our invention can be made Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as dened in the appended claims, and our invention is tobe understood es not limited to the particular embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustration.

We claim as our inventionz- 1. In combination with a spark plug for internal combustion engines, a contact member containing palladium. I

2. A spark plug adapted for use in an internal combustion fengine, the electrodes of said plug having a coating of pailadium.

4 3. A spark plug adapted for use in an internai combustion engine, said plug having a palladium member attached to one of its terminals.

4. A spark plug adapted for use in an internal combustion engine, said plug having a palladium-bearing member attached to one of its terminals.

Y ROBERT JOHN.

ERWIN F. SPELIMEYER.

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