US2061079A

US2061079A - R d lacoe

Info

Publication number: US2061079A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1936-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1953-11-17

Description

Nov. 17, 1936. R. D. LACOE 2,061,079

AUTOMATIC IGNITION CUT-OUT APPARATUS FOR GAS ENGINES Filed Oct. 26, 1934 INVENTOR. Pa/ /7 D. [0602 FIG. 2 p

BY wwg ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC IGNITION CUTOUT APPA- RATUS FGR GAS My invention relates to an automatic ignition cutout'apparatus for gas engines, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an apparatus for automati cally cutting out the ignition, thus preventing the loss of current when the engine stops so that there is no drainage on the battery from the ignition when the engine is not in operation;

Second, to provide an apparatus of this class which operates automatically-by vacuum release from the intake manifold of the gas engine;

'I'hird, to provide an apparatus of this class which is controlled by the conventional switch mechanism for starting the gas engine andis l5 applicable for operation with the conventional starter;

Fourth, to provide an apparatus or" this class which is not affected by the back fire from the gas engine;

Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the vacuum pressure is substantially con stant and will operate effectively when the vacuum is low, for instance, when operating under full throttle; and

Sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, easy to operate, efficient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combine-' tion and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, ref-'- erence being had to the accompanying drawing and to the charactersof reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of my apparatus showing parts and portions broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration and. showing diagrammatically certain portions thereof, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

The vacuum tank I, valve seatand connection The vacuum tank 9 is of any shape or form desired. In this case I have shown it cylindrical in form. It is constructed to withstand the vacuum pressure from the gas engine. It is provided with an extended skirt portion la which extends downwardly adapted to form a shield or guard for the switch control apparatus. It is provided in its upper endwith a connector member 2 which is screw threaded therein by means of threads 2a. This connector member is provided with an enlarged portion 22) forming a shoulder 20 upon which rests the ball 3 which. together with the shoulder 20 forms a valvewhich prevents back pressure into the vacuum tank. IE in case the engine backfires. This con nector member 2 connects with a conductor 4 which extends to the intake manifold of the gas engine for providing vacuum pressure in the tank 5 and it is connected by means of a com ductor connection 5 which is of any conventional type for securing the conductor 4 to the connector 2.

The tank l is provided with a small vent open= ing lb which is small enough so that under ordinary operation of the engine it does not materially aflect the vacuum but when the engine is closed off and does not operate sufllcient air will be admitted through the opening lb to release the vacuum control of the ignition. Mounted centrally in the lower side 01 the tank I is a connector 6a which is screw threaded into said tank and this connector 8a is provided with a contact support 6 which is substantially U-shaped, as shown best in Fig. l of the drawing.

Secured to the normally lower side of the member 6a is a connector la which is screw threaded and adapted to fit into the connector 6a and is provided with a bore lb which is adapted to communicate with the interior of the vacuum tank I. Secured to this member la is a diaphragm member 1 which is preferably a. corrugated diaphragm to provide great flexibility, it being noted that this diaphragm i is stationary as it is secured rigidly to the tank I. Connected with this diaphragm l is another similar diaphragm 8 in opposed relation thereto, both of which are shown best in Fig. 2, and they connect at their periphery by means of a diaphragm connecting member 9 which is secured over the edge of this periphery and forms a sealed joint between the two edges and also provides additional flexibility in the joint. Secured to this diaphragm member 8 is the contact support I0 which is preferably U-shaped, as shown, and provided with a contact member Illa on its one end which is adapted to contact with a contact member 6b mounted on the contact support 6. The other end of the support III is supported on the diaphragm 8 by means of an insulated member lllb, shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Between the diaphragm member I and the connector 6a there is provided a flller 'Ic which forms a close Joint around the member Ia so that there will be no leakage at this point. The contact-6b is supported on the contact support 6 by means of a member 80 secured to an insulated 7 member 6d which is secured on the support 6,

thus providing means of insulating the contact 8b from the support 8.

Connected with the support III is a battery II by means of an electrical connector Ila and this battery is connected with a ground I lb through a conductor llc. Connecting with the member 6c is an electrical conductor 8e which extends to the switch I! which is a conventional switch, and this switch I! connects with an ignition coil I3 through the conductor I3a. The switch l2, ignition coil I3, battery and ground are all conventional type of ignition system for gas engines.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: When the engine i operating by being started with the starter, vacuum pressure is provided in I and draws pressure outwardly through the intake manifold the valve 3 closes the opening and does not permit the pressure to enter the vacuum tank. When the engine is operating normally, vacuum operates on the diaphragm 8, contracts the same and closes the contacts 6b and Illa and the ignition is on at all times. However, if the engine stops, the vacuum is reduced and the diaphragm draws the contact support l outwardly and opens the points Illa and 8b cutting out the ignition and thus stopping anydrainage on the battery.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, com

bination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic ignition cutout apparatus for gas engines, a vacuum pressure actuated diaphragm, means consisting of opposed'flexible diaphragm members the one secured centrally on a stationary member and the other movable throughout its whole area, switch control means in connection with said diaphragm consisting of a contact supported in connection with the stationary side of said diaphragm andanother contact engageable therewith supported on the movable side of said diaphragm, and a substantially rigid walled vacuum tank in communication with and forming the stationary support for the stationary side of said diaphragm for providing substantially constant pressure to said diaphragm means.

2. In an automatic ignition cutout apparatus for gas engines, a vacuum pressure actuated diaphragm, means consisting of opposed flexible diaphragm members the one secured centrally on a stationary member and the other movable throughout its whole area, switch control means in connection with said diaphragm consisting of a contact supported in connection with the stationary side of said diaphragm and another contact engageable therewith supported on the movable side of said diaphragm, a substantially rigid walled vacuum tank in communication with and forming the stationary support for the stationary side of said diaphragm for providing substantially constant pressure to said diaphragm means, and means for venting said vacuum tank to relieve the vacuum pressure when the vacuum pressure supply is inoperative.

- RALPH D. LACOE.