US2505422A - Spark plug cleaner and tester - Google Patents

Description

April 25,1950

Filed Jan. 14, 1947 M. A. MICHAELS SPARK PLUG CLEANER AND TESTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A ORNEY M. A. MICHAELS SPARK PLUG CLEANER AND TESTER April 25, 1950 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1947 k 6 a R Y w w 0 M 0 A W M 2 3 //M/V .QN NH. 5 A

M. A. MICHAELS SPARK PLUG CLEANER AND TESTER April 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jam 14, 1947 INVENTOR April 25, 1950 M. A. MICHAELS 2,505,422 v SPARK PLUG CLEANER AND TESTER Filed Jan 14, 1947 r 4'Sheets-Sheet 4 MA.M'cZaeZ9 INVENTOR BY in I n MQEY Patented Apr. 25, 1950 .5'ApplicatimJannar-y 14,

,fllheninnentlomdiseloseelfln-athis pntentrelates toatheleleanine;.andttestingeorspark lu sl Qbiectseer"thee-invention are 'torprovide apparatus;or-.th pnrpose,:imtheiorm of a simple. compact: 11ml} whiehecaneheq uickly and easily set up for use and which will constitntela practicalandeserviceablenmt ior efficiently perform- 1' ,eallr essential spark 331133 ,cleaning and testing operations.

.In; addition .to th epxactical-f purposes, it lei-an obiect of rthe invention tozprovi'de-a servicing. unit of;theitypezseteforthrwhinlx-wlllebe of an attracrstoleims. longer-+3);-

view -.on-;substantially+themlane of lin 5'--.-5 of Ri a-1%;

' Fig- :6 :is asimilttr view (onsnbstantiallyuthe two. design thereforetdesi-rable. because of f ppeamnca rend adaptability ur o finefi flbjentseofethe inventlon are.toprovide n of f'tlieyspeoificeitionlillus'trater oneeoiithe present. 1

commercial embodlments.-. off. the.v invention. Structure, ihoweven; v.ma 'z. be modified and changed asregands.zthenimmediate. .disclosune all within the true intent andbroad seopeiofsthe inventionrasrhereinaiten I defined andnclaimed;

F g, 1v.inwthezsdrawinglis a plan viewer-of none-10f the spark.tplugroleanerszand-testers;with broken lines indicatinge rtheiracksnatoopposite'a.sides of. other heizhingedofonwardly to pose theladaptersiontnthen ssoryq parteiused withithe machinq 1' Fig. 2 is a broken front elewatijflma-ofwtheemachine; V r n E se- 3- amenlaesechsidee: elevatlomzandamrt broken.sectionaleviewof:theeuppemportion=-nf;the ap ratus; 7

:Fig eisea. brokemseotioxml:detailrshowingethe: hinge mounting for one of thernnliminl1y?eneming racksoonzdmwensg;

;F i g, .7 isea brokenecrossnsectionalyiew on:substantial-ly the plane oilines-J-loi Figs 3=and .6. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan viewshowing the aimsnpply passagesitos the :abrasive and cleaning nozzles. V I :In thmiorm ofothe invention illustrated, :the qpemtiize pants zin mhemain aree enclosedwithin *iavv zprotectine rand j i nerally ornamental form .of

cabinet l0 having a raisedgcentral.,portion H oal eyi gnbhe .oleaningestructureqatethe back and the testing mechanism at. :the. gvf-ront andwith shoulders filiuQQROSifiBaSid-Q of :the raised center-'- portion providing l shelvessor tables l2 :and 13 for snppnntmf racksorlholdersrforespark,plugs, tools 7 nozz1e. -when (sushi partsearennotlfin use.

or the like.

tn :s-wingingaguard l Mat the =ba.ck, -,carried' by a lFigwfiee zged ibyacspring. l'fi; covers plu receiving.- socket and cleaning This gnarcLaasrnhowntimbrolren-lines.inFig I, can be nushed'nside against the tension of the spring as a plug is being inserted in theoleaner, anda et tlalimits thetswing: inmtheepnosit'e direction tonswmdhstandingin (the protective position at all;ltimesewhenvtheecleanenissnot in I actual use.

-';'I2.'o.usea1- .-the Lspark plugs 48 imposition in the special adapters -are employed, -.constnucted; aseshewn: in-illig, 5-,; :with.aF- heavy flange or body portion IS, a thin diaphragmwall zn at theetopnwitht si -passage I -.to --,-admit the; plug and withs-a thin; flexible dependent-kcollar portion 2-2 too-enter ttheeannulfar =h0 using. -23- formingawell :Holdersv or .ad%pt'ers 129- for different.- sizes or constructions of spark ;:plugs preferably areprovided and aa. speciakfeatune nithe machine is to stack thesezadepterston a; racleonspindle 25, Figs aeaindg iii 0n .theebackuof: tandoori 26iset in the-irfront cfithezeabinet whereethey "will bev conveniently at hand for use by the operator.

=, 51 g, balemceetlcie:front ioithe:cabinetpanrlqpito- -szitieaceommedai'liondonv otheraaccessory parts,;za,- similar. moon 2J-,.-is= shown in Fig; l,,, pivotally mcuntednatl. thexnig-ht handnsidenfor carrying. adopters ion use in: the testingeportion 1 of the eguipmente Tigekshonwsehom the doorsaizfixandaz'l may be hingedlwmounted ate-the bottom sozas .toxzswing' outwardrlikeebinswby having projecting.- pins 28 atethes-idesiwhicmw-ill drcpzinwardsandzdowmin:

r e 1 bmken .55; wQ gb rflubs jk in: vthe:;.sbacle.l of the; stationaryand grip the screw threaded base portion of the spark plug and so that the dependent annular flange 22 will closely fit but. yieldingly rotate within the housing 23.

down through the flange 63 of the adapter sleeve 23 seated on the cover member 59, to enable one set of screws to secure both parts in position and in so doing to secure and pivotally mount the finger ievers 51, 58, in operating position over the valve stems.

The hinged guard i4 is shown in Fig. as mounted on the hollow cover member as, so that the removal of one set" of screws '62 enables an entire group of parts to be taken ofi. At the same time these holding screws are normally out of sight, beneath the flange of the spark plug To hold the sealing lip 2|) in uniformly annular formation when it is stretched by the entered spark plug, there is provided at the under side of the same an annular reenforcing ridge or ring 33, Fig. 5, of larger diameter than the spark plug hole 2| and set far enough back from the spark plug opening to allow the lip to yield downwardly to admit theplug base without becoming dis-' torted or losing its uniformly circular shape. This reenforcing ridge, like the rest of the adapter, may stretch somewhat, if necessary, but it at all times reenforces' the thin lip portion, causing it to keep firm sealing engagement with the screw base of the plug.

- The nozzle 24 for the cleaning blast is shown in Fig. 5 as a flanged bushing of rubber'or like material thrust upwardly through an opening in the-top of-the nozzle housing 34, directly above the air jet nozzle at the end of the upwardly directed air duct- 36. v

A tube 31 extending downwardly from withi the nozzle housinginto the abrasive holder 38, supplies the abrasive for the cutting and cleaning blast-and 'an upwardly directed nozzle passage 39 from'a second air duct 40 provides the blast for cleaning purposes.

A nipple 4|, Figs. 1 and 2, on the side of the head provides means for connecting the unit with a compressed air supply source. At the inside this supply nipple is connected with a water trap 42, from which branch supply piping 43, 44, extends forwardly to-the cleaning and testing elements, respectively.

Fig. 5shows the air tubing 43 connected with a manifold 45 having one branch 46 with a valve 41 controlling admissionto'theduct 36 supplying induction air for the-abrasive. In similar manner,-another branch 50 controlled by a valve 5|, supplies air to the duct 40 for the air blast cleaning 'nozzle-'39.' A Both-air valves arealike, consisting, as shown in Fig. 5,.Iof a downwardly opening valve, 41in this particular case, on the lowerend of a vertically sliding stem 52, said valve being seated upwardly by a light spring 53 and adapted'to be opened downwardly by a heavier spring 54 bear ing on the head 55 at the upper end of the valve stem and adapted to be pressed downwardly by a button 55 engaged by a flngerle'ver, 51in the case of the abrasive jet and 58 in the case of the aircleaner jet, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5' shows how the flnger levers are pressed upwardly by thespring supported valve operating buttons against an overstanding cover or' housing 59, and also how the innerends of such levers are rounded at 60 to operate as pivot' fulcrums in the correspondingly rounded seats 6| at the under side of the cover housing. In this view, also, there is shown one of the screws 62, of which there may be two or more, for securing the cover housing 59 down over the top" of the cabinet. This screw. orscrews may pass adapter [9.

The air line 44 is shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7, as connected at the front with a manifold 64 branched at 65, 65, to the test heads 61, 68.

The latter are shown in Figs. 6 and '7 as socketed to receive screw adapters 69 for different kinds of spark plugs.

The inner ends of the test chambers 61, 68, are closed by transparent covers 10 and these ends of the chambers are opposite aninclined reflector ii on the front wall of the cabinet top, Figs. 1 and 2, so that the action of a cleaned plug or plug under test can be compared with a new or standard plug.

To enable quick change-over in making the comparative tests, a sliding and swinging connector is provided, in the illustration, in the form of a rod or post 12 slidingly and rotatably guided in a sleeve 13, Fig. 6, in the front of the cabinet'head, said post carrying-a low tension cable 14 and push-button switch 15 and a high tension cable 16 continuing through a laterally extended arm ii to a terminal 18 engageable with the end of a spark plug seated in either of the testing sockets.-

As shown in' Fig. '6, the control switch 15 is located in a central knob extension 19 of the insulating. support, providing a convenient grip for sliding and 'turning'the support to bring the end contact 18 into and out of engagement with spark plugs seated in the'test chambers. This switch serves to connect the wires 80'of the primary low tension circuit and, located as shown, is in convenient position for the button of the same to be actuated by a finger of the hand grasping the'knob 19. j-

The necessary electrical connections are indicated in a general way in Fig.3; Where an extension cord is shown at 8|, provided with a terminal plug 82 for engagement in an outlet receptacle, said cord being connected at one side at 83 with the primary winding of a spark plug transformer 84, the other side, 85, of such primary winding and the other side,'8| i, of the cord circuit being connected with the two wires 80 of the low tension cable 14 running through the insulator 12 to the push-button switch 15. I

The high tension lead l6,'carried by the insulating support 12, is indicated as'extended at the back direct to the high'tension terminal of the transformer 84, enough slack being left in the free portions of both the low and the high tension cables 14 and 76 to allow for the in-and-out sliding and the rotary movements of the insulating insulating handle normally retracted in the houssecondary circuit; ally-controls; and connections can be eifected frc'nnthis single handle. Both "'its -are normallyj'iipe'n aridthe only switch fs' i'nl 'tension pilihary side of -the- -spark supply connections. This keeps the operator safe against shock. Inward pressure on the switch to close the primary circuit serves to press the high tension contact all the more firmly against the end of the spark plug, assuring good connection for the testing operations.

The holder for the abrasive, generally designated 38, has a wall of filter cloth. This wall, designated 89 in Fig. 5, may be fibreglass supported by nylon.

The invention provides, in attractive cabinet form, a completely self-contained unit for either or both cleaning and testing spark plugs and which can be made immediately available by simply plugging'it into an electric outlet, at 82, and connecting on an air hose, at 4 I.

The cleaning and testing operations can be quickly efiected by changing the plugs from one to a closely adjoining station. The plugs are completely sealed in at the cleaning station so that the operations there of scouring with abrasive and then cleaning with the air blast, are quick, clean and safe. In the scouring operation, the holder or adapter I9 in which the plug is sealed may be rotated with the fingers one or more turns in the holding socket 23, to assure presentation of all parts of the plug to the blast jet.

The operations are completely and conveniently under control of the operator through selective use of the finger keys 51, 58. The automatically closing guard l4 avoids possibility of discharge of the blast through accidental operation of the control keys.

All parts are of simple, rugged design, easily assembled and, if necessary, disassembled. Furthermore, all operating parts are contained within the cabinet structure, protected and out of the way, leaving the cabinet exteriorly unimpeded, smooth and generally attractive in appearance.

Necessary accessory parts such as adapters for the plugs at the cleanin and testing stations, while normally housed and out of the way, are conveniently available on the backs of the outwardly swinging doors 26 and 21.

The. adapters l9, as shown in Fig. 5, bear directly on the supporting flange 63 of the cleaner housing 23, assisting the dependent annular wall 22 in providing a proper rotary seal, and the laterally extended flange portions of the adapters in this relation provide convenient finger grip portions for turning the adapters and thus exposing all portions of the supported spark plugs to the abrasive and cleaning blasts.

What is claimed is:

1. A spark plug cleaner comprising an upwardly directed cleaning nozzle, a casing formiingr-ia scicketrabout h n'same and" *sparkzplug itliin yielding atop :fidiapiiragm baseiportron? of anspark aplugiandia: dependent -annularrwalllrotatabiyzseatedin sealingsengageirnent ii tsaid;i socketandzisaidi holder: :having?' 1: a laterally:projectingzthickzfiangepportion bearing onitop' ofrsai'd::casirigsanm-proyiding a ifinger hold byf which "said: holderimay lbearotated to turn the plug oven the nozzle eandi said yieldin t p Wall of ithe .zholder havin'gz i a: reenfor'cing: rim about stand ispaced radial-ly outwardlypf-- thei;spark "plug receivingsopening in:=;saidavflexible sealing lipsto ,tprevent.deformation-of .-.the latter.

2."1-A :sparkmlugmleaner comprising. .a "casin having a. well; in-tlreetop zof. .the,-same,.-. aspar k plugsholder rotatably seated. over said .well, sabrasive -and.-a'ir. -.;iet. nozzles a directed upwardly tinto @said well, waives; controlling said nozzles and finger levers fulcrumed at one side of said well and arranged to selectively actuate the valves controlling said nozzles, a casing about said well and extending over said finger levers, said levers having rounded inner end portions to form the fulcrums for said levers and the overstanding portion of said casing having seats for said rounded fulcrum portions and said valves having springs thrusting against the levers to hold said fulcrum portions seated and whereby said levers may be mounted and properly positioned by simply engaging them with the spring pressed valve stems and securing the confining casing over the same.

3. A spark plug tester comprising a pair of spaced spark plug testing sockets, a quick change-over connector comprising an insulating support carrying a high tension terminal for engagement with the end of a spark plug seated in either of said testing sockets and mounted for quick shifting movement to engage said terminal with the end of a spark plug in either of said sockets, high and low tension electric connections carried by said insulating support including a high tension connection extending to said terminal and a manually operable switch controlling said low tension connections and mounted on said support in position for convenient manual operation.

4. A spark plug tester comprising a pair of spaced spark plug testing sockets, a quick change-over connector comprising an insulating support carrying a high tension terminal for engagement with the end of a spark plug seated in either of said testing sockets and mounted for quick shiftin movement to engage said terminal with the end of a spark plug in either of said sockets, high and low tension electric connections carried by said insulating support including a high tension connection extending to said terminal and a manually operable switch controlling said low tension connections and mounted on said support in position for convenient manual operation, said insulating support having a rotatably and slidably mounted post portion and an arm projecting laterally therefrom and carrying said high tension terminal and said switch being mounted at the end of said post portion in position for actuation by a hand rotating and sliding the support in shifting the high tension terminal from one spark plug to the other.

5. A spark plug tester comprising a pair of spaced spark plug testing sockets, a quick change-over connector comprising an insulating support carrying a high tension terminal for engagement with the end of a spark plug seated in either of said testing sockets and mounted for quick shifting movement to engage said terminal with the end of a spark plug in either of said sockets, high and low tension electric connections carried by said insulating support including a high tension connection extending to said terminal and a manually operable switch controlling said low tension connections and mounted on said support in position for convenient manual operation, said insulating support having a post portion and a laterally projecting arm carrying said high tension terminal and said post portion being rotatably supported to swing said laterally projecting arm over from a spark plug seated in one socket to a spark plug seated in the other socket, said post being further mounted to slide to carry said laterally projecting arm longitudinally toward and away from spark plugs seated in said sockets and spring means acting on said support to slide the same toward the testing sockets.

MAURICE A. MICHAELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,001,886 Rabezzana et al. May 21, 1935 2,009,589 Pedersen July 30, 1935 2,277,911 Johnson Mar. 31, 1942 2,290,629 Ake et al. July 21, 1942 2,314,556 Rabezzana Mar. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 541,312 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1941

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