US2684451A

US2684451A - Spark intensifier for spark plugs

Info

Publication number: US2684451A
Application number: US186036A
Authority: US
Inventors: Castongay Joseph Arthur Henry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-09-21
Filing date: 1950-09-21
Publication date: 1954-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1971-07-20

Description

July Z0, 1954 J. A. H. cAsToNGAY 2,684,451

SPARK INTENSIFIER FOR SPARK PLUGS Filed Sept. 2l, 1950 Nulla',

F/G. a F/e. /0

The three spark intensiers shown in Fig. l are each as a whole indicated at 8, and the construction thereof is the same as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to which I will now refer.

What I term the bulb or body member of the spark intensifier is represented at il. It is desirably formed of some suitable translucent plastic insulating material, preferably clear Lucte, which is shown as provided with a window or opening ld extending, this embodiment of the invention, all the way through the bulb or body member 9 and providing air circulation, thereby preventing corrosion. The opening i@ may be of any suitable diameter and form, and may be beveled or flaring at its ends, as indicated at il. The opening is large enough for the insertion of a gauge, as will be explained. The opening lil is preferably circular in cross section. Each bulb or body member preferably of a circular form in cross section, but not necessarily so. At the top and at the bottom, it is provided with a threaded opening i2, i3, respectively, and therein are received the threaded extensions lil, l5 of lengthwise-adjustable, tubular or cup-like meinbers IE5, l?, the former of which receives the wire cable end lil and the latter of which is vertically slotted to provide two springy members or parts which snap into the spark plug socket member 3.

rThe distance apart of the extreme ends of the extensions Ed., I5, and hence the extent of the spark gap, is very accurately established by providing a short, narrow strip or gauge of metal of `just the right thickness, and inserting horizontally one end of it well into the window Il) and then scewing inward by the thumb and nngers one or both of the members i6, il until their inner ends ld, l both touch the upper and lower faces respectively cf the properly inserted metal piece or gauge.

In Fig. fl the spark plug as a whole is indicated at I8, it having a threaded lower end I8. The upper end of it is provided with a threaded extension i9. The bulb or body member is indicated at 20. It is preferably of molded plastic, translucent material, such clear Lucite, and it is shown as having a through-hole 2i like that shown in Fig. 2, preferably circular in diameter, but of any desired shape and for the same purpose. In the upper and lower faces of the bulb or body member 2d are threaded holes such as shown in Fig. 2, the lower end receiving the threaded extension is and the upper one receiving the threaded end 22 of the metal end 23 receiving the wire cable and threaded about the lower end of which is a nut 24.

The construction shown in Figs 5 and 6 is for attachment to the screw type of spark plug as in Fig. 4, it differs from that shown in Fig. 4 only in the bulb or body member 25 has a window 26 which extends only halfway through the same, that is, to the threaded ends i9 and 22, and being of any suitable diameter.

The construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is the same as shown in Figs. 4., 5 and 6, excepting that the bulb or body member il has no opening or window, because it is molded with the adjustment taken care of in molding.

The construction shown in Figs. 9, l0 and l1 is one in which the bulb or body member 2S is of plastic, translucent material, preferably Lucite, that is molded about the set-screw end part 29 and the internally threaded part 3Q. There is provided a through-opening Si, here shown as of rectangular form in cross section. The part 29 may have a nut 32 which is molded into the bulb or body member 23. It may be hexagonal or of other form. In this form there is preferably the usual adjustment provided for the parts 29 and 3i) in the bulb or body member 28.

In the construction shown in Fig. 12 the bulb or body member 32, also of translucent plastic material, preferably Lucite, is provided with a through-window 33, and preferably molded into said bulb or body member 32 is a tube 3d having a spur 35 at the lower end to make most effective contact with the wires of the cable end that is to be received in the open-ended tube 34. There is molded into the opposite end of the bulb or body member 52 a slotted end 36 to be snapped onto the spark plug.

The construction shown in Fig. 13 diers from what is shown in the preceding ngures, in that the bulb or body member 3l is positioned directly in the wire cable itself, the two parts of which are shown at 38. 3S. In this construction the bulb or body member 3l' is provided with a through-opening or window iii of any suitable diamete-. two parte of the cable 33, are respectively provided with threaded metallic ends lll, i2 threaded into threaded holes in the bulb or body member, as in Figs. 2 and 4., for example, so that the spark gap may be accurately adjusted or established, as has already been explained in connection with Figs. 2 and li.

The construction shown in Fig. le differs from what is shown in all the other figures, in that the bulb or body member which, as in the other figures, is of translucent plastic material, preferably Lucite, has two threaded openings in the top and bottom respectively thereof, the top opening receiving therein the threaded screw lli having a head l5 and the lower opening receiving a short threaded piece l into the lower exposed end whereof is received the internally threaded socket member il itself may receive a wire cable end, not shown. The bulb or body member (i3 a through-window or opening i8 and the screw head i5 is received a short link i9 which at its other end is provided with an opening 5d by which the link may be readily secured to any spark plug or any desired part of the mechanism.

In Fig. l5 I have shown in longitudinal centrai section a form of invention which is the same in all respects as that shown in Fig. 2 and therefore bearing the same reference numerals as in 2 but with a prime added excepting that the member il is provided with a set screw 5! and the member I is provided with an adjusting screw 52. Both of these screws may be turned by a screw so that their inner ends may be brought into contact with an inserted gauge, alreacy explained in connection with other figures.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 to i0, the body member is shown as rectangular in cross section, but it may be circular. In all the forms the shape of the body member may be varied as desired.

In all the embodiments the adjustable elements may be adjusted by screw-driver inserted in the transverse slot in the end thereof.

When the spark intensifier is mounted on top of the spark plug, and in those cases where a window is provided, I desir-ably cover the window by some suitable adhesive material as, for example, Scotch tape.

I preferably do not provide the window, al-

though my invention includes the provision thereof, as shown in many figures of the drawing, and for that reason the construction shown in Fig. 7 and also that shown in Fig. 16 represent the preferable constructions.

The construction shown in Fig. 16 in side elevation is substantially the same as that shown in section in Fig. 7, and the same reference numerals are provided with a prime to indicate the same parts. The difference between the two constructions shown in Figs. 7 and 16 respectively is that in Fig. 7 the spark intensiiier is secured by screw l directly upon the spark plug indicated at it, whereas in Fig. 16 I provide a sleeve extension as in Fig. 2 at I 'I and in Fig. 12 at 39 which is slotted along diametrically opposite lines, so that it may be fitted onto the spark plug.

So far as I am aware, Lucite has never been used for my purpose. 1 have tested many materials and find that Lucite is best adapted for my purpose. Particularly because it can be very readily and successfully machined as by providing sharply defined screw threads in the wall thereof, so as to receive threaded electrodes. I am aware that Bakelite and porcelain have been proposed, but neither of these is transparent. Although Bakelite may be termed translucent in Very thin layers, it is not so satisfactory for applicants purpose as Lucite, and certainly is not so nearly transparent. I am also aware that glass has -been proposed. While this is transparent, it is not adapted to be readily and successfully machined as by providing well-delined screw threads to receive the threaded electrodes.

As stated, the distributor head or cup is preferably constructed of plastic material. Preferably it is made completely of clear Lucite, and preferably embodies the spark intensier integral therewith, or the spark intensier construction may be removably and adjustably attached thereto.

This intensifier principle, as herein disclosed, may also apply directly to a spark plug. The intensifier may be molded over the upper spark plug portion, having in such case a spark gap head instead of a screw head.

Having thus described several embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that although specii'ic terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A spark intensifier for spark plugs of automobile and other internal combustion engines, comprising a complete, one-piece body member of readily machined clear Lucite material that is transparent so that the spark lighL may be clearly seen, said body member being axially in ternally machine screw threaded, screws threaded respectively and directly into said threads in the body member and extending longitudinally axially therefrom, and having their inner` ends adjustably spaced apart from each other merely suiioiently to provide a spark tubes of conducting material, having closed inner ends and there abutting directly and respectively against the end walls of said body member and held directly upon said screws respectively, each oi said tubes having an open outer end to receive detachably an element of the ignition system, at least one of said tubes being longitudinally slotted providing two springy parts to be snapped into circumferential gripping engagement with a spark plug member or the like.

2. A spark intensifier for spark plugs of automobile and other internal combustion engines, in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body member has a transversely extending window opening to the spark gap for air circulation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,205,682 Sutherlin Nov. 21, 1916 1,240,721 Hultgreen Sept. 18, 1917 1,278,441 Cunningham Sept. l0, 1918 1,388,348 Koehler Aug. 23, 1921 1,413,140 Sutherlin Apr. 18, 1922 1,699,829 Bartley Jan. 22, 1929 1,700,211 Anderson J an. 29, 1929 1,798,789 Gale Mar. 31, 1931 1,898,204 Hibbs Jan. 3, 1933 1,962,949 Claybrook June 12, 1934