US3441797A - Spark intensifier gap with a transformer coil around the cable - Google Patents

Spark intensifier gap with a transformer coil around the cable Download PDF

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US3441797A
US3441797A US614858A US3441797DA US3441797A US 3441797 A US3441797 A US 3441797A US 614858 A US614858 A US 614858A US 3441797D A US3441797D A US 3441797DA US 3441797 A US3441797 A US 3441797A
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spark
gap
intensifier
cable
coil
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US614858A
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Ralph R Lewis
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RALPH R LEWIS
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RALPH R LEWIS
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02P—IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P15/00—Electric spark ignition having characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F02P1/00 - F02P13/00 and combined with layout of ignition circuits
    • F02P15/12—Electric spark ignition having characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F02P1/00 - F02P13/00 and combined with layout of ignition circuits having means for strengthening spark during starting
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T1/00—Details of spark gaps

Definitions

  • a spark intensifier adapted to be connected between the high voltage terminal of the ignition coil and the central terminal of a distributor head of an internal combustion engine comprising an auxiliary gap defined by a first electrode having a threaded shank connected through a wire to the high voltage terminal of the ignition coil and a second electrode spaced about 0.095 inch opposite said first electrode having a threaded shank connected through a Wire to the central terminal of the distributor head, a cylindrical ring-shaped supporting member of acid-resistant, corona-resistant insulating material with diametrically opposite threaded holes into which the threaded Shanks are screwed, enlarged heads having smooth, parallel faces preferably slightly concave, on said electrodes defining the adjacent ends of said electrodes, a coil of insulated copper wire having about 40 turns surrounding the threaded shank of the first electrode, preferably wound tightly ⁇ and smoothly over the lead wire resulting in a cone-shaped coil close to ring-shaped supporting member, a cylindrical
  • the field of. the invention iselectric lamp and discharge devices, and the invention is particularly concerned with series gaps and an intensifier in the lead-in.
  • Another object of the invention is a spark intensifier for location in series with the coil and distributor of -an ignition system.
  • a particular object of the present invention is an ignition system spark intensifier having a spark gap set at a predetermined spacing.
  • Still another particular object of the invention is a spark intensifier having ⁇ a coil of wire surrounding the spark gap electrode on the ignition coil side to provide improved engine starting.
  • an ignition system spark intensifier which comprises an auxiliary spark gap interposed 'between the high voltage terminal of n ignition coil and the central terminal of the distributor ead.
  • the improved spark intensifier comprises, preferably, two austenitic steel screws, resistant to acids, acid fumes, ozone, and corona, threaded through the inside diameter of an acid-resisting, corona-resisting, insulating ring in a head-to-head spaced relationship.
  • a coil of insulated wire is wrapped around the lead wire extending to the ignition coil and the insulating ring is supported by an acid-resistant, corona-resistant, petroleum products-resistant housing having perforations for free circulation of outflow gases.
  • the shorter duration single spark of the present invention requires less energy to fire the spark plugs and less heat is generated in the secondary system with a resulting longer life for the components.
  • the spark pattern of the present intensifier is reproduced consistently and otherwise fouled spark plugs continue to operate. Because of the present device, above normal primary ampera-ge which leads to burnt distributor points due to fouled or shorted plugs are eliminated.
  • the improved spark intensifier is connected between the high voltage terminal of the ignition coil 1 and the central terminal of the distributor head 2. Instead of the usual continuous cable connecting these two parts, there is interposed an auxiliary gap 3 comprising two adjustable electrodes 4 kept in spaced relationship to each other ⁇ by cylindrical ring 5 of acid-resistant, corona-resistant insulating material.
  • the cylindrical ring has two diametrically opposed holes 6 screw threaded to receive the threaded shanks of the electrodes 4.
  • the remote ends of the electrodes are pointed to facilitate their endwise insertion into the free ends of high voltage cables 7 and 8.
  • the free ends of the electrodes are much wider than their Shanks and are smooth, parallel and preferably slightly ⁇ concave on their adjacent faces.
  • the gap 3 may be varied between 0.060 and 0.120 inch and the preferred spacing is 0.095 inch.
  • a suitable material of construction for the cylindrical ring 5 is compressed fiber or corona-resistant, non-porous, waterproof, acid-proof, ceramic or plastic material.
  • the auxiliary gap 3 is given additional protection and support by a cylindrical housing9 of insulating material through end walls 10 and 11 of which the cables 7 and 8 are passed.
  • the insulating acid-resisting, corona-resisting material of the housing 9 is suitably an unplasticized polymer such as polypropylene or linear polyethylene.
  • a partition 12 having a central aperture to receive an acid, corona, and petroleum products-resistant boot 13 on the cable 8, and additional apertures 14 for free circulation and change of air.
  • the end wall 11 has perforations 15 to provide free communication with the outside air.
  • a noise and static suppressor 19 suitably surrounds the housing.
  • the suppressor is a tube of thin metal, preferably stainless steel isolated with Mylar lilm.
  • the cable 7 which is connected to the ignition coil 1 carries at its outer end immediately adjacent the ring S a coil 16 of enameled copper wire, with the two ends connected to each other, as shown in FIGURE 2.
  • the wire of coil 16 is suitably #28 wire and has a multiplicity of turns with 40 turns preferred.
  • the coil 16 is preferably provided with a wrapping 17 of a suitable tape, such as Mylar, which is non-stretchable, inert, nonporous, high dielectric, and a boot 18 is fitted over the outside thereof.
  • Boot is resistant to acids, corona, petroleum products.
  • This improved auxiliary gap prevents or diminishes spark plug current leakage.
  • the high tension current from the ignition coil to the spark plug surges from zero to peak voltage (or to spark-over voltage if lower) and back again to zero every time the distributor points open to produce this high voltage. This, however, does not occur instantaneously.
  • the normal rate of voltage rise to tire the plug is about 1%20000 of a second, and the current leakage rate across the spark plug coating to the ground is about the same.
  • the voltage rise in this auxiliary gap is, however, faster and higher and therefore the voltage delivered to the spark plug is initially high enough to generally tire the plug.
  • the voltage rise time at the plug is about a millionth of a second and the plug therefore iires before any appreciable leakage can weaken the spark.
  • the auxiliary gap also permits use of plugs with wider gaps and longer use thereof without regapping. Wider gapped plugs are known to improve lower speed operation, and with this auxiliary gap there is ample voltage to fire the plugs at all speeds with wider gaps.
  • a spark intensifier adapted to be connected between the high voltage terminal of an ignition coil and the central terminal of a distributor head of an internal combustion engine, said intensifier comprising:
  • a two-chamber housing of insulating corona and acid resisting material comprising a cylindrical body with centrally apertured end walls and a centrally apertured partition near the middle of the body, the electrodes and their ring-shaped supporting member being supported solely by the end walls and the partition, with the ring-shaped member on that side of the partition which is facing toward the ignition coil, the partition and the end wall that is nearest the distributor head being provided with perforations to permit circulation of air;

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Description

April 29, 1969 R. R. I Ewls SPARK INTENSIFIER GAP WITH A TRANSFORMER COIL AROUND THE CABLE Filed Feb. 9, 19e? INVENTQR RALPH R. LEWISv 'Maher vf zum Y ATTORNEYS United ,States Patent O 3,441 797 SPARK INTENSIFIER GAPWITH A TRANSFORMER COIL AROUND THE CABLE Ralph R. Lewis, 3 Whitney St., Saugus, Mass. 01906 Filed Feb. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 614,858 Int. Cl. H011 29/96 U.S. Cl. 315-57 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A spark intensifier adapted to be connected between the high voltage terminal of the ignition coil and the central terminal of a distributor head of an internal combustion engine comprising an auxiliary gap defined by a first electrode having a threaded shank connected through a wire to the high voltage terminal of the ignition coil and a second electrode spaced about 0.095 inch opposite said first electrode having a threaded shank connected through a Wire to the central terminal of the distributor head, a cylindrical ring-shaped supporting member of acid-resistant, corona-resistant insulating material with diametrically opposite threaded holes into which the threaded Shanks are screwed, enlarged heads having smooth, parallel faces preferably slightly concave, on said electrodes defining the adjacent ends of said electrodes, a coil of insulated copper wire having about 40 turns surrounding the threaded shank of the first electrode, preferably wound tightly `and smoothly over the lead wire resulting in a cone-shaped coil close to ring-shaped supporting member, a cylindrical housing of acid-resistant, corona-resistant insulating material having a partition near the middle thereof adapted to support and center the second electrode, centrally apertured and walls on each end of the housing in alignment with the axis of the auxiliary gap adapted to maintain the auxiliary gap coaxial with the housing and perforations in the partition and in the end wall nearest the distributor, adapted to permit free circulation and change of air.
Background of the invention The field of. the invention iselectric lamp and discharge devices, and the invention is particularly concerned with series gaps and an intensifier in the lead-in.
Spark gap intensifiers for automobiles and other internal combustion engines are known in the prior art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,684,451 of Castangay and 2,454,714 of Osterman. The utility of the series gap in an ignition system was confirmed by the U.S. Bureau of Standards, NACA Report No. 57, page 176, of 1919.
Some of the limitations of the prior art devices are the necessity of having a separate series gap for each spark plug, the individual adjustments necessary to start and maintain the current fiow, the materials of construction which were poorly suited for use in the environment of a high intensity, high voltage pulse spark gap and the variable operating characteristics under different atmospheric conditions.
Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ignition system spark intensifier.
Another object of the invention is a spark intensifier for location in series with the coil and distributor of -an ignition system.
A particular object of the present invention is an ignition system spark intensifier having a spark gap set at a predetermined spacing.
Still another particular object of the invention is a spark intensifier having `a coil of wire surrounding the spark gap electrode on the ignition coil side to provide improved engine starting.
3,441,797 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 ICC Upon further study of the specification and claims other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent.
According to the present invention, an ignition system spark intensifier is provided which comprises an auxiliary spark gap interposed 'between the high voltage terminal of n ignition coil and the central terminal of the distributor ead.
The improved spark intensifier comprises, preferably, two austenitic steel screws, resistant to acids, acid fumes, ozone, and corona, threaded through the inside diameter of an acid-resisting, corona-resisting, insulating ring in a head-to-head spaced relationship. A coil of insulated wire is wrapped around the lead wire extending to the ignition coil and the insulating ring is supported by an acid-resistant, corona-resistant, petroleum products-resistant housing having perforations for free circulation of outflow gases.
Photo-recordings of the oscilloscope displays of the high tension impulses of the present invention and the prior art devices were made from ten millisecond sweeps. The recordings indicated that the impulses of the invention followed a single ionization path with the result that more heat is dissipated into the gasoline mixture with less heat into the metal of the spark plug walls or electrodes. This heat dissipation produces longer spark plug life and fire power. The shorter duration single spark of the present invention requires less energy to fire the spark plugs and less heat is generated in the secondary system with a resulting longer life for the components. The spark pattern of the present intensifier is reproduced consistently and otherwise fouled spark plugs continue to operate. Because of the present device, above normal primary ampera-ge which leads to burnt distributor points due to fouled or shorted plugs are eliminated.
Brief description 0f the drawing Description ofthe preferred embodiments The improved spark intensifier is connected between the high voltage terminal of the ignition coil 1 and the central terminal of the distributor head 2. Instead of the usual continuous cable connecting these two parts, there is interposed an auxiliary gap 3 comprising two adjustable electrodes 4 kept in spaced relationship to each other `by cylindrical ring 5 of acid-resistant, corona-resistant insulating material. The cylindrical ring has two diametrically opposed holes 6 screw threaded to receive the threaded shanks of the electrodes 4. The remote ends of the electrodes are pointed to facilitate their endwise insertion into the free ends of high voltage cables 7 and 8. The free ends of the electrodes are much wider than their Shanks and are smooth, parallel and preferably slightly `concave on their adjacent faces.
The gap 3 may be varied between 0.060 and 0.120 inch and the preferred spacing is 0.095 inch. A suitable material of construction for the cylindrical ring 5 is compressed fiber or corona-resistant, non-porous, waterproof, acid-proof, ceramic or plastic material.
The auxiliary gap 3 is given additional protection and support by a cylindrical housing9 of insulating material through end walls 10 and 11 of which the cables 7 and 8 are passed. The insulating acid-resisting, corona-resisting material of the housing 9 is suitably an unplasticized polymer such as polypropylene or linear polyethylene.
In the middle of the housing 9 there is a partition 12 having a central aperture to receive an acid, corona, and petroleum products-resistant boot 13 on the cable 8, and additional apertures 14 for free circulation and change of air. The end wall 11 has perforations 15 to provide free communication with the outside air.
A noise and static suppressor 19 suitably surrounds the housing. The suppressor is a tube of thin metal, preferably stainless steel isolated with Mylar lilm.
The cable 7 which is connected to the ignition coil 1 carries at its outer end immediately adjacent the ring S a coil 16 of enameled copper wire, with the two ends connected to each other, as shown in FIGURE 2. The wire of coil 16 is suitably #28 wire and has a multiplicity of turns with 40 turns preferred. The coil 16 is preferably provided with a wrapping 17 of a suitable tape, such as Mylar, which is non-stretchable, inert, nonporous, high dielectric, and a boot 18 is fitted over the outside thereof. Boot is resistant to acids, corona, petroleum products.
This improved auxiliary gap prevents or diminishes spark plug current leakage. The high tension current from the ignition coil to the spark plug (through the rotor of the distributor) surges from zero to peak voltage (or to spark-over voltage if lower) and back again to zero every time the distributor points open to produce this high voltage. This, however, does not occur instantaneously. The normal rate of voltage rise to tire the plug is about 1%20000 of a second, and the current leakage rate across the spark plug coating to the ground is about the same. The voltage rise in this auxiliary gap is, however, faster and higher and therefore the voltage delivered to the spark plug is initially high enough to generally tire the plug. The voltage rise time at the plug is about a millionth of a second and the plug therefore iires before any appreciable leakage can weaken the spark. The auxiliary gap also permits use of plugs with wider gaps and longer use thereof without regapping. Wider gapped plugs are known to improve lower speed operation, and with this auxiliary gap there is ample voltage to fire the plugs at all speeds with wider gaps.
It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claim.
Having thus described my invention, I claim:
1. A spark intensifier adapted to be connected between the high voltage terminal of an ignition coil and the central terminal of a distributor head of an internal combustion engine, said intensifier comprising:
(a) a first electrode having a threaded shank connected to said high voltage terminal and a second electrode having a threaded shank connected to said central terminal, said electrodes having heads with parallel faces to form an auxiliary gap in series with the main spark plug gap;
(b) a cylindrical ring-shaped electrically insulating supporting member positioned transversely of the auxiliary ga-p andi having diametrically opposite threaded holes into which the threaded shanks of the electrodes are screwed;
(c) a two-chamber housing of insulating corona and acid resisting material comprising a cylindrical body with centrally apertured end walls and a centrally apertured partition near the middle of the body, the electrodes and their ring-shaped supporting member being supported solely by the end walls and the partition, with the ring-shaped member on that side of the partition which is facing toward the ignition coil, the partition and the end wall that is nearest the distributor head being provided with perforations to permit circulation of air; and
(d) a coil of insulated wire in the housing and surrounding the threaded shank of the lirst electrode.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,326,036 12/1919 Dunbar 313-147 1,508,622 9/1924 Smith 315-62 1,968,225 7/1934 Shell et al. 315-62 2,896,120 7/1959` Spittler 315-58 X 3,267,325 8/1966 Why 315-58 X 3,191,133 6/1965 Texsier a 315-58 X JAMES W. LAWRENCE, Primary Examiner.
C. R. CAMPBELL, Assistant Examiner.
U.S. Cl. X.R.
US614858A 1967-02-09 1967-02-09 Spark intensifier gap with a transformer coil around the cable Expired - Lifetime US3441797A (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4160203A (en) * 1977-12-12 1979-07-03 K-D Manufacturing Company Automotive spark indicator

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1326036A (en) * 1919-12-23 Spark-iettebtsmer
US1508622A (en) * 1921-04-21 1924-09-16 Rensselaer J Smith Spark-amplifying device
US1968225A (en) * 1932-11-16 1934-07-31 Gustave A Shell Spark plug
US2896120A (en) * 1955-12-23 1959-07-21 Bosch Gmbh Robert Ignition noise suppressor
US3191133A (en) * 1961-04-25 1965-06-22 Texsier Leon Interference suppressor for internal combustion engines
US3267325A (en) * 1962-12-06 1966-08-16 Gen Motors Corp Combined spark plugs and oscillatory circuit

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1326036A (en) * 1919-12-23 Spark-iettebtsmer
US1508622A (en) * 1921-04-21 1924-09-16 Rensselaer J Smith Spark-amplifying device
US1968225A (en) * 1932-11-16 1934-07-31 Gustave A Shell Spark plug
US2896120A (en) * 1955-12-23 1959-07-21 Bosch Gmbh Robert Ignition noise suppressor
US3191133A (en) * 1961-04-25 1965-06-22 Texsier Leon Interference suppressor for internal combustion engines
US3267325A (en) * 1962-12-06 1966-08-16 Gen Motors Corp Combined spark plugs and oscillatory circuit

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4160203A (en) * 1977-12-12 1979-07-03 K-D Manufacturing Company Automotive spark indicator

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