US942328A - Igniter for internal-combustion motors. - Google Patents

Description

JOHNSTON.

IGNITER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1907.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I HOWARD A. JOHNSTON, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO. CANADA.

IGNITER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION MOTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. *7, 1909.

Application filed. September 27, 1907. Serial N0. 394,869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD ADDISON JOIINS'lON, of the city of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a workable spark plug for heavy oils I have therefore found it necessary to arrange itso that a small portion of the oil is vaporized by electrically 'enerated heat and the vapor ignited by an e ectric spark. I have accomplished this result by so constructing the electrodes of the plug that a portion of the spray of oil contacts with electrode surfaces so located and constructed that the oil caught thereon is collected at the spark gap and vaporized by the heat of a s ark in passing from electrode to electrode, y heat due to electrical resistance or byboth, and

the vapor ignited by the spark.

The drawing shows a side elevation, partly in section, of my igniter.

A 1s a sparking lug, which is preferably of the soot proo type. In this type of plug a porcelain petticoat B surrounds the central electrode b The other electrode D isl connected with the metal part E of the 1) ug.

The object of my igniter being to vaporize a small quantity of oil for subsequent ignition by the spark, I make the end of one of the electrodes of comparatively fine wire, and so arrange them that there is presented at the spark gap a surface, or surfaces, adapted to collect between them a certain amount of any fluid which may be sprayed y againstthe igniter, and this fluid is vaporized at the time of passing of the spark, partly by the heat of the spark and partly also in all probability by the heat due to the electrical resistance of the comparatively 50= the drawing .is shown on a large scale to betfine electrode. It should be noted here that ter illustrate the arts.

I have found t at better results tained by are obproviding special means for directing against the electrodes a part of any fluid sp rayed in the direction of the igniter.

It is also preferable that the directing means should also effect a concentration of the spray. For this purpose I provide a receiver F, which forms part of one of the electrodes and insures the accumulation of a sufficient quantity of fluid adjacent to the spark gap to furnish sufiicient vapor for lgnition purposes. To retain the liquid adjacent the spark gap, the receiveris so shaped as to form a cup I below the spark gap and is preferably closed at its inner end so that any sprayed liquid striking within the receiver flows down into the bottom of the cup I.

The outer electrode D is bent around and turned parallel to the cup for a short distance adjacent to the s ark gap and is formed of a fine wire. wing to the cup there is necessarily a comparatively large accumulation of fluid at the spark gap, and when a spark passes so much 011 is vaporized that a comparatively large flame is formed which is exceedingly efficient in igniting a spray of liquid fuel. If so much oil accumulates in the cup and at the s ark gap that the spark cannot break throug a discharge will take place .over the surface of the fluid to the nearest part of the cup to the point of the electrode D. 7

An igniter such as described forms an excellent starting igniter for engines using crude oil as fuel as it will ignite the spray with certainty and does not become clogged. It will also be seen that as the wire electrode extends above the rim of the cup within sparking distance of the rim, in no case can the spark gap be completely insulated with oil as the maximum possible oil level is below the highest possible position of the spark gap.

WVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. An. igniter for internal combustion motors comprising a sparking plug provided with suitable electrodes, one electrode being shaped to form a cup, andpthe other shaped as a wire extending from without the cup within sparking distance of the rim of the cup. i

2. An igniter for internal combustion motors comprising a sparking plugi pro vided with suitable electrodes, oneelectrode being shaped to form a cup, and the other shaped as a wire enterin the cup fr in without and extending within sparkin' distance of the cup at any point of their overlap.

3. An igniter for internal combustion motors com-prising a sparking plug provided with electrodes suitably shaped to form between them a spark gap and a cu below the spark gap shaped to give a maximum possible fluid level slightl below the spark gap whereby a supply 0 liquid fuel may be held at the spark gap which cannot rise above and insulate the spark gap.

4. An igniter for internal combustion motors, comprising a sparking plug provided with a suitable electrode; and a cup formed as part of another electrode formin a spark gap with the first electrode, adapted to concentrate a spray of fuel upon the s ark gap, and cupped below the spark gap, t e first electrode being formed of comparatively fine wire.

5-. igniter for internal combustion motors, 'coinprisin a sparking plug provided with a suita le electrode; and a cup formed as part of another electrode and located at the spark gap, one of the electrodes being formed of'com aratively fine wire. Toronto, Ont., 16t September, 190?:

HOWARD A. JOHNSTON. Signed in presence of- J. EDW, MAYBEE,

F. W. McKnNmuoK.

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