US966766A - Short-circuit detector. - Google Patents

Description

I F. 0. REINEKING. SHORT CIRCUIT DETECTOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7,-1910.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

- INVENTOB BY Wi ATTORNEY all tJnrrn s'ra'r rarer clarion rnnnnnrcn c. nnrnnmne, on JERSEY CITY, new annsnr, Assrenon To nas'rmn'n GQMIPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHORT-CIRCUIT DETECTOR.

Wdb, i 66.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February "1, ram. serieina eraser.

To all whom it mag commas:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. Reinsnrns, a citizen of the United States, residing at 3% Leinbecli' avenue, in Jersey City, county of Hudsorn and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful improvement in Shortflircuit Detectors, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to short circuit de tcctors, and the object of my device is to furnish a simple, inexpensive method for visually detectingshort circuits such as occur in spark plugs, wiring, magnetos, and other portions of the ignition apparatus of internal combustion en ines and elsewhere, without the necessity o removing the snark plug or other portion of the said ignitionapparatus from its place in the en ine.

I accomplish this object by he device shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a section in elevation of my device. Fig. 2 is a transverse section'through spark space N. Fig 3 is a transverse section through pin L A is a flanged cylinder of vulcanized rub-.

her or other insulating material.

B is a handle of hard rubber or other insulating material,

C is a short length of glass tubing.

l) is a retaining ring of brass or other metal to hold tube C in place on cylinder A. E is a pin threaded into cylinder A and handle E. I

F is a pin threaded into cylinder A.

G is a flat knurled handle integral with pin F,

H is a fiat clip or boss threaded around pin-E;

l is a pin at the outer end of clip H.

J is an arm swingingabout pm I as a pivot.-

K is acup shaped recess at the lower end of arm J.

L is a hook shaped projection at the end of arm J. r

M is a sharp point at the outerfend of pin F. 7 p

N is a cylindrical open s ark space bored. across therniddle of cylin or A.

U is a sharp sparlr point on the end of pin l P is pin F.

a sharp sparli. point on the end oi?- By reference to the drawings, it will be observed that the lower end of arm J may be swung in or out about pin 1 as a pivot; and in this manner the distance between the lower end of arm. and the point M may be diminished or increased will, The advantage of this arrangement is that contact may be made at any point within the range of the swing of arm J and in many places, such as testing the terminals ofa magneto, or in testing spark plug, it is impossible to get nninsulated contact-s except at certain specific points on theline to be tested and the distance between these uninsulated points is rarely the same. It will be further observed by reference to the drawings, that the spark gap between terminals, U and P may be diminished or increased at will, The advantage of this arrangement is that spark gaps of varying sizes in the lineto be tested may be accurately measured,

The operation of my device is as follows: Before beginning the'test, the distance be tween terminals 0 and P should beset so as to approximately equal the distancebetween the spark plug terminals in the particular engine which is to be examined. This ad strong sparltshows in space N, then it will be evident tliatthere is no short circuit between the spark plug terminals inside the engine cylinder; for the reason that it the spark plug were short-circuited, then the electric current would run throueh such shortcircuit in the spark plug, and would not travel againsttheihigher resistance due to the air space between tern'iinals U and P.

lil on the other hand, a. reali: sparlr or no spark; at all shows in space N it is evident that the terminals of the sparlr plug inside the cylinder are short circuited to a greater or less degree, and. that the electric current is traveling through this short circuited path of low resistance, in preference to leap BEST AVAILABLE COPY can be determined whether any short circuit exists between the wire and the cylinder;

, and in like manner, the condition of the entire ignition system may be examined.

In case the distance between the spark plug terminals is unknown, said distance may be measured by means of my device. Start with terminals 0 and 1? very close together. Then (unless the spark plu is entirely short circuited) a spark wi show between terminals 0 and P. Now keep increasing the gap between terminals 0 and P until the spark ceases to leap between them. The distance between terminals 0 and P will then equalor very closely approximate the distance between the spark plug terminals inside the cylinder. Similar measuring tests of the magneto and other portions of the ignition system may be made.

I claim:

1. In short circuit detectors, in combination an insulating casing, a spark space in said insulating easing, two insulated terminals in said spark space; means for formin an electrical connection between'one of sai terminals and one oint of the circuit to be tested; means for orming an electrical connection between the other of said terminals and another point of the circuit to be tested, in such manner that the particular point of the circuit Which.is under examination shall be .between the two electrical connections aforesaid; means for making the distance- 'the circuit which is under examination shall be between the two electrical connections aforesaid; means for making the spark space between said terminals greater or smaller at-will.

3. In short circuit detectors, in combina tion an insulatmg casmg, a spark space in said insulating casing, two insulated terminals in sald spark space; means for forming an electrical connection between one ofv said terminals and one point of the circuit to be tested; means for forming an electrical connection between the other of said terr' minals and another point of the circuit to be tested, in such manner that the particular point of the circuit which is under examinascarce tion shall be between the two electrical connections aforesaid; means for making the spark space between said terminals greater or smaller at will means for making the distance between the outer ends of the two terminal connections, greater or smaller at will.

4. In a short circuit detector, an insulated casing having an opening extending through one of its sides and two orifices extending from the'opening to the outer wall of the casing, two electrodes disposed in the orifices respectively, a transparent member disposed around the casing and across the opening therein, means for connecting the electrodes with the circuit which is to be tested by points at a distance from each other, means for varying the distancebetween the outer terminals of the connecting means.

5. In a short circuit detector, an insulated casing having an openin extendin through one of its sides, two ori ces exten ing from the opening through the outer wall of the casing, two electrodes disposed in the orifices respectively, means for increasing 'or diminishing the gap between said electrodes at will, a transparent member disposed around the casing and across the opening therein, means for connecting the electrodes with the circuit which is to be tested by points at a distance from each other.

6. In a short circuit detector, an insulated casing having an openin extendin through one of its sides, two ori ces exten ing from the opening through the outer wall of the casing, two electrodes disposed in the orifices respectively, means for increasing or diminishing the gap between said electrodes at will, a transparent member disposed around the casing and across the opening therein, means for connecting the-electrodes with the circuit which is to be tested by points at a distance from each other, means for varyin the distance between the outer terminals 0 the connecting means.

7 In a shortcircuit detector, an insulated casing having an opening extending through one ofits sides and two orifices extending from the opening through the outer wall of the casing, two electrodes disposed in the orifices respectively, a transparent member disposed around the casing and across the opening therein, a member havin electrical connection with one of the electr es, and an arm hinged to the member.

'8. In a short circuit detector, an insulated casing having an opening which extends electrodes an electrically-conductive member securetl between the handle and the casing,-

and an arm hinged to the member..

9. In a short circuit detector, an insulated easing having an opening which extends through one of its sides and two orifices which extend 'from the opening through the outer surface of the eas1ng5 two electrodes having inner and outer terminals respeetively,.disposed in the orifices respectively, the inner terminals of the electrodes being disposed in the opening and the outer terminals extending beyondf the casing, a handle secured to the outer terminal of oneof the electrodes, an electrically-conductive member 15 secured between the handle and the casing, an arm hinged to the said member a glass cylinder (disposed around the casing and .across the opening therein {FREDERICK C. REINEKING. Witnesses:- I

ARTHUR; GJ-JoHNeON, Anonem W'rnnnn

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