US1352775A - Spark-plug - Google Patents

Description

G. A'. BELLr SPARK PLUG. APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. 1917.

133,552,775, PatentedSept. 14,1920i4 d j/I'y I T 1.527 'l ,I .5g fB I2 1.. Z).- "sI t? Jl? I Ik W '1T ,KM J

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entre? rares GEORG-E A. BELL, OF SILVER CREEK, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALE TQ LE ROS C. HAMMOND, OF SILVER CREEKLNEW YORK. l

l 'SPARK-PLUG.

Application filed May 26,

Amore particularly to what may he termed a self-cleaning spark plug.A

- @ne of the objects of my invention is the production of a self-cleaning -spark plug wherein provision is made for automatically cleaning lthe electrodes oi the spark plug and retaining the space between them unobstructed uniler ell working conditions.

Another obj ect oii'iny invention is the provision of a self-cleaning spark plug' wherein the electrodes are disposed in alinement and wherein an automatic cleaning device is arranged to move lengthwise on said electrodes, vsaid cleaning device heilig constructedand arranged to assure reciprocable movement thereof with each cycle ol the engine piston cooperating with the spark plug.

Another object is the provision of a selfcleaning device movable lengthwise along alinedelectrodes andl adapted to be limited in its outward moveinent by the porcelain or other insulating core of the spark plug,

-sa-id cleaning device being provided with means to assure an inward movement of the same with or immediately following each explosion' of the gases within the cylinder to which the spark plug is attached.

A further object is the provision of a lspark plug having novel means for automatically cleaning the electrodes thereof and which means are simple,v inexpensive` and durable, said means being further conf 'struc'ted of a material which .will assure a the spark plug is attached.

'Vl/'ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a spark plug having al pair of electrodes and a movable cleaning device constructed of conducting material which will assure a spark of greater magnitude and intensity.

The invention also consists in a spari'- plu having alined electrodes and a reeiprdI i. cleaning device movabfie alongsaid vinto a cylinder of an engine. cured within this outer or ground casing B, `is a porcelain or other insulating 'core C through which the power electrode D `i`s' 1917. Serial No. 171,140.

electrodes-and constructed'to assure' an in Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept., l'l, i920.

ward movement thereof with or immedii ately following each explosion within the' cylinder to which the spark is attached. ,i

The invention further consists in aspark plug having a pair of alincd electrodes and a metallic element surrounding saidf electrodes and movable lengthwise thereon, element having` an explosion chamber there- .in whereby thc exploding gases-are caused to force 'the element inwardly f along` Ithe electrodes withI or immediatelyv following each explosion of the gases within the cylinlder to which Vthe plug is attached. A f ,A It ,further consists in thenovell features of' construction'andin thc arrangement 'id combination of parts to be hereinafter ijlescribed and more particularly pointed hout in the subjoined claims. l'

In the drawings,- .Y Figure l isl a side View of a spark plug embodying what I now` coi'isider thev plie.'-

fei'red form of my invention. v ,.1 Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the lower or inner portion of the spark plugl on lany enlarged scale, the cleaning device being at its innermost point of movement.

device at its outermost point oi inovementl Fig. t is a plan view of the cleaning'device.' i' i. i `Fig. 5 is an inverted view of the same.

Irg. 3 is a similar view with the cleaning In the preferred embodiment olimyinl,

vention shown in thc drawings, but which may be greatly modified without departing from the spirit of my invention, A repre-,x

' sents the spark plug considered asa whole'` This spark plug is ot the type having outer or ground casing B constructed suitable current conducting material, as is common, and having an vexternal thread b which permits .of the`plug beine` threaded Silitably sepassed. The inner end of this plug is shown as terminating short ot the inner end or" the outer or ground casing with the power elec` trode I) extending inwardlyV therefrom" aV short distance. The outer end of said elec! ti'ode'l) is provided with a binding nut between which and a washer E surrounding said electrode, a circuit wireF is clamped.

G designates the ground-electrodewhich" is -fastened into the outer or ground casing B, -as at y, it being directed inwardly from its point of attachment to said casing and thence'radially,A as at H, to a point coiiicident=with the axis of the power electrode D, thencel outwardly in alinenient with said power electrode, as at h, forming a substantially U-shaped electrode with its spark terminal terminating a short distance from the inner end of said power electrode to Jrovide theusual sparking space or gap I between the' two electrodes.

1t is of course to be understood that the spark plug may be variously formed and that the herein illust ation thereof is merely representative of the general type of spark plugs to which tliisinvention is particularly adapted.y The arrangement of the electrodes shown is, however, highly desirable since it enables the use of'my improved electrode cleaning vdevice in its simplest form. The principle of my invention, however, could readily be applied in spark plugs having electrodes otherwise arranged.

It is also to be understood that the current is carried through the outer vor ground. easing of the spark plugin the usual manner, the current being passed through the engine casing into which the spark plug is threaded, a ground wire being fastened to the engine easing for this purpose, as is In the preferred form of my invention l employ a comparatively small cast-iron cleaner member'J, which is preferably cylindrical and of a depth -or height somewhat less than the length'of that portion of the power electrode extending from the porcelain yor other insulating core C, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, wherein the cleaner is inits outermost position in contact with the inner end of said core The depth or height of. this cleaner is preferably somewhat greater than the length yof the short leg /i or terminal-of the U-shaped ground electrode, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This cleaner has an axial opening j, counterbored at its outer end, as at K, the counterbore serving as a chamber for the reception o'r compressed gases when the cleaner is in its outermost position against the inner end oi the core C, said core serv-ing as one of the walls of the' chamber, as clearly shown in rig. a.

Extending laterally from said couiiterboi'e or chamber to the outer periphery of the cleaner are one 'or more passages or ducts I.: which serve as inlet passages for the chamber formed by the counterbore and core (ff. This cleaner, as stated, is preferably formed of cast-iron andwhen in its innermost position, shown in F ig. 2, has'both electrodes D and G terminating within said counterbore,' consequently when in this position and the current is passed through the spark plug the flaring walls of the counterbore serveas' a sparking surface as well as the extreme Vterininal of the ground electrode, thus assuring a spark of greater magnitude and intensity lthan under the usual conditions of use in a spark plug of this type. This condition of operation will be encountered when starting a multi-cylinder engine'on a battery; the

cleaners of the spark plugs of one or more i cylinders being forced outwardly under thel compression created by the outward movement of the piston or pistons, While at other spark-plugs, sparks will be created while the cleaners are at their innermost points of movement. l

When starting an engine with a magneto.

the spark is created only in that cylinder of the engine in which the gases are being i the counterbore K of the cleaner through .the

ducts or passages and when ignition of the gas takes' placewitliin the cylinder, the gas within said eounterbore or within the chamber of the cleaner formed by said counterbore and the core C is also ignited and the cleaner forced inwardly. The explosion of the gas within the chamber of the cleaner takes place'immediately after the explosion in the cylinder so that there is no coun,- tei'acting force to retain the cleaner iii its outermost position. It is of course apparent that the ducts 4or passages may be dispensedl with, since the rases would be crowded into the counterbore during the outward movement of the cleaner and trapped therein as the cleaner seats it-selfl against the inner end ofthe core C; but I consider the use of such duitser passages highly desirable since they assure a greater compression of the gases within the counterbore or chamber K.

It is ofcourse understood that the bore'j through the cleaner must be of a slightly Vlarger diameter-than the electrodes D and G so that the cleaner may act easily in its movement on said electrodes, and during the operation of an engine to which the spark plug is attached the cleaner is moved outwardly'during each outward movement of the coperating piston, and moves inwardly by gravity; and when there is ood compression due to proper packing o the pist0nby.gravity assisted by suction; but to assure proper and continual movements. of the cleaner, reliance is had on the explosion of the gases Within the counterbore, on the particular cycle of the piston at which explosion of the gaseswithin the cylinder takes place. Consequently during thegoperthe spark plug and oftentimes render the same inoperative.

In order that the cleaner, which owing to its bobbing movements may be termed a bobberf7 be retained properly upon the electrodes, and particularly upon the terminal of the groundelectrode G without tipping thereon, I have provided a stop L which is in the form of a wire secured into the outer or ground casing B in a manner similar to the ground electrode G, the wire extending inwardly from the inner edge of said casing parallel with the alined electrodes and Gr and being thence directed radiallyl in line with the radial portion H of the ground electrode, the inner end terminating short of the ground electrode, as shown at l.. The bobber, so called, therefore rests upon the radial portion H of the ground electrode at one side of its'main axis, and against the stop L at the other`A sideithereof and is held with its bore in alinement with the power electrode D 'so that free action is assured at all times.

It is to be understood that this bobber or cleaning-device may be formed of material 'other than cast-iron, whether a conducting material or a non-conducting material, but I have found iii practice that cast-iron'possesses high current-conducting qualities and therefore insures a fatter y spark than other irons, or alloys; and furthermore, it does not permit the accumulation of carbon thereon. It consequently remains clean and smooth and alsol keeps the electrodes 'in a clean condition so that a very effective Spark is obtained under all working conditions arid greater power and vmore mileage se-. cured per gallon consumption of gasoleneY or other power agency used to operate the engine.

Since my invention as shown and described illustrates merely what I now consider the simplest form of adaptation, it is apparent that, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, it may be modified for use in connection with spark plugs of different construction 4than herein shown and described, and where in the claims I' refer to electrodes I do not intend to confine myself to the useof wires or other slenderelongated members servingas such, but wish to have it understood thatby suoli term I include all surfaces spaced apart to fprovide' a gap which the electric current is to jump for creating a spark.-

Now therefore, what I claim is,-- l. A spark plug provided with a pair of ialined electrodes, ya cleaning device compris- -ng a comparativelysmall'body having a center bore and a counterbore at one end of said center bore, said center lbore being adapted to receive said electrodes and permit lengthwise movement of said body on said electrodes, said body having a passage extending therethrough from the periphery thereof to said counterbore.

2. In a Vspark plug, a cleaning device 'adapted for-movementin contact with the electrodes thereof and comprising a body portion having a center bore and a counter- Vbore at one end of said center bore,'said body also having a passage leading from the exterior thereof to said counterbore.

3. A spark plug comprising an outer or ground casing, an insulating core within said casing anda pair'of electrodes, one of said electrodes projecting from said insulating core; combined with a cleaning device in the form of a solid body having a bore to receive one of saidelectrodes, said bore being flared at. 011e end to serve as a chamber and said chamberopeniiig'toward said core.

In testimony whereof I aix my signal'fllI'e.

GEORGE A. BELL.

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