Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-17
.i)MPL|F|ED LESSONS ON
7 PROPER CARE OF AUTOS
, Technical Terms Applied to Ignition
System Are Made Clear by The
TimcS-DiSpatcl Expert.
EXPLAINS ELECTRICITY LAWS
Materials Through Which Electrical
Current Cannot PasS-iiow the
Dry Cell Overwhelmingly Auto
Questions Arc Answered.
copyrighted, 1916. by Frederick {
Guerrlich)
FOURTH LESSON.
Ignition.

We now come 10 tho study of tho ig-
milton systems. that is, Of the devices
which are used TO ignite the explosive
compressed mixture ot gas and air
which We have in the cylinders.
In the automobile this IS accomplish
ed by the utilization OF some OF the
we'll known properties and action OF an
electric current. To understand the
ignition system. therefore. we must
know some of the simple laws Of cleo
tricity. and | will first explain these
laws and what the various terms used
so often mean.
BY comparing tho flow of an clectri-
cal current through n wire. 10 the flow
of water through pipe. l believe
can more readily make YOU understand
these laws and terms.
The Volt md !tmpcrc.
First OF all. IL YOU had line OF pipe
with water motor or other water
operated device at ono end. and YOU
wanted water TO flow through this pipe.
YOU would have to have some pressure
at the source to force II through. If
YOU knew what the pressure were YOU
would say tina, IL was a certain mum
bcr Of pounds. So. likewise. 10 have
a current OF electricity flow through n
wire, electric motor or other clcctri-
cally-operatcd device. YOU would have
to have n pressure at the source to
force the current through An elcctri
clan would say that the current had a
certain number OF volts pressure
The volt. therefore is the Unit OF mea-
sure OF electrical pressure,
This should explain TO you the terms
high voltage or low voltage. they mean
high pressure or low pressure.
1t might he we'll TO explain to YOU
here that, while tension means phil.
and. therefore. the opposite Of pressure.
that hich tcpsion and high voltage
really meant the same thing when used
in defining an electrical current. While
the current under pressure above re-
fcrrcd to must come from the source
of current. that is, the battery, dyna :
no. etc. il must also. after having done
The things required OF il, return To
this source. We might. therefore in =
stead Of saying il Is pressed out from,
the one side, say that II is drawn or
pulled, sort of sucked. into the return,
side. Thus It will be under a pnll OF
tension, instead OF pressure.
What does the ampcrc, or ampcra .
mean Referring again to our Pipe
with water flowing through il. II yor
wanted 10 know how much was pass.
iuG through during n minute. say. you
would put meter in tho line and
measure the number OF gallons. So
likewise. YOU can measure the ainount
OF current passing through a wire. but
iuStead of saying gallons. tho cleo
triClan says ampcrcs. or that the cur.
rent has u certain atnpcragc.
6. Thus the ampcre is the unit or mca
sure Of the electrical rate OF fow. ol
Of tn" quantity flowing.
There arc certain materials suci
rs rubber, mica ana porcelain. through
which an electrical current cannot pass
likewise there are materials throurf
which ii can pass freely. The formc,
We call Observation-Disclosures, or insulating
materials; tho latter conductors.
The spark
Here. | believe, is the place TO ex.
plain the electrical action. which more
than any other Is us"d TO civ. tho
spark by which 200 gntrs arc icnitcd
Coming back" 10" Water II we had
a pipe with water under a low nres
sure In it. we could fastcn a piece OF
cardboard to the end of this pipe. and
!, would stop the now az Tho water
hut II We raised tho pressure OF tn,
water Sufficiently, il would hurs,
through this cardboard. probably viii
loud report. of course. tho ,hickc
the cardboard The greater would have
10 be The pressure
Air VIII act much the Same in stop
ping the tiow Of electricity as the card
board does that Of water. Thus n THU
laycr OF air Will resist the flow q
electricity under = low pressure. In
u tho pressure or voltage. lie raised
Sufficiently, the electricity viii burs
through this layer OF air, and In do
ing so, will cause spark TO bc pro
duccd.
IT is the above action which is use,
TO give the spark required 10 irnit