Improvements in Electric igniting apparatus for Explosion magnes
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
Improvements in Electric igniting apparatus for Explosion magnes
A communication from abroad by the POPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY (INCOR-
PORATED), of Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:.
-
This invention relates to electric igniters for explosive engines and has for
its object particularly to make it possible to employ an alternating current and
also to dispense with the use of primary batteries, whereby the igniter is
specially adapted for use on motor vehicles. A further object is to make it
possible for the operator or driver to vary the period of ignition at will.
Another part of the invention is concerned also with the means whereby the
period of ignition is varied, the object being to permit the operating handle to
be located on one part, such as the body of a motor vehicle, which changes its
position with respect to the other part of the motor vehicle, on which is
mounted the explosive engine and the igniter, while at the same time, the
adjustable part of the igniter responds promptly and precisely to the movements
of the operating handle and is not affected by the relative displacement of the
two parts of the vehicle.
The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1 is an enlarged side view of a motor with the casing partly broken
off, showing also the flexible control to the igniter.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the igniter and its connected parts.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.
Figures 4 and 5 are detail views of the contact making and breaking devices
in side and plan_view.
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical connections of the
igniter.
As shown, the igniter and its operating means are enclosed within the
casing E E, or within a supplemental casing secured thereon. A permanent
magnet is mounted rotatably within the casing and is driven by suitable gearing
from the engine shaft so as to rotate in a definite relation therewith, preferably
at the same speed in a two-cylinder engine, the gearing shown being adapted
to produce such a relative speed. The armature L is wound for an alternating
current, and for every revolution of the two-pole field about the armature the
current generated will vary from zero to maximum positive and then through
and from zero to maximum negative. The particular object in view m this
part of the invention is to make it possible to use an alternating current for

page_text: purposes of ignition and to produce apparatus capable of generating this current
and of taking off the current for the spark when the current approaches its
maximum; and is strong enough to produce the spark. A further object is to
make it possible for the operator to vary the period of ignition at will. To
attain the last named object the armature L is made rotatably adjustable to a
limited extent, being supported by a cap L', which is rotatable on the main
part of the casing. The means for affecting the adjustment of the armature
will be described hereinafter. The devices for taking off the current at the
proper time, for a multiple cylinder engine, are carried by two insulating
disks M and N which are secured respectively to the field or permanent magnet
and to the armature, the disk N being of course capable of movement with the
armature for purposes of adjustment. Upon the disk M are secured contact
plates m which are disposed at proper points, although the apparatus might be
used with one only or with more than two. The disk N carries a pair of
separated contact fingers n' through which the circuit is closed by the contact
of plate m at the proper time, the said contact fingers being connected in circuit
with the proper sparking device, indicated at O in Figure 6, and the secondary
winding of the induction coil P. The primary winding of said coil is connected
with the armature winding, preferably through a condenser or a vibrator, as
indicated at 1". The contact plate or plates m being properly placed, it will be
evident that the alternating current generated will be taken off as it approaches
its maximum when it is of sufficient intensity, and will be delivered to the
sparking device through the described connection or otherwise. The period
can be varied or adjusted at the will of the operator by the rotary adjustment
of the armature, which not only varies the point where the contact plate m
bridges the connection between the fingers n¹, but also varies slightly the
point at which the current reaches its maximum phase.
It will be obvious that various means can be employed for affecting the
adjustment of the armature, according to the place of use of the igniter, but
when the igniter is used, for example, for a motor which is mounted upon one
part of the running gear frame of a motor road vehicle, while the actuating
handle is mounted upon another part of the same which is free to move with
respect to the first part, whereby one end of the connecting means must have a
fixed relation with the igniter, while the actuating handle must have a movable
relation thereto without thereby affecting the adjustment of the igniter, such an
actuating device as that shown in the drawings must be employed. In accord-
auce with this part of the invention a hard but moderately flexible tube R is
extended from the actuating handle to or nearly to the point of application of
the movement of said handle, one end of said (tube being secured in fixed rela-
tion to the part to be moved, which in this case is the armature L, while the
other end is secured in fixed relation to the actuating handle or actuator. This
tube is not extended in a direct line between these two parts, but is preferably
bent or coiled between its ends so as to take up any relative movement of its two
ends without any variation in the length of the tube. There is thus formed a
fixed path of determined length for a flexible connector S, which may be a wire,
one end of which is connected to the handle or actuator S', while the other end
is connected to the part to be adjusted, or in this case to the cap L' which
supports the armature L. Since this connector is retained always in a path of
the same length, notwithstanding any change in the relation between its ends,
a determined movement of the actuator will invariably produce a corresponding
movement of the armature or other part to be adjusted. In the present case a
spring is applied to the armature to return it to its initial position when the
handle is moved to permit it, but it will be obvious that such a spring is not
essential in all cases, as well as that this actuating device is capable of applica-
tion to other uses than that shown and wherever the actuating or controlling
or governing handle or other originator of motion must be capable of movement
with respect to the part to be actuated or controlled or governed.

page_text: It will be obvious that when the igniter is used with a single cylinder engine,
the contact disks can be dispensed with entirely, as the spark will be produced only
when the current approaches its maximum, and the period when this takes place
is varied by the adjustment of the armature of the generator with respect to
the field.
It is also obvious that the fields might be held stationary while the armature
is rotated. Furthermore, a governor might be applied to the rotated part to
vary its relation with the engine shaft, thereby varying the maximum point of
phase.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is:-
1. An electrical igniter comprising a permanent field magnet, an armaturo
wound for alternating current, one of said parts being rotated with respect to
the other, and connections from the armature to the electrodes; substantially as
shown and described.
2. In an electrical igniter, a field magnet and an armature wound for alter-
nating current with its contacts, one of said parts being rotatable with respect
to the other to generate current and the other of said parts being rotatably
adjustable to vary the maximum point in the current; substantially as shown
and described.
3. The combination with an explosive engine, of an igniter comprising a field
magnet and an armature, means to rotate one with respect to the other, means
to adjust rotatably the relatively fixed part, and electrical contacts carried by
each and connections therefrom to the electrodes; substantially as shown and
described.
4. In an electrical igniter, the combination of a field magnet and an armature,
one of said parts being rotatable with respect to the other, a contact plate
carried with the rotatable part, separated contact fingers carried with, the rela-
tively fixed part and adapted to be bridged by contact with said plates, and
connections from said contact fingers to the electrodes; substantially as shown
and described.
5. Au igniter comprising an alternating current generator, a circuit closer
carried with the rotating part of the generator and taking off the current near
its maximum, and connections therefrom to the electrodes; substantially as
shown and described.
6. The combination with an explosion engine, and a sparking device, of an
alternating current generator, means to drive its rotating part in determined
relation with the engine, a circuit closer carried with the rotating part and
taking off the current near its maximum and connections therefrom to the
electrodes; substantially as shown and described.
7. An igniter comprising an alternating current generator, a transformer,
electrodes, and suitable connections: substantially as shown and described.
8. An igniter comprising an alternating current generator, a transformer, a
condenser and suitable connections; substantially as shown and described.
9. A controlling mechanism comprising a controlling handle, an operated
part, a flexible non-compressible tube having one end secured to the support of
said handle and the other end secured to the support of said operated part, and
a flexible connector supported in said tube and connected to said handle and
said operated part respectively, whereby the operated part responds precisely to
the operation of the handle regardless of relative displacement of said operated
part and handle; substantially as shown and described.
10. The combination with a motor mounted upon a part of a frame and a
controlling handle mounted upon a relatively movable part of the frame, of a
lexible, non-compressible tube having one end secured in fixed relation with

page_text: the handle and the other in fixed relation with the motor, and a flexible con-
nector supported in said tube and secured to said handle and to the operated
part of the motor; substantially as shown and described.
11. An explosion engine and an igniter mounted upon one part of a frame
and a controlling handle mounted upon a relatively movable part of the frame,
a flexible tube having one end secured in fixed relation with the handle and the
other in fixed relation with the igniter, and a flexible connector supported in
said tube and secured to the handle and to the operated part of the igniter;
substantially as shown and described.
42F