Internal-combustion engines – Igniters – Incandescent
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-08-21
Argenbright, Tony M. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Igniters
Incandescent
C123S14500A, C123SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276325
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to engines for model aircraft, cars, boats, and the like, and particularly to model engines having a glow-style ignition system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved connection between a model engine glow plug and a glow plug clip used to transmit electrical power from an energy supply to the glow plug when starting the model engine.
Most current-day engines used in model airplanes, cars, and boats are called “glow-ignition” engines because they rely on a hot, glowing platinum-alloy coil located within a combustion chamber of the engine to ignite an air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber. The pressure developed by the burning air-fuel mixture typically displaces a piston which in turn drives a rotary output shaft thereby producing usable mechanical power. The fuel used in a glow-ignition engine is usually comprised of alcohol, castor oil, and nitromethane. Proper fuel combustion is maintained not only by the high temperature of the glowing platinum coil, but also by the catalyzing action of the platinum metal on the fuel/air mixture. The platinum coil in a glow-ignition engine burns out occasionally and so is generally manufactured as part of an assembly called a glow plug which can be easily removed from the engine and replaced.
According to the present invention, a glow plug including a glow plug clip-retaining portion is provided for use on model engines. The glow plug clip-retaining portion is an indentation or recess formed in a surface of the glow plug.
In a preferred embodiment, the glow plug clip-retaining portion is a circumferentially extending lip and a circumferentially extending slot formed on an exterior surface of the glow plug adjacent to the circumferentially extending lip. This circumferentially extending slot is receptive to a locking mechanism on a variety of popular conventional glow plug clips already in service.
A glow plug clip-engaging surface is provided on an upper end of the glow plug adjacent to the circumferentially extending lip to facilitate application of the glow plug clip to the glow plug. The holding and centering power of the glow plug clip-retaining portion is improved by sloping the sides of the circumferentially extending retaining slot thereby encouraging the glow plug clip to lock tightly to the center of the circumferentially extending retaining slot or to the back side of the circumferentially extending retaining lip.
In preferred embodiments, the glow plug clip-retaining portion is circular in cross section and manufactured easily on automatic screw machines. In addition, in preferred embodiments, the glow plug clip-retaining portion can be used on glow plugs of a variety of sizes and configurations.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments which exemplify the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
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Argenbright Tony M.
Barnes & Thornburg
Vo Hieu T.
LandOfFree
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