Automotive spark indicator

• US 4,160,203 A
• Filed: 12/12/1977
• Issued: 07/03/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Easco Hand Tools Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: K&H Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Volk, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krawczewicz, Stanley T.
• Application Number:
  US05/859,435
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 324/17, 324/15, 324/18
• US Class Current: 324/396
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/12 Testing characteristics of the spark, ignition voltage or current testing of sparking plugs H01T13/60

Abstract

A spark indication apparatus connectable between the secondary winding tower of an ignition coil or a spark plug distribution tower of an auto distributor or a spark plug wire coming from the distributor, and chassis ground having, preferably, a transmission cable including two separated portions, the intermittent connection thereof may provide a spaced air gap or spark gap space for the generation of an electric spark by current passing through the transmission cable; and having a housing which may encase part of each transmission cable portion and the spark gap space, this housing preferably having a cavity defining a spark chamber, wherein the spark chamber may be vented to the atmosphere through the housing.

Claims

1. A spark indicator apparatus for use in detecting automotive ignition spark at various points in an auto ignition system comprising:

electrical transmission means for electrically connecting a one of said various ignition system points to automotive ground, said transmission means having an interruption therein providing a spark air gap;

means for encasing said spark air gap, said encasing means including a transparent housing completely surrounding said spark air gap, a straight channel passing through said housing, said channel having two larger diameter sections and a smaller diameter section separating said two larger diameter sections, and a pair of abutment shoulders, situated one each at an interface of said smaller diameter channel section with one of said two larger diameter sections; and

means for venting said spark air gap through said encasing means, said venting means traversing at least one change in direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical transmission means includes a first and second cable portions connected one each through one of said larger diameter channel sections to abut a respective one of said abuttment shoulders, said first and second cable portions being spaced apart creating said air gap therebetween.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical transmission means includes:

a first cable portion extending through a first one of said larger diameter sections of said channel;

a second cable portion extending through the other one of said larger diameter sections of said channel;

a first end cap having a flat head abutting a first one of said abuttment shoulders and having a connection spike extending from said head connected to said first cable portion; and

a second end cap having a flat head abutting the other one of said abuttment shoulders and having a connection spike extending from said head connected to said second cable portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said venting means includes:

a pair of ports opening into said small diameter channel section; and

a pair of rectangular cross-section passageways extending one each from each of said ports about the longitudinal axis of said housing, said passageways each traversing at least one change in direction to an outer face of said housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first larger diameter channel section includes a first traverse groove section, said first groove being positioned to hold said first end cap at said first abuttment shoulder;

and wherein said other larger diameter channel section includes a second traverse groove, said second groove being positioned to hold said other end cap at said other abuttment shoulder.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pair of passageways each traverses a rectalinear path, said paths each containing a plurality of right angle turns.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each said passageway plurality of turns is seven.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 also including a first barb extending from said first one of said larger channel sections and holding said first cable portion;

and a second barb extending from said other one of said larger channel sections and holding said second cable portion.

9. The appartus of claim 2 also including a rectangular chamber within said housing, said rectangular chamber extending through and opening onto said smaller diameter channel section;

and wherein said venting means is connected to said rectangular chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical transmission means includes a first and second cable portions having one end of each juxtaposed and spaced from the other, said space defining said spark air gap, said first and second cable portions each having an insulation covering with a protruding conductor on its juxtaposed end;

and wherein said encasing means includes a transparent rectangular housing completely surrounding said spark air gap;

a straight channel passing through said housing, said channel having two larger diameter sections opening onto opposite walls of said housing and two smaller diameter sections extending inwardly one each from the inward end of each larger diameter section;

a rectangular chamber surrounding said air gap, said rectangular chamber interposed between and connecting said two smaller diameter channel sections; and

a pair of abuttment shoulders, situated one each at each interface of a said smaller diameter channel section with a said larger diameter channel section, each said abutment shoulder acting as an abuttment stop against which one said juxtaposed cable portion end abuts; and

wherein said venting means includes a pair of vent passageways extending between opposing walls of said rectangular chamber and opposing outer walls of said housing, said passageways each traversing at least one reversal in direction.