AUTOMATIC SPARK PLUG

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 290, 28 February 1928, Page 6

AUTOMATIC SPARK PLUG

NO MORE IGNITION TROUBLE

What would motorists give to have always on hand a magical sparking plug that would operate automatically on the compression stroke, thus cutting out at once all the various troubles incidental to ignition systems. Such a plug would seem to be a Hgment of the imgaination, but actually it is in existence. And, what is more, the plug is merely the development of an old idea used many years ago on the early gas engines. In the new auto plug, as it is to be named, the only connection necessary is a wire direct from the battery, and once the engine starts the circuit can be switched off, the plug continuing to act.

The secret of the thing is that instead of a spark gap, a tiny spiral of resistant wire runs from the central electrode to the wall of the plug.

The spiral, under the influence of the electric current, glows at a red heat, sufficient to ignite the mixture on the compression stroke. Once heated, the explosions in the cylinder suffice to keep the wire at a red heat without the help of the battery.

The current consumed by each plug is only one ampere, so that quite a small battery would be able to cope with the demand for current. Con- j trary to what might be expected, the plug will be so designed as to entirely eliminate any danger of pre-ignition. The new plugs will probably be on the market shortly, but at first they | will most likely be used only as stand- j

bys in case of a failure in the ordinary ignition system, when they certainly : would prove extremely valuable. New and revolutionary ideas are not adopted widely for a long time.

The motoring public has been bitten iso many times that it is chary of accepting new things at their implied I value, but the new auto plug must un- ! doubtedly have a great field of usefulness before it. MOTOR TRADES SPORTS CLUB ANNUAL SHIELD COMPETITION I A proposal is under way in Auck- j land to inaugurate a Motor Trades j Sports Club. The suggestion is to i have events such as four-oar rowing, : running, relay swimming, etc., for points "for a shield. Mr. J. S. Laing, manager of Dominion Motors, Ltd., is endeavouring to interest the motor traders in the town in the proposal. A handsome shield could be obtained ; by subscriptions from the various firms i and held by the winning team each : year until beaten.