NEW INVENTIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1036, 29 July 1930, Page 6

NEW INVENTIONS

PISTONS AND SPARK PLUGS Three South Africans have designed a new type of piston with which they hope to increase the efficiency of the internal combustion engine by at least 25 per cent., the novelty of the invention lying in the method of mounting the rings. In the South African patent a spiral ring is employed. fitted into a spiral channel and extending from the head of the piston to the skirt. In effect the orthodox rings are discarded for a ring which in appearance resembles a spring, woven spirally around the piston. Apertures for conveying oil to the piston ring are provided. The claims made by the inventors are the elimination of friction, pistonslap and pinking, economy in petrol and oil, improved acceleration and greater compression and power. The new piston and rings have been tested and according to report proved satisfactory. An interesting development in connection with the manufacture of sparking plugs is the introduction of a new alloy for electrodes. One of the most important characteristics is that it effects a reduction of approximately 50 per cent, in the voltage required to spark at the plug gap, and ensures reasonably constant sparking voltage during the life of the plug. Easier sparking, it is claimed, is permitted in cold weather, while long life and reduced frequency with which the plug points need re-setting are other important features. Thus, the greater uniformity and reduction in sparking voltages effected by the use of this electrode material will render the plugs less liable to be put out of action by oiling and sooting up. This material has actually been used in ! plugs which have been in circulation i for some months so that dealers' I stocks now comprise plugs of this l nature.