NEW INVENTIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 13 September 1930, Page 12

NEW INVENTIONS

PISTONS AND SPARK I'LUGS

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, fitting 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 arc 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

1 effects a reduction of approximately 1 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 lof this electrode material will render plugs less liable to be put out of action by oiling and sooting up. This material lias actually been used in plugs which have been in circulation for some months, so that dealers' stocks noiv comprise plugs of this nature.