STARTING AIDS FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES

摘要

1447964 Starting aids for engines CAV Ltd 23 Nov 1973 [7 Dec 1972 3 March 1973 15 March 1973 6 July 1973 28 July 1973] 56505/72 10454/73 12546/73 32448/73 and 36052/73 Heading F1B A starting aid includes a body 11, an electrical heating element 26 carried by the body and an electrode 16 electrically connected to the heating element so that current can be supplied to the heating element to raise its temperature, the heating element including a sintered electrically conducting refractory composite having a central portion 35 interposed between a pair of outer portions 33, 34, and each outer portion containing a metal. The refractory composite may be formed at least in part of a sintered mixture of a metal and a ceramic. The metal may be chromium and the ceramic may be alumina or chromic oxide. As shown the electrode 16 is urged against the composite by a servo-threaded member 27 in such a way as to apply a predetermined force to the electrode. The space around the electrode rod may be filled with an epoxy resin sealing compound 32. In a modification (not shown) the electrode is urged against the composite by resilient means. The heating element may be electrically connected to a resistance element which exhibits a substantial increase in resistance with rising temperatures. In a further modification the heating element 26 is joined to the bridging member 23 and the end portion 18 of the electrode rod 16 by brazing or by diffusion bonding.