High voltage generating device

Claim 2

A high voltage generating device comprising an elongated case for housing a piezoelectric element unit including a piezoelectric element and electrical terminals for connection of said element to ignition means, said element and terminals being electrically insulated from said case at least one polarity side, an operating box inserted in said case in a position opposite said unit and slidable endwise of the case, a return spring inserted in said case for normally biasing said operating box to said position, a striker housed in said operating box slidably in the axial direction thereof and having a stepped part at the tip, a spring housed in said operating box pressing against said striker, and an engaging member formed of a rigid member bent at substantially right angles to provide a bottom plate and an arm, said arm being provided at an end opposite to said bottom plate with a blocking means for latching said stepped part of the striker and a trigger means operated by said operating box for releasing the striker from said blocking means so as to strike the element to thereby generate a high voltage, and said bottom plate being interposed between the piezoelectric element and the return spring.

Claim 3

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom plate is notched to straddle the tip of the piezoelectric element unit, and said end opposite to the bottom plate of the engaging member comprises at least two portions, one of which is inclined outward to serve as said trigger means and the other of which extends inward to serve as the blocking means for the striker.

Claim 4

The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the angle theta by which the bottom plate of said engaging member is bent with respect to the arm is in the range of 0* to 20*.

Claim 5

The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein said angle theta is in the range of 3 to 7*.

Claim 6

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating box is provided with an inward projection adapted to engage the stepped part of the striker so as to prevent the striker from coming out of the box.

Claim 7

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pair of said engaging members is arranged as opposed to each other around the return spring.

Claim 8

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating box is provided with a slot on one side thereof and said case has a latch extending through said slot to blockingly engage the periphery of said striker.

Claim 9

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating box is provided with a slot on one side thereof registering with a slot in the case, the blocking means including a latch and a cam surface, and means at the end of the slot in the operating box to engage the cam surface to release the latch when the box is pressed into the case.

Claim 10

A a high voltage generating device the combination comprising an elongated housing forming a slideway and having a piezoelectric element seated at one end, means providing an insulating terminal for the element, a hollow slide telescoped in the housing, a return coil spring biasing the slide into an extended position relative to the housing, a striker freely telescoped in the slide, a power coil spring for biasing the striker into an extended position relative to the slide, a latch in the housing interposed in the path of movement of the striker so that when the slide is pressed inwardly against the return spring the striker is held back accompanied by compression of the power spring, and a trigger actuated by the slide upon reaching a fully inwardly pressed position for releasing the latch thereby to release the striker which is accelerated to high velocity by the power spring to impact the piezoelectric element, the housing being provided with a pair of inwardly-bent integral ears for preventing escape of the slide an the slide being provided with a pair of inwardly-bent integral ears for preventing escape of the striker to facilitate assembly of the striker into the slide and the slide into the housing for permanent retention therein.

Claim 11

A a high voltage generating device the combination comprising an elongated housing forming a slideway and having a piezoelectric element seated at one end, means providing an insulating terminal for the element, a hollow slide telescoped in the housing, a return coil spring biasing the slide into an extended position relative to the housing, a striker freely telescoped in the slide, a power coil spring for biasing the striker into an extended position relative to the slide, a latch in the housing interposed in the path of movement of the striker so that when the slide is pressed inwardly against the return spring the striker is held back accompanied by compression of the power spring, and a trigger actuated by the slide upon reaching a fully inwardly pressed position for releasing the latch thereby to release the striker which is accelerated to high velocity by the power spring to impact the piezoelectric element, the housing being provided with a pair of inwardly-bent integral ears for preventing escape of the slide an the slide being provided with a pair of inwardly-bent integral ears for preventing escape of the striker to facilitate assembly of the striker into the slide and the slide into the housing for permanent retention therein.

Claim 12

A a high voltage generating device the combination comprising an elongated housing in the form of an open-ended box bent from a flat piece of metal forming a slideway, said housing having a longitudinal slot and having a piezoelectric element seated at one end therein and electrically insulated from said housing at least one polarity side, said piezoelectric element having electrical output terminals, an elongated hollow slide in the form of an open-ended box of a dimension which permits slidable insertion into the housing, a return coil spring biasing the slide into an extended position relative to the housing, said housing having integral lugs for preventing escape of the slide, a striker freely telescoped in the slide, a power coil spring disposed in the slide for biasing the striker into an extended position relative to the slide, and a latch member lying in the slot of the housing and of substantially L shape having a base portion which is held in said lying position by the return spring, said latch member having an inwardly extending latch surface interposed in the path of movement of the striker for blocking movement of the striker so that when the slide is manually pressed inwardly against the return spring the striker is held back accompanied by compression of the power spring, and said latching surface having an associated trigger cam surface in the path of movement of the slide and which is engaged by the slide as the latter reaches its fully inwardly pressed position for camming the latch member outwardly of the slot so that the striker is released for impacting the piezoelectric element at high velocity under the urging of the compressed power spring so as to provide a high voltage, with the return spring serving to restore the slider to its initial extended position upon release of manual pressure.

Claim 13

A a high voltage generating device the combination comprising an elongated housing in the form of an open-ended box bent from a flat piece of metal forming a slideway, said housing having a longitudinal slot and having a piezoelectric element seated at one end therein and electrically insulated from said housing at least one polarity side, said piezoelectric element having electrical output terminals, an elongated hollow slide in the form of an open-ended box of a dimension which permits slidable insertion into the housing, a return coil spring biasing the slide into an extended position relative to the housing, said housing having integral lugs for preventing escape of the slide, a striker freely telescoped in the slide, a power coil spring disposed in the slide for biasing the striker into an extended position relative to the slide, and a latch member lying in the slot of the housing and of substantially L shape having a base portion which is held in said lying position by the return spring, said latch member having an inwardly extending latch surface interposed in the path of movement of the striker for blocking movement of the striker so that when the slide is manually pressed inwardly against the return spring the striker is held back accompanied by compression of the power spring, and said latching surface having an associated trigger cam surface in the path of movement of the slide and which is engaged by the slide as the latter reaches its fully inwardly pressed position for camming the latch member outwardly of the slot so that the striker is released for impacting the piezoelectric element at high velocity under the urging of the compressed power spring so as to provide a high voltage, with the return spring serving to restore the slider to its initial extended position upon release of manual pressure.