US1130755A - Electric generator. - Google Patents

Description

J. L. MILTON.

ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY15,1914.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-$HEETI J. L. MILTON.

ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1914v Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHBBT 2.

JOHN LEWIS MILTON, 0F ANDERSON, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC GENERATOR;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed May 15, 1914. Serial No. 838,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN L. MILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson. in the-county of Madison and State of Indiana, (whose post-office address is care of the Remy Electric Company, An derson, Indiana), have invented a new and useful Electric Generator, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to electric generators used ir'i connection with in ternal combustion engines for furnishing electricity for the ignition of suchengines and also for operating other electrical apparatus, such as lights. I have developed this generator especially for use on vehicles propelled by internal combustion engines, in particular, motorcycles, although I am aware that the invention may be applied to a variety of other uses.

One purpose of my invention is to develop a generator of sufliciently small size to enable it to replace the magneto commonly used for the ignition of motorcycle engines.

Another, purpose of my invention is to produce a single unit including not only the generator proper, but also a timer, and ,circuit controlling means depending on the position of the adjustable member of said timer. By including the above mentioned parts in'a single unit, application to the engine is easier than if these parts were separate devices. The small size of the generator is obtained by driving the generating rotor or armature at a speed somewhat greater than the timer shaft of the generator. I employ a timer having, in accordance with common practice, a member normally stationary, but adjustable about the timer shaft for the purpose of advancing and retar-ding the spark, and also for controlling certain electrical connections.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 illus trates the generator, forming the principal part of my invention, mounted on an engine similar to that frequently used on motorcycles. Fig. 2 is an end View of the generator, with a cover and certain parts of the timer removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of certain parts of the adjustable member of the timer. Fig. 6 shows a detail of the contact springs as seen from above. Fig. 7 shows the method of holding the condenser in place, being a section along 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1,1 represents the generator, secured by cap screws 248 to a bracket 250, which is integral with the crank case 251 of the engine. Said generator is geared to the crank shaft of this engine by means of gear 260 attached to the generator shaft 20, gear 261 meshing with said gear 260, and gear 262, attached to said crank shaft 252. There are also shown the respective cylinders 226 and 236, pistons 227 and 237, connecting rods 228 and 238, and spark plugs 223 and 233 of the engine. Storage battery 200, and induction coils 220 and 230 are also shown, together with connecting wires.

Referring'to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, there are pole pieces and 3 held together by a bolt 4, and positioned by dowel pins 5. These pole pieces form the field magnet core, similar to those in common use in direct current generators and also serve to form the general framework of the machine. They are provided with lugs 2 and 3, having suitable holes whereby the machine may be secured to the engine bracket. There is an end plate 6 at one end of the machine and at the opposite end there is an end plate 7, over which fits a cover 8, said cover being removed in Fig. 2. Said end plate 7 is held in place by studs 9, 9, and screws 10, 10, and said cover 8 is secured by screws 11, fitting in the outer ends of studs 9, and screws 12, fitting in said end plate 7. There is a driving shaft 20 having bearings 21 and 22, whose outerraces are held in the end plates '6 and 7 respectively. Said shaft 20 carries a gear 23 which meshes with a pinion 24 mounted on a shaft 25. Said shaft 25 is supported by bearings '26 and 27, whose outer races are fitted in end plates 6 and 7 respectively. Said shaft 25 serves as the generator rotor shaft and in the form here shown the rotor is a direct current armature. Accordingly there is a commutator 28, a core 29, and a winding 30. The particular construction of said commutator 28, core 29 and winding 30, as shown here does not differ from common direct current practice. In operation, the generator is driven through the shaft 20 and this shaft in turn drives the shaft 25 and associated rotor through gear 23 and pinion 24, the rotor shaft 25 revolving somewhat faster than the timer shaft 20. There is a field winding 31- S...-

rounding a portion of the pole pieces 2 and 3. Said winding is divided into two coils between which is the shaft 5. Abutting against the commutator, are brushes'40, 41 and 42, held in their respective brush holders, 50, 51, and 52. Said brush holders may be any suitable form of the well known types, and their number, position and connections may be chosen with reference to the particular type of circuit employed.

There is a timer disk 60, supported by a boss 7", forming part of the end plate 7. Said disk may be rotated on said boss through a portion of a revolution, being limited by a stud 61, in the end plate 7. There is a plate 62, secured to said timer disk 60, but insulated therefrom, by means rivets 63, 63 and associated insulating material 64, 64. There is a lever 65 on one end of which is secured a pin 66. Said pin 66 rotates in a hole in a boss, forming part of said plate 62. There is a spring 67 coiled around said boss, tending to move said lever 65 in such a direction as to cause engagement of the hereinafter described contacts. One end of said spring engages said lever, and the other end engages a stud 68, secured in the plate 62. There is a flat iece 69, one end of which rests against the pin 66, and the other end of which secured to a stud 70, whichstud, in turn, is secured to the plate 62. The purpose of this fiat ,piece is to prevent the pin 66 from coming out of the plate 62. The free end of the lever 65 carries a contact 80, which engages a contact 81. Said contact 81 is attached to the end of a screw 82, held in a bracket 83. This bracket is secured to the timer disk 62,but insulated therefrom by insulation 84, and screws 85. There is a flat buffer spring 86, secured to the timer disk 62, through the insulation 84 and screws 85. Said spring serves to prevent excessive vibration of the lever 65 at high speed. The insulation sep arates it electrically, both from the timer disk 62 and the bracket 83. i

There is a cam 87 secured to the end of the shaft 20, adapted to engage a block of insulating material 88, rigidly ecured to said lever 65, whereby rotation of said shaft 20, in conjunction with the spring 67, causes successive separations and engagements of the contacts 80 and 81. Said contacts and the means whereby they are engaged and separated constitute the interrupter.

There is a distributer having a lever 90, pivoted at 91 to the plate 62. Attached to said distributer lever 90, is a flat steel spring 92, abutting the stud 70, tending toforce said distributing lever downwardly.

There is a cam 93, of fiber, secured to the shaft 20, serving to impart motion to the distributing lever 90. The free end of the distributing lever 90, carries contacts 120 and 130. When said lever 90 is in its uppermost position, the contact 130 engages a contact 131, and in its lowermost position on the contact 120 engages a contact 121. Said lever 90 is made slightly flexible as otherwise it would be diflicult or impossible torin sure positive engagement of the contacts 130 and 131 without binding the cam 93. Said contacts, 121 and 131 are secured to the terminals 122 and 132, respectively, by means of spiral springsor similar conducting means, 123 and 133 respectively, connected to ears 122 and 132", forming extensions of the respective contacts 122 and 132. Said contacts 121 and 131 are secured to disk 60, but insulated therefrom. The terminals 122 and 132 are stationary, being suitably secured to the end plate' 7, but insulated therefrom, and the s rings serve to form a flexible connection etween these binding posts and the contacts which are attached to the movable disk 60. There is a tongue 83" extending'from the bracket 83.

There are two flat springs 100 and 101, secured to the end plate 7 through screws 102, 102 and insulation 103, whereby they are insulated from one another and from the end plate 6. The end 101 of the spring 101 is connected to binding post 104 through a wire 105. Said binding cured to the end plate 6, but insulated therefrom. When the timer is sufliciently advanced to cause engagement of the springs, there is a connection between the terminal est 104 is se- 101 and the contact 81 as follows: from terminal 104, wire 105, projection 101 and the remaining part of spring 101 to tongue 83", bracket 83 and screw 82 to contact 81. When contacts 81 and are engaged, this connection continues through lever 65, pin 66, plate 62, pivot -91 and lever 90. When the distributer lever is in. its lowest position, this path is continued through contacts 120 and 121 and wire 123 to termihal 122, and when said lever is in its uppermost position, the path is continued through contact 130 and 131 and wire133 to terminal 132. The relation of the- 'cams 87 and 93 and cooperating parts is such that the contacts 80 and 81 interrupt the circuit during the time that connection is made to either the termi' nal 122 or 132, by the lever 90. The terminal to which this connection is a made changes with each interruption. Connection between interrupter lever 65 and the frame of the machine through cam 87 is prevented by the use of the fiber piece 88 on which said cam acts, and connection between distributer lever 90' and the frame through cam 93 is preventedby making said and contacts 121 and 131 are insulated from the frame of the machine as previously explained. From this it results that the path from spring 101 to terminal 122 or 123 is insulated from the frame. The arrangements herein described are particularly suitable for the circuits which I contemplate using with this invention, but the details may be varied so as to adapt the generator to other forms of circuit or other types of engine.

The sparks for the ignition of the internal combustion engine are produced by the interruption of a current by the interrupter contacts 80 and 81. Accordingly the time of ignition can be varied in the well known manner by turning the timer disk and associated parts in the direction of rotation of the shaft 20 to retard the ignition, and in the opposite direction to advance the ignition. When the timer disk is rotated as far as the stop, hereinafter mentioned permits, in the direction of rotation of the timer shaft 20, it is said to be in the fully retarded position, although, as will be explained later, no sparks are produced with the timer in this position. The motion of the timer disk 60 is limited by the screw 61. inserted in the generator end plate 7. When said disk is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as far as said screw permits, the position of the tongue 83 with relation to the springs 100 and 101 is shown by R Fig. 6. As the timer disk and associated parts are rotated in a clockwise direction, the tongue 83 first engages the spring 101 and after further movement it engages also the spring 100. The stop limits the motion of the timer disk so that the tongue 83 cannot pass beyond the positioh A, Fig. 6. The shape of the springs 100' and 101 is such that the tongue 83 in passing from the position R to the position A does not become separated from either of the springs after having engaged them. With this arrangement, the machine is suited for counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 20, as indicated by the arrow. Rotation of the timer disk and associated parts in a direction opposite to the rotation of the shaft causes the separation of the timer contacts 80 and 81 (Fig. 2) to take place earlier. This advances the ignition in the well known manner, for, as will be explained later, the separation of these contacts causes the ignition to take place. Referring again to Fig. 3, A, then is the position of the tongue 83* in the fully advanced position, and R its position in the fully retarded position of the timer. From what has been said above, it is evident that advancing thetimer, first establishes a connection between the tongue 83 and the spring 101, and further advancing also closes the circuit between said tongue and the spring 100.

Should it be desired to employ the generator where it is necessary to drive the shaft 20 in a clockwise direction, the stop or screw 61 is removed from the position shown in Fig. 2, and put in the hole 61. lViththe stop thus changed, the range of motion of the timer disk 60 is such that the tongue 83" may move between the positions A and R ,of Fig. 6. lVhen turned as far as possible in a clockwise direction (which for clockwise rotation of the shaft 20, is the fully retarded position) the tongue 83 occupies the position R. Due to the recesses 10G and 101 in the respective springs, said tongue does not engage either of said springs. As the timer disk is turned in a counterclockwise direction, that is advanced, (for clockwise rotation of the shaft 20) the tongue 83 first engages the spring 101 and then the spring 100. Thus the sequence of connections occurring during advancing of the timer is the same as was previously the case when the apparatus was arranged for counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 20.

There is a three pronged timer spider 180, shown in detail in Fig. 5 but removed in Fig. 2, having prongs 180, 180 and 180, fitting in notches 60, 60 and 60 respectively, said notches being shown in Fig.2. Attached to said timer spider is a four pronged spring 181, adapted to abut against the cover and for holding said spider in position as shown in Fig. 4. The spider 180 has a circular portion 180 which fits in a hole in the cover 8. The disk 60, spider 180 and parts associated therewith so as .to move when said disk is moved, constitute the adjustable member of the timer.

It frequently happens in ignition systems that the linkage by which the adjustable member of the timer is moved is inaccurately installed, so that a strain is thrown on the adjustable member of the timer, tending to skew it. This may cause binding and excessive friction, or it may throw the adjustable member out of alinement and cause faulty action of the circuit breaker. By my construction any ordinary inaccuracy in the installation of the timer operating linkage will not produce these troubles, because skewing the spider 180 will merely cause the prongs to move axially in the slots in the timer disk without subjecting said disk to a strain.

There is a condenser 150 secured between the pole pieces 2 and 3. Said condenser is inclosed in a casing 151, molded of insulating material. This is located between the pole pieces 2 and 3 and is prevented from moving vertically by projections 2 and 2 on the pole piece 2, and similar projections 3 and 3 on the pole piece 3, the casing fitting in the grooves produced by the presence of these projections. One edge of said casing 151 abuts the pole piece 3, but there is a flat spring 152 between the opposite edge of the casing and the pole piece 2. This is shown in detail in Fig. 7. The middle of said spring has a projection 152 fitting into a corresponding recess in the pole piece 2. One end, 152*, of said spring 152 is bent substantially at right angles to the body of the spring, and fits into groove in the condenser casing 151. This spring prevents the condenser casing from sliding out during use of the generator, but sufficient force may be readily applied so as to push the casing and condenser out of the fields for purposes of repair, etc. In the contemplated method of operation the terminals 122 and 132 are in the circuit of the primary windings of the respective ignition coils 220 and 230, and the supply of current for these coils is also connected to the terminal 10%. The ignition circuits are thus interrupted by the action of the timer and sparks produced in the usual manner. To stop the ignition the timer is moved to the fully retarded position, separating the tongue 83 from the spring 101 and thereby cutting off the supply of ignition current. The condenser 150 is connected in parallel with the contacts 80 and 81. The circuit for charging the storage battery 200 by the generator is brought, in any suitable manner, through the spring 100, whereby said circuit is closed only when said spring 100 is engaged by the tongue 83. The arrangement of the springs 100 and 101 previously described is such that this charging circuit is closed only when the timer is advanced to a certain extent. Thus, when the engine is stopped and the ignition turned ofl", or running so slowly as to require well retarded ignition, the charging circuit is open, preventing discharge of the battery through the generator, but where the spark is advanced, as occurs when the generator is driven fast enough to charge the battery, the charging connection is established through the spring 100. Thus the means for controlling the timing of the sparks also serves to disconnect the ignition and the charging circuits at the proper time.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric ignition generator including in combination, a timer shaft, a generating rotor, and gearing connecting said timer shaft and the shaft of said rotor, whereby said rotor is driven at a higher rate of speed than said timer shaft with a single source of current, said parts forming a single unit.

2. An electric ignition generator having in combination, a timer shaft a generating rotor, gearing connecting said timer shaft and the shaft of said rotor, whereby said rotor is driven at a higher rate of speed than said timer shaft, and an adjustable timer member with a single source of current, said parts forming a single unit.

1. An electric ignition generator having in combination, a timer shaft an adjustable timer member, a plurality of notches in said timer member, a spider having prongs.

adapted to fit in said notches, and a cover adapted to exert pressure on said spider, whereby said prongs are prevented from coming out of said notches.

5. An electric ignition generator, including in combination, an adjustable member, notches in said adjustable member, a spider having a plurality of prongs adapted to fit in said notches, and a stationary cover adapted to exert pressure against spider, whereby said prongs are retained in said notches.

6. An electric ignition generator including, in combination, a timer having an adjustable member, a contact associated with said adjustable member, a second contact associated with some part other than said adjustable member and adapted to be engaged by said first named contact when said adjustable member occupies certain positions, a means for limiting the range of adjustment of said adjustable member permitting said contacts to engage when said adjust-.

able member is moved to the limit of its range in a clockwise direction and to become separated when said adjustable member is moved to the limit of its range in a counter clockwise direction, a second means for limiting the range of adjustment of said adjustable member, permitting said contacts to engage when said adjustable member is moved to the limit of its range in a counter clockwise direction and to become separated when said adjustable member is moved to the limit of its range in a clockwise direction, and means permitting either of said means for limiting the range of adjustment of said adjustable member to'be rendered inoperative.

7. An electric battery charging and ignition generator, including, in combination, an electromagnetic field core and a condenser supported directly by said field core.

8. An electric ignition generator including in combination, a framework, oppositelydisposed grooves in said framework, and a condenser havmg an edge in each of said .grooves.

11. An electric ignition generator including in combination, a shaft, ignition timing its mechanism operated by one end of said shaft, a driving means attached to the other end of said shaft, bearingsfor supporting said shaft between said driving means and said i ition timing mechanism, a second shaft, earings supporting said last named shaft at its end and a generating rotor car.

ried by said second shaft.

12. An electric. generator including in combination, circuit controlling mechanism,

an adjustable member forming part of said clrcuit controlling mechanism, a 'commutator, brushes cooperating with said commutator, a single cover for said circuit controlling mechanism, brushes and commutator, a hole in said cover, and means passing through said hole for actuating said adjustable member.

13. An electric ignition single armature generator including, in combination, a timer shaft, a generating rotor geared to said timer shaft and driven thereby, and a distributer having its revolving part attached to said timer shaft and adapted to, connect an ignition circuit successively with the various cylinders of an internal combustion engine.

14. An electric ignition generator includin the combination with a timer shaft, an ad ustable timer member, a generating rotor, and anend plate having a bearing for said generating rotor, a bearing for said timer shaft and a boss for supporting the adjustable member of said timer, of a field winding having a portion thereof on one side of said timer shaft and another portion on the opposite side of said timer shaft.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing-the Commissioner oi Patents,

15 .An electric generator including in combination, circuit controlling mechanism,

- brushes cooperating with said commutator,

and a single cover for said circuit controlling mechanism, brushes and commutator.

16. An electric ignition generator including the combination with a timer shaft, a generatin rotor, and an end plate having a bearing 'for said generating rotor and a bearing for said timer shaft, of a field winding having 'a portion thereof on one side of said timer shaft and another portion on the opposite side of said timer shaft. k

17. An electric generator including, in combination, an electromagnetic field core and a condenser within a molded case,-said case being directly supported by said field core.

18. An electric generator including, in combination, an electromagnetic field core, a generating rotor, a shaftgeared to said generating rotor and a condenser mounted within said field core between said generating rotor and said sliaft.

19. Anelectric ignition generator including in combination, a timer shaft, a generating armature, brush-holders, gearing connecting said timer shaft and the shaft of said armature whereby the shaft of said armature is driven at a. higher rate of speed than said t'mer shaft, and an end bearing housing carrying in a unit, bearings for the armature and timer shaft, a boss concentric to the timer shaft for supporting said timer and means for supporting the armature brush-holders directly to said housing.

Signed at Anderson, county of Madison, and State of Indiana, this eighth day of May, 1914.

JOHN LEWIS MILTON. Witnesses:

A. W. SHAW,- F. P. MoDi-m uo'r'r, Jr.

Washington. D. 0."

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