US1192786A - Electric contact device. - Google Patents

Description

A. A. KENT.

ELECTRIC CONTACT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10. I909. RENEWED ocr. 22, 1915.

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WITNESSES Patented July 25, 1916.

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ELECTRIC CONTACT DEVICE. APPLICATION men use. 10, 1909. RENEWED OCT. 22. 1915.

Patented July 25, 1916.

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WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR'ATWATER KENT, OF PHILADELPTI IA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC CONTACT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Application filed December 10, 1909, Serial No. 532,388. Renewed October 22, 1915. Serial No. 57,379.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR ATWATER KENT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Contact Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and complete disclosure.

My invention relates to electric contact devices; that is to say, devices by means of which an electric current is or may be mechanically closed and broken, and more particularly to that class of contact devices used for making and breaking an igniting circuit, or the primary circuit of an ignition system, of an internal combustion engine.

The object of my invention is to produce an electric contact device, simple and positive in its action, of few parts all of which are readily accessible and removable, should it be desired to adjust or remove the same; to so arrange the parts as to make the device easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and at the same time to make a device which will be substantially certain in its operation.

Further objects of my invention will appear in the specification and claims below.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which the same reference characters are employed to designate the same parts throughout the various views, Figure 1, is an elevational side view of my improved contact device with a part of the cover or casing removed or broken away to expose the operating mechanism; Fig. 2 is a similar elevation 01' view in which the parts of the operating mechanism are shown in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig.- 1; Fig. .t is a similar view in which parts are shown insection, and Fig. 5 is a similar plan view in section, taken longitudinally of the device, the lifter being shown in plan view.

My contact device preferably consists of acircular plate or disk 1, provided at its center with a transverse sleeve or hearing portion or hub 2 in which the operating shaft 3 is suitably journaled. 1 preferably provide the said shaft 3. with an enlarged shoulder a and having a socket 5 into which the driving shaft 6, driven in any suitable manner from a suitable source of supply, may be inserted and tightly held, as by a set .is preferably provided with one or more milled recesses forming ratchet teeth 8 and a groove 9 is provided in said shaft in which a suitable locking plate 10 is seated,

said plate 10 being firmly attached to the maindisk or plate 1 as by a screw 11, I preferably extend the hearing or hub 2 of the operating shaft a short distance on the opposite sidepf the plate to form an inclosme or hearing 12 for that part of the shaft in which the ratchet teeth 8 are formed, and said bearing is provided with an opening 13 in its top side to expose the ratchet teeth 8. From this it will be observed that the shaft may be inserted from the back side of the sleeve or hub 2 and fitting within the same is supported for its entire length, and at the same time is prevented from longitudinal movement by the locking plate 10 fitting within the annular groove 9 of the operating shaft 3, and that the ratchet teeth 8 areexposed through the opening 13. The plate or disk 1 is also provided on its front side with a lug or hearing block 1-1, and in the side of said block, adjacent said operating shaft 3 is provided a suitable hole or recess 15 into which the cylindrical stem 16 of the lifter or contact actuating member 17 is loosely fitted. The forward end of the lifter 17 is provided with a hook or pawl 18 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 8. The main or body portion of the lifter 17 is preferably flattened so that the flat surface thereof, resting upon the ratchet 8, will prevent the lifter from turning as it is held down thereupon by the spring 19. spring 19 is connected to the lifter 17 and the other end of which is attached to a suitable pin 20 preferably secured to the lug 14:. As a result of this construction the spring 19, in, addition to holding the flat end of One end of said the lifter firmly pressed against the ratchet 8, tends at all times to draw the lifter 17 rearwardly, so that the end of the stem 16 normally bottoms in the hole or recess 15.

It will be further observed that as the operating shaft 3 is turned in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, the lifter .will be drawn forward against the tension of the spring 19, until the flat portion of the lifter immediately in the rear of the hook or pawl 18 rests upon the cylindrical portion 8 of the operating shaft 3 between the ratchet teeth 8. As the said operating shaft 3 then continues to rotate, the ratchet teeth 8 will turn downwardly out of engagement with the depending hook or pawl 18 of the lifter and disengage from same. When the hook 18 is thus released from the teeth 8 the.

spring-19 immediately returns the lifter to its normal position, with the. stem 16 resting upon the bottom of the hole or recess 15,

but 1n moving rearwardly in this manner the hook or pawl 18 rides or slides upwardly over the cylindrical portion 8 of the shaft between the ratchet teeth, with-the result that as the lifter is given this substantially reciprocatory motion as it is advanced by the ratchet and returned by the spring 19 the free end of the lifter will travel in a looped path, and on its return movement will ride up over the shaft and will return in a slightly different path from that in which it was advanced. The forward or flattened end of the lifter 17 is preferably wedge-shaped or sharpened to form a movable-contact-support engaging edge 18 as shown plainly in Fig. 2.

Mounted upon the lug or bearing block 1 1 is the movable contact member of the circuit closing device, consisting preferably of a flat spring arm 21, one end of which 18 rigidly secured to said lug or block 14:, and

a stiff substantially relatively inflexible member 22, the free end of the said spring arm 21 being provided with the movable contact point 23. The said stiff and relatively inflexible member 22 is preferably otherwise rigidly fastened to extending through said stiff member 22 and through said spring arm or member 21 and through a stiff plate 25 on the opposite side of said arm. This stiff member 22 is sprung away from the arm 21 from at or about the point at which it is riveted or otherwise secured thereto. and then extending substantially parallel thereto, and resting against the top of the bearing 12 which acts as a stop, terminates in a hook 26 which engages the opposite side of said arm adjacent said Said member 22 terminates at a point adjacent the wedge-shaped or sharpened end 18 of said lifter 17 with a projection 27 extending toward said sharpened end 18 and into the path through which said end travels on its return move ment as has been previously described. The said projection 27 is preferably struck up from or pressed out of the said stiff member 22 to form an integral edge or projecting portion or edge, as plainly shown in Fig. 2.

By the above construction the stiffened member 22 normally resting against the bearing 12 acts as a stop for the spring or resilient arm or member 21 since the parts are so assembled as to cause the arm or member 21 to press with a predetermined tension againstthe overhanging end or hook 26, and prevents the said spring arm or member 21 from trembling or vibrating under the influence of any shocks or jars which might be impartedto thesame, at the same time serving to positively impart to the said spring arm or member 21, and the contact point 23 carried thereby, a vibratory motion around the short flexible portion 28 of the said spring arm or member 21 when the said stiff member is engaged by the sharpened end 18 of the lifter 17 on its or disk 1 is a lug 29 which extends preferably obliquely to the said disk or plate 1 and the same is provided with a suitable opening into which is fitted a bushing 30 of insulating material. WVithin said bushing 30 is tightly fitted a cylindrical stud 31 of brass or other electrical conductive material, the inner end of said stud being supplied or provided with a relatively stationary but adjustable contact point 32. This contact point may consist of a screw 33 passing through the inner end of said stud 31 and terminating in a platinum point 32 adjacent the platinum contact point 23 on the arm or member 21'. To firmly hold the screw 33 from being turned accidentally, the end of the stud 31 is preferably provided with a. kerf 3a passing through the screwthreaded hole in which the said screw 33 is mounted, so that the two ends of the stud 31 firmly press against the screw 33. The outer end of said stud 31 is provided with a suitable binding post 35 to which one of the leads of the electric circuit may be attached. Inasmuch as the other lead of the electric circuit may be grounded it will be apparent that the circuit will be closed whenever the two contact points 22 and'32 are brought into engagement by the action of the lifter 17 as it starts on its return movement, and will be broken again as soon as the sharpened or wedge-shaped end 18 of the lifter 17 passes from beneath or out of engagement with the projection 29 on the inflexible member 22.

the following manner: The end of the said spring arm or member 21 is slotted as at 36 and a screw 37 is screwed into a suitable threaded hole in said lug or bearing block 1 1 in alinement with said slot 36, the head a of the said screw 37 resting squarely on the top of the said movable member 21. On either side of said screw 37, I provide two pins 383S adapted to register and pass through suitable openings, arranged on either side of said slot 36, in the end of said arm or member 21, and the ends of the said pins, 38-38, just pass through the thin spring end of the movable contact member. When therefore, it is desired to remove the movable contact member it is merely necessary to unscrew the screw 37 sufliciently to allow the end of the spring arm or member 21 to be lifted from off the pins.3838

whereupon the said member can be slid for-.

wardly out from under the head of a. screw 38 without entirely removing said screw 37. To replace the movable contact member the same is readily slipped under the head of the screw 37 until the pins register and pass through their respective openings, and the screw 37 is then tightened down upon the end of the movable member, rigidly holding the same in the proper position.

Upon the back of the disk or plate 1, I provide suitable lugs or projections 3939 by means of which the whole contact device may be mounted upon a suitable support. The same, however, are preferably offset rearwardly as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 so as not to interfere with the truing up of the outer edge of the disk or plate 1, in a lathe or other suitable machine.

\Vith the parts arranged in the manner above described and as illustrated in the various views of the drawings, the device is very simple in construction and. the machine work necessary to produce the same is small and very easily effected,-that is to say, by making .the main plate 1 of disk form the same can be readily trued upon a lathe, and none of the parts, such as the lugs or supports 39-39, the lug or projection 29, by means of which the current is conducted through the stud 31 to the stationary contact point, nor the lug or bearing block 14E upon which the lifter is mounted, will be in the way, or' interfere in the slightest manner with the turning of the edge of the disk 1 or the turning of a suitable shoulder 40 upon which may be seated aplain cylindrical cupshaped cover 41 which incloses and protects all the operating parts of the device. When constructed in this manner the said cover 11 may be held and retained in place on the shoulder 40 by a single screw 12 passing through said cover andthreaded in a suitable opening 43 in said plate or disk 1.

v The above construction also provides for the bringing of the connection with the stationary contact point, obliquely through the back of the plate or disk 1, to a point adjacent the periphery or edge of the same where 1t is readily accessible and in a convenient poslt on for attachment with an electric circuit.

In the operation of the device it is to be observed that inasmuch as the circuit is closed only when the lifter is on its return movement and moving under the uniform action of the spring 19 the circuit will be closed and broken again for a uniform and invariable substantially instantaneous length of time, irrespective of the speed at which the driving shaft is being rotated. It will also be observed that should the driving shaft be rotated in the reverse direction, the lifter will merely oscillate slightly in the rear of the projection 27 without closing the circuit. It is further to be observed that from the moment the two contact points 23-32 engage they are held together under tension, for as the stiff and inflexible member 2 2 is forced upward-from its normal position against the bearing 12, by the end of the lifter, against the stationary contact point 32, the hook or pawl 26 will move on and away from the end of the spring arm or member 21 and allow the points to engage under the tension of the said arm 21. When the end of the lifter is disengaged, however, and slides from under the end of the projection 27, the hook 26, reengaging the end of the spring arm 21, will positively separate-the contact points instantaneously and will prevent the end of the movable'contact point from vibrating and accidentally closing the circuit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United. States is:

1. In acontact device, a circular support ing plate or disk, a ournal concentric there to, an operating shaft mounted in said journal, a stationary and a movable contact point, means operated by said shaft to intermittently close and open a circuit through said contact points, means to support said stationary contact point, said insulated means extending obliquely to the axis of said shaft through said disk, the outer end of said means extending beyond the edge of said plate, and a binding post at said outer end and projecting beyond the edge of said disk. i

2. In a contact device, the combination of a disk-like plate, an operating shaft concentric thereto, a ratchet carried by the end of said shaft, said shaft being provided with a circular groove adjacent said plate, a sec- 1 contact, and means to vibrate said inflexible and forming a stop against 0nd .plate fixed to said first mentioned ,plate and engaging said groove in said shaft to rotatably lock said shaft from longitudinal movement, and a contact actuating member operated by said ratchet. l

3. In a contact device, a combination of a supporting plate or disk, a journal concentric therewith and provided with a slot, an operating shaft. rotatably mounted in said journal, said shaft being provided with a circular groove, a plate fixed to said disk and extending into said slot and engaging said shaft to rotatably lock said shaft from longitudinal movement, and means, operated by said shaft, to intermittently make and break a circuit.

4:. In a contact device, a combination of a supporting plate or disk, an operating shaft, concentric therewith, and a ratchet not greater than the size of said shaft carried by said shaft and adjacent the end of the same, a lifter operated by said ratchet, a movable contact member operated by said lifter, means to lock said shaft from longitudinal movement, a stationary contact point and insulated means extending obliquely to the axis of said shaft through said disk or plateand beyond the periphery of said disk, said ratchet locking device, lifter, movable contact point, and stationary contact meme ber, and one end of stationary contact support, all being mounted upon one side and within the periphery of said'plate, and a cup-shaped cover inclosing said parts and seated adjacent the periphery of said disk.

5. In a contact device, a movable contact member, comprising a flat spring, means to fixedly support said spring at one end, a, stationary contact point adjacent the free 40 end of said spring, a relatively inflexible member supported by and secured at one end to one side ofsaid spring at a. point near the point of support of said spring, said inflexible member being provided at its free end with an overhanging portion forming a stop against which said presses in a direction toward said stationary member to bring said contact member alternately into and out of engagement with said stationary contact point.

6. In a contact device, a movable contact member, comprising a flat spring, means to fixedly support said spring at one end, a contact point carried by 'and adjacent the flexible member supported by and secured at one end to said spring adjacent the supported end of said spring, and extending in substantially the same direction as said spring, said inflexible member also engaging said spring near the free end of said spring which said spring normally presses under tension.

7. In a contact device, a movable contact spring normally member, comprising a resilient arm, a relatively stationary support to which said arm is fixedly secured, a relatively inflexible member secured to one side of said arm, and extending substantially in the same direction as said arm and terminating in a hook engaging the opposite side of said arm, said member being provided with a lifter engaging projection.

8. In a contact device, a movable contact member, comprising a resilient arm, a support to which said arm is fixedly secured, a relatively inflexible member secured to said arm and extending substantially in the same direction as said arm and terminating in a stop against which said resilient member normally presses, said member being provided with a lifter engaging projection, a

contact point carried by said arm, a sta-' tionary contact point, and means to intersaid contact points to engage.

9. In a contact device the combination with a movable contact member comprising a resilient arm, a stationary support to which said arm is fixedly secured, a relatively inflexible member secured to and supported by said arm on one side thereof, and extending substantially in the same direction as said arm and terminating in a hook engaging the opposite side of said arm, said member being provided with a projection, of a ratchet and a lifter operated by said ratchet and cooperating with said projection.

10. In a contact device, a movable contact member, comprising a resilient arm, provided at one end with a slot extendingfrom the end of said member inwardl and an opening adjacent andto one side 0 said slot, a support, a screw passing through said slot and firmly drawing said arm against said support, and a pin also mounted on said support and passing through said opening in said arm.

11. In a contact device, a lifter comprising a flattened portion terminating in a hooker pawl on one side, a sharp movable contact support engaging edge on the opposite side, and a stem portlon narrower in width than said flattened portion.

12. In a contact device, a lifter comprising a flattened portion terminating in ahook or pawl on one side, a sharp movable contact support engaging edge on the opposite side, and a cylindrical stem. v

13. In a contact device, a combination with a lifter comprising a flattened portion, a hook or pawl on one side of said flattened portion and with a sharp edge adjacent the free end of the same, said lifter terminating at one end in a reduced stem narrower in width than said flattened portion, and a support for said lifter comprising a lug having an opening in which said stem loosely fits.

Ill

14. In a contact device, combination with a ratchet, of a litter comprising a flatforming a stem narrower in width than saidtiattened portion, and a support for said lifter having an opening in which said stem loosely fits, a spring holding said flattened portion against said ratchet and normally holding said stem against the bottom of said opening.

15. In a contact device, a movable contact member comprising a flat spring, means to fixedly secure said spring at one end, a contact point adjacent the free end of said spring. a relatively thin inflexible member of sheetmaterial fastened adjacent the supported end of said spring and on one side thereof and extending in substantially the same direction as said spring. said inflexible member being bent at its free end to form an overhanging portion against which said spring normally presses under tension, and with a litter engaging projection struck up out of said member and integral therewith.

16. In a contact device, a circular plate or disk. a ratchet, a litter, a movable contact member, a contact point carried by said movable member, a stationary contact point and asupport therefor. all. arranged on and projecting from one side of said plate and within the periphery of said plate, the support for said stationary contact extending through said plate obliquely to the axis of said shaft and insulated therefrom and having its outer end extending from the opposite side of said plate and terminating adjacent the edge of said plate.

17 In a contact device a movable contact member, comprising a flat spring, means to fixedly support said spring at one end, a contact point on said spring adjacent the free end thereof, and a relatively inflexible member supported by and secured at one end to one side of said spring adjacent the point of support of said spring, extending in substantially the same direction as said spring and being provided with an overhanging portion engaging the opposite side of said spring and forming a stop against which said spring normally presses.

18. In a contact device a movable contact member comprising a substantially flat spring, means to fixedly support said spring at one end, a contact point on and adjacent the free end of said spring and a relatively inflexible member carried by said spring, secured thereto adjacent but slightly spaced from the point of support of said spring and also forming a stop against which the free end of said spring normally presses under tension.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of December, A. D.

ARTHUR ATWATER- KENT.

\Vitnesses WALTER J. LITTLE,

J. B. SIMrsoN.

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