US1261048A - Distributer for ignition devices. - Google Patents

Description

DISTRIBUTER FOR IGNITION DEVICES.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. I5, 191s.

1 ,26 1,048. Patented Apr. 18,.

2 SHEETS-ISH C. T. MASON.

Dis'rRlBuTER FOR IGNlTloN DEVICES.

SEP 15 1916 1,261,048. Patented Ap.. 1918, 2 EEEE TS-SHET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES THOMAS MASON, 0F SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO SPLITDORF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

DISTRIBUTER FOR IGNITION DEVICES.

Patented Apr. a, 191s.

Application led September 15, 1916. Serial No. 120,327.

To all whom t may Concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES THOMAS MA- soN, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Sumter, in the county of Sumter and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distributers for Ignition Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

vThe invention relates to new and useful improvements in distributers for ignition devices or systems, and more particularly to a distributer for high tension currents.

The invention is particularly useful in distributing in a simple and efficient manner high tension current toa plurality of translatingdevices, suchas the spark plugs in an internal combustion gas engine. prior application, Serial N o. 35,155, filed July 19, 1916, I have shown, described and claimed a method and apparatus for generating and distributing electric current in connection with an ignition system for a gas engine, and the present invention is an improvement on the distributing device shown therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a distributer of the above type, wherein the central stem or trunk conductor is connected by suitable devices at proper intervals to terminals disposed on the inner face of a cylindrical casing or shell, which terminals are in turn connected to cables at the end of the casing for distributing the current to suitable translating` devices or spark plugs.

A further object of the invention is to l provide a distributer of the above character wherein the central stem or trunk conductor his stationary, and wherein the devices between the trunk conductor and the terminals are so constructed and arranged as to provide a double gap in each circuit when broken.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a distributer of the above character with means for holding the same attached to the current generating device in such a manner that the various parts of the distributer are held in rigid relation to each other and, at the same time, the outer casing of the distributer may be quickly removed by releasing several holding nuts.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In myV thereto, the distributer and a part of the magneto being in section;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the magneto;

kFig. 3 is a perspective view of the rotary part of the distributer;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fixed part of the distributer; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the operation of the device.

In the present embodiment of the invention, I have shown my improved distributer as applied to a magneto which may be of any suitable type. The type illustrated is that of the Well-known Dixie construction. The magneto is indicated at 1 in the drawings, and has a generating coil, indicated at 2, which is provided with a high tension terminal 3 adapted to make contact with a spring-pressed pin 4 in the contact stem or trunk conductor 5. This trunk conductor 5 is supported in an insulated bushing' 6, which in turn is carried by a sleeve 7 formed integral with a member 8 attached to the casing of the magneto.

The inner flanged portion of the member 8 supports an insulation 9 which surrounds the pin i and thereby prevents the current from jumping from the terminal 3 to the adjacent magnet, indicated at 10, or other parts of the machine. A safetv spark gap is indicated at 11 so that in case the voltage is excessive the current may jump from the upper point 11 to the adjacent magnet.

The frame work 12 of the magneto onto which is attached the member 8 also forms a housing for the operating gear 13 which drives the distributer. This gear 13 1s 1n mesh with a driving gear 14 on the operating shaft 15 of the magneto, and the shaft 15 is driven from the engine shaft when the magneto is used in connection with an internal combustion engine.

The distributer proper conslsts of a rotary part, indicated at 18, and a xed casing or are shown at 19, 20, 21 and 22.. These brushes are yieldingltl mounted 1n wells or recesses formed in e rotatlng art and their outward movement is limite by suitable means. The brushes 19 and 2O are electricallyconnected in an suitable 'manner, while the brushes 21 an 22l are likewise connected.

'The casing 23 constituting the fixed part of the distributer carries a suitable number of contacts, depending upon the number of engine cylinders to be served. In the drawings, I have shown the distrlbuter as arranged for a twelve cylinder engine. At the end of the shell or casing 23 there are twelve cable connections, which are designated 24 to 241, both inclusive. These cable connections are ada ted to be connected to respective spark p ug cables. The cable connections extend into the casing or shell 23 and terminate at their inner ends in segments, some of which are shown at 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. These segments are oppositely staggered in two rows, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The segments, as above stated, are shown at intervals having connecting pieces 30 and 31, but it is to be understood that they may be otherwise connected to the cable connections at the end of the shell or casing. l

The rotating casing or part 23 is provided with a shoulder 32 which engages an annular ring or fiange in the casing 12 whereby said part 23 is positioned with its axis concentric with that of the rotating part 18. The casing 12 has projecting ears 33, 34, 35 and 36 provided, with suitable posts or threaded stems adapted to "engage the outwardly projecting arms of a spider 37 which presses upon the end cap 33 which closes the end of the casing. These posts or stems receive suitable nuts which secure the cap to the casing 23, and the casing 23 to the frame work of the machine. This simple supporting means holds the parts of the distributer in rigid relation to each other and yet by loosening the four nuts the outer casing of the distributer may be instantly removed; It will be understood, of course, that the rotary part 18, the casing 23, and the cap 38, also the bushing 6, are all made of suitable insulating material.

Within the inner surface of the cap 38 is embedded the distributerv plate 39 which is formed with a central portion having radially extending spaced arms, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. For a twelvecylinder engine, said distributer plate will be provided with six arms. The outer end of the trunk conductor or stem 5 is provided with a yielding contact pin 40 which is adapted to press against the distributer plate 39 at the center thereof. The distributer plate 39 through this trunk conductor is continuously in connection with ond pair of brushes. The contacts or terminals on the inner faceof the shell or casing 23 are arranged in two circular rows. The outer row of contacts are numbered 427 tov 29, inclusive, whilethe inner row of contacts are numbered 26 to 28, inclusive. The relative position of the parts is indicated in the diagrammatic view 1n Fig. 5, where the high tension coil 41 is shown as connected through the trunk conductor 5 to the distributer plate 39. The brushes 21 and 22'are indicated as connected by a line 31, while the brushes 19 and 20 are connected b a line 30. The brushes 19 and 22 are adapted' to enga the arms of the distributer plate 39 as sald brushes rotate. These brushes, however, are so spaced that they engage alternately with these arms, that is to say, only one brush is in engagement with an arm at a given time. The brushes 21 and 20 coperate respectively with the inner and outer rows of contacts or terminals of the casing, and these brushes are also so disposed as to engage the contacts in their respective rows alternately.

When the brush 19 is in contact with one of the arms of the distributer plate 39, then the brush 2O is also inengagement with the contact or terminal 26, and thus current is supplied to the translating device or spark plug, which is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 5 at 42. At this time, the brush 21 is out of engagement vwith the terminal or contact 27. When the brush 22 has moved so as to engage one of the arms of the distributer plate 39, then the brush 19 hasmoved out of engagement with this arm; likewise the brush 21 has moved into engagement with the terminal 27, and the brush 20 has moved out of engagement with the terminal 26'. It will thus be seen that as the brushes rotate, the respective pairs are alternately and respectively connected with the inner and outer rows of terminals which lead to the translating devices or spark plugs, and when the circuitis broken between the distributing plate 39 and a spark plug, it is broken in two places, forming a double gap. It is understood, of course, that one terminal of the high tension coil is grounded, and one terminal of the spark plug is grounded, thus completing the circuit.

While I have described my improved distributer as attached to a magneto as h. source for a generating current, it will be understood that from certain aspects of the invention, the distributer may be connected with any other source of current, in which case the trunk conductor would receive the current from the current supplying source. When my improved distributer is used for distributing high tension current lto a twelve-cylinder engine, the shaft of the dis- -tributer is rotated at one-half of the speed la rotor with four spaced prongs which operate to furnish four maximum peaks of current or E. M. F. in the following manner:

rlhe shaft of the magneto is rotated one and one-half the times for each rotation of the engine shaft, and this furnishes six maximum peaks for each rotation of the engine shaft. The gear connections between the magneto shaft and the distributer shaft will, however,'be so proportioned that the distributer shaft has a speed ratio of one to two of the engine shaft, that is, one rotation of they distributer shaft for every two rotations of the engine shaft. This, of course, would give the distributer shaft a speed ratio of onel to three of the speed of the magneto shaft, that is, the distributer shaft will rotate once while the shaft of the rotor of the magneto rotates three times.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made, when desired, without departing from the spirit of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the in vention, what is claimed as new is l. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a trunk conductor, a stationary casing having spaced terminals on its inner face, a, cable connection at the end of the casing for each terminal, and devices within the casing for alternately connecting the terminals one at a time t0 said trunk conductor.

2. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a trunk conductor, a stationary casing having spaced terminals on its inner face, a cable connection at the end of the easing for each terminal, and devices within the casing for connecting the terminals one at a time to said trunk conductor, said devices being constructed and arranged so as to provide a double gap in each circuit when broken.

3. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a stationary trunk conductor, a stationary distributing plate connected to said trunk conductor, a stationary casing having spaced' terminals on its innerface, and devices within the easing for alternately connecting the terminals one at a time with said distributer plate.

4. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a stationary trunk conductor, a stationary distributing plate connected to said trunk conductor, a stationary casing having spaced terminals on its inner face, a rotating Ywart located within said casing, pairs of brushes carried by said rotating part, said brushes being so arranged as to ,alternately connect said terminals one at a time with said distributing plate.

5. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a stationary trunk conductor, a stationary distributing plate connected to said trunk conductor, a stationary casing having spaced terminals on its inner face, said terminals on the inner face of said casing being arranged in circular rows, a rotating part Within said casing, pairs of brushes carried thereby, said brushes being so disposed that one brush of each pair alternately engages said distributing plate, and the other brushes of said pair alternately and respectively engage the terminals in said rows.

6.' A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a stationary distributer plate having spaced radial arms, a stationary casing having terminals arranged in circular rows, a cable connection fon' each terminal, a rotating part located within the casing and carrying pairs of brushes, one brush in each pair being adapted to engage the distributer plate, said brushes engaging said arms alternately, while the other brushes of each pair engage respectively and alternately the terminals in the two circular rows.

7 A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a fixed casing having a circular row of terminals on its inner face, a cable connection for each terminal, an annular rotating part, a cap plate for closing the end of said casing, a distributer plate carried by the inner face of said cap plate, a bushing extending through said annular rotating part, a trunk conductor extending through said bushing and having a yielding `contact; engaging said distributer plate, said distributer plate having spaced radial arms, a pair of connected brushes carried by said rotating part, one of which engages said distributing plate, and the other of which engages said terminals one at a time.

8. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, an annular rotating part, a casing surrounding said part, two rows of terminals carried by said casing on the inner face thereof, a cable connection at the end of the casing for each terminal, a cap plate for closing the casing, a distributer plate carried by the inner face of said cap plate, a bushing extending through said rotating member, a trunk conductor extending through said bushing and engaging said distributer plate, pairs of brushes carried by said rotating part, one brush in each pair being located at the end of the rotating part and disposed so that said brushes engage alternately the radial arms of said distributer plate, the other brush of said pairs being adapted to project radially from said rotating part and disposed so as to coperate with the respective rows of terminals engaging the same alternately and vone at a time.

9. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a supporting frame, an operating gear mounted in said supporting frame, a rotating part carried thereby, a casing surrounding said rotating part, said frame having a shoulder for centering said casing relative to the rotating part, terminals carried by said casing, a trunk conductor, devices carried by the rotating part for connecting the trunk conductor' one at a time to the terminals on the casing, a cap plate for closing the end of the casing, and devices for clamping said cap plate and casing to the supporting frame. y

10. A distributer for ignitionsystems including in combination, a supporting frame, an operating gear mounted in said supporting frame, a rotating part carried thereby, a casing sui-rounding said rotating part, said frame having a shoulder for centering said casing relative to the rotating part, terminals carried by said casing, a trunk conductor, devices carried by the rotating part for connecting the trunk conductor one at a time to the terminals on the casing, a cap plate for closing the end of the casing, posts carried by the supporting frame, a spider adapted to be clamped to said posts .andengagmg said cap plate for rigidly securing l said cap platev and casing to said supporting frame.

11. A distributer for ignition systems in cluding in combination, a rotating gear, a bearing sleeve on which said gear 1s mounted, a bushing extending through said sleeve and projecting from each end thereof, a trunk conductor extending through said bushing and having a yie ding contact at its inner end adapted to engage the terminal of a high tension coil, an insulating sleeve having a flan e carried by the bearing sleeve and surroun mgthe contact with the high tension coil, a rotating part carried b the gear, a fixed cylindrical casing surroun ing the rotating part, a cap plate for closing the end of the casing, terminals carried by the casing. and adapted to be connected with translating devices, a distributer plate carried by the cap plate and connected to said trunk conductor, and devices for connecting said distributer plate with said terminals onel at a time.

12. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a rotating gear, a bearing sleeve on which said gear is mounted, a bushing extending through said sleeve and projecting from each end thereof, a trunk conductor extending through said bushing and having a yielding contact at its inner end adapted to enga e the terminal of a high tension coil, an insu ating sleeve having a flange carried by the bearing sleeve and surrounding the contact with the high tension coil, a rotating part carried by the gear, a fixed cylindrical casing surrounding the rotating part, a cap plate for closing the end of the casing, terminals carried by the-- casing and adapted to be connected with translating devices, a distributer plate carried by the cap plate and connected to said trunk conductor, a pair of brushes carried by the rotating part, said distributer plate having spaced radial arms, and said terminals bein disposed in two circular rows, said brus es being arranged so that one brush in each pair alternately engagesthe radial arms of said distributer plate, while the other brushes of said pairs alternately and respectively engage the circular rows of contacts.

13. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination, a rotatin gear, a rotating part consisting of an annu ar member having parallel projections extending therefrom, said annular member havin openings therethrough whereby the same is adapted to be secured to said gear, a casing surrounding said rotating part, a trunk conductor extending through said rotatin part, a distributer plate with which sai conductor is connected, said distributer plate having radially extending arms, said casing having terminals arranged in circular rows, a pair of yielding brushes carried by the projecting portions of said rotating part, said brushes being so disposed that one brush in each pair engages alternately the arms of said distributer plate, while the other brush in each pair en ages alternately and respectively the circu ar rows of ter- Vminals.

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