US1261079A - Governing device for magnetos. - Google Patents

Description

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

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GOVERNING DEVICE FOR MAGNETOS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. w. 1917.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- aw M eniTEn STATES PATENT on ion ROBERT MACK WARREN, OF SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOB TO SPLITDORF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GOVERNING DEVICE FOR MAGNETOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT MACK VVAR- nnn, 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 Governing Devices for Magnetos, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in governing devices for magnetos, and more particularly to a governing device for a magneto used for furnishing ignition for a gas engine.

Prior to the present invention, governing devices for magnetos have been provided which are utilized for controlling the speed of the gas engine by short circuiting or breaking the circuit of the generating coil of the magneto when the speed of the gas engine reaches a predetermined desired point. An object of the present invention is to provide a governing device which will be very simple in construction and efficient in action, which governing device operates to break the circuit of the generating coil when the speed of the magneto reaches a predetermined point, thus rendering the magneto ineffective.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ignition magneto having a stationar 7 current generating coil, a rotor, and interrupter mechanism, with a governing device which is adapted to rotate with said rotor, which governing device operates to open the circuit of'the generating coil when. the speed of the magneto reaches a predetermined point.

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

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention:-

Figure 1 is aview, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing a magneto generator having my improved governin devices applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same with the cap or cover for the interrupter and governing devices removed;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in transverse section, showing the interrupter and the operating cam therefor;

showing diagrammati cally the windings of the generator coil and the arrangement of the interrupter, the governing device and the condenser.

The present invention i directed to a governing device for a magneto or generator, which is especially adapted for furnishing the ignition for an internal combustion engine. It is well known that the speed of the gas engine may be controlled by the controlling of the ignition current. If, when the speed of the gas engine reaches a predetermined desired point, the ignition be broken, then the engine will run idle until the speed drops soas to again establish the ignition current, and in thi way the speed of the engine is controlled.

The present invention is directed more particularly to the governing device for accomplishing the breaking of the circuit when the magneto shaft reaches a predetermined speed, the magneto shaft, of course, being connected to and operating in a cer tain timed relation with the engine shaft. The magneto or generator is provided with the usual interrupter which produces in the generating coil an ignition current. Mount ed on and rotating with the shaft of the magneto or generator is my improved governing device which consists of a weighted member disposed so as to be under the influence of centrifugal force whereby said weighted member will be moved to break the circuit of the generating coil when the speed of the magneto shaft reaches a predetermined point. This weighted member forms a part of the circuit and is preferably oneof the contacts, the other of which is preferably stationary relative to the movement of the weighted member although it is constantly rotating with the magneto shaft. The weighted member is moved by a spring so as to normally hold the contacts of the governing device in engagement and thus establish the circuit. When the speed of the shaft reaches the desired point, the centrifugal force acting on the weighted member opens the contacts and thus breaks the circuit of the generating coil.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I have shown my improved governing device as applied to a magneto or generator of the well-known Dixie type, wherein the ignition current is generated in a stationary generating coil and the flow of flux is varied by a rotor operated by the main shaft of the magneto. The magneto generator is indicated in the drawings at G and the operating shaft is indicated at 1. This operating shaft is connected to the engine shaft of the gas engine so as to rotate in a certain desired timing relative thereto. Mounted directly on the rotating shaft is a rotor which is adapted to vary the flux flow through the stationary generating coil, indicated at 2.

The primary of the stationary generating coil 2 is connected with an interrupter. This interrupter may be of'any desired type, but as shown in the drawings it includes a relatively fixed member 3 having a contact point at and an interrupter lever having a contact point 6. This interrupter lever 5 is actuated in one direction by a spring '7 which normally tends to hold the contacts in engagement. A cam mounted on the shaft 1 is adapted to engage a bumper 9 on the interrupter lever 5 which cooperates with the cam, and the cam is formed with depressions which permit the spring .to'move the interrupter lever to cause the contacts to engage with each other. The cam is also provided with high :points which engage the bumper to move the interrupter lever to separate the contacts. The number of interruptions to each rotation of the shaft will depend, of course, upon the construction of the rotor. In the drawings, the cam is shown as having four high points which would result infourignition sparks for each rotation of the magneto shaft. These parts are of the well known construction and form no part of the present invention per se.

Threaded into the end of the shaft 1 is abolt 10 having a square head 11. On this threaded bolt 10 is a metal disk 12 adjacent which is a disk .15 of insulated material, and outside of this disk 13 is a metal disk i l which is also insulated from the bolt 10. A fiber bushing 15 extends about the bolt and serves as a means for insulating the metal disk 1% from the bolt. lvlounted on the disk :lst is a post '16 which carries a weighted lever 17. This weighted lever 17 is provided with a contact 18. A screw 19 extends through the square head 11 of the bolt 10 and'at its inner end carries a contact 20. A spring 21 connected at one end to the weighted lever 17 and at the other end to a post 22 normally tends to hold the contacts 18 and 20 in engagement, The lever 17, thescrew 1 9, and the contacts 18 and 20, together with the spring 21, form the governing devices. The disk '1 on which these governing devices are mounted, rotates with the bolt 10 which is threaded in the shaft land, therefore, rotates with the rotor of "the magneto or generator. At-

"tadhedtothedisk 14; is a et-hem 23 "which extends outwardly, and thence over 'mally presses against the strip 28.

the head 11 of the bolt 10, but said strip is free from contact with said head 11;

The entire governing device and also the interrupter are inclosed in a cap or cover 2a which seats against a shoulder25 on the form of the magneto or generator G and is held tl ereon in any su able A yielding brush 26 is carried oy this cap and nor- The brush is mounted in a cup socket which is secured to the cap by a suitable nut27, and this nut and socket is insulated from'the cap by insulating material, indicated at 28. The primary circuit of the generating coil is connected to a line 29 which in turn is connected .to' the yielding brush 26 by means of a thumb nut 30. The primary current, therefore, is led through the brush 28 to the strip and through the strip 23 to the metal disk '14, and thence through the spring 21 and the weighted member 1; to the contact 18, and when the contacts 18 and'QO are closed, then the primary circuit is closed so far as this governing device is concerned. When, however, these contacts open, the

primary circuit is broken.

Referring-now to the diagrammatic view in Fig. ik, l have illustrated diagrammatically the spark plug at 31'; the secondary generating coil is indicated at S, and the circuit led from the secondary coil to the spark plug is indicated at 32. The primary-circuit is indicatedatp. The normal interrupter for the primary circuit is indicated at I, and includes the rotating cam '8,'the contact 6 and the contact l. The governing device is indicated at G and includes the movable contact '18, and the relatively stationary contact 20. The governing device G and interrupter arein series with the primary circuit p. The condenser, indicated at C, is connected across both the interrupter contacts and thecontacts of the governing device. I have indicated also diagrammatically a circuit '33 with hand switch 34 for cuttin out at will the 'encrating circuit.

From the above description, it will be apparent that T have provided a governing device consisting of a weighted member operated upon by centrifugal force as the entire governin device rotates with the shaft of the magneto or generator. When the speed of the shaft of the generator or magneto reaches a predetermined point, the weighted lover of the governing device will be moved so as to separate the contacts of the governing device and thus break the primary circuit. inasmuch as the governin'g dev'iee'isin 'seriesi h the interrupter, the breaking of the primary circuit "will render the generating coil ineifective. When the-speed 'o'ft'h-e magneto drops below this predetermined point." the spring will cause theicontacts 1-8 and '20 to close, and v this will again establish the generating current.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an extremely simple and durable device whereby the generating current may be cut in or out according to the speed of the magneto or generator, and thus the magneto or generator may be used for controlling the speed of a L as engine which is operated in connection therewith and which receives its ignition current from the magneto or generator.

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

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination of a gas engine having a sparking device, and an electric generator having a shaft and primary and secondary generating coils, an interrupter for the primary coil actuated from the generator shaft, and a governing device actuated from the generator shaft including contacts in series with the interrupter and movable with and controlled by the speed of the engine for breaking the circuit of the primary coil when the engine shaft reaches a predetermined speed.

2. The combination of a gas engine having a sparking device, an ignition magneto having a stationary current generating coil including secondary and primary windings, an interrupter for the primary winding actuated by the shaft of the magneto, a governing device including contacts in series with the interrupter and movable with the shaft of the magneto and controlled by the speed thereof for breaking the circuit of the primary winding when the engine shaft reaches a predetermined speed.

3. The combination of an ignition magneto having a stationary current generating coil, a rotor, interrupter mechanism actuated in unison with the movement of the rotor and driven from the shaftthereof, andv a governing device adapted to rotate with said rotor and having contacts adapted to open the circuit of the generating coil when the shaft of the magneto reaches a predetermined speed.

4. The combination of an ignition magneto having a normally stationary generating coil, a rotor independent of said coil and adapted to vary the flux flow therethrough, an interrupter actuated by said rotor, circuit connections between the interrupter and coil, and a governing device actuated by and with said rotor and adapted to open and close the circuit between said coil and interrupter.

5. The combination of an ignition magneto having a rotating shaft, a generating coil, an interrupter for the generating coil actuated by said rotating shaft, a metal support rotating with and insulated from said shaft, a weighted member mounted on said support and having a contact, a fixed member rotating with said shaft and having a contact adapted to cooperate with said contact of the weighted member, and a spring for normally holding said contacts in en gagement, said contacts being in series with the interrupter.

6. The combination of an ignition magneto having a rotating shaft, a generating coil, an interrupter controlled by the rotating shaft, a metal disk supported by and insulated from said shaft, a lever pivoted to said disk and having a contact, a member fixed to the shaft and rotating therewith and having a contact adapted to be engaged by the contact on the lever, a spring connecting the lever to the disk for holding the contacts in engagement and for establishing a circuit between the disk and the lever, and means whereby said contacts are connected in series with the interrupter.

7. The combination of an ignition magneto having a rotating shaft, a generating coil, an interrupter controlled by the rotating shaft, a metal disk supported by and insulated from said shaft, a lever pivoted to said disk, and having a contact, a member fixed to the shaft and rotating therewith and having a contact adapted to be engaged by the contact on the lever, a spring connecting the lever to the disk for holding the contacts in engagement and for establishing a circuit between the disk and the lever, a cap carried by the magneto and inclosing the interrupter and the contacts, a yielding brush carried by the cap and connected to the primary of the generating coil, and a metal strip carried by said disk and adapted to be engaged by said yielding brush.

8. A governor for controlling the speed of a gas engine comprising in combination, a source of current including primary and secondary coils, interrupter contacts for the primary coil, a governor controlled by the speed of the engine, said governor having contacts for controlling the effective action of the'primary coil, and a condenser for bridging the contacts of the governor and the contacts of the interrupter for the primary circuit.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ROBERT MACK WARREN.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Batents,

Washington, I G.

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