US1277388A - Ignition mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. 3,1918- INVENTOR gwll/r [or/ma ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK CONRAD, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

Specification 'of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 29,1914, Serial No. 879,477. Renewed March 6, 1918. SeriaINo. 220,882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK CONRAD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ignition Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ignition mechanisms, and particularly to unitary structures in which are embodied the several ignition devices that constitute the ignition systems of internal combustion engines.

My invention has for its object to provide a mechanism of the character indicated above in which the usual separate devices of an ignition system are combined in a simple. manner, to form a compact unitary mechanism.

When the several functions of an ignition system are performed by separate devices, it is necessary to employ a large number of conductors to interconnect their respective terminals. Since the electrical connections employed in the electrical systems-of internal combustion engines, or of motor vehicles, are subjected to severe vibration, it is highly desirable that the number of conductors should be reduced to a minimum.

According to the present invention, I combine the usual induction coil, interrupter, condenser and distributer in a unitary I mechanism. The electrical connections between the several devices, which are completed at the place of manufacture, are all within a protecting casing and are much more substantial in character than is possible in ignition systems as usually constructed. Derangement of the system because of grounded conductors, loose connections, and similar causes is thereby avoided. A- .mechanism constructed :as above described may be easily and qu ckly installed, thereby efiecting a considerable saving in time and labor.

In the acompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view,in longitudinal section, of an 1gnition mechanism constructed in accord ance with my invention. Figs. 2, 3' and 4 are views, in transverse section, on the lines IIII IIIIII and IVIV, respectively,

of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View of circuits and apparatus employed in connection with my invention. v

An ignition mechanism 1 comprises a rotatable shaft 2, which may be operatively connected to an engine shaft in any suitable manner, and a casing 3 that is rotatably mounted on the shaft 2. The mechanism further comprises an interrupter 4:, a condenser 5, an induction coi)l 6 and a distributer 7, all of which are inclosed within the casing 3.

vAs illustrated in Fig. 1, the casing 3 comprises three detachably connected parts 3, 3 and 3 which are mounted in axial alinement. The lower part 3*, which is of cast iron, or other suitable material, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 2. mediate part 3*, which is of insulating ma terial, is secured to the part 3 and supported thereby. The upper part 3 is also of insulating material and forms a part of the circuit-controlling mechanism to be later described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the interrupter 4, which is located in the lower portion of the casing, comprises a cam disk 8 that is provided with projections 9 corresponding in number to the cylinders of the engine with which it is associated. A pivotally mounted lever '10 is provided, at an intermediate portion, with a block member 11 to be engaged by the projections 9 on the disk 8, when the shaft 2 rotates. The lever 10 carries, at its outer end, a contact member 12 which coacts with w Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

The intercomposed of laminations 18 of substantially L-shape. The upright portions of the laminations are assembled in the form of a hollow cylinder whichsurrounds the shaft 2 and is coaxial with it. The base portions of the laminations extend radially outwardly from the axis of the coil, as shown in Fig. 4, to form a portion of the magnetic circuit of the coil. The provision of the laminated core structure arranged in the manner described insures that the magnetic circuit of the coils 15 and 16" does not include any closed ring of conducting material in which eddy currents may be produced. The upper and lower portions of the induction coil are respectively inclosed by flanged disks 19 of insulating material. That portion of the casing which surrounds the induction coil is composed of suitable insulating material.

The distributer mechanism 7 comprises a rotatable arm 20 that is detachably connected to the shaft 2, for rotation therewith,- by apin 21. The arm 20 comprises a counterweight portion 22 for counteracting the centrifugal force of the working end of the brush which, in the usual construction, is entirely unbalanced. The arm 20 carries, at the other end, apair of brushes 23 which are pressed outwardly in opposite directions by a spring 24. The brushes 23 and the spring 24 are inclosed by a tubular member '25 of conducting material.

The lower brush 23 is in constant engagement with an annular contact member 26 which is connected to the secondary winding of the induction coil. The upper brush 23 successively engages the several contact pieces 27 that are located in the end of the upper part 3 of the casing. The latter con-- stitutes a removable cover for the distributer mechanism. The cover 3 is normally re- ;tained in position by a pair of spring clips 29, only one of which is shown. A safety spark gap is formed by the pin 21, which is grounded to the shaft 2, and a conductor 30 which is connected to thebrushes 23 by means of the tube 25.

The electrical connections of the various parts are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5. Since a single-wire system is employed, the only external electrical connect ons necessary for use with the ignition mechanism are a conductor for connecting the contact terminal 31 to a suitable source of current and conductors for connecting the several contact segments 27 of the distributer to the corresponding spark plugs 32 of the internal combustion engine, in a usual and well known manner. All other connections are completed at the time of assemblin the device and are withinthe casing 3.-

T e operation of the mechanism corresponds to that of systems embodying separate devices. When the shaft 2 rotates, the

interrupter cam disk 8, actuatesthe lever'lO to separate-the'contact members 12 and 13 and thereby break a circuit comprising a storage battery, or other suitable source of current, the contact members 12 and 13 and the primary winding 15. A high electronic tive force "is generated in the secondary circuit which comprises the secondary winding 16, the distributer. 7 and the'spark plug 32 Y entire ignition mechanism, with the exception of the shaft 2, the cam disk 8 and the distributer arm 20. The adjustment of the ignition mechanism accordingly causes the operation of the interrupter and the distributer to occur earlier or later in the engine stroke, according to the direction in which it is adjusted.

Iclaim as my invention: 1. In an ignition mechanism, the-co1nbi nation with an induction coil having a tubillar core member, of a rotatable shaft within said core member, and an interrupter and a distributer operatively connected to said shaft and located in alinement with, but without the plane of, said coil.

2. In anignition mechanism, the combination with an induction coil havinga tubular core member, of a rotatable shaft within said core member, an interrupter and a distributer operatively connected to said shaft and located at opposite ends and without I the plane of said coil, and an inclosing casing for said mechanism rotatably mounted on said shaft.

3.-In an ignition mechanism, the combi nation with a rotatable shaft, an interrupter and a distributer operatively connected to said shaft, of an induction coil between said interrupter and said distributer and surrounding said shaft, and a casing for inclosing said mechanism rotatably mounted on said shaft.

4. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with an induction coil, and a casing therefor, of an interrupter and a distributer within said casing, the stationary members of saidinterrupter and said d1str1buter'being secured to said casing and the movable members of. said devices being rotatable without the plane of said coil, and a rotatable shaft within said coil for actuating the movable members of'said interrupter and said distributer.

5; In an ignition mechanism, the combination with an induction coil having atubular eore member, and a casing therefor, of a rotatable shaft within said core member, and a distributer brush having a counter- /weight carried by said shift.

I, 6. In an ignitlon mechanism, the combi The actuation nation With'an induction coil havinga tubular opening and a rotatable shaft extending therethrough, of a distributer brush'carried by said shaft, an inclosing casing-having. a removable cover member provided with contact members for coacting with said distributer brush, and means for adjusting the angular position of said casing.

7. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with an induction coil having a tubu lar core member comprising substantially L-shaped laminations, of a rotatable shaft extending through said core member, an interrupter cam on said shaft, a 'distributer brush rotatable With said shaft, an inclosing casing rotatably mounted on said shaft, and comprising a cover member, circuit controlling mechanism connected to said casing for coacting with said cam and meanscarried by said cover member for coacting with said brush.

8. In an ignition device, a unitary mechanism comprising a single inclosing casing, a rotatable shaft for rotatably supporting said casing, primary and secondary circuit-controlling mechanisms adjacent to the ends of said casing and operatively connected to said shaft, an induction coil Within said casing between said circuit-controlling mecha: nisms and surrounding said shaft, a condenser in said casing, and means for rotatably adjusting said casing.

9. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with a rotatable shaft, and a relatively stationary contact member, of an arm having a counterweighted portion secured to said shaft and a contact member on said arm for coacting with said stationary contact member. 10. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with a rotatable shaft, and a casing parts, a condenser in an end part, a circuitcontrolling mechanism Within the other end part, and means for actuating said circuit controlling mechanism.

12. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with a casing member comprising a plurality of detachably connected parts of annular shape mounted in axial alinement, an induction coil Within one of said parts, an interrupter and acondenser in a second of said parts at substantially diametrically opposite portions thereof, a distributer in a third of said parts, and means extending through all of said casing parts for actuating said interrupter and said distributer.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of Dec.

, FRANK CONRAD.

Witnesses:

WM. M. BRADSHAW, B. B. Hmns.

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