US1297956A

US1297956A - Ignition apparatus for internal-combustion engines.

Info

Publication number: US1297956A
Application number: US1309615A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lionel Wolffsohn
Original assignee: BIJUR MOTOR APPLIANCE Co
Current assignee: BIJUR MOTOR APPLIANCE Co
Priority date: 1915-03-09
Filing date: 1915-03-09
Publication date: 1919-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1936-03-18

Description

L. WOLFFSOHN. (NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME L. M. WOOLSON.)

IGNITION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. I915.

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LIONEL WOLFFSOHN, (NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME LIONEL M. WOOLSOIL) OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BIJ'UR MOTOR APPLIANCE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

IGNITION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. '18, 1919.

Application filed March 9, 1915. Serial No. 13,096.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIONEL WOLFFSOHN', a citizen of the United States. and residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Ignition Apparatus for Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to apparatus of this nature for engines liable to frequent speed changes such as those of motor vehicles.

One of the objects thereof is to provide simple and reliable apparatus of the above type for eliminating objectionable efi'ects of varying speed upon. the ignition of an en- -Another object is to provide apparatus of the above type of simple and inexpensive construction in which the action is substantially uniform as the speed is varied.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the above type in which the parts are guarded against injury in use.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of this invention Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan of one of the same.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of the same apparatus showing the parts in another position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a slightly different form of apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of another form of apparatus.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a storage battery or other source of current 1 in one of the leads of which, 2, there is interposed the hand ignition switch 3. In the remaining battery lead 4 there are serially connected, in parallel one with another, an interrupter 5 and a condenser 6. This condenser performs its well known function in reducing sparking, and the interrupter is also conventionally indicated as of a well known type in which the cam 7 oscillates the lever 8 about the pivot 9, thus intermittently breaking the circuit at the contacts 10. It may here be noted that the term interrupter is used throughout in a broad sense to comprehend any device adapted periodically to break an electric circuit or vary the current therein.

The circuit of battery 1 leading past the interrupter 5 and condenser 6 traverses the primary ignition coil 11 inductively related to the secondary coil 12 which is operatively connected to the ignition device diagrammatically indicated at 13. I

From the coil 11 the circuit branches into two parallel paths, one of which comprises the resistance element 14. The second path, which normally forms a short circuit about this resistance element, comprises

conductors

15 and 16, respectively terminating in contacts 17 and 18. Contact 18 is mounted upon and insulated from the armature lever 19 provided with a fixed pivot. 20 and normally retracted as by the spring 21 which is adjustable as by the screw 22.

From the above parallel branches the circuit is completed as by conductor 23 1x) the battery lead 2. Bridged across the battery is a. voltage coil 24 which energizes the magnet 25, and is thus adapted to retract the armature 19 and break circuit between the contacts 17 and 18 as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

As conducive to a better understanding of the above apparatus it may be noted at this point that as the speed of an interrupter in ignition apparatus increases there is a likelihood that the current in the primary coil of the induction coil will not attain its full value prior to its interruption. This is due to the fact that this coil, due to its inductan'ce, has a substantial time constant. and the duration of current flow is not sufficient to permit the primary current to reach the proper value which it would gain with a slower frequency of action of the interrupter. There is thus a tendency to fault-y ignition at high speeds. If it be attempted to do away with this defective action by so proportioning the parts and the current source that an ample current will. flow in the primary coil, even at the highest speed of the engine, then as the engine speed decreases there is a marked tendency to excessive current in toe primary coil with a consequent heating oi the coil and arcing at the interrupter contacts.

Considering now the action of the above apparatus it. may be at the parts are so chosen and disposed that at the highest engine speed there will still be ample current in the primary coil 11. At low speed, however, before the current coil 11 can attain objectionable value, the coil is sufhciently energized to swing contact 18 away from contactll", and thus breal he shunt about the resistance element eli ective resistance of the main circuit is thus greatly increased and an excessive current in 11, with the above noted disadvantages, is prevented.

As the engine speeds up ll value in which the action of the "protective device is unnecessary and the la l inoperative. At this stage, the is the protective device becomes inopeiative, the value of the current reached in coil 11 will he even greater than that attained at low, speeds, and hence the ei ective current is increased at an increased speed of the interrtngter. Beyond this point, as the speed increases current in coil 11 is slightly decreased due to its inductance as above noted, but even at the highestspc-ed aniple current is provided. It will thus be seen that is its lag in action after the circuit is completed through coil 11, is utilized neutralize the objectionable effect of the inductance of coilli, for it is this inductive lag in coil Q-l which prevents an instant and premature breaking of the shunt about resistance i l, thus cutting down the current atthe highest interrupter speed, an eiiect which is, oi"? course, undesired. The lag; in action of coil 2 with respect to the rupter may be adjusted to the proper v 1 either by adjusting its inductance or, as nere shown, by ad usting; the effect of the re- .racting spring. Also the resistance 1% chosen at the proper value may he actjustable it desired.

it will be seen that by utilizing the voltage control here shown the time of action of the magnetic protective device, other things being fixed, depends solely upon its inductance, and this may be chosen at any desired value. It may also lee noted that should the or us stop in such a position that the path through the interrupter is closed, and for any reason the hand switch 3 has been left closed with the glue in such position, then the relay device will act to limit the current leahage as well as avoid heating of the parts.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawing, there is shown apparatus which is assumed to be connected with the battery, hand switch and interrupting mechanism indicated in Fig. 1, in. this apparatus the relay coil is also a voltage coil, but is connected. with. contact 17 instead of the hattery lead 2. The action of this apparatus is closely similar to that immediately above described in protecting the coil 11 against heavy current. i may be noted, however, that whenever contacts 17 and 18 are separated the circuit through coil 25 is interrupted and the magnet accordingly deenertired. There is'an advantage inherent in this construction in that even it the engine be stopped with the hand switch closed and the circuit also closed through the interrupt-er, the protective device will not only serve to lessen leakage and prevent injury, but will act as a buzzer and give an audible signal to the driver.

In or the drawing there is another arrangement of circuits, also assumed to be connected with the source of current supply and circuit breaking device shown in l i l. in this arrangement the relay coil 26 is not voltage controlled hut comprises a few hea zurns through which the main current is transmitted. This form or device operales when the current therein, and consequently the current in coil 11, reaches a prede ermined value and hence exactly limits the primary current under all conditions of running.

it will thus be seen there is provided apparatus in which the various objects of this invention are achieved, and that this a ijliaratus is of simple and inexpensive cons ruction, but is, nevertheless, or" dependable and accurately predetermined action.

As many changes might be made in the shore construction, and as many apparently different embodiments might be made of this invention without departing from the scope thereof, is intended that all features herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

loving thus revealed this invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations of elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a source or" current, an interrupter and a coil connected with said source of current, rneans adapted to oppose by ohmic resistance the rise of current in said coil, means adapted to render said opposing means operative subsequent to the closing of the circuit through coil, andnieans adapted to adjust the period between the closing of said circuit 2. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a source of current, an interrupter and a 0011 connected 'with said source of current, electro-magnetically actuated means adapted to oppose the rise of current in said coil, and means adapted to render said opposing means operative subsequent to the closing of the circuit through said coil, said opposing means being connected with said source of current independently of said coil.

3. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a source of current, an interrupter and a coil connected with said source of current, electro-magnetically actuatedmeans adapted to oppose the rise of current in said coil, and means adapted to render said opposing means operative subsequent to the closing of the circuit through said coil, said electro-magnetic means being voltage controlled.

4. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a source of current, an interrupter and a coil connected with said source of current, means adapted to limit the value which the current in said coil attains as the frequency of action of said interrupter decreases, and means to adjust said limiting means.

5. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a source of current, an interrupter and a coil connected with said source of current, .electro-magnetically actuated means adapted to limit the value which the current in said coil attains as the frequency of action of said interrupter decreases, said limitingmeans being voltage controlled.

6. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a source of current, an interrupter and a coil connected with said source of current, electro-magnetically actuated means adapted to limit the value which the current in said coil attains as the frequency of action of said interrupter decreases, and means to adjust said limiting means.

7. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, an .electric circuit comprising a member having substantial inductance; a devlce for periodically varying the current in. said circuit and electro-magnetically actuated means adapted to compensate for the effect of such inductance in tending to cut down said current as the frequency of its variation increases, said electro-magnetic means being voltage controlled.

8. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, an electric circuit comprising a member having substantial inductance; a device for periodically varying the current in said circuit, electro-magnetically actuated means adapted to compensate for the eflect of such inductance in tending to cut downsaid current as the tendency of its variation increases, and means to adjust said electro-magnetically actuated means.

9. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, an electric circuit comprising a coil and a source of current, a device for periodically varying the current in said coil, a voltage coil connected with said source of current, and a device magnetically actuated by said second coil to increase the resistance of the circuit of said first coil upon the frequency of action of said current varying device decreasing.

10. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a source of current, a primary coil and an interrupter in circuit with said source of current, a resistance member serially connected with respect to said coil and normally short-circuited, a secondary coil coacting with said primary coil, a voltage coil connected across said source of current, and a device adapted periodically to break said short-circuit bv the magnetic action of said voltage 001].

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the two subscribing witnesses.

LIONEL WOLFFSOHN.

Witnesses R. S. BLAIR, Dnnos G. Harms.