US1330038A - Leon j - Google Patents

Description

L. J. LE PONTOIS.

ELECTRIC GENERATOR. APPUCAHON .FlLED act. 14, m4. guano JULY 19. ;319. 1,330,038, Pateiitd Feb. 3,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET i.

Fig. 1.

Witnesses: In grenfor:

Attorney.

L. 1. LE PONTOIS.

ELECTRIC GENERATOR. APPLICATION F'LED 001.14. m4. RENEWED'JULY ispms.

1 ,330,038, Patented Feb. 3, 1920,

r 3 T -shin CDM r a L. J. LE PONTOIS ELECTRIC GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14, I914. RENEWED JULY 19, 1919.

1,330,038. Patented Feb. 3,1920.

3' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Wz'fnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LE PON'IOIS, or LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY mnsnn ASSIGNMENTS, To run TEAOLE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 14, 1914, Seria1No. 866,604. Renewed Jun 19,1919. serial no. 312,1'io.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, .Lnox J. Li: Poxuors,

a citizen of the Republic of France. residing at Lakewood, in the county of uyahoga 5'and State of Ohio, have inve'nted'certain new and useful Improvements inuand Re lating to Electric Generators,'of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates primarily to ap- 1 0 paratus for utilizing the flux of a permanent magnet for the generation of electrical impulses for ignition purposes, more particw larly high tension electrical impulses produced over a wide angular range.

wide range of spark adjustment for the operation of various types of hydro-carbon motors is well known. The advantage of.

maintaining substantially. the same .value and. substantially the same wane shape of -:2 5 proposed to meet such requirement but in all of them, as far as I am aware, the relagenerated electrical impulses at agiven fre- "quency for allpositions within the spark rarxiige is also recognized. arious forms of apparatus have been tive relations. of the electric and magnetic elements used have varied in such a 'wayvas to cause ultimately serious demagnetizing eifects upon the permanent magnets and r 'substantial losses of efficiency.

'nency of the magnet must be To use the flux of apermanent magnet at any time in such manner as to oppose or tend to weaken the strength or' permaproductlve of'inefiicient results and ultiinatedeterioration of the permanentmagnet. Yet in all prior apparatus for utilizing a permanent magnet to generate sparks fOIYlgIlltlOIl pur- 40 poses throughout a relatively wide angular 415'. operation and range of adjustment, in so far as I amadvised the reactlons upon the permanent niagnets are such as to tend to demagnetlze them during some part of the cycle 0 i the utilization of the magnet flux is therefore relatively Y magnet demagnetization or deterioration" 1 s The advantage of providing a relatively ineflicient. In practice it is well known that permanent a permanent magnet is utilized in such ai- -manner as always to tend to maintain the strength and permanence of the magnet and toinsure substantially the same value and shape of current wave at a given frequency throughout the range of spark adjustment.

The elements constituting my improved apparatus are so constructed and correlated permanent magnet always so located that 'the magneto-motive"force of any current flowing in the generating winding for any position of spark adjustment within the c5 spark range will, always act in the same di rection on the poles of the permanent;mag-

Patented Feb, 3, 1920.

net; in other words, the relative mechani; Y

cal'directions of the axis 'of the generating winding' and path of leastv reluctance be-- tween the magnet poles when a current is flowing 1n the generating winding are maintamed the .same for all'positions' of spark adjustment within-the range, and any current whlch fiowsin the generating winding is maintained always in onefa'nd the same direction therein, so that it ma be said that the electro-magnetic relationsh1p of the path of least reluctance between the poles of the permanent magnet, which includes the.

partof the magnetic circuit extending through the winding, will remain constant.

improved apparatus I Accordingly, my utilizes the flux of a permanent magnet in the production of sparks for ignition purposes throughout a relatively wide angularnor as alternately to increase and-decrease the flux linking through saidwinding and to maintain the path of'least reluctance 511- range by distributing the main 'flux between t the poles of a permanent magnet first through and then outside a generating winding having a spark gap, in such manways in the same electrov-magnetic relation;

to the poles of the permanent magnet, closf ing and opening an BIGCtIIC' circuit through the said winding in-a definite timed relation 'tothe said distribution of flux'and simul-:

taneously advancing orretarding said'distribution of flux and the closing and openf ing of said circuit, whereby high tension sparks are caused periodically to jump said spark gap. I q

"With my improved apparatus it is pos sible to maintain at all times a'path of relatively low reluctance for the magnetic flux between the poles of the permanent magnet and to keep the total reluctance of the magnetic circuit of the main flux substantially constant throtwhout the flux cycle for all spark adjustments within the limitsof the spark range.

Again, smce my apparatus 1s constructed to maintain the path of least reluctance between the poles of the permanent magnet always in the same electromagnetic relatlon to the poles of the permanent magnet, by

1 words, the direction .winding' closed and opened during having the circuit through the generating flux decrease therethrough, .l insure that the current generated in the winding will always flow inthe direction to tend to maintain or buildup the magnet,irrespective of the position of spark adjustment and the dura-' tion of thecurrent wave, there being there-' netic action of the current flowing in the the permanency winding-will tend to strengthen or maintain of the magnet.

' I am also enabled to maintain the maximum, minimum and average reluctance of the magnetic circuit the spark range during the utilized part of the fiux: cycle, thus insuring uniformity of current output for a, given frequency for all positions of such spark adjustment.

In so far as possible the elimination of losses due to hysteresis and eddy currents is essential in enabling the flux between the poles of the permanent magnets to be used most efliciently and economically. My im proved apparatus is constructed tomainta-in between the magnet poles a'flux path which always has the same direction with relation to the poles of the permanent magnet, thereby eliminating losses incident to flux reversa'ls in the magnetic circuit. a

For the purpose of illustration I have shown in the accompanying drawings a construction by means of which myv invention may be practised.

'Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical section of an inductor. generator embodying my infv vention on the line 11, -Fig. 2. v

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2'-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the polar faces of the rotor and stator and a system of Wiring.

if desired.

surfaces 4 is, held 1n magnetic contact with tions 9, 9,

through the winding, the same for all spark adjustments within Fig. 4 is an end elevation.

Fig. 5 is a'detail.

In the drawings:

1 indicates a base section of-non-magnetic material, 1", 1, alined pole pieces at opposite ends thereof which may be secured in position in any suitable manner, as by screws.

4 indicates a permanent magnet field structure of any suitable nature. As shown, it consists of a pair of horse-shoe shaped magnets 4*, though .a plurality of magnetized laminae of steel may be substituted therefor The magnets have their polar the pole pieces 1*, 1, respectively, by means of screws 4:.

9 indicates as an-entirety an oscillatab'le pole piece or stator, comprising a tubular section 9 mounted to oscillate relative to and extending through the pole piece 1, an enlarged annular section 9", the'up-permost portion of which always covers the polar eX- tremity of the adjacent end of the magnet. i and unwoundand wound polar projecrespectively- The polar projections may be constructed in any suitable mannerand secured to the section 9 They are illustrated as laminated, as is also theportion 9' of the stator, the ,laminations of the latter being shown only in Fig. 1 of the drawings to avoid confusion of lines. The polar surfaces 9 and 9"- of said polar projections are flat and lie infa vertical plane transversely disposed relatively to the axis of the stator. I

12 indicates as an entirety an unwound,

homopolar flux distributer having its axis of rotation. coincident with the axis of the stator section\9 and diametrically opposed, laminated flui distributing sections, 1:2, 12, with fiat polar faces 12 which lie ina vertical plane transverse to the axis of the flux distributer and parallel to the plane of the polar surfaces 9 and 9 of said stator.

The reluctance of each air gap between the polar ends of the permanent magnets and stator and flux distributer, respectively,

is relatively small in each instance because of the large area of metal at each gap and the fact that the adjacent surfaces of the magnets i and rotor and respectively, may be set relatively close together.

16 's a generating windingconstructed to surround the polar projection 9 of the stator and be carried thereby. The winding illustrated in the drawingsis for high tension current generation, comprising preferably an inner section or coil 16' of relatively coarse wire, and an outer section 16" of'relatively fine wire. For low tension current generating purposes a coil suitable therefor maybe substituted for the one shown in the drawings. 17 and 18 are termmals for opposite; ends flux distributer,

- 'of the coarse wire winding 16. The terminal 17 is electrically connected with a terminal lead 17- extending through and in-.

'sula ted from the section 9 of the stator.

The terminal 1 8 is connected by an electrical conductor 50 to a terminal plate 18' insulated from the stator 9 which carries it.

-9 which is carried by 23 'is a condenser electrically, having one end connected to the terminal plate 18' at '23. The other end of the condenser is electrically connectedat 23 to a metallic bracket stator. v

-' The fine winding 16 has one end connected to the terminal 18." Its other end ter minates at a contact plate 24:, to whlch t is" electrically connected. a

25 is an insulating plug carrying a high tension terminal lead 26. "The plug .25 ex-:.

tends through and is rotatable relative to the distributer support 27. v

The-high tension lead 261at its'inner end' is electrically connected to the end wallof 'a metallic socket piece 28 in which is movably mounted a brush 29; 29, is a spring whlch tends normally to press the brush 29 into engagement iwith the contact plate 30' carried by the 'block30 (if insulating mate rial which is secured'to the inner sides of the adjacent magnet le s in any suitable manner.- The plate-3O 1s electrically con.-

[means ofa conductor 31. The segments 31'- receive between them and make wiping con-' tact with the freeend of the contact plate 24; A suitable safety spark gap for the high nected with contact. segments- 31, 3L, by

tension circuit'i's provided between theupper free end of the plate'31 and the ad acent surface of the magnet.

' 32'indicatesa circuit opening and closing mechanism. Any well known type may be employed. For the' purposes of illustration I have shown such a mechanism disposed within the generator structure so as to be operated by .a relative movement of parts thereof. Of this mechanism, 33 is an arm pivotally-connectedat 3-it to the bracket 9 on the stator. 37, is a coiled spring interposed between a lug 37 on the .bracket 9, and a lu'g 33'- on the breaker arm. 38 and 39 arethe breaker electrodes, the former ad- "ustably supported in a lug 37?" on the I I racket 9 and insulated therefrom, and-the therewith.

'latter carried-at the outer end of the breaker arm 33. 44 is a shoe, preferably made of fiber, carried by the other end of the breaker I arm and arranged for engagement with the surface of a 'cam 45 secured-to the inner end of the flux distributer shaft 12 to rotate 50 is anelectric 1 the electrode 38 to the terminal plate 12 and thence to the terminal 18. The-cn'cuit I of the generating winding l6 is closed 66" through the following conductors;- terminal and grounded to the carrying the insulating conductor leading from '18, conductor 50', electrodes 38- and 39,

breaker arm 33 to ground, theother termi-- nal of the coarse winding being grounded.

The condenser 23 is in parallel with the elec trodes 38 and 39.

51 indicates as an entirety triblitihg mechanism. Of this mecha ism 53 isla gear carriedby and rotatable-with the flux'distribut'er shaft 12 and meshingwith a gear 5- of thrice the diameter (the illustrateddev'ice-being geared for six cyl inder ignition) carried by the tubular shaft 55, which surrounds the {metallic shell 55' lar. shaft 55 is mounted to rotate in a bearsupport 27.

ried by and-rotatable with the gear 54 from which it is insulated-by the plug $25. 7 The.

segment 56 is electrically connected to- .the

' adjacent end of the terminal lead 26.

61 is a'distributer casing 'of. insulating .mat-e'rial suitably held in position in any ug 25-. The tubu wellknown manner. -'62 are the distributer;

brushes, each electrically connected with one 'of 'the distributer terminals 63 in the disitributer cas1ng,"from-- which high tension conductors 52 extend to spark plugs 52 of" any'suitable construction. Suitable means must be provided-forangularly adjusting the polarsurfaces 9", 9',- relatiye to the polar surfaces 12 ,'12", of the tration, this is accomplished by a lever or.

crankarm 9l connected at one end to' the stator 9.

' The flux distributer shaft 12 is preferably outer end ofthe tubular section '9-'of the. I a 1'05 mounted inanti-frict-ion bearings 13 and an,

anti-friction thrust bearing 13 may be used,

if desired, to insure maintenance of the .proper air; gap between the polar surfaces 9. '9', and 12". 12.

T he flun dist'ri'buter, adapted alternately-to lncrease and decrease thepflux linking through the generating winding 16 by first establishing a path of.

when turned, is

least magnetic reluctance through said wind-- ing and between the wound polar projection 9 and the magnet pole of opposite polarity.

and theua path vof least reluctance between sald last descrlberl magnet pole and the unwound polar pro ect1on 01' by-pass 99.

There is never any reversal of the flux in the elements which constitute the magnetic. path between the magnetpole.

Since the breaker mechanism 32 is car ried by the oscill-atable pole piece 9. angular movement of the breaker to advance or -retard the sparlcis accompanied by simultaneous angular movement of the pole plece,

Land the relation of the polar surface .9, 9.

flux distributer. For the purpose of illus I v main flux will be linked through the I Y, to: the polar surfaces 12 12 of the flux distributer and therelati on of the flux path to the generating Winding, when the circuit is wilt begin to take place as the reluctance of l by ' the path through creases and the reluctance between the active flux distributing section 12* and the polar the polar projection-9 in projection 9. decreases. The reluctance between the wound polar projection 9 and the fluxdist-ributer will increase until finally the flux distributing section 12 will be sepa rated from thewound polar pro ectlons 9. an air-gap and the main flux will find a ."path through the unwound polar projections distributing section 12 may magnet n 0 ,of spark adjustment while maintaining the r manner that, the

electro-magnetic relation range of spark adgiven point '9 and the said flux distributer section 12. The polar projections 9, 9,

total reluctance of magnetic circuit between the magnet poles substan tially, constant as the flux distributer rotates.

The elements of the apparatus should be shaped, disposed and correlated in such circuit opening and 0105-" 'ing mechanism, will operate to close the c1rcuit through the generating winding durdecrease of the flux through said winding and to open the clrcult while the 7 flux through said winding is still decreasing.

The circuit breaker terminals should be kept apart by the cam 45 during increase of the flux linking the winding to insure that no current will be generated in the winding thereby.

The mechanical relative to the poles of the net never changes, and the direction of the winding permanent magpolar surfaces of the stator and flux distribut'er cooperate to maintain the path of least reluctance between the'magn'et poles'always in the same to the poles of the magnet throughout the 'justment, irrespective of the angular position of adjustment of the stator and breaker within the spark range of the apparatus. Furthermore, it will be noted that the reluctance of the magnetic circuit for any in the flux cycle remains substantially constant throughout the range of spark adjustment.

Apparatus embodying my invention is adapted'to utilize the flux of a permanent throughout a wide angular range path and the fluxhave their polar surfaces so shaped and correlated asto maintain the gaps between gular and;

permanency of the magnet; to maintain the of least reluctance between the; poles of a permanent magnet always in the same electro-magnetic relationto the said poles; to'reduce to a minimum losses due to hysteresis and eddy currents. and variation .oii

total reluctance of the magnetic circuit during a cycle of operation; to make possible more efii-cient and economical use than heretofore known of theflux of a permanent magnet in generating between fully retarded and advanced spark positions, electric current impulses having the same wave shape and value at a'given frequency for all spark positions within. the rangeof-adjustment; to reduce to a minimum shifting of the flux in the polar end of the permanent magnet tending to demagnetizeit; and to insure that the currentv generated in the winding will never flow in the direction to demagnetize or tend to demagneti'ze the permanent mag net, but will flow'only in a direction to produce magnetizing efi'ect upon the permanent magnet. v

It will be noted that the permanent magnet is held stationary and the parts which co- :operate with .each other to maintain. the magnetlc circuit between the magnet poles are so shaped and correlated that but three air relatively 'moving parts .are necessary to enable angular shifting of the field flux relative to the flux distributer, the means for shifting said flux relative to the flux distributer being arranged entirely at one -side of the path of movement of the polar surfaces of the flux distributer and between said path and one of the poles of said magnet; and that in the particular apparatus hereindescribed as embodying my invention such angular shifting of the flux is attended by maintenance of the same shape and value of current waves for all angular positions of spark adjustment at a given speed of rotation of the flux distributer; and, furthermore, that the arrangement of the magnetic material in the magnetic path magnet is such as to enable me to interpose the necessary three air'gaps with minimum reluctance due thereto; that the direction of the flow of flux through the flux distributer is never reversed due to any adjustment relatively to each other and to the fiuxdistributer of those parts of theapparatus by means of which spark adjustment over a wide anrange is effected; and that all of the parts of the magnetic circuit between thej poles and the generating winding 'bear the| same relation to each other at all positions between the poles of the permanent" time constant of the-winding, during thei period that the primary circuit is closed, is the same for all such positions of adjustment, a feature which lends itself advantageously for battery excitation ofthe windsuch as a battery when conditions warrant,

Gas for starting a motor or running the motor under conditions requiring exceptionally. I I h v 14, 1914, and renewed "April 23,1919, as Se-- hot sparks.

impressing an electric current from an exing three positions, 71', 71 and 71. When tery current may flow though the primary winding during the period when the circuit of that winding is closed by thev breaker -mechanism 32. The battery should preferably be so connected in the circuit that its current will "flow through the winding 16?. a

'field magnet structure, a stator and an unwound r'otor 'co-axially disposed between'v in the same direction that current 'is generlated therein by rotation of the flux dis-i tributer in proper direction.

i the battery vwill be cut out ofthe primary mime to establish a definite. and constant relacircuit which will then' be completed to ground through the'switch. If the switch is thrown into position 71", the circuit is' f g closed through a resistance 72 sufiicient to overcome effective sparking of the generator for ignition purposes. When the battery is in circuit and the circuit brealrer 'mechanism is closed'b'y the circuit opening constant of the generating-winding are the tion between the battery and the "generating i winding and to maintain it for all positions mand on the battery, so that therelation of of spark adjustment, which isof great advantage not only in 'insurin uniijormity of current value of sparks t roughout the range of adjustment for a given frequency, but also in insuring a more uniformdethe battery .to "the winding, established properly for any pointin the range will be the same for all positions of spark adjust- .ment. The breaker mechanism 32, and condenser 23, form with the stator 9 carryin the generator winding 16 a structure which may be. assembled and angularly adjusted as a unit. This insures a durability} and a permanent relationship of these important elements of the utmost advantage in actual practice. I

tion, and the arrangementioi"elements is.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated one plan for the switch is placed in the position 71', bat- When the switch is in the position"71,

thereto so that they are t and closing -mechanism 32, the maximum, average and minimum value of the time.

'erated in said winding.

While permanent magentsareshoyitn in the illustrated embodiment of; my .mve npermanency of the magnets in operation, it'- will beunderstood that essential characteristics-of my. inventionlmay be enjoyed by the substitution. of .electro-magnets for rial Number 292,242.

-' Many widely varying embodiments ofmg invention" and various a plication's thereo lates, may; be used andmade without departing-from the spirit and s'copeof my invention. My disclosure "anditheffore jug; description are purelyillustrative an are f notintended to be in any sense limiting.

WhatI claim is': 1. In; a machineof the. class described, a

'suchas will suggest t emselves. to those skilled in the art to which my invention'rethe poles ofsaid field magnet and each having aJplurality-of cooperating polar surfaces, agenerating winding carried by said enerating win ing bein disposed, relative hreaded durin the rotation ofsaid rotoronly to unidirectional stato id p larjsurfaces of the to'rand. rotor being 'sha ed and correlated nd said. 1?

9 5 .fl'u'x throughLsaid rotor and, stator, abat- "tery, and a circuit breaker actuated tofcon nect the :battery, into the circuit of said generating winding only durin (intervals ofdecreaseof flux 'of the .fie'd. magnet through said generating the current flowing fromsaid battery be in the-same direction 2. i In a machine of the-class a ndingr so that as the urrent genswingable-stator,i'an unwoundrotbr, and a enerating winding having pri a a d ondarysections, one terminal of theprimary section being c onnfected with an electric conductor extendmgjaxially through said station being: connected. to a conductor segment adapted to-dsoillate. with said stator. a 3.' In a machineof the class described,- a. swingable stator, an unwound rotor, at gen- 'erating winding having primary and secndarysection'S, oneyterminal iof the mary section being-connectedwith a'n elec trio conductor extending-axially through .saidstator and one terminal :of said secondary section being connectedto a conductor segment adapted to oscillatewith said "sta 4. In a machine of the class describedya 'e sw d h v g 'Pr j d ondary sections, one terminal ofihqprinai-y;

119 .tor and. onetermihal of said secondary sec-" tor anda'hi'gh tension-lead having' 'wip' coiitact with said conductor segments. 1 i

'swingable-s'tator, anllnwoiindrotor, a ge section being connected with an electrlcinner end Wiping contactwith said conductor' conductor extending axially through "said segment. 10

stator and one terminal of said secondary In testimony whereofl affix my signasection being. connected to a conductor segt'ure, in the presence of two witnesses. lnent adaptedtooscillate With said stator, a LEON J. LE PONTOIS. field magnet embracing said stator and ro- Vitnesses: tor, and a high tension lead extending JOHN C. BARKLEY,

through said 'field magnet and having at its Gaol B. 'Prrrs.

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