US1477789A

US1477789A - tower

Info

Publication number: US1477789A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1923-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1940-12-18

Description

Dec 18 1923.

c. TGWEIR MAGNETO IGNITION SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H61 if W. W M

T0 DIST/Pl B0 70/? MAGNII'O GROUND/N6 TERM/MIL Afro/M 5) Dec. 18 1923.

C. H. TOWER MAGNETO IGNITION SYSTEM Filed March 11. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TO DISTRIBUTOR TO D/STR/d'l/TOR MAG/V570 GROUND/W6 WIRT/NG MO Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. TOWER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TEAGLE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

IAGNETO IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filed March 11, 1920. Serial 1%. 385,080.

6 of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magneto Ignition Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The inventionrelates to a magneto ignition system of the type in which an auxiliary source of current is used to give an intensified spark for starting purposes.

In the majority of cases the only available or feasible auxiliary source of current is a battery which of course furnishes unidirectional current. In connecting the battery to the generating coil of the magneto it is vitally important that the proper pole of the battery be connected'to the ma neto terminal,

for if inadvertently or by mlstake the batter current is passed through the generator coi in the wrong direction the permanent magnets of the generator will be demagnetized. I have found in practice that this 2 is'a serious difficulty.

The chief object of the present invention is to overcome the above difliculty, and this I accomplish by providing means that act au tomatically to prevent flow of the battery current in the wrong direction through the generating winding of the magneto.

While my invention is applicable to various types of magnetos, I have developed it and will here describe it in connection with an inductor type of high tension magneto having unidirectional flux through the generating winding, a generator of this kind being especially suited to the use of an auxiliary current for starting.

Referring now to the accompanying drawin o a u ig. 1 shows diagrammatically an ignition system embodying my improvements, the. sectional part of the diagram being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Figs. :2 and 3 are a plan and a. side elevation, respectively, of the polarized switch device slicwn in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically another "form of ignition system embodying the in nomatically a modirated in Fig. 4.

llustratdiagra 0% c known form of inductor type of high tension magneto, only so much of the same being shown as is requisite for an understandmg of the present invention. The magneto comprises a combined base and pole piece 2, a top pole piece 3 having depending polar pro ections 3 and 3 and straight bar

permanent magnets

4, 4. Between the polar face of the pole piece 2 and the polar projections 3 and 3 is rotatably mounted an unwound inductor 5. On the polar projection 3 is arranged the high tension generating coil 6 comprising a primary section 6 and a secondary 6.

One end of the secondary is grounded and the other end is connected to the distributor gnot shown), as indicated. 7 is a condenser.

ne end of the low tension section of the winding is connected to one terminal of the condenser, the other terminal thereof being grounded and also connected to the fixed terminal8of the breaker mechanism. The movable terminal 9 of said breaker mechanism is grounded as indicated. 10 is the breaker cam. The other end of the low tension section of the generating winding is connectedto the magneto terminal 11 which in practice is arranged at some convenient place on the outside of the generator frame or casing. 12 is a 3-position switch having electrodes 12, 12*, 12 and 12 Electrode 12 is connected to the magneto terminal 11. Electrode 12 is connected to one terminal of a battery 13, the other terminal of which is grounded. Electrode 12 is grounded. Electrodes 12 and 12 are connected by

conductors

14 and 15, respectively, to a polarized magnetically operated switch 16.

The switch 16 has a fixed electrode 17 to which conductor 14 is connected and a separate electrode 18 to which conductor 15 is connected. A movable contact block 19, designed to cooperate with

electrodes

17 and 18, is mounted on and insulated from a spring arm 20 which is in turn carried by a cross bar 21 secured to the permanent ma net- 22. The spring arm 20 normally hol s the contact block 19 out of engagement with the

electrodes

17 and 18 as indicated in Fig. 1. On the free end of the spring arm 20 is secured a transversely arranged armature 23 for the magnet 22. Surronndin said armature 23 in inductive relation t ereto are a pair of coils 24, These coils, which are series, have one terminal connected the conductor 15 and the otherterminal grounded as indicated in Fig. 1. A current flowing through coils 24 magnetizes the armature 23 and when the current flows in one direction the polarity of the magnetized armature is such as to increase the attraction between it and the permanent magnet 22 and when the current flows in the opposite direction is such as to decrease that attraction. When the magnetic attraction is increased as specified it is strong enough'to overcome the tension of the spring 20 and throw the switch block 19 into engagement with the

electrodes

17 and 18, thus closing the switch. Dbviously if the current flows through coils 24 in a direction to decrease the magnetic attraction the switch 16 will not close.

The operation of the system above described will readily be understood. When the engine with which the system is used is being started and it is desired to use the battery current to insure a strong ignition spark, the switch 12 is moved so as to connect electrodes 12 and 12 Thereupon the current from the battery 13 flows through switch 12, conductor 15 and coils 24 to ground. If the battery has been properly connected in the system the current flowing through the coils 24 will be in .a direction to increase the magnetic attraction of the switch soias to connect

electrodes

17 and 18, whereupon the current flows through said electrodes, thence through conductor 14 to electrode 12 of switch 12 and thence to the magneto terminal 11 and through the low tension section of the magneto generating winding to the breaker and thence to ground. When the breaker electrodes are open the interruption of the strong battery current flowing through the primary of the coil results in the generation of an intense higlitension i ition current in the secondary in the wel known manner. As soon as the engine is in operation switch 12 is moved to connect electrodes 12 and 12 whereupon the battery is disconnected and the low tension circuit of the generator is connected to X ground, which is the normal running condition of the system.

If through inadvertence or mistake the battery 13 should have its wrong terminal connectedto the switch 12 then the battery current flowing through the coils 24 of the polarized switch would not eflect the closing of the switch and as no spark could be obtained the driver would know the connection was wrong and correct it. It will be seen that by the use of the polarized switch 16 it is possible for the battery current to flow to the generating winding of the magneto only in one direction and if it is not connected to flow in this predetermined direction actuation of the switch 12 is inedective. In other words, the polarized switch 16 afiord an 1,4r7,rse

automatic control of the battery circuit which efiectively prevents any demagnetizing of the permanent magnets of'the generator by the battery current and, with a generator of the type shown, insures an actual magnetizing action of the permanent magnets by the battery current.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, 31 designates a magneto similar in every respect to that described above and comprising a bottom pole piece 32 and a top pole piece 33, depending polar projections 33' and 33", permanent magnets 34, and inductor rotor 35, a high tension generating winding 36, a condenser 37, fixed and

movable breaker electrodes

38 and 39 and breaker operating cam 40. 41 is the magneto terminal exteriorly mounted on the generator as in the first described construction.

The terminal 41 is connected to a 3-way switch 42. This switch has an off position a in. which the generator circuit is open, a starting position b in which the switch arm engages an electrode 42 and a running position 0 in which the switch armengages an electrode, 42 which is connected to ground.

43 is a battery one terminal of which is grounded while its other terminal is connected to a polarized magnetically operated switch 44,

The switch 44 has an electrode 45 con.- nected to the battery 43, an electrode 46 connected to the electrode 42 of the switch 42 and a movablecontact 47 adapted by its movement to connect and disconnect

electrodes

45 and 46. The contact 47 is mounted on and insulated from a pivoted iron bar 48 which is arranged between the poles of a permanent magnet 49. A coiled spring 50 serves to normally hold the pivoted bar 48 against a stop 51 with the contact 47 out of engagement with the

electrodes

45 and 46. The bar 48 is surrounded by a coil 52 which has one of its terminals grounded and its other terminal connected through a manual switch 53 with the battery 43. 54 is a starting motor which has one terminal grounded and the other terminal connected into the circuit between the coil 52 of the polarized switch and the manual switch 53.

From the above descri tion the operation of the system shown in ig. 4 will readil be followed. In starting the engine with which the system is used, the 3-way switch 42 is first moved to the position b and then upon closing the starting switch 53 current from the battery flows to the starting motor 54 which turns the engine over, and also flows through the coil 52 of the polarized switch 44. Current flowing through coil 52 magnetizes the bar 48 and, if the proper terminal of the battery has been connected with said coil 52, the attraction between the bar 48 and the south pole of the magnet 49 is suficient to overcome the tension of the spring 50 and move the switch contact 47 into engagement with the

electrodes

45 and 46, whereupon the current flows from the battery through the switch 44 and switch 42 to the low tension section of the generating winding 36 of the magneto. Thus when the magneto circuit is opened by the breaker a very strong high tension ignition current is generated. As soon as the engine is in satisfactory operation the starting switch 53 is opened and the 3-way switch 42 is moved to position 0 whereupon the magneto operates on its self-generated current in the normal manner.

If the battery 43 should have its wrong terminal connected with the polarized switch 44 the battery current flowing through the switch coil 52 will magnetize the iron bar 48 in such a way that the magnetic attraction is added to the tension of the spring 52 and the switch contact 47 is held away from the

electrodes

45 and 46 sothat with the switch 42 in position b no spark can be secured when the engine is turned and the driver will know that the battery is not properly connected.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing is shown a modification of the system shown in Fig. 4 the modification consisting in some changes in the connections of the magneto generating winding and also in the introduction into the battery circuit of a vibrator. In this modified construction 61 represents the generating winding of the magneto. The low tension section 61 of the generating winding has one of its terminals grounded as indicated while its other terminal is connected to a socalled grounding terminal of the magneto and thence to the fixed electrode of breaker 62, the movable electrode of said breaker being grounded as indicated. The high tension section 61 of the generating winding has one terminal grounded and its other terminal leading to the distributor as in the previously described forms of construction. The grounding terminal of the magneto is connected to a 3-way switch 63 which has a grounded electrode 63* and an electrode 63 which is connected to one terminal of an 'electro-magnetic vibrator 64. The other .rent flows from the battery through switch 44, vibrator 64 and switch 63 to the grounding terminal of the magneto. Thence, if the breaker electrodes are closed the current flows through the breaker to ground. Then upon the opening of the breaker the rapidly pulsating current pames through the low tension section 61 of the magneto generating coil and generates a rapid succession of high tension ignition currents in the secondary 61".

It will be seen that the vibrator 64, which may be of any suitable form of construction, performs th customary function of a vibrator in connection with a magneto, but by combining it with my improved polarized switch device I effectively prevent demagnetization of the permanent magnets of the generator by the battery current.

The novel features of my improved systern can be embodied in a great variety of structural forms. For example, the polarized switch of the system can be combined with the manual switch 12 (or 42) in such a Way as to produce a compact unit. Again, the polarized switch can be built into the magneto itself. I have not shown these particular features and structural matters as they will constitute the subjects matter of separate applications. In other respects my improved system is subject to variation and it will be understood that the arrangements indicated in the drawings are only for purposes of illustration and explanation, the scope of the invention being indicated in the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is,

1. In an ignition system, the combination of an ignition current generator having permanent field magnets, an auxiliary source of current adapted to supply unidirectional current, manual means for connecting the generating winding of the generator to said auxiliar source of current, and automatic switch evices having means f r yieldingly holding the switch open and e ectromagnetic means energized by current from said auxiliary source and adapted only when said current flows in a predetermined direction to close said switch.

2. In an ignition system, the combination of an ignition current generator having permanent field magnets, an auxiliary source of current adapted to sup 1y unidirectional current, manual means tbr connecting the generating winding of the generator to said auxiliary source of current, and automatic switch devices having means for yieldingly holding the switch open, a permanent magnet, an armature for said magnet connected to the switch contact, and a winding in circuit with the auxiliary source of current supply and inductively related to the armature, whereby when the current flows; in a predetermined direction through the last named winding the switch is closed but is not closed when said cufr'ent fiowsin the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof. Lhereunto afiix my signature.

CHARLES H. TOWER.