US1497502A - Commutator - Google Patents

Description

June 10 1924.

J. D. GREEN GOMMUTATOR Filed May 19. 1920 JACK D. GREEN z ven Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES JACK D. GREEN, OF LA. MANDA. PARK, CALIFORNIA.

COMMUTATOR.

Application filed May 19,

T @ZZ to tem it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JACK D. GREEN, a citiZen of the United States, residing at La Manda Park, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Commutators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for timing and controlling the spark in the ignition system of internal combustion engines, and an object of the invention is to provide a means for opening and closing an electric circuit at regular intervals and directing the current successively to each of a series of conductors leading to sparking devices.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character embodying a series of rolling contact members and a single wiper contact member mounted to be moved successively in and out of electrical engagement with the roller contact members; and in which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to be subjected to little wear and not liable to easily get out of order and which will permit ready removal and replacement of the parts.

A further object is to provide a commutator which is simple, durable, eflicient, and adapted to be produced at small cost.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the commutator as seen on its inner side.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section as seen on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail in section as seen on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

More specifically, l indicates the commutator casing or shell of any suitable construction and adapted to be adjustably mounted on the wall of an engine (not shown) to extend over the end of a timing shaft 5 as is common in internal combustion engine construction; the shell l embodying an annular rim flange 6 arranged to encircle the shaft in spaced relation to and concentric therewith.

Extending through the flange and spaced at suitable intervals apart are a series of conductor stems 7 which are threaded on their outer ends to form binding posts to which the terminals of electrical conductors may be attached in the usual manner. Mounted on the inner ends of each stem 7 is a turnable or rotary contact member 8 1920. Serial No. 382,465.

adapted to be engaged by a wiper contact member 9 mounted on a sleeve 10 carried by the timing shaft 5.

The shell is formed with an end wall l1 from the margin of which the flange 6 projects providing a chamber in which the wiper contact member is adapted to travel when the commutator is assembled and in operation; the wiper contact member being arranged to traverse a path of travel adjacent to the inner face f the end wall. A series of recesses 12 are formed on the inner face of the end wall in which the roller contact members 8 are disposed; the stems 7 eX- tending across the recesses and forming bearings for the rollers. A sleeve or bushing 14 is interposed between the stem and roller to provide a. wearing surface. For the purpose of mounting the stems 7 they are preferably provided with threaded inner end portions 15 which are screwed into the end walls of the recesses, as particularly shown in Figure 2, and nuts 16 are screwed on the outer end of the stems to bear againstthe shell and serve to lock the stems against rotation. The terminals of electrical conductors (not shown) may be connected to the stems 7 in any desired manner, as any sort of fastening may be employed, such as is commonly used in devices of this character.

The roller contact members 8 are of such diameter as to project a short distance beyond the inner face of the wall 11 to eX- tend in the path of travel of the wiper contact member 9, and as a means for permitting the wiper contact member to readily ride in and out of engagement with the roller contact members it is formed with inclined flanges 17 on its opposite edges which curve outwardly relative to the rollers.

The wiper contact member is here shown successively wipe the rolling contact members and to passthereover in rolhng'contact therewith to completeelectrical connection between the shaft 5 and eachl of the stemsI sulating material, so as to'obviate the useof.l

separate insulators, thus permitting the commutator being formed of fewA parts which may be readily assembled and easily removed and replaced.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of myinvention, I do not limit myself to the exact details' of con struction shown, but may resort' to such changes and modifications as'occasion may require and as may come within the scope of the appended claim,

I claim: v n

Inv a commutator, a shell having an end wall formed with a marginal flange, a series of fixedv stems4 extending thru the iiange radially of the shell each of said4 stems being fastened against turning and projecting beyond the outer periphery' of the flange to form binding' posts, a bushing encircling each stem interiorly of the shell, a roller contact member, mounted onl each of said bushings, a shaft over the end of which the shell isl mounted and a spring wiper contact member carried on said sha-it adapted on rotation of the shaft to be moved successively into contact with' the roller contact members and to ride over th'e rollers in rolling contact therewith under tension.

JACK D. GREEN

Images