US1615101A - Timer for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 18, 1927. 1,615,101

C. L. SHELTON TIMER FOR AUTOMOBILES Original iled Dec. 20, 1923 M a a m E e/Mir I a" {1 624mm 1. ix/71w Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrls.

CLARENCE I. SHELTON, OF GLOBE, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR OF QNE IHIBI) TO WELL A. PETERS, OF GLOBE, ARIZONA.

TIMER FDR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed December 20, 1923, Serial No. 681,809.

My invention relates to improvements in ignition systems for automobiles and is particularly directed for use on cars utilizing an ignition system similar to that used upon the Ford car.

The ignition system at the present time used upon cars of this type is one wherein the completion of a circuit causes the necessary spark, and the means for accomplishing this being controlled by the usual cam shaft and arranged at the front o1 the engine, which is more or less a disadvantage when necessary to make repairs. Furthermore, the cam shaft carries a roller or brush which makes the spark at the plug of each cylinder by contacting with the points arranged within the timer. The main weakness in this structure is particularly due to the fact that the roller and points wear out and that the structure as a whole gums up to such a degree that it does not function regularly.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide an ignition system which is so arranged as to cause a spark at each plug by a direct action from each of the exhaust valves.

A further object of my invention is to provide a system of the class described wherein each individual spark may be advanced or retarded, as occasion may demand.

My invention also comprises various other features which will be apparent upon a. reading of the hereinafter description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, and more fully pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor having my improved ignition system.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the same, showing a portion of the valve cover plate, upon which the elements are mounted, broken away to disclose the movable element for completing the circuit.

Figure 3 is an inner view of one of the cover plates showing the elements carried thereby, and

Figure 4; is a spring washer.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof,,t-he numeral 1 indicates the usual type of engine as installed detail view of the valve Renewed December 13, 1926.

upon cars of the type referred to, the same having a compartment wherein the springs 01" the exhaust valves are positioned "for a ljustment and the compartn'icnt being closed by a plate 2, upon which I have mounted the main elements of my improved ignition system. It is of course to be understood that it is not essential to mount the said elements upon the cover plate, as they may be arranged upon any part of the engine block adjacent to the exhaust valves and in such a position that a movement oi the valves may cause the operation 01 the system.

Referring to the drawings it will be noted that the central portion of the plate 2 has secured upon its inner side a block 8 formed of porcelain, fibre or other suitable insulating material, the same being held thereto by a bolt 1 which passes through the central portion of the block and the plate 2. Each end portion of the block 3 is provided with a slot 5 which receives therein one end of a metallic leaf spring 6, of good conductivity, each spring being firmly retained within its slot by suitable bolts or the like 7. The end portion of each spring 6, that end connected to the block 3, is further connected with a steel or brass bolt 8 which passes through the block 3 and the plate 2, the said bolt 8 being properly insulated from the plate by suitable insulating material. The end portion of the bolt 8 receives thereon a wire S) leading from the coil provided for that cylinder.

Each bolt 8 is connected by the wire 9 to the coil box with regard to the proper firing order of the car. The firing order of the cylinders of a Ford car is cylinder 1, 2, land 3 and necessarily the connections from the springs 6 are arranged in a similar order.

The plate 2 has passing therethrough and positioned under each spring 6, adjacent its connection, with the block 3, a stub shai t 10 the inner end of which has fixed thereon an. eccentric or the like 11, while its outer end has adjustable thereto and secured thereto by a set screw 12, a lever 13, the movement of which rotates the eccentric 11 and raises or lowers the free end of the spring 6.

As disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawings, the levers 13 carried by each plate 2 are connected by a rod 14, and each of the latter being further connected at their adjacent ends by a link 15, so that a movement of one set of levers 13 will cause a similar movement of the other set.

In order that the spark levers 13 may be controlled by a suitable operating lever positioned upon the steering wheel I have mounted upon the engine block a bracket 16 upon which is pivoted a bell crank 17, one end of which has connected thereto a controlling rod 18 passing to the control lever positioned upon the steering wheel, while its other end is provided with a suitable connection to the rod 14.

In order to complete the circuit leading to the cylinders I have removed the usual washer from the valve stem, and upon which the spring rests, and substituted therefor a washer 20, similar to that disclosed in the drawings, the same having a vertically extending sleeve 21 through which the valve stem passes, the purpose of which is to prevent the washer from tilting upon the stem and effecting the accuracy of the timing of the spark. The washer 20 is further pro vided with an arm 22, which upon the usual movement of the valve, engages the spring 6 and completes the circuit leading to the spark plug.

Having thus fully described my improved system I will now briefly summarize its operation: Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the current passes from a battery or magneto, not shown, to the coil units A, from the latter to the terminals 8 to which the contact springs 6 are connected. These contact are adapted to. be engaged by movable contacts carried by the valve stems, which are grounded, thus forming an opened primary circuit. The secondary circuit includes the coils and the plugs B. Thus it will be seen that upon movement of any one of the valve stems the contact carried thereby will engage the contact 6, thus completing the opened primary circuit and at the same time completing the secondary circuit having therein the plug. Upon downward movement of the valve stem the spring is caught by the eccentric 11, thereby breaking the primary circuit.

In order to vary the time of the spark the same may be accomplished by the movement of the lever 18 with respect to its stub shaft, thereby raising or lowering the eccentric and change the period when the eccentric engages the spring 6 and breaks its contact with the arm 22 of the washer 20.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without furtherdescription, and it will be under stood that various chan es in the size, shape, proportion andv minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An ignition system for internal conilnistion engines including opened primary and secondary circuits, the latter being controlled by the completion of the former, a spariing element within the secondary circuit, means for completing the primary circuit including a resilient contact arm carried by a detachable element of the engine block and having its free end adjacent the stem of the exhaust valve, an eccentric upon which the intermediate portion of said arm rests when in a normal position, a washer carried by the valve stem and having a resilient arm formed integral therewith adapted to engage the first said arm during its movement, and said eccentric adapted to control the position of rest of the first said arm for regulating the moment of engagement therewith of the second said arm to complete the primary circuit In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

CLARENCE L. SHELTON.

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