US1622153A - Electrical system foe motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

March 22 1927. l 3622153 4 c. F. KETTERING ET A1.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 9, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 1 [lg/'121755555 fn UEn Zai/"5 TIC-'HIP iL-'E5 LSZZSS 22 1927. Marc-h c. F. KETTERING ET A1.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Shree?I 2 Filed lJuly 9, 1923v ZL/1 12515555v m. f W

Patented Mar. 2, l2?.

CHARLES F. KETTERING AND JOHN H. HUNT, OF DAYTON, OHO, ASSGNORS TO GEN- ERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATON, 0F DAYTON, OHO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHCLES.

Application filed July 9,

rIhis invention relates to electrical systems for automotive vehicles and aims to provide current for lighting and ignition without the use of a storage battery.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figs. l and 3 of the drawings are wiring diagrams showing dierent forms of the invention; Fig. 3 including` a front end elevation of an internal combustion engine. Fig. 2 shows certain parts of Fig. l in other operating positions.

Referring to the Figs. l and 2, an internal combustion engine includes a crank shaft 2l provided with a radially projecting pin 22 which is received by the spiral notch 23 in the hollow hub 24 of a starting crank 25 which normally is disconnected from the eng Upon the crank shaft 2l there is loosely mounted a pulley 26 provided with a. lug 27 which is received by the notch 23 of handle 25. Pulley 26 is connected by belt 28 with pulley 29 which drives a` permanent magnet D. C. generator 30 having a shat't 31. rlhis generator may be termed an a xiliary generator, and is provided with terminals 32 and 33. As shown in Fig. 2 when the crank 25 is moved toward the engine, the notch 23 will receive both the pin 22 and the lug 27 thereby connecting the engine 20 with the auxiliary generator 30. lWhen the engine becomes self-operative the crank 25 will be automatically moved out of driving engagement with the pin 22 and the pulley 26 will be automatically disconnected from the shaft 2l thereby disconnecting the generator 30 from the engine.

The main generator 40 includes brushes 4l and 42 which are connected respectively with wires 43 and 44 connected respectively with shunt field winding 45 and ground 46. The dynamo shunt field excitation is controlled by regulator which includes an electromagnet 50, connected across the brushes 41 and 42, which attracts an armature 5l against the tension of a spring 52 when the voltage across the brushes exceeds a cert-ain amount.

1923. serial no. 650,236.

The regulator contacts 53 and 54 are connected respectively with the shunt field 45 and with ground, the contact 54 being separated from contact 53 by the movement of armature 5l toward the magnet 50. A resistance element 55 is connected in shunt with the contacts 53 and 54. When the voltage between the brushes 4l and 42 exceeds a certain amount the armature 51 will be attracted to separate the contacts 53 and 54 and to render the resistance element 55 operativel to reduce the current in the shunt field winding 45. rEhe field excitation and consequently7 the dynamo voltage is regulated in the usual manner of vibratory regulators.

rlhe dynamo 40 is driven by the engine through mechanical connections not shown.

lonition for the engine is provided by means of apparatus including an ignition coil having a primary and a secondary 6i connected respectively with a timer 62 Iand a distributor 63.

In Fig. l, the primary 60 is connected with a movable switch blade 64 adapted to engage either orp the fixed contacts 65 and 66 which are connected with the wire 43 through switch 65a, and with ground, respectively. Contact 64 normally engages contact 65. rlhe timer 62 is connected by wire 67 with terminal 32 which is connected by wire 68 with a resilient switch blade 69 carrying a contact 70 which normally engages a contact 7l which is grounded. The blade 69 carries a non-conducting portion 72 adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 7 3 on crank 25 when the crank is moved from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2. Blade 64 is actuated by blade 69 through a non-conducting block 69a.

To use the form of the invention shown in Fig. l the operator moves the crank 25 toward the engine so that the notch 23 receives the pin 22 and the lugs 27, shown in Fig. 2. The engine is cranked to render it operative; and, during the cranking of the engine, the dynamo 30 is driven at a speed sutiicient to furnish current to the ignition coil for the engine ignition purposes. Movement of crank 25 toward the engine sufficiently to cause the notch 23 to receive the pin 22 and the lug 27, will cause the shoulder 73 of crank 25 to engage the non-conducting portion 72 of blade 69 and to move said blade sufficiently to separate contacts 70 and 71 as shown in Fig. 2. This movement of blade 69 will cause motion to be transmitted through the non-conducting block 69a to cause blade 64 to be separated from contact 65 and to engage contact 66. During crank ing the following ignition circuit is established: generator 30, terminal 32, wire 67, timer 62, ignition primary `60, wire contact 64, contact 66, ground connection to terminal 33 and generator 30. As soon as the engine becomes self-operative the crank 25 will be automatically disconnected from the engine by the operation of the spiral notch 23 and the pin 22. The release of the crank from the engine permits contact blade 69 to return to normal position wherein the contacts 70 and 71 will be in engagement. At the same time, the blade 64 will return into engagement with contact 65. Thilo the engine is self-operative the following ignition circuit is established: brush 41 of dynamo 40, wire 43, switch contact 65, blade 64, wire 60, ignition primary 60, timer 62, wires 67 and 68, blade 69, contacts and 71, ground connection to wire 44 and brush 42 of dynamo 40.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the connecting with the engine of a suitable starting device such as a hand crank automatically connects the auxiliary dynamo with the engine so that the engine may drive said dynamo at the rate sufficient for ignition purposes while the engine is loeing cranked. The movement of the starting crank into driving engagement with the engine causes circuits to be arranged whereby the auxiliary dynamo can supply current to the ignition apparatus sufficient for engine ignition. Therefore, while the engine is bein cranked ignition is being provided. W en the engine becomes self-operative, the auxiliary dynamo is automatically disconnected from the engine and circuits are automatically arranged which cause the main dynamo 40 to supply current to the ignition apparatus.

1n the form of the invention shown in Fi 3, the auxiliary dynamo 30 is mechanica ly connected with the engine by means independent of the starting crank. Dynamo 30 Vis mounted on a platform 80 carried by a bracket 81 pivoted at 82. The bracket 81 is maintained by spring 83 in engagement with a stop bracket 84. The dynamo pulley 29 is adapted to engage and be driven by a belt 85 encircling the engine driven pulley 86 and two other pulleys 87 and 88. Bracket 81 is connected by wire 89 rove around pulley 90 with a handle 91. Wire 89 is provided with lugs 92 and 93 adapted to bear against the branches 94 of a fork member between which the wire 89 may be located. The platform 80 carries a grounded switch contact 95 and an insulated switch contact 96 adapted to be engaged by a stationary contact 97 and carries insulated contacts 98 and 99, each for engaging a stationary contact blade 100 which is grounded. Wire 101 connects contact 98 with dynamo terminal Dynamo terminal 33 is connected by wire 102 with contact 99, and by wire 103 with timer 62. Coil 60 is connected by wire 104 with contact 97, and contact 96 is connected by wire 105 with switch 65a connected with wire 43.

To use the auxiliary dynamo 30 in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the operator grasps the knob 91 and pulls the wire 89 away from the fork branches 94 and pulls the wire 89 until the knob 92 has been drawn below the forks 94, and then movesl the knob 92 in to the position initially occupied by the knob 93. This movement of the wire 89 will cause the bracket 81 to move to the right against the tension of the spring 83 and the pulley 29 will be moved into frictional engagement with the belt 85. The engagement of knob 92 with the fork 94 will cause this frictional driving connection to beV maintained. Thile the dynamo 30 is con'- nected with the engine the contact 99 is separated from contact 100 and the latter is then engaged by the contact 98, and contact 96 is separated from contact 97 the latter engaging with contact 95. While the engine is being cranked the dynamo 30 will be operated at a speed sufficient for ignition purposes. Ignition circuit during cranking is as follows: dynamo 30, terminal 33, wire 103, timer 62, coil 60, wire 104, contact 97, contact 95, ground connection, contact 100, contact 98, wire 101, terminal 32, dynamo 30. As soon as the engine becomes self-op erative the handle 91 can be removed to release the knob 92 from the fork branches 94 permitting the spring 83 to return to the bracket 81 against the stop 84. As shown in Fig. 3, this movement of the bracket 81 will cause the dynamo 30 to be disconnected from the belt 85, contact 98 to be separated from contactl 100, contact 99 to engage contact 100, contact 95 to be separated from contact 97 and to engage by cont-act 96. lVhile the engine is self-operative the following igni tion circuits is operated: main dynamo 40, brush 41, wire 43, switch 65, wire 105, contacts 96 and 97, wire 104,coil 60, timer 62, wire 103, wire V102,v contacts 99 and 100,

ground connection, wire 44, brush 42 of nected from the engine and circuits are arranged whereby the main dynamo will supply current to the ignition apparatus.

In the forms of the invention shown herein, the wire 43 which carries current from the dynamo i0 to the ignition apparatus may be connected also with other work circuits such as circuits including electric lamps 110.

The present invention is adapted particularly for automotive vehicles where it is desirable to eliminate the storage battery, such as commercial vehicles using engines which can be readily cranked by hand. The regulation yof the voltage of the dynamo e() is provided by means of the voltage regulator shown in the drawings in order that the ignition and lighting currents mav be substantially uniform over a wide range of engine speeds.

It is apparent that the present invention is not limited in its use to automotive electric systems where a storage battery is not used, but may also be used in systems where a starting electric motor is used to crank the engine, the motor being operated by the current from the storage battery which is charged by the main generator. It happens sometimes that a storage battery is inadequate to supply current for startino` and for ignition purposes, hence hand cranking must be resorted to. Under these circumstances, the present invention can be used advantageously.

While the forms of embodiments of the invention as described constitutes preferred forms, it is to be understood that yother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

l/Vhat we claim is as follows:

l. In combination with ar internal combustion engine having an ignition system including a spark coil having primary and secondary windings, a main generator driven by the engine for supplying current to said primary winding when the engine is self operating, an auxiliary generator adapted to be operated for supplying current to said primary winding during cranking of the engine, circuit controlling means and means connectible with the engine for cranking purposes and for driving said auxiliary generator and for operating the circuit controlling means to establish an electrical circuit between said auxiliary generator and primary winding during the cranking of the engine.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system including a spark coil having primary and secondary windings, a main generator driven by the engine and connected with the primary winding for the purpose of supplying current to said primary Winding only when the engine is self-operating, an auxiliary generator adapted to be operated only Yauxiliary generator while the engine is being cranked, and for operating the circuit controlling means to switch the current supply for said primary winding from said main generator to said auxiliary generator.

e. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, an engine having` an ignition device including a spark coil; a main generator driven by the engine and adapted to supply current to the spark coil when the engine 1s self operating; an auxiliary generator; an engine -cranking device so constructed and arranged as to be connectible with the engine for cranking purposes and at the saine time operatively connected with the auxiliary generator to drive the same; and circuit cont-rolling means engaged by the cranking device when it is in cranking connection with the engine, said circuit controlling means disconnecting the main generator from the spark coil and connecting the auxiliary generator thereto during the cranking operation.

5. A device of the character' described, comprising in combination, an engine having a crank shaftextending therefrom; an ignition device for said engine, including a spark coil; a main generator driven by the engine; an auxiliary generator; driving connections for the auxiliary generator, including a driving member rotatably mounted on the extending portion of the engine crank shaft; circuit controlling means connected to both of said generators; and an engine cranking device adapted to be moved into connection with the engine crank shaft for cranking purposes and concurrently connecting with the driving member of the auxiliary generator and at the sam-e time engaging the circuit controlling means to disconnect the main generator from the spark coil and connect the auxiliary generator with said coil.

6. device of the character described, comprising in combination, an engine having a-crank shaft extending therefrom; an ignition device for said engine, including a spark coil; a main generator driven by the engine; an auxiliary generator; driving connections for auxiliary generator, including driving member rotatably mounted on the extending portion of the engine crank shaft; circuit controlling means connected to both of said: generators; and an engine cranking device adapted to be moved into connection with the engine crank shaft for cranking purposes and concurrently connecting with the driving member of the auxiliary generator and at the same time engaging the circuit controlling means to disconnect the main generator from the spark coil and connect the auxiliary generator With said coil; said cranking device being provided with means for disconnecting the same from the engine and the auxiliary generator driving member when the engine becomes self-operating whereby the circuit connections between the main generator and the primary windings of the ignition coils will again be established and the circuit connections between said coil and auxiliary generatorl disconnected.

7. A device of the character described, comprising combination, an engine having an ignition device including a spark coil; a main generator driven by the engine and adapted to supply current to the spark coil whenl the engine is self-operating;` an auxiliary generator; a cranking device having a member movable into engagement with an engine part'for cranking said engine means for drivingly connecting the engine and auxiliary generator, and rendered operative through the movement of said movable member into engagement with the engine part; and a circuit controller actuated through the movementof said movable member for connecting the auxiliary generator with the spark coil and disconnecting the main generator from Said coil.

In testimony whereof We hereto aix our

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