US1625806A - Timer - Google Patents

Description

April 26 1927.

. B. U. HILLS TIMER Filed .11111.23` 1922 ,ella

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

4UNIT ED STATES BURTON U. HILLS, OF CHICAGC, ILLINOIS.

TIMER.

Application filed January 23, 1922. Serial No. 531,177.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices .known as timers or timing devices for internal combustion engines. As is well known, timing devices or timers as they are generally known, are adapted for successively closing an electrical circuit to the several sparking devices from a Acommon source and thereby igniting the charges in the cylinders to operate the engine.

My invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, convenient, compact, durable, eiiicient, reliable and satisfactory for use wherever 'found applicable.

Another object of my `invention is to provide an insulating Ymeans for the 4interioroil the casing, so arranged that it will lay close against the casing and will not be drawn away by the expansion or contraction of the insulating material or otherwise damaging the insulation.

Another obj ect of my .invention is to provide lubricating means whereby the rotor periphery may be lubricated while it is in motion so as to prevent excessive wear between the rotor and the cooperating contact members.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in ,the yart from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and com `bination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In .the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding Fig. 6 isa face ,viewof the rotor and .con-

tact.

Referring to the drawings, in which ,the lpreferred embodiment of my inyention ,is shown, l represents the timer vdriving shaft driven inthe usual for any preferred manner having mountedlthereon a rotor `formed of fiber or other non-conducting material, pretera-bly made as has been described in my copending application, Serial No. 444,17 1i, filed February 11, 1921. The rotor is preter ably circular in form and is mounted upon a sleeve 3 formed of brass -or any other suitable electrical conducting material which is in turn secured to the shaft l in any preferred manner so as to be driven thereby.y A cap 4or cover li, enclosing the projecting end of the sleeve 3, is preferably of a length toy engage with the face of the body of the rotor, the extreme edge of the cap being preferably flanged so a's to lie against said rotor. The cap 4 is mounted in position on the shaftand against the rotor, maintaining .the rotor irmly in place by means of a suitable nut 5 Lor `other means mounted on the extremeend of the shaft.

In :the form of device shown, the rotor 2 is circular' in form as previously mentioned, the outer periphery having a1 face of nonconducting material except ata point where the Contact member V6 is positioned, this contact member consisting preferably of a. sheet-metal plate shaped to the form shown in the drawings and firmly secured to the rotor inany suitable manner. rlhe periphery of Lthe member 6 is flush with the periphery oi' the rotor, ybeing made so by any suitable rprocess to secure a smooth and true face, as by grinding or the like. The peripheral ,portion of the member 6 is so formed that its extremities are oi"k substantially the same width as the thickness of the valve 2; the side portions ot the member 6 being cut away slightly at these points to lavoid any possible tendency to strike against the cooperating parts. The contact member on the rotor is karranged to cooperate with the desired number of contact points or members 20, as the rotor is driven. As shown, I` provide a easing 19 of the desired size, shape and material, preferably circular in cross-section and which normally encloses the 4rotor and prevents the admission of foreign matter `such as dust, grit, dirt, moisture oi' grease, etc., thereto,the same being detachably maintained in Vplace in theconstruction shown, vby its engagement with the body ofthe engine crother supports carrying the shaft l, and the member 26 mounted fonan adjacent `part 27. Member 26 is provided with a ,protruding part arranged to engage `ina depression at the yend ,of .the ,cover Vof the vcasing, it beingnnderstood, however, that the particular construction and the method of supporting the same may be varied as desired. The construction illustrated, however, permits the casing which carries the contact members 2O to be partially rotated or adjusted, there being a bracketI 22 in the particular device shown carried by the casing and adapted to cooperate with a shifting or adjusting rod 23 for the adjusting of the casing. v

Arranged on the casing are the desired number of binding posts comprising screws 7 and 8 held in place by nuts 9, or their equivalents, there being insulating` washers ll between the casing and the screws. Adapted to cooperate with the binding screws 7 and 8, respectively, are binding nuts 7 and l2, for clamping or otherwise securing the electrical conductor at the binding posts. The number of binding posts depends upon the particular use for which the device is intended for instance on an internal combustion engine, I provide one binding post for each spark plug or other igniting device, the contacts on the spark plugs being connected therewith by suitable conducting wires or the equivalent in the usual manner (not shown). The binding screws extend within the casing and each are electrically connected with spring members 2l carrying the contacts or brush members 20. The springs preferably extend in the direction of the rotation of the rotor, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, and serves the double purpose of maintaining the contact members 2O in engagement with the surface of the contact part 6 and with the periphery of the rotor, and at the same time as electrical conductors connecting the members 20 with the binding posts and securing them in place.

I prefer to provide strips 28 of non-conduct-ing material around the interior of the shell to further insulate the electrical contact members from the casing. The strips extend circumferentially of the casing, be ing secured thereto at one end in the construction illustrated by the binding screws and the nuts 9, the free ends of adjacent strips overlying one another, as at 29, so that as the insulation strips or the casing expand or contract, the overlapping ends of the insulating material may slide upon each other to compensate for such expansion or contraction, and not buckle up or fall away from the casing.

There will be very little friction between the contact parts 2O and 6 to cause wear therebetween when the rotor is constructed as described in my application referred to, but in order to minimize even this small amount of wear, I have provided lubricating means whereby oil or other suitable lubricating fluid may be supplied to the periphery of the rotor while it is in motion.

-As shown, the binding screw 8, projecting into the interior of the casing, is axially bored as at l0, as shown in Fig. 4, to form an oil duct therethrough. The binding nut l2 has a hollow cylindrical portion 13 extending axially thereof, said cylindrical portion being adapted to receive a cylindrical casing constituting an oil-receiving chamber lll, .said oil chamber casing being secured therein in any suitable manner as desired. Preferably it is a drive lit, or held in by friction. The outer edge of said oil chamber casing lli is inwardly flanged as at l5 and has an oil hole or inlet lo in said flanged end wall, Slidably carried in said chamber is a valve 16 having one or more guide arms 17 projecting inwardly and maintaining a resilient coiled spring 18 therebetween, said spring serving to normally maintain the inlet opening l5 closed. In order to lubricate the rotor, it is only necessary that the valve 16 of the oil chainber be pressed inwardly and the oil applied thereto, whereupon it will flow through the duct l0 and onto the periphery of said rotor. It will be noted that the valved oil chamber is unitary with the binding post nut, and is extremely compact and convenient to use. To prevent leakage of the oil down the outside of the screw and along the threads. I prefer to place a washer lt, as shown, the saine being of felt or any other suitable material. It will be noted that the inner or head end of the binding post substantially constitutes a spout from which the oil will drop with-out running over the side of the head.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows: 'Assuming that the timer is applied substantially as shown, the binding posts being connected with the ignition apparatus and the shaft l grounded or connected with the source of electrical energy, then as the rotor 2 is driven by the shaft, the contact member 6 at its peripheral portion successively contacts with the several contact members Q0, so that the several circuits through the several binding posts are successively opened and closed. If the casing is partially rotated or adjusted, then obviously, the time of contact between the members 6 and 2O is varied, being either' retarded or advanced depending upon the adjustment made. It will be noted that with this construction the members Q0 are at all times maintained in perfect contact with the face of the rotating rotor and that as the springs 2l of the contact members 2() are substantially tangential to the nished edge or periphery of the rotor, the casing may be shifted in either direction wit-hout danger of the contacts 2O engaging or ruflling up the face of the rotor or of the contact member 6. Furthermore, this construction also requires less pressure to be put on the contact 2O in order to maintain it in place and there is consequently less wear on the parts.

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As has been more fully described in my copending application hereinbefore mentioned, the rotor is preferably impregnated so as to be substantiallyI water-proof and so that the same does not take up oils or grease irregularly about the surface, as would bey the case Where a porous body Was employed.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

k1. In an ignition timer, a casing, a rotor within said casing and made of insulating material having a metallic member in' the periphery thereof adapted to be intermittently engaged by cooperating electrical contacts carried by said casing, one of said contact members carried by said casing having means for lubricating the peripheryof said rotor while said rotor is in motion.

2. In an ignition timer, a casing, a rotor of insulating material having a metallic member on a portion of the periphery thereof, binding posts carried by said casing and insulated therefrom, electrical contact meinbers carried by said binding posts and adapted to intermittently engage said metallic member of the rotor, one of said binding posts having an oil duct therethrough, and means for lubricating said rotor through said duct. l

3. In an ignition timer, a casing, a rotor of insulating material having a metallic member on a portion of the periphery thereof, binding posts carried by said casing and insulated therefrom, electrical contact members carried by said binding posts and adapted to intermittently engage said metallic member of the rotor, one of said binding posts having an oil duct therethrough, means for lubricating said rotor through said duct, and means for yieldably maintaining said oil duct normally closed at the exterior.

4. In an ignition timer, a casing having binding posts thereon and insulated therefrom, a rotor adapted to rotate within said casing, a metallic member on the periphery of said rotor, electrical contact members carried by said binding posts and adapted to cooperate with said metallic member of the rotor, and means for lubricating said rotor while it is in motion, said means comprising an oil chamber carried by one of said binding posts, said last mentioned binding post having a duct therethrough leading from said oil chamber to the interior of the casing.

5. In an ignition timer, a casing having binding posts thereon and insulated therefrom, a rotor adapted to rotate Within said casing, a metallic member on the periphery of said rotor, electrical contact members carried by said bindino` posts and adapted to coope ate with sait metallic member of the rotor, and means for lubricating said rotor while it is in motion, said means comprising an oil chamber carried by one of said bin-ding posts, said last mentioned binding post having a duct therethrough leading from said oil chamberto the interior of the casing, and provided with .substantially a spout at the inner end thereof.

6. In an ignition timer, a casing, binding posts thereon and insulated therefrom, said binding posts comprising a binding screw secured to the casing, one of said binding screws having a duct therethrough, and a binding` nut engageable on said screw and having an oil-receiving chamber thereon adapted to communicate with said duct, whereby lubricant may flow through said chamber and duct to the interior of said casing.

7. In an ignition tim-er, a casing having binding posts carried thereon, and strips of insulating material arranged within said casing circumferentially thereof, said strips of insulating material having their adjacent ends overlapping so as to automatically compensate for expansion or contraction of the parts. n

8. In an ignition timer, a casing having binding posts thereon and insulated therethrough, and insulating strips circumferentially arranged on the inner wall of said casing, said strips each having one end secured to said casing and their adjacent ends overlapping so as to compensate for the eX- pansion or contraction of the parts.

9. In an ignition timer, a casing, a rotor of insulating material having ra metallic member on a portion of the periphery thereof, binding posts carried by said casing, and electrical contact members connected to said binding posts and adapted to engage said rotor, one of said binding posts having an oil Iduct therethrough. f

10. An electrical binding post comprising a tubular screw-threaded shank having a head at one end, a nut threaded upon said shank, a second nut threaded upon said shank and adapted to cooperate with the inst-mentioned nut to connect an electrical terminal to the shank, said second nut having a tubular extension communicating with the passage through said tubular shank whereby a lubricant may be introduced into said shank, and valve means disposed in said tubular extension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

BURTON U. HILLS.

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