US1657648A - sudduth - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1923. 1,657,648

' A. L. SUDDUTH IGNITION APPARATUS Filed April 5o, 1924 3 sheets-sheet 1 M/MW i Z i 9a.

Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,548

A. L. SUDDUTH IGNITION APPARATUS Filed April 50, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @afa/fr /f Vwf/MW i mm, Mdm

Jansl, 192s.

A. L. SUDDUTH IGNITION APPARATUS Filed April 50, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Law/MM Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

' UNITED STATES ARTHUR Il. SUDDUTH, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

IGNITION APPARATUS.

Application filed April 30,

The present invention relates to ignition apparatus, and more specifically, aims to provide means for quickly and easily converting ignition systems such as are emloyed on the Ford automobile, into the more modern single spark ignition systems. X.While this is the fundamental object of my invention, i also wish it to be understood that certain principles and features of construction inherent in my improved apparatus are also applicable to distributor and breaker units for other ignition systems and other makes of cars.

is is well known to those skilled in the art,A the standard Ford ignition system employing a magneto and a. series of vibrator coils, produces a shower of sparks at each spark plug for every iring'period of the plug. The disadvantages of such a method of ignition are that a shower of sparks is difficultto time properly, and these numerous sparks also tend to diuse the electrical energy over a considerable sparking interva'l instead of concentrating it in a single hot spark. Moreover, the Contact terminals of the vibrator in such a system are frequently pitting and giving trouble. f

@ne of the fundamental objects of the invention is to provide an improved construction of circuit breaker and distributor embodied in unit form and adapted for ldirect mounting on the timing shaft of the Ford engine where the conventional Ford timer is usually mounted. By the use of this unit I am enabled to convert the typical Ford shower spark system into a. modern single spark ignition system at small expense and with no alterations or other inconvenience. The standard Ford circuit can be kept intact as installed with the original Ford vibrator coils employed as before, the only change being that the vibrators are screwed down so as to maintain a continuous circuit through the primary winding of each coil. y

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which lhave illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. l is a side view7 partly in section and partly in elevation showing my improved c-ircuit breaker and distributor unit;

Fig. 2 is utransverse elevational view through the outer shell for showing the rotor element in end elevation;

1924. Serial No. 709,944.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the plane of line 3`3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. t is al perspective view of the rotor assembly removed from its bearing plate and from the outer shell;

Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views of the bearing plate for the rotor and of the rotor retaining ring respectively;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the adapter plate which carries the rotor, its bearing plate, Vand the outer sheel enclosing the rotor;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail sectional views showing' the mount-ing of the stationary breaker contact on the plate that carries the wiping bumper and cooperating cam depressions in the adapter plate, respectively;

Fig. l() is a detail sectional view through the breaker arm on a plane at right angle to Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the breaker contacts separated;

Fig. l2vis adetail sectional view through the spring brush mounting; i

Fig. I3 is a detail sectional view showing the engagement of one of the bearing plate lugs in the corresponding notch in the rotor plate; and

F ig. let is a. vertical sectional view through a modified form of adapter plate.

Referring to Figures l and 3 the engine is indicated at l2, this representing the front portion thereof and more particularly the front cover which houses the timing gears in the typical Ford motor. Projecting from the front of this engine portion l2 is I3 having the reduced shank the cam shaft la and the threaded end 15. It is on the end of this cam shaft I3 that the typical Ford timer is always installed.

.For converting the Ford system to a single spark system, this standard Ford timer is removed and the combined circuit breaker and distributor unit I6 is put in its place over the end of the cam shaft 13. This unit is assembled upon an adapter plate 17 shown in perspective in Fig. 7. This plate is in circular disc form with a forwardly turned peripheral flange 18. A tongue 19 haring a bifurcated end extends forwardly from the flange 1S at one point for engaging on each side of the control lug through which the control rod makes conbrush; and showing the breaker.

Vadapted to set into an annular` recess or adapter plate and which I l groove 23 formed in the timing gear housing 12 concentricl of the shaft 13. ris shownin Fig. 3 these lugs centery the adapter plate 17 and space the back thereof from the front face of the gear housing cover 12. This accommodates the cam pockets which are punched out through the back of the shall vnew describe. e

Set in from the lugs 21'on a smaller radius is another group of punchings which do not extend entirely through the plate-hut only to a sufficient depth to forni the four equidistant pockets or cam depressions 25 in the front face of the adapter plate. A bumper bar or foot controlling the movable. breaker Contact rides over the front tace of Vthis adapter plate 17 and is adapted to drop into these'pockets or cam recesses 25. Accordingly, the leading and trailing edges of each of these pockets With respect to the rotation of' this bumper inemberare slopedas indicated at 26 inl Figures 6 and 9, so that the bumper bar can readily cam itself out of the pocket during the proper forward nioe tion of the rotor, and also during any temporary backvvardrotation, such as from back firing. One of these counter-sunk portions 25 has an adjusting hole 27 punched therethrough for aifording access to the breaker contacts for adjustment thereof from the rear side of the breaker and distributor unit. The central opening 28 in the adapter plate V,17 slips snugly 4over the shankld Vand abuts the shoulder'13 of the cam shaft at .the end of this shank. Y. Next to the adapter plate 17 is mounted a bearing plate 29, constructed of bronze' or other suitable lbearing metal. This bearing platey is illustrated in perspective in'Fig. 5 and is constructed in the form ofv a circular rdisc With a plurality of upstanding lugs 3l punched out'of the saine at equidistant'points nearthe periphery. A slot 32 is also punchedl out of thisV plate, through which extends the bumper bar or foot tor separating the hrealrer contacts, and there `is also providedV the hole 33 for affording access to the breaker contacts Vfor adjustment. The central opening 34 slipsover the shank portion 1a of the cam shaft to permit this hearing plate to engage flush'against the adapter lplate 17 Fitting next to this bearing plate29 is rotor unit 35, illustrated in perspective in Figure 4, VThis is the rotor member that .performs the circuit breaking function and the distributing function.v Ttcomprise's acircularY plate V36 having a hub portion 37 eX- tending forwardly therefrom. The periphplate 29.

ery of the rotor plate 36 has a plurality of notches 36 cut out of the same Vto receive the lugs A31 of the bearing plate 29, the rotor and this bearing plate being assembled With the back ofV `the plate 36 litting flat against the face of the bearing .The plate 29 and the rotor unit 35 being thus locked together for joint rotation by these lugs 31 and notches 38, a rotor retaining ring 39 is then placed over the outside of the bearing plate 29. As

. shown in Fig. 3, this ring is formed With an inner offset flange l1 which overlaps the. periphery of the bearing plate 29 and forms a circular pocket in its rear side-tor receiving this 'bearing plate. The outer periphery ot this ring 39 fits snugly `Within the flange 18 of the adapter plate 17 so that the bearing plate 29 and retaining ring 39 are both supported centrally in the adapter plate 17.

he entire. unit is housed'by a shell 42 having a generally tapering front portion and a cylindrical flange Li3( for its rear portion.

This flange 43 sets snugly 1 vithin the flange 16 oitheV adapter plate 17, and bears against the front side of the rotor retaining ring 39, forcing this ring hack against the adapter plate 17. ie front end of the shell ll2 ha the usual depression or pocket 4l for receiving` the end of the usual spring arm for holding these timer shells in place. The vshell /l-2 may be the standard Ford shell with the standard arrangement of insulating ring, Contact segments, and terminal posts; orA it may be va specially constructed shell to form a `part of the present circuit breaker Vand distributor unit. y

Tn either event the shell will generally support an insulating ring 46 extending around the interior of the flange portion e3.y The in- 'ner cylindrical face 47, of this insulating ring Will'be notched out at quarter intervals for receiving the contact segments 43. Terminal posts 49 extend from each of' these Contact segments out throughthe insulating ring i6 and through'an opening 51 in the cy-'r lindrical portion of the shells-2. Anjinshovvn'in Fig. 4, it will be noted that secured vto the rotor plate 36 and embracing la considerable portionotl Vthehulo 37 is condenser 55 of arcuate form, this arcuatevforin permitting of the 'desired capacity of condenser in the relatively small space on therotor unit. Mounted en the rotor plate 36 substantially opposite the condenser is a terminal plate 56. rThis plate is of substantially the profile shown lin Fig. 2,land similarly formed block or slab of insulation 57 is interposed between this terminal plate 56 and the rotor plate 36. The terminal plate 56 may be secured to the insulating block 57 in any desired manner 4so long as this terminal plate 56 Vis retained out of electrical connection with the rotor plate 86. Formed in the central portion ot the terminal plate 56 is a. box-like guide 58 for receiving the square or oblong brush 59 which is projected from the guide 58 on a line substantially radially ot the rotor unit '85. A compression spring 6l (Fig. 2) is confined between the inner end ot this brush 59 and the inner end ot' the guide 58. When assembled as shown in F ig. 3, this brush is thrugt out into wiping` engagementwith the inner face 47 of the insulating ring 46, where it makes regular contact with the contact segments Referring to Figures 8, 9 and ll, it will be noted that the insulating` block 57 has opening 62 extending therethrough, for introducing the stationary contact screw 63 up through the terminal plate 56 from the bottom thereof. This contact screw threads up through the plate 56, and a check nut 64 may be threaded over the lower end ot the screw up against the plate to lock the contact screw in position. A spring breaker arm 65 extends over the top of the Contact screw 63, the arm 65 and the screw 63 having cooperating contact points 66H66. rlie other end of the spring breaker arm is secured yby a screw 67 to a hump 68 projecting forwardly from the rotor plate 86. The breaker arm is formed with Aa rightangle end 69 for riveting thereto a projecting bumper or toot 7l. This bumper or /t'oot is preferably constructed Vot fibre or other suitable insulating material, and kextends back through a slot 72 in the rotor plate 86 and through the mat-chine' slot 32 in the bearing plate 29. This brings the rear end of the bumper or toot against the front wall of the adapter plate 17, where it rides in the circle ot' the cam drops 25. rhe hole 62 extending through the insulating block 57 and through the rotor plate 86 matches with the opening 33 in the bearing plate 29, so that when these aligned openings come into registerl with the opening 27 in the adapter plate, access is afforded to the inner end of the screw contact 68 from the rear side of the breaker and distributor unit.

A lead 73 has connection with one side of the condenser 55 and entends over tor making electrical connection with the terminal plate 56 through the attaching screw 74. The other side of the condenser or the other series of condenser surfaces are grounded to the rotor plate 36; whereby the condenser shunted across the two contact points 66-66 'for spark absorption.

JAfter the rotor unit 35 is assembled over the end 14 ofthe cam shaft 13 it is rigidly secured thereto by `any connecting member 75 that may be employed, such 4a key, Vor .a radially extending pin joining the hub '37 and shaft end 14. It will be noted that by virtue Aot the outer shell 42 forcing ,the retaining ring 89 back into the .flanged adapter plate and thus holding all ot the rotating parts up against this adapter .plate there is no need of a nuttor screwingover the threaded end l ot the shatt, although one may be used if desired.

The spark is advanced .and Vretarded through a control rod which .makes operative connection with a thimble or eye 77 carried in the end ot' an arm 78 riveted to this outer shell 42 (Fig. l). ln the opera-tion otlthis control rod this shell 42 vis voscillated :back and forth through a limited path of movement, as is obvious in the control of an ignition circuit. To insure corresponding movement of the rear adapter plate 17 the bifurcated tongue or extension v19 is Jarranged to embrace the sides of the control arm 78.

- The operation ot thebreakerand distribir tor unit is as follows:

lVith the rotor revolving in 'the vdirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, `the brush 59 makes selective contact with each of the contact segments 48, whereby the circuit through the coil of the cylinder to be fired is completed down to theiterminal plate 56 and the stationary contact screw 63. The

preferred angular .relation between ythe con- Y tact segments 48 and the cam pockets 25 Vis illustrated in Fig. l2. It will Ybe .noted trom this gure that when the brush 59 i'irst encounters the lleading end of the segment 48 the bumper part of the adapter plate la7 but, no sooner has the rbrush contacted with the end ot the segment than the .bumper foot l7l drops down into the adjacent cam pocket and closes the circuit at the contacts 66. This continues the circuit from the terminal plate 56 and contact screw 63 through the breaker arm to ground through the rotor plate 86, thereby establishingA a current liow through the coil corresponding to that segment 48. The vibrators of all four coils having been previously screwed down tight, there is no tiring potential developed in the secondary of the selected coil at this time. The angular breadth of the segment 48 is sutlcient to build up a strong current in the primary of the coil and to thoroughly magnetize the same before the brush 59 reaches the end of the segment. When the brush is close to the end of the segment the bumper 7l encounters the cam surface 26 at the edge of the cam pocket 25, and immediately the circuit breaker arm 65 is thrust upwardly, sharply separating the contacts 66 and interrupting the current flow through the coil.

toot 7l is riding on the high CTI rearward projection V5:30

Upon this'interruption of the primary circuit the sparking potential in the coil is created and the cylinder is red. This is repeated at each of the segments 48 around the entire ring 46.- In advancing and retarding the spark the shell' Ll2 and the adapter plate 17 move as one, so that the segments etand campockets 25 maintain theirfixed angular relation. If desired, this angular relation may be varied, or-the width of each cam pocket 26 may be changedso that the contacts 66 are in engagement when the brush 59 i'irst touches the leading end ofthe segment L18.'

Fig. let illustrates a modified construction .of adapter plate 17 which may be employed in lieu of the one above described. In this modified form the adapter plate is shown with a shoulder 81 adapted to abut the gearV housing cover 12 around the edge of the circular groove 23, and an annular bead 82 punched in this adapter plate engages the outer wall of the groove and retains the adapter plate centered.,r substantially as shown. The central body portion of the adapter plate in which the cam pockets 25 are punched, is set forwardly from the plane of the shoulder 81 and bead 82 so t-liat the of these cam pockets will not interfere with the seating of the adapter plate against the gear housing cover 12. This construction avoids the openings in the adapter plate incident to punching out. the trance of dirt or oil into the interior of the unit through these openings. I claim:

1. In ignition apparatus, the combination of a housing, a rotor in said housing', Ya rear plate closing the rear of said housing, a bearing platecarried by :said rotor, anda retaining ring carried byrsai'd housing for engaging over said bearing plate.

lugs 21, and thus avoids the eni -'2.`In ignition apparatus, theY combination of a housing, an adapter plate yclosing the rear of said housing, a rotor, a bearing plate associated with said rotor, and a flanged retaining ring over-lapping said bearing plate and confined between said housing and said adapter plate. y

' 3. In ignition apparatus, the combination of a housing, a rotor in said housing, a rear plate closing said housing, a pair of circuit breaking contacts in said housing, an actuating member for one of said contacts, and a plurality of cam surfaces punched in said rear plate for cooperation with said actuating member.

el.. In ignition apparatus, thecombination of atiming gear housing, a timing shaft eX- tending therefrom, aV second housing removably secured to 'said first housing over the end of said shaft, a rotor in said second housing, circuit breaking contacts carried by saidrotor and an actuating member for said contacts extending substantially longitudi-V nally of said rotor for co-operation with an actuating surface on theinner wall of said housing.

k5. In ignition apparatus, the combination Vof a timing gear housing, a timing shaft eX tending therefrom, a second housing removably secured to said first housing over said shaft, a rotor in said second housing, a pair of circuit breaking contacts in said second housing, an actuating member for moving one of said contacts and an adapter plate having aplurality of equi-distant cam depressions on said second housing, said actuating member being adapted to ride over the front' face of said plate and in said cam I depressions when the rotor is in motion. Y

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of April, 1924.

Y ARTHUR L. sUDDUri-i.

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