US1907514A - Ignition apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1933. c. H. DAVIS, JR

IGNITION APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 7, 1931 Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 CHARLES HALL IR, 01' AN-DEBSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO DELCO-B-EKY CORPORATION, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, L OOBIOBATION OF DELAWARE rem'rron APPARATUS Application filed November This invention relates to an ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine and more particularly engines which have a plurality of spark gaps to be fired simultaneously.

Itis an object of the present invention to provide a timer-distributor unit the distributor head of which requires a'relatively small number of terminal sts from which sparking impulses are distributed to the posts which are connected with spark gapls.

In order to accomplish this object t e present head having concentric inner and outer rows of posts, one row vof posts being connected respectively with the spark gaps and the other row of osts 'bein connected with the terminals oft e means or generating sparking impulses. This distributor head cooperates with anjengine driven rotor having asmany distributing conductors as there are;

the same instant.

s ark gaps to be fired at stem which ach conductor .7 has a main moves in proximity to theposts in one row,

and each conductor has a plurality of branches which move in proximity tothe posts in the other row, there being but one ranch of each conductor adjacent to a post of the last mentioned row while the-stem of eachconductor is adjacent a post in the first mentioned row at the firingperiod of the engine.

Further objects and; advantages of the resent invention will be apparent from the ollowing description, reference being had to .Ithe accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present-invention is clearly shown.

' In the drawing: Figs. 1 and 2 constitutea wiring diagram illustrating the present invention; Referring tothe drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates the, cylinders of an 8 cylinder engine in which these cylinders are numbered from 1 to 8 and each cylinder has two spark plugs A and B.

Referrin to is connecta le by switch 21 with a wire 22 connected with pairs oi ignition coil primaries P1 and P2 apd pairs of ignition coil primaries P3 and 4. The primariesPl,

invention provides a distributor are operate Fig. 2 a storage battery 7, 1931, Serial No. 573,602. Renewed July 22, 1932.

32 is pivoted at 34 and carries a rubbing block 35 which cooperates with a timer cam 23. The lever 32 is connected to one end of a leaf spring conductor 36 the other end of which is connected to the terminal 37 which is connected by wire 38 to primaries P2 and P1. The contacts 30 and 31 are shunted by condenser 39. Similarly, the primaries P3 and P4 are connected together in series with a circuit interrupter comprising a pair of contracts 40 and 41 attached respectively with a circuit breaker lever 42 and a ground connection 43. The lever 42 is pivoted at 44 and carries a rubbing block 45 which cooperates with atimer cam 23. The lever 42 is connected to one end of a leaf spring conductor 46 the other end of which is connected-to the terminal 47 which is .connected by wire'48 to primaries P4 and P3. The contacts 40 and 41 are shunts .ed by a condenser 49. The rubbing blocks 35 and 45 are located soithat their circuit shaft 24 which is operated at engine'cycle .speed, that is, engine speed for a 2 cycle engine, one-half engine speed for a '4 cycle engine.

The ignition coils, circuit interrupter and battery constitute sparking impulse nerating means which is controlled by t e enine through the engine driven cam '23.

his sparking impulse generating means comprises a dplurality of generators which alternately by the I engine driven cam 23. One of these generators comprises the coils PlS1 and P2S2 andthe circuitinterrupter whichconnects them with. the storage battery; and the other sparking impulse enerator comprises the i ition coils Pit-g3 and P4-S4 and the circuit interrupter which connects these coils with the storage battery.

The shaft 24 drives a distributorrotor spaced twice in a path between two concentric circular rows of distributor posts, the inner row being numbered 53 and the outer row 54 Therearebutfourposts53connectedreused aectively with the secondary coils S1 to .th Hence eaaclh 53 has hefin marked wi a speci esignati' on in 'ca to which secondary it is connected. fi r example, post 53#s1 designates that it is connected by wire 61 with secondary S1. Similarl post 53#s2 is connected by wire 62 witli secondary S2; post 58#s3 is connected b wire 63 with secondary 83; and post #04 is connected by wire 64 with secondaryS4. Itwillbenotedthatinthecircular row of posts 53 there are two groups of posts diametrically opposite. One grou includes posts :1 and all, the other in udes postsa2'anda4. Thesepostsarespaced Kart an angular distance corresponding to e firing interval which is 45 for an 8 cylinder engine. It will be noted that the distributing conductor branches R1, R2, R3 and B4 are ui ly distant and are e firing interval or 90 for an 8 cylinder engine. Diametrically opposite branches of the distributing conductors coolperates alternatel with other diametrica y opposite bran es of the distributing conductors; and each branch operates two times in succesion and then remains inoperative while the other branch of the same conductor is.operative two times in succesion. For example, amuming that the cam 28 rotates clockwise as indicated by arrow 27 in Fig. 2 it will be apparent that just as contact 30 separates from contact 81 conductor 51 will be operative to conduct a sparkinfAim ulse between post 58#s1 and post 54%l 1-R1 and that concurrently therewi conductor 52 will be operative to conduct a sparking impulse between distributor post 53#a2 and 54#1BS2- R3. The indicia 1A 1-R1 d tes that spark plug A of cylinder #1 1s furnished with a sparking impulse generated in secondary S1 and distributed through indicia 1BS2R3 indicates that plug B of cylinder #1 is supplied with a sparking impulse generated in secondary S2 and distributed t rough the branch B8 of conductor 52. With this explanation the means of the indicia applied to other distributor 54 will be entirely use of in 'cia serves the purpose of a multiplicity of wires connecrgs post 54 with spark pin and is prefe in this case on account its simplicity.

the branch R1 of conductor 51. Likewise the clear. The

For dual ignition it is customary to use two standard plugs in each en e cylinder. One double end spark plug 001%; be used in which case the circuit of one secondary would be completed throu h the circuit of the other secondary in whic a sparking impube is concurrently generated. Instead of using four 'tion coils two coils each with two msula secondary terminals could be For example, in place of us' two coils Pl-Sl and P2-S2 one coil cou d be used and its secondary terminals would be connected respectively with post 53#a1 and post 53#s2. Similarly instead of using a pair of soils P3-S3 and P4-S4 one coil could be used having a double terminal secondary, the ends of which are connected respectively to post 53#a3 and post 53#a4.

It will be ap arent from the foregoin description of t e construction and mo e of operation of the present invention that it is applicable to engines whose cylinders numher other than 8, such as 12, 16, 20, 24 etc. Obviously the number of osts 54 in the outer row will be 2N where is the number of cylinders and the spacing of these posts will be 360/2N. Where double ignition is the distributor posts 53 of the inner row Will be arranged 111 two groups, the number of posts in each group bemg G. Where thfe t1lieumber is thwo or mofre the spacing 0 posts in eac u o sts of the inner row 53 will l'he distributor rotor 50 will carry two se ents 51 and 52 corresponding to the 1mm of spark gaps to be fired simultaneously. The

ar of the main stems of the ents 51 and 52 is 180:(180/N).

e number of branches of each rotor conductor be equal to N/2G and the an ular em between the as cut branc es will G/N. The f0 owin tabulations show the values for engines having 8, 12, 16, and 24 cylinders. r

retaliation #1 [0, the number of posts 58 in each ll'oup. equals 2] umber NM 0 mu not Spacing ot a sunset m m: IB- "mmtbranchesilri N F 0 i s. 1 a I s We: 1:20 4 M's: a as We: e I) Tet-latte. #8 [0,taenu-beretpeeta58laeaenm,eqaah1] lNmnbl' d Nnnhcelsylaacaanuela W i -mu II- mtbranch-- N... We: N 8.. wa qc g 12..- Ni 15 6 I! '2 a "as 1am in- 1: w

This invention contemplates a distributor having circularly arranged posts connected respectively with engine spark gaps, other posts arranged consecutively with respect to the spark gap posts and connected with sparking impulse generator terminals. This distributor includes rotating conductor arms moving between the spark gap posts and sparking impulse generator posts, each arm having a plurality of branches which cooperate with the sparking impulse generator posts. At one explosion period, one branch of each arm is adjacent one of the spark generator posts and said posts are connected with a sparking impulse generator which operates at that explosion. The sparking impulse generating means comprises two devices which operate alternately. Hence, at the next explosion period branches of the distributing arms will be adjacent two of the sparking impulse generator posts, said posts being connected with another of the sparking impulse generating devices which is operated at that explosion period. The conducting arm branches and the spark generating posts are so arranged that a branch of each rotor cooperates a plurality of times in succession with spark generator posts and then another branch of each arm cooperates a plurality of times in succession with the s ark generator posts. More particularly, tiie spark generator posts are arranged in groups, the posts in each group being relatively closely spaced, each group being respectively connected with the alternately operatmg sparking impulse generating devices.

It will be noted that each conducting arm branch cooperates a plurality of times with the spark generator posts of each group and with those posts in succession an then another branch of the same rotor cooperates with said group of posts in succession before that arm passes into cooperative relation with another group of spark generator osts.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms'might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion en ine having N explosion periods during eac engine cycle and comprising, in combination, means for distributing sparking impulses to S (a plurality of) spark gaps to be fired simultaneously at each explosion period, said distributing means comprising a head having concentric rows of posts, one row of posts numbering N x S and each post in that row being connected with a spark gap, the other row of posts numbering S or a multiple thereof, said distributing means comprising also an .en-

gine driven rotor having S distributing conductors each having a main stem which moves in proximity to the posts inthe first mentioned row and each having a plurality of branches which move in proximity to the posts in the second mentioned row, there being but one branch of each conductor adjacent to a post of the second mentioned row while the stem of each conductor is adjacent a post of the first mentioned row at the firing period of the engine; and en gine controlled sparking impulse generating means connected with the posts of the sec- 0nd mentioned row.

2. Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine having N explosion periods during each engine cycle and having two spark gaps firing simultaneously, comprising in combination, a distributor head having concentric rows of posts, the posts of one row numbering 2N and each being connected with a spark gap, the posts of the other row being arranged in two groups arranged diametrically opposite, the number of posts in each group being G, the spacing of the posts in each group being 360/N if G, the number of posts, is greater than one; an engine driven distributor rotor carrying two conducting segments which rotate between said rows of posts; the segments each having a main stem rotating in proximity to the posts of the first mentioned row, the stems of the segments being spaced 180i (180 'N), and each segment having a plurality of branches which rotate in proximity to the second mentioned row of posts, the number of branches of each segment being N/2G and the spacing of the segment. branches being 360G/N; and engine controlling sparking impulse generating means connected with the posts of the second mentioned row.

3. Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine having N explosion periods during each engine cycle and having two spark gaps firing simultaneously at each explosion period, comprising in combination, a. distributor head having con- 4 (180/N), and each segment having a plurality of branches which rotate in proximity to the posts of the second mentioned row, the number of branches of each segment ing 2N and each being connected with a spark gap, the posts of the other row numbering four and being arranged in two diametrically opposite groups of two posts groupv each, the spacing of the posts in each being 360/N an engine driven distributor rotor carrying two condu1ting segments which rotate between the rows of posts, the segments each having a main stem rotating in proximity to the posts of the first mentioned row, the stems of the segments being spaced 180i(180/N), and each segment having a plurality of branches which rotate in proximity to the posts of the second mentioned row, the number of branches of each segment being N /4 and the spacing ofv the branches being 720/N; two sparking impulse generators each having two terminals connected respectively with diametrically opposite posts of the second mentionedrow of posts; and engine operated means for causing said generators to function alternately.

5. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of sparkgaps to be fired at each exploslon period comprising, in combination, eratmg sparking impulses and having a pluralit of terminals, engine operated circuit bre er means for controlling the sparking impulse generators, a distributor head carrying a circular row of posts connected respectively with spark gaps, a plurality of posts of substantially the same width as the spark gap posts of the head and arranged concentrical y therewith and connected respectively with terminals of the spark generating means, a plurality of distributing arms arranged to pass between the first and second mentioned posts but out of contact therewith in order to distribute sparking impulses from the second mentioned posts to certain of the spark gap posts, each arm having a }plurality of branches which cooperate wit the spark generator terminal osts, and means for operating the circuit reaker means and for rotating the distributing arms.

6. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, in combination, generating means controlled by the engine, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be means for genbust on engines comprisingd row of posts fired in groups simultaneously at each explosion period, said distributorcomprising I havin a plurality with t e spark generator osts.

7. Ignition apparatus or internal combustion. engines comprising, in combination,

generating means controlled'by the engine, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to aplurality of spark gaps to be red in groups simultaneously at each explosion concentric rows of distributor. posts, one row of posts being connected respectively with the spark-gaps of the engine, and another row of posts being connected with the and anthe number of conductors being equalto -the number of spark gaps to be fired at the same time, and each conductor of branches cooperating-c period, said distributor. comprising a spark generating means, said distributor com rising a rotor ca rying distributing con uctors which move between the rows of posts in order to provide conductin paths between them, the number of cons uctors being equal to the number of spark gaps to be fired at the same time and each conductor havin a plurality of branches coo rating with t e spark generator posts, said ranches and said spark generator ranged so that the one branc operates a alternately with another branch of the same conductor. a v I v 8. Ignitio n apparatus for internal. com.-

of a conductor enerating means controlle by the engine, a istributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be vfired in grou s -simultaneouslyat each explosion rio said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor. posts one row of posts being connected respectively with the spark ga s of the engine and another eing connected with the spark generating means, the spark generator posts being arranged in gr0ups,.said distributor,

com rising a rotor carrying distributin con I uctors which move between the rows 0 osts in order to provide conducting paths tween them, the number of conductors being equal to the number of, spark gaps to be fired at the same time, each conductor being constructed so as to cooperate with a roup of spark generator posts a plurality of timesfin succession before passing into cooperative relation with anothergroup of spark generator posts. I I

9. Ignition apparatus for internal comgosts being arplurality of times in succession in combination,

bustion engines, comprising in combination, generating means controlled by the engine, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality. of spark gaps to be fired in groups simultaneously at each explosion eriod, said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor posts one row of posts being connected respectively with the spark gaps of the engine and another row of posts being connected with the spark ggnerating means, the spark generator posts ing arranged in groups, said distributor com rising a rotor carrying distributing con uctors which move between the rows of posts in order to provide conducting paths between them, the number of conductors being equal to the number of spark gaps to be fired at the same time and each conductor having a plurality of branches coopcrating with the spark generator posts one conductor branch cooperating with the spark generator posts of a group in succession and then another conductor branch of the same conductor cooperating with the spark generator posts of a group in succession.

10. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, in combination, spark generating means controlled by the engine, a distributor having a circular row of posts connected with engine spark gaps and having other posts concentric with t e spark gap posts and connected with the spark generating means, and a conductor movable between the spark gap posts and the spark generator posts and having a plurality of branches each of which cooperates with the spark generator posts.

11. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, in combination, spark generating means controlled by the engine, a distributor having a circular row of posts connected with engine spark gaps and having other posts concentric with the spark gap posts and connected with the spark generating means, and a conductor movable between the spark; gap posts and the spark generator posts and having a plurality of branches each of which cooperates with the spark generator posts a plurality of times in succession and alternately with another branch.

12. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, in combination, spark generating means controlled by the engine, a distributor having a circular row of posts connected with engine spark gaps and having other posts concentric with the spark gap posts and connected with the spark generating means, and a conductor movable between the spark gap posts and the spark generator posts and having a plurality of brancheseach of which cooperates with consecutive spark generator posts a plurality of times in succession and then another branch cooperates with consecutive spark generator posts a plurality of times 1n succession.

13. Ignition a paratus for internal combustion en 'nes iiaving N explosion periods during eac engine cycle comprising, in combination, spark generating means controlled by the engine, and a distributor having a circular row of posts connected with engine spark ga s, and other posts connected with the spar generating means, at least one distributing conductor arm movable between the spark gap posts and spark generator posts, the number of arms bein equal to the number of spark gaps to be red at the same time, each arm having B branches and each arm operating -cycles of operation durin each engine cycle, B being the number 0 times each branch operates during a cycle of operation of its arm.

14. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods and a plurality of spark gaps to be fired at each explosion riod compgising, in combination, a plurahty of spar generating devices controlled by the engine for alternate operation, and a distributor having a circular row of posts connected respectively with spark gaps, and posts arranged concentrically with respect to the spark gap posts and connected alternately respectively with the spark generating devices, and a rotor carrying distributing arms moving between the spark plu lposts and the spark generator posts and eac aving branches, each branch cooperating first with a post connected wRh one of the spark generating devices and then with a post connected with another of the spark generating devices.

15. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods and a plurality of spark gaps to be fired at each explosion riod com rising, in combination, a plura ity oi spar generating devices controlled by the engine for alternate o eration, and a distri utorhaving a circu ar row of posts connected respectlvely with spark gaps and posts arran d concentrical with respect to the spar gap posts an connected alternately respective y with the spark generating devices, and a rotor carrying distributing arms moving between the spark plug posts and the spark generator posts and each having branches, one branch of each conductor cooperating first with a post connected with one of the spark generating devices and then with a post connected with another spark generating device, and then another branch of each conductor cooperatin first with a post connected with one of t e spark generating devices and then with a post connected with another spark by the total number of branches of all the generating device. arms.

16. Ignition apparatus for internal com In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my bustion engines having a plurality of exsignature. plosion periods and requiring the firing of CHARLES HALL DAVIS, JR.

a plurality of spark gaps at each explosion riod coin )rising, in combination, a lurality of spar 'ng impulse generating evices operated alternately by the engine, a distributor having circularly arranged posts connected res ectively with spark gaps of the engine an having other posts arranged diametrically opposite in pairs, each pair being connected with a sparking impulse gencrating device, and a plurality of distributing conductor arms each having a plurality of branches so arranged with respect to the spark generator posts that, at each explosion period, a branch of an arm is located adjacent each one of a pair of dia- 86 metrically opposite spark generator posts.

17. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of exlosion eriods and requiring the firing of a a plurality otspark gaps at each explosion 90 period comprising, in combination, a pluralityof sparking impulses generating devices operated alternately by the engine, a distributor having circularly arranged posts connected respectively with spark gaps 05 of the engine and having other posts arranged diametrically opposite in pairs each pair being connected with a sparking impulse generating device and a plurality of distributing conductor arms each having a a plurality of branches so arranged with resplect to the spark nerator that, at eac explosion perio a branc of an arm is located adjacent each one of a pair of diametrically opposite spark generator posts and so that eac branch of an arm operates a plurali of times in succession alternately with ano er branch of the same arm.

'18. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, in combination, generating means controlled by the engine, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of'spark gaps to be red in groggs simultaneously at each explosion peri said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor posts, one row of posts being connected respectively with the spark gaps of the engine and ana other row of posts being connected with the spark generating means, said distributor com rising a rotor carrying distributing con uctors which move between the rows of posts in order to provide conducting paths between them, the number of conductors being equal to the number of spark gaps to be fired at the same time, and each conductor havingha pluralit of branches cooperating wit the spar generator posts, a the conductor branches being equi-' larly spaced by an amount equal to 360 'vided

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