US1920480A - Distributor head - Google Patents

Description

F. C. SELLECK DISTRIBUTOR HEAD Aug. 1, 1933.

Filed Mafch 16, 1931 '2 Shets-Sheet 1 0 *1 (renter Eede Jay. 1.

1933- F. c. SELLECK. 1,920,480

DISTRIBUTOR HEAD Filed March 16, 1931 ZSheets-Sheet 2 7'0 SWITCH 7-0 SPA/PA PLUGS 1930870607:

fiederick CLSEZZeck Patented Aug. 1, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to distributors such as are employed in electricignition systems of combustion motors. As commonly constructed distributors include a rotor for successively completing each of a series of circuits, and a single pair of contacts actuated by a cam to interrupt a primary circuit simultaneously with the completion of each circuit adapted to be effected by the rotor. The limited coacting areas of this single pair of contact points are subjected to intense heat and prone to soon become unfit for accurate timing of ignition. Primarily the object of my invention is the provision in a distributor head of a floating ring interrupter in combination with a rotor. By this arrangement high tension current for distribution by the rotor is induced by a series of contacts successively closing a primary circuit, the contacts, at separated contact points or terminals associated with a stationary ring of insulation, being established by another ring which which is so moved in an orbital path and incidentally rotated on its axis as to vary, on the periphery of the ring, the location of successive points of electrical contact thus assuring long service without material deterioration of the movable interrupter element. Other objects of the invention pertaining to more specific detail will be hereinafter disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown in detail one convenient form of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same isfully set forth in the following detailed description while the novelty of the invention is defined in the appended claims. 35 Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a distributor head.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on a central plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the driving shaft of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fi 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view online 44 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of certain cooperating parts one of which is shown partly in section. v

Figure 6 is a detail plan view partly in section, and,

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic view of tion system embodying my invention.

Like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings,

Associated interrupter and rotormechanism embodying my invention may be inclosed in a an ignicasing divided into ashaft supporting member 1, preferably of metal, and a cover or cap 2, of insulating material. In the latter are embedded in the usual manner a high tension terminal 3 and terminals 4 of a spark plug series. Also in a manner commonly employed the two members l and 2 of the casing may be separably secured together by spring clips as 5, suitably secured to one member and adapted to engage pocketed lugs 6 on the other.

Casing member 1 is provided with a standard form of shank 7 within which shaft 8 rotates, said shaft being extended into the chamber 9 of the casing and having fast thereon a thrust collar 10. Likewise fast on the shaft and serving a purposethat will presently be disclosed is a disk 11 having a .hub adjacent to the collar 10 and of less diameter than the latter. Contiguous to the disk 11 is the flange 12 of a laterally flattened eccentric 13 which is fast on the shaft. The purpose of this eccentric is to rotate in an orbital path, a ball bearing, indicated in a general way by 14 (see Fig. 5) and comprising an inner race 15, a series of balls 16, a ball spacer '17 and an outer race 18. The inner 0 race 15 is provided with an elongated slot 19 to receive the flattened eccentric 13, and the ball bearing as a whole is urged laterally in the plane of its rotation by a spring 20 interposed between the eccentric and the inner race, said spring being held in place in a socket 21 in the eccentric.

Surrounding the ball bearing in the plane of its rotation are a series of spaced contacts comprising conductor elements 22, which may [be associated with the casing inany suitable way. As shown, they are imbedded in. the inner face of a ring of insulation 23 sleeved substantially within the cover 2 but extending also in reduced diameter, as at 24 slightly into casing member 1 and thereby serving to align the two casing members when they are assembled and held together by the spring clips before mentioned. Movement of the insulating ring into the cap member is limited by virtue of a slight taper imparted to the inner face of said cap and to which the ring is made to conform. Alsomovement of the ring into the shaft supporting member is limited by the shoulder formed on the ring by the reductionat 24.

Peripherally grooved as at 25, the ring 23 is adapted to receivea wire 26 electrically connecting the conductor elements. One of the latter is extended to the bottom edge of its supporting ring, as at 27, to engage a binding post contact no 28 to which leads are connected respectively through a condenser 29, to ground and to a primary winding 30, see diagram, Fig. 7.

For interrupting the primary circuit including the conductor elements 22 a ring 31 is employed. This ring which is of greater diameter than the outer race of the ball bearing and of lesser di ameter than the inner bearing surface of ring 23 is interposed between said two members so that when the shaft is rotated its effect upon ring 31 is transmitted through the eccentric 13- and the laterally thrust ball bearing 14 thereby causing said ring to roll upon its axis and to follow an orbital path defined by ring 23 thus successively passing over conductor elements 22 and producing the desired interruption of the primary circuit. At each interruption thus produced high tension current is induced for delivery to a respective spark plug and for the purpose of successively completing the spark plug circuits, a rotor is employed.

As shown the rotor comprises an arm member 32 associated with the end of shaft 8 in keyed relation thereto. Upon the arm are mounted conductor elements 33 having a spring actuated contact 34 bearing constantly against the high tension terminal 3. The rotor and interrupter mechanism are relatively so located upon the shaft, and the-spark plug terminals and interrupter contacts are relatively so located in the casing, that rotation of the shaft causes simultaneously, interruption of the primary circuit at each closing of a spark plug circuit.

Referring again to the interrupter mechanism,

- means will now be described for maintaining the several elements in the plane of their rotation. The ball bearing 14 is held against movement longitudinally of the shaft by the eccentric flange 12 and the hub of the rotor arm 32. The ring31. between the outer end of spring 20 and ring 23 is held against longitudinal movement by a ridge or tongue 36, on the outer ball race 18, which engages a groove 37 on said ring 31. Diametrically opposite to that portion of these elements where the tongue and groove engage each other, the ring 31, is supported by disk 11 the latter be g engaged by the depending flange of said ring, see Fig. 2).

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,- 1. A distributor head for high tension ignition systems including in combination a shaft, a casing divided into a shaft supporting member and an insulating cap member, aninsulating ring within the casing, a conductor ring adapted to be driven in an orbital path within the insulating ring, a continuous conductor associated with the insulating ring and exposed at intervals along the path of contact between the conductor ring and insulator ring, and means associated with the shaft for driving the conductor ring.

2. A distributor head for high tension ignition systems including in combination a shaft, a casing divided into a shaft supporting member and an insulating cap member, means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said members, an insulating ringengageable with the inner surface of both of said members to prevent relative displacement thereof said 0 ring having surfaces to limit its movement longitudinally of said members, a conductor ring adapted to be driven in an orbital path within the insulating ring, a continuous conductor associated with the insulating ring and exposed at 105 intervals along the path of contact between the conductor ring and insulating ring, and means associated with the shaft for driving the conductor ring.

3. In a distributor head, a casing, a removable 110 insulating ring fitted within the casing, a continuous conductor associated with said said insulating ring, said ring having spaced recesses on its inner face and a groove on its outer face, and the continuous conductor comprising a series of 5 contacts seated in the recesses and connected by a wire housed in the groove.

FREDERICK C. SELLECK.

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