US2372490A - Ignition apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1945. H, HARTZELL IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4 Sheebs-Sheet 1 March 27, 1945. H, ARTZ L 2,372,490

IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lid March 27, 1945. H. L. HARTZELL IGNITION APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 12, 1942 w :m. -H i March 27, 1945.

H. L HART ZELL IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 nr H NDWOJO t Patented Mar. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IGNITION APPARATUS Herman L. Hartsell, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application 12, 1942, Serial No. 454,581

6 Claims.

This invention relates to timer and distributor units for internal combustion engine and it is an object of the present invention to provide a shielded ignition apparatus of economical construction. To accomplish this object I provide a metal cover which is attached to the metal timer housing and which encloses the distributor cap provided for directly attaching the distributor cap cover to the ignition timer housing.

A further object of the invention. is to provide an ignition distributor and unit which is interchangeable with a magneto. To accomplish this object I provide the timer distributor unit with a horizontal shaft in substitution for the usual horizontal shaft of the magneto and I provide a vertical shaft driven. by the horizontal shaft for driving the ignition timer cam and the distributor rotor. In this connection it is an object to facilitate the assembly of the horizontal and vertical shaft with the ignition timer housing and I provide a construction whereby these two shafts together with their bearings and gears associated therewith may be assembled as subassemblies with the ignition timer housing.

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:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the ignition timer distributor unit embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ignition timer, the shield cover and the distributor cap having been removed, certain screws being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of one of the spark plug cables.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 5-8 of Fi 4.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section of a modified form of the invention, said view being taken in the direction of arrow '|--1 ofFlg. 8.

Fig. 8 is a. sectional view on line 5- 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. '9 is a plan view taken in the direction of arrow 9 of Fig. 8, the shield cover being shown in section.

, Fig. 9A is a sectional view on line OA-QA of Fig. 9;

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional views on the lines |0-| 0 and respectivelyof'Flg. 5.

Referring to Fig. 4 the housing provides sockets or wells 2| and '22 for the reception of shafts 23 and 24 respectively and the bearings and gears associated therewith. Shaft 23 is supported by a ball bearin 25 retained bya. plate 26 attached to housing 20 by screws 21. Shaft 23 is journaled in a plain bearing 28 at the end of the socket 2| which is covered by a plug 28. Shaft 23 drives a spiral gear 3|] having a. hub 3| attached by pin 32 to the shaft. Between gear and the bearing 2-5 there is located a spacer sleeve 33. The shaft 23' together with the gear 38 and the sleeve 33 and the bearing 25 can be assembled as a subassemblyunit and then moved into the socket 2| after which the bearing 25 is secured in place by the plate 26 attached by screws 21 to housing v2|). The shaft 24 is supported at its lower end by bearing 35 covered bya plug 86 fitting into the lower end of the socket or well 22. Shaft 24 is driven by a gear 31 meshing with gear 34 and having a hub 38 attached to the shaft by pin 39. Shaft 24 is supported also by a ball bearing 40 retained upon a wall 4| by the housing 20 by retainer ring 42 secured by screws 43. Shaft 24 is connected with a weight plate 45 carrying studs 46. pivotally supporting weights 4! having tails 48 for engaging lever arms 49 attached to a cam 50. Plate 45 carries studs 5| which support a cover plate 52 and have threaded portions reduced in diameter and extending 'thru holes in the cover 52 and extending thru holes in straps 54' and receiving. nuts 53 which secure the straps 54 and the cover 52 is positioned upon the studs 5|. Each stud 46 provides an anchor for one end of a spring 55 attached at its other end to a stud. 51 on a lever arm 49. As the speed of the shaft 24. increases the weights 41 move outwardly from the shaft 24 to vary the angular relation between the shaft 24 and the ignition timer cam 50 in order to increase the spark ad- Vance as the speed increases. Before the weights are. assembled with the plate 45, the shaft 24 assemhl'ed with gear 31, bearing 40 and bearing retainer 42 is assembled with housing 20. Plate 45 is provided with a hole 45:1:which can be brought into registry with holes in retainer 42 and in housing wall 4| in order to provide for the attaching of screws 43. After the screws 43 have been applied, the weights 41, lever arms 49, cam 54, cover 52, springs 56 and other associated parts are assembled; and thenv a. circuit breaker plate 60 is assembled with the housing 20.

The circuit breaker plate 50, attached to the housing by screws 6| (Fig. 2), supports a double breaker mechanism each breaker comprising a E2 of plate 60, said plate providing a bearing for the plate 10 concentric with the bearing 40. Plate 10 is axially adjustable to provide for simultane-g ous separation of the pairs of contacts 62, 63.

The upper one of the screws'69 supported by ,a' bracket 69a, insulatingly supported by the plate j 60, is connected by a wire 80 with an ignition coil primary. The lower one of the screws 69 which;

is insulatingly supported by an ear 14 of the bracket 10 is connected by a wire 8| with the primary of another ignition coil. A condenser is in parallel with. the upper set of contacts 62, 63 and. a condenser 16 is in parallel with the lower set of contacts.

The two pairs of contacts are separated simultaneously by the coaction of the cam withthe rubbing blocks so that the two ignition coils connected with the wires 80, 8I will provide simultaneously two sparking impulses which are distributed simultaneously by a rotor 82 to spark plugs of the same engine cylinder. For this purpose the ignition timer cam 50 drives the distributor rotor'82 carrying segments 83 and 86 for distributing to alternate posts 84 embedded in a distributor cap 85 of insulating material.

Segment 83 is electrically connected with a sleeve 81 carrying a brush 88 urged upwardly by a spring 89 against a ring 90 embedded in the cap 85. Segment 86 is electrically connected with a button 9I urged downwardly by a spring 92 located in a cap insert 93 and electrically connected with the button 9|. The ring 90 is connected with an insert 94 carrying a metal pin 95 which enters between the strands of a high tension wire 96 covered by insulation 91 and connected with an ignition coil secondary. The insert 93 carries a pin 98 which enters between the strands of a high tension wire 99 covered by insulation I00 and connected with the secondary of another ignition coil,

Each distributor post 84 carries a pin IOI entering between the stands of a wire I02 coveredby insulation I03 and connected with an engine spark plug. v The distributor cap 85 is enclosed by a cover or shield IIO having an opening II4 between two small holes II l6. Shield IIO supports a breather II! which comprises a domelike button II2 havinga serrated edge II3 secured over the opening H4 and having integral tangs II5 which extend through the holes H6 and which are bentover at 1 against the inside of the shield-I I0. Each of the'spark plug wires I02 and each of the ignition coil wires 96, 99 which pass through the shield H0 are associated therewith in the same manner as now will be described with reference to Fig. 5. For example, wire I02 covered by insulation I03 is encased in a flexible metal tube I which at its lower end surrounds the shank I2I ofan eyelet whose head I22 is turned around the lower edge of the tube I20. Each wire, such as I02, extends into an upwardly extending tubu-' lar boss I23 of the distributor cap 85. At its u per end, each boss I23 is provided with a conical surface I24, Between this surface I24 and the bead I22 of the eyelet there is located a soft rubber sealing washer I25 which is clamped against the upper end of the boss I23 and is forced against the insulation I03 of the wire I02 by the tightening of a bushing I26 threadedly engaging the shield IIO, As the bushing I26 is screwed downwardly to forcethe eyelet bead I22 downwardly against the soft rubber washer I25 the outward expansioniof the washer I25 is resisted by its engagement with an annular shoulder I 21 provided .-;by the shield I I0.

Upward movement of the cap 851s prevented .byz'its-uengagement with the rubber washers I25 which are held in place by the shield III] which is 'attached'tpfthe housing 20 by screws I30 and fI3I, Figs. 11' a d 3. Each of the screws I30 pass also thru'a'block" is: attached by screws I33 to the-shield IIO. Each block I32 is received by a notch, the shield I I0 and by a notch at the lower edge of the cap 85. One of the blocks I32 is wider than the other so that the cap 85 will fit upon the housing 20 only in one position.

, Theform of the invention shown in Figs. 7 through 11 is like the form shown in Figs. 1 through 6 with respect to certain parts t which reference. ismade by reference numbers which are the same as applied to corresponding parts in Figs. 1 through 6,.but with the afiixed a.

An oil seal unit I surrounds the shaft 23a and comprisesa felt ring I5I urged against the shaft 23a by a garter spring I52. The annular flange I53 of ring I 5I is clamped between the fiat wall-I54 ofthe housing I55 of the unit I50 and a washer I56.- The edge I551: of the housing forces a washer I51 against a metal spacer ring I58 and the latter against the washer I56.

The cam 50a. drives a rotor block I60 carrying an:insert I6I to which a screw I63a attaches a segment I63 and a leaf spring I64 carrying a button I65. Segment I63 distributes sparking impulses to a series of four posts I66 (Figs. 11 and 9A). Each post I66 is integral with an insert I61 molded in a distributor cap I10 and receiving a pointed screw I68 adapted to-pierce through the insulation I1I ofv a wire I12 and to contact with the strands thereof. I

The rotor button I engages a button I15 carried by a screw I16 threaded into the cap I10 and having a point I11 adapted to pierce through the insulation I18 of a wire I19 and to contact with the strands thereof. Wire I19 is connected with secondary winding of the ignition coil,

The 'distributor'cap I10 is retained upon the upperedge of the distributor housing 20a by a metal "cover or shield I corresponding in function' to'sh'ield N0 of the form shown in Figs. 1 to ,6. Screws I8I secure the cover I80 to the housing 20d. Screws I82 secure the cover I80 to the cap I10. The cover I80 is provided with a plurality of bushings I83 each threaded to receive a nut I84 having a flange I85 for engaging and urging a ferrule or eyelet I86 against a rubber washer I81 and the latter against the conical surface I88 provided by the bushing I83. .The ferrule or eyelet I86 is attached to an end of a flexible: metal sheath I90 through which each wire I19 or I12 passes. The ignition timer is connected with the primary of an ignition coil by wires enclosed by a flexible metal sheath 200 secured by' a nut 20I to a threaded tubular boss 202 integral with the housing 20a. Through this boss the wire passes and is attached to a terminal 203 (Fig. 10). I

he timer housing 20a and the shield I80 are each provided with a breather Illa as shown in Fig.9.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it isto beunderstood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows.

1. An ignition distributor comprising a metal housing, a shaft journalled in the housing, a distributor rotor driven by the shaft and having a distributing segment, a non-conducting distributor cap located upon the housing and enclosing the rotor and supporting a conductor electrically connected with the segment and supporting conducting posts to which sparking impulses are distributed by the rotor segment and providing cable receiving sockets having a tapered seat at its outer extremity for receiving insulated wires for making connection with the conductors of the cap, means located within the sockets for electrically connecting the wires with the conductors of the cap, a metal shield enclosing the cap and located upon the metal housing and retaining the cap upon the housing, said shield having openings in alignment with the wire receiving sockets of the cap, means for attaching the shield to the housing, insulated wires extending through the holes in the shield and into the sockets of the cap and provided with flexible metalsheaths terminating at the shield, a member of compressible Water-proof material providing a gasket which is slipped over the end of the insulated wire, said member resting on the seat, ferrules each at the terminus of a cable sheath; and means cooperating with the ferrules for securing the cables to the distributor and for compressing the gasket to seal the joint between the cable and gasket and between the gasket and seat.

2. An ignition distributor comprising a metal housing, a shaft journalled in the housing, a distributor rotor driven by the shaft and having a distributing segment, a non-conducting distributor cap located upon the housing and enclosing the rotor and supporting a conductor electrically connected with the segment and supporting conducting posts to which sparking impulses are distributed by the rotor segment and providing cable receiving sockets for receiving insulated distributor rotor driven-by the shaft and havin wires for making connection with the conductors of the cap, means located within the sockets for electrically connecting the wires with the conductors of the cap, yieldable means supported at a the upper ends of the sockets, a metal shield enclosing the cap and located upon the metal housing and retaining the cap upon the housing, said shield having openings in alignment with the wire receiving sockets of the cap, means for attaching the shield to the housing, insulated wires extending through the holes in the shield member and through the yieldable means and into the sockets of the cap member and provided with flexible metal sheaths terminating at the shield member, ferrules each located at a terminus of a cable sheath, and bushings each screw-threadedly connected with the shield member and engageable with a sheath ferrule to clamp the yieldable means between the bushings and the sockets to cause the yieldable means to be compressed and' to seal the joint between the insulation of the cable and the sockets and the yieldable means.

3. An ignition distributor comprising a metal housing, a shaft journalled in the housing, a

a distributing segment, a non-conducting distributor cap located upon the housing'and enclosing the rotor and supporting a conductor electricallyconnected with the segment and supporting conducting posts to which sparking impulses are distributed by the rotor segment and providing cable receiving sockets for receiving insulated wires for making connection with the conductors of the cap, means located within the sockets for electrically connecting the wires with the conductors of the cap, a metal shield enclosing the cap and located upon the metal housing and retaining the cap upon the housing, said shield having openings in alignment with the wire receiving sockets of the cap, means for attaching the shield to the housing, insulated wires extending through the holes in the shield memher and into the sockets of the cap member and provided with flexible metal sheaths terminating at the shield member, ferrules each located at a terminus of a cable sheath, sealing washers each surrounding an insulated wire and located between a sheath ferrule and one of said members, and bushings each screw threadedly connected with the shield member and engageable with a sheath ferrule for forcing a ferrule against a sealing washer and the latter against the cap to prevent upward movement of the cap relative to the housing.

4. An ignition distributor according to claim 3 in which sockets of the distributor cap each provide a recess having a conical surface against which a resilient sealing washer is forced against the cable and into the recess when a sheath ferrule is clamped against it by a bushing to provide a seal between the washer and the insulation of the wires and between the conical seat and Washer.

5. An ignition distributor according to claim 3 in which the holes in the shield member are provided by threaded tubular bosses attached to the shield, each of said bosses cooperating with a bushing and providing a surface against which a soft rubber sealing washer is forced when a sheath ferrule is clamped against it by a bushing to provide a seal between the insulation of the wires and the washer and between the washer and the bushing.

6. An ignition distributor comprising a metal housing, a shaft journalled in the housing, a distributor rotor driven by the shaft and having a distributing segment, a nonconducting distributor cap located upon the housing and enclosing the rotor and supporting a conductor electrically connected with the segment and supporting conducting posts to which sparking impulses are distributed by the rotor segment and providing cable receiving sockets having a tapered seat at its outer extremity for receiving insulated wires for making connection with the conductors of the cap, means locatedwithin the sockets for electrically connecting the wires with the conductors of the cap, a metal shield enclosing the cap and located upon the metal housing and retaining the cap upon the housing, said shield having openings provided with threads and in alignment with the wire receiving socket of the cap, said openings being reduced at their lower ends below the threaded portion to provide an annular shoulder of lesser periphery than the threaded portion, said shoulders being adjacent the tops of the sockets of the cap, means for attaching the shield to the housing, insulated wires extending through the openings of the 'shield and into the sockets of the cap and provided with flexible metal sheaths terminating at the shield, ferrules each at the terminus of a cable sheath a member of compressible waterproof material, such as soft rubber providing gaskets which are slipped over the ends of the insulated wires below the ferrules, said members

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