US2740854A

US2740854A - Distributor plate assembly

Info

Publication number: US2740854A
Application number: US344423A
Authority: US
Inventors: Filko John
Original assignee: F & B Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: F & B Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1953-03-24
Filing date: 1953-03-24
Publication date: 1956-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1973-04-03

Description

April 3, 1956 J. FILKO DISTRIBUTOR PLATE ASSEMBLY Filed March 24, 1953 INVENTOR. JOH N F IL KO ATT'YS United States Patent DISTRIBUTOR PLATE ASSEMBLY John Filko, Chicago, 11]., assignor to F. & B. Mfg. Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 24, 1953, Serial No. 344,423 1 Claim. (Cl. 200*30) This invention relates to an improved distributor plate assembly for use in internal combustion engine distributors for the advancement o'r retardation of an automatic spark and particularly to an assembly whereby the distributor plate may be rotationally oscillated about a cam shaft.

In conventional construction of an internal combustion engine the spark ignition system embodies a principle whereby the spark is advanced or retarded as required by variant engine conditions. The timing of the spark ignition must be correspondingly varied so that combustion in the cylinder is substantially completed just prior to the completion of the compression stroke of the piston. Such ignition is accomplished in conventional manner by rotation of the distributor plate about its axis, thereby producing a relative movement between the circuit breaker and the breaker cam.

In my improved distributor plate a bearing assembly is provided whereby the distributor plate is efiiciently mounted for rotation as required for proper spark timing, eliminating undesirable variances in movement of the plate that interferes with the spark gap of the ignition system. The longevity of use of structure and parts enabling such movement is increased owing to the improved distributor plate bearing assembly that is provided. With such an improved bearing assembly the wear and tear arising from the continuous movements of the distributor plate on the bearing associated with the plate is minimized, resulting in an efficient spark ignition system not found in distributor plate construction as heretofore known.

The distributor plate is suitable for use in automotive vehicles utilizing a Delco-Remy ignition system. The instant bearing assembly disclosed herein, however, is more restricted in its application in that it is suitable for an automotive vehicle in which the Ford type of ignition system is used.

It is an object of my invention to improve engine performance by providing a bearing assembly for a distributor plate unit of such construction and design that undesirable movement of the plate in its ignition function is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bearing assembly for a distributor plate that will withstand the constant rotational oscillation that must be imparted to the distributor plate.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bearing assembly associated with a distributor plate that circumscribes the cam shaft commonly found in an automotive vehicle ignition system of the Ford type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a distributor plate with the bearing assembly mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the distributor plate and the bearing assembly showing the relationship of the plate to the component parts that comprise the assembly; i

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the bearing as sembly' prior to mounting the plate thereon; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the hearing assembly with a distributor plate mounted thereon as it is associated with a shaft.

In the drawings the distributor or breaker plate is generally indicated by the numeral 1, and has mounted thereon a circuit breaker mechanism 2, comprised of breaker arms 3 that carry contact buttons 4 and rubbing blocks 5. The arms 3 are pivoted to rotate about posts 6. An opening 9 is formed generally centrally of the distributor plate 1 adapted to circumscribe the hearing assembly 10 and permit the plate to be carried thereby.

The bearing assembly 10 is comprised of a retaining ring 11, an upper ring of ball bearings 12, an inte'rmediate raceway member or sleeve 13, a lower ring of ball bearings 14, a lower raceway member 15, and a bushing 16.

The lower raceway member 15 is generally tubular as at 17, and has an outwardly extending annular flange 18 around the lower portion thereof. A groove 19 is formed in the upper surface of flange 18 and is adapted to receive the lower ball ring 14. The intermediate raceway member 13 has formed in its lower portion a groove 20 (Figs. 3 and 4) adapted to surmount or ride upon the lower ball ring 14.

The upper end of raceway member 13 is initially formed into an axially extending flange 22, and a ledge 23 in which an annular groove 24 is formed. The groove 24 receives the upper ring of ball bearings 12 that ride therein. The retaining ring 11 has formed therein in its under face an annular groove 25 (Figures 3 and 4) which seats on the upper ring of ball bearings 12.

The tubular portion 17 of the lower raceway member 15 extends upwardly to form the rim 26, the inner diameter of the opening 27 therethrough being enlarged by reducing the wall thickness thereof to form a ledge 28 as well as to define the rim 26. When the bearing assembly is assembled, as can be seen from Figs. 3 and 4, the rim 26 is flanged outwardly as at 29 over the inner peripheral edge of ring 11, thereby to secure that ring 11 in position upon the upper ring of ball bearings 12.

It is apparent from the description as presented above that the lower raceway member 15, being secured to the ring or upper raceway member 11, will rotate with the ring 11, while the intermediate raceway member 13 will rotate independently of and about the upper and lower raceway members. Thus, when the bushing 16 is secured to the inner walls of the tubular portion 17 of the lower raceway member 15, the shaft 30 that has a press fit within the bushing 16 will be rotatably supported by that raceway member and the intermediate raceway member 13 will rotate independently of the shaft 30. Accordingly, the edge portion 31 adjacent the opening 9 in the plate 1 is supported on the peripheral abutment 32 formed in the medial or shelf portion of the intermediate raceway member. The plate is secured upon the abutment 32 of the intermediate raceway by means of the lip 33 which is bent over from the upraised annular rim 34 of the intermediate raceway member 13. As seen in Fig. 3, the lip 33 is initially formed as an annular projection extending upwardly from the rim 34. In assembling the plate upon the bearing assembly, the lip is bent outwardly so as to rest upon the edge portion 31 of the plate 1, thereby clamping the plate upon the abutment 32 of the intermediate raceway member 13 (see Fig. 4). Being secured in this manner to the intermediate raceway, the plate 1 will then rotate independently of the shaft 30.

From the foregoing description of the rotational movement ofthe intermediate raceway member having secured thereto the distributor plate and the spark producing structure found on a conventional plate, a novel and yet simple method is provided for the frictionless rotation ofthe distributor plate'about the shaft member found in automotive vehicle construction of the type for which the instant bearing assembly is designed. The free oscillation of the plate as Well as the rotation of the shaft is enhanced, as load conditions of the motor may dictate, and a uniform, continuous-in-plane, rotational movement is imparted to the distributor plate. The bearing assembly as such eliminateswear and tear arising from the constant motion of the plate and the shaft, eliminating the problems occurring in vehicles as found on the market owing to the relationship of the distributor plate to the shaft and friction that arises in the oscillation and rotation respectively, of these members.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts from those disclosed herein without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantages thereof, provided, however, that such changes fall within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

A distributor plate bearing assembly for use in an automotive ignition system comprising a tubular member, means on said tubular member to support an antima am friction unit, an anti-friction unit supported by said means, a sleeve member around said tubular member supported by said anti-friction unit, said sleeve member comprising an axially extending rim portion and a main portion integral with each other and a radially extending an nular shelf portion disposed between said rim and said main portion, said rim being disposed between the inner and outer diameters of said shelf portion to form an external abutment and an internal abutment, said rim being stepped to define a lip initially extending axially of the sleeve member, a ring on said tubular member, a second anti-friction unit disposed upon said internal abutment and between said ring and said internal abutment, and a distributor plate mounted on said external abutment and secured thereto by said lip when said lip is bent outwardly in contact therewith, whereby said plate will rotate with said sleeve member about said tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ,219,920 Collins Mar. 20, 1917 1,793,124 OConnor Feb. 17, 1931 2,187,870 Arthur I an. 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 193,581 Canada Nov. 4, 1919 a girl; A.