US2784809A - Distributor rocker arm shoe lubricator - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1957 R. TOLLEFSEN El AL 2,784,809

DISTRIBUTOR ROCKER ARM SHOE LUBRICATOR Filed Sept. 27, 1954 A TTOR/VE Y 2,784,809 DISTRIBUTOR ROCKER ARM SHOE LUBRICATOR I Reed Tollefsen, Pacific Palisades, and Thomas W. Talbot,

This invention relates to an improved distributor rocker arm shoe lubricator and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means whereby the block or shoe which contacts the rotating cam of the distributor commonly employed in connection with internal combustion engines will be kept fully lubricated at all times.

One of the important objects of this invention is the construction of a distributor rocker arm shoe lubricator which will eliminate to a great degree the wearing away of certain portions of the construction of the ordinary distributor assembly caused by normal operation, and particularly the rubbing block or shoe, which wear produces a variation in the point settings and resultant faulty ignition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple yet efiicient lubricator for the rocker arm shoe or block of a distributor assembly which will keep the same fully lubricated all times while not in any way interfering with the normal and efiicient operation of the device.

Another and still further important object of the invention is the provision of a continually lubricated rocker arm block or shoe which will eliminate the necessity for frequent adjustments and which will also eliminate practically all of the undesirable unbalance of positive and negative current flow which, to a great degree, causes pitting of the spark distributor points and resultant poor performance.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simple, efiicient lubricating pad which can be applied to the shoe or block of a distributor assembly and whereby the area of contact between the shoe and the rotating cam will be maintained lubricated at all times, thereby preventing undesirable friction, consequent wear and resultant shortening of the gap between the points of the distributor which causes a retarded spark and makes the motor sluggish.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan View of a representative internal combustion distributor with the cap removed to show interior construction.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view showing particularly the rotating cam of the distributor and the lubricated shoe or block of this invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the broken line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is an exploded view illustrating the lubricating pad and its retaining clip, which embodies the preferred construction of this invention.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the base or relatively fixed portion of an automotive distributor element having a central rotating cam 12, an arm 14 piv- United States Patent oted at 16 for supporting one of the breaker points 18, the other breaker point 20 being mounted on an adjustable plate 22 fitted into the distributor 10 in the usual manner.

The conventional rocker arm, block or shoe is mounted on the pivoted arm 14 adjacent the cam 12, as best indicated at 24 in Figures 2 and 3, and this is usually composed of impregnated fibre or some other non-conducting material. It is well known that continuous operating Contact of the end of the fibre block or shoe with the cam 12 will cause wear, and it is also well known that it is difi'icult to keep the respective elements properly lubricated so as to eliminate as much of the Wear as possible.

In the construction of this invention, a felt or other lubricating pad, as best shown at 28 in Figure 4, is fastened upon the rubbing block or shoe 24 and preferably by means of a wire spring clip 30. Both of these elements are U-shaped so as to be readily fitted about the shoe 24 and a slight groove is preferably formed in the shoe as indicated by the dotted lines 32 in Figure 3, whereby closer and better contact between the spring clip 30 and the pad 28 with reference to the shoe 24 is assured. The ends of the spring clip 30 may also be bent inwardly as shown at 34 for a better fitting and a more secure maintaining of the parts in desired position.

When a desired or suflicient amount of lubricant is applied to the pad 28, a certain amount of it will obviously reach the area of contact between the follower or shoe 24 and the rotating cam 12, reducing undesirable Wear. The lubricant can be applied in sufficient quantities to last quite a long time, and there is little or no danger of the lubricating pad becoming loose or misplaced, which obviously would interfere with proper operation of the apparatus.

It will be evident that herein is provided means for preventing excessive wear of the shoe, block or follower of a distributor assembly, which, in addition to retarding the spark, will tend to cause the primary current to flow.

longer than it should with the ultimate result of arcing and heating at the points with attendant burning.

It will also be obvious that the device of this invention is simple, inexpensive, and can be readily applied to present distributors as well as to new ones, without difficult mechanical attachments such as screws or the like.

The precise arrangement for supporting the pad or wick is novel, obviously useful, and will assure of longer and more eificient operation with little or no attention beyond the first instalment and consequent application of lubricant.

It will be fur; .er evident that due to the close proximity of the oil-bearing wick or pad 28 to the rotatable cam 12, there will be an actual contact between the pad and the cam during operation, whereby one edge of the pad will act to supply lubricant and the other edge will act as a wiper if an undue amount of lubricant is deposited on the cam. The inturned ends 34 of the clip 30 may be pointed and foreshortened to actually penetrate the material of the pad, thereby providing a further safeguard against accidental dislodgement.

The lubricating pad can be arranged to cover substantially all of one end and both side surfaces of the shoe, with its forward face closely adjacent to the rotating cam 12, but spaced slightly rearwardly from the cam contacting face of the shoe.

We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and we therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

tioning therewith of the spring clip.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein the lubricating pad covers substantially all of one end and both side surfaces of the shoe and wherein one face of the pad is closely adjacent the rotating cam of the distributor but spaced slightly away from the cam contacting face of the shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,412,647 Barry Apr. 11, 1922 2,007,217 Rose July 9, 1935 2,034,683 Olandt Mar. 17, 1936 2,403,434 Gulden July 9, 1946 2,700,432 Hieger Jan. 25, 1955

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