US3042017A

US3042017A - Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines

Info

Publication number: US3042017A
Application number: US87811A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ausserbauer Helmut; Biernatzki Anton
Original assignee: Auto Union GmbH
Current assignee: Audi AG
Priority date: 1960-02-10
Filing date: 1961-02-08
Publication date: 1962-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1979-07-03

Description

United States Patent 3,042,017 MOUNTING DEVICE FOR THE SPARK COILS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Helmut Ausserbauer and Anton Biernatzki, Ingolstadt,

Germany, assignors to Auto Union G.rn.b.H., Ingolstadt (Danube), Germany Filed Feb. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 87,811 Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 10, 1960 12 Claims. (Cl. 123-195) The present invention relates to a mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines and more particularly to a mounting device of this type which is secured to the generator housing.

It has already been proposed to provide mounting devices for spark coils secured to the engine block, but such devices require relatively long ignition cables, which is undesirable as far as preventing high frequency interference is concerned. Furthermore, the coils may be exposed at times to detrimental heating effects which may be caused by the heat of the exhaust pipe.

According to the present invention the mounting device for the spark coils is secured to the generator of the internal combustion engine. The generator is preferably connected to the cooling fan so that the spark coils are situated in the cooling stream so as to provide a cooling for the coils so as to increase the operating life of the coils. The spark coils may be easily mounted on the generator housing and short ignition coils may be employed in this mounting arrangement so that high frequency interference may be more easily prevented.

It is an object of the invention to provide a mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines in which the device is connected to the generator of the internal combustion engine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mounting device wherein the mounting device and the generator are secured to the engine by means of a tensioning band.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines wherein the coils are of short length so that high frequency disturbances may be prevented.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mounting arrangement for the spark coils of internal combustion engines wherein the spark coils are located in the flow path of the cooling fan.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon making reference to the following description and claims in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the generator supporting the mounting device carrying the spark coils, partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a plan view from the front of the generator and engine showing the mounting device of this invention together with the spark coils, partly in section.

The invention relates generally to a mounting device for the spark coils of an internal combustion engine wherein the mounting device is supported on the generator and is secured thereto by means of the tensioning band or strap which connects the generator to the engine. Special means for securing the mounting device are not required and the close proximity of the generator to the spark coils is advantageous in protecting the coils against high frequency interference. 'I his mounting arrangement requires only one point of contact between the spark coils and the mass so that the possibility of high frequency disturbances is considerably reduced. Although the cables of the spark coils are short, the coils are suificiently far removed from the cylinder head or other heat conducting parts of the engine that they are not subjected to any heat 3,042,017 Patented July 3, 1962 exchange which would adversely affect their operation. The life of the spark coils is extended by the fact that they are not arranged in such a manner that they may oscillate by themselves on a mounting device of a low mass at a high frequency, but their oscillations are subject to the oscillations of the heavier generator which provides a greater oscillation inertia.

According to the invention the base of the mounting device has a suitably rounded or concave profile or may be of a substantially semi-cylindrical configuration in order to correspond to the rounded surface configuration of the generator housing. The base of the mounting device thus rests on the circumferential surface of the generator housing parallel to the generator shaft so that it is not necessary to provide special centering marks on the generator. This makes it possible to connect the spark coils in the proper location with reference to the axis of the generator.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 a bracket or support 1 carries a generator 2 which is secured to the bracket by means of a strap or tension band 3 and a screw 4. A cooling fan 5 is disposed coaxially of the generator 2. An upright support 6 is clamped between tension band 3 and generator 2 by means of a base portion 7 of the mounting device. This base portion 7 of the upright support has a rounded concave profile 8 which corresponds to the cylindrical configuration of the generator. The upright support 6 carries spaced upright posts or

column

9 and 10 on each side of the base portion 7. These upright posts prevent undue sliding of the mounting device parallel to the axis of the generator and provide additionally a simple means for mounting the

spark coils

17, 18 and 19 in the proper relative position to each other. A particularly simple mounting structure is obtained when the lower end of the post is located above the profile of the base portion 7. The

posts

9 and 10 are preferably hollow and their upper ends have an inside thread 11 and 12 respectively so that the spark coils may be secured to the upright posts by means of screws threaded into the end of the post. Reinforcing

rib members

13, 14, 15 and 16 extend upwardly along the outside of

upright posts

9 and 10 and provide a simple and effective strengthening means for the posts. The

posts

9 and 10 are preferably of different height and inclined toward the front of the engine and cooling fan in order to expose the spark coils more effectively to the cooling air flow from the fan during operation of the engine. The spark coils are preferably disposed transversely of the cooling stream which is more suitable for a proper cooling of the coils. The spark coils are clamped by means of

bands

20 and 21 which are carried on

posts

9 and 10 and are secured to these posts by means of screws 22 and 23.

The mounting device according to the invention makes it possible to secure three spark coils with only two fastening means on two upright support members. Instead of using two bands 20 and 2.1 the spark coils may be secured to the mounting posts by means of a single band which surrounds the coils and forms a support means which may be united at one or more points by spot welding.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be applied which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Mounting device for spark coils of internal combustion engines comprising a base, spaced upright means on said base for supporting said spark coils at a skew angle to the engine air flow, a generator, means for securing said base to said generator, and means for securing said spark coils to said spaced upright means.

2. Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines comprising a base, spaced upright posts connected to said base and supporting said spark coils, a generator, means for securing said base to said generator, and means for securing said spark coils to said spaced upright posts transversely of said generator.

3. Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines comprising a base member, a generator having a cylindrical housing supporting said base memher, said base member extending parallel to said generator, said base member having a rounded, concave portion for engaging said cylindrical housing, strap means for securing said generator and said base member to said engine and means for securing said spark coils to said spaced upright posts at a skew angle to the engine air flow.

4. Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines comprising a base member of substantially semi-cylindrical configuration, upright posts connected at each end of said base member, a generator having a cylindrical housing, said semicylindrical base member extending parallel to said cylindrical housing and defining a concave portion for engaging said housing, a tensioning band for securing said semi-cylindrical base member and said generator to said engine and means at the end of said upright posts for securing said spark coils to said posts transversely of said generator at a skew angle to the engine air fiow.

5. Mounting device for the spark coils of internal combustion engines comprising a generator having a cylindrical housing, a substantially cylindrical base member supported on said cylindrical housing and extending longitudinally of said housing, hollow upright posts extending from each end of said base member, clamping means for engaging said spark coils, fastening means at the end of said hollow posts for securing said clamping means and said spark coils to said hollow posts transversely of said generator at a skew angle to the engine air flow, and strap means extending between said upright posts for securing said mounting structure and said generator to said engine.

6. A mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein the ends of said hollow posts have an inwardly threaded portion, and wherein the fastening means for said spark coils are secured to said posts by screws threaded into said inwardly threaded portion.

7. A mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said upright posts have reinforcing ribs extending between the posts and the base member.

8. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein the upright posts are of different height.

9. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said upright posts are inclined relative to said base member.

10. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said fastening means for said spark coils consists of two interconnected metal strips.

11. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said fastening means consists of a single spot welded metal strip.

12. Mounting device as defined in claim 5 wherein said spark coils are disposed transversely of the axis of said generator housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS