US3131266A

US3131266A - Supporting arrangement for breaker plates of ignition distributors in internal combustion engines

Info

Publication number: US3131266A
Application number: US39989A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hoven Wilhelm
Original assignee: Garbe Lahmeyer and Co AG
Current assignee: Garbe Lahmeyer and Co AG
Priority date: 1959-07-01
Filing date: 1960-06-30
Publication date: 1964-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1981-04-28

Description

Apnl 28, 1964 w. HOVEN 3,131,266

SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT FOR BREAKER PLATES 0F IGNITION DISTRIBUTORS IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 30, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I? I 2 FIG 2 1/225 M R Z AA , z '7 7o. 25 15 16 lug- J B t 11 II 12c G 0 1*. 121') O 21) it I V 8' X60. m) 8 32 :L 6 INVENTOR "I MLHELM yous/v aAae-unerorz If ff/fl/Qr ATTORNEY Apr1l28, 1964 w. HOVEN 3,131,266

SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT FOR BREAKER PLATES OF IGNITION DISTRIBUTORS IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 30, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY A April 28, 1964 w. HOVEN 3,131,266

.SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT FOR BREAKER PLATES OF IGNITION DISTRIBUTORS IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 30, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F1 1o 5 1081) Z5 1.080. I [E L Zia( Z Zw.%

INVENTOR W/LHELM Hovav ATTORNEY Apnl 28, 1964 w. HOVEN 3,131,266

SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT FOR BREAKER PLATES OF IGNITION DISTRIBUTORS IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June so, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III/II/IIII;

FIG-

INVENTOR ML H EL M 1 /0 vE/v ATTORNEY United States Patent SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT FOR BREAKER PLATES OF IGNITION DISTRIBUTORS IN IN- TERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Wilhelm Hoven, Wurselen, Germany, assignor to Gal-be,

Lahmeyer & Co. Aktiengesellschaft, Aachen, Germany Filed June 30, 1960, Ser. No. 39,989 Claims priority, application Germany July 1, 1959 13 Claims. (Cl. 200-30) The present invention relates to ignition distributors for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to an improved ignition distributor which embodies a vacuum advance mechanism. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a novel supporting and adjusting arrangement for the breaker plates of ignition distributors of the type embodying a vacuum advance mechanism.

It is well known to provide in an ignition distributor an arrangement which controls the timing of the spark in dependency on the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. Such arrangement normally assumes the shape of a centrifugal advance mechanism which controls the rotor of the ignition distributor so that the rotor is angularly displaced in the direction in which the drive shaft of the distributor rotates whenever the rotational speed of the engine increases. The rotor controls the opening and closing of contacts in the ignition distributor.

It is also known to advance the spark in dependency on the load conditions in an internal combustion engine. This is achieved with the help of the suction generated in the intake manifold of the carburetor in that the suction causes displacements of a diaphragm. This diaphragm is connected by a suitable linkage with the breaker plate of the ignition distributor and turns the breaker plate in a direction counter to the direction in which the rotor is driven whenever the suction in the intake manifold increases. To permit such angular displacements of the breaker plate, the latter is usually mounted on a cylindrical sleeve which is rotatable about the drive shaft of the interrupter rotor.

A serious disadvantage of such vacuum advance mechanisms is that the linkage which is responsive to the vacuum in the intake manifold of the carburetor must overcome substantial frictional forces in order to bring about angular displacements of the breaker plate with respect to the drive shaft of the ignition distributor. Such frictional forces develop between the aforementioned sleeve and the drive shaft, and will also depend on the temperature as well as on vibrations of the parts constitut ing the distributor. Consequently, the breaker plate must be subjected to comparatively large turning forces in order to change the timing of the spark. This, in turn, necessitates the provision of very large diaphragms resulting in bulky construction of ignition distributors. Furthermore, the bearings for the breaker plate and for the connecting linkage must be finished with utmost precision in order to insure that the breaker plate will react to comparatively small changes in vacuum conditions prevailing in the intake manifold.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved supporting arrangement for the breaker plates of ignition distributors which insures that the breaker plate will immediately react to very small changes in vacuum conditions prevailing in the intake manifold of the carburetor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ignition distributor of the above outlined characteristics in which the linkage between the breaker plate and the diaphragm may be adjusted within any desired range.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ignition distributor in which the breaker plate is mounted 3,131,266 Patented Apr. 28, 1964 ice in such a Way that it is subjected to very little or no friction when turned by the vacuum advance mechanism, and in which the position of the breaker plate within the dis tributor housing may be adjusted without it being necessary to remove any conponent parts of the distributor.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an ignition distributor of the just outlined characteristics in which the breaker plate is mounted in such a way that it cannot be axially shifted when subjected to the action of the vacuum advance mechanism.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide an ignition distributor whose breaker plates may be restricted to pure angular movements despite the face that it is free to float in the interior of the distributor housing.

With the above objects in view, the invention rides in the provision of an ignition distributor which comprises a preferably cup-shaped housing defining a chamber, a breaker plate floatingly received in the chamber of the housing, and at least one substantially radially arranged, preferably flat leaf spring which connects the breaker plate with the distributor housing in such manner that, when the breaker plate is subjected to the turning action of the vacuum advance mechanism, the spring or springs will prevent any other but angular movements of the breaker plate. In other words, the spring or springs not only constitute a support means for the breaker plate but also act as pivot bearings for the breaker plate so that the latter is properly guided whenever it is acted upon by the vacuum advance mechanism. The plane of each spring is perpendicular to the plane of the breaker plate.

According to one embodiment of my invention, the breaker plate is mounted for eccentric angular movements about an axis parallel with the axis of the distributor housing; in such instances, a single radial leaf spring is normally suificient to insure guidance of the breaker plate. However, if it is desired to mount the breaker plate for angular displacements about the axis of the distributor housing, the breaker plate is mounted on two, three or more flat springs which extend radially with respect thereto and permit only coaxial angular displacements of the plate with respect to the housing. It is also desirable, particularly if the breaker plate is supported by a single spring, to subject the spring to an initial tension so that it always tends to turn the breaker plate in a given direction, either counter to or in the same direction as the action of the vacuum advance mechanism. When the breaker plate should perform comparatively large angular movements, it is preferably mounted for rotation about the axis of the distributor housing; however, it may be mounted eccentrically if it must perform only small angular movements in response to the operation of the vacuum advance mechanism. Other features of my invention reside in the provision of means permitting for ad justments in the position of the breaker plate, in the provision of specifically configurated springs which prevent axial displacements of the breaker plate when the latter is caused to turn under the action of the vacuum advance mechanism, and in the provision of a longitudinally adjustable linkage which forms part of the vacuum advance mechanism and articulately connects the breaker plate with the aforementioned diaphragm.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of three specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an ignition distributor embodying one form of my invention according to which the breaker plate is supported by a single spring for 3 eccentric angular displacements with respect to the distributor housing, the cap and the distributor finger having been omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG 2 is an axial section through the housing of the ignition distributor, the section being taken along the line II'II of FIG. 1, as seen in the direction of arrows;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a distributor which is slightly different from the distributor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the breaker plate being shown removed from the chamber of the distributor housing;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a modified distributor with the cap and distributor finger removed, showing three radially arranged U-shaped springs supporting the breaker plate for angular displacements coaxially with the distributor housing;

FIG. 5 is an axial section through the modified distributor as seen in the direction of arrows from the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a further modification showing three differently mounted U-shaped radial springs which support the breaker plate, the cap and the distributor finger having been omitted for the sake of clarity; and

FIG. 7 is an axial section through the distributor as seen in the direction of arrows from the line VII-VII of FIG. 6.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrated embodiments, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an ignition distributor which comprises a cupped distributor housing 1 floatingly receiving in its chamber 39 a breaker plate 2 which supports the contact means 3, 4 forming part of the interrupter arrangement. The plane of the breaker plate 2 is perpendicular to the axis of the housing 1 and the plate is secured to the inner side of this housing by a resilient element in the form of a substantially radial leaf spring 6, the inner end of this supporting spring being received between and fixed to a pair of angular brackets 5 each of which is rigidly mounted on the breaker plate. The plane of the spring 6 is perpendicular to the plane of the breaker plate. The outer end of the spring 6 is received between and is fixed to a pair of brackets 7, 12 each of which is mounted on the housing 1, as by

screws

7a, 12a, respectively. The rigid connection between the

brackets

5, 5 and 7, 12 on the one hand and the ends of spring 6 on the other hand is established by pairwise arranged rivets 25 or the like.

The distributor housing 1 has a hollow extension 1a which is fixed to its outer side and whose outer end supports a two-piece casing 8 forming part of the vacuum advance mechanism and mounting a diaphragm 8a in such a manner that the diaphragm constitutes an airtight seal between a threaded nipple 11 forming part of the casing 8 and the interior of the distributor housing 1. The inner side of the diaphragm is connected with an actuating rod 10, the latter extending through the extension 1a and through an opening in the housing 1 so that its spherical forward end 9 projects into a suitable marginal recess or socket 2a formed in the breaker plate 2. The supporting spring 6 is under tension so as to bias the breaker plate 2 in anticlockwise direction about an axis which is parallel with the axis of the housing 1. In other words, the spring 6 tends to draw the adjusting rod 10 into the housing 1 because the spherical head 9 of this rod is rotatably anchored in the recess 2a.

The parts 8a, 10 constitute the linkage of the vacuum advance mechanism which may turn the breaker plate 2 so as to advance the spark in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The threaded nipple 11 defines a vacuum passage and is connected with a conduit 11a leading to the carburetor 11b, and more particularly to the intake manifold of the carburetor. The vacuum in the component 8" of the casing 8 at the outer side of the diaphragm 8a enables this diaphragm to move radially outwardly and away from the distributor housing 1 whereby the diaphragm entrains the adjusting rod 10 because the outer end of this rod is connected with the diaphragm and thus will participate in the latters movements in response to any changes in pressure at the outer side of the diaphragm, i.e. in the intake manifold of the carburetor 11b. When the rod 10 is axially displaced in outward direction, it turns the breaker plate 2 in clockwise direction against the bias of the spring 6 so that the breaker plate will perform a small angular movement about a pivot axis which is eccentric with respect to the axis of the housing 1. This pivot axis is located substantially at the free end of the arm 12c forming part of the bracket 12. Thus, the diaphragm 8a is linked to the breaker plate 2 in such a way that the breaker plate will turn in clockwise direction at a rate proportional with each increase in the vacuum prevailing in the intake manifold of the carburetor 11b. The angular displacement of the breaker plate 2 need not be large, i.e. it is normally in the range of a few degrees. When the throttle of a conveyance utilizing the internal combustion engine equipped with my improved ignition distributor is wide open and little or no vacuum prevails in the intake manifold, a maximum quantity of fuel-air mixture enters the cylinder of the engine and no spark advance beyond the advance caused by the customary centrifugal advance mechanism 26 is needed. However, if the throttle is partially closed, a certain percentage of the fuel-air mixture is throttled off and the mixture flowing into the cylinders is compressed to a lesser extent. In order to insure satisfactory combustion, the spark must be advanced beyond such advance as is brought about by the centrifugal advance mechanism 26. This is achieved by turning the breaker plate 2 with the help of manifold vacuum which causes the diaphragm 8a to bulge outwardly under the action of atmospheric pressure prevailing in the chamber 30 of the housing 1 and in the latters extension 1a so that the diaphragm 8a moves the adjusting rod 10 radially outwardly and, in cooperation with but against the bias of the supporting spring 6, causes a clockwise angular displacement of the breaker plate 2 to advance the spark by a predetermined value so that the contacts are opened and closed earlier in the cycle.

An important feature of the improved distributor arrangement, clearly shown in FIG. 2 is that the friction developing during angular displacements of the breaker plate 2 is reduced to a minimum, i.e. the vacuum advance mechanism is much more sensitive. In fact, the vacuum at the outer side of the diaphrgam 8a must overcome only the bias of the spring 6 and the minimal friction existing between the spherical head 9 of the adjusting rod 10 and the wall of the recess 2a in the breaker plate. It is often advisable to place the helical spring 8b between the outer side of the diaphragm 8a and the outer component 8 of the casing 8. The extension 1a and the inner component 8' are formed with suitable bore means to properly guide the adjusting rod 10 during the latters reciprocatory movements in response to the bias of the spring 6 or in response to increasing vacuum in the interior of the component 8". The spring 6 may be prestressed in such a way that it will tend to bias the breaker plate 2 in clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

FIG. 1 shows that the U-shaped bracket 12 supports a second leaf spring 13 whose free end extends into a suitable marginal cutout 14 bounded by a forked portion of the breaker plate 2. Thus, one arm 12b of the U-shaped bracket 12 is secured to the bracket 7 and to the plate supporting spring 6 (rivets 25), and its other arm is secured to the outer end of the biasing spring 13. The bracket 12 thus constitutes a carrier for the spring 13 and its purpose is to adjust the position of the spring 13 so as to adjust the bias of this spring upon the breaker plate, if necessary. To that end, this carrier bracket 12 consists of a deformable material, e.g. sheet metal, and by bending its arm 126 one can adjust the bias upon the breaker plate 2 by varying the position of the adjusting spring 13 because the spring 13 then will exert a different pressure against the wall of the cutout 14. As is shown in FIG. 2, the housing 1 may be provided with a suitable aperture 112 which enables a mechanic utilizing a suitable tool to reach into the interior of the housing 1 and to deflect the arm 120 of the bracket 12 and to thus vary the position of the spring 13 without even removing the cap of the ignition distributor. In addition, the aperture 1b allows entry of atmospheric air into the chamber 30 of the housing 1, into the extension 1a and into the inner component 8 of the casing 8 so that atmospheric pressure always prevails at the inner side of the diaphragm 8a.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the housing 1 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed peripheral depressions 15 each of which may receive the suitably bent end of a snap-on spring 16 serving as a connecting means for securing the non-illustrated cap to the distributor housing. The bent ends of the springs 16 extend beneath and are engaged by suitable lugs 17 which form part of the housing 1 so that the cap is safely held against unintentional separation from the housing. FIG. 2 also shows that the supporting spring 6 is of considerable width, as seen in the axial direction of the housing 1, and that the width of the

brackets

5, 7, 12 preferably at least approaches the Width of the spring 6 so that the latter is safely held against any twisting from a plane perpendicular to the plane of the breaker plate and will yield only in a direction to permit angular displacement of the breaker plate 2 about an axis which is parallel with the axis of the housing 1. Owing to such configuration and mounting of the spring 6, no other means for supporting the breaker plate 2 is necessary, i.e. this spring 6 constitutes the sole means for fioatingly supporting the breaker plate in the chamber of the housing 1.

The construction of the contact means 3, 4 of the centrifugal advance mechanism 26 shown in FIG. 2 above the breaker plate 2', of various conductor means 27 which connect the contact means with the battery and with the spark plugs, as well as the construction and mounting of the drive shaft 28 for the rotor 29 forms no part of my invention; therefore, such parts are shown only partially in the drawings.

FIG. 3 illustrates a slightly diiferent distributor whose housing 301 carries two U-shaped pivot members 317 each permanently connected with a snap-on spring 316. These springs may engage with shoulders 316a provided on the cap C to releasably hold the cap on the housing 301 when the distributor is fully assembled.

The breaker plate 302 is supported by a single bracket 312 which is formed with two inwardly bent flanges 307 receiving therebetween the outer end of the radial spring 306. The inner end of this spring 306 is received between and is secured to a pair of brackets 305 carried by the breaker plate. It will be noted that the plane of the spring 306 is again perpendicular to the plane of the breaker plate 302. The bracket 312 may be secured to the cylindrical wall of the housing 301 by two or more screws or rivets, not shown, so as to mount the breaker plate 302 in the chamber 330 in the same position as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

The adjusting spring 13 is replaced by a helical spring 313 whose ends are held by a pin 314 extending radially from the breaker plate 302 and by a similar pin (not shown) which may be threaded into a tapped bore 312d of the bracket 312'. The adjusting spring 313 will tend to pivot the breaker plate 302 about an axis which is parallel with the axis of the housing 301 and which is located between the innermost vertical edges of the flanges 307. This spring 313 may counteract the bias of the spring 306 if the latter is prestressed when the breaker plate 302 is inserted into the housing 301, or both springs may bias the plate 302 in the same direction. The head 9 of the adjusting rod 10 is insertable into a recess in the plate 302 upon removal of a retaining member 309a which thereupon holds this head in the recess to maintain the plate 302 in requisite position of equilibrium depending on the vacuum conditions prevailing in the carburetor and on the bias of the

springs

306 and 313.

The tension of the spring 313 and hence the position of the breaker plate 302 may be adjusted by turning the screw which extends through the bore 312d. This screw also extends through a radial bore 301d in the housing 301 so that the tension of the spring 313 may be adjusted without removing the cap C. The opening 1b, shown in FIG. 2, is not necessary in the construction of FIG. 3.

The modified ignition distributor which is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 comprises three symmetrically arranged supporting leaf springs 21 which extend radially with respect to the axis of the housing 101 and are preferably uniformly spaced from each other. In addition, while the spring 6 of FIG. 1 extends upwardly from the breaker plate 2, the springs 21 are located at a level below but again in planes perpendicular to the plane of the modified breaker plate 102. The underside of the plate 102 carries three pairs of angular brackets 22 each pair of which receives therebetween the inner arm of one of the springs 21. The outer arms of these springs are received between pairwise arranged brackets 20 which are secured to the innerside of the housing 101. As clearly shown in FIG. 5, the arms of U-shaped springs 21 are parallel with the axis of the housing 101, i.e. with the axis about which the breaker plate 102 should be turned by the vacuum advance mechanism.

The spherical head 109 of the adjusting rod 110 is axially shiftable in a direction parallel with a radial plane of the housing 101 in contrast to the rod 10 of FIG. 1 which extends radially into the housing 1. The rod 110 of FIGS. 4 and 5 passes through a peripheral opening 23 in the housing 101 and is received in a concave recess 102a of the breaker plate 102 so that it may turn the plate against the bias of the supporting U-springs 21. FIG. 4 shows a pair of nuts 110a, 11% which permit axial displacements of the end portion 1100 with respect to the main body portion of the rod 110 so that the eifective length of this adjusting rod may be changed within a desired range such as is necessary for proper positioning of the breaker plate 102. It will be readily understood that the recess 102a need not open into the periphery of the breaker plate 102 but that this recess may assume the shape of a concave depression in the upper side or in the underside of the breaker plate 102 as long as it provides a satisfactory socket for the head 109 so that the adjusting rod 110 may turn the breaker plate in response to changes in pressure conditions prevailing in the intake manifold of the carburetor, not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The casing 108 of the diaphragm 108a is located eccentrically of the housing 101 and its outer component 108" houses a coil spring 108b which maintains the diaphragm 108a in requisite position and acts against the atmospheric pressure prevailing in the component 108. If the vacuum prevailing in the intake manifold of the carburetor and com municated through the nipple 111 increases, the atmospheric pressure in the component 108" will counteract the expanding force of the spring 10% and will cause the rod 110 to move in outward direction so as to bring about an anticlockwise rotation of the breaker plate 102, reference being had to FIG. 4.

It will be readily understood that, owing to their specific shape and also owing to the manner of their mounting, the supporting springs 21 will permit only tangential displacements of their points of connection with the breaker plate 102 so that this breaker plate is rotated about the axis of the housing 101 in response to axial displacements of the adjusting rod 110.

In accordance with an elementary form of my invention, the ignition distributor could comprise a breaker plate 102 mounted on simple straight leaf springs connected with the base 1010 of the housing 101 and with the breaker plate 102. However, if it would become necessary to rotate the breaker plate through a larger angle, such simple axially parallel springs would cause the breaker plate 102 to move in a direction toward the base 101a which would move certain parts carried by the breaker plate out of proper position with respect to the parts which must cooperate therewith. In other words, were the breaker plate 102 mounted on springs carried by the base 101e, the plate necessarily would perform a combined angular and axial movement with respect to the housing 101 which is not desirable and is prevented by mounting the breaker plate in a manner as described in connection with FIGS. l-5. Because the arrangement of FIGS. 4 and utilizes U-shaped springs 21 whose points of connection with the breaker plate 102 are at the same level, and because the webs or bases 21a of these springs are at equal distance from the breaker plate, the latter will perform a pure rotary movement without any displacements in the axial direction of the housing 101 when turned by the spherical head 109 of the adjusting rod 110. It will be readily understood that the bases 21a of springs 21 will merely move in upward direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, if the angle through which the breaker plate 102 is turned increases but that the breaker plate will not be moved to a higher or lower level.

As stated in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring means 6 which supports the breaker plate 2 is inserted into the housing 1 under an initial tension, i.e. in prestressed condition, so that the breaker plate will tend to rotate in anticlockwise direction. Consequently, the spring means 6 will tend to draw the adjusting rod into the distributor housing. The U-shaped springs 21 of FIGS. 4 and 5 may be mounted in similar manner so that the rod 110 will counteract their tendency to turn the breaker plate 102 in anticlockwise direction.

The arrangement of FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar to the one shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, excepting that the arms of U-shaped supporting springs 221 extend substantially radially with respect to the axis of the housing 201. The springs 221 are located at the underside of the breaker plate 202 and are connected with the inner side of the housing 201 and with the breaker plate in such a way that their bases 2210 extend in parallelism with the housing axis. Such mounting of the springs 221 prevents the breaker plate 202 from performing any other but angular movements when rocked by the adjusting rod 210. It will be noted that the arms 221a of springs 221 which are connected to the breaker plate 202 are shorter than the other arms of those springs, i.e. the longer arm 22112 of each supporting spring is connected with the inner side of the housing 201. The construction of the vacuum advance mechanism including the parts in the diaphragm casing 208 is identical with the construction of parts in the

casings

8 and 108.

The shorter arms 221a of the springs 221 are held between pairwise arranged brackets 222 carried by the plate 202, and similar pairwise arranged brackets 220 secure the outer ends of springs 221 to the housing 202. If desired the arms of the springs 221 may be of approximately equal length.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications Without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, housing means defining a chamber; breaker plate means in the chamber of said housing means; and means for supporting said breaker plate means pivotably in said housing means about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate means while preventing any movement in axial direction and any tilting relative to said axis, said supporting means comprising at least one leaf spring fixedly connected at opposite end portions thereof with said housing means and with said breaker plate means respectively, and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate means.

2. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, substantially cup-shaped housing means having an axis and defining a chamber; breaker plate means in the chamber of said housing means and extending perpendicular to said axis of said housing; and means for supporting said breaker plate means pivotably about an axis perpendicular tothe plane of said breaker plate means, said supporting means comprising at least one prestressed leaf spring connected with said housing means and with said breaker plate means and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate means, said spring permanently biasing said breaker plate means in one angular direction for rotation about said last mentioned axis.

3. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, substantially cup-shaped housing means having an axis and defining a chamber; breaker plate means in the chamber of said housing means and extending perpendicular to said axis of said housing; means for supporting said breaker plate means pivotably about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate means, said supporting means comprising at least one prestressed leaf spring connected with said housing means and with said breaker plate means and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate means, said spring permanently biasing said breaker plate means in a first angular direction for rotation about said axis; and means articulately connected with said breaker plate means for turning said breaker plate means in a second angular direction against the bias of said spring.

4. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, housing means defining a chamber; breaker plate means in the chamber of said housing means; means for supporting said breaker plate means pivotably in said housing means, said supporting means comprising a prestressed leaf spring connected with said housing means and with said breaker plate means and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular tothe plane of said breaker plate means; and biasing means for said breaker plate means comprising a spring connected to said housing means and extending into a marginal cutout formed in said breaker plate means, the position of said last mentioned spring being adjustable to thereby adjust the bias upon said breaker plate means.

5. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, housing means defining a chamber; breaker plate means in the chamber of said housing means; means for supporting said breaker plate means pivotably in said housing means, said supporting means comprising a prestressed leaf spring connected with said housing means and with said breaker plate means and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate means; and biasing means for said breaker plate means, said biasing means comprising a bracket fixed to and located in the chamber of said housing means, and a spring connected with said bracket and extending into a marginal cutout formed in said breaker plate means, said bracket being deform-able to thereby adjust the bias of said last mentioned spring upon said breaker plate means.

6. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, housing means defining a chamber; breaker plate means in the chamber of said housing means; means for supporting said breaker plate means pivotably in said housing means, said supporting means comprising a prestressed leaf spring connected with said housing means and with said breaker plate means and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate means; and biasing means for said breaker plate means comprising a spring connected to said housing means and extending into a marginal cutout formed in said breaker plate means, the position of said last mentioned spring being adjustable to thereby adjust the bias upon said breaker plate means, said housing means being formed with aperture means providing access to said last mentioned spring means.

7. In an ignition distributor tor internal combustion engines, in combination, a cupshaped housing defining a chamber and having an axis; a breaker plate in the chamber of said housing; and means tor supporting said breaker plate pivotably about the axis of said housing, said supporting means comprising a plurality of sym metrically arranged leaf springs each extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate and substantially radially with respect to said axis, each spring having a first end non-tiltably connected with said housing and a second end non-tiltably connected with said breaker plate.

8. In an ignition distributor tor internal combustion engines, in combination, a cup-shaped housing defining a chamber and having an axis; a breaker plate in the chamber of said housing; and means for supporting said breaker plate pivotably about the axis of said housing, said sup porting means comprising at least three symmetrically arranged equidistant leaf springs each extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate and substantially radially with respect to said axis, each spring having a first end non-tiltably connected with said housing and a second end non-tiltably connected with said breaker plate.

9. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, a cup-shaped housing defining a chamber and having an axis; a breaker plate in the chamber of said housing; and means for supporting said breaker plate pivotably about the axis of said housing, said supporting means comprising a plurality of symmetrically arranged U-shaped leaf springs each extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate and substantially radially with respect to said axis, each spring having a first end non-tiltably connected with said housing and a second end non-tiltably connected with said breaker plate.

10. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, a cup-shaped housing defining a chamber and having an axis; a breaker plate in the chamber of said housing, said breaker plate being located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said housing; and means for supporting said breaker plate pivotably about the axis of said housing, said supporting means comprising a plurality of flat springs each extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate and substantially radially with respect to said axis, each spring being of U-shape and each having a first arm extending radially with respect to said axis and connected with said housing, and a second arm extending radially of said axis and connected with said breaker plate.

11. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, a cup-shaped housing defining a chamber and having an axis; a breaker plate in the chamber of said housing, said breaker plate being located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said housing; and means for supporting said breaker plate pivotably about the axis of said housing, said supporting means comprising a plurality of fiat springs each extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate and substantially radially with respect to said axis, each spring being of U-shape and each having a first arm extending in parallelism with said axis and connected with said housing, and a second arm extending in parallelism with said axis and connected with said breaker plate.

12. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, a cup-shaped housing defining a chamber and having an axis; a breaker plate in the chamber of said housing, said breaker plate being located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said housing; and means for supporting said breaker plate pivotably about the axis of said housing, said supporting means comprising a plurality of flat springs each extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said breaker plate and substantially radially with respect to said axis, each spring being of U-shape and each having two arms of equal length, one of said arms being connected Withsaid housing and the other of said arms being connected with said breaker plate.

13. In an ignition distributor for internal combustion engines, in combination, a housing; a breaker plate extending substantially in a plane transversely through said housing; and support means for supporting said breaker plate in said housing pivotably about an axis substantially normal to said plane while preventing any movement in axial direction and any tilting relative to said axis, said support means comprising at least one leaf spring con nected at opposite end portions thereof to said housing and said breaker plate, respectively, and extending in a plane transverse to the direction of pivotal movement of said breaker plate and substantially normal to the plane of the latter, said leaf spring constituting the only support connection between said housing and said breaker plate, whereby during pivoting of said breaker plate said spring will be deflected and such pivoting will not be impeded by friction forces.

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