US3792261A - Adaptable photoelectric automotive distributor combination - Google Patents

Adaptable photoelectric automotive distributor combination Download PDF

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Publication number
US3792261A
US3792261A US00281064A US3792261DA US3792261A US 3792261 A US3792261 A US 3792261A US 00281064 A US00281064 A US 00281064A US 3792261D A US3792261D A US 3792261DA US 3792261 A US3792261 A US 3792261A
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United States
Prior art keywords
breaker
rotor
mounting
radiation
flange
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00281064A
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English (en)
Inventor
R Canup
E Mcpeak
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Texaco Inc
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Texaco Inc
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02P—IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P7/00—Arrangements of distributors, circuit-makers or -breakers, e.g. of distributor and circuit-breaker combinations or pick-up devices
    • F02P7/06—Arrangements of distributors, circuit-makers or -breakers, e.g. of distributor and circuit-breaker combinations or pick-up devices of circuit-makers or -breakers, or pick-up devices adapted to sense particular points of the timing cycle
    • F02P7/073—Optical pick-up devices

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A combination adaptable to replace conventional breaker points of an automotive distributor. It ineludes-a printed circuit unit having a photoelectric contact breaker assembly attached and electrically connected to it. The unit is.designed for mounting on the breaker plate, The distributor has a shutter that includes an inner flange with openings to cooperate with the photoelectric assembly, plus an outer peripheral flange, all to be attached to'the distributor rotor.
  • this invention relates to an automotive distributor that has a breaker plate, a rotor shaft, and means for mounting breaker points on said plate.
  • the invention concerns a combination that comprises a photoelectric unit having a radiation source and a radiation-sensitive element. It also comprises a printed circuit and first means for mounting said photoelectric unit on said printed circuit in electrical contact therewith. It also comprises second means for mounting said printed circuit on said breaker-mounting means to'replace said breaker points on said plate.
  • the invention relates to an automotive distributor that has a breaker plate, a rotor shaft, and holes in said breaker plate for mounting breaker points on said plate. It comprises, in combination, a photoelectric unit having an infrared radiation source and a silicon phototransistor adapted for receiving said radiation across a gap. It also comprises a printed circuit mounted on an insulating material board, and said board is adapted for mounting on said breaker plate in replacement of said breaker points. It also comprises a protector board adapted for being fastened over said printed circuit, and holes in said board adapted to match said breaker-plate holes.
  • It also comprises eyelet fasteners adapted for attaching said insulating material and protector boards together, and bolt means for attaching said boards to said breaker plate through said eyelets and holes. It also comprises electric terminal means attached to said printed circuit and said insulating material board for making circuit connections to said radiation source and the said transistor.
  • shutter means that comprises the following elements: a flat circular disk having a hub adapted for attaching said disk to said rotor shaft for rotation therewith at all times; an outer depending .flange on said disk for protecting said photoelectric unit, and an inner depending flange being opaque to said infrared radiation and adapted for rotating in said radiation gap.
  • the said inner flange has a plurality of windows corresponding to the number of cylinders in the engine of said automobile.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating the exterior of a largely conventional distributor unit
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view with the rotor partly broken away, illustrating the same distributor shown in FIG. I, and with elements of the invention mounted thereon;
  • FIG. 3 is an electrical circuit diagram showing the circuit for the electronic elements
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a photoelectric spark-timing unit according to the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded side elevation of the unit illustrated in FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged bottom plan view of one preferred modification of the shutter rotor according to the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-section taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;
  • FIG. 8 is a partial interior side elevation with the rotor in transverse cross-section and another preferred modification of the shutter rotor with the relationship to an automotive distributor indicated;
  • FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the top board element of the unit illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5;
  • FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the distributor unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • This invention provides improved structure for a photoelectric-type spark-timing unit, which is adaptable for use directly on a conventional automotive distributor.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a largely conventional distributor unit 11. It includes the usual circular housing 12 that surrounds a rotor shaft 13. Also, there is schematically indicated the usual gear 16 on the lower end of the rotor shaft I3. It is for making positive connection with a timing shaft (not shown), or it is otherwise directly connected to the crank shaft (not shown) of the automotive engine.
  • Conventional structure of the distributor unit 11 also includes a spark-advance-control unit 19. It is attached radially to the housing 12 in the usual manner, and it has a connecting rod 20 (FIG. 2) extending therefrom.
  • This connecting rod 20 is actuated by a bellows arrangement (not shown) to adjust the angular position of a conventional breaker plate 21.
  • Such angular position adjustment is transmitted from the extremity of arm 20 to the breaker plate 21 via a hinge pin 22.
  • This may be any conventional control arrangement for creating spark advance in dependency upon the amount of vacuum being developed at the engine carburetor.
  • pipes 25 and 26 that are connected internally with the bellows in unit 19 so that the carburetor pressure differentials may be applied via flexible hoses (not shown) in the usual manner.
  • This invention includes means for mounting sparktiming-control unit 30 on the breaker plate 21 in place of conventional breaker points (not shown) which will have been removed.
  • the details of unit 30 will be described more fully below in connection with FIGS 4 5 and 9.
  • the invention also includes a combination with a shutter-rotor 31 (see FIGS. 2, 6 and 7).
  • This shutter is attached onto the shaft 13 by means of a pin (not shown), or the like, so as to be fixed for rotation with the shaft 13 at all times. It has a flat disk-like top 34 metals might be employed, or even nonmetalic material so long as the shutter portion is opaque to infrared radiatlon.
  • the shutter portion of unit 31 comprises a depending flange 39.
  • This flange 39 is designed so as to extend downward underneath the disk 34 when the unit is mounted on a vertically situated distributor 11. It is located so as to be situated in the ray path, or gap of a photoelectric unit 40.
  • Unit 40 is mounted on the upper surface of the spark-timing unit 30 toward the periphery of the distributor'housing 12.
  • the unit 40 has a radiation source moulded into one side 43 thereof, while there is a radiation-sensitive element moulded into another side 44 of the unit 40.
  • These sides 43 and 44 extend at right angles to a connecting base that is mounted on the unit 30. It will be appreciated that the two sides 43 and 44 might be mounted in the reverse position without changing the operation of the photoelectric unit 40.
  • the flange 39 of the rotor unit 31 extends downward into a ray path betwen photoelectric elements in the sides 43 and 44 of the unit 40. Consequently, whenever any one of a plurality of windows or slits 47 is positioned in the path between the photoelectric elements in sides 43 and 44, the radiation path will not be interrupted and a signal will be created for controlling the generation of a spark signal.
  • spark-advance or retard control for the engine will continue to act in substantially the same manner as it did with the use of breaker i points.
  • bellows-actuated movements of the connecting rod 20 will cause rotation of the breaker plate 21 concentrically around the shaft 13 so as to modify the angular location of the spark-timing control which determines the timing of each spark relative toa corresponding piston location in its cylinder in the engine.
  • the spark-timing unit 30 has both internal and external electrical connections.
  • the external connections include a ground wire 48 (FIGS. 2 and 3) that leads from an eyelet or hollow rivet 49 (FIGS. 4 and to a grounded electrical connector lug 50 (FIG. 2).
  • a pair of electrical terminal connectors 53 and 54 that are electrically and physically connected to elements of a printed circuit which is part of the internal circuit to be described in more detail below.
  • Con-- tinuing with the external circuit there are electrical circuit wires 55 and 56 that are connected to connectors 53 and 54, respectively (FIG. 2). These wires extend 67 embossed onto the underside thereof, as shown in FIG. 9.
  • the board 66 has mounted on the upper side thereof the photoelectric unit 40.
  • the photoelectric unit 40 does not constitute the invention, and it might take various forms. However, it is preferably one like a so-called optical Switch" that is commercially available from, and manufactured by, HEI Inc. of Chaska, Minnesota in accordance with its brochure designated HEI-l3'2, dated Sep. l, 1971. Also, it may be noted that the electrical circuit diagram of such a unit will take the form that is generally illustrated in FIG. 3. As there shown, there is a diode that acts to emit infrared light which is focused onto the sensitive element of a silicon phototransistor 76. These elements have their electrical connections made in a conventional manner with the diode 75 and transistor 76 moulded into the unit 40 which was described heretofore.
  • the internal electrical circuits for the spark-timing unit 30 include two conductive paths 79 and 80 (FIG. 9) of the printed circuit 67. Such paths are represented in the FIG. 3 circuit diagram as indicated by the same reference numbers. Also, the common internal ground circuit is provided by a printed circuit path or area 88 which surrounds, and is electrically connected to, the eyelet 49 described above. It will be noted that the printed circuit paths 79 and 80 diverge around a hole 87 through which passes another eyelet 91 without making any electrical contact.
  • the physical construction of the unit 30 also includes a lower matching board 89 that is constructed of an insulating material. It is fastened -underneath the board 66 for protection of the printed circuit 67 and, preferably, the unit is made up by employing an epoxy glue 90 that is applied to the upper surface of the'board 89.
  • the glue is clamped between the two boards 66 and 89 by rolling or riveting the lower ends of eyelets 49 and 91 after the boards 66 and 89 have been pressed together with spacers 94 and 95 inserted to keep from squeezing out all of the epoxy glue 90.
  • An important feature of the invention is the ability to mount the spark-timing unit 30 in replacement of conventional breaker points. Consequently, the location of the hole 87 and a hole 96 is designed to match the corrrsponding holes (not shown) in the breaker plate 21 which were part of the means for mounting the breaker points on the conventional distributor. Therefore, the unit 30 is mounted on the breaker plate 21 in a feasible manner such as by using bolts 98 and 99 (FIG. 2) that are passed through the respective eyelet 49 and 91 (FIGS. 4 and 5).
  • FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a shutterrotor unit 101.
  • it is constructed of a unitary molded sleeve 102 and disk portion 103, together with an upper radially extending support 104 for a conventional distributor conductor arm 106.
  • the arm 106 is a conventional element of automotive distributors, and it acts to connect a high-voltage electrical path from the common high-voltage wire (not shown) toa selected one of the individual spark-plug conductors (not shown), which would be individually plugged into the castles 105 (indicated in dashed lines) in a conventional manner.
  • this modification of the unit 101 includes both an outer depending flange 107 and an inner depending flange 108. The latter will extend down into the radiation path when the unit is mounted on a distributor. Thus, it would act in a similar manner as was described above in connection with the flange 39 of the disk 34 in the other modification.
  • the unit 101 is molded of a nonconductive material which is opaque to infrared radiation, and there will be the same windows or slitsv (not shown) in the inner flange 108. Also, the unit 101 will be keyed or splined to the shaft 13 to maintain fixed rotation therewith.
  • a photoelectric unit having a radiation source and a radiation-sensitive element
  • said second means for mounting comprises fasteners cooperating with said holes.
  • said shutter means comprises a circular rotor having a flange of a material opaque to said radiation and including windows in said flange for transmitting said radiation.
  • said radiation source emits infrared radiation
  • an automotive distributor having a breaker plate, a rotor shaft, and holes in said breaker plate for mounting breaker points on said plate, the combination comprising a photoelectric unit having an infrared radiation source and a silicon phototransistor adapted for receiving said radiation across a gap,
  • said board being adapted for mounting on said breaker plate in replacement of said breaker points
  • a protector board adapted for being fastened over said printed circuit
  • shutter means comprising a flat circular disk having a hub adapted for attaching said disk to said rotor shaft for rotation therewith at all times,
  • said inner gap having a plurality of windows corresponding to the number of cylinders in the engine for said automobile.
  • said infrared source comprises a light-emitting diode.
  • said shutter means comprises a circular rotor having a depending flange with windows therein.
  • said shutter means also comprises an outer flange depending from said circular rotor for protecting said flange with windows.
  • said engaging means comprises an electrically insulating sleeve
  • said circular rotor comprises an electrically insulating .disk.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
US00281064A 1972-08-16 1972-08-16 Adaptable photoelectric automotive distributor combination Expired - Lifetime US3792261A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US28106472A 1972-08-16 1972-08-16

Publications (1)

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US3792261A true US3792261A (en) 1974-02-12

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Family Applications (1)

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US00281064A Expired - Lifetime US3792261A (en) 1972-08-16 1972-08-16 Adaptable photoelectric automotive distributor combination

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US (1) US3792261A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
JP (1) JPS5136401B2 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
BR (1) BR7306088D0 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
CA (1) CA993035A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
CH (1) CH562401A5 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
DE (1) DE2340098A1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
ES (1) ES417936A1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
FR (1) FR2196672A5 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
GB (1) GB1403951A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
IT (1) IT992946B (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
NL (1) NL7310201A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
ZA (1) ZA734637B (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3889162A (en) * 1974-02-04 1975-06-10 Ledex Inc Solenoid driving means
US3958543A (en) * 1974-04-05 1976-05-25 Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Photoelectric breakerless distributor
US3976044A (en) * 1975-05-15 1976-08-24 Gulf & Western Industries, Inc. Breakerless distributor with substitutional interrupter array
US4022177A (en) * 1975-04-23 1977-05-10 Texaco Inc. Controlled spark duration ignition system
US4168016A (en) * 1977-06-24 1979-09-18 Rockwell International Corporation Simulated wire wheel cover
US4508092A (en) * 1981-01-09 1985-04-02 Magnavox Government And Industrial Electronics Company Magnetic sensor for distributorless ignition system and position sensing
EP0231751A1 (en) * 1986-01-08 1987-08-12 Hitachi, Ltd. Rotational signal detecting apparatus for internal combustion engine
US5038743A (en) * 1987-02-09 1991-08-13 Outboard Marine Corporation Dual schedule ignition system
DE4139040A1 (de) * 1990-11-27 1992-06-04 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Zuendverteiler mit eingebautem kurbelwinkelsensor
US5886490A (en) * 1997-04-28 1999-03-23 Apsco International Digital rotary optical accelerator

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5089724A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) * 1973-12-15 1975-07-18
US4036197A (en) * 1975-11-03 1977-07-19 Beshore Craig S Automotive ignition distributor conversion means
FR2471496A1 (fr) * 1979-12-12 1981-06-19 Polska Akademia Nauk Instytut Systeme d'allumage a thyristor pour moteurs a combustion interne avec allumage par bougie
DE3000935A1 (de) * 1980-01-11 1981-09-03 Polska Akademia Nauk Instytut Podstaw Inżynierii Srodowiska, Zabrze Thyristor-zuendanlage fuer verbrennungsmotoren mit funkenzuendung
DE3215105A1 (de) * 1982-04-23 1983-10-27 Rainer 8963 Waltenhofen Achterholt Kontaktlose potentialfreie zuendimpulsverteilung fuer verbrennungsmaschinen
HU187170B (en) * 1982-10-21 1985-11-28 Laszlo Navratil Optoelectronically controlled ignition device for petrol or gas internal combustion engines
DE3722666A1 (de) * 1987-07-09 1989-01-19 Bosch Gmbh Robert Hochspannungsschalter

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2084267A (en) * 1935-06-04 1937-06-15 Kenneth M Waddell Ignition system
US3235742A (en) * 1962-02-19 1966-02-15 Jasper N Cunningham Pulse generator for ignition system
US3594518A (en) * 1968-12-13 1971-07-20 Brico Eng Electric switches
US3693023A (en) * 1970-12-29 1972-09-19 Dynamics Res Corp Electro-optical tachometer

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2084267A (en) * 1935-06-04 1937-06-15 Kenneth M Waddell Ignition system
US3235742A (en) * 1962-02-19 1966-02-15 Jasper N Cunningham Pulse generator for ignition system
US3594518A (en) * 1968-12-13 1971-07-20 Brico Eng Electric switches
US3693023A (en) * 1970-12-29 1972-09-19 Dynamics Res Corp Electro-optical tachometer

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3889162A (en) * 1974-02-04 1975-06-10 Ledex Inc Solenoid driving means
US3958543A (en) * 1974-04-05 1976-05-25 Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Photoelectric breakerless distributor
US4022177A (en) * 1975-04-23 1977-05-10 Texaco Inc. Controlled spark duration ignition system
US3976044A (en) * 1975-05-15 1976-08-24 Gulf & Western Industries, Inc. Breakerless distributor with substitutional interrupter array
US4168016A (en) * 1977-06-24 1979-09-18 Rockwell International Corporation Simulated wire wheel cover
US4508092A (en) * 1981-01-09 1985-04-02 Magnavox Government And Industrial Electronics Company Magnetic sensor for distributorless ignition system and position sensing
EP0231751A1 (en) * 1986-01-08 1987-08-12 Hitachi, Ltd. Rotational signal detecting apparatus for internal combustion engine
US5038743A (en) * 1987-02-09 1991-08-13 Outboard Marine Corporation Dual schedule ignition system
DE4139040A1 (de) * 1990-11-27 1992-06-04 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Zuendverteiler mit eingebautem kurbelwinkelsensor
US5886490A (en) * 1997-04-28 1999-03-23 Apsco International Digital rotary optical accelerator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH562401A5 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1975-05-30
GB1403951A (en) 1975-08-28
ES417936A1 (es) 1976-03-16
FR2196672A5 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1974-03-15
IT992946B (it) 1975-09-30
JPS5136401B2 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1976-10-08
NL7310201A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1974-02-19
JPS4958240A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1974-06-06
CA993035A (en) 1976-07-13
ZA734637B (en) 1974-11-27
BR7306088D0 (pt) 1974-07-11
DE2340098A1 (de) 1974-02-28

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