US3833777A

US3833777A - Pre-gapped breaker point assemblies

Info

Publication number: US3833777A
Application number: US00356062A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Clark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-04-30
Filing date: 1973-04-30
Publication date: 1974-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-03

Abstract

A pre-gapped breaker point assembly for use with distributors of internal combustion engines including a contact arm, with a cam follower and breaker contact points, adapted for reciprocatory movement in consonance with the cam follower, and a novel spacing block, adapted to make contact with the distributor cam lobes, thereby establishing the distance the movable contact point separates from the stationary contact point in response to the rotating cam lobes moving the cam follower.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Clark PRE-GAPPED BREAKER POINT ASSEMBLIES [76] Inventor; William E. Clark, P.O. B651 702,

Pinedale, Wyo. 82941 [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 356,062

[52] US. Cl 200/31, 200/31 DP [51] Int Cl. H0lh 19/62 [58] Field of Search 200/16, 30 R, 30 A, 31 R,

200/31 A, 31 DP, 3] N [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I I 1,267,671 '5/1918 :Lang 200/3111 Sept. 3, 1974 Russell 200/31 A Bettoni 200/31 A Primary Examiner-James R. Scott [57] ABSTRACT A pre-gapped breaker point assembly for use with distributors of internal combustion engines including a contact arm, with a cam follower and breaker contact points, adapted for reciprocatory movement in consonance with the cam follower, and a novel spacing block, adapted to make contact with the distributor cam lobes, thereby establishing the distance the movable contact point separates from the stationary contact point in response to the rotating cam lobes moving the cam follower.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures l PRE-GAPPED BREAKER POINT ASSEMBLIES This invention relates generally to breaker point assemblies for distributors of internal combustion engines, and more particularly to the addition of a novel spacing block which provides the means whereby the opening of the opposing breaker contact points to a spring biased movable arm and a stationary bracket,

each provided with a contact point, all supported on a breaker plate within the distributor.

In setting a conventional breaker point assembly, during installation in a distributor, for the proper distance the opposing breaker contact points will separate, the cam onthe distributor shaft is rotated to a pofollower attached to the movable contact arm. Then, the stationary contact point is adjustably positioned so that a predetermined distance will exist between the opposing contact points. The installation procedure for sition with one of its high points engaged with the cam installing pre-gapped breaker pointassemblies is greatly simplified by eliminating the requirement to set the proper distance the opposing contact points separate.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a means whereby the procedure for installing a breaker point assembly in a distributor for internal combustion engines will be greatly simplified by eliminating the need to set the distance the opposing breaker contact points separate when the engine is running.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a pre-gapped breaker point assembly, for use in a distributor for internal combustion engines, incorporating a novel spacing block whereby the distance the opposing breaker contact points are set to separate during manufacture will coincide with that distance the opposing breaker contact points separate when the pregapped breaker point assembly is installed in a distributor and the engine is' running.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means of construction, wherein the normally stationary breaker contact point on the breaker point assembly may be readily adjusted relative to the movable breaker contact point.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified construction in breaker point assemblies, wherein the construction is readily adapted to be installed in distributors in common usage nal combustion engines. I A final object of this invention is to provide a breaker point assembly icorporating a spacing block that may be removed after the breaker point assembly is installed in a distributor. v

I .With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention resides in the'following specifications and appended claims, certain embodiments and details of construction of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a conventional type of ignition distributor shownwith the pre-gapped breaker point assembly of the instant invention mounted therein; g

with inter-.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pre-gapped breaker point assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of a conventional type of ignition distributor shown with a modified form of the pre-gapped breaker point assembly mounted therein;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the pre-gapped breaker point assembly illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the stationary upright flange showing the adjustable threaded body and contact point;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the stationary upright flange and a portion of the breaker point base showing the elongated adjustment slot and contact point;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the novel spacing block illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a two-piece means of construction;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a modified form of the I novel spacing block;

,FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the novel spacing block;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of the novel spacing block.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a conventional distributor housing having a breaker plate 2 mounted therein for movement about the axis of rotation of cam 3 which is centrally disposed relative to breaker plate 2. A conventional vacuum advance assembly generally referred to by the numeral 4 is provided and is pivotally secured to breaker plate 2 by means of pivot pin 5. A condenser 6 is attached to breaker plate 2 bymeans of screw 7, and its lead 8 is connected to terminal post 9 by nuts 10. Electrical lead 1 1 is connected similarly to terminal post 9 and continues to housing outlet grommet l2. Cam 3 extends through circular cutout 40 in breaker plate 2 and contains rotor retainer 39 as its top member.

The pre-gapped breaker point assembly of the instant invention is generally referred to by numeral and includes a movable contact arm 21 and contact point 22 resiliently urged toward upright stationary flange 23 and contact point 24 by spring 25. Rotation of cam 3 causes insulated cam follower 26 to engage various cam lobes 27 resulting in contact point 22 alternately opening a specific and repeatable distance from, and then closing against, contact point 24. Contact arm 21 is pivotally supported by pivot post 28, and spring is secured at one end to contact arm 21 and at the other end to terminal post 9 which is positioned by

upright posts

30A and 30B, and insulated therefrom by

ushaped insert

31A and 31B. Breaker point assembly 20 is attached to breaker plate 2 by

screws

32 and 33 which extend through

elongated adjustment slots

34 and 35 into threaded bores in breaker plate'2. Cutout 36 in breaker plate 2 is an aid for conventional adjust ment of contact points. Grounding lead 37 is attached to breaker point assembly 20 byscrew 32 and to breaker plate 2 by screw 38. t

The novel spacing block shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is generally referred to by numeral 41. A specific shape of the spacing block for use with a specific type of,

breaker point assembly will be determined during manufacture so that it will not interfere with the operation of contact arm 21 nor with attaching

screws

32 and 33. Many shapes and combinations are possible within the scope and spirit of this invention. Likewise, the radius,

length, and heighth of abutment surface 42 will be determined for each application during manufacture. Further, the material from which the spacing block is made may vary considerably, but preferably will be plastic, impregnated resin, or other suitable material which has surface hardness qualities somewhat less than the distributor cam lobes 27.

During manufacture of pre-gapped breaker point assembly 20, correct positioning of novel spacing block 41 is readily achieved by attaching the breaker point assembly to a jig fixture simulating breaker plate 2 and cam lobes 27, then adjusting spacing block 41 within the limits provided by elongated slots 45 and 46 to achieve exact coincidence-of simulated cam lobe 27, cam follower 26, and abutment surface 42 while simultaneously opening

contact points

22 and 24 to an exact predetermined distance.

Tightening screws

43 and 44 preserves this relationship intact.

Installation of pre-gapped breaker point assembly 20, containing novel spacing block 41 correctly positioned thereon, in an ignition distributor, is accomplished by placing abutment surface 42 securely against cam lobes 27, and adjustably positioning breaker point assembly -so that screws 32 and'33 can be installed through

elongated slots

34 and 35 into threaded bores in breaker plate 2.

Tightening screws

32 and 33 maintains this position. 1

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an embodiment of the instant invention is illustrated wherein a modified form of the novel spacing block, generally referred to by the numeral 51, is attached by

screws

53 and 54 extending through

spacers

55 and 56 and into threaded bores in breaker point assembly 90, which is substantially similar to breaker point assembly 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Circular housing 57 surroundscam 3 and abutment surface 52'contacts cam lobes 27 as shown. It is readily seen that correct positioning of spacing block 51 on breaker point assembly 90 is accomplished in substantially the same manner in which spacing block 41 was correctly positioned on breaker point assembly 20 above. Likewise, installation of breaker point assembly 90 in a distributor is accomplished in substantially the same manner in which breaker point assembly 20 was installed l-lowever, spacing block 51'may be removed after breaker point assembly 90 is correctly positioned and securely fastened to breaker plate 2 by exstruction is that the spacing block may be readily removed after the breaker point assembly is correctly installed and securely fastened to the distributor breake plate.

With attention now directed to FIG. 8, there will be seen a further modified form of spacing block referred to by numeral 70, incorporating an upright curved abutment surface 71, a cutout 72 which allows the cam follower to operate therein without interference, another upright curved abutment surface 73, and a deeply scribed or break line 74. This modified form of spacing block is substantially identical in function to spacing block 41, and is correctly positioned on the breaker point assembly in a similar manner. However, spacing block 70, incorporating break line 74, may be readily removed after the breaker point assembly is correctly installed and securely fastened to the distributor breaker plate.

With attention now directed to FIG. 9, there will be seen a further modified form of spacing block referred to by numeral 75, incorporating abutment surface 76, attaching

holes

77 and 78, and

break lines

79 and 80. This modified form of spacing block issubstantially identical in function to" spacing block 51; however, spacing block 75 may be'attached to the breaker point assembly by rivets or other permanent means before it is correctly positioned thereon. In order to achieve the required opening of the contact points to their predetermined distance, on a breaker point assembly incorporating spacing block 75 or other spacing block similarly attached, the normally stationary contactpoint must be constructed, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate said construction means, so that the stationary contact point tracting screws 53 and 54 and lifting spacing block 51 from breaker point assembly 90.

With attention now directed to FIGS. 5 and 6, there will be seen two alternate methods for adjusting the normally stationary contact point 24 relative to the movable contact point ln FIG. 5, upright stationary flange 23 is threaded with contact body 60 formed with adjustment slot 61 to rotationally position contact point 24 nearer to or further from stationary flange 23. In FIG- 6, stationary flange 23 is formed with body extension 63 containing elongated slot 64 and attaching screw 65 mounted on breaker point base 66. Adjust ment is readily apparent.

With attention now directed to FIG. 7, there will be seen a modified form of the spacing block referred to by numeral 41, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the spacing block is assembled from two.

portions

68 and 69. A tongue and groove method of joining the two portions is shown by joining line-67; however, any one of many suitable known joining methods may be employed. The advantage of this modified form of conmay be adjustably positioned to achieve the opening of the contact points to their predetermined distance at coincidence of a first simulated cam lobe with the cam follower and another simulated cam lobe with abutment surface 76.

Break lines

79 and 80 provide the means whereby spacing block may be removed after the breaker point assembly is correctly installed and securely fastened to the distributor breaker plate.

With attention now directed to FIG. 10, there will be seen a further modified form of spacing block referred to by the numeral 81, incorporating surrounding abutment surface 82, cutout 83 that allows the cam follower to operate therein without interference, and break

lines

84 and 85. Spacing block 81 is substantially identical in function, means of attachment, and ease of removal to the spacing blocksdescribedabove.

It is thus seen that the invention provides a simplified, economical, efficient, and improved manner inwhich the breaker point assembly may be installed in a distributor. It is readily realized that certain obvious other modifications in structure are possible to the construction of the present invention, and-it is intended thatthe scope thereof only be bound'by the scope of the appended claims. It is also obvious that various distributor designs might requirecertain design. changes in the structure of the invention in order to readily adapt the frame adapted to be adjustably. mounted on said mounting plate and having a first breaker contact point secured to a stationary upright flange on said frame and in electrical contact with said frame and said mounting plate, a second breaker contact point mounted on an arm which is pivotally secured to said frame and resiliently urged to place said second breaker contact point in a normal contacting relationship with said first breaker contact point, a cam follower operable between said cam and said arm and operable to intermittently separate said first and said second breaker contact points coincident with a high point on said cam and being resiliently urged toward said cam by said arm, and a spacing block comprised of an abutment surface adapted to bear against at least two high points of said cam and having adjustment means adapted to establish maximum separation of said first and said second breaker contact points at coincidence of said cam follower with a high point on said cam, said adjustment means comprising elongated mounting slots in said spacing block structure.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spacing block is removed after said pre-gapped breaker point assembly is secured to said distributor movable mounting plate.

3. A pre-gapped breaker point assembly for use in a distributor for an ignition system of an internal cornbustion engine and adapted to be mounted in a casing on a movable mounting plate secured in said casing to thereby cooperate with a cam operable by said engine, said pre-gapped breaker point assembly comprising a frame adapted to be adjustably mounted on said mounting plate and having a first breaker contact point secured to a stationary upright flange on said frame and in electrical contact with said frame and said mounting plate, a second breaker contact point mounted on an arm which is pivotally secured to said frame and resiliently urged to place said second breaker contact point in a normal contacting relationship with said first breaker contact point, a cam follower operable between said cam and said arm and operable to intermittently separate said first and second breaker contact points coincident with a high point on said cam and being resiliently urged toward said cam by said arm and a spacing block comprising an abutment surface adapted to bear against at least two high points on said cam to thereby establish maximum separation of said first and said second breaker contact points at coincidence of said cam follower with a high point on said cam. I

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said spacing block is removed after said pre-gapped breaker point assembly is secured to said distributor movable mounting plate.

Claims

1. A pre-gapped breaker point assembly for use in a distributor for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine and adapted to be mounted in a casing on a movable mounting plate secured in said casing to thereby cooperate with a cam operable by said engine, said pre-gapped breaker point assembly comprising a frame adapted to be adjustably mounted on said mounting plate and having a first breaker contact point secured to a stationary upright flange on said frame and in electrical contact with said frame and said mounting plate, a second breaker contact point mounted on an arm which is pivotally secured to said frame and resiliently urged to place said second breaker contact point in a normal contacting relationship with said first breaker contact point, a cam follower operable between said cam and said arm and operable to intermittently separate said first and said second breaker contact points coincident with a high point on said cam and being resiliently urged toward said cam by said arm, and a spacing block comprised of an abutment surface adapted to bear against at least two high points of said cam and having adjustment means adapted to establish maximum separation of said first and said second breaker contact points at coincidence of said cam follower with a high point on said cam, said adjustment means comprising elongated mounting slots in said spacing block structure.

3. A pre-gapped breaker point assembly for use in a distributor for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine and adapted to be mounted in a casing on a movable mounting plate secured in said casing to thereby cooperate with a cam operable by said engine, said pre-gapped breaker point assembly comprising a frame adapted to be adjustably mounted on said mounting plate and having a first bReaker contact point secured to a stationary upright flange on said frame and in electrical contact with said frame and said mounting plate, a second breaker contact point mounted on an arm which is pivotally secured to said frame and resiliently urged to place said second breaker contact point in a normal contacting relationship with said first breaker contact point, a cam follower operable between said cam and said arm and operable to intermittently separate said first and second breaker contact points coincident with a high point on said cam and being resiliently urged toward said cam by said arm and a spacing block comprising an abutment surface adapted to bear against at least two high points on said cam to thereby establish maximum separation of said first and said second breaker contact points at coincidence of said cam follower with a high point on said cam.