US950339A - Sparking device. - Google Patents

Description

T. H.l MUQUQWN. SPARKING DBvIo'E.

APPLIUATIONVFILED JULY 28, 1906. 950,339. Patented-Feb. 22', 1910.

ZSHEETB-SHBET 1.

C, 44444797( rlwwmmwy emrlammy @M (Q7/@ T. H. MGQUOWN.

SPARKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1905.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNiTED STATES Parana Serien.

THOMAS H. MCQUOWN, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, T0 ARTHUR A'IWATER KENT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPARKING DEVICE.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Application filed July 28, 1905. Serial No. 271,583.

vTo all whom it may concern:

Be itl known that I, THOMAS H. Mc'- QUowN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in .Sparking Devices, ot which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

rIhis inventionrelates to an electric make and break device, and among the objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character in which the contacts are separated the instant,that they are brought together, and are therefore in contact a minimum length of time regardless of the speed at which the device is operated, and also to provide a novel arran 'ement by which the closing and opening o the contacts may be made to make and break any one of a plurality of circuits.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a'timer and distributer adapted for use in connection with gas or gasolene engines, but I wish it understood that my invention is notl limited to use in connection with a device of this character but may be employed. in other machines where it is desiral'ilctoi;4 make andbreak an electrical contact. The ymake andv break device comprises two contacts, (which I -will desi nate as the stationary and the movab e contact respectively,) means tending normally to accelerate the movement of the movable contact toward the stationary contact, and a restraining device to restrain 'or retard the movement of thel movablecontact until it is about to engage the stationary contact, whereby when the restraining device ceases to operate the movable contact wipes over or by the stationary contact with an accelerated movement, thereby opening the contacts the instant they are closed.

The device also comprises a suitable circuit controller 0r distributer by means of which the contacts are thrown into any one ot a number of different circuits.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improved device with the cover of the casing removed, said view also showinglthe electrxcal connections; Fig. 2 is a section of the casing on the line zax, Fig. 8; Fig. 3 is a section on the line y-y, Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a section on the line ca -a, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on the line b--Z), Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a detail of the brush of the circuit controller or distributer.

B'and Ll designate the two contacts which are closed and opened again by a relative movement between them. The contact 3 is relatively stationary, and for convenience I will hereinafter refer to it as the ,stationary contact. It iS preferably mounted upon a resilientarm 5 which is supported in any suitable way, as for instance by being Secured to one wall of the casing 6 within which theA movable parts of the device are located. The contact 4, which I have termed for convenience the movable Contact, is adapted to move toward and from the Stationary Contact and in its movement to engage said stationary contact. In the present embodiment of my invention said contact t is carried by a plate or disk 7 rotatably to engage the stationary contact 3 when said restraining means becomes inoperative and the plate rotates forward with a quick accelerated movement, thereby causing the contact 4 to Wipe past the stationary contact 3.

In the embodiment of the invention herein' illustratedthe plate or disk 7 is driven from a gear wheel or pinion 9 loosely mounted on the stud 8, the driving connection between the pinion and disk being a spring 10 which is connected at one end to a pin 11 projecting from the disk 7 and at the other end lto a pin 12 carried by the pinion 9, said pin 12 extending through a slot or opening 13a in the plate 7. With this construction the plate and pin may move 'independently of each other about the stud pinion Will wind the spring 10 up so that when the plate 7 is released the spring will act to impel said plate forward With a rapid movement, thereby closing and instantly opening the contacts.

The pinion 9 may be driven in any suitable Way. As herein shown it is driven from a pinion 13 mounted on a spindle or distributer shaft 14 which forms in effect a continuation or extension of a shaft 15. This shaft l5 may be any suitable shaft on or forming part of the machine With which the device is to be used, as for instance the crank-shaft of a gasoline engine. Said shaft has therefore a regular forward movement and through the pinion 13 it gives such regular movement to the driven pinion 9. I prefer to insulate the spindle 14 from the shaft 15, although this is not essential to my invention. As herein shown however the end of the shaft 15 has fast thereon a sleeve 16 provided With a projection 17, and said rojection 17 has a sleeve or covering 18 ofp insulating material. Fast on the insulated extension or projection .17 is the hub 19 of the spindle 14. This hub 19 is shown as rotatably mounted in' a bearing sleeve 20 carriedby a hub or boss 21 Which forms the bearing for the extension of the shaft 15. The gear 13 may be either fast to the spindle 14v or it may be driven from the spindle by a paWl and ratchet connection. I prefer the latter construction because this permits a backward motion of the shaft 15 without moving the arts of the sparking device. The paWl an ratchet connection is formed by a spring pressed pawl 22 pivotally mounted on an extension 23 of the hub of the gear 13 and adapted to engage a ratchet tooth 2l formed in a collar 25 fast on the spindle 14.

The restraining device or the means for restraining the accelerated movement of the plate 7 is herein shown as a tooth or teeth 26 formed on or carried bythe plate 7 and cooperating with a tooth or teeth 27 rotating with the spindle 14. Itor convenience I propose to make the teeth 27 rigid with the hub of the pinion 13 although this construction is not essential. rIhe teeth 26 and 27 are so arranged and shaped that the tooth 27 is engaged by the tooth 26 and restrains ori retards the movement ofthe plate '7 relative to the pinion 9 as the contact i is appreaching the contact 3, and during this inl terval therefore the pinion 9 moves ahead of the plate 7 and winds up the spring 10. g When the teeth 26 and 27 come into the doti ted line position' Itig. 2 the contact t is just E about to engage the contact 3, and said teeth are so shaped 'that at this instant the tooth 26 slips by the tooth 27 thus allowing the spring 10 to come into action to give the plate an accelerated movement and cause the contact et to Wipe past the contact 3.

It is entirely Within my invention to use only one movable contact 4, in which case only one tooth 26 and one tooth 27 would be necessary. IVhere, however, my invention is to be used for making and breaking in succession a plurality of circuits I prefer to use a plurality of contacts 4, as many contacts as there are circuits.

The present embodiment of my invention is adapted to make and break five different circuits, and, therefore, I have illustrated tive contacts 4 which are carried by the plate 7, and are adapted one after the other to engage the stationary Contact 3. `Where tive movable contacts 1 are used I propose to employ five restraining teeth 26 and ve teeth 27. The number of teeth 26 and 27 however depends upon the particular machine with which my invention is to be used. Where there are a plurality of teeth 26 and 27, as there are in this embodiment of my invention, it will be evident that when one tooth 2C is in engagement with the corresponding tooth 27, as shown in Fig. 2, the movement of the plate 7 will be retarded relative to that of the pinion 9 until said teeth 26 and 27 have reached the dotted line position. Fig. 2, at which time one of the movable contacts 1 is about to engage the stationary contact 3. During this time when the movement of the plate 7 has been retarded the spring 10 has been Wound up by the forward movement of the pinion and as the tooth 26 slips by the corresponding tooth 27 the spring gives the plate and movable con tact f1 an accelerated forward movement, causing the contact -1 to Wi e over the stationary contact 3. Imme iately that the contact 4 has separated from the stationary contact 3 this accelerated movement is arrested by the next tooth 26 coming into engagement with the corresponding tooth 2T. and the above described operations are re peated. It will thus be seen that the plate 7 carrying the movable contact or contactsl is alternately restrained in its movement and then accelerated, the acceleration taking place just when the contacts are about to engage each other. This action takes place regardless of the speed at which the shaft 15 or the pinion 9 .is rotated, and therefore even though said parts are moving very slowly yet it will be impossible for the contacts 3 and 4t to remain in contact more than the minimum length ef time. I regard this as an important feature of my invention. because by means of it the life of the bat-- tery or other source of electricityI may be greatly increased.

As above stated the invention, is herein t illustrated as embedied in a timer and disaoA f .insulated from each other, and a brush or of the wires of the circuit 3T.

nected with the circuit 37', and the contacttributer for gas and gasolene engines, which distributer is used in connection wit-h an inl duction coil in a well known way.

In Fig. 1, 30 designates the primary windl ings of' a coil, and 31 the secondary windings. This primary winding is connected to the stationary and movable contacts 3 and 4, the`connection with the movable coiitact being made through wire 33 which connects to the casing 6, said easing being electrically connected with the movable contact 4, and' the connection with the stationary contact being made through a wire 34 which leads to av binding post carried by but insulated from the casing, said binding post being connected to the stationary contact 3.

36 designates a battery or other generator in the circuit of the primary coil 30. The circuit 37 of the secondary coil leads to the distributer, presently to be described, which distributer connects said circuit with the various circuits 38, each of which includes a sparking plug shown diagrammaticallyl at 39. In practice each of the circuits 38 will be connected to the frame of the engine i which is shown diagrainmatically in Fig. 1

'at 40, said engine-frame being connected with the circuit 37. The distributcr is arranged to connect the various circuits 38; successively with the circuit 37. Said' distributer comprises a ring 41 which is sustained by the casing 6 but insulated therefrom by an insulating block 42, a plurality of contact-pieces 43 which are also carried by the insulatingblock 4Q and are wiper 44 which isin constant engagement with the ring 41 and is adapted to inovey over and engage successively the contactpieces 43.

The ring 41 is electricallyv con-.

pieces 43 are connected with the various circuits 38. g

45 designates ay binding post insulated l from the casing 6 and connected to the ring 4l. said, binding .post being connected to one 'Each contact-piece 43 is connected to a binding post 46 which extends through the casing and is insulated therefrom. said binding .post 46 being connected to the wires of the various circuits 38.

lThe brush 44 comprises a .head or block I 47' of insulating material which carries a metallic facing. that contacts with the ring 41 and the pieces .43. is herein shown as being pivotally lmounted i upon an arni 48 which inturn is pivotcd i to a collar 49 fast with the spindle 14. Said brush is normally held againstthe ring 41 and the contact-pieces 43'hy means of al suitable spi-ing 50 which tends normally to that so long as the circuit of .the

justably secured to a bracket 52.

iwhich has some advantages.

throw said arm outwardly. The contactpieces 43 are so situated and the speed of rotation of the brush is such relative to the speed ot' rotation of plate 7 that the brush f engages one contact-piece at the time when 'fthe corresponding movable contact 4 cngages the stationary Contact 3. rlihe rotation of the plate T and contacts 4 operates to make and break the circuit of the pri- ,mary winding, and obviously this results in the making and breaking of the circuit of the secondary winding. YThe latter cirsive contacts 4 engage the stationary contact 3, the various circuits 38 will be made and broken successively, as will be obvious.

I prefer to use as many movable contacts 4 as there are circuits 38, yet this is not essential to my invention, for it will be obvious rimary winding is made and broken at the time that the circuitV of the secondary winding is completed through any one of the circuits 38,

the sparking plug in said latter circuitwill be operated, and by proportioning the gearing between the spindle 14 and the pinion t), the make and break device may beinade with one or any other number of contacts 4. v The entire casing 6 may be swung about the sleeve 19 as an axis, and is held in any adjusted position by means of an arm `51 rigid with the casing and adapted to be ad- By thus turning the casing slightly with reference to the shaft 15, thc pointl in the cycle of operations of the gas engine at which the :l sparking plug is operated may be adjusted.

T lie current generated in the secondary 31 of the sparking coil is usually one having comparatively high tension.

I have found that by insulating the distribiiter and sparking device from the shaft 15 by thelsleeve of insulating material 18, as

l shown in Fig. it is possible to make the operative pai-ts of the distributer and sparking device. of less size than where such 1nz sulation is not employed.

The casing which incloses the operative parts of in v device has a novel construction Said casing comprises a back 53 on which all-the operai tive parts are supported except thc block 42 h g of insulating material and the ring and seg- Said head or block l' ments carried thereby. a body or side portion 54. and a front plate or cap 55. The back is provided with the flanges 56 into which the side portion 54 sets, and the cap is also provided with anges 57 which set over the side portion. The cap is secured in place by a'retainer 58 which screws over the end of the stud '8, see Fig. 3, said screw and stud operating to hold the three parts of the casing together. The entire casing is steadied by means of the projecting end 59 of the spindle 14 which enters a suitable socket 6() in the cap. By means of this construction the ca can be readily removed simply by removing the retainer 58 thus opening the casing for inspection, and when the cap 55 has been removed the sides 54 carrying the rings and segments can be removed thus giving access to all the other operative parts of the device.

Various changes in the construction of the parts of the device may be made without departing from the invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a stationary contact, a rotary member carrying a movable contactwliicli is adapted to engage the stationary contact as said member rotates, means tending constantly to rotate said member forward with an accelerated motion, and a rotary restraining device to restrain the movement of said member until the movable contactl is about to engage the stationary contact, said restraining device releasing said member just prior to the time when the movable contact engages the stationary contact whereby the movable contact is acceler-A ated in its movement as it engages the stationary contact. y

2. In a device of the class described, a stationary contact, a member carrying a movable contact which is adapted to engage the stationary contact as said member rotates, a rotating driver imparting a continuously rotary movement to said member, a yielding connection between the driver and said member, and means to retard the forward movement of said member until the movable contact is about to engage the stationary contact, said means releasing said member just prior to the time when the movable contact engages the stationary contact.

3. In a device of the class described, a stationary yieldable contact, a member carrying a movable contact adapted to engage the stationary contact, a rotary driver imparting to said member acontinuous movement oi rotation, a spring connecting the driver and member, means to retard the rotary movement of the member and thereby store up energy in said springI until said movable member 1s about to engage the fixed contact.

4. In a device of the class described, a

stationary contact, a rotary member carrying a movable contact, a pinion for continuously rotating said member, a spring connection between the pinion and the member and rotary means to intermittently retard the movement of said member and to then release said member to allow it to move at an accelerated speed, said contacts being momentarily closed during the accelerated movement of said member.

5. In a device of the class described, a stat'onary contact, a member carrying a mova le contact, a pinion for continuously rotating said member, a spring connection between lthe pinion and the member, and means to retard the movement of the member until the movable contact is about to engage the fixed contact and to then release said member to cause said contacts to momentarily envage.

G. In a device of the class described, a stationary contact, a plurality of movable contacts adapted to engage the stationary contact successively, means tending to move said movable contacts toward the stationary contact with an accelerated motion, and means to retard the movement of each movable contact as it approaches the stationary contact and until it 1s about to engage said stationary contact.

7. In a device of the class desctribed, a stationary contact, a plurality of movable contacts adapted to engage the stationary contact at different times, a rotating driver for giving the movable contacts a'continuous movement, a yielding connection between the driver and said contacts, and means to retard the movement of leach contact relative to the driver while it is approaching the stationary contact and until it is about to engage said contact. f

8. In a device of the class described, a stationary contact, a member carrying a plurality of movable contacts, a pinion for continuously rotating said member, and a spring connection between the pinion and member, and a constantly rotating member to intermittently retard the rotary movement of said first mentioned member.

9.v In a device of the class described, a stationary Contact, a member carrying a plurality ot movable contacts, a pinion for contmuously rotatmg said member, a spring '-Lconnection between the pinion and member, zand means to retard the movement of the l1. In` a device of the class described a disan accelerated movement to said make and tributer shaft, a make 'and break device break device when released, to momentarily driven directly from said shaft, and a rotatclose and break a circuit. ing device mounted on said distrbuter shaft In testimony whereof I have signed my 5 and coperating with said make and break name to this specification in the presence of 1L device to intermittenti retard the speed of two subscribing Witnesses. f said make and break evice before the clo- THOMAS H. MCQUOWN.

sure of the circuit therethrough, and to re- Witnesses: lease the same immediatel prior to the said -LOUIs C. SMITH, 1o closure of said circuit, an

means to impart BERTHA F. HEUSER.

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