Piezoelectric igniter and distributor

Claim 1

A PIEZOELECTRIC IGNITER AND DISTRIBUTOR UNIT COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A CUP-LIKE BASE HAVING AN END WALL AND AN ANNULAR SIDE WALL AND A REMOVABLE CAP CLOSING THE MOUTH OF SAID BASE, A DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT EXTENDING THEOUGH SAID END WALL OF SAID BASE, A ROTARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE IN SAID HOUSING CONNECTED TO SAID DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT TO BE ROTATED THEREBY, A SPARK ADVANCE MECHANISM CARRIED BY SAID ROTARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND LOCATED ADJACENT SAID END WALL, A DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR AFFIXED TO SAID ROTARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID CAP AND PLURALITY OF TERMINALS LEADING THROUGH SAID CAP AND HAVING CONTACT PORTIONS IN SAID HOUSING ARRANGED SEQUENTIALLY IN THE PATH OF SAID ROTOR, WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES A SPARK PUMP ASSEMBLY CARRIED BY SAID ROTARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND LOCATED BETWEEN SAID SPARK ADVANCE MECHANISM AND SAID ROTOR, CAM MEANS CARRIED STATIONARILY ON SAID CUP LIKE BASE AND HAVING CAM LOBES SPACED ALONG A CIRCULAR PATH ABOUT THE ROTATION AXIS OF SAID ROTARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE, SAID SPARK PUMP ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT HAVING ELECTRODES THEREFOR, LEVER ACTUATING MEANS FOR STRESSING SAID PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT AND HAVING A FOLLOWER PORTION AT SAID CIRCULAR PATH FOR ENGAGING SAID CAM LOBES, SAID CAM LOBES, SAID LEVER MEANS AND SAID ROTOR BEING ORIENTED RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER WHEREBY SAID PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT IS STRESSED BY THE SEQUENTIAL INTERENGAGEMENT OF SAID CAM LOBES AND SAID FOLLOWER PORTION IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID ROTARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING TO PRODUCE A PULSATING VOLTAGE ON SAID ELEMENT ELECTRODES WHICH PEAKS IN SYNCHRONISM WITH SAID ROTOR PASSING SAID CONTACT PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID TERMINALS, MEANS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING ONE ELECTRODE OF SAID PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT TO SAID ROTOR AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING ANOTHER ELECTRODE OF SAID PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT TO A POINT OF REFERENCE POTENTIAL, AND CIRCUIT MEANS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ONE ELECTRODE OF SAID PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT AND TO A POINT OF ELECTRIC POTENTIAL PROVIDING A DISCHARGE PATH IN SHUNTING CIRCUIT RELATION WITH SAID TERMINALS, SAID CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING A SWITCHING DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAID CAP OPERABLE TO CLOSE AND OPEN SAID SHUNTING DISCHARGE PATH.