US3737691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Piezoelectric distributor
Assignee: PAPAS C
•
Filing: 1971-11-01
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1991-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A piezoelectric generator and distributor unit for a spark ignition internal combustion engine in which a piezoelectric element is mounted in a body carried by a rotor shaft for rotation therewith. Two lever arms are pivoted on the body and engage opposed ends of the element. A plate with a cam track is fixed with respect to the rotor and engages the lower ends of the levers so that rotation of the rotor and body causes the levers alternately to compress and release the element which develops a charge at a high potential in response to being stressed by the levers. A central rotor terminal and terminals in a distributor cap provide a conductive path for transmitting charges from the unit. These terminals are surrounded by heat and electrically insulating tubes which extend beyond the ends of the terminals to provide a shield which eliminates the corona and premature arcing problems of high voltage switching in this type of distributor.
Inventors
- 👤 L Hoover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:21
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P3/00; F02P3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
In a piezoelectric generator and distributor unit having a stationary housing including a cup-like base with an end wall, a removable cap closing the mouth of the base, a distributor shaft extending through said end wall of said base, a rotor support structure in said housing connected to said distributor shaft to be rotated thereby, a plurality of circumferentially spaced terminals leading through said cap and having an end portion therein, and a rotor terminal carried by the rotor support structure having a portion sequentially juxtaposed in arc gap relation with said cap terminals in response to rotation of said rotor support structure, the improvement which comprises: a. a body connected to the rotor support structure for rotation therewith, b. a piezoelectric element carried by said body and having two axially opposite ends disposed on opposite sides of said shaft, c. two lever arms pivotally carried on said body, said arms being pivotally engageable one with each of the opposite ends of said element and extending generally axially of the rotor support structure, d. cam means having at least two diametrically opposed cam lobes lying in a plane generally transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotor support structure, said cam means being carried in said base in fixed relationship thereto and being engageable with said levers to urge said levers into engagement with said ends of said element in response to rotary movement of the rotor support structure, and e. means electrically connecting an output terminal of said element to said rotor terminal to thereby connect said element sequentially in circuit with said cap terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
In a piezoelectric generator and distributor unit having a stationary housing including a cup-like base with an end wall, a removable cap closing the mouth of the base, a distributor shaft extending through said end wall of said base, a rotor support structure in said housing connected to said distributor shaft to be rotated thereby, a plurality of circumferentially spaced terminals leading through said cap and having an end portion therein, and a rotor terminal carried by the rotor support structure having a portion sequentially juxtaposed in arc gap relation with said cap terminals in response to rotation of said rotor support structure, the improvement which comprises: a. a body connected to the rotor support structure for rotation therewith, b. a piezoelectric element carried by said body and having two axially opposite ends disposed on opposite sides of said shaft, c. two lever arms pivotally carried on said body, said arms being pivotally engageable one with each of the opposite ends of said element and extending generally axially of the rotor support structure, d. cam means having at least two diametrically opposed cam lobes lying in a plane generally transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotor support structure, said cam means being carried in said base in fixed relationship thereto and being engageable with said levers to urge said levers into engagement with said ends of said element in response to rotary movement of the rotor support structure, and e. means electrically connecting an output terminal of said element to said rotor terminal to thereby connect said element sequentially in circuit with said cap terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The unit as defined in claim 1 in which said cam means is a plate having a cam track therein defining said two lobes with said levers each having a follower end engaging said track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The unit as defined in claim 2 in whicH said track comprises a groove in said plate having opposite side walls engaging each of said follower ends of said levers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The unit as defined in claim 2 in which said plate is a sheet metal stamping having a channel with a generally U-shaped cross section forming said cam track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The unit as defined in claim 1 in which said body slidably carries a block on which one of said lever arms is pivoted, and adjustable means for moving said block and its associated lever arm toward the associated end of said element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The unit as defined in claim 1 in which each of said levers has a follower at one end thereof engageable by said lobes, each said lever being pivotally carried by said body adjacent an end thereof opposite said one end thereof, each said lever engaging the associated end of said element between said ends of said lever whereby each of said levers operates as a second-class lever.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The unit as defined in claim 1 in which said element is movable along its longitudinal axis between said levers whereby said element is self-centering relative to said levers in response to said levers bearing on said element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
The unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said means of subparagraph (e) comprises: a. a central terminal of an electrically conductive material electrically connected to an output terminal of said piezoelectric element and carried by said body for rotation therewith, an end of said central terminal being positioned to pass sequentially in proximity to said ends of said plurality of cap terminals when said body is rotated, b. a shield of an electrically insulative material circumscribing at least a portion of said central terminal and extending beyond said end of said central terminal, and c. shields of an electrically insulative material, one circumscribing at least a portion of each of said cap terminals and extending beyond the end portion thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The unit as defined in claim 8 in which each of said shields projects at least about 0.005 inches beyond the end of its associated terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The unit as defined in claim 8 in which said insulative material is made of heat resistant and electrically insulating glass.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |