Ignition distributor

Abstract

Abstract An ignition system for internal combustion engines, incorporating an improved rotor. The rotor is annular in form, and non-conductive. It is formed with slideways extending diametrically from its axis of rotation, and opening downwardly throughout their length. Non-conductive slide elements are received in the slideways, and on their bottom faces carry transmitter plates. The transmitter plates are substantially triangular in form with the wide end of the triangle extending inwardly toward the axis of rotation. On its outer end face, each slide carries a spring. A grounding ring depends from the rotor and encircles the slideways so that the springs bear on the inner peripheral surface of the ring, normally urging the slide elements in toward the axis of rotation. A set screw extends through the ring and the rotor to contact the distributor shaft, and establish electrical contact between ring and shaft. A brush housing is disposed beneath the rotor, and a brush, socketed in the housing is urged upwardly by a spring to have sliding contact with the bottom faces of the rotor, sliding elements, and transmitter plates, which are co-planar. The brush has electrical communication with the primary winding of a coil, and the necessary, usual electrical circuitry, and a source of electrical current, are present to render the ignition system operable. Contact of the brush with the transmitter plates closes a circuit to the primary winding of the coil, and the duration of such contact, of course, determines the strength of the spark reaching a spark plug. Obviously, as speed of rotation increases, the duration of contact decreases and the strength of spark is diminished. To compensate for increased speed of rotation, the present invention provides triangularly shaped transmission plates, which, are mounted on, and beneath the slide elements, to slide outwardly as centrifugal force intensifies with speed of rotation. Outward sliding travel disposes a longer path of travel over the transmission plates, due to the diverging lateral edges thereof to compensate in part for the decreased time of such travel to afford a longer build-up of magnetic field in the primary coil and hence a stronger spark.

Inventors

• 👤 O Bednarz

Bibliographic Details