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US3757061A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Snap action ignition contact assembly

Assignee: McCord Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-20
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-12-20
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Abstract

Abstract An ignition system distributor is provided having snap action contact closure and separation. A movable contact carried by a resilient cantilever is snapped into and out of contact with a fixed contact under the control of a cam arrangement. A first cam and cam follower alternately bias the resilient cantilever to urge the movable contact toward and away from the fixed contact. A second cam and cam follower restrain movement by the movable contact except during predetermined times. The two cams and cam followers cooperate such that the movable contact is biased toward the fixed contact but restrained from moving into engagement until a predetermined time when it is snapped into engagement. Subsequently, the movable contact is urged away from the fixed contact but restrained from separating until a predetermined time when separation is accomplished by snap action. Accordingly, snap action closure and separation of the ignition contacts is effected.

Inventors

  • 👤 E Clemett

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 12:10
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P7/00; F02P7/06; F02P7/063; F02P7/0634

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 155 words
In an ignition system distributor, a snap action ignition contact assembly, comprising: a first electrical contact; a second electrical contact movable into and out of engagement with said first electrical contact; a resilient cantilever carrying said second electrical contact at the distal end thereof; a first cam connected with said resilient cantilever; a first cam follower engaging said first cam and controlling movement thereof to alternately urge said second electrical contact toward and away from said first electrical contact at predetermined times; a second cam connected with said resilient cantilever; a second cam follower engaging said second cam and controlling movement thereof to thereby restrain movement by said second electrical contact during predetermined times; and means for synchronizing the action of said first cam follower and said first cam with the action of said second cam follower and said second cam to permit snap action closure and separation of said electrical contacts at predetermined times.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 155 words
In an ignition system distributor, a snap action ignition contact assembly, comprising: a first electrical contact; a second electrical contact movable into and out of engagement with said first electrical contact; a resilient cantilever carrying said second electrical contact at the distal end thereof; a first cam connected with said resilient cantilever; a first cam follower engaging said first cam and controlling movement thereof to alternately urge said second electrical contact toward and away from said first electrical contact at predetermined times; a second cam connected with said resilient cantilever; a second cam follower engaging said second cam and controlling movement thereof to thereby restrain movement by said second electrical contact during predetermined times; and means for synchronizing the action of said first cam follower and said first cam with the action of said second cam follower and said second cam to permit snap action closure and separation of said electrical contacts at predetermined times.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A snap action ignition contact assembly as in claim 1, wherein said synchronizing means comprises a member commonly carrying both of said cams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 100 words
A snap action ignition contact assembly as in claim 1, wherein said first cam follower and said first cam coact with said second cam follower and said second cam to urge said second electrical contact, while restrained, toward said first electrical contact and then unrestrain said second electrical contact to effect snap action closure of said contacts and to subsequently urge said second electrical contact, while restrained, out of engagement with said first electrical contact and then unrestrain said second electrical contact to effect snap action separation of said contacts and to periodically repeat this process of closure and separation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A snap action ignition contact assembly as in claim 3, indluding means adapted to synchronize contact closure and separation with the operation of an engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 188 words
In an ignition system distributor, a snap action ignition contact assembly, comprising: a first electrical contact; a second electrical contact movable into and out of engagement with said firsT electrical contact; a first resilient cantilever carrying said second electrical contact at the distal end thereof; a second cantilever connected to said first resilient cantilever; a first cam follower on said second cantilever at a distal point from the connection between said first resilient cantilever and said second cantilever; a pivot point on said second cantilever intermediate said first cam follower and the connection between said first resilient cantilever and said second cantilever; a first cam engaging said first cam follower to cause movement thereby to urge said second electrical contact toward and away from said first electrical contact; a second cam follower on said first resilient cantilever intermediate said second electrical contact and the connection between said first resilient cantilever and said second cantilever; and a second cam engaging said second cam follower to restrain movement by said second electrical contact during predetermined times to permit snap action closure and separation of said electrical contacts at predetermined times.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 188 words
In an ignition system distributor, a snap action ignition contact assembly, comprising: a first electrical contact; a second electrical contact movable into and out of engagement with said firsT electrical contact; a first resilient cantilever carrying said second electrical contact at the distal end thereof; a second cantilever connected to said first resilient cantilever; a first cam follower on said second cantilever at a distal point from the connection between said first resilient cantilever and said second cantilever; a pivot point on said second cantilever intermediate said first cam follower and the connection between said first resilient cantilever and said second cantilever; a first cam engaging said first cam follower to cause movement thereby to urge said second electrical contact toward and away from said first electrical contact; a second cam follower on said first resilient cantilever intermediate said second electrical contact and the connection between said first resilient cantilever and said second cantilever; and a second cam engaging said second cam follower to restrain movement by said second electrical contact during predetermined times to permit snap action closure and separation of said electrical contacts at predetermined times.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
A snap action ignition contact assembly as in claim 5, wherein both said first and second cam followers are pin followers and wherein both said first and second cams are tracks respectively accepting said pin followers.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-09-03 1977-03-05 1977-09-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-09-03 1981-03-05 1981-09-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-09-03 1985-03-05 1985-09-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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