US1327344A - Interrupter for ignition devices - Google Patents

Description

c. T. MASON. INTERRUPTER. FOR IGNITION DEVICES.-

.' JAPPLICAIIQN FILED MAR. 21: [91B- Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEET I.

1C..T.MAS0N'. INTERR UPTER FOR IGNITION DEVICES.

APPLICATJON FILED MMLZT, I918.

Patented .J an. 6,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- auuentoz UNITED STATES Parana OFFICE.

.CHARLES THOMAS MASON, OF SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO SPLITIDORF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed March 27, 1913. Serial No. 225,030.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that 1, CHARLES THOMAS hiasox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sumter, in the county of Sumter and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interrupters for Ignition Devices, of Which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in interrupters for ignition devices and more particularly to an. interrupter for breaking the primary circuit in a high tension ignition system for producing a current in asecondary circuit for sparking purposes.

In my co-pending application, Serial Number 223,16i, filed March 18, 1918, I have shown and described a method and ignition mechanism for carrying out the method wherein the primary circuit of a high tension ignition system is interrupted by the separation of the same pair of contacts at each spark interval and wherein the resistance' of said contacts when closed is reduced by other contacts arranged in multiple therewith and which are timed so as to open before and close after the other contacts which interrupt the primary circuit.

The present invention is directed to improvements in an interrupter for an ignition mechanism such as set forth in my prior application and anobject of the present invention is to provide an interrupter which shall be durable in construction, of few parts, positively operated and constructed so that the various parts may be readily disassembled for adjustment and for repair.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention Figure l is a front view of an interrupter withthe cap plate removed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the interrupter;

Fig. 3- is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 1- Fig. 0 is a View showing more or less diagrammatically the interrupter with the cam positioned for separating one pair of contacts;

Fig. 6 is a similar View but showing the INTERRUPTER FOR IGNITION DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Q Patented Jan. 6, 1929..

cam position for separating both pairs of 65 contacts;

F 1g. 7 1s a view showing in front elevation a'modified form of means for separat-' ing the stationary contact points.

The invention is embodied broadly in an interrupter for breaking the circuit of a high tension ignition system which includes two pairs of contacts, one of which is of higher conductivity than the other. One

contact in each pair is fixed while the other contact of each pair is carried by a shiftable lever, which is moved by a cam on the main shaft of the .magneto or the generator when the interrupter isapplied to such ignition system. :One of .these con: tacts carried by the shiftable lever is mounted yieldingly thereon arid held that in the movements of the g lever, one pair of contacts will be separated and while they are separated the other pair of contacts will '75 open and close. These contacts arealso so arranged that the contacts of relatively high conductivity are opened first and'while they are opened the contacts of relative low conductivity are opened and closed so that the circuit is always broken by the contacts of relative low conductivity :andthe contacts of relative high conductivity seive' principally to reduce the-resistance iii/the primary circuit causedby these contacts of low conductivity and thus enable the-magneto to build up its current and produce; a strong and eflicient current for sparking purposes. The shifting lever is disposed ,sothat the movable contacts are at one side of-the operating cam, while the contact member carried by the lever which cooperateswith the cam is located substantially-atthe other side thereof. The yielding contact carried by the shiftable lever is fixed to a spring which is secured to the lever by screws so that it may be readily removed from the. interrupter. The lever is provided with a bronze 'sleeve bushing which is secured thereto by spinning over the end of the sleeve;

Referring. more in-detail to the drawings I have shown my invention as embodied in an interrupter including a supporting base 1. Attached to this supporting base is'ia cap or casing 2 which inclosesgthe parts of the interrupter. 'The 'base' 1 is mounted on the magneto and is connected withthe mags neto ignition system so that it may be swung for advancing and retarding the spark.

The movements of the base are brought about through an arm indicated at 3. Extendin through the base is a rotating shaft 4 whic carries an operating cam My interrupter includes two pairs of contacts, one pair as indicated at 6 and 7 and the other at 8 and 9. The movable contacts 7 and 9 are carried by a. lever 10 which is 'fulcrumed on a projecting pin 1O carried by the base 1 (see Fig. 2-3). The lever '10 is angular in shape and the two parts of the lever are arranged at an acute angle to each other. At the opposite end of the lever from the contacts 7 and f) is a fiber block 11 which is adapted to engage the cam 5. The cam 5 has two high points 12 and 13 which are sin'iilar in shape. The fiber block 11 is substantially diametrically opposite the con tact men ibers 7 and 9. The high point on the cam will engage this fiber block 11 and swing the lever on its fulcrum so as to move the end of the lever carrying the contacts away from their cooperating contacts (3 and 8. A spring 14: is attached to an abutment 15 and also tothe lever 10 and this spring normally operates to swing the. lever so as to close the contacts. The part of the cam. 5 between the high points is of such diameter that the movement of the lever through the action of the spring 14 is limited by the contacts.

The contacts 6 and 8 are fixed; that is. they have no movement during the normal operation of the interrupter. These contacts are carried by a supporting metal bracket lti. The metal bracket 16 is mounted on a block of insulating material 17. This metal bracket and the insulating block 'on which it rests fit in a rectangular recess in the base 1 proper of the interrupter and are held therein by suitable screws 18 pass ing through the base "from the back side thereof and'threaded into the metal bracket 16. The screws are insulated from-the base 1. The contact point 6 as above noted is formed of tungsten and is inserted in the end of a screw 22 and welded therein. The screw 22' has a threaded connection with the metal bracket 16. The bracket is split and a screw at 22 by drawing the split sections of the bracket together clamps the screw 22 and firmly holds it in adjusted positions.

The contact point 8 is sin'iilarly formed as a part of the screw 23 which is likewise threaded into the metal bracket 16 and is held in adjusted positions by a screw 23".

The primary of the generating coil is indicated at 20 in the drawlngsand this primary is attached to the metal bracket at 21 and thus forms a connection with the contacts 6 and 8. In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive I have shown the metal bracket 16 as formed in one piece. In Fig. 7 of the drawings I lh ti ve shown a slightly modified form of the 'wise direction.

bracket and it is formed in two sections indicated at 16 and 16. The two sections are separated from each other and as they are indepr-mdently connected to the insulat ing base 17 and the base l of the magneto proper these bracket sect-ions maybe eon nected through independent lines with a primary circuit it desired. The construction of the metal bracket so far as support ing the fixed contacts 6 and 8 is concerned is similar to that described above.

The lever 10 is of sectional constrl'iction. Said lever is formed in two parts indicated at A. and 1). Each part is stamped up from metal in channel form and they are so constructed that the part A fits within the channel of the part B. The fiber block 11 fits within the channel of this part B and is.

lever are secured together by a bronze sleeve bushing 27 which extends througlrthe two parts A and l of the lever and through the center block 26. The sleeve is formed with a flange 28 at its inner end and is closed at its outer end. It washer 2b is placed on the outer end of the sleeve. after which it is spun over the edge of the washer as indicatcd at 30; This firmly joins the two sections of the lever together and to the center block which fits within the section A. As a further means of rigidly securing the sections of the lever I may provide rivet-s 31. The sleeve bushing 27 freely engages the pin 10f and is held thereon by a flat spring arm 31 which is secured to the abutment 15 and has a. depression in its outer cnd indicated at in l ig. E2 of the drawings, which engages a rounded stud 33 on. the end of the sleeve 27. By releasing the spring I l and lifting the arm 21 and drawing the same to one side, the entire lever may be removed.

The tungsten contact 7 is rigidly secured 35 which is threaded into a metal block 36.

ice

The spring 14: is secured to the center block 26 by a screw 36. I

In the operation of my device let us assume that the cam 5 is rotating in a clock- 12 engages the fiber block 11 it will shift the lever. The spring Set is normally out of contact with the section A of the lever when the contacts are closed as shown in Fig. l. The first shifting movement of the lever as indicatechin Fig. 5 will separate the contacts 8 and 9, while the contacts 6 and 7 still remain closed. A continued movement of the shaft brings the high point of the cam entirely underneath the fiber block 11 and this will shift the lever to a suiiicient extent to separate the contacts 6 and 7.

As soon as the high point As the cam 5 continues to move, the contacts the primary circuit is broken at each spark interval by the contacts 6 and 7 and the circuit is also closed by these contacts; Inasmuch as these contacts are made of tungsten which is a metal of relatively low conductivity there will be little or no sparking; The contacts 8 and 9 when they are closed, being in multiple with the contacts 6 and 7 and of relative high conductivity, will reduce the resistance in the primary circuit which the contacts 6 and 7 would otherwise establish. Both pairs' of contacts are opened and closed at each spark interval, but one pair open previous to the other and remain open until the circuit has been broken and again closed by the other pair.

While I have described my improved circuit breaker as particularly adapted for interrupting the primary circuit of the magneto and also described my operating lever as carrying contacts formed of metal of relatively different conductivities, it will be understood that from'certain aspects of the invention my improved interrupter and parts thereof may be used in connection with ignition systems of other types.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lette rs Patent is 1. An interrupter mechanism for ignition systems comprising a pair of main contacts, one of which is movable for breaking acircuit to produce an ignition spark, a air of auxiliary contacts in multiple wit said main contacts and one of which is movable,

said auxiliary contacts being timed so as. to open before and close after said main contacts, a lever carrying the movable contacts, said lever being fulcrumed intermediate its ends and carrying the contacts at one end thereof, a fiber block at the other end of said lever from the contacts and a cam ada ted to engage the fiber block for moving sai lever.

'2. An interrupter mechanism fofr ignition systems comprising a pair of main contacts,

one ofwhich'is movable for breaking a cir-.

cuit to produce an ignition spark, a pairof auxiliary contacts in multiple with said main contacts and one of which is movable, said auxiliary contacts being timed so as to open before and close after said main contacts, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends and carrying said movable contacts at one end thereof, a fiber block at the other end of said lever, a spring for moving the lever so as to normally hold the contacts in engagement and a cam engaging the fiber block for moving the level: in the opposite direction.

3. An interrupter mechanism for lgnltlon systems comprising a pair of main contacts, one of which is movable for breaking a circuit to produce an ignition spark, a pair of auxiliary contacts in multiple with said main contacts and one of which is movable,

said auxiliary contacts being timed so as to open before and close after said main contacts, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends, a cam cooperatlng with one end of the lever for moving the same, a spring for moving the lever in the opposite direction, means for rigidly securing one of the movable con-' tacts to the lever, a spring carried by the lever and supporting the other contact.

a. An interrupter mechanism for ignition systems comprising a pair of main contacts, one of which is movable for breaking a circuit to produce an ignition spark, a pair of auxiliary contacts in multiple with s: 'l

main contacts and one of which is movable,

said auxiliary contacts being timed so as to open before and close after said main from tacts, a lever carrying the'movable contacts. means for operating the lever, a supporting pin for the lever, a bronze bushing rigidly secured to the lever and engaging saidpln for forming a bearing support for the lever.

5. An interrupter mechanism for ignition systems comprisingcontacts, one of which is movable for breaking the circuit to prdduce an ignition spark, a lever supporting the movable contact, said lever being formed from-two sections of metal stamped to channel form, one of which fits within the other,

a bronze bushing sleeve extending through the side members of both sections, said sleeve having a flange at one end thereof, and

means at the other end thereof for holding ,7

the sections together, said sleeve also serving as the fulcrum bearing support for the lever.

6. An interrupter mechanism for ignition systems comprisingcontacts, one of Which is movable for breaking the circuit to produce an ignition spark, a lever supporting the movable contact, said lever being formed 11!;

from two sections of metal stamped to chan nel form, one of which fits Within the other, a bronze bushing sleeve extending through the side members of both sections, said sleeve having a flange at one end thereof, 11:

and means at the other end thereof for holding the sections together, said sleeve also serving as the fulcrum bearing support for the lever, a center block through which said sleeve passes, said center block-being located 12' within the channel of the inner section of the lever,- a spring secured to said center block for moving said lever in one direction and a camfor moving the lever in the opposite di-..

rection. i

7 An interrupter mechanism'for ignition systems comprisin contacts, one of which'is movablefor break ng the circuit to prodi'zce an ignition spark, a lever supporting the movablev contact, said lever being formed 13 from two sections of metal stamped to chana bronze bushing sleeve extending through the side members of both sections, said sleeve having a flange at one end thereof, and

Y means at the other end'thereof for holding. the sections together, said sleeve also serving as the fulcrum bearing support for the lever, a center block through which said sleeve passes, said center block being located Within the channel of the inner section of the lever, a spring secured to said center block for moving said lever in one direction and a cam for moving the lever in the opposite direction, a fiber block fitting within the channel in one section of the lever and adapted to bronze bushing sleeve extending through engage the operating cam 8. An interrupter mechanism for ignition systems comprising a pair of contacts, one of which is movable for breaking the circuit to produce an ignition spark, a levercarrying tlNlOVELble contact, said lever being formed of two sections of metal stam ed to channel form and one fitting Within the other, acenter block located Within the inner section at the fulcrum point of the lever, a

bronze bushing sleeve extendin through openings in the side members of t e sections of the lever and through the center block, said sleeve having a flange at its inner end and the outer end thereof being closed, a ,Washer on the outer end of the sleeve, said sleeve being spun over the Washer to hold the parts assembled and means for operating the lever.

9. An interrupter mechanism for ignition systems comprising a pair of contacts, one of which is movable for breaking the circuit to produce an ignition spark, a lever carrying the movable contact, said lever being formed of two sections of metal stamped to channel form and one fitting within the other, a center block located Within the inner section at the fulcrum point of the lever, a bronze bushing sleeve extending through openings in the side members of the sections of the lever and through the center block, saidsleeve having a flange at'its inner end and the outer end thereof being closed, a Washer on the outer end of the sleeve, said sleeve being spun over the .Washer to hold the parts assembled, a

pin on Which said sleeve is mounted, a stud -on the outer end of the sleeve, a yielding arm engaging said stud for holding the-lever on said pin and means for operating the lever.

10. An interrupter mechanism for ignition systems comprising a pair. of contacts, one

of which is movable for breaking the circuit to produce an ignition spark, a lever carry-, ing the movable contact, said lever being formed of two sections of metal stamped to channel form and one fitting Within the other, a center block located Within the inner section at the fulcrum point of the lever, a

openings in the side members of the sections of the lever and through the center block,

said sleeve having a flange at its inner end J .the channel of the lever and engaging said cam, a spring connected With said center block for normally holding the contacts in engagement.

11. An interrupter mechanism for ignition systems comprising a supporting base having a rectangular recess, contacts, one of which is fixed and the ether of Which is movable, a metal bracket for supporting the fixed contact, an insulating block on which the metal is supported, said insulating block fitting the recess in said base, a screw insulated from said base and extending through the base, the insulating block and threaded into the bracket for securing the bracket to the base.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oi tWo wltnesses.

CHARLES THOMAS MASON.

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