US2152650A - Emergency ignition unit - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1939. L. K ILBORN EMERGENCY I-aNITIoN UNIT Filed June 13, 1936 INVENTOR LAWRENCE K/EORN AT oRNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1939 PATENT OFFICE EMERGENCY IGNITION UNIT .Lawrence Kilburn, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Angelo Sellaro, New York, '-N. Y.

Application June 13, 1936, Serial No. 85,002 1 Claim. A(Cl. 12S-.148)

This invention relates to ignition systems of the battery ,distributor type, in which an engine driven breakerinterrupts the primary circuit and a synchronously operated distributor carries the high tension current to the spark plugs,v

While suchlsystems are highly eiiicient, they have certain inherent weak points or possibilities of breakdown. 'I'he breaker points wear and become pitted and by so doing, vary the timing and reduce the efticiency of the engine. It is not unusual for the condenser, which is bridged across the breaker points to fail. The current required for starting frequently leaves insufficient energy for ignition and with a run-down battery, this fault continues during operation of the engine. Without further enumerating the faults or limitations of present ignition systems, it can be stated that the objects of thel present invention are to avoid and eliminate the above andother of the specification illustrates one practical embodiment of the invention, but it will be apparent, as the description is followed and the claim is understood, that the actual physical structure may b' variously modied, all within` the true intent and broad scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a typical battery ignition system with the emergency unit applied to and operating in conjunction therewith. f 4

Fig. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the complete unit. f

Fig. 3 is a'n enlarged sectional detail as on sub stantiall'y the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view as on substantially the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken detail showing a distributor` by wiring I0, with the circuit breaker I I, operated from the engine driven cam I2. 'I'he shaft of this cam usually carries the distributor arm I3, connected by wiring I4, with the high tension winding I5, and cooperating with the terminals I6,

.I the other wire 2|, to the insulated terminal 23,

- insulatingsupport 32, and carrying a contact 33,

ling at 31, Fig. 4, o'n the'supporting bracket 39, 45

' tacts are shown in Fig. 4, as secured in position 50 connected with the several spark plugs I1. I8 indicates the condenser, usually connected across the breaker points. j

The so-called emergency unit of this invention consists of a buzzer or electromagnetic. circuit f5' interrupter or vibrator I9, which is cut-into'the primary circuit of the system in placel offthe' breaker unit and which operates through the". spark coil of the system to'produce a iiow.,v of high tension current, delivered in proper sequence to 10 the spark plugs by the rotating distributor-arm of the system. l

In the illustration, this unit is connected in service by simply interrupting the-primary connections to the breaker as indicated' by the I5 broken line I0, and by connecting two leads 20, 2|, at the opposite sides of such interruption. In actual practice, this may be accomplished by simply disconnecting the low tension wire "I0, between the primary of the spark coil and the 20 breaker and then connecting the one wire 20, to the primary terminal 22, of the spark coil and of the breaker. In the particular form of unit here disclosed, 25 the wiresl 20, 2|, are connected with a two position switch, which can be used to cut the einergency unit in service or to restore the original connections of the ignition system. This changeover switch may be a simple three-way toggle 30 switch asillustrated at 24, Figs. 2 and 3, and connected as in Fig. 1, that is, with the lead 2|),'connected with the movable switch element represented at 25, the wire 2|, attached to one switch terminal 26, and the other switch terminal 21, 35 connected by wiring 28, with one end of the coil of magnet I9.

v The other end of the magnet coil is shown connected by wiring 29, to a terminal plate 3|), Figs. 3 and 4, riveted at 3|, on the underside of the 40 for engagement by contact 34, on a spring extension 35, ,of the vibrating armature 36. This armature is grounded through its spring mountwhich directly contacts the metallic supporting base 39. v

The entire coil unit including the mounting bracket, magnet coil, armature and vibrator conon the base by a nut 40, engaged on the extended screw-threaded end 4I, of they magnet core, which screw portion extends through both the supporting bracket 39, and the base structure 39.

A hollow cover 42, is shown engaged over the ...Imi *J base 39, and this cover is shown utilized as a mounting for the Change-over switch 24.

A condenser 43, is shown as mounted in the case at one side of the electromagnet and as having its ungrounded terminal connected by wiring 44, Fig. 3, with the terminal plate 30, so

as to be bridged across the vibrator contacts as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1.

Constructed as illustrated, the device constitutes a smalll compact unit, which can be readily mounted on the back of an instrument panel or the like, and be quickly connected in service relation by simply attaching the two Wires 20, 2|, to the primary coil terminal and the breaker terminal, after these latter-have rst been disconnected from each other. the metallic case of the unit to some metal part, such as the instrument panel, as by screws passed through the mounting openings 45, in the base, automatically provides the necessary grounding or common returnconnection.

By placing the switch in the position shown in Fig. 1, the circuit to the breaker is disconnected and thev vibrator is connected in the circuit'of the primary winding. Then, with the ignition switch on, the buzzer will vibrate, interrupting the primary circuit and producing high tension current in the secondary, which will be carried to the spark plugs by the regulator distributor arm.

If desired, at any time, the breaker may be out back in circuit to function in the usual way by simply turning the movable switch element 25, over to the switch contact 26, in Fig. l, by which the buzzer vibrator will be out out of circuit and the breaker restored to its normal function.

The invention thus provides an auxiliary or emergency substitute` for the interrupter and a means by which the coil and distributor lof the regular system may be kept in service to maintain a standard ignition system in operation. This unit may be placed on the back of th'e dash on a car or motor boat, for example, and be kept there in reserve for use at any time the system may fail to operate, as because of faulty breaker mechanism, a broken down condenser, or the like. By switching over from the breaker to this unit and back again, various faults in the ignition system may be traced and remedied. Because of the continuity of sparks thus provided, an ignition system may be maintained opeilect obtained with the breaker.

The attaching of erative with a rundown battery, where the systern would fail to function with the single spark The same is true with respect to faulty or weak spark plugs and as regards to other conditions experienced with the usual battery distributor ignition systems.

The spring mounting 35, for the interrupter contact 34, may be made more resilient by cutting the arched portion of the same as indicated at 46,. Fig. 3. This resiliency is important as permitting a longer period of time for the magnet coil and condenser to charge, enabling the device to operate at lower voltages for examp1e to operate on only three volts on a standard six volt outfit.

If the emergency unit is to be kept in extended use, it may be desirable in some instances, to use a special distributor arm, such as that shown at |3a, in Fig. 5, which is offset in a spark retarding direction as shown by comparison with the outline of the standard distributor arm at I3, and which may have a pointed instead of a wide tip as shown at 41,450 as not to deliver the spark at an angle where pre-ignition may occur.

The invention is of special utility for trucks, buses and motor boats where it is particularly important that break-down be avoided and the engine be kept running. Especially important is the use for motor boat engines which may stand idle over considerable periods and may be slow to start when cold after a long idle period. The control switch enables the unit to be out into service under such starting conditions and then when the engine is running properly, the switch may be thrown to cut the breaker of 'the system back into service.

What is claimed is:

An emergency unit for maintaining a conventional battery distributor ignition system in operation, upon failure of the breaker mechanism of that system and comprising a magnetic circuit interrupter, means for connecting the same with the primary winding of the conventional rspark coil independently of the conventional breaker circuit in such system and a distributor arm to be substituted in place of the distributor arm of the conventional system, said substitute arm` being of angularly spark-retarded form and having a terminal end of reduced extent as compared distributor arm.

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