US3345472A

US3345472A - Current interrupter rotary circuit breaker

Info

Publication number: US3345472A
Application number: US445396A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert B Kuhlman; Hubert A Garske
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-04-05
Filing date: 1965-04-05
Publication date: 1967-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-03

Description

Oct. 3, 1967 A' KUHLMAN ETAL 3,345,472

CURRENT INTERRUPTER ROTARY CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed April 5, 1965 INVENTORfi #1551678. KUHLM/Y/V f G. 4

waver/9. GAWJKE BY Q2;

ATTORNEY United States Patent Minn.

Filed Apr. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 445,396 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-26) This invention relates to an improvement in rotary circuit breaker and deals particularly with a rotary device designed to take the place of breaker points in conjunction with a distributor of an internal combustion engine. One of the most common causes of difficulty in the operation of an internal combustion engine lies in the malfunction of the conventional breaker points used to make and break the distributor circuit. These points normally reciprocate toward and away from one another a number of times equal to the revolutions per minute of the crank shaft times the number of cylinders in the motor. The arcing of a high frequency current between the points as they make and break causes the points to deteriorate, and the points must be changed from time to time if the engine is to continue to operate efliciently. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary device used in conjunction with a brush of carbon or similar material to make and break the circuit at the proper intervals.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a rotar including on its periphery alternate segments of conductive and nonconductive material against which the end of the brush engages. Each time the brush engages an area of conductive material, a circuit is closed. Each time the brush engages the adjoining segment of insulating material, the circuit is opened. By having the number of segments of conductive material equal to the number of cylinders of the engine, the device may function in the same manner as the breaker points but without the dilficulty normally experienced.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a ring of electrically conductive material having a multi-sided socket therein larly spaced conductive ribs extending outwardly from the periphery thereof. This metal ring-shaped assembly is then provided with a plastic covering which leaves the outer surfaces of the ribs flush with the outer surface of the plastic. As a result, the outer periphery of the ring includes alternate conductive segments and non-conductive segments against which a brush may engage to provide contact intermittently.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a simple brush holder made of insulating material. This brush holder is installed in the place usually occupied by the breaker point assembly and is pivoted on an axis parallel to the axis of the distributor shaft. A spring is interposedv between the surface of the brush holder and the distributor housing for urging the brush holder toward the rotor. A conductor is attached to the brush by the bolt used to connect the brush'to thebrush holder.

A further feature. of the present invention resides in the provision of a rotary circuit breaker which may be used to replace the breaker strip unit of conventional design. The distributor shaft is normally provided with a multi-sided section having a number of sides equal to the number'of pistons of the engine. This multi-sided areanormally serves as a cam for reciprocating the breakand having a series of angu-.

or points into and out of engagement. The distributor rotor normally fits on top of the shaft and includes a center contact and a sweep arm which engages successive contacts which are equal in number to the number of cylinders so that the spark plugs may be energized or fired at the proper intervals. The present rotor is designed to slip over the multi-side-d area of the distributor shaft, and the brushholder is designed to fit on the pivot post normally occupied by the breaker point assembly. As a result, the present unit'may be substituted for a conventional breaker point unit without even the use of tools.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the lower portion of the distributor housing with the distributor rotor removed from the shaft to better disclose the rotary circuit breaker.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the structure with the rotor in place, the position of the section being indicated by the broken line 22 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the conductive body portion of the circuit breaker before the plastic is applied thereto.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the completed circuit breaker.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the brushholder wfith the brush removed to disclose the construction there- 0 FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the brushholder from that illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The current interrupter A is designed to take the place of the circuit braker normally used in vehicles having internal combustion engines, as is normally housed in the distributor housing pin, the cap of which has been removed to simplify the illustration. In accordance with the usual practice, the distributor head includes a series of angularly spaced contacts and a common central contact. A rotor 11, is supported upon the upper end of the distributor shaft 12, and the rotor 11, includes a radially extending arm 13, which successively engages the angularly spaced contacts forming a part of the distributor cap. The electrically conductive arm 13, is also connected to a spring arm 14, having a contact 15, Which is located at the axis of rotation of the rotor. The center contact 15, is designed to engage the common center contact of the distributor cap to form an electrically conductive path from the center contact of the cap to the successive angularly spaced contacts thereupon.

The distributor shaft 12, is provided with a multi-sided portion 16, which normally acts as a cam for making and breaking the current into upper points. The rotary part'of the present form of current interrupter is designed to fit upon this multi-sided shaft portion 16, to rotate in unison therewith. The rotary portion of the interruptor is indicated in general by the numeral 17, and is best illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 4, of the drawings.

As indicated in FIGURE 3, of the drawings, the rotor 17, includes a ring-shaped body 19, of metal or other electrically conductive material having a multi-sided socket 20, therein which is designed to accommodate the multi-sided portion 16, of the distributor shaft 12. To the outer surface of the ring 19, we provide a series of angularly spaced bars 21, which are equal in number to the number of sides of the cam portion 16, or to the number of cylinders in the internal combustion engine. The outer surfaces 22, of the bars 21, are on a cylindrical surface coaxial with the axis of the ring 19. The bars 21 are shown as extending beyond one end of the ring 19, so as to increase the length of the exposed areas of p the bars. The bars 21, are either molded integrally with the ring 19, or else are in some way fused thereupon.

. The metal portion which is illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, is usually placed in a plastic mold, and molded plastic is cast between the angularly spaced bars 21, as well as between the upper end of the sleeve as used in FIGURE 3, and the upper ends of the bars 21. The outer peripheral surface of the plastic is preferably flush with the outer surfaces 22 of the bars 21, as is indicated in FIGURES 1 and 4 of the drawings. If preferred, the rotor 17, may be made slightly over size and the outer surface of the rotor may be ground or cut so that the outer surface of the rotor is cylindrical, and so that alternate segments of plastic are provided between adjacent pairs of the bars.

As is indicated in FIGURE 4, of the drawings, the upper portion of the plastic casting which extends inwardly of the upper ends of the bars 21, is provided with a central aperture 23, which is designed to accommodate the tubular upper end 24, of the distributor shaft 12. This upper end portion 24, of the shaft 12, is keyed or otherwise secured to the distributor rotor 11. The plastic non-conductive body portion 25, of the rotor 17, is identified by the numeral 25'. The lower end of the plastic body 25, is flush with the lower ends of the bars 21.

With this arrangement as described, a series of electrically conductive. arms 21, are provided which are in spaced relation and the surface of the rotor 17, is interrupted by alternate segments of insulating material. The outer surface of the rotor 17, is cylindrical as has been described. Due to the fact that the sleeve 19, is supported by the metal distributor shaft, the bars 21, are electrically grounded to the body of the engine.

The brushholder includes an arm 26, the construction of which is perhaps best illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, of the drawings. The brush holder 26, is an integral structure, preferably molded of plastic or other insulation material. The, arm 26, includes a pair of spaced parallel side plates 27, connected at one end by a tubular barrel 29. An angularly connecting ribv 30, is provided between the plates 27, one side of the connecting rib 30, defining a flat mounting surface 31. The ends of the plates 27, opposite that connected by the tubular bearing 29, connected by an abutment forming member 32, which is, at right angles to the surface 31, and which forms a bearing shoulder against which an end of the brush is designed to engage.

As is indicated in FIGURE 1, and in dotted outline of FIGURE 6, of the drawings, a generally rectangular brush 33, is secured against the mounting surface 31 and the lower surface 34, of the abutment 32. An internally threaded aperture 35, extends into the body of the arm 26, at right angles to the mounting surface 31, and the brush 33 is held to the arm by means of a cap screw 36 which extends through an aperture in the brush 33 and into. the threaded aperture 35. The bolt 36 preferably also extends to a terminal 37 mounted on the end of an insulated connector 39 forming a part of the breaker circuit. One end of the brush 33 is supported in contact with the surface of the rotor 17 as indicated in FIGURE 1 of the, drawings when the circuit breaker is in place.

As also indicated in FIGURES 1 and 5 of the drawings a pivot aperture 39 extends through the bearing portion 29 at one end of the arm 26 and the aperture 39 is designed to accommodate the pivot 40 extending upwardly from the bottom portion 41 of the distributor housing 10. A flat generally U-shaped spring 42 is sharply bent as indicated at 43 at an intermediate point to provide an arm 44 designed to engage the brush arm 26 and an arm 45 designed to engage the inner surface of the peripheral wall 46 of the distributor housing 10. The spring 42 tends to spring apart at its free ends, one portion of the arm 44 being adapted to engage against the inclined portion 47 on the outer surface of the arm 26. The spring 42 thus tends to rotate the arm 26 in a clock-wise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1, thus urging the brush 33 against the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 17.

From the foregoing description, it is obvious that the present construction may be substituted for the circuit breaker used most conventional internal combustion engines, without reconstructing these previous devices. In order to substitute the present structure for the conventional circuit breaker, it is only necessary to open up the distributor housing by removing the cap portion the distributor is temporarily removed, and the circuit breaker is removed by disconnecting the conductor 39, and, removing the circuit breaker unit from the pivot shaft 40. This make and break system may be discarded.

The spring 42, is placed in position against the arm 26, and the arm 26 is then inserted into the distributor housing, the arm 26, being pivotally supported upon the pivot shaft 40. The terminal 37, of the conductor 39, and the brush 33, are secured to the end of the arm either before or after the arm 26, has been molded upon the pivot shaft 40.

The device is now in readiness for operation as soon as the distributor rotor has been mounted in its usual position, and the distributor cap has been mounted upon, and. attached to, the lower portion. of the distributor hous- The bars 21, are properly located relative to the multisided portion of the distributor shaft 12, so that the, circuit is closed in proper tabulation with the arm 13, of the distributor rotor 11. In other words, during each contact of the distributor cap, arm 13, with one of the contacts of the housing cap, current will flow through the fixed contact 15, and the. arm 13, to the conductor leading to a predetermined sparkplug.

In accordance with the patent statutes, we have described the principles of construction and operation of our current interrupter; and while we have endeavored to setforth the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims Without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A rotary distributor for use with a distributor housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, and a coaxialshaft, comprising:

adisc of insulating material,

circumferentially spaced segments of conductive material embedded in said disc, parallel to the axis thereof supported on said shaft and coaxial therewith,

a brush holder including an angular arm having a pivot aperture therethrough on an axis parallel to said disc axis,

a fixed pivot supporting said arm,

a flat surface on the other end, of said angular arm, the surface of which is normally on a plane extending. substantially through the axis of said disc and radial thereto,

a brush secured in face contact with said surface and projecting from said arm to engage the surface of said disc,

a pair of spaced parallel plates arranged on planes normal to said disc axis on the side of said angular arrn opposite the side from which said brush projects,

and a substantiallyU-shaped flat spring having one end freely engageable with the. cylindrical housing surface and having its other end freely engaged between said plates and held in position thereby, said spring being free. of connection with. said brush holder.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including means forming an abutment connecting said plates and engageable with the end of said spring engaged between said plates, the connected intermediate portions of said spring being adapted to be engaged between the pivoted end of said arm and said cylindrical surface.

3. The structure of claim 2 and including a clamping bolt connecting said brush against said flat surface, and a flexible conductor connected to said brush by said bolt.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,830,140 4/1958 Robertson 20'024 3,022,389 2/1962 Wolrab 200-24 3,037,096 5/1962 Clevenger 200-19 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner G. MAIER, H. BROOME, Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. A ROTARY DISTRIBUTOR FOR USE WITH A DISTRIBUTOR HOUSING HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL INNER SURFACE, AND A COAXIAL SHAFT, COMPRISING: A DISC OF INSULATING MATERIAL, CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED SEGMENTS OF CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL EMBEDDED IN SAID DISC PARALLEL TO THE AXIS THEREOF SUPPORTED ON SAID SHAFT AND COAXIAL THEREWITH, A BRUSH HOLDER INCLUDING AN ANGULAR ARM HAVING A PIVOT APERTURE THERETHROUGH ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID DISC AXIS, A FIXED PIVOT SUPPORTING SAID ARM, A FLAT SURFACE ON THE OTHER END OF SAID ANGULAR ARM, THE SURFACE OF WHICH IS NORMALLY ON A PLANE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGH THE AXIS OF SAID DISC AND RADIAL THERETO, A BRUSH SECURED IN FACE CONTACT WITH SAID SURFACE AND PROJECTING FROM SAID ARM TO ENGAGE THE SURFACE OF SAID DISC, A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL PLATES ARRANGED ON PLANES NORMAL TO SAID DISC AXIS ON THE SIDE OF SAID ANGULAR ARM OPPOSITE THE SIDE FROM WHICH SAID BRUSH PROJECTS, AND A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED FLAT SPRING HAVING ONE END FREELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE CYLINDRICAL HOUSING SURFACE AND HAVING ITS OTHER END FREELY ENGAGED BETWEEN SAID PLATES AND HELD IN POSITION THEREBY, SAID SPRING BEING FREE OF CONNECTION WITH SAID BRUSH HOLDER.