Patent GB-190815289-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in, or relating to, Magneto-machines for use in connection with the Ignition Systems of Internal Combustion Engines.
Inventor: HALL ROBERT FREDERICK
Filed: 1908-07-20
Granted: 1908-11-19
Abstract: 15,289. Hall, R. F. July 20. Gas and like engines, igniting in. A high - tension magnetomachine is combined for ignition purposes with a high - tension rotary distributor driven from the armature and carrying a cam for operating a circuit-breaker that is supplementary to the circuit-breaker in the lowtension coil of the magneto and is connected up in the low-tension circuit of a supplementary coil - and - accumulator ignition system. The distributor and the two circuit-breakers are mechanically connected so that, when the low-tension circuitbreaker is rotated to advance or retard the spark, the distributor and the other circuit-breaker are moved in unison. The circuitbreakers and the distributor are connected up to the magneto system and to the coil system through change-over switches so that either one or the other of the systems is supplying the high-tension current to the single distributor. The armature shaft drives the distributor shaft g<2> at a reduced speed according to the number of cylinders to be fired, through gearing g. The shaft g<2> is enclosed with a stationary sleeve detachably mounted upon the gearing box and serving to support the glass-walled distributor box d<2> and the circuit-breaker h for the coil ignition. The distributor consists of an interchangeable insulating-disk d<5>, upon which a metallic segment of correct width is mounted, which is rubbed by a central carbon feed-brush d<3> and, in succession, by fixed brushes d' connected to the sparking-plugs, all the brushes being mounted upon an interchangeable cap so that the number of brushes can be altered to suit the number of cylinders. The rotating disk d<5> is connected with the shaft g<2> by means of a feather or by providing the rotating distributor plate with an extension d<8>, which is adapted to socket over the end of the distributor shaft, and is held by rings d<9>, the inner edges of which are provided with tongues which engage with a groove d<11> in the shaft. By providing the casing of the distributor with an extension d<7>, which may be clipped to the sleeve g<4>, the distributor as a whole may be rendered detachable from the sleeve. The circuit-breaker h is operated by a cam h' upon the distributor shaft. The contact-breaker i for mechanically making and breaking the primary of the magneto system is operated by a cam i<1> mounted upon the shaft, and the contact-breaker i is adapted to rotate with the casing i<2> so as to vary the relative positions of the circuit breaker and the cam to alter the time of sparking. The low tension current is connected to the switching-devices through the plate i<3>, the spring-pressed brush i<4>, and the spring fork i<1>, which serves at the same time to hold on the outer casing i<8>. In order to synchronize the two circuit-breakers and the distributor so that, when the timing of one circuit-breaker is altered, the other and the distributor will be changed in unison, the circuit-breaker in the low-tension armature is mechanically connected with the distributor by a rod j<1>, which is attached by levers j<2>, j<3> to the rotatable casing i<2> and the advance spark lever, and at the other end the rod j<1> carries an arm j<4> acting cam-wise upon a groove in the distributor shaft so as to raise or lower it. The distributor shaft is connected with the hub of the driven worm-gear by a stud engaging with an inclined slot of suitable pitch so that, when the shaft is raised, it is at the same time rotated, and the distributor with it so that the contact-breaker and distributor are maintained in unison, and the timing is consequently correct for both systems. To convert the appliance to one adapted for opposite rotation, the cam ring is reversed, and an index plate n, Fig. 10, is temporarily placed upon the armature shaft, and the shaft, disconnected from the engine, is rotated until the index alines with one of the marks upon the armature casing according as clockwise or anticlockwise movement is required. This places the armature in the position of maximum electromotive force, and the armature shaft may then again be connected to the engine. The distributor and coilcontact-breaker and their actuating-shaft may be arranged in an inclined position, the shaft casing passing between the arms of the magneto magnet In this case the terminal sockets are arranged vertically, and the gearing of the distributor shaft to the armature shaft is suitably modified.