Abstract: An ignition distributor where the rotor of the distributor is driven by the camshaft of an internal combustion engine. The end of the camshaft has an axially extending bore. The ignition distributor has a coupling. The coupling has an axially extending shaft portion that is located in the bore of the camshaft. The coupling has a laterally extending portion that has a radially extending slot. The camshaft carries a drive pin. One end of the drive pin is located in the slot with the pin engaging internal side wall surfaces of the slot. The pin forms a drive means for driving the coupling from the camshaft. The coupling drives the rotor of the distributor.

Abstract: An ignition distributor rotor that is formed of electrical insulating material. The rotor has a retainer portion that is adapted to be pressed onto the end of a distributor drive shaft. This retainer portion has an axially extending wall that has an undulated shape defined by circumferentially spaced undulated portions. The inner surfaces between the undulated portions tightly engage outer surface portions of the shaft. One of the undulated portions is located in a slot in the shaft to form a driving connection between the shaft and the rotor. The retainer portion has a plurality of flexible circumferentially spaced latch arms. The ends of the latch arms are shaped to enter an annular groove on the distributor shaft to thereby lock the rotor from a axial movement relative to the distributor shaft.

Abstract: A distributor cap for an ignition distributor. The cap is formed of electrical insulating material. A plurality of electrical connector and terminal assemblies are molded into the cap. Each assembly is comprised of a length of plastic moldable material that supports a metallic insert and a metallic terminal. The ends of the length of plastic material are molded respectively to the insert and the terminal. The length of plastic material is plated or coated with a metallic material such as aluminum and this material also coats portions of the terminal and insert. The metallic coating on the length of plastic material electrically connects the terminal to the insert.

Abstract: Apparatus for developing and applying sparks to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus comprises separate primary and secondary winding units. The secondary unit includes a spark plug having an insulator. The insulator carries a secondary coil winding which is connected to the electrodes of the spark plug. The insulator has a bore which contains a magnetic core for the secondary winding. The primary winding unit includes a primary winding and a tubular flux carrying part formed of magnetic material. The primary winding unit has a bore which is slipped over a portion of the secondary unit that has the secondary winding. A voltage is induced in the secondary winding by magnetic coupling to the primary winding when it is energized.

Abstract: Ignition apparatus for developing and applying sparks to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. A plurality of a secondary spark developing units are respectively associated with the cylinders of the engine. Each secondary unit comprises a spark plug and a secondary winding carried by the spark plug that is connected to the electrodes of the spark plug. Magnetic flux is coupled to the secondary winding of the secondary units by a primary winding module. The module has a support portion and a plurality of spaced tubular members. A primary coil having a bore is located in each tubular member. A tubular flux carrying part formed of magnetic material is located about each primary coil. The module is supported by the engine in such a position that portions of the secondary units project into the bores when the module is mounted on an engine.

Abstract: A method of securing terminals to a distributor cap and to the cap formed thereby. A molded thermoplastic distributor cap is provided which has bores formed in the towers of the cap. Die cast zinc terminals having ribs and recesses therebetween are partially inserted into the bores of the cap. With the terminals partially inserted into the cap they are engaged by an electrically heated head member which causes the terminals and cap material to heat up. When the cap material is heated to a flowable state the terminals are pushed into the cap and cap material is moved into the recesses to anchor the terminals in the cap. The terminals are provided with vent slots.

Abstract: An ignition module that is adapted to be secured to an internal combustion engine. The module has a plastic housing and a metallic cover that is adapted to be secured to an engine. A plurality of ignition coils are located within the housing and cover. The lower wall of the plastic housing has conductors embedded therein that electrically connect the secondary windings of the coils to electrical connector assemblies that are carried by the housing and which are adapted to slip over the spark plugs of an engine. The connector assemblies include means for making an electrical connection to the terminals of the spark plugs. The ignition coils have laminated cores that are clamped between the housing and the cover. The cores directly contact the metallic cover so that the cores have a heat transfer path to the cover and are electrically connected to the cover.

Abstract: A voltage generating ignition distributor for an internal combustion engine that has a pickup coil and a magnetic rotor. In order to prevent high frequency voltages, developed at the gap between the rotor contact and the outer electrodes of the distributor cap, from distorting the voltage generated in the pickup coil the outer turns of the pickup coil are grounded through a capacitance. The outer turns of the pickup coil thus form a grounded shield for the inner turns of the pickup coil at the high frequency of the voltage at the rotor gap discharge.

Abstract: Die cast zinc terminals having ribs and recesses therebetween are partially inserted into the cap bores. An electrical heated head member engages and heats the terminals and temporarily converts the cap material into a flowable state to enable full insertion of the terminals into the cap bores. The cap material moves into the terminal recesses to anchor the terminals in the cap. The terminals are provided with vent slots that vent the interior of the cap to an area adjacent a terminal located at the exterior of the cap. The purpose of the vent slots is to relieve any air pressure that may be caused by air being trapped within a connector boot when a female connector and boot are fitted to a terminal.

Abstract: An ignition distributor for an internal combustion engine including a magnetic pick-up for generating a timing control voltage. The distributor has a rotor comprised of a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced permanent magnets that define rotor pole teeth. The permanent magnets are radially magnetized such that the outer tips all have the same magnetic polarity. As the rotor rotates, a voltage is induced in the pick-up coil by flux linking the coil that is provided by the permanent magnets. A combined electrostatic shield and flux shunt is provided that takes the form of a metallic plate of magnetic material that is located between one end of the pick-up coil and one end of the rotor.

Abstract: A source of alternating current signals is applied across the inverting and non-inverting input terminals of a voltage comparator circuit through a series bias resistor. Electrical circuitry including a supply potential source and the comparator circuit output terminal is effective to direct current flow through the bias resistor in respective first and second opposite directions while the comparator circuit is in the first and in the second operating conditions whereby the polarity of the potential generated across the bias resistor reverses with each change of operating condition of the comparator circuit.

Abstract: In an ignition distributor of the type having an ignition coil mounted in the distributor cap and a magnetic signal generating assembly including a pickup coil, a pickup coil magnetic decoupling arrangement comprising an annular ring member of an electrically conductive material located in a position at which it is magnetically linked by those lines of magnetic flux produced by the ignition coil which also magnetically link the pickup coil.