Venting system for an internal combustion engine ignition distributor

A venting system for an internal combustion engine ignition distributor comprising:

• a distributor base for mounting on said internal combustion engine, wherein said base contains a floor and a first circular side wall means axially extending from said floor to define an electrical commutation cavity about a central axis;
• a rotor shaft mounted within said base in rotational driving connection with said engine for rotation about said central axis;
• a commutation rotor mounted on said rotor shaft having a molded dielectric portion with a biasing spring integrally formed therein to provide outwardly directed biasing forces along said central axis;
• a circular distributor cap having an upper portion, a second circular side wall means axially extending from the periphery of said upper portion and a third circular side wall means concentric with said second side wall means and internal thereto, separated by a space, wherein said cap and base are mated together against said biasing forces so that said first side wall means is interposed between said second and third side wall means and is separated from said second and third side wall means by an air space defining an open labyrinth vent path between said cavity and the outside of said distributor;
• means for latching said mated cap and base against said biasing forces from said biasing spring and for defining both the maximum separation of said side wall means and the maximum opening of said vent path;
• and
• means for purging gases through said open vent path.