Wide-gap ignition distributor

Ignition distributor for internal combustion engines having an engine driven rotary shaft, a rotor affixed thereto having a radial extremity provided for revolving in a path passing by an array of fixed ignition circuit electrodes, a distributor electrode at said extremity of said rotor, a contact plate on said rotor at the center of said patern of revolution of said rotor extremity, means for connecting said contact plate to a source of ignition pulses, an insulating rotor body for carrying said contact plate and said distributor electrode, means including interference-suppression impedance for electrically connecting said distributor electrode to said contact plate, and the improvement, according to the invention wherein:

• the spacing between said fixed ignition electrodes and said distributor contact during the closest approach of the latter to the former is between 3 and 5 millimeters, and
• said distributor electrode, at least in an exposed region thereof, consists of an alloy containing silicon, aluminum and calcium and having a substantially lower electron emission energy requirement and a higher secondary electron emission capability than the material of said contact plate.

Ignition distributor for internal combustion engines having an engine driven rotary shaft, a rotor affixed thereto having a radial extremity provided for revolving in a path passing by an array of fixed ignition circuit electrodes, a distributor electrode at said extremity of said rotor, a contact plate on said rotor at the center of said pattern of revolution of said rotor extremity, means for connecting said contact plate to a source of ignition pulses, an insulating rotor body for carrying said contact plate and said distributor electrode, means including interference-suppression impedance for electrically connecting said distributor electrode to said contact plate, and the improvement, according to the invention wherein:

• the spacing betwen said fixed ignition electrodes and said distributor contact during the closest approach of the latter to the former is between 3 and 5 millimeters, and
• said distributor electrode, at least in an exposed region thereof, consists of an alloy containing silicon and aluminum made by alloying silicon powder into aluminum to the extent of between 25 and 35% of silicon by weight and having a substantially lower electron emission energy requirement and a higher secondary electron emission capability than the material of said contact plate.

Ignition distributor for internal combustion engines having an engine driven rotary shaft, a rotor affixed thereto having a radial extremity provided for revolving in a path passing by an array of fixed ignition circuit electrodes, a distributor electrode at said extremity of said rotor, a contact plate on said rotor at the center of said pattern of revolution of said rotor extremity, means for connecting said contact plate to a source of ignition pulses, an insulating rotor body for carrying said contact plate and said distributor electrode, means including interference-suppression impedance for electrically connecting said distributor electrode to said contact plate, and the improvement, according to the invention wherein:

• the spacing between said fixed ignition electrodes and said distributor contact during the closest approach of the latter to the former is between 3 and 5 millimeters, and
• said distributor electrode, at least in an exposed region thereof, consists of a material having a substantially lower electron emission energy requirement and a higher secondary electron emission capability than the material of said contact plate, said material of lower electron emission energy requirement being a metallic material having an adherent coating of a sodium-containing salt.

Ignition distributor for internal combustion engines having an engine driven rotary shaft, a rotor affixed thereto having a radial extremity provided for revolving in a path passing by an array of fixed ignition circuit electrodes, a distributor electrode at said extremity of said rotor, a contact plate on said rotor at the center of said pattern of revolution of said rotor extremity, means for connecting said contact plate to a source of ignition pulses, an insulating rotor body for carrying said contact plate and said distributor electrode, means including interference-suppression impedance for electrically connecting said distributor electrode to said contact plate, and the improvement, according to the invention wherein:

• the spacing between said fixed ignition electrodes and said distributor contact during the closest approach of the latter to the former is between 3 and 5 millimeters, and
• said fixed ignition electrodes, at least in an exposed region thereof, consist of a material having a substantially lower electron emission energy requirement and a higher secondary electron emission capability than the material of said contact plate, said material of lower electron emission energy requirement being a metallic material having an adherent coating of a sodium-containing salt.

Ignition distributor for internal combustion engines having an engine driven rotary shaft, a rotor affixed thereto having a radial extremity provided for revolving in a path passing by an array of fixed ignition circuit electrodes, a distributor electrode at said extremity of said rotor, a contact plate on said rotor at the center of said pattern of revolution of said rotor extremity, means for connecting said contact plate to a source of ignition pulses, an insulating rotor body for carrying said contact plate and said distributor electrode, means including interference-suppression impedance for electrically connecting said distributor electrode to said contact plate, and the improvement, according to the invention wherein:

• the spacing between said fixed ignition electrodes and said distributor contact during the closest approach of the latter to the former is between 3 and 5 millimeters, and
• said fixed ignition electrodes, at least in an exposed region thereof, consist of an alloy containing silicon and aluminum made by alloying silicon powder into aluminum to the extent of between 25 and 35% of silicon by weight and having a substantially lower electron emission energy requirement and a higher secondary electron emission capability than the material of said contact plate.