A distributor consists of a rotating arm ('rotor') that is attached to the top of a rotating 'distributor shaft'. The rotor constantly receives high-voltage electricity from an ignition coil via brushes at the centre of the rotor. As the rotor spins, its tip passes close to (but does not touch) the output contacts for each cylinder. As the electrified tip passes each output contact, the high-voltage electricity is able to 'jump' across the small gap.[1] This burst of electricity then travels to the spark plug (via high tension leads), where it ignites the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
Older distributor designs used a cam on the distributor shaft that operates the contact breaker (also called points). Opening the points causes a high induction voltage in the ignition coil.[1] This design was superseded by an electronically controlled ignition coil with a sensor (usually Hall effect or optical) to control the timing of the ignition coil charging.
Ignition advanceedit
In older distributors, adjusting the ignition timing is usually achieved through both mechanical advance and vacuum advance. Mechanical advance adjusts the timing based on the engine speed (rpm), using a set of hinged weights attached to the distributor shaft. These weights cause the breaker points mounting plate to slightly rotate, thereby advancing the ignition timing. Vacuum advance typically uses manifold vacuum to adjust the ignition timing, for example to improve fuel economy and driveability when minimal power is required from the engine.
Most distributors used on electronic fuel injection engines use electronics to adjust the ignition timing, instead of vacuum and centrifugal systems. This allows the ignition timing to be optimised based on factors other than engine speed and manifold vacuum.
Direct ignitionedit
Since the early 2000s, many cars have used a 'coil-on-plug' direct ignition system, whereby a small ignition coil is located directly above the spark plug for each cylinder. This design means that high-voltage electricity is only present in the small distance between each coil and the spark plug. See Saab Direct Ignition.
Galleryedit
Breaker arm with contact points at the left. The pivot is on the right and the cam follower is in the middle of the breaker arm.
Distributor cap. At the center is a spring-loaded carbon button that touches the rotor. The number of contacts (in this case 4) is the same as the number of engine cylinders
Rotor. This rotates at the same speed as the camshaft, one half the speed of the crankshaft
^ ab"How the ignition system works". How a Car Works. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
^. kanter-car-tales.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
December 07, 2023
distributor, this, article, about, engine, component, other, uses, disambiguation, distributor, electric, mechanical, device, used, ignition, system, older, spark, ignition, engines, distributor, main, function, route, electricity, from, ignition, coil, each, . This article is about the engine component For other uses see Distributor disambiguation A distributor is an electric and mechanical device used in the ignition system of older spark ignition engines The distributor s main function is to route electricity from the ignition coil to each spark plug at the correct time Distributor side view with input shaft bottom and vacuum advance unit top right Ignition system diagram with distributor at the top right Contents 1 Design 1 1 Ignition advance 2 Direct ignition 3 Gallery 4 History 5 See also 6 ReferencesDesign editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Distributor news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message A distributor consists of a rotating arm rotor that is attached to the top of a rotating distributor shaft The rotor constantly receives high voltage electricity from an ignition coil via brushes at the centre of the rotor As the rotor spins its tip passes close to but does not touch the output contacts for each cylinder As the electrified tip passes each output contact the high voltage electricity is able to jump across the small gap 1 This burst of electricity then travels to the spark plug via high tension leads where it ignites the air fuel mixture in the combustion chamber On most overhead valve engines the distributor shaft is driven by a gear on the camshaft often shared with the oil pump on most overhead camshaft engines the distributor shaft is attached directly to a camshaft Older distributor designs used a cam on the distributor shaft that operates the contact breaker also called points Opening the points causes a high induction voltage in the ignition coil 1 This design was superseded by an electronically controlled ignition coil with a sensor usually Hall effect or optical to control the timing of the ignition coil charging Ignition advance edit In older distributors adjusting the ignition timing is usually achieved through both mechanical advance and vacuum advance Mechanical advance adjusts the timing based on the engine speed rpm using a set of hinged weights attached to the distributor shaft These weights cause the breaker points mounting plate to slightly rotate thereby advancing the ignition timing Vacuum advance typically uses manifold vacuum to adjust the ignition timing for example to improve fuel economy and driveability when minimal power is required from the engine Most distributors used on electronic fuel injection engines use electronics to adjust the ignition timing instead of vacuum and centrifugal systems This allows the ignition timing to be optimised based on factors other than engine speed and manifold vacuum Direct ignition editSince the early 2000s many cars have used a coil on plug direct ignition system whereby a small ignition coil is located directly above the spark plug for each cylinder This design means that high voltage electricity is only present in the small distance between each coil and the spark plug See Saab Direct Ignition Gallery edit nbsp Breaker arm with contact points at the left The pivot is on the right and the cam follower is in the middle of the breaker arm nbsp Distributor cap At the center is a spring loaded carbon button that touches the rotor The number of contacts in this case 4 is the same as the number of engine cylinders nbsp Rotor This rotates at the same speed as the camshaft one half the speed of the crankshaft nbsp Top of distributor with wires and terminals nbsp Rotor contacts inside distributor capHistory editThe first mass produced electric ignition was the Delco ignition system which was introduced in the 1910 Cadillac Model 30 In the 1920s Arthur Atwater Kent Sr invented the competing Unisparker ignition system 2 By the end of the 20th century distributors had been largely replaced by electronic ignition systems See also editList of auto partsReferences edit a b How the ignition system works How a Car Works Retrieved 2016 02 12 Cadillac History Kanter Car Tales kanter car tales com Archived from the original on 2016 03 05 Retrieved 2016 02 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Distributor amp oldid 1177849750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
