Robert A Vest

US Patent:

41654528, Aug 21, 1979

Filed:

Jan 9, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/868079

Inventors:

William C. Olander - Birmingham MI
William G. Trabold - Royal Oak MI
Douglas J. Harvey - Sterling Heights MI
Robert W. Vest - West Lafayette IN

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01H 1900
H01H 100

US Classification:

200 19DR

Abstract:

An ignition distributor for an internal combustion engine is provided with a novel rotor electrode which substantially reduces radio frequency interference generated by spark discharges across the rotor gap. At least the tip segment of the rotor electrode is formed of a composite material consisting of a dielectric phase interspersed with a conductive metal phase. In operation, the dielectric phase protrudes from the surface of the electrode promoting ionization in the rotor gap so that electrical discharge occurs at voltages where radio frequency signal production is substantially suppressed.