1. Mechanical Structure:
The distributor consists of several key components, including a rotating shaft (distributor shaft), a distributor cap, and a rotor.
2. Ignition Timing:
The distributor plays a crucial role in determining when the spark plugs should fire. It uses the position of the engine's crankshaft and camshaft to calculate the optimal timing for each cylinder.
3. Distributor Shaft:
The distributor shaft is driven by the engine's camshaft or crankshaft, ensuring that it rotates in sync with the engine's cycles.
4. Rotor:
The rotor is a small, rotating component mounted on the distributor shaft. It makes contact with the terminals in the distributor cap, directing the high voltage from the ignition coil to the appropriate spark plug wires.
5. Distributor Cap:
The distributor cap sits on top of the distributor and houses the terminals that connect to the spark plug wires. It ensures that the high voltage is routed to the correct spark plugs according to the engine's firing order.
6. Contact Points or Electronic Trigger:
Older distributors use mechanical contact points to interrupt the flow of current from the ignition coil, creating a spark in the spark plugs. Modern distributors use electronic sensors, such as Hall effect sensors or optical sensors, to trigger the ignition.
7. Spark Plug Wires:
The distributor cap has terminals that connect to the spark plug wires. These wires carry the high voltage from the distributor to the spark plugs.
8. Synchronization with Engine:
The distributor is precisely synchronized with the engine's firing order. As the engine rotates, the distributor rotor aligns with the corresponding terminal in the cap, ensuring that the spark is delivered to the correct cylinder at the appropriate moment.
In modern vehicles, distributors have largely been replaced by electronic ignition systems, where electronic control units (ECUs) manage the ignition timing and spark delivery precisely without mechanical components.
