US2492550A

US2492550A - Engine starter

Info

Publication number: US2492550A
Application number: US647388A
Authority: US
Inventors: Julius H Bolles; John E Antonidis; Robert M Critchfield
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1946-02-13
Filing date: 1946-02-13
Publication date: 1949-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1966-12-27

Description

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ENGINE STARTER 2 She'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1946 IH all' Y mvENroRs Jl/L/l/ H. BULL ES lo/1N s. A A/ToN/o/s wenn' M. cm ralf/f1.0

' ATTORNE y De@ Z7 194@ J. H. BQLLEQ 5TM, 3949355@ ENGINE STARTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filsd Feb. 13, 1945 ATTORNEY/f Patented Dec. 27, 1949 ENGINE STARTER Julius n. neues, John n. Antonius, ma mlm-t M. Critchfleld, Anderson, Ind., asslgnors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application February 13, 1946. Serial No. 647,388

14 claims. 1

Thisl invention relates to apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, and particularly an airplane engine.

An object of the invention is to provide a starter unit adapted to be mounted on the accessory gear housing of the engine and having a pinion for engagement with one of the accessory driving gears operated by the engine and having means for excluding entrance of foreign matter into the housing while providing for the shifting of the pinion by means located outside the housing. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, this object is accomplished by the combination with the accessory housing having an opening through which the pinion and the mechanism connecting it with the starting motor shaft is passed when the starter unit is assembled with the housing, of a plate provided by the starter unit v4for supporting the starting motor and' for covering the opening in the housing to which the plate'is secured, a support for the pinion carried by the engine frame to which the housing is attached, and means for shifting the pinion and including a cylindrical member extending through the plate and a lever supported by the motor for operating the cylindrical member and for controlling the motor switch.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are side and end views, respectively, of an engine starter embodying the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the -engine starter and a portion of the flywheel housing to which the engine starter frame is attached, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing how it is possible to close the starting motor switch in case of abutment of the pinion teeth with the flywheel gear teeth.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the pinion in mesh with the ywheel gear.

Fig. rI is a-longitudinal, sectional view of the starter switch taken on line I-l on Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a section showing a modified arrangement of the clutch housing and gear supported thereby.

The starting motor comprises a field trame I0 and bearing plates II and I2 providing bearings I3 and I4, respectively, for supporting an armature shaft I5 carrying an armature I6 and a commutator I1. The brushes which bear on the commutator and the field coils and pole pieces which are located around the armature are not shown, but it will be understood that these are connected in series and that one end of the series connection is grounded on the frame and the other is connected with a switch contact 20, Fig. 7, mounted on the frame I0. A switch housing 2l, secured to the frame, insulatingly supports the other switch contact and terminal member 22 to which a wire is connected leading to a storage battery. The movable switch contact 23 is insulatingly supported by a rod 24 attached to a push button 25 guided by the switch housing 2l. A spring 26 locates the contact 23 normally out of engagement with the

contacts

20 and 22. The switch is actuated by a lever 26 pivoted upon a screw 2l fastened to the frame I 0 and carrying an adjustable screw 28 secured by a lock nut 29. The head of screw 28 is so located as to engage the switch button 25 when the lever is moved to the position 26', Figs. 5 and 7. Lever 26 is actuated by a. rod, not shown, connectable with the lever 26 through a hole 30 therein, said rod terminating in a handle or pedal V(not shown) conveniently located for operation by the driver of the vehicle. It will be understood that the specific form of switch is not material and that disclosed is merely a suitable example.

The armature shaft I5 passes through a shaft seal 3| provided by the plate I2 and is connected with a gear 32 meshing with a gear 33 whose hub provides the cam member 34 of a one-way clutch. Gear 32 is attached to shaft I5 by a key 32a and is retained by a nut 32h. Member 34 provides notches 35 receiving clutch rollers 36 located between surfaces 3'I of the notches 35 and a cylindrical clutch-driven member 38. The rollers 36 are urged into the narrower parts of the notches 35 by springs 33 which maintain plungers 46 in engagement with the rollers 36. The parts of the clutch are maintained in assembled relation by plates 4I and 42 `attached by screws 43 to the member 34 and by a ring 44 permanently attached to the member 34 and having a central opening in alignment with a hole 45 in plate I2, through which the tubular extension 46 of the driven clutch member 38 extends.

Clutch 4member 38 is permanently attached to a pinion 5I) which meshes with a gear 5I connected with the engine to be started, the hub 52 of pinion 50 being permanently brazed to the part 38. Hub 52 carries bearing bushings 53 which are slidable along a rod or stub shaft 54 V ,with 'the here' sa ilxed to the engine frame F to which an accessory gear housing IB is attached. Shaft B4 is located in alignment with a cylindrical bore Il of the housing 55 which receives and locates a cylindrical flange 51 provided by the plate I2 which is attached to the accessory housing 55 by screws 58. Thus the accessory housing 55 supports the plate I2 and the electric starting motor; and the engine frame F supports the pinion B and the mechanism for connecting it with the motor shaft gear 32.

The tubular extension or sleeve 46 of the driven clutch member 38 houses cups 60 and 6|.

Discs

62 and 63 are located and spaced by a snap ring I4 and springs 66 and 6l confined under compression, respectively, by the cup 60 and disc 62 and by the disc 83 and cup Bi, said cup 60 being retained by a snap ring 68.

The function of spring 6l is to demesh the pinion 50 from gear 5| and to maintain the pinion in the demeshed position shown in Fig. 3. The function of spring 66 is to permit closing of .the starter switch in case the teeth of the pinion 50 abut end-to-end on the teeth of the gear 5i. When gear tooth abutment occurs in the attempt to mesh the pinion with the gear by movement of the lever 26 toward position 26' (Fig. 5), motion of the sleeve 46 will be arrested but the lever 26 can be moved into position for closing the starter switch since the cup Sil can travel toward the right and compress the spring 06, as shown in Fig. 5. The motor will operate to turn the pinion to relieve gear tooth abutment. As soon as gear tooth abutment is relieved, the pinion 5G will be moved quickly by the spring 86 into full engagement with the gear 5i, as shown in Fig. 6. During this movement, the gear 33 moves axially along the gear 32 while remaining in mesh therewith and spring B'l is compressed while spring 66 expands, spring 66 being stronger than spring 67. When the engine becomes selfoperative, and tends to rotate the pinion 50 faster than it can be rotated by the electric motor, the clutch member 38 will override the clutch member 34. When the starting operation is completed, the driver releases the lever 3D so that spring 6l is free to demesh the pinion 5G and return the parts to their normal positions shown in Fig. 3. n

As stated before, the bore 56 of the housing ills located concentrically with respect to the rod 54. The ange 57 and the hole 45 in the plate l2 are in concentric relation. Therefore,

. the hole 46 will be concentric with the rod 541. Sleeve 46 of the clutch part 38 being concentric with the pinion bearings 53, will be concentric yHole d5 is slightly larger than sleeve 46 and entrance of dirt around the sleeve 4B intothe housing 55 is prevented by a leather washer l0 attached to plate i2 bearing against the sleeve 45. Spring 6l urges the ring 44 against the washer 10, hencethelatter serves as a braisev to bring the pinion 50 quicklyto a' stop after the lever 26'is released. In the demeshed position of the pinion 50 there is clearance between hub 52 and left bearing bushing' 53 of pinion 5D and cup 8l so that spring 61 is eiective to urge plate combination of a housing, having an opening, a'

il 4l. The gear 33 is brazed or otherwise secured to this hub and is adapted to mesh with and be driven by the pinion 32 just as in the device disclosed in Fig. 3.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising the combination of a housing having an opening, a plate attached to the housing and covering the opening, an electric motor supported by the plate and having an armature shaft, a gear fixed to the armature shaft, a rod within the housing parallel to the armature shaft, means slidably supported by the rod for connecting the armature shaft gear with the engine to be started and including a gear meshing with the armature shaft gear and a pinion connected with the second gear and axially movable into mesh with a gear in the housing connected with the engine, a tubular, pinion-shifting member extending from the hub of the pinion through an opening in the plate in alignment with the rod and providing on its interior two spring abutments intermediate its ends, one facing the rod and the other away from the rod toward the outer end of the member, a spring located between the rod and the abutment facing the rod for demeshing the pinion, an element slidable within the member at the end thereof remote from the pinion, a spring located between the element and the second mentioned abutment, a motor control switch, and means for operating the switch and the element whereby, in case of arresting movement of the member due to gear tooth abutment, the second spring will yield to permit closing the motor switch.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising the combination of a housing having an opening, a. plate attached to the housing and covering the opening, an electric motor supported by the plate and having an armature shaft, a gear fixed to the armature shaft, a rodwithin the housing parallel to the armature shaft, means slidably running clutch driven-part attached to the pinion, an overrunning clutch driving-part surrounding the driven part, and a gear'attached to the driving-part and meshing.' with the armature shaft gear, a pinion shifting member extending from the driven-partof the Vclutch through an opening in the plate to the exterior of the housing, a motor control switch, and means for operating the member and the switch.

3. Engine starting apparatus comprising the plate attached to the housing and covering the opening, van electric-motor supported by thel plate and having an armature shaft, a gear ilxed to the armature shaft, a rod within the housing parallel 1 to the armature shaft, means slidably supported by the rod for connecting the armature shaft; gear 44 against washer 10 and the latter againstv the .D18-ten.

Inthe arrangement shown in Fig. 8, the gear 33 Vis not Apositioned on-theputer periphery of the driving member of the clutch as in'Fig. 3,

but instead,`.the ring 5 4 which is permanently attached to the driven member 34v has 'a hub 15 projecting therefrom and lsurrounding the sleeve with the engineto be started and including a pinion journaled on the rod, an overrunning clutch driven-part vattached to the pinion, an overrun-- ning clutch driving-part surrounding the ldriven- A part, and a gear attached to the driving-part and driven-part of the clutch through an opening. in'

meshing with the armature shaft gear, a tubular pinion vshifting member extending from the the plate in alignment with the rod to the exteriorpf the housing. said member providing a spring engaging abutment on its interior, a spring located between the rod and the abutment for demeshing the pinion, a motor control switch, and means for operating the member and the switch.

4. Engine starting apparatus comprising. the combination of a housing having an opening, a plate attached to the housing and covering the opening, an electric motor supported by the plate and having an armature shaft, a gear fixed to the armature shaft, a rod Within the housing parallel to the armature shaft, means slidably supported by the rod for connecting the armature shaft gear with the engine to be started and including a pinion journaled on the rod, an overrunning clutch driven-part attached to the pinion, an overrunning clutch driving-part surrounding the driven-part, and a gear attached to the driving-part and meshing with the armature shaft gear, a tubular pinion shifting member extending from the driven-part of the clutch through an opening in the plate inalignment with the rod to the exterior of the housing, said member providing on its interior two spring abutments intermediate its ends, one facing the rod and the other away from the rod twoard the outer end of the member, a spring located between the rod and the abutment facing the rod for demeshing the pinion, an element slidable within the member at the end thereof remote from the pinion, a spring located between the element and the second mentioned abutment, a motor control switch, and means for operating the switch and the element whereby, in case of arresting movement of the member due to gear tooth abutment, the second spring will yield to permit closing the motor switch.

5. Engine starting apparatus comprising the combination of a housing having an opening, a plate attached to the housing and covering the opening, an electric motor supported by the plate and having an armature shaft, a gear fixed to the armature shaft. a rod within the housing parallel to the armature shaft, means slidably supported by the rod for connecting the armature shaft gear with the engine to be started and including a pinion journaled on the rod, an overrunning clutch driven-part attached to the pinion, an overrunning clutch driving-part surrounding the drivenpart, and a gear attached to the driving-part and meshing with the armature shaft gear, a tubular pinion shifting member extending from the driven-part of the clutch through an opening in the plate in alignment with the rod to the exterior of the housing, said member having'intermediate its ends an internal annular groove, a snap ring received by the groove and providing two abutments, two discs within the member and respectively in engagement with the abutments, two cup-elements within the member at opposite ends thereof, two helical springs within the member and located, respectively, each between a disc and a cup-element, the rod retaining the cupelement adjacent thereto. means at the outer end of the member for retaining the other cup-element, a motor control switch, and means for operating the switch and the element whereby, in case of arresting movement of the member due to gear tooth abutment, the second spring will yield to permit closing the motor switch.

6. Engine starting apparatus comprising the combination of a housing having an opening, a plate attached to the housing and covering the opening, an electric motor supported by the plate and having an armature shaft, a gear lfixed to the armature shaft, a rod within the housing parallel to the armature shaft, a vpinion slidable upon the rod into mesh with a gear of the engine to be started, a tubular member supported by the pinion in axial alignment therewith, said Iplate having an opening in alignment with the rod through which the tubular member extends, means movable with the member for connecting the tubular member with the armature shaft gear, la washer attached to the plate and located between the plate and said means and engageable with said member to exclude entrance of dirt into the housing land serving as a brake when engaged by said means, la spring located within the niember :and applying Ibetween the rod and the member a force for demeshing the pinion and for causing said means to engage the washer, a motor control switch, and means for operating the switch and the member.

'7. An engine starter drive for use with an electric motor having an armature shaft and a gear supported thereby and for use with an engine having ,a gear connected with its crank shaft and a rod located parallel to the axis of the gear, said drive comprising the combination of a `pinion slidable on said rod into and out of mesh with the engine gear, a tubular member attached to the pinion and surrounding the rod and adapted to receive the application of a pinion meshing force, a spring within the member and adapted to exert a force between the member |and rod to demesh the pinion, and means supported by the member for transmitting motion from the electric motor to the pinion, said means including a gear meshing with the armature shaft gear and an overrunning clu'tch between said gear and pinion.

8. An engine starter drive for use with an electric motor having :an armature shaft and a gear supported thereby and for use with an engine having a gear connected with its crank shaft land a rod located parallel to the axis of the gear, said drive comprising the combination of a .pinion slidable on said rod into and out of mesh with the engine gear, a tubular member attached to the pinion and surrounding the rod and adapted to receive the application of a pinion meshing force, a spring within the member and adapted to exert :a force between the member and rod to demesh the pini-on, and means supported by the member for transmitting motion from the Velectric motor to the pinion and including a one-way clutch driven r :ember provided by the tubular member, a one-way clutch driving member surrounding the driven member and supported -by the tubular member and a gear meshing with the armature shaft gear and surrounding the clutch driving member and attached thereto.

9. An engine starter drive for use with an electric motor having an armature shaft and a gear supported thereby Aand for use with an engine having a gear connected with its crank shaft and a rod located parallel to the axis of the gear, said drive comprising the combination of :a pinion slid-able on said rod into and out of mesh with the engine gear, a tubular member attached to the pinion and surrounding the rod, a spring within the member and adapted to exert a force between the member and rod to demesh the pinion, means supported by the member at the end portion thereof remote from the pinion for transmitting a pinion-meshing force yieldingly to the member, and means supported by the member for transmitting motion from the elec- 7 tric motor to the pinion and including a gear meshing with the armature shaft gear.

10. An engine starter drive tor use with an electric motor having an amature shaft and a gear supported thereby and for use with an engine having a gear connected with its crank shaft and a rod located parallel to the axis of the gear, said drive comprising the combination of a pinion slidable on said rod into and out of mesh with the engine gear, a tubular member attached to the pinion and surrounding the rod, a spring abutment part within the tubular member intermediate its ends, two spring retaining cups respectively located within the tubular member on opposite sides of the abutment part, said cups being normally Ilocated respectively adjacent the pinion and at the end of the tubular member remote from the pinion, two helical springs located respectively between the cups and the spring abutment, the pinion providing a retainer for the cup adjacent thereto and said cup being adapted to engage the rod, means provided by the tubular member for retaining the other cup within it, said other cup being adapted to receive the application of a force which is transmitted through the associated spring to the tubular member to mesh the pinion with the engine gear, the other spring being adapted to apply a force between the rod and the member to demesh the pinion, and means supported by the member for transmitting motion from the electric motor to the pinion and including a gear meshing with the armature shaft gear.

l1. Engine starting apparatus comprising the combination of a housing having an opening, a plate attached to the housing and covering the opening, an electric motor supported by the plate and having an armature shaft, a gear xed to the armature shaft, a rod within the housing parallel to the armature shaft, means slidably supported by the rod for connecting the armature shaft gear with the engine to be started and including a pinion journaled on the rod, an overrunning clutch driven-part attached to the pin` ion, an over-running clutch driving-part surrounding the driven-part, an annular gear mounted on the periphery of the driving-part and meshing with the armature shaft gear, a pinion shifting member extending from the drivenpart of the clutch through an opening in the plate to the exterior of the housing, a motor control switch, and means for operating the member and the switch.

l2. Engine starting apparatus comprising the combination of a housing having an opening, a plate attached to the housing and covering the opening, an electric motor supported by the plate Iand having an armature shaft, a gear xed to the armature shaft, a rod within the housing parallel to the armature shaft, means slidably supported by the rod for connecting the armature shaft gear with the engine to be started and including a pinion journaled on the rod, an over- `running clutch comprising a, driven-part attached 8 to the pinion and a cup-shaped driving-part surrounding the driven-part and having a hub projecting from the face thereof, an annular gear secured to said hub and meshing with the armature shaft gear, a pinion shifting member ex-v tending from the driven-part of the clutch through an opening in the plate to the exterior of the housing, a motor control switch, and means for operating the member and the switch.

13. Engine starting apparatus comprising a housing having an opening, a plate secured to the housing and covering said opening, a startlng motor supported by the plate, said motor having an armature shaft carrying a driving gear, a gear positioned in the housing, said gear being connected with the engine and adapted to be operated by the starting motor to start said engine, a rod in the housing parallel to the armature shaft, means slidable on said rod for connecting the driving gear with the engine gear including a gear engaging said driving gear, a pinion movable into engagement with the engine gear and an overrunning clutch between said gear and pinion, a member extending through an opening in the supporting plate for shifting said slidable means to eiect engagement of the pinion and engine gear, a motor control switch and means for operating said member and said switch.

14. Engine starting apparatus comprising a housing having an opening, a plate secured to the housing and covering said opening, a starting motor supported by the plate, said motor having an armature shaft carrying a driving gear, a gear positioned in the housing, said gear being connected with the engine and adapted to be operated by the starting motor to start said engine, a rod in the housing parallel to the armature shaft, means slidable on said rod for connecting the driving gear with the engine gear including a gear engaging said driving gear, a pinion movable into engagement with the engine gear and an overrunning clutch between said gear and pinion, a tubular member extending from the hub of the pinion through an opening in the supporting plate in alignment with the rod for shifting the pinion into engagement with the engine gear and providing a spring engaging abutment on its interior, a spring located between the rod and said abutment for disengaging the pinion from the engine gear, a motor control switchand means for operating the member and the switch.

JULIUS H. BOLLES. JOHN E. ANTONIDIS. ROBERT M. CRITCHFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The, following reference-s are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,729,761- Chryst i oct. 1, 1929. 2,311,944 Jackson Feb. 23, 1943