CA1328063C - Pneumatic starter for internal combustion engine - Google Patents
Pneumatic starter for internal combustion engineInfo
- Publication number
- CA1328063C CA1328063C CA000519013A CA519013A CA1328063C CA 1328063 C CA1328063 C CA 1328063C CA 000519013 A CA000519013 A CA 000519013A CA 519013 A CA519013 A CA 519013A CA 1328063 C CA1328063 C CA 1328063C
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- Prior art keywords
- sleeve
- motor
- arrangement
- blades
- fiber
- Prior art date
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Abstract
PNEUMATIC STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
Abstract of the Disclosure A starter arrangement for an engine includes a fluid actuated rotary vane motor which is adapted to engage an associated engine. The rotary motor has a plurality of blades or vanes with each of the blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction. A sleeve, in which the rotary motor is positioned, has on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction. A relay valve member selectively provides a pressurized operating fluid to the rotary motor. The blade material and the sleeve inner surface coating cooperate to enable the vane motor, when it is actuated by the relay valve member, to rotate in the sleeve with a minimum of friction thereby obviating the need for a lubricating agent.
Abstract of the Disclosure A starter arrangement for an engine includes a fluid actuated rotary vane motor which is adapted to engage an associated engine. The rotary motor has a plurality of blades or vanes with each of the blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction. A sleeve, in which the rotary motor is positioned, has on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction. A relay valve member selectively provides a pressurized operating fluid to the rotary motor. The blade material and the sleeve inner surface coating cooperate to enable the vane motor, when it is actuated by the relay valve member, to rotate in the sleeve with a minimum of friction thereby obviating the need for a lubricating agent.
Description
-` 1328~63 PNfiUMATIC STARTER ~OR INT~RNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
Background of the Invention This invention generally pertains to starters.
More specifically~ the present invention relates to a ~ ~-pneumatic starter for an internal combustion engine.
The invention is particularly applicable to an Sair starter designed for truck applications. However, it should be recognized that the pneumatic starter of -the present invention may also be adapted for use in other engine environments such as off-highway equipment, emergency generators, locomotives, dirt hauling 10equipment, compressors and the like.
When a compression ignition engine is started, its crankshaft must be rotated at a speed sufficient to compress the air in the cylinder to a pressure at which its temperature is sufficiently high to ignite the fuel 15injected into the cylinder. With the unavoidable leakage of some air past the piston rings, it is essential that the engine be turned over at a high rate of speed and this requires a substantial power output from the starter motor. A pneumatic motor or "air"
20motor is especislly adapted for such starter applications since the motor can generate a large amount of power in a small frame size and since there is no reduction of its power output at low temperatures or high temperatures as there would be with battery 25operated electric starters. The pneumatic motor is operably connected to the engine in such a way that the rotation of the motor causes it to engage and crank the engine until the engine becomes self-sustaining.
Such a pneumatic motor system includes a tank 30which contains a supply of pressurized fluid used to rotate the pneumatic motor. Systems of this type also , ~:
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commonly utilize a relay valve interposed between the pressurized tank and the pneumatic motor. This valve is normally closed and is selectively opened to feed --pressurized fluid to the pneumatic motor to actuate the 5latter.
In one known positive displacement pneumatic motor, the blades or vanes of the motor engage an eccentrically located inner surface of a sleeve which provides a circumferential restraint but radial freedom lOof movement for the blades. The pneumatic motor is thus positioned within the sleeve in an eccentric manner so as to provide a number of chambers with the sleeve. The vanes are thrust into intimate contact with the sleeve and a considerable amount of frictional heat is 5generated. There is thus a need to provide lubrication to the motor to prevent undue wear of the vanes. If such a lubricating means is not provided, or if the lubricating means should fail, the sleeve and the vanes would become sub~ect to ailure in a very short period 200f time due to friction. Generally speaking, such a lubricating means includes a mechanism for entraining a measured charge of atomized lubricant into the air delivered to the starter at the beginning of each starting operation.
25 However, such lubricators are relatively -expensive in relation to the cost of the entire air starter system. Moreover, lubricators also add to the mechanical complexity of the entire system. Also, even with a lubricator system, the air starter only has a 30lifetime of approximately 10,000 cycles by the end of which the sleeve is usually scored and the vanes are worn.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved pneumatic starter for an 132%~6~ :
internal combustion engine which would overcome the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.
Brief Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present in~ention, a new and improved starter arrangement for an engine is provided.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a starter arrangement for an engine, comprises a fluid actuated rotary vane motor which is adapted to engage an associated engine, said rotary motor having a hub and a plurality of blades slidably mounted in the hub with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction; a sleeve in which said rotary motor is positioned, said sleeve having on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy; and, wherein said blade material and said sleeve inner surface coating cooperate to enable said motor to rotate in said sleeve with a minimum of friction thereby obviating the need for a lubricating agent.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a starter arrangement for starting an internal combustion engine with compressed fluid is provided.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a starter arrangement for starting an internal combustion engine with compressed fluid, comprises a sleeve; a fluid actuated rotary vane motor rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said motor having a plurality of blades with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction, and wherein said sleeve has on 7~ '':'' ~ ` '.
~3%~0S3 ~
its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction so that as said blades slide against said sleeve there is minimal friction occurring wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy; a source of pressurized fluid for actuating said rotary motor: and a delivering means for transmitting the rotation of said rotary motor to the associated engine.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a pneumatic starter for an internal combustion engine is provided.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a pneumatic starter for an internal combustion engine, comprises a sleeve having on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metal particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy; a fluid actuated rotary vane motor rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said motor having a plurality of blades with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction as said blades rotate in said sleeve wherein said fiber reinforcing material for said blades includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of aramid fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber, and carbon fiber; a source of pressurized fluid for actuating said rotary motor; a relay valve interposed between said source and said rotary motor for controlling the delivery of said pressurized fluid to said rotary motor, the rotation of said vane motor in said sleeve, actuated by said relay valve, causing a minimum of friction thereby obviating the need for a separate lubricating system; and a delivering means for transmitting the .
~3281~3 -4a-rotation of said vane motor to the associated engine.
One advantage of the present invention is the 5provision of a new pneumatic starter motor which runs with less friction than previous starters.
Another advantage of the invention is the provision of a starter arrangement which obviates the necessity for a separate lubricating system for the . . . . . . . . . .
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arrangement due to the reduced amount of friction which is generated as the starter motor operates because of the motor's improved self-lubrication properties.
Still another advantage of the invention is the 5provision of a starter arrangement having a fluid actuated rotary vane motor provided with a plurality of blades which are made out of a plastic material reinforced with a fiber material. Preferably, the fiber reinforcing material is selected from the group lOconsisting of aramid fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber or carbon fiber.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a starter arrangement hsving a sleeve with a coated inner surface to reduce friction.
15Preferably, the inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, or electroless nickel alloy, which may 20~e infused with a fluorocarbon.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to tho~a skill~d in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may take physical form in certain parts snd arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this 30specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawlngs which form a part hereof, and wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a starter arrangement and related components according to the preferred embodiment of the presen~
35invention;
, ~ .
~328063 FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view, partially broken awayt of the starter arrangement of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a reduced exploded perspective view 5Of certain components of the starter arrangement of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view through the starter arrangement of PIGURE 2; and, FIGURE 5 is a greatly enlarged view through a lOportion of the starter arrangement of FIGURE 4.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred l5embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIGURE 1 shows the subject new starter arrangement in a complete starter installation. While the starter arran8ement is primarily designed for and will hereinafter be described in connection with an 20internal combustion engine for a truck, it will be appreciated that the overall inventive concept involved could be adapted for other engine environments, such as emergency generators, locomotives, dirt hauling equipment, compressors, and the like.
More particularly, the starter installation includes an air tank 10 which is connected by an air conduit 12 to a relay valve means 14. A manually actuated valve control member 16, which is usually positioned in the cab of a truck (not illustrated), 30controls the actuation of the integral relay valve means 14 of an air motor.
With reference now also to FIGURE 2, the valve means 14 is preferably positioned within a housing 20.
Also positioned within the housing 20 is a sleeve 22 and '.
~' 1328G63 ~:
a sleeve adapter 24 which admits pressurized fluid from the valve means 14 into a sleeve interior 26. The sleeve 22 has a body section 28 which has on its interior surface a coating layer 30 as best seen in 5FIGURE 5.
In one preferred embodiment, the sleeve is made out of a metal such as gray iron and the sleeve coating is made of an "armoloy" material. Such a material is a hard chromium electrocoating having a hardness which lOmeasures at least 70 on the Rockwell C hardness scale.
This coating is sold by the Armoloy Corporation of 118 Simonds Avenue, DeXalb, Illinois. The coating is effective in increasing wear resistance in sliding surface contacts and provides superior corrosion and 15erosion resistance. This coating may be on the order of .0002 inches in thickness. It is evident that the thickness of layer 30 has been greatly magnified in FIGURE 5 for easier visibility.
Alternatively, a metallic ceramic coating may 20be used for the inner surface of the sleeve. This coating combines metallic particles, such as aluminum particles, encapsulated in a ceramic with a slurry binder system. This coating also provides a great resistance to corrosion, erosion and abrasion. The 25thickness of such a protective film coating can vary from .001 to .006 inches. Such coatings are available from Metallic Ceramic Coatings, Inc., Front and Ford Streets, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. Such a coating provides abrasion and corrosion resistance and aids in 30reducing friction between components.
Another such coating is a titanium nitride coating which is available from the Star Cutter Company of Farmington Hills, Michigan. This type of coating can be applied through a physical vapor deposition process and will result in a coating thickness of .0001 to .0002 inches. The coating has a Rockwell C hardness of approximately 85. Such a coating effectively improves abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance.
Still another possible coating is an electroless nickel alloy. Such coatings may have a thickness of up to .oO1 inch if desired, although thicknesses as small as .0003 inches can also be used. An electroless nickel lo alloy also provides low friction properties and a smooth surface finish. Such a nickel coating can be obtained from the Armoloy Corporation o~ DeKalb, Illinois. Such a nickel alloy coating can be infused with a polymer such as fluorocarbon to provide an inherent lubrication. Such a polymer infused nickel alloy coating is available from General Magnaplate Corp. of Linden, New Jersey.
With reference now also to FIGURE 3, positioned in the sleeve interior 26 is a rotor 40 having at least one rotor vane or blade 42 thereon. In the preferred embodiment, five such rotor blades 42 are provided.
Driving the rotor blades 42 i5 an eccentric cam 44 as may best be seen from FIGURE 4. The eccentric cam 44 prepositione the blades 42 into the air stream flowing $rom the air tank through the relay valve means 14. This de~ign is considerably more tolerant o$ contaminants and $rost than most prior art designs and provides instant torque and Gtarting reliability even under adverse weather conditions.
With reference now to FIGURE 5, it can be seen that each blade has a blade body 46 which is provided with a plurality of strand-like reinforcing elements 48. In -one pre$erred embodiment, ~he reinforcing fiber is an aramid fiber, such as that marketed under the trade-mark REVLAR by E. I. duPont de Nemours Corp. of Wilmington, Delaware, ~r ~1 , '.. :' 1328063 ~:
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which also provides great flexural strength as the blade rotates in the sleeve.
Other reinforcing fibers could, of course, also -be used. Among these fibers are glass fibers, boron 5fibers, and carbon fibers, i.e. graphite fibers. The -fibers are preferably woven into a "cloth" which is then coated with a resin binder. If the fibers are made of glass the resin can be an epoxy. On the other hand, if the fibers are aramid, the resin can be phenolic~ Of 10course, the various layers of fibers in the blade can be oriented in different directions or in the same direction, as desired. One advantage of such reinforced plastic blades is that they are friction resistant.
Another advantage is that they are not prone to rusting l5thereby increasing the life cycle of the air starter.
In order to provide an airti8ht chamber, the sleeve 22 is provided on each end with a respective end plate 50, 52 as shown in FIGURE 3. With reference again to FIGURE 2, a gear element 54, which is driven by the 20rotor 40 through a shaft 56, is positioned adjacent the second end plate 52. A second 8ear 58 is driven by the first gear 54.
The second gear 58 is part of a drive means 60 for transmitting the power of the vaned motor to an 25internal combustion engine having a flywheel ring gear 62 (see FIGURE 1). Also positioned on the housing 20 is an integral muffler 64.
In the present invention it has been found that the use of a sleeve coating 30 reduces the coefficient 30Of friction of the rotor blades 42 as they rotate against the sleeve 22. Also, the rotor blades are made of a suitable fiber reinforced plastic material which further reduces friction. Such friction has in the past been responsible for the wear and corrosion of the 35sleeve 22 A conven~ional air starter has an average lifetime of approximately 10,000 cycles. Depending on the frequency of the starts per day, such 10,000 cycles can be accumulated in 3 to 8 years of use. At the end 5Of this time, the sleeve of the starter may have rusted or scored so as to be unusable and the blades generally have become worn despite the use of a lubricating system which supplies lubricant for the sleeve and the blades.
In a test of an air starter constructed lOaccording to the present invention, however, the use of the "armoloy" material together with aramid fiber reinforced plastic blades, resulted in minimal wear to the blades over 10,000 cycles of the air starter despite the absence of a lubricating system. It was found that lSblade wear was less than .010 inches even without external lubrication. It was also found that there was negligible wear on the sleeve. It is estimated that the construction of an air starter from the materials listed above will increase the life cycle of the air starter up 20to at least 14,000 cycles and perhaps to as much as 30,000 cycles. Besides a longer life cycle for the air starter, the elimination of an external lubrication system results in a considerable savings on the cost of -the air starter and also results in a much simpler and 25mechanically less complex unit.
In the preferred embodiment, the blades are made of aramid fiber reinforced plastic which can have a coeffient of thermal expansion of approximately 35.3 x ~-~
10-6 inches/inch C linearly and approximately 32.9 x 3010-6 inches/inch C crosswise. In contrast, the sleeve, which is made of cast iron can have a coefficient of thermal expansion of 12.96 x 10-6 cm/cm C. ;~', .
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The subject invention thus provides an air .
starter arrangement which produces less friction as the :
blades rotate in a sleeve than do conventional systems.
Therefore, the present arrangement enables the 5olimination of conventional lubrication systems which are used in air starters thus resulting in a considerable cost and material savings on the starter arrangement.
The invention has been described with reference 10to a preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the readin8 and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or 15the equivalents thereof. .
Background of the Invention This invention generally pertains to starters.
More specifically~ the present invention relates to a ~ ~-pneumatic starter for an internal combustion engine.
The invention is particularly applicable to an Sair starter designed for truck applications. However, it should be recognized that the pneumatic starter of -the present invention may also be adapted for use in other engine environments such as off-highway equipment, emergency generators, locomotives, dirt hauling 10equipment, compressors and the like.
When a compression ignition engine is started, its crankshaft must be rotated at a speed sufficient to compress the air in the cylinder to a pressure at which its temperature is sufficiently high to ignite the fuel 15injected into the cylinder. With the unavoidable leakage of some air past the piston rings, it is essential that the engine be turned over at a high rate of speed and this requires a substantial power output from the starter motor. A pneumatic motor or "air"
20motor is especislly adapted for such starter applications since the motor can generate a large amount of power in a small frame size and since there is no reduction of its power output at low temperatures or high temperatures as there would be with battery 25operated electric starters. The pneumatic motor is operably connected to the engine in such a way that the rotation of the motor causes it to engage and crank the engine until the engine becomes self-sustaining.
Such a pneumatic motor system includes a tank 30which contains a supply of pressurized fluid used to rotate the pneumatic motor. Systems of this type also , ~:
.. -, ''~ ~ ~.
-- 1328~63 ~ ~:
commonly utilize a relay valve interposed between the pressurized tank and the pneumatic motor. This valve is normally closed and is selectively opened to feed --pressurized fluid to the pneumatic motor to actuate the 5latter.
In one known positive displacement pneumatic motor, the blades or vanes of the motor engage an eccentrically located inner surface of a sleeve which provides a circumferential restraint but radial freedom lOof movement for the blades. The pneumatic motor is thus positioned within the sleeve in an eccentric manner so as to provide a number of chambers with the sleeve. The vanes are thrust into intimate contact with the sleeve and a considerable amount of frictional heat is 5generated. There is thus a need to provide lubrication to the motor to prevent undue wear of the vanes. If such a lubricating means is not provided, or if the lubricating means should fail, the sleeve and the vanes would become sub~ect to ailure in a very short period 200f time due to friction. Generally speaking, such a lubricating means includes a mechanism for entraining a measured charge of atomized lubricant into the air delivered to the starter at the beginning of each starting operation.
25 However, such lubricators are relatively -expensive in relation to the cost of the entire air starter system. Moreover, lubricators also add to the mechanical complexity of the entire system. Also, even with a lubricator system, the air starter only has a 30lifetime of approximately 10,000 cycles by the end of which the sleeve is usually scored and the vanes are worn.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved pneumatic starter for an 132%~6~ :
internal combustion engine which would overcome the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.
Brief Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present in~ention, a new and improved starter arrangement for an engine is provided.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a starter arrangement for an engine, comprises a fluid actuated rotary vane motor which is adapted to engage an associated engine, said rotary motor having a hub and a plurality of blades slidably mounted in the hub with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction; a sleeve in which said rotary motor is positioned, said sleeve having on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy; and, wherein said blade material and said sleeve inner surface coating cooperate to enable said motor to rotate in said sleeve with a minimum of friction thereby obviating the need for a lubricating agent.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a starter arrangement for starting an internal combustion engine with compressed fluid is provided.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a starter arrangement for starting an internal combustion engine with compressed fluid, comprises a sleeve; a fluid actuated rotary vane motor rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said motor having a plurality of blades with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction, and wherein said sleeve has on 7~ '':'' ~ ` '.
~3%~0S3 ~
its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction so that as said blades slide against said sleeve there is minimal friction occurring wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy; a source of pressurized fluid for actuating said rotary motor: and a delivering means for transmitting the rotation of said rotary motor to the associated engine.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a pneumatic starter for an internal combustion engine is provided.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a pneumatic starter for an internal combustion engine, comprises a sleeve having on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metal particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy; a fluid actuated rotary vane motor rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said motor having a plurality of blades with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction as said blades rotate in said sleeve wherein said fiber reinforcing material for said blades includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of aramid fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber, and carbon fiber; a source of pressurized fluid for actuating said rotary motor; a relay valve interposed between said source and said rotary motor for controlling the delivery of said pressurized fluid to said rotary motor, the rotation of said vane motor in said sleeve, actuated by said relay valve, causing a minimum of friction thereby obviating the need for a separate lubricating system; and a delivering means for transmitting the .
~3281~3 -4a-rotation of said vane motor to the associated engine.
One advantage of the present invention is the 5provision of a new pneumatic starter motor which runs with less friction than previous starters.
Another advantage of the invention is the provision of a starter arrangement which obviates the necessity for a separate lubricating system for the . . . . . . . . . .
':
~ '` ~' '' :
1~2~3 ~:
arrangement due to the reduced amount of friction which is generated as the starter motor operates because of the motor's improved self-lubrication properties.
Still another advantage of the invention is the 5provision of a starter arrangement having a fluid actuated rotary vane motor provided with a plurality of blades which are made out of a plastic material reinforced with a fiber material. Preferably, the fiber reinforcing material is selected from the group lOconsisting of aramid fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber or carbon fiber.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a starter arrangement hsving a sleeve with a coated inner surface to reduce friction.
15Preferably, the inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, or electroless nickel alloy, which may 20~e infused with a fluorocarbon.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to tho~a skill~d in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may take physical form in certain parts snd arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this 30specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawlngs which form a part hereof, and wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a starter arrangement and related components according to the preferred embodiment of the presen~
35invention;
, ~ .
~328063 FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view, partially broken awayt of the starter arrangement of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a reduced exploded perspective view 5Of certain components of the starter arrangement of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view through the starter arrangement of PIGURE 2; and, FIGURE 5 is a greatly enlarged view through a lOportion of the starter arrangement of FIGURE 4.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred l5embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIGURE 1 shows the subject new starter arrangement in a complete starter installation. While the starter arran8ement is primarily designed for and will hereinafter be described in connection with an 20internal combustion engine for a truck, it will be appreciated that the overall inventive concept involved could be adapted for other engine environments, such as emergency generators, locomotives, dirt hauling equipment, compressors, and the like.
More particularly, the starter installation includes an air tank 10 which is connected by an air conduit 12 to a relay valve means 14. A manually actuated valve control member 16, which is usually positioned in the cab of a truck (not illustrated), 30controls the actuation of the integral relay valve means 14 of an air motor.
With reference now also to FIGURE 2, the valve means 14 is preferably positioned within a housing 20.
Also positioned within the housing 20 is a sleeve 22 and '.
~' 1328G63 ~:
a sleeve adapter 24 which admits pressurized fluid from the valve means 14 into a sleeve interior 26. The sleeve 22 has a body section 28 which has on its interior surface a coating layer 30 as best seen in 5FIGURE 5.
In one preferred embodiment, the sleeve is made out of a metal such as gray iron and the sleeve coating is made of an "armoloy" material. Such a material is a hard chromium electrocoating having a hardness which lOmeasures at least 70 on the Rockwell C hardness scale.
This coating is sold by the Armoloy Corporation of 118 Simonds Avenue, DeXalb, Illinois. The coating is effective in increasing wear resistance in sliding surface contacts and provides superior corrosion and 15erosion resistance. This coating may be on the order of .0002 inches in thickness. It is evident that the thickness of layer 30 has been greatly magnified in FIGURE 5 for easier visibility.
Alternatively, a metallic ceramic coating may 20be used for the inner surface of the sleeve. This coating combines metallic particles, such as aluminum particles, encapsulated in a ceramic with a slurry binder system. This coating also provides a great resistance to corrosion, erosion and abrasion. The 25thickness of such a protective film coating can vary from .001 to .006 inches. Such coatings are available from Metallic Ceramic Coatings, Inc., Front and Ford Streets, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. Such a coating provides abrasion and corrosion resistance and aids in 30reducing friction between components.
Another such coating is a titanium nitride coating which is available from the Star Cutter Company of Farmington Hills, Michigan. This type of coating can be applied through a physical vapor deposition process and will result in a coating thickness of .0001 to .0002 inches. The coating has a Rockwell C hardness of approximately 85. Such a coating effectively improves abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance.
Still another possible coating is an electroless nickel alloy. Such coatings may have a thickness of up to .oO1 inch if desired, although thicknesses as small as .0003 inches can also be used. An electroless nickel lo alloy also provides low friction properties and a smooth surface finish. Such a nickel coating can be obtained from the Armoloy Corporation o~ DeKalb, Illinois. Such a nickel alloy coating can be infused with a polymer such as fluorocarbon to provide an inherent lubrication. Such a polymer infused nickel alloy coating is available from General Magnaplate Corp. of Linden, New Jersey.
With reference now also to FIGURE 3, positioned in the sleeve interior 26 is a rotor 40 having at least one rotor vane or blade 42 thereon. In the preferred embodiment, five such rotor blades 42 are provided.
Driving the rotor blades 42 i5 an eccentric cam 44 as may best be seen from FIGURE 4. The eccentric cam 44 prepositione the blades 42 into the air stream flowing $rom the air tank through the relay valve means 14. This de~ign is considerably more tolerant o$ contaminants and $rost than most prior art designs and provides instant torque and Gtarting reliability even under adverse weather conditions.
With reference now to FIGURE 5, it can be seen that each blade has a blade body 46 which is provided with a plurality of strand-like reinforcing elements 48. In -one pre$erred embodiment, ~he reinforcing fiber is an aramid fiber, such as that marketed under the trade-mark REVLAR by E. I. duPont de Nemours Corp. of Wilmington, Delaware, ~r ~1 , '.. :' 1328063 ~:
. . .
_ g _ ' :
which also provides great flexural strength as the blade rotates in the sleeve.
Other reinforcing fibers could, of course, also -be used. Among these fibers are glass fibers, boron 5fibers, and carbon fibers, i.e. graphite fibers. The -fibers are preferably woven into a "cloth" which is then coated with a resin binder. If the fibers are made of glass the resin can be an epoxy. On the other hand, if the fibers are aramid, the resin can be phenolic~ Of 10course, the various layers of fibers in the blade can be oriented in different directions or in the same direction, as desired. One advantage of such reinforced plastic blades is that they are friction resistant.
Another advantage is that they are not prone to rusting l5thereby increasing the life cycle of the air starter.
In order to provide an airti8ht chamber, the sleeve 22 is provided on each end with a respective end plate 50, 52 as shown in FIGURE 3. With reference again to FIGURE 2, a gear element 54, which is driven by the 20rotor 40 through a shaft 56, is positioned adjacent the second end plate 52. A second 8ear 58 is driven by the first gear 54.
The second gear 58 is part of a drive means 60 for transmitting the power of the vaned motor to an 25internal combustion engine having a flywheel ring gear 62 (see FIGURE 1). Also positioned on the housing 20 is an integral muffler 64.
In the present invention it has been found that the use of a sleeve coating 30 reduces the coefficient 30Of friction of the rotor blades 42 as they rotate against the sleeve 22. Also, the rotor blades are made of a suitable fiber reinforced plastic material which further reduces friction. Such friction has in the past been responsible for the wear and corrosion of the 35sleeve 22 A conven~ional air starter has an average lifetime of approximately 10,000 cycles. Depending on the frequency of the starts per day, such 10,000 cycles can be accumulated in 3 to 8 years of use. At the end 5Of this time, the sleeve of the starter may have rusted or scored so as to be unusable and the blades generally have become worn despite the use of a lubricating system which supplies lubricant for the sleeve and the blades.
In a test of an air starter constructed lOaccording to the present invention, however, the use of the "armoloy" material together with aramid fiber reinforced plastic blades, resulted in minimal wear to the blades over 10,000 cycles of the air starter despite the absence of a lubricating system. It was found that lSblade wear was less than .010 inches even without external lubrication. It was also found that there was negligible wear on the sleeve. It is estimated that the construction of an air starter from the materials listed above will increase the life cycle of the air starter up 20to at least 14,000 cycles and perhaps to as much as 30,000 cycles. Besides a longer life cycle for the air starter, the elimination of an external lubrication system results in a considerable savings on the cost of -the air starter and also results in a much simpler and 25mechanically less complex unit.
In the preferred embodiment, the blades are made of aramid fiber reinforced plastic which can have a coeffient of thermal expansion of approximately 35.3 x ~-~
10-6 inches/inch C linearly and approximately 32.9 x 3010-6 inches/inch C crosswise. In contrast, the sleeve, which is made of cast iron can have a coefficient of thermal expansion of 12.96 x 10-6 cm/cm C. ;~', .
:
, ~
" .~
:
-11- :.
The subject invention thus provides an air .
starter arrangement which produces less friction as the :
blades rotate in a sleeve than do conventional systems.
Therefore, the present arrangement enables the 5olimination of conventional lubrication systems which are used in air starters thus resulting in a considerable cost and material savings on the starter arrangement.
The invention has been described with reference 10to a preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the readin8 and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or 15the equivalents thereof. .
Claims (15)
1. A starter arrangement for an engine, comprising:
a fluid actuated rotary vane motor which is adapted to engine as associated engine, said rotary motor having a hub and a plurality of blade slidably mounted in the hub with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction;
a sleeve in which said rotary motor is positioned, said sleeve having on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy; and, wherein said blade material and said sleeve inner surface coating cooperate to enable said motor to rotate in said sleeve with a minimum of friction whereby obviating the need for a lubricating agent.
a fluid actuated rotary vane motor which is adapted to engine as associated engine, said rotary motor having a hub and a plurality of blade slidably mounted in the hub with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction;
a sleeve in which said rotary motor is positioned, said sleeve having on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy; and, wherein said blade material and said sleeve inner surface coating cooperate to enable said motor to rotate in said sleeve with a minimum of friction whereby obviating the need for a lubricating agent.
2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said fiber reinforcing material for said blade is selected from the group consisting of aramid fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber or carbon fiber.
3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said sleeve inner surface coating comprises a chromium electrocoating having a hardness which measures at least 70 on the Rockwell C hardness scale.
4. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said sleeve inner surface coating comprises titanium nitride having a hardness on the Rockwell C hardness scale of approximately 85.
5. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said sleeve inner surface comprises an electroless nickel alloy which is infused with a polymer.
6. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:
a source of pressurized operating fluid;
a relay valve means for selectively providing a pressurized operating fluid to said rotary motor; and, a conduit means for interconnecting said source of operating fluid and said valve means.
a source of pressurized operating fluid;
a relay valve means for selectively providing a pressurized operating fluid to said rotary motor; and, a conduit means for interconnecting said source of operating fluid and said valve means.
7. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a driving means for transmitting the rotation of said motor to the associated engine and wherein said driving means includes a pinion gear which cooperates with a flywheel of the associated engine to rotate said flywheel.
8. The arrangement of claim 6 further comprising:
a housing in which said sleeve and said relay valve means are positioned; and, an eccentric cam which urges said at least one blade outwardly as said vane motor rotates.
a housing in which said sleeve and said relay valve means are positioned; and, an eccentric cam which urges said at least one blade outwardly as said vane motor rotates.
9. A starter arrangement for starting an internal combustion engine with compressed fluid, comprising:
a sleeve;
a fluid actuated rotary vane motor rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said motor having a plurality of blades with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction, and wherein said sleeve has on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction so that as said blades slide against said sleeve there is minimal friction occurring wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy;
a source of pressurized fluid for actuating said rotary motor; and a delivering means for transmitting the rotation of said rotary motor to the associated engine.
a sleeve;
a fluid actuated rotary vane motor rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said motor having a plurality of blades with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction, and wherein said sleeve has on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction so that as said blades slide against said sleeve there is minimal friction occurring wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy;
a source of pressurized fluid for actuating said rotary motor; and a delivering means for transmitting the rotation of said rotary motor to the associated engine.
10. The arrangement of claim 9 further comprising a motor housing in which said sleeve and a relay valve are positioned.
11. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein said blade reinforcing material is aramid fiber.
12. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein said sleeve inner surface coating comprises a chromium electrocoating having a hardness which measures at least 70 on the Rockwell C hardness scale.
13. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein said sleeve inner surface coating comprises titanium nitride having a hardness on the Rockwell C hardness scale of approximately 85.
14. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein said sleeve inner surface coating comprises an electroless nickel alloy coating which is infused with a polymer such as fluorocarbon.
15. A pneumatic starter for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a sleeve having on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy;
a fluid actuated rotary vane motor rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said motor having a plurality of blades with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction as said blades rotate in said sleeve wherein said fiber reinforcing material for said blades includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of aramid fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber, and carbon fiber;
a source of pressurized fluid for actuating said rotary motor;
relay valve interposed between said source and said rotary motor for controlling the delivery of said pressurized fluid to said rotary motor, the rotation of said vane motor in said sleeve, as actuated by said relay valve, causing a minimum of friction on thereby obviating the need for a separate lubricating system; and, a delivering means for transmitting the rotation of said vane motor to the associated engine.
a sleeve having on its inner surface a hard metallic coating to reduce friction wherein said sleeve inner surface coating includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of chromium electrocoating, metallic particles encapsulated in a ceramic material and a slurry binder system, titanium nitride, and electroless nickel alloy;
a fluid actuated rotary vane motor rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said motor having a plurality of blades with each of said blades being made from a fiber reinforced plastic material to reduce friction as said blades rotate in said sleeve wherein said fiber reinforcing material for said blades includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of aramid fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber, and carbon fiber;
a source of pressurized fluid for actuating said rotary motor;
relay valve interposed between said source and said rotary motor for controlling the delivery of said pressurized fluid to said rotary motor, the rotation of said vane motor in said sleeve, as actuated by said relay valve, causing a minimum of friction on thereby obviating the need for a separate lubricating system; and, a delivering means for transmitting the rotation of said vane motor to the associated engine.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US78121685A | 1985-09-26 | 1985-09-26 | |
| US781,216 | 1985-09-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1328063C true CA1328063C (en) | 1994-03-29 |
Family
ID=25122050
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000519013A Expired - Fee Related CA1328063C (en) | 1985-09-26 | 1986-09-24 | Pneumatic starter for internal combustion engine |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU578845B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1328063C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109500718A (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2019-03-22 | 苏州丰川电子科技有限公司 | High Precision Automatic polishing machine |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3616785A (en) * | 1970-06-11 | 1971-11-02 | Olin Corp | Fluid actuated starter assembly |
| FR2504602A1 (en) * | 1981-04-28 | 1982-10-29 | Ervor Enve Sa Compresseurs | ROTARY PNEUMATIC STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE |
-
1986
- 1986-09-24 CA CA000519013A patent/CA1328063C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1986-09-26 AU AU63193/86A patent/AU578845B2/en not_active Ceased
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109500718A (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2019-03-22 | 苏州丰川电子科技有限公司 | High Precision Automatic polishing machine |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU6319386A (en) | 1987-04-02 |
| AU578845B2 (en) | 1988-11-03 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |