GB2294998A

GB2294998A - Motor starting device

Info

Publication number: GB2294998A
Application number: GB9523067A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Thomas Naylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-11-10
Filing date: 1995-11-10
Publication date: 1996-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-10
Also published as: GB2294998B; GB9523067D0

Abstract

A motor starting device has a telescopic upright pillar 18 supported on a base member 10, 12, 14, and a telescopic brace member 24, 26 extending transversely from the pillar 18 to engage a motor, for example, a small internal combustion motor on a lawnmower. At the top of the pillar 18 is a handle 20, enabling a user to stabilise the device in use. An L-shaped lever 36 is mounted pivotably on the pillar 18 and has a pedal 50 at one end, and an eye 40 at the other end through which a handle 42 at the end of the motor's starting cord 44 can be fitted. By treading down on the pedal 50, a user of the device extends the motor starting cord 44 with relative ease, to start the motor. <IMAGE>

Description

MOTOR STARTING DEVICE THIS invention relates to a motor starting device which can be used for starting small internal combustion engines.

Lawnmowers and other motorised devices fined with internal combustion engines are often difficult to starL The engines in question are conventionally started by pulling on a pUl-cord. When the motor in question is not in a good state of tune, or where the user is physically small or frail, this may prove to be an arduous task.

It would be desirable to be able to provide a device which can assist in the starting of such engines.

According to the invention a motor starting device comprises: support means including a base and an upright member supported by the base; a bracc member extending transversely from the upright member and adapted to engage the body of a motor or apparatus on which the motor is mounted; and lever means supported movably on the upright member and having a first end adapted to engage a starter element of the motor and a second end adapted to be moved by a user of the device to operate the starter element The upright member may be a tubular pillar, which may be telescopic.

Similarly, the brace member may be tubular and telescopic, and preferably has a resilient bumper element at its outer end which engages the body of the motor or the apparatus on which the motor is mounted in use.

The lever means is preferably connected to the pillar by means of a robust bush or bearing and arranged to pivot in a plane parallel to the axis of the pillar.

The first end of the lever means preferably comprises an eye sized to receive and retain a starter handle at the end of a pull-cord of an intemal combustion engine.

The second end of the lever means may have a pedal orientated to be pushed douqlwardly in use by the foot of a user of the device.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention wlll now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of the motor starting device according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device fitted to a lawnmower.

The illustrated device is constructed from sturdy metal tubing and has a base comprising two angled sections 10 and 12 connected together at a stub 14 to which the lower end 16 of an upright tubular pillar 18 is fixed, for example by means of a bolt or rivet. A handle 20 with a tubular extension 22 fits telescopically into the upper end of the pillar 18 and has a series of spaced apart holes (not shown) allowing its height to be adjusted relative to the pillar, whereafter it is secured in position by means of a bolt and wing nut.

The device includes a brace member (or reaction member) which extends transversely from the pillar and which comprises first and second tubes 24 and 26, the latter being a sliding fit in the former and having a number of spaced apart apertures 28 formed therein, allowing its length to be adjusted using a bolt and a wing nut. At the outer end of the brace member is a rubber bumper 30. The inner end of the tube 24 is welded to a sleeve 22 which fits around the central portion of the pillar 18. A number of spaced apart apertures in the central region of the pillar allow the height of the brace member to be adjusted, with a bolt and wing nut being used to secure the sleeve 32 in a desired position on the pillar.

The device includes an L-shaped starting lever 36 which has a telescopic end portion 38 which terminates in a swivelling eye 40 which is sized to receive a starter handle 42 which is fixed to the end of a pull-cord 44 of a small internal combustion motor 46 of a lawnnlower 48 or another piece of machinery. The other end of the lever 36 is fitted with a pedal 50.

Fitted to the lower end 16 of the pillar 18 is a transversely extending axle 52 over which a sleeve 54 welded to the central portion of the lever 36 fits rotatably. A pin 56 rctains the lever in place on the axle 52 As can be seen clearly from the drawings, the device can be placed adjacent to a lawnmower or other apparatus fitted with an internal combustion engine so that the bumper 30 at the end of the brace member bears against the body of the motor or the apparatus itself. The handle at the end of the motor starting pull-cord is fitted through the eye 40 at the end of the staring lever.

A user of the device then simply trcads downwardly on the pedal 50, causing the other end of the lever to move to the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 1, thereby extending the pu]l-cord and starting the motor. Because the amount of force which can be exerted by the foot of a user is much greater than that which can conveniently be exerted by hand, even a physically small or frail person can start a motor with ease. The handle 20 allows the device to be grasped and steadied by a user if necessary, although this is generally not necessary.

The range of adjustments provided on the starting device allows many different types of motor and equipment to be accommodated. The device is relativcly simple and robust in construction and is portable.

The device can be designed for different applications and sizes of motors to be started. In a more portable version of the device, the large base comprising the angled tube sections 10 and 12 can be dispensed with, with the lower end of the pillar serving as a base. The handle 20 can also be made more compact. Finally, it will be understood that the relative lengths and sizes of the various components of the device can be adjusted as required.

Claims

1. A motor starting device comprising: support means including a base and an upright member supported by the base; a brace member extending transversely from the upright member and adapted to engage the body of a motor or apparatus on which the motor is mounted; and lever means supported movably on the upright member and having a first end adapted to cngage a starter element of the motor and a second end adapted to be moved by a user of the device to operate the starter element.

2. A motor starting device according to claim I wherein the upright member is a tubular pillar.

3. A motor starting device according to claim 2 wherein the tubular pillar is telescopic.

4. A motor starting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the brace member comprises first and second tubes, so that rhe brace member is telescopic.

5. A motor starting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the brace member has a resilient bumper clement at an outer end thereof which engages the body of the motor or the apparatus on which the motor is mounted.

6. A motor starting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the lever means is connected to the pillar by means of a bush or bearing and arranged to pivot in a plane parallel to the axis of the pillar.

7. A motor starting device according to claim 6 wherein the lever means comprises an L-shaped lever connected to the pillar at a central portion of the lever.

8. A motor starting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the first end of the lever means comprises an eye sized to receive and retain a starter handle at the end of a pull-cord of an internal combustion engine.

9. A motor starting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the second end of the lever means has a pedal orientated to be pushed downwardly in use by the foot of a user of the device.

10. A motor starting device substantially as herein described and illustrated.