GB403776A - Starting mechanism for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Abstract

403,776. Turning-gear. BENDIX AVIATION CORPORATION, 105, West Adams Street, Chicago, U.S.A. Sept. 14, 1932, No. 25549. Convention date, Sept. 15, 1931. [Class 7 (v).] In a starting mechanism for internal-combustion engines which drive a supercharger or other auxiliary unit when operating under their own power, a coupling between the engine shaft and the auxiliary unit is automatically rendered inoperative during the cranking of the engine shaft from the starter. The coupling preferably consists of an overrunning clutch mechanism which couples the starter to the engine shaft during the starting operation and couples the engine to the auxiliary unit during normal running. As shown, the engine starter comprises an electric motor 13 mounted with its axis at right angles to that of the rotary supercharger 4 and driving through bevel gears 16, 17 a shaft 19, on a threaded portion 27 of which a clutch member 26 moves axially into driving engagement with a flywheel 32. The shaft 36 of the flywheel has a threaded portion 62 on which a clutch member 60 moves axially into engagement with a clutch member 61 on a pinion 43 connected to the shaft 6 of the supercharger 4 by a roller clutch 45. The pinion 43 is normally driven from the engine through a clutch 2, gears 106, 102 and a shaft 71 carrying a gear 67 meshing with the pinion 43. The clutch rollers 45, Fig. 2, co-operate with cam surfaces 44 on the inner surface of the pinion, and are guided by a cage 47, Figs. 2 and 3, one end of which carries conical members 49 registering with openings 50 in a control ring 51 rigidly retained in the pinion. The cage 47 is normally urged to the left by a spring 53, allowing sufficient play between the members 49, 51 to allow the rollers 45 to be carried into wedging relation with the cam surfaces 44 and the supercharger to be driven from the engine through the pinion 43. When the starter is in operation, the clutch member 60 moves axially into driving engagement with the pinion 43, while the hub 59 of the member 60 pushes the cage 47 to the right, bringing the conical members 49 into full engagement with the openings 50 of the ring 51. Thus the clutch rollers 45 are held out of engagement with the cam surfaces 44 and the supercharger is not driven, while the engine starter drives the engine through the clutch 60, 61, gears 43, 67, &c. The gear 67 is connected to the shaft 71 by a centrifugally controlled friction clutch comprising a disc 70 on the shaft 71 and a disc member 89, frictional engagement being obtained by means of weighted levers 94 preferably provided with springs 97 and acting through pins 96 on the disc 89. The levers are normally held in clutch-releasing position by a thrust bearing 98 moved to the right in Fig. 1 by a lever 101 and sleeve 99. At starting, when the motor 13 and flywheel 32 have been set in rotation, the thrust bearing 98 is moved to the left to allow the friction clutch to engage and the engine to be driven through the gear train 43,67,102,106.