GB608318A - Improvements in starting means for internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

Abstract

608,318. Inertia starters. SAMPIETRO, A. C. Feb. 19, 1946, No. 5222. [Class 7 (v)] An internal-combustion engine 10 connected to its load by a main friction clutch 26 has an inertia starting system comprising an electric motor 29 connected to the driven clutch element which constitutes at least part of the fly-wheel mass, the starter motor being associated with speed-responsive means wherebythe clutch is automatically engaged to turn the engine when the driven clutch element attains a predetermined speed. In the application to a road vehicle, the clutch is actuated by an electromagnet 16 which when energized coacts with an armature 15 to engage the presser plate 22 with the driven clutch plate 26 splined to the shaft 12 of the change-speed box 13. The starter motor 29, connected to the shaft 12 by belt gearing 28, normally acts as a generator for charging the battery 30, Fig. 2, using a shunt field winding 31. The starter switch has normally closed contacts 35 and normally open contacts 36, 40. Contacts 36 are in circuit with a relay coil 37 and series field winding 38 and contacts 40 to electromagnet coil 16 and to back contacts 39 controlled by the relay. In operation, when the starter switch is operated to start the engine, the heavy initial motor current operates relay 37, breaks contacts 39 and interrupts the clutch energizing circuit. When the motor attains about 1000 r.p.m., the reduced current causes the relay 37 to close contacts 39, thus engaging the clutch 26 so that the inertia of the clutch parts assists in turning the engine. If the engine does not start before the motor speed falls to about 400 r.p.m., the relay operates again and the starting operation is repeated. When the engine starts the starter switch is released thus cutting out the series winding 38 and breaking the circuit of coil 16. The clutch control circuit for normal driving is not shown in Figure 2.