GB656523A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for starting heavy internal combustion engine such as diesel engines - Google Patents

Abstract

656,523. Turning-gear. DORMAN & CO., Ltd., W. H., and MITCHELL, W. E. Aug. 27, 1947, No. 23697. [Class 7(v)] In apparatus for starting heavy internalcombustion engines, for example, diesel engines, by means of a small prime mover such as a petrol engine (not shown) comprising a clutch 18, Fig. 3, adapted to enable the prime mover to be connected or disconnected at will from the heavy internal-combustion engine, and means, such as spring-biassed pawls 11, adapted automatically to uncouple the prime mover from the heavy internal-combustion engine upon a given speed being obtained, there is provided a casing 41 enclosing both the clutch and the uncoupling means 11 and adapted to contain oil. A pinion 3, which is splined to a shaft 1 that has a manually operated spindle 6 extending axially therethrough, is connected by means of a sleeve 5 with the spindle 6. The bore for the spindle 6 at the rear end of the shaft 1 is increased in diameter and a spring-loaded collar 8 is fixed to the spindle. Two opposed spring- biassed pawls 11 are each pivoted upon a shaft 14, each shaft 14 being secured at both ends to a curved arm 15, whilst each pair of arms is pivoted upon a block 12 secured to the shaft 1. The tips of the pawls 11 extend through a slot in the shaft 1 and normally rest on the periphery of the collar 8. When sufficient axial pressure is applied to a multi-plate friction clutch 18 the shaft 1 is coupled to a clutch housing 21, which latter has formed upon it a sprocket 22 to enable the housing to be driven by the petrol engine. The housing 21 has attached to it a thrust member 27, which is connected by two spring-loaded thrust rods 30, Fig. 1, that normally bias the clutch to the disengaged position, and connecting rods 33, to two vertical members 35, fixed to a cross shaft 36, upon one end of which is secured a hand lever 17. The petrol engine is first started, and with the clutch 18, Fig. 3, in its normal disengaged position, the pinion 3 is moved rightwardly by spindle 6 until it engages with the teeth of a flywheel 4, Fig. 1, of the main engine (not shown), whereupon the spring-biassed pawls 11 drop in front of the collar 8 and maintain the pinion 3 in mesh with the flywheel 4. The spindle may be turned to facilitate indexing of the pinion and flywheel. The clutch hand lever 17 is moved and held in the position to operate the clutch 18 so that the petrol engine can drive the main engine. When the speed of shaft 1 reaches a predetermined value the spring-biassed pawls 11 pivot outwardly under centrifugal action and the spindle 6 is moved to the left by the spring-loading of collar 8, thereby disengaging the pinion 3 from the flywheel 4. When the main engine becomes self operative the petrol engine is switched off and the hand lever is released, the spring-loaded thrust rods 30 disengaging the clutch. The petrol engine controls may be positioned on the handle 17.