US1071260A - Internal-combustion-engine starter. - Google Patents

Description

T. E. PLATER & E. B. REES.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED NO,V.11, 1909.

1,071,260,, Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON. D. c,

UNTTED STATES PATENT orrion.

THOMAS E. PLATE-R AND EDWARD B. REES, OF MONETT, MISSOURI.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION-ENGINE STARTER.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, THOMAS E. PLATER and EDWARD B. Rnns, citizens of the United States, residing at Monett, in the county of Berry and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion-Engine Starters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and refers particularly to an improved starting means for actuating the engine without the necessity of cranking the same.

An object of this invention is to provide an internal combustion engine with improved means whereby the same may he started from the operators seat upon the vehicle whether the engine has been standing for a considerable time in an inoperative position, or whether the same has been run at a short time previous to the starting of the same.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a device of this character which may be applied to engines of practically any formation and make in common use and also a device which comprises but few additional elements to the engines now employed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel means for ascertaining which of the cylinders is in proper adjustment for an impulse and means whereby a charge may be admitted to such cylinder irrespective of the carbureter used in connection with the engine.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the forward end of a motor vehicle, disclosing an internal combustion engine applied to the same and having the improved device attached thereto. F i 2 is a plan and sectional view of the improved needle valve employed, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the system of circuits employed for igniting the charge within the cylinders.

Referring to the drawings in which is disclosed the preferred embodiment of the in vent-ion, the numeral 10 designates the forward end of the frame of a motor vehicle Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 26,1913.

Application filed November 11, 1909. Serial No. 527,495.

upon which is disposed the internal combustion engine 11 having the cylinders 12, 13, 14land 15. The cylinders are mounted upon the engine in the usual manner and are provided with water jackets 16, the cylinders being disclosed as being cast in pairs and having integral water jackets thereabout. The engine 11 is provided with a timer 17 of usual construction, which is employed for timing the spark within the cylinders to cause impulses therein. The cylinders are each provided with a spark plug 18, which is connected in the well known manner to the vibrator coils 19 which is energized by the exeiter 20. The excite'r 20 may be either a battery consisting in a storage battery or a dry cell battery or may be a magneto. In the latter case if a magneto is employed it a is necessary to provide a storage or a drycell battery for starting the engine and a suitable switch for cutting out such dry battery and throwing the magneto into the circuit.

The means for starting the engine includes a needle valve 21 which is positioned through the heads of each of the cylinders and com prises a valve case 22 in which is disposed a stem 23, the latter being engaged by coarse threads through the upper end of the case 22 and retained thereon by a suitable cap 24. The lower extremity of the case 22 is terminated within the head of the cylinder, 'while an extension 25 is formed upon one of the same. The extensions 25 carry pipes 26 which lead to a header 27 which is connected by a conduit 28 to a gasolene tank 29. The tank 29 is provided with a suitable iinlet 30 and an air valve 31, the latter being I adapted for connection with a pump from which air is passed into the tank 29 to place the liquid therein under pressure for the purpose of sending the liquid to the Leader 27.

As will be noted from Fig. 1, the stems 23 of the needle valves 21 are formed in different lengths, the same increasing according to the outward position 01": the cylinders from the dash board 32. Crank arms 33 are disposed upon the upper ends of the stems 23 and carry connecting rods 34 which are extended hackwardly and through the dash board 32 where they are terminated in handles 35. It will thus be observed that the valves 21 can be operated independent side of the casing 22 adj aeent the upper end of one another to admit a charge of gasolene or other hydrocarbon from the header 2? into the respective cylinders.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the spark plugs 18 are connected by wires 36 to the vibrator coils 19. The opposite poles of the spark plugs being terminated in the cylinders themselves. The opposite wires 37 which lead from the vibrator coils 19, are terminated in the contacts 38 of the timer 17 which are consecutively closed in circuit through the cylinders by the operation of the sliding contact 39 mounted upon the commutator shaft.

For the purpose of locating the cylinder which is in position to receive an impulse by an explosion of the hydrocarbon, a plurality of glow lamps 40 are employed which are located against the inner side of the dash board 32 in view of the operator and are connected by wires 41 to the timer 17, the wires 41 being terminated at the contacts 38. A battery 42 is employed which is connected to the circuit with each of the lamps 4:0 and is connected by a wire 43 to the body of the engine 11. A suitable switch 44 is located at the wire 43 to close the circuit when desired. The tank 29 is disclosed in the drawings as being located beneath the floor of the motor vehicle, although the same may be positioned beneath the seat of the operator or any other convenient place.

In the operation of the starter the switch 44: is closed, which closes the circuit through the engine, by reason of the engagement of the sliding contact 39 with one of the stationary contacts of the timer, the circuits being closed through the engine, wire 43, switch 44: and battery 42. The circuit passes from the battery &2 through the respective glow lamps to which are connected by the wire &1 to the contact 38 of the timer which is in engagement with the sliding contact 89. As the lamps are consecutively arranged upon the dash board 32, the same designate the cylinder which is in position for an impulse. This cylinder is in such a position that the inlet and exhaust valves are closed and the timer is so adjusted that upon the closing of the circuit through the vibrator coils 19 a spark will be caused to take place within such cylinder. The operator now grasps the handle 35 which corresponds to the glow lamp 40 which designates the respective cylinder and draws same inwardly upon the dash board 32. This movement rotates the stem 23 and causes the needle valve 21 to open and admit a charge of hydrocarbon or vapor thereof, into the cyl inder, the amount of hydrocarbon being regulated by the time in which said valve 21 is held in an open position. The handle 35 is now forced into a closed position and the eXciter 20 closed in circuit through the vibrator coils 19. This action produces a spark to pass between the points of the spark plugs 18, and to ignite the charge thus admitted to the cylinder. This impulse to the engine thus causes the remaining elements of the engine to act by drawing in the charges from the carburetor in the usual manner.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In an automobile, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a plurality of engine cylinders, spark plugs arranged in said cylinders, a timer connected in circuit with said cylinders and said spark plugs, of a plurality of lamp circuits, each including said timer and said engine for indicating the active spark plug, a plurality of lamps mounted, one in each of the lamp circuits, a fuel reservoir, pipe connections bet-ween said reservoir and each. of said cylinders, valves, one for each cylinder and controlling the passage of motive fluid from said reservoir to each cylinder, and actuat ing devices, one for each of said valves disposed in conjunction with the bank of lamps.

In testimony whereof we aiiiX our signa tures in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. PLATER. EDVARD B. REES.

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