US1088529A - Internal-combustion-engine-starting mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

J. H. BURTON.

INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINE STARTING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNB15, 1912.

J. H. BURTON.

INTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 15. Islz.

Patented 9b. 24, 1914.

z sHEETs-SHEET 2.

JOSEPH HAMPSON BURTON,

OF KINGSTON, NEW YORK.

INTER-NAL-COMBUSTION-ENGINE-STARTING MECHANISM.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2e, 1914.

Applicationiled .Tune 15, 1912. Serial No. 703,890.

To all fr0/0m it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JosnPr-I HAlyrrsoN BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kingston, in the county of Ulster and State of N ew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engine Starting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe invention has relation to starting mechanism for internal combustion engines designed chiefly for operating craft and vehicles of every nature such as automobiles, flying machines, and motor boats so that it is not necessary for the operator to leave his seat when it is required to start the engine.

rl`he invention is primarily designed for starting the engines of automobiles and is shown in this connection in the accompanying drawings, the mechanism being susceptible of a variety of changes when adapting the invention to a particular type of engine, such changes being contemplated within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure l is a front View of a starting mechanism embodying the invention as it appears when applied to an automobile. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. F 3 is a side view, the full lines showing the starting crank raised and the dotted lines indicating the position of the starting crank when lowered.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The numeral l designates the starting crank of an internal combustion engine and may be of any construction and arrangement. As is well known the starting crank when in operation has clutched engagement with the shaft of the engine but when the engine is running or is at rest the starting crank is disconnected from the crank shaft of the engine. In accordance with the present invention the starting crank l normally occupies an elevated position when disconnected from the engine shaft. When the starting crank is in lowered position or hangs pendent it is automatically brought into clutched engagement with the engine shaft by means of a spring 2 so that upon turning the crank the shaft of the engine is likewise rotated. The starting crank l has an extension 3 which projects laterally so as to face a side of the machine when the starting` crank is elevated. The extension may form a part of the starting crank or may be separate therefrom and attached thereto. When the invention is applied to origines already constructed or in use the extension 3 will be formed separately from the starting crank and clipped, bolted or secured in any manner thereto. By having the extension 3 projecting laterally from the starting crank when the latter is in elevated position there is a preponderance of weight to one side of the starting crank which normally tends to move the starting crank into lowered or pendent position, particularly when the means holding the starting crank elevated is relaxed.

The spring 2 may be of any construction and is attached to the machine in such a manner as to engage the starting crank when the latter is in low-ered position so as to hold it in clutched engagement with the engine shaft so that upon moving the crank from the pendent position into the elevated position the shaft of the engine is turned to effect a starting of the engine in the manner well understood. The weight of the starting crank and the extension thereof is usually sufficient to carry the starting crank from t-he elevated position into the pendent position and at the same time to engage the spring 2 to enable said spring to move the starting crank inward to bring its jaw or clutch member into engagement with the jaw or clutch member of the crank shaft. lV hen the starting crank reaches a position about midway between its pendent and upright positions it begins to move outwardly to disengage the clutch elements so that when the starting crank is elevated it is completely disengaged from the crank shaft with the clutch members clear of each other.

A flexible connection 4, such as a cord, rope or chain, is attached at one end to the starting crank or the extension 3 thereof, the opposite end of the flexible connection extending within convenient reach of the drivers seat to be operated for moving the starting crank from a. pendent position into upright position when starting the engine. The fiexible connection. ll may be operated in any manner and when the engine is running said flexible connection is held taut to fix the position of the starting crank when elevated to hold it out of clutched engagement with the crank shaft of the engine. For convenience the exible connection 4 is shown supplied with a handle 5 which is adapted to engage a holder 6 to maintain the starting crank in elevated position. The flexible connection e passes over a guide pulley 7 which is located at a point above the starting crank when elevated and to one side of a line passing vertically through the crank shaft of the engine. The guide pulley 7 is located forwardly of a line passing vertically through the point of attachment of the flexible connection t with the starting crank so as to hold the latter forwardly and prevent the clutch members from coming into contact. As shown a bracket 8 is bolted or otherwise secured to the frame of the machine and is strengthened by means of a front brace 9 and a rear brace l0, said braces being secured at their lower ends to the frame of the machine. The front brace 9 is utilized as a convenient means of support for the spring 2. rlhe spring 2 has the part arranged to engage the crank transversely inclined to form a cam to move the crank inward to bring it in clutched engagement with the crank shaft. This spring preferably consists of a light rod or bar which is connected at one end in any manner to the frame of the machine. By having the part 2 consisting of a spring it yields to enable the crank to drop into a pendent position and exerts a pressure to insure positive engagement of the clutch members.

. hould the starting crank be in upright position when. it is required to start the engine the connection L.t is relaxed, thereby admitting of the starting crank dropping into a pendent position and at the same time through the action of the spring 2 going into clutched engagement with the crank shaft of the engine. A pull upon the flexible connection turns the starting crank and should the engine fail to start upon one operation of the starting crank the latter may be operated a number of times by alternately relaxing the flexible connection Ll and pulling thereon. Aft-er the engine has started, the flexible connection is made fast by engaging the handle 5 with the holder 6, thereby holding the crank in elevated position with its clutch aw clear of the clutch jaw of the crank shaft.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

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

l. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting crank, operating means connected with the starting crank and extending within convenient reach of the drivers seat, means for disengaging the starting crank from the engine shaft during the nal movement of the operating means when actuating the same to move the crank for starting the engine, and a cam arranged to engage the starting crank when the latter moves to operative position to throw it into lclutched engagement with the crank shaft.

2. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination of a starting crank, a relatively lateral ext-ension projecting from the starting crank, a guide pulley located above and forwardly of the extremity of the lateral extension when the starting crank is in vert-ical position, a exible connection attached to the lateral extension of the starting crank and passing over the said guide pulley and extending within convenient reach of the drivers seat, means for securing the Hexible connection to hold the starting crank elevated, and means for automatically throwing the starting crank into clutched engagement with the crank shaft of the engine when said starting crank moves from an upright position into a pendent position.

3. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting crank, operating means .connected with the starting crank and extending within convenient reach of the drivers seat, means for disengaging the starting crank from the engine shaft during the nal movement of the operating means when actuating the same for moving the starting crank for throwing the engine over, and a spring extending across the path of the starting crank and having the engaging portion relatively .inclined to form a cam to move the starting crank to throw it into clutched engagement with the crank shaft when such starting crank is moving into an operative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JQSEPH IIAMPSGN BURTON.

Witnesses:

HENRY S. GULvnn, INA B. RATHBUBN.

Copies of this patent may De obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

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