US1147424A

US1147424A - Engine-starter.

Info

Publication number: US1147424A
Application number: US87347514A
Authority: US
Inventors: Laban W Needham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1914-11-23
Filing date: 1914-11-23
Publication date: 1915-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1932-07-20

Description

L. w. IILEDHAII/I.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 23, I9I4.

l 147,42I, Patented July 20, 1915.

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TofaZZ whomimag/ concerm Be it known that I, LABAN W. NEEDHAM, a citizenA ofthe 'United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State .of. lllinois, have invented cer` tain new and .useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, of which the following is'la specification.

' This invention relates to the manuallyr actuated type of starters for automobileandy like engines, and more particularly type of such. starters which areac't'uated from the seat of an automobile.

And the present improvement haslfor'its objectto provide a simple and efficient struc tural formationl and association" ofparts,

adaptedto afford a substantial operative engagement between the nactuating' nfi'echanism` and the actuated drum of the engine shaft,

and in which an automatic and immediate relief of such operative engagementis effected by the forward rotation of the en-" gine shaftv underthe influence of' the engine piston. The arrangement being such that with the actuating mechanism in its inactive position frictional' contact with the druinl'of the engine shaft isprevented,with "a consequent avoidance of noise and wear of parts duringthe ordinary running of the engine',`

all as will hereinafter more fullyy appear.

In the accompanying drawings :'-F igurev showing the general j l, is aperspective view arrangement of the present starter mechanism as applied to an automobile. Figs. 2 and 3, are companion detail elevations of the starter :mechanisnnshowing the same in an inactive position and in an active position, respectively.. y I i Similar reference numerals.iiridicateu like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, l represents the internal combustion engine of an automobile, having the usual engine shaft 2, with which the present starter mechanism is associated. Said engine being mounted on the forward portion of the under-frame 3 of the automobile. l

4 designates a drum iiXedly secured to the engine shaft 2 and having a cylindrical perimeter adapted for frictional engagement with the hereinafter described clutch band of the starter mechanism.

5 designates the clutch band above referred to, and which is arranged to encircle the drum 4i aforesaid. Said clutch band 5 speciacatipn of Leners raient,

to the meenten aan; ao., reis.

' Application filed November 23, lele. Seria1No.-8'Z3,4-.Y5;

` above'mentioned attachingineans comprises an eye G at one end ofthe band, andr an angularly disposed flange Zat the other end.

8 designatesthe oating lever above referred to, and formed at one end -with al lug or yshoulder 9 for engagement with the aforesaid attachingiiange .7 of the clutch Vband 5; ln spacedrelation to said lug or 'i shoulder 9, the lever 8 carries a cross pin l0,

adapted for engagement with. the attaching eye of the clutch band 5, v

`ll designates Lone ormore springs attached at one end-to the automobile frame 3, andfat'the other end to the lever 8, adjacent tothe aforesaid cross-pin l0, and adaptedto draw said floating lever 8 and its associated clutch bande into the normal inactive'po'sition illustrated-in Fig. 2.

fl2-designates a fixed rest or abutment vagainst which the floating lever 8 is drawn by the springs 1l, in a return of said mechanism toan inactive position. And in such `inovement as the floating lever 8, attains a position of rest upon the abutment l2, the inner end ofsaid lever is canted into a position wherein :the attaching ends of the clutch band 5 are spread apart and the diameter of the main hoop shape portion i tact betweenl the described parts.

l?) designates a chain or like eirible operating connection extending from a point adjacent to the front seat of the automobile, and having next to said seat an operating handle le. lnterinediate of its length said flexible connection is deflected around a uide pulley or sheave l5, and at the other end to that above mentioned is operatively connected to the aforesaid floating lever 8, preferably by the intermediate link now to be described. I

16 designates an angularly disposed link or bar pivoted to the outer end of the lever 8, aforesaid, and held in such angular relation by a stop shoulder 17. With such con struction the initial movement of the floatm lli) ing lever 8, is effected With the link 16, in its angular position, and supported therein by the shoulder 17. As said lever 8 advances in its active movement, the link 16, leaves said shoulder 17, and its further function is the same as a link or section of the aforesaid flexible connection 1 3, to Which it is connected.

18 designates a pair of transversely arranged rails secured to the automobile frame 3, and disposed in spaced relation so as to receive between them the floating lever 8, and act as a guide for the same in the final portion of its active lmovement, and during a corresponding portion of its return movement.

The general operation of the starting mechanism is substantially the same as the friction band starting mechanism, heretofore used or proposed, and briefly stated is as follows :.With an initial movement of the floating lever 8, the attaching ends of the clutch band 5 are drawn together With relation to the hoop shaped main portion of the clutch band, with a vcorresponding diminution in the diameter of said hoop shape portion.' Accordingly said hoop shaped portion is caused to firmly grip land engage the perimeter of the drum 4 of the engine shaft, so that further active movement of the lever 8, will effect a circular movement of both the clutch band 5 and drum 4, and attain the desired compression of a charge of fuel in the explosion chamber of the engine.

Having thus fully described my saidl invention What I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a drum fixed 011 the engine shaft, of a clutch band encircling said drum, a floating lever having attachment at its inner end with the respective ends of the clutch band, a spring for returning said lever to its inactive position, and a stationary abutment adapted to support said lever in an inactive position and insure a movement of the inner end of the saine to cause a spreading of the clutch band and free the same from contact With the drum aforesaid when the starter mechanism is in- 5t active, substantially as set forth. f

2. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination With a drun fixed on the engine shaft, of a clutch band encircling said drum, a floating lever having attachment at its inner end With the respective ends of the clutch band, a spring for returning said lever to its inactive position, a stationary abutment 4adapted to support said lever in an inactive position and insure a movement of the inner end of the same to cause a spreading ofthe clutch band and free the same from contact with the drum aforesaid when the starter mechanism is inactive, a flexible pull connection associated with, said floatinglever and extending to a point adjacent to the seat of the operator, and a sheave for deflecting said connection intermediate its length, substantially as set forth.

3. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination with a drum fixed on the engine shaft, of a clutch band encircling said drum, a floating lever having attachment at its inner end With the respective ends of the clutch band, a spring for returning said lever to its inactive position, a stationary abutment adapted to support said leve-r in an inactive position `and insure a movement of the inner end of the same to cause a spreading of the clutch band and free the same from contact with the drum aforesaid when ,thestarter mechanism is inactive, anlangularly disposed link pivoted at the outer end of the oating lever, said lever having a lateral abutment for said link, a flexible pull connection attached to said link and extending to a pointadjacent to the seat of the operator, and a `sheave for defiecting said connection intermediate its length, substantially as set forth.

Signed atChicago, Illinois, this 21st day of November, 1914.

LABAN W. NEEDHAM.

Witnesses:

ROBERT BURNS, IVA L. CRANE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained fon five cents each,`by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.