US1220692A

US1220692A - Engine-starter.

Info

Publication number: US1220692A
Application number: US6715315A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry J Schulte
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1915-12-16
Filing date: 1915-12-16
Publication date: 1917-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1934-03-27

Description

H. J. SCHULTE.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1915.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

H. J. SCHULTE.

ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION un) DEC. 16, I915.

IL ggafigg Patented Mar. 27,1917. 9 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@7' f4 6 if? 15 44? r 21 26 x 7% Q J f aye e.

HENRY J. SGHULTE, OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Application filed December 16, 1915. Serial No. 67,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'I, HENRY J. SoHUL'rE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fullerton, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an engine starter and particularly pertains to a spring actuated mechanism for rotating the crank shaft of the gas engine in starting same.

It is the object of this invention to provide a spring operating mechanism for starting gas engines which is adapted to be reenergized by means of the engine.

Another object is to provide a spring starter for engines adapted to be energized by the engine having means for automatically cutting out reenergizing connection with the engine shaft when the actuating spring has been wound to a predetermined tension. I

Another object is to provide a simple and effective means for throwing the spring into operative connection with the engine shaft .to rotate the latter. A further object is to provide'an actuating spring of the helical type so formed as to return upon itself to obtain a considerable spring length within a small space.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the invention as applied.

Fig. 2 is a view of same in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with parts broken away, showing the actuating spring and its connections.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section as seen on the line 44 of Fig. 1 showing the clutch connections of the engine drive crank shaft.

Fig. 5 is a detail section and elevation as seen on the line 55 of Fig. 4-in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the spring winding clutch.

Fig. 6 is a detail section as seen on the line 66 of Fig. 4 in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the crank shaft drivingclutch.

Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 77 of Fig. 3 as seen in the direction indicated by'the arrows. showing the manually controlled operating brake whereby the spring is thrown in and out of driving connection with the engine shaft.

More specifically, 10 indicates a crank; or drive shaft of the gas enginesuch as is employed in propelling automobiles and the like, and carried by a frame 11 of any suitable construction.

In carrying out the invention, the outer end of the crank shaft 10 is equipped with a pair of clutches 12 and 13, as particularly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The clutch 12 embodies an internal clutch member -14 keyed on the shaft 10, and an external clutch member 15 revolubly mounted and held against longitudinal movement in relation to the shaft 10. The clutch member 14 is formed in the shape of a disk having a series of tapered depressions 16 on its eripheral edge in which engaging rollers 1 are mounted. The rollers 17 form a means of connection between-the clutch. member 14 and an annular flange on the member 15 encompassing the, disk portion of the clutch, as particularly shown in Fig. 6, in a manner as will be later described.

The clutch 13 embodies a clutch member 18 mounted to rotate and held against longitudinal movement in relation to the shaft 10, and a slidableclutch member 19 keyed on the shaft; The clutch member 19 is formed with a taperedannular face 20 adapted to be thrown in and out of frictional engagement with a tapered flange 21 on the clutch me1nber 18, as will be later described. The clutch members 15 and 18- are formed 'With sprocket teeth 22 and 23 which are engaged by

endless sprocket chains

24 and 25, respectively. x 7' T Conveniently mounted on the frame 11 and supported in suitable bearings is a shaft 26 extending parallel to the shaft 10. Revolubly mounted on the shaft 10 and held against longitudinal movement thereon a sprocket wheel 27 formed with a brake drum 28 on one side thereof, around which a brake band 29 extends; the, brake band 29 being normally in engagement with the drum 28 to hold the sprocket wheel 27 against rotation. The sprocket Wheel 27 is engaged by the sprocket chain 24 leading from the sprockets on the clutch 12, as

shown in Fig. 1. Keyed on the shaft 26 is a sprocket wheel 30 around which the sprocket chain 25 leading from the clutch 13 passes, as shown in Fig. 1.. Wound around the shaft 26 is a double helical spring 31. One end of the outermost portion of the spring connects with the sprocket v wheel 27 ,1 asindicated at 33 in Fig. 3. The

opposite end ofthe outer coil connects with and is formed in continuation of the inner I coil, the opposite end of which is rigidly connected at 34' to a collar 35 rigidly secured to the shaft 26 adjacent the sprocket 27. As a means for preventing rotation of the sprocket 30 by the spring 31, a pawl 36 is mounted on a stationary bearing or bracket 37 and arranged to normally engage sprocket teeth 38 formed on the hub of the sprocket 30.

The clutch member is' controlled by. a

.lever 39 having a yoke 40 engaging an annular groove 41 on the clutch member. The lever 39 is pivoted at 4201i a bracket or suitable support 43 and has its outer end connected to a reciprocating rod 44 leading v to any convenient point of operation and which rod is adapted to be advanced or re tracted in any desired manner, to 'rock the lever 39. I

The brake 29 controlling thespring actuated sprocket 27 is controlled by means of a reciprocating bar 45 which leads from any'suitable actuating mechanism and connects with a bell crank lever 46 connecting with an arm 47 pivoted at 48 and connected to the brake band 29 as particularly shown in Fig. 7.

' The operation of the parts previously described is as follows:

Assuming that the spring 31 is under tension and'that it is desired to rotate the shaft 10 thereby, on advancin the bar 45 to release the brake band 29,-t e spring 31 will unwind and in so doing will rotate the sprocket 27 chain 24, and the clutch member ed, the shaft will continue rotating in the direction or the arrow a at a speed greater than that .of, the clutch member 15, the movement of which may be stopped by retracting the bar 45 to'tighten the brake band 29. The rotation of the shaft 10 will then cause the rollers 17 to be retracted into the enlarged portion of the depressions 16 out of engagement with the clutch member 15.. The latter will then remain stationary and the clutch member 14 will revolve therein.

- When it is desired to reenergize the spring 31, the rod 44 is operated to rock the lever ting out the clutch 13 when the spring 31 1 is lengthened so as to cause the member and move the tapered clutch member 20 into frictional engagement with the clutch member 18, which will then rotate and opbe the same;

'- Means are providedfor automatically cuthas been sufliciently energized. This means is here shown as consisting of a slidable member 49 mounted on the shaft 26 adjacent the outer end of the spring 31; the member 49 being adapted to operate a trip lever 50 to which a connecting rod 51 leading from the outer end of the lever 39 is attached. On tightening the spring 31 and contracting the coils thereof, this spring 49 to advance and voperate the trip lever 50 which in turn will actuate the lever 39 through the rod 51 in such manner as to throw the clutch member 20 out of engagement with the clutch member 18; the rod 44 by which the clutch had previously been thrown in operation having been released. This arrangement prevents the spring 31 from being over-Wound.

As ameans for permitting the spring to be re-wound independent of the engine shaft 10, the shaft 26 is formed with a squared outer end to receive a crank 52 as shown in Fig. 2. -Likewise the shaft 10 is adapted to receive a crank 53 by means of which it may be rotated to start the engine independent of the starting device should occasion so require.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In an engine starter, an engine shaft, 0 a spring for rotating said engine shaft, means driyen by the engine shaft for energiz ng said spring, means whereby the spring may elongate as energized, and automatic means operated by the elongating ac- 5 tion o f sa1d spring to disconnect the spring energizing means'from the engine shaft.

2. In an engine starter, a rotatable shaft,

a spring coiled about said shaft and secured at one end thereto, a rotatable element loosely mounted on said shaft and connected to the other end of said spring, an engine shaft, disengageable means connecting'the rotatable element to said engine shaft, disengageable means rotatably connecting the engine shaft to the first-men tioned shaft to energize the spring, means whereby the spring may be elongated as energized, and means operated by the elongation of said spring when being energized to automatically throw out of engagement said last named disengageable means.

3. In an engine starter, the combination with the engine drive'shaft, of a clutch member keyed to said shaft, a sprocket adapted to be" engaged by said clutch member when rotated in the same direction as the engine shaft, a second shaft arallel to said engine shaft, a" sprocket. 'w eel loosely mounted upon 'said second shaft, transmission means connecting said sprocket wheel and the firstnamed sprocket,-a springwound around said second shaft and having-one end connected I thereto an'dits other end connected to said .I

loosely mounted sprocket wheel, a brakeband engaging said wheel to hold it against rotationby said spring, a fixed sprocket wheel secured at theonterend of said second named shaft, a 'loose sprocket wheel mounted upon the outerjend of the engine shaft,"-clutch means for locking said loose sprocket, wheel ,tothe; engine shaft, transmis sion meansfortprosl ucing simultaneous rotation'fof the;. sprifc ietww'heels at the ends Of thefengine and second-named shafts, and

'a -ltoni'atically operabl'ejmeans whereby said mounted upon; thei'end 5 clutch member I connected withfth'e fir namedclutch mem 0nd wheel keyed'fb 1d i connected theret and spring may act-'tojdisengage the loose wheel of the engine shaft from the-.engi ne'shaf 4.' InQanI-engi e er,the combination with the engine ri berkeyed "onff ha'ft, a loose rotary :be disengageably bar, a second shaft, transmission gonna and the rotary-c111 wound aroundls 'Q- WheeI thereon, between said wheel "ember, a spring 'havin'g one" end opposite end attached to the, whee abi'akeeband normally engaging saidwwheel tofholdsame against rotation inoppdsi't n to thefs'pring, a sec- L last-named shaft,

a loose 'clutchlniemberion the engine shaft rotatably connected-to" said wheel, and

means for engaging; said clutch .lmember with the engineshaftto rotate the second shaft and a wind the spring thereon.

5. In an engine is'tarter the combination with the engine" drive shat, of a clutch member keyed 'o-nisaid ariae shaft, a loose I rotary clutch me'nibeifi adapted to be disengageably c0nnected f'with ,the first-named clutch member, a se'cond shaft, a. loose wheel ,the'reon, transmission,"connections between said wheel andtheJrQta TY clutch member, a spring wound around end connected thereto a .a brake'band normally engaging said wheelto hold same aga nst rotation in opposition to'the spring,

Copies of this patent xiiay'jte obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Wnrhington, D. 0.

tating I aft, ofa clutch mem-.

aidfshaft having'one I I and its opposite end attached to the wheel,

a second wheel keyed on said last-named shaft, a loose clutch member on the engine shaft rotatably connected to said wheel,

means for engaging said clutch member with the engine shaft to rotate the second shaft and wind the spring thereon, and means operable by said spring for automatically disconnecting said last-named clutch memher when the spring has been wound to a predetermined extent.

6. Inan engine starter, a revoluble shaft, a loose'wheel thereon, a helical spring wound around said shaft and returned upon itself, having one end secured to said wheel and its other end engaging the shaft, means for holding the shaft against rotation in oppo- 7. In an engine starter, at revoluble shaft, '7

a loose wheel on said shaft, a helical springi self with one end connected'to the'sha'ft and p wound on said shaft and returned upon itits other end connected to the wheel, means for holding said wheel against rotation,"

means for holding the shaft against rotation,

invone direction inopposition to the; spring,

said shaftfrom an en'- 'gine shaft, a clutchcontrolling said means.

means for rotating normally disengaged,qmeans for manually" tllI'OWlng in said clutch, andv means controlled by said springjforf' automatically throwing out the clutch when the fspring has been wound to a 8. In an englne a loose wheel onsa d predetermined extent.

self with one end connected to the shaft and Its other end connected for holding said" wheel against rotation,

means for holding the shaft against rotation I in one direction in opposition to the spring, means for rotating said shaft from an en- 'gine shaft, a clutch controlling said means for. manually F normally disengaged, means throwing in said clutch, a trip lever arranged adjacent the doubled end ofysaid starter, at revoluble shaft, shaft,.a helical spring wound on said shaft and. returned upon it? to the wheel, means spring adapted to'be engaged bythe latter on extension thereof, and means operable by said trip lever for automatically throwing out said clutchi'j v In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification. 1

HENRY J. soHUtTE.

Commissioner of Patents,