US1248460A - Electrical system for automobiles. - Google Patents

Description

F. CONRAD.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.I2,I915.

1,248,460. Patented Dec. 4,1917.

WITNESSES INVENTOR F RANK Comma.

S BY

- ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK CONRAD, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Original application filed August 11, 1913, Serial No. 784,044. Divided and this application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,738.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, FRANK CONRAD, a citizen of the United States, and a resldent of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Systems for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical systems such as are adapted for use in connection with automobiles or other motor vehicles. The subject matter of the present ap plication relates to electrical systems similar to that shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 784,044, filed August 11, 1913, of which this application is a division.

My invention has for its object to pro: vide a simple and efiicient means whereby the circuit of an electric starting motor may be controlled by the usual ignition switch.

It is customary, in the ordinary operation of automobiles, to permanently open the ignition circuit by removing the switch plug when the machine is left unattended and thereby prevent unauthorized persons from starting the engine. It is possible, when an electric motor is employed, for the vehicle to be moved by this means by any one accustomed to the operation of the starting device, notwithstanding the precaution of removing the ignition switch plug.

I provide a system that is so arranged that the starting motor cannot be operated when the switch plug is removed. The system comprises a starting motor, the circuit of which is controlled by an automatic switch and also by the plug switch of the ignition circuit. The automatic switch is controlled, in accordance with the engine speed, through the medium of an electric generator which is operatively connected to the engine shaft. The system is so arranged that themotor automatically proed on the armature shaft 7 for rotation therewith. The pinion is adapted to be shifted into and out of mesh with the gear teeth 5 by means of a shift rod 10 and a yoke member 11 which engages the collar 9.

The shift rod 10 extends through a suitable opening in the dash board and is provided, at its rear end, withan enlarged portion 12 which constitutes the movable ,core member of an electromagnet 13. The elec tromagnet comprises a coil 14 which, when energized, shifts the rod 10 forwardly against the tension of a spring 15 that is connected to the rod 13. and to any suitable stationary part. A switch member 16, which is carried by the rod 10, is shifted into and out of engagement with two contact members 17 simultaneously with the shifting of the pinion 8 into and out of mesh with the fly wheel gear 5.

An electric generator 21, the armature of which is indicated at 22, has a series field winding 23 and a shunt field winding 24. A cut out switch 25, which controls the generator circuit, comprises a core member 26, a series coil 27 and a shunt coil 28 which are normally in series with a series field winding 23 and the shunt field winding 24, respectively, An armature 29 has a pivotal support at 30- and is normally held in its upper position by a spring 31. A contact member 32, which is carried by, and connected to, the armature 29, coacts with a fixed contact member 33 that is connected to the coils 27 and 28.

An ignition circuit, which is employed in connection with the starting system, comprises an induction coil 36, an interrupter 37 that may be mounted, for example, on the generator shaft 38, and a distributer 39 that is operatively connected to the gener ator shaft. A storage battery 40 supplies current to the ignition system when the voltage of the generator is less than that of the battery. A switch 41, which may be mounted upon a dash boardv at any convenient point, comprises a removable plug 42. The switch 41 is the usual plug switch for controlling the ignition circuits of automobiles and is connected in series with the coil 14 of the electromagnet 13.

It may be assumed that the various parts are in their respective inoperative positions, with the pinion 8 out of engagement with the gear teeth 5. To start the engine, the switch plug 42 is inserted, and a circuit is thereby completed which extends from the ungrounded side of the battery through the generator armature 22, series field winding 28, coil 14 and switch 41 to ground. The coil 14 is energized to actuate the shift rod 10 forwardly to shift the pinion 8 into engagement with the gear teeth 5 and, at the same time, to cause the switch member 16 to bridge the contact members 17. The motor circuit, which is completed by the switch member 16, extends from the ungrounded side of the battery through the switch members 16 and 17 and the motor windings to ground. The motor then operates to rotate the engine shaft through the pinion 8 and the gear teeth 5.

As the speed of the engine increases, the generator is operated at a correspondingly increased speed. The electromotive force of the generator opposes the electromotive force of the battery, and, as the generator speed increases, the efi'ective electromotive force of the circuit comprising these sources is correspondingly diminished. When a predetermined speed is reached, the effective electromotive force has fallen to such a value that the coi1 14 is sufficiently deenergized to permit the spring 15 to retract the shift rod 10 and thereby disengage the pinion 8 from the gear teeth 5 and, at the same time, to open the motor circuit at the contact members 17.

When the generator voltage has increased to a predetermined value, the coils 27 and 28 of the cut-out switch, which are wound to assist each other, are sufliciently energized to draw the armature 29 downwardly and thereby connect one terminal of the generator to ground. The grounded connection extends from the series field winding 23 through the series coil 27, contact members 32 and 33, and the armature 29 which is grounded. The closing of the armature 29 operates to establish a short circuit for the coil 14. The generator then operates to charge the storage battery as long as the generator voltage exceeds that of thebattery. The generator also supplies current to the ignition circuit.

When the generator voltage falls below that of the battery, current tends to flow in the reverse direction through the series coil 27 and cause a magnetizing force to oppose that of the coil 28. The armature 29 is then drawn upwardly by the spring 31 to break the charging circuit of the generator and to "remove the short circuit for the coil 14.

In case the engine stops from any cause,

except the removal of the switch plug 42, or the generator voltage decreases to such a value that the effective voltage of the battery is sufficient to energize the coil 14, the pinion 8 will again be meshed with the gear teeth 5', and the motor circuit will be closed in the manner above described in connection with the initial starting of the engine. The engine will, thereupon, be started again or, if the usual engine clutch or transmission clutch (not shown) is held in engagement, the vehicle will be propelled by the motor 6 for a period limited only by the capacity of the storage battery or by the removal of the switch plug 42. The circuit comprising the coil 14 is broken upon the removal of the switch plug 42, and the spring 15 retracts the rod 10 to disconnect the motor 6 from the engine shaft and to open the motor circuit at the switch member 16.

The removal of the switch plug 42, when the vehicle is not in use, will prevent the use of the starting motor. In view of the fact that the starting motor operates substantially noiselessly, it is important that the unauthorized removal of the vehicle by this means be prevented.

It will be noted that I provide a simple arrangement whereby a single removable switch member controls both the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine and the circuit of a starting motor which operates automatically to propel the engine or the vehicle, according to predetermined conditions.

It is obvious that modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, and such changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as fall within the limits of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignition circuit therefor comprising a removable switch member, of a starting motor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said engine, and electro-responsi've means in circuit with said switch member for controlling said connecting means.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignition circuit therefor comprising a removable switch member, of a starting motor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said engine, and electro-responsive means in circuit with said switch member for controlling said connecting means and the circuit of said motor.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignition circuit therefor comprising a removable switch member, of a starting motor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said engine, and electro-responsive means in circuit with said switchmember for rendering said motor in- 'operative when the switch member is removed.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignition circuit therefor comprising a removable switch member,

of a starting motor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said engine, and electro-resp'onsive means in circuit with said switch member for controlling the operation of said'motor and said connecting means.

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignition circuit comprising a switch, of a starting motor, and

means comprising a switch having an actuating coil in circuit with the first switch for controlling the operation of said motor.

6. The combination with a gas engine and an ignition circuit therefor comprising a switch, of a starting motor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said engine,

and a second switch in circuit with said motor and controlled by the first switch.

7. The combination With an internal combustion engine, and an ignition circuit comprising a switch, of a starting motor, and an electromagnetic switch for controlling said motor comprising an actuating coil in circuit with the first switch.

8. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignition circuit comprising a switch having a removable member, of a starting motor, and an electromagnetic switch for controlling said motor comprising an actuating coil in circuit with the first switch. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of March, 1915.

FRANK CONRAD.

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