US1280776A - Engine-starter. - Google Patents

Description

P) M. LINCOLN.

7 ENGINE sTAmiR. -APucATlon man MAR. 24. m 1

; 1,280, 77 6; Patented 00w. 8, 191.8

wn-ussszs I mvzm'on UNITED STATES PATENT ornrcn PAUL M. LINCOLN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINE-STARTER.

llIy invention relates to starting devicw 1 for explosive engines, and particularly an electric motor starter; its primary object being to employ an electric motor for making the initial turns of the engine shaft,

whereupon the active motion of the engine shaft releases the connection, the invention having the specific object of rendering such devices more accurate and economical in operation. I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawing, which is a partial sideelevation and partial section with diagrams and electric connections.

As shown in the drawing, I attach to the motor 1, an extended casing 2 into which projects the engine shaft 8 carrying the worm gear8 and Which/also carries an extension bdxing 3, in which are the bearings 4 of aneirtension of the motor shaft 5. This extension is inthe shape of a hollow square shaft 6, mounted upon which is a sliding worm gear 7 intermittently engaging the gear 8' on the explosive engine shaft. It will be apparent that when the motor is turning its shaft including the square extension 6, and the worm is in engagement with the worm gear 8, the worm 7 will revolve the eiigine shaft, in the direction as marked by the arrow, and when an explosion occurs in the engine and the shaft 8 of engagement position of the gear 7 I place a spiral buifer spring 9 to prevent hammering of theparts, when on account bf the expansion of a compressed and non 50. exploding charge in the engine cylinder the gear 8 may cause the worm 7 to be tem-- porarily thrown to the left without totally disengaging same. Within the square shaft 6, I also place a coil compression spring 12,

Patented Oct. 8, 119186 i Application filed March 24, 1914. Serial No. 826,903.

which normally holds the worm 7 in disengaged position to the left. By means of flattened pin ll, extending through. sic" in the shaftti, the worin 7 is attached to slidlug extension 10 which at its out r end carries a solenoid plunger 13, worl-nn a dashpot barrel l and forming the coreof the electromagnet 15. This solenoid operates to push the shaft 10 and gear 7 to the right as now shown, by the closing of the switch 17 on the contact 18, thereby putting the battery 16 in circuit with the motor leads 21, 22, and the leads to the solenoid. 15.

It will be noted therefore that in the original starting of the motor, the circuit contains the resistance of coil 15 and this coil preferably has high resistance, so as to keep down the flow of the current through the motor 1 and causes it to start compare-- tively' slowly, the solenoid absorbing rnost of the energy in moving the plunger to the.

within only enough power to turn it and move the worm 7. After the engagement of the worm with. wheel 8 however, and in the working position of the parts, the solenoid is no longer of any use, and meantime the motor is called upon for much heavier work. With this in view I short-circuit the solenoid coil proper position, thus connecting the con tacts 24, 24?. respectively connected to the leads of the solenoid. It is evident that this contact cannot he made until worm 7 is en'- tirely engaged. with gear wheel 8.

Of course the starting of the engine will throw out the worm 7; but even if the switch 17 is still depressed, the motor is takingv a reduced current from the battery and on ac count of this reduction in current the solenoid will, not be strong enough to, push the worm back into mesh. The counter-electromotive forceof the {now running motor will keep down the current {and it will be understood that I intend the solenoid 15 to be so designed as not to actuate the worm with such reduced current. The spring. 19 attached to the switch 17, is adjustable by a enough to form an air dashpot, to prevent too sudden movements of the plunger and worm 7 in either direction, and of course the spring 12 normally keeps the worm out of engagement. The various advantages of this arrangement'will beR-ipparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim is: I

1. An explosive-engine starter comprising the combination with a gear membenon the engine shaft, of an electric motor having a sliding gear member on its shaft, a solenoid having its core also on the shaft and in circuit with the motor and a battery and adapted to move said sliding gear member into temporary engagement with said gear, cushioning means for said sliding gear 1nemberand resilient means for holding it normally in its out-of-mesh position.

2. In a starting device for an explosive engine, the combination with a gear member on the engine shaft, of an electric motor provided with a gear member on its shaft that is movable longitudinally into and out of mesh with the en inc-shaft gear member, a solenoid in circuit with the electric motor and having acore that is movable to effect temporary engagement of said gear members, cushioning means for said movable gear member and a switch for simultaneouslyclosing the solenoid and the motor circuits, substantially as described.

3. An engine starter comprising a motor and a shaft and gearing adapted to temporarily engage and rotate the engine shaft, a supplemental shaft sliding in, but turning with, the motor shaft, a solenoid having its core attached to said supplemental shaft, an electric circuit and a switch adapted to first make the circuit through the solenoid coil ,and the motor windings and a switch adapted to afterward short-circuit the solenoid, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. An engine starter. comprising a motor and means for effecting a temporary operative connection whereby the motor first turns the engine shaft and is disconnected therefrom when the engine becomes self-operating, a bufi'er spring for receiving the impact of a movable member of said means as it moves into operative position, a spring for holding said member normally in a nonoperative position, an operating solenoid and means for checking the movements of the solenoid core, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence ofthe two subscribed witnesses.

PAUL M. LIN GOLN.

Vitnesses:

FnnnK. STAUB, Jo. BAILY BROWN.

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