US1292110A - Electric starter for automobiles. - Google Patents

Description

N. R. SIMPSON.

ELECTRIC STARTER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-22, I9i6.

Eaten'ted Jan. 21,1919.

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ELECTRH) STARTER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLXCATEON HLED DEC. 22, 1938 .7 Ada.

[NVEHTCZR 1 K r jaw mam, gra asan UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN R. SIMPSON, OF ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA,

ASSIGNOR OF ONE- SIXTEENTI-I TO NEWTON A. JONES, TWO-SIXTE-ENTHS TO JOHN C. OVERMAN, AND FIVE-SIXTEENTHS TO MARION M. HARRIS, ALL OF ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CARO- LINA, AND FOUR-SIXTEENTHS TO CARROLL B. SPENCER, OF SWANQUARTER, NORTH CAROLINA.

ELECTRIC STARTER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application filed December 22, 1916. semi No. 138,448.

This invention relates to internal combus tion engines, and more especially to starting devices; and the object of the same is to provide the fly wheel of an engine of this kind with an electric motor by means of which the fly wheel can be rotated and the engine started when desired, by closing a circuit through a battery carried somewhere on the vehicle. After the engine is running, the motor generates electricity which recharges the battery in a manner which will be clear.

Details of construction are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a general side elevation of the engine of a. motor vehicle and the fly wheel thereof containing the starter.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the fly wheel, partly in section, and

Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged detail taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, while Fig. 4 is a radial section taken on about the line 4.4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail showing how the ends of the ring-parts may be brought together and fastened.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the wiring.

. The engine is broadly designated by the letter E in Fig. 1 and the frame by the letter F, the fly wheel W being here mounted on the main shaft M in the rear of the engine as usual. Referring now to Fig. 1, the rim of the fly wheel W is rabbeted around its front corner as at 1, and within the rabbet is fixed a ring 2 provided with a dovetailed channel 3 in which is seated a ring 4 of insulation material such ashard rubber. In this ring at intervals are .placed commutator segments 5 which project beyond the front face of the wheel-rim. In theillustration herewith there are sixteen of these segments as best seen in Fig.2, and I prefer to use about that number when there are four pole pieces in the field as hereinafter described. However, I do not wish to be limited in this particular. Around the periphery of the wheel is a two-part ring 6, the ends of the two parts being shown in Fig. 5 as having outturned ears 7 connected by a bolt or rivet 8, and the entire ring being detachably mounted on the rim of the wheel by tightening up on said bolts 8, although when they are loosened of course the ring can be removed. Carried by said ring at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the segments 5 are pole pieces 10, each preferably removably secured to the ring by means such as the screws 11 in Fig. 4; and in the same view the numeral 12 designates the winding of the coil. while 13 is the terminal wire leading from such coil to the segment 5. So much of the mechanism as has been described is carried by and rotated with the fly wheel.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the numeral 20 designates a ring considerably larger than the fly wheel and entirely surrounding and spaced from the same, and this ring has lugs 21 at opposite points by means of which it may be supported from the frame F. This ring carries four field magnets, one of which is shown in section in this view. The numeral 22 designates a. fixed pole or block. held to the ring by suitable means such as a screw 23. and 24 is the coil surrounding this block. Disposed between these pole pieces are the brushes herein shown as consisting of carbon blocks 25 resting against the commutator segments 5 as the latter revolve, the blocks being borne inward by suitable means as spring contacts 26 connected with binding posts 27 as seen in Fig. 3. By preference each block moves in a guide 28 at the inner end of a bracket 29 which is mounted on the rings 20, and when the block 25 becomes worn it may be taken out of the guide and replaced by another. It will not be necessary for the purposes of this specification to amplify the wiring further than as illustrated in diagram in Fig. 6 wherein B designates a battery on the body of the car, and S a circuit closer or switch of the usual type.

With this improved electric motor constructed in substantially the manner described and mounted on the fly wheel of an internal combustion engine, when it is desired to start the same, the operator has but to close the switch S and complete the circuit from the battery B to the motor so that the latter starts at once and quickly, silently,

andpowerfully turns the-fly wheel W and be thrownonto a shunt winding so that after the engine is running the rotation of the fly wheel and motor will recharge the battery B; but as this forms no part of the resent invention I have not illustrated the details thereof. Norhave I shown the batteryexcept in diagram at B in Fig. 6, but it is clear that this battery must be 'of'sufiicient size and power to generateenough energy in the motor to turn over the main shaft M against the resistance set up by the compression in the cylinders of the engine. However, with my motor built into a fly wheel of 'the'usual size on automobiles, it'will ordinarily have suflicient pulling power to start an engine where the compression is not excessive. While I propose'to build this starter as part of the equipment ofautomobiles when made in the factory, it is quite possible to apply it to an automobile already on the ni'ar'ket and in use. In that case, howevenjit would doubtless be preferable to omit the rabbet 1 and attach the ring 2 directly to thefoifiward side of the rim W 01 the wheel by some other means such as will readily suggest themselves. The ring 6 of course being'made in twoparts can be slipped over the flat periphery of the rim W "and drawn tightly thereon by setting up the bolts 8. Insom'e makes of automobiles there is a hood or Qopies of thispatent may be obtained for sufliciently to permit the-entry of the ring 20 and the parts carried thereby. Otherwise there is no change to the structure of the automobile or the engine, and this starter may be applied and used without the introduction of any. gearing or belting, chains or clutches, levers or controls, except the or dinary battery B and switch S.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a motor for use as an engine starter,

' a rotor comprising a revolving element and a ring mounted thereon,'said ringbein'g secured upon the periphery of said revolving element and comprising two parts adapted to be clamped thereon, the extremity of'each part being formed with o'utturnedfears, the ears at the abutting ends of the parts being arranged adjacent each other, and bolts en gaging the contacting ears'for drawing the ring into holding contact with the periphery or" the revolving element.

2. In a motor for use as an engine starter, a revolving elementrabbeted in its front face, a ring set into said rabbet and formed with a dovetailed channehinsulation within said channel, commutator segments held within-the channel and against the ring by the insulation, said ring having a laterally extending portion comprising two parts to engage the periphery of the revolving element, and means for clamping said parts to secure. them on the element. v

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

NORMAN R. SIMPSON. Witnesses;

N. L. ConnAMER, BnNNn'rr S. Jones.

five pent; men, by eddreuing the "Commissioner o! Eatentu, Washington, 1L0. V

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