US1341327A - System op electrical generation - Google Patents

Description

C. F. KETTERING AND W. A. CHRYST.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL GENERATION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, I915. Patented May 25,1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

r2955 nu H7521? 41am M WW4 $7 j CLF. KETTERING AND W. A CHRYST.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL GENERATION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27. 1915.

1,341,327. Patented May25,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I69 I. I65 1 Q I, I I so C(F. KETTERING AND W. A. CHRYST.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL GENERATION.

Patented May 25, 1920.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2?, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- C. F. KETTERING AND W. A. CHR YST.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL GENERATION.

APPLICAHON FILED OCT. 27. I915.

1,341,327. Patented May 25,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MM me -W UNITED STA'ILES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. KETTERING AND WILLIAM A. CHRYST, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T DELCO-LIGI-IT COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPO- RATION OF DELAWARE.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL GENERATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed October 27, 1915. Serial No 58,207.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. KETTER- ING and WILLIAM A. CHRYs'r, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Electrical Generation, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to an improvement in what may be termed lighting plants, and more particularly to that type of plant which includes a prime mover or engine, and an electric unit including an electric machine, a source of power and other devices.

One of the objects of the present inven tion is to provide a plant of the above mentioned type, wherein the engine and electric machine are controlled as to some of their operations by certain conditions of the elec tric unit and engine.

One manner in which the above object may be carried out is to provide mechanism which, when actuated to a determined point by conditions of the electric unit, will tend to automatically discontinue the operation of the engine, and consequently the electric machine, and this stopping or slowing down of the engine may then automatically break the charging or main circuit between the electric machine and the work devices,which may include the battery.

That is, an instrument of the meter type,

preferably controlled by electrical conditions, may be so combined with the ignition system of the engine that when this instrument is actuated a determined degree, the said ignition system may be cut out, as

40 for instance, by short circuiting the sparking mechanism of the engine. This, of course, will effect the stopping of the engine and consequently the stopping of the electric machine.

Now, a control device or governor, preferably included in the system or plant, and which may be controlled by speed conditions of the engine, will be brought into actuation to break the main charging circuit, upon the slowing down or stopping of the engine. This operation will prevent the removed from their flow of current from the battery, back through the electric machine, which would, of course, tend to actuate the electric machine as a motor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an air cooling system for the engine and electric machine, whereby elements actuated by the engine may create a circulation of air currents about the parts of the engine and electric machine, which tend to become heated, and this samecoolmg system is preferably so constructed and arranged that cool air will first be directed against the parts of the engine and electric machine which tend to heat excessively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fan structure,

whereby the circulation of air may first be set up in a given direction, to force or draw the air into contact with the heated parts of the engine, andto then force or blow this same air in such a direction that it will again contact with the engine structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel rigging for mounting and controlling theadjustment of the commutator brushes of the electric machine, whereby any of said brushes may be readily assembled position for the purposes of making repairs or replacements, but which will prevent the adjust ment of any of said brushes independent of the others, while readily permitting the adjustment of all of said brushes concomitantly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined engine and electric machine structure, wherein the crank shaft of the engine will be balanced on one end by means of a flywheel structure and on the opposite end by the armature of the electric machine. By this construction, the necessity of providing a hearing at the armature end of said crank shaft, is eliminated, which may be manufactured at low cost, but which will be extremely durable and eliicient in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of cmbodiment of the present invention is clearly set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the engine and electric machine embodied in the present invention, certain of the parts being shown in elevation for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2' is a perspective view of the power plant, including the engine and electric machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the engine flywheel structure, with the end plate removed.

Fig. -t is a view in end elevation of the power plant disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the commutator brushes and the mounting therefor, and showing the relation of said brushes and their mounting to. the commutator of the electric machine.

Fig. 6 is a detail view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic viewof the electrica'l devices, circuits and connections embodied in the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a modified form of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that there is illustrated a power plant, including an engine 20, which may be of any suitable type, but which is shown in the present instance as comprising a single cylinder engine of the four cycle type. This plant also includes an electric machine 21, coupled to the engine in any suitable manner, and which is capable of operation, either as a motor or as a generator.

The engine 20 may be said to constitute a prime mover, which is adapted to be started by the operation of the electric machine as a motor, and which then adapted to operate the electric machine as a generator to furnish current for any suitable purpose.

The engine in the present instance comprises a base 22, which may be separate from or formed with the crank case 23 of the engine, and which supports not only the engine, but also the electric machine 21.

The crank case 23 has the crank shaft 24 mounted therein. This shaft in turn carries the piston 25 and its connecting rod 26, in the usual manner. One end of this shaft, designated by the numeral 27, extends through the bearing 28, mounted in the end wall 29 of the crank case.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the crank case 23 is formed of a single casting, having inner and outer walls 30 and 31 respectively. These walls are spaced apart by means of ribs 32, in such a manner as to form an air chamber 33 therebetween.

This air chamber extends completely around the crankcase, but is inclosed at one end of the crank case by means of the end wall 29, which also acts as a closure for the crank case chamber 3st. The air chamber, however, on the opposite end of the crank case, is left open so as to communicate with the fan structure 35, included in the flywheel of the engine. This end of the crank case chamber 34 is closed. by means of a removable head 36, which is secured to the inner wall 30 of the crank case.

The air chamber 33 is also open as at the point 37, so; as to communicate with the air chamber 38, formed by surrounding the engine, cylinder 39 with the draft tube $0. The upper end of the tube i0 is left open to permit the air chambe to communicate with the outside atmosphere, although a guard 41, which is preferably a screen, is secured to the upper end of the tube 40.

In, order to simplify the construction, and to. facilitate access to parts of the engine, the draft tube is constructed in two, parts, that is, a body portion 42 and a cap portion 43, which may be removably connected together in any suitable manner.

In the present instance, the flywheel 4A of the engine includes a fan structure 35, which is adapted to create a circulation of air about the cylinder and crank case of the engine, by drawing air through the screen 11, and down through the air chambers 38 and 33, and finally expelling or blowing out this air in such a direction as to cause it to again contact with the exterior of the draft tube and crank case, as is shown by the arrows in Fig. 1.

By including the fan structure in the flywheel of the engine, it will be apparent that as the speed of the engine increases, the speed of the fan will likewise increase, and the volume of air which is drawn through the air chambers, will likewise increase, so that a greater volume of air will be brought in contact with the engine, during high speed running of the engine.

In engines of the type herein disclosed, the top of thecllgil e Cylinder and the associated parts, such as the valve mechanism, etc, are subjected to greater heat than the other parts. By referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the cool air drawn the effect of the fan, through the top of the draft tube 40, will first contact with the parts which tend to become hottest.

In order to further assist in the cooling of the engine, the cylinder 39 is provided with flanges or ribs $5,, extending lengthwise of said cylinder. These flanges tend to radiate heat which is then drawn through the air chambers 38 and 33, and finally blown out by the fan.

The flywheel 44 of the engine, includes a hub 46, mounted upon the end of the crank shaft 24, which projects through a suitable bearing 47, carried by the removable head 36. The heavy rim 48 of the flywheel, is con nected to the hub portion 46, by means of radial blades 49, which are so formed and twisted as to form fan blades.

An end plate 50 is also mounted on the crank shaft 24, or it may be mounted on the hub 46, as is desired. This plate or disk tends to inclose the end of the fan structure and will act to refract or deflect the air which is blown out by the fan blades 49. As an assistance to the blowing out or expulsion of the air, a series of vanes or ribs 51 are carried by the rim 48, and terminate adjacent a to the inner face of the plate 50.

It has heretofore been explained that as the air is blown from the fan structure, it is so directed as to come in contact with the outside of the draft tube 40 and the exterior of the outer wall of the crank case. This deflection of the air is secured by beveling the rim 48 of the flywheel and each of the ribs or vanes 51 toward the disk 50, this.

construction having been found by experiment to deflect such a volume of the air into contact with the exterior of the draft tube 40, and the crank case of the engine, as to have a marked cooling effect.

Referring to Fig. 8, a modified form of the engine and its casing and draft tube is illustrated.

In this figure, the crank case comprises a single wall 52. The upper part of the crank case is surrounded by a casing or shell 53, spaced apart from the crank case, so as to form an air chamber 54.

A separate draft tube 55, which is supported by the casing 53, surrounds the cylinder 39 of the engine, and is open to the atmosphere at 56.

The fan structure and other elements of the system, shown in Figs. 1 to 7, may be sub stantially the same in this modified form, and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to further illustrate and describe the same in this connection.

However, it will be seen that in this modified form, the crank case includes only, a single wall, while the air chamber about said crank case is formed by means of a separate casing, suitably spaced from the crank case and secured thereto in any suitable manner.

One of the difficulties of operating an engihe and an electric machine at comparatively high speeds, has been that certainof the moving parts of both the engine and the electric machine tend to heat excessively, and it is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a system of cooling the engine, such as described above and then having this same system effect'the cooling of the moving parts of the electric machine.

In the present instance, as will be seen by referring to Fig. 1, the electric machine comprises a field frame 57, carrying the pole shoe 58 and the field winding 59, (only one of the pole shoes and field coils being shown). This field frame is securely bolted to the crank case 23,to hold the same in proper position. The moving part or armature 60 of the electric machine, is mounted upon the end of the crank shaft 24.

This armature will of course operate at the same speed as the crank shaft of the engine, and the eflect of this high speed operation of the armature, will tend to cause the heating of certain of the parts of the electric machine.

These parts, which tend to heat, are maintained relatively cool by means of the fan structure 35. Communication is established between the air chamber 33 and the interior of the electric machine, by providing openings 61 in the end wall 29. The interior of the electric machine also has communication through the openings 62 provided in the front end cover 66. It will therefore be seen that as the fan structure is set in operation, air will be sucked through the openings 62, and into contact with the interior parts of the electric machine.

The air will then be drawn through the openings (31, through the air chamber 33, to the fan structure 35, and then expelled or blown out by this fan structure.

Thus, the same fan structure is employed to effect the cooling of the electric machine as well as the engine. And, this cooling effect will be continued throughout the operation of the electric machine and the engine.

The armature 60 of the electric machine may be said to be floated upon the end of the crank shaft, and due to the balancing effect of this armature, relative to the crank shaft, no bearing is necessary to support the extreme end of said crank shaft.

The armature, as will be described hereinafter, is provided with the usual windings,

and includes a commutator 63, which cooperates with suitable brushes 64, clearly shown in Fig. 5. Each of these brushes is mounted upon a plate 65. Each of these plates is provided with a tongue 67, which fits within a groove or opening 68, formed in the adjacent end of the next succeeding plate. In this manner a complete ring is formed, which is secured by means of bolts 6 to the frame 57 of the electric machine. These bolts 69 pass through elongated slots 70, formed in each plate, so that while it is possible to adjust the entire ring, and there' fore all of the brushes, by loosening the respective bolts, it is impossible to adjust the respective brushes relative to each other.

The inlet and exhaust valves of the engine are located in the head of the cylinder, and are actuated by rocker arms 71 and 72 respectively, see Fig. 2. These rocker arms in turn are operated by reciprocating valve rods '73, one of which is actuated by means of a cam 7 1, while the other is moved by means of the cam 7 5, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

These cams are mounted upon a shaft 76, which carries a pinion 7'7, said pinion meshing with a gear wheel 78, mounted upon and driven directly by the crank shaft 24:. It will be understood that these cams are so arranged that they will actuate their respective valves at the proper intervals to open and close the same.

The above mentioned shaft 76 is suitably mounted in the crank case and has one end projecting through said case. This extended end of the sha 't 76 carries a cam 97, which tends, as said shaft is rotated, to make and break the ignition circuit by closing and opening the contacts 98 and 99, see Figs. 2 and 7.

A mixing valve or carbureter 90 is secured to the cylinder of the engine, in such a manner as to properly supply fuel thereto, and may be provided with the usual adjustments for controlling the proportion of air and gas, or whatever fluids may constitute the fuel.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that a fuel supply pipe 91 connects the carbureter 90 with the fuel tank 02.

This carbureter 00 includes the usual butterfly or throttle valve 04, which is connected with the rod 03. As will appear hereinafter, this valve 9-1 is automatically controlled as to its position by the speed of the engine, and in this connection, forms a safety device which prevents the engine from racing or running above a determined maximum.

By referring to Fig. 7, the electrical devices, connections and circuits, included in one form of the present invention, are clearly set forth diagrammatically.

The electric machine, which has been re ferred to heretofore, is preferably so wound that when operating as a motor for starting purposes, it comprises a compound wound motor, while when said machine is operating as a generator, the windings are changed so that the machine will operate as a shunt wound generator.

The circuits and connections, together with the controlling devices, will be clearly understood from the following description:

The storage battery 100 may be of any suitable type and may include any suitable number of cells. One side of the battery is connected to a conductor 101, which leads to the instruments 102 and 103 respectively. The instrument 102 may be an ampere meter, while the instrument 103 is preferably an ampere hour meter. It will be seen that the ampere hour meter is placed directly in series with the battery, so that all current which passes into or out of the battery, must pass through said meter. This meter will therefore indicate the amount of charge contained in the battery.

The conductor 101 terminates with its connection to the contact 104C, which is mounted upon a switch board 105. This board is preferably mounted upon the electric machine by means of brackets 106 and 107, see Figs. at and 6, and tends to support certain of the instruments, included in the present sys tem. That is, the ampere hour meter and ampere meter, for instance, are mounted on the switch board, as is clearly shown in Fig. i, as well as the circuit controller 108 and a switch 109, which may be adapted to control any suitable work or lighting circuit 110.

A contact 111 is carried by the above mentioned controller 108, which is adapted to co operate with the contact 10%, when the controller is manually moved from its normal open position to its closed or contact making position. The controller 108 is electrically connected to conductor 112, which leads to the series field windings 113 of the electric machine.

The electric machine is illustrated as being of the four pole type, and there are therefore four series windings or coils. One of these coils 113 is connected to the heavy conductor 114, one end of which is attached to the positive brushes of the machine.

The negative commutator brushes are con nected to the conductor 115, which in turn is secured to the line wire 116, leading directly to the negative side of the battery. At the point 117, on the heavy conductor 1141, the shunt field circuit is connected, while the opposite end of said circuit is tapped onto the conductor 116, at the point 113. This circuit includes the shunt windings or coils 118, as will clearly appear.

When current is passing from the battery through the series field windings to operate the electric machine as a motor for cranking p rposes, these series field windings are so connected and brought into circuit that their magnetic effect will be added to that of the shunt windings, thereby tending to increase the torque effect of the electric machine as a motor, whereby the cranking of the engine will be facilitated. That is, the above described construction and arrangementstend to give the electric machine the characteristics of a compound wound motor, during this cranking operation.

Supposing the engine 20 is at rest, and it is desired to operate the electric machine as a motor for starting purposes:

The operator will move the controller 108 to closed position, thereby bringing the contacts 104 and 111 together and thus closing the following circuit:

From the positive side of the battery 100,

current will flow through the conductor 101, through the instruments 102 and 103, across the contacts 104 and 111, to the conductor 112, via the controller 108, directly through the series field winding 113, across the armature 119, back to the battery 100, via conductor- 116.

There will also be a flow of current through the shunt field windings 118, and as before stated, the magnetic effect of these windings will be reinforced by that of the series windings. The result of this will be to increase the torque effect of the electric machine, as a motor, whereby to facilitate and insure the cranking of the engine.

Concomitantly with the closing of the motor circuit, as above described, the following ignition circuit will be closed, thereby furnishing ignition for the engine.

From the line conductor 101, through branch wire 120, to stationary contact 121, mounted on the switch board 105. This contact 121 will be engaged by the contact 122, carried by, but insulated from controller 108. Thence through wire 123, to the timer 124:, across the contacts 98 and 99 of said timer, provided of course that the cam 97 is in position to close said contacts, to the primary winding 125 of the induction coil 126, back to the opposite side of the battery, via conductors 127 and 116. The secondary winding 128 of the coil 126 is connected in the usual manner with the spark plug 129.

During the starting operation heretofore described, the controller is maintained by the operator in position to close the contacts 104 and 111, to make the main motor circuit,

and also to close the contacts 121 and 122, to

make the ignition circuit. However, during this operation, the push button or switch member 130 is forced into such position by the attendant that the contact between the plates 131 and 132 is broken, to thereby disestablish a circuit which normally tends to short circuit the series field windings, dur ing the generating function of the machine. This switch member 130 is therefore maintained in position to b reak this circuit throughout the operation of the machine as a motor, to thereby render said series windings effective.

Now, as soon as the engine becomes selfactuating and its speed reaches a determined point, the necessity of the operator maintaining the controller 108 in contact closing position is eliminated, inasmuch as this controller will be automatically maintained in this position by a suitable latch mechanism described hereinafter. The operator will also release the switch member 130 as soon as the enginebecomes self-actuating, thereby closing the contact plates 131 and 132.

Now, throughout the operation of the engine, the electric machine will be driven thereby and as soon as the speed of the engine has reached or passes a determined point, the electric machine will function as a generator, and tend to charge the storage battery through the following circuit:

From the positive commutator brushes, current will flow through the heavy conductor 114C, to the point 117, where a small amount of current will branch from the main line andfiow through the shunt field circuit, which includes the coils 118, to the negative commutator brushes.

The main charging current will flow from the point 117, through the heavy wir'e 114 to the contact 131, across contact 132 to the controller 108, via wire 133 and a part of the wire or conductor 112. From the controller 108, the current will pass through the con tacts 11 1 and 104-, then through conductor 101, passing through the ampere hour meter 103 and the ampere meter 102 to the positive side ofthe battery 100. The negative side of the battery is connected by means of con ductor 116 to conductor 115, which leads di rectly to the negative commutator brushes of the armature.

The conductor 114-, contacts 131 and 132, and the conductor 133, and a part of the wire or conductor 112, are preferably of extremely low resistance, in actual structure being made of comparatively large diameter stock, and being reduced in length as much as possible. That is, the resistance of this portion of the main charging circuit, is much less than the resistance of the series field circuit, which might be said to include the series field coils 113 andpart of the conductor 112.

It will therefore be seen that while the contact plates 131 and are closed, the series field will be short-circuited, and such a small amount of current will flow therethroughthat the regulating effect of these series coils, relative to the shunt field coils, will be negligible.

It has been described heretofore that the shunt field coils and the series field coils are so connected that during the motor operation of the electric machine, the effect of the series field windings will be added to the effect of the shunt field windings.

It will therefore be understood that dur ing the operation of the electric machine as a generator, the effect of these two sets of fields, that is the series field windings and the generator field windings, would normally be opposed, and would therefore effect the output of the electric machine materially. However, by providing the short circuiting arrangement described heretofore, the regulating effect of the series windings is substantially eliminated during the generating operation.

The construction of storage batteries and other types of accumulators at the present time, makes it advisable to provide means for preventing the over-charging of the storage battery, inasmuch as this overcharging tends to effect the eiliciency and life of the battery in number of objectionable ways.

As has already been explained, the ampere hour meter 103 is so interposed in the main circuit, that all current passing into or out of the battery, must pass through this meter. This meter may be of any approved type, but is provided with an indicating hand or element 110, which tends to oscillate over a suitable dial, to indicate the amount of charge contained in the battery.

Now, upon the battery becoming fully charged, this indicating element will have moved to such a position as to engage or contact with the terminal 14.1. The indicating arm 1 10 is electrically connected to the main line 127 of the ignition system, by the conductor 112, and inasmuch as the conductor 1 12 will be of much less resistance than the induction coil, timing device and conductors leading thereto, of said ignition system, these parts, that is, the induction coil and timing device, will be short-circuited. That is, current from the storage battery will flow through the conductor 101, ampere meter 102, ampere hour meter 103, to the terminal l-ll, thence through the indicating element 1&0, to the conductor 142, thence through the main line 127 of the ignition system, and back to the battery, via conductor 116.

By short-circuiting the induction coil and the timing device, the engine will be deprived of ignition, and will of course consequently stop.

From the above, it will be seen that as soon as the engine stops, the electric machine, which is connected therewith, will also cease to operate.

From the above description, it will be clear that over-chargingot the battery will be automatically prevented and that the means for preventing this over-charging is controlled directly by the conditions of the battery itself. However, it will further appear that it the engine is brought to a stop and consequently the electric machine is stopped, there would be a. tendency for the current to flew back from the battery, through the electric machine, and thereby operate said machine as a motor, which would or" course efiectthe starting up of the engine.

In the present invention, this back flow of current from the battery is prevented by the automatic breaking of the main charging circuit, as soon as the speed of the engine is reduced below a determined point.

The means for breaking the main charging circuit between the electric machine and the battery, is controlled by a mechanical governor, which is actuated in accordance with the speed of the engine. This mechanical governor includes a plurality of weighted levers 150, pivotally mounted 011 the fan blades 49 of the flywheel. The weighted ends 151 of these levers are held in normal position by the spring 152. The opposite end of said levers engage in a groove 153, formed in the collar 154, which is slidably mounted on the hub 16 of the engine flywheel.

This collar is provided with a second groove 155, in which one end of the bell c *ank lever 156 fits, the opposite end of said lever being secured to the rod 157. This bell crank lever is pivotally mounted on any suitable plate, such as is designated by the nume 'al 159.

The rod 157 extends upwardly and is connected at its upper end to the arms 160 and 161, which have a fixed connection with the bar 162 and the throttle valve rod 93 respectively.

The bar 162 is rotatably mounted in the bearings 16st and 165. Adjacent to one end of said bar, an arm 166 is connected thereto, and carries a plate 167, which is adapted to engage with a hook or latch member 169. This hook 01' latch member 169, which is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7, passes through an opening formed in the controller 10S, and has a hooked end, which is adapted to engage with said controller, under certain conditions, as will appear hereinafter.

The arm 161, which is clearly shown in Fig. 2, as being connected to the rod 157 at one end, while the opposite end thereof is fixed to the throttle valve stem, as mentioned above, is intended to maintain the throttle valve in proper position for the operation of the engine, except at such times as the engine is inadvertently relieved of its load, and tends to race or exceed a determined maximum speed.

From the aforegoing description of the construction of the mechanical governor and its associated mechanisms, it will be apparent that as the engine becomes self-actuating and the speed thereof tends to increase, the weighted levers 150 will be thrown outwardly and thereby cause the collar 154: to slide on the hub of the iiywheel. This movement of the collar 15% will tend to rock the bell crank lever 156, which movement will pull down the rod 157. As the rod 15? moves downward, the arm 160 will be so actuated as to turn the bar 162 and thereby swing the plate 167 downwardly, and consequently raise the hooked end of the latch member 160 into position to engage with the circuit controller 108.

As has already been stated, the circuit controller 108 is initially operated manually, against the tension of the spring 170, to close the main motor circuit and the ignition circuit, by bringing the contacts 104 and 111 together, and also bringing the contacts 121 and 122 together.

It has further been described that the push button 130 is actuated during this initial operation to separate the contacts 131 and 132, in order to secure the proper characteristics of the electric machine, when operating as a motor.

This controller 108 should be manually maintained in its contact making position throughout the operation of the electric machine as a motor for starting purposes, and until such a time as the engine has reached su'liicient speed to cause the governor to operate the latch mechanism, in order to securely latch the controller in its closed position.

In engines of the type heretofore described, and illustrated in the drawings, it is some times diflicult for the attendant or operator to ascertain when the engine has become self-actuating. That is, if the switch board, for instance, is mounted at a distance from the engine, or if the noise which normally accompanies the operation of an engine of this sort, is so reduced or muflied that it is diiiicult to distinguish, the operator would possibly continue to hold the controller in contact closing position, even after the engine had become self-actuating. Or, what would be more probable, would be that the operator would tend to release the controller, previous to the engine becoming self-operating.

Any premature release of this controller by the operator, will separate the contacts 121 and 1522, and contacts 104 and 111 respectively. This premature separation of the contacts will tend to cause arcing therebetween, which might prove injurious to the respective contacts, and therefore injurious to the entire system.

The present invention therefore embodies means which will definitely indicate to the operator when the engine becomes self-actuating, and therefore when it is permissible for him to release the pressure on the controller 108.

This means comprises a plate 175, secured to the controller, which will bear any suitable inscription or words, such as Helease or Running, thereby signifying that it is all right to release the controller, or that the engine is running.

A projection, or what may be better termed an apron l7 6, is carried by the latch member 169, in such a manner that when the system is at rest, or when the electric machine is cranking the engine, the plate 175 will be covered by the apron 176.

As soon as the engine has become self-am tuating, however, the latch member will be actuated, as described heretofore, thereby exposing the plate 175, which will bring the inscription on saidplate into view, signifying that the operator may release the manual pressure on the controller 108 and switch member 130.

From the aforegoing description, it will be understood that as soon as the engine slows down, or is brought to a stop, the weighted levers 150 will assume their normal position, under the influence of the spring 152, and this will tend to return the various parts which are connected with said mechanical governor, to their normal position, such as is shown in Fig. 1. As soon as these parts are returned to normal position, the latch member 169 will of course tend to release the controller 108 and the spring 170 will then force said controller into its normal open position, thereby breaking the main charging circuit and preventing a back flow of current from the battery, through the electric machine.

As has already been explained, when the rod 157 is pulled downwardly, the arm 161 will also be pulled downwardly, and this will tend to actuate the throttle valve in such a manner as to permit the correct amount of fuel to be delivered to the engine.

Now, in case the load of the electric machine is removed from the engine, such as by the breaking of the main circuit between the electric machine and the battery, the engine will be prevented from racing or increasing its speed to an excessive point, by the further operation of the throttle valve, due to the extended movement of the mechanical governor, in such a manner that the throttle valve will entirely close the fuel passage between the fuel tank 92 and the cylinder of the engine, and in this way will tend to prevent said engine from attaining an excessive speed.

lVhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described, constitutes a preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

hat we claim is as follows:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine, including a cylinder and valve parts; of a casing surrounding said cylinder and parts and spaced therefrom and including a portion which is removable to provide access to said valve parts while said valve parts remain in assembled position upon the engine, said casing provided with openings one of which is adjacent said valve parts; of an engine actuated fan mounted in one of the other openings in said casing and adapted to draw air through the opening adjacent said valve parts, and then through the space between the casing and engine cylinder and parts for cooling purposes.

2 In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine, including a crank case having inner and outer walls substantially coextensive with each other; a cylinder mounted on the inner wall of said case; of a draft tube surrounding said cylinder and mounted on the outer wall of the crank case; and an engine actuated fan mounted adjacent an opening formed in the outer all of said crank case, whereby air will be drawn through said draft tube into contact with the engine cylinder and thence between the inner and outer walls of said crank case for cooling purposes.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine having a casing provided with an air passage; of an electric machine having a casing provided with openings to the atmosphere and to the air passage in the engine casing; and a fan structure associated with the engine casing, whereby air will be drawn through the interior of the electric machine and thence through the air passage in the engine casing for cooling purposes.

4;. In a device of the cha 'aeter described, the combination with an engine having a casing provided with an air passage; of an electric unit including moving parts and a casing surrounding the same, provided with openings to the atmosphere and the air passage in the engine casing; and an engine actuated fan adapted to draw air through the interior of the electric machine, into contact with the moving parts thereof, and thence through the air passage in the engine casing for cooling purposes.

5. In a cooling system, the combination with a machine having inner and outer casings, with a space therebetween; of a fan structure associated with said machine and adapted to draw air through said space, and having provisions for expelling the air into contact with the outside of said outer casing of the machine.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine; of a casing substantially surrounding the engine and forming a space therebetween, said casing provided with openings communicating therewith; of a flywheel associated with the engine and mounted adjacent one of said openings, including angular fan blades and beveled vanes, whereby air will be drawn through said air space and expelled therefrom into contact with the engine casing.

7 In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine; of a casing substantially surrounding said engine and forming a space therebetween, said casing being provided with openings; of a flywheel fan structure associated with said engine, including a rim, angular blades extending radially to said rim, a series of beveled vanes projecting from the rim of said flywheel at right angles to said blades, and an end casing associated with the above mentioned parts, whereby air will be drawn through the space between the engine and casing, and then expelled therefrom into contact with the exterior of the casing.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine including a cylinder; of means associated with the cylinder to afford a passage for air in proximity to the cylinder; an electric machine driven by the engine having provisions for the passage of air therethrough; and a common device for causing the circulation of air through the generator and about the cylinder.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine, including a crank case having inner and outer walls with a space therebetween, and including a cylinder mounted on the inner wall of said ease; of a draft tube surrounding the cylinder and mounted on the outer wall of the crank case; an electric machine mounted on the crank case and having provisions for the passage of air therethrough and into the said space; and a fan member driven by the engine for causing the circulation of air through the draft tube and through the electric machine.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine having a crank case provided with inner and outer walls with a space therebetween, said outer wall being open at one end, an end wall common to the inner and outer walls, and a removable head for the inner wall; of a cylinder mounted on the inner wall; a draft tube surrounding the cylinder and mounted on the said outer wall of the crank case; hearings in the common end wall and in the removable head; a crank shaft mounted in the bearings; an armature of an electric machine mounted on the crank shaft and adjacent to the common end wall; a field frame mounted on the end wall; passages in the end wall providing for the circulation of air through the field frame and around the armature and into the said space; and a fan mounted on the crank shaft in proximity to the open end of the outer wall to effect the circulation of air about the cylinder and through the electric machine into the said space and out of the engine.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine including a crank case adapted to contain a quantity of lubricant; of means for cooling said crank case including an engine driven fan and a casing cooperating with the crank case to provide an air passage under the crank case.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine crank case having a common end wall and inner and outer side walls extending from the end Wall; of a detachable end member supported by said inner side walls and cooperating therewith to form an inclosure for certain moving parts of the engine, said closure adapted to contain a quantity of Inbricant; an engine cylinder supported by said inner Walls; a draft tube supported by said outer walls and surrounding the cylindder; and an engine driven fan located at the opening determined by said outer side walls whereby to effect the circulation of air between said draft tube and cylinder and the inner and outer walls of said crank case.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine crank case having a common end wall and inner and outer side walls extending from the end wall; a closure for the opposite opening determined by the inner side walls; an engine driven fan located at the opposite opening determined by the outer side walls; a genorator mounted upon the common end wall;

and passages provided in said common end wall communicating with said generator tor whereby air will be caused to circulate through said generator by the action of said fan. I

14:. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine crank case having a common end wall and inner and outer side walls extending from the end Wall;

a closure for the opposite opening determined by the inner side walls; a generator mounted upon the common end wall; passages provided in said common end wall communicating with said generator; a cylinder supported by said inner walls; a draft tube supported by said outer walls and surrounding the cylinder; and an engine driven fan located at the open end of said crank case determined by said outer walls whereby to effect the circulation of air through the generator and between the draft tube and cylinder and between the inner and outer walls of said crank case.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

CHARLES F. KETTERING. WILLIAM A. CHRYST.

Witnesses:

J. W. MoDoNALn, O. D. MOWRY.

Images