US1437061A - Starting mechanism for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

B. u. KUNKLEQ STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6.1915.

1,437,06 1 Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Bayard D. KUD/f/P 7 ATTORNEY B. D. KUNKLE.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILD APR. 6, 1915.

1,437,06 1 Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNE SES: INVENTOR Bayard 0. frank/e 06 BY Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

PATENT OFFICE.

BAYARD D. KUNKLE, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- noosa nmcrarc AND vam MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- STABTING IECHANISH EOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed April 6, 1915. Serial Nb. 19,480.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BAYARD D. KUNKLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsbur in the county of Allegheny and State 0' Pennsylvania, have mvented a new and useful Improvement in Starting Mechanism for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to starting mechanisms for automobiles and particularly to such mechanisms as embody a shiftable pinion for effecting the operative connection of starting motors to the engine shafts of automobiles or other motor vehicles. My invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient means whereby the operative connection of a starting motor to the shaft of an internal combustion engine may be automatically controlled in accordance with the energy supplied to the motor.

Startin devices embodying a longitudinally shiftable pinion which coacts with a. gear wheel for establishing the operative connection of the motor to the engine shaft have been proposed heretofore. hey possess certain disadvantages, however, in that the motor has acquired a considerable degree of speed when the gear wheels are brought into engagement. The meshing of the gear wheels is rendered diflicult, not only because of their relaltive angular movements, but because of the lateral pressure between the sides of the coacting teeth.

According to the present invention, a longitudinally slidable pinion is loosely mounted on the motor shaft. When energy is supplied to the motor, the pinion is shifted into engagement with a coacting gear wheel and, at the same time, the pinion 40. 1s connected to the motor shaft for rotation therewith. V

The details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which F i 1 is a side view, partially in elevation an partially in section, of a starting mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1 of a modification. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus employed in the arrangement of Fi 2.

Re erring gine fly whee particularly to Fig. 1, an en- 1, only a portion of which-is shown, is provided with gear teeth 2. An electric motor 3 is provided with a field magnet frame 4 having any suitable number of poles, only two of which are shown. The motor has an armature shaft 5 which is prov ded with a radially projecting in 6. A pin on 7 havin a smooth bore fitting the plain shaft 5 is oosely and slidably mounted on the shaft 5, and is provided with a clutch member 8 having a projecting member 9 or inclined jaw for engaging the pin 6.

The position of the pinion 7, relatively to the shaft 5, is controlled by a lever 10 that is pivotally mounted on a lug '11 that may be integral with the field-magnet frame 4. The lever 10 is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm 12 which extends adjacent to the field-magnet frame and is adapted to be drawn toward the frame by magnetic force when the latter is energized by the fieldmagnet windings. A spring 13 serves to normally maintain the lever 10 and the pinion 7 in their respective illustrated positions. A housing 14 encloses the pinion 7 and the outer end of the armature shaft 5 and proviges a bearing for the latter at its outer en It may be assumed that the various parts are in their respective illustrated positions, with the pinion 7 out of engagement with the gear teeth 2. To start the engine, the circuit of the motor may be completed by any suitable electrical means (not shown). When the motor windings are energized, the field magnet frame 4 exerts a magnetic pull on the arm 12 which is sufficient to actuate the lever 10 against the tension of the spring 13. The motor rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the right in Fi 1. The pinion 7 is actuated longitudina y on the shaft 5 into mesh with the-gear wheel 2. The in 6, which is carried by the rapidly rotating shaft 5, engages the inner inclined surface of the clutch jaw 9and the pinion will be drawn completely into mesh by the cam action of these coacting parts. The fly wheel 1 is then rotated to crank the engine.

When theengine starts under its own power, the pinion 7 will be driven at a speed greater than that of the motor shaft and the pinion will, accordingly, be caused to overrun the shaft. The relative motionof these n I an em loyed to designate -corresponding per the slot in )IW cuter inclined sur iaw'of the {few 9, to sh1ft by the electromagnet19, is supplemented by the cam actioIkQf the rapidly moving pinpower, the pinion 15 overruns the motor...

parts operatesby I --1.: The disengagement of. the. fly wheel is insured byjzthe 'actiom'oi the V 1 3 spring 13 which has been placedunder tensprin .13,.the pinion will be returne 'd-.hy

the lever 10 to its normal posltion. I

t cam inner inclined surface the pinion t0 -the' left,Ibnt

[engagement men when the gear wheels are'in mesh. As

motor, and the energization ofthe When the magnetic pull exerted upon the arm 12 is less than that exerted' by ,the

'A modification of my inventionis illustrated in Fig. 2, in WhlCh similar numerals parts. pinion 15'is provided with a elutch member 8 for. coacting w1th a pm 6 in the manner above described in connection with Fig. 1. The pinion 15 is fnrther'provided with a longitudinally extending sleeve mem-v ber 16 whichcoacts'with a reduced portlon 17 of the motorshaft. W I

The inion 15 audits connected parts are enclose by a housing 18 whlch supports, at its outer end, an electromagnet 19, The electromagnet comprises a coil 20,.that 1s in series with the windings of the motor if, and a movable core member 21 that is rigidlyconnected to the sleeve" member 16 of the pinion 15. A spring 22, that is interposed between the end of thereduced portion 17 and the end of the sleeve member 16, operates to normally retain the pinion 15 and the core member 21 in theirrespective illus trated positions.

viewed from the'right in 2. The coil.

20 is venergized to actuate the core member 21 and the pinion 15 to the left to effect the engagem nt of the latter with the gear teeth 2. As a ve described in connection with Fig. lathe force exerted upon the pinion 15 6 and the clutch jaw 9:

When the engine starts under its own shaft, and the relative movements of the clutch member 8 and the pin'6 serve to shift the pinion 15 to the right and out of engagemeat with right. soon as the engine starts under its own power, less urrent isre 11116Clt0'0 erate' the I I eldmage net poles will be correspondingly decreased.

' ing ,or t

the .geai teeth 2.- Since the load of the motor is materially decreased upon the startingof the engine, a'smaller current will traverse-its circult, and the magnet 19 will .be de.- .energized to a-corresponding deree; pinionfh' e;

When the magnetic force exerted on t e .coremember 21' is less. than .that of the t e pinion-f5 and the connected parts the 1: will noted that I provide a simple arrangement, whereby a shiftable pinion may ring 22', the latter will assist in actuating be automatically actuated into and out of engagement wit an engine member. There is no .possibility of the pinion remaining in engagement with the engine fly wheel after the engine starts under its own power hecause of the cam action that is produced whenthe pinionoverruns the motor shaft. 1

In addition to this means for disengaging the gear wheels, the springs, which normally retain the Einion in an inoperative position, assist 1n e ecting the disengagement of the connected partswhenthe opposing magnetic force exerted by the. controlling means is less than'that of the springs.

I clalm' as my invention: 1 '1. In a startmg mechanism, the combination with an engine member, and a motor having a shaft provided with an engaging member, of a gear member loosely mountedon said shaft, and having a plurality of inclined portions extending laterally therefrom for coacting with said engaging member to-shift the driving member in opposite directions according as the motor constitutes the drive drlven member, and means for controlling said gear member.

2. In a starting mechanism, the combination with an engine member and an electric motor having a shaft, of a driving member loosely mounted on said shaft, means compr1s1ng-a-co1l -1n series wlth said motor for .1n1t1at1ng the operative connection of said driving motor to said engine member and to said shaft substantially simultaneously, and auxlhary means for assisting said first mentioned means to connect the driving memberto said engine member and for rendering said connection inoperativewhen the engine.

member has been started. 7

., 3. In a startin mechanism, the combination with an engine member and an electric motor having a drivin shaft, of a pinion loosely mounted on said shaft, electro-responslve means in series with said motor for effecting the operative connection of said pinion to. said engine member and to said shaft, and automatic means for assisting said electro-responsive means to conhect the pinion to the engine member and for renderng said operative connection ineffectivewhen said engine member has been started. l 4. In a starting mechanism, the combinato assist in effecting connection between the movin said pinion into, and out of, operative re ation with said shaft and gear while device rigidly mounted upon said shaft and engine member and the gear member and for co-acting with a second inclined surface to withdraw the gear member from operative connection with the engine member when the engine member has been started.

5. In a starting mechanism, the combination with an engine-driven gear, of a motor having a substantially plain shaft, a pinion mounted on said shaft having a substantially smooth bore and slidable freely longitudinally and rotatably thereof, and means for the motor is rotating, said means comprising co-operating devices on the motor shaft and on the pinion for advancing the pinion into meshing relation with said gear and coupling it to the shaft to crank the engine, and for uncoupling the pinion from the shaft and withdrawing it from its meshing relation after the engine has been cranked.

6. In a starting mechanism, the combination with an engine-driven gear, of a motor having a substantially plain shaft, a pinion mounted on said shaft having a substantiall smooth bore and slidable freely longitudi nally and rotatably of said shaft, means for moving said pinion into, and out of, operative relation with said shaft and gear while the motor shaft is rotating, said means comprising co-operating devices on the motor shaft and on the inion for simultaneously advancing the pinion into meshingrelation with said gear and coupling it to the shaft to crank the engine, and for simultaneously uncoupling the pinion from the shaft and withdrawing it from its meshing relation after the engine has been cranked, and resilient means co-operating with said devices during said coupling and uncoupling operations.

7. In an engine starter, the combination with an engine member, a motor, a shaft rotated by said motor, and a driving member mounted on said shaft, ofmeans for moving said driving member into driving engagement with said engine member, said means comprising an electromagnetic device, and a co-acting with said driving member.

8. In an engine starter, the combination with a member connected to the engine, a motor, a plain shaft rotated by said motor, and a drivi member mounted upon said shaft and a apted to engage and operate said engine member .but normally out of engagement therewith, of means for causing the driving member to slide longitudinally with respect to said shaft, and auxiliary means for assisting the movement of said 'drivingmember into engagement with said engine member and for effecting driving connection between the motor and driving member.

9. In an engine starter, the combination with an engine member, a motor, a plain shaft rotated by'said motor, a driving member mounted upon said shaft, and means on said driving-member to engage with and opcrate the engine member but normally out of engagement therewith, of means for movin said driving member into engagement with the engine member, and auxiliary means operated by the rotation of the armature shaft for assisting themovement of the driving member into engagement with the engine member and for effecting a positive clutch connection between the motor and the driving member, said auxiliary means also serving to automatically withdraw the driving member from such engagement when the engine runs on its own power. 7

10. In an engine starter, the combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, an electric motor having a plain shaft extension, a driving member mounted on said shaft and ada ted to drive the engine member but norma ly out of engagement therewith, means for initiating movement of the driving member to effect connection between the engine member and the driving member, and auxlllary means mounted on the driving member for engaging the shaftv whereby operation of the motor assists in advancing the driving memger into engagement with. the engine mem- 11. In an engine starter, the combination with an engine member having teeth thereon, an electric motor having an extended armature shaft, a pinion mounted thereon for longitudinal and partial rotary movements relative thereto and adapted to mesh with the teeth on said engine member, means for initiating the movement of said pinion into mesh with said teeth, and auxiliary means controlled by the rotation of the shaft for assisting in advancing the pinion into mesh with said member, the subsequent rotation of said engine member, which exceeds that of the shaft, withdrawing the being mounted npon motor-operated;

, member to move into engagement with the .englne member, Saul means servmg to release the J driving member -from sxuch 'eni gagement when the engine runs-on its own 410 power.

In testimony whereof; I have igliigcrlbed my name this 30th day of M91611 7 1 BAYARD D. KUNKLE.

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