US1475815A - Starter for explosive engines - Google Patents

Description

G. H. GUNDERSON STARTER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES Filed April 15. 1922 Patented i ler; 2'7, 1.923

' or, in. M

Lei:

bra-n1 sla 5 Application filed. Apl'il 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it Known that I, Gunmen H. Gunner;- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairchild, in the county of Eau Claire, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Starters for Explosive Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to starters for ex plosive engines, being adaptable to stationary engines, or to those used in connection with automobiles, tractors and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide starting mechanism of that type wherein spring or other tension or power means is employed for initially rotating the crank shaft or fly wheel of the motor, wherein means of an improved nature is provided for mounting the spring mechanism, for transmitting the energy from the spring mechanism to the engine itself, and for properly maintaining the spring mechanism in a tensioned state after the motor has been started, so as to be ready for further use when required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a starter of the character stated which includes comparatively few parts, simply constructedand readily assembled; the several parts being so arranged as to minimize the opportunity for Wear, breakage or derangement, which may be manufactured, installed and maintained at a low cost, and which will prove thoroughly reliable and efiicient in practice.

With these and other objects in view together with others which will appear from the following description, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be described more fully hereinafter illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken through a starting mecha nism, constructed in accordance with the invention, the view illustrating the parts in the position they will assume when the spring mechanism is inactive. I

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view STARTER FOB EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

1922. Serial No. 553,303.

taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar View taken substantially upon line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken upon line 1-4 of Figure 1.

The starter of my invention is adaptable to explosive engines of the stationary type or may be used in connection with engines for use upon tractors, automobiles or other machines of a mobile type. In instances where the starter of my invention is applied to the engine at the time that the same is constructed, it may be established with the fly wheel or crank shaft thereon in a manner very similar to the manner of application of other well known starting mechanisms, while in the installation of the starting device upon machines now in use, little change or variation in any of the structural etails of the engine mechanism will be required.

The starting mechanism in the present instance is shown as included in a casing or housing indicated generally at 5. the latter being of such size and shape as to properly accommodate the mechanism in proper cooperative relation with the engine, the casing being braced by tie struts 6. The casing has rotatably mounted centrally and longitudinally thereof a starter shaft 7, the latter being mounted in suitable bearings within the casing so as to be freely rotatable therein,

and having a head 8 at one end to be firmly attached either to the crank shaft of the motor or to the fly wheel thereof. Carried by and rotatable with the shaft 7 immediately inside the outer head of the casing 5, is a plate or disc, indicated at 9.

- The drive mechanism of the starter includes a pair of normally rotatable members or heads 10 and 11, the same being both freely rotatable upon the starter shaft 7 and being preferably of equal. diameters. The head 11. is provided upon one face and centrally thereof with a sleeve 12, which snugly fits upon the shaft 7 and serves to maintain the heads 10 and 11 in proper spaced relation. The outer head 10 is provided with a flange extending inwardly from the outer edges of the disc and approximately to the head 11. This space between the sleeve portion 12 and the flange 13 accommodates a motor spring 14, the latter being firmly attached at one end to the sleeve portion 12 and at its opposite end to the inner surface of flange 13, and this spring shall possess sufficient tensile rengthto drive or rotate the motor shaft.

The head 10, which it will be recalled s loosely carried upon the starter shaft 7, is spaced a slight distance from the d1sc 9, and the space between the said head and the said disc accommodates an automatic friction clutch. This friction clutch includes a body 15 rigidly secured to the shaft 7, so as to rotate therewith, and this body has pivoted thereto at diametrical opposite points arms 16.

The arms 16 pivotally carry at thir outer extremities clutch shoes 17, normally lying in contact with the clutch ring or flange 18, carried by the head 10. The body 15 carries a pair of outwardly extending lingers 19, to which one end of springs 20 are connected, the opposite ends of said springs being attached to the adjacent shoe carrying arms 16. This contractile spring 20 nor mally maintains the clutch 1? in engage ment with the clutch ring 18 of head 10. The construction is such that the automatic clutch may rotate in one direction freely and independent of the clutch ring 18, yet in sliding engagement with the same, while rotation of the clutch mechanism or the head 10 in the opposite direction will create binding action between the clutch mechanism and the said head, whereupon the clutch and head will travel together as a unit.

The head 11 is provided upon its exterior surface with an outwardly projecting clutch ring or flange 21, adapted to be engaged with clutch head 22 carried by the outer ends of arms 23 pivoted to and radiating from the clutch collarQ carried by and rotatable with starter shaft 7. The arms 23 are preferably provided 'ith turn-buckles 25, whereby they may be lero thencd or shortened as required to enable the clutch mechanism to be minutely adjusted. The clutch collar or head 24 rotates with the shaft 7, yet is mounted for sliding movement thereon to ward and away from the head, 11. This collar may be either keyed or splined to the shaft 7, or the latter may be squared and the collar provided with a square central opening, as will be understood. This collar is moved toward or from the head ll. by means of the bell-era k as shown, the arm 26 of the bell-crank being engaged within the grooved member or portion 27 of the collar 24;, while the opposite arm 28 of the bell-crank is adapted to be engaged and moved, as will be understood, to control the movements of the said clutch collar.

It will be understood that when the collar 24: is moved proper distance, toe clutch heads or shoes 22 will be caused to bind with the flange or ring 21 of the said head, where upon a driving connection is established between the shaft 7 and the said head. Hetraction of the collar 24; will br al: this connection, whereupon shaft 7 and head 11 are free to move independently of each other.

The casing 5 rotatably supports an operating shaft 29, latter being arranged in spaced parallel relation with shaft 7. N ear one end of the operating shaft 29 there rigidly secured thereto a band operatinglever 30, which controls the movement of bralre band 81, passing over a braking surface formed on the outer periphery of .head 10. It will be observed this braking surface lies between the spaced flanges on the head so as to properly confine or house. the brake band thereof. This band and lever mechanism is such that when the operating shaft 29 is rocked in one direction, the band 31 will firmly engage the head 10 and hold the latter against rotation, while a slight rocking movement of the operating shaft in the reverse direction will cause this head to be released for rotary movement.

The operating shaft 29 carries second brake lever indicat d at 33, this latter lever being movable independently of the said shaft, the latter merely acting as a support for the lever. The lever 33 is secured to one end of a band 34 passing around the frictio surface upon the outer periphery of the head 11. A spring 35 tends normally to maintain the lever 33 with its hand engaging friction surface of head 11, while a spring 36 similarly ,maintains the lever 30 with its hand engaged with head 10.

The bell-crank lever which controls the movement of the slidable clutch collar 24 is operated by a rod 37 which is adapted to be connected to a lever or pedal not shown, arranged'in a position convenient to the reach of the engine operator. This rod is provided with linger 39 engagcable in a notch d0 upon the outer surface of a lever or arm all rigidly secured to the operating shaft 29, a contractile spring 42 normally holds the rod in retracted position when its finger 39 so engages *ith said notch.

In practice the motor as above described is applied to the explosive engine by aligning the starter shaft 7 with the engine shaft and attaching the said starter shaft by means of head 8, either with the crankshaft of the engine or with the fly wheel thereof. It is apparent, therefore, that starter shaft 7 will at all times be locked or carried by the crank shaft of the motor and will operate therewith.

Assuming the engine to be running. when it is desired to wind the tension spring 14- the rod 37 is moved inwardly so as to cause the bell-crank lever operated thereby to slide clutch collar 2% inwardly toward the head 11. This operation will at once lock the clutch heads 22 with clutch ring and thereby establish a drive connection between starter shaft 7 and the head 11. The drum band 84 is so arranged that no resistance is opposed thereby when the head 11 is rotated in a direction to wjnd the spring i l, however, should the spring attempt to rotate the head 11 in a reverse direction, the band 3% will at once grip and rigidly hold the head against rotation. The band 31 normally maintains the head 10 against rotation, so that during the winding operation the head 10 is held stationary while the head 11 is prevented from rotating in a retrograde di rection. As soon as the spring 1 has become tensioned the clutch 24 is retracted breaking the drive connection between the starter shaft 7 and the head 11.

"When the explosive engine is inactive and it is desired to start the same the lever or pedal is operated so as to move the rod 37 inwardly a slight distance. The toe or finger 39, which is engaged behind notch 40 of the member 4]., causes the operating shaft 29 to rotate a slight distance, this distance, however, being sufiicient to cause brake band lever 30 to release the grip band 31 upon head 10. The latter head is at once released to the tension of spring 14 and begins to rotate under impulse thereof. The shoes 17 of the automatic clutch at once frictionally grip clutch ring 18 and lock head 10 to the starter shaft 7. The motion of the head 10 is therefore transmitted to the starter shaft and rotates the fly wheel or crank shaft of the combustion motor. This action continues until the proper explosions occur in the cylinders of the engine and the latter runs of its own accord. When this happens the lever or pedal 38 is moved further inwardly until the finger 39 passes beyond and out of engagement with notch 40, thus releasing the operating shaft 29 to the action of spring 36 which moves the lever 30 back to normal position, that is, out of engagement with head 10. With the releaseof finger 39 from notch 40 the extreme inner end of operating rod 37 moves the bell crank lever arm 28 a distance suflicient to cause the clutch heads 22 to move into contact with the clutch rim 21 of head 11, whereupon rewinding of the spring is at once instituted. When the spring has become completely rewound the rod 37 is retracted to lower the parts of the clutch mechanism to assume normal or inoperative position, and the finger 39 again drops into the notch 21, as will be under-- stood.

The outer surface of the clutch ring 21 is provided with a series of gear teeth in mesh with teeth of a pinion 46 carried by the inner end of an operating shaft 17, mounted in the casing 55. Shaft 4:7 projects through the casing and may be equipped with handle 48 to enable the same to be rotated. This winding mechanism is provined. for the purpose of permitting the spring to be tensioned should it happen that the spring let is unwound while the engine is at rest.

From the foregoing it is apparent that l have constructed a starting mechanism fully capable of accomplishing the object set forth, and which though extremely simple in construction, performs its functions in a reliable and satisfactory manner. The control of this starting mechanism is extremely simple and requires no different manipulation. 4

While the foregoing is a description of the invention in its preferred embodiment, it is apparent that changes or variations in the minor details of construction, assemblage or arrangement of parts may be resorted to if desired, without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a pair of heads carried by and rotat-i able independently thereof and of each other, a spring anchored at its ends to said heads, clutch mechanism interposed between one of'said heads and said shaftand adapted to lock said head with said shaft when moved in one direction, means for establishing a driving connection between said shaft and the other of said heads in an opposite ci-- rection, a pair of levers mounted adjacent said shaft, a brake band carried by one of said levers and normally maintaining the first mentioned of said heads against rotation, a band secured to the other of said levers and maintaining the other of said heads against rotation in one direction, a rod adapted when moved a given distance in one direction to release the brake band carried by the first mentioned of said band carrying levers, and upon further movement in the same direction to operate the clutch between the second mentioned of the heads and said shaft.

2. An engine starter including a starter shaft, independently rotatable elements mounted on the shaft, a counter shaft, a motor spring between and connected to the rotatable elements, means frictionally engaging each of the rotatable elements, one of said frictionally engaging means being releasable, means on the counter shaft for normally urging the last-named frictionally engaging means into operative position, one of said urging means being fixed on the shaft and the other means loose thereon, and means for rocking the counter shaft to release the last-named friction means from its rotatable element, and means for operatively engaging the released rotatable element with the starter shaft when so released. I

3. An engine starter including a starter shaft. a pair of disks loosely rotatable on the shaft, a motor spring connecting the disks, clutching means between the shaft and one of the disks, clutching means between the shaft and the other disk, one of the clutching means being automatic in its clutching action, a counter shaft, a pair or rock arms on the counter shaft, friction bands around the disks and each connected with a rock arm one of the rock armsbeing loose on the counter shaft While the other is keyed thereon, an arm on the counter shaft, and an operating rod adapted to move the other clutching means into operative position and simultaneously engage the lest-named arm to rock the counter shaft and release one of the said "friction hands by rocking of the keyed rock arm.

In testimony whereof, I atfix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

GUNDER H. GUNDERSON.

Witnesses:

LOUIS JAooBsoN, HENRY PETERSON.

Images