US1640714A - Engine-starting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1,640,714 Aug. 30 J. w. MORRISON ENGINE START ING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 13, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 30,1927.

J. w. MORRISON ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec 13, 1924 'IIIIIIIVII- gwuwntoz Patented Aug. .30; 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOE W. MORRISON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 13, 1924., Serial No. 755,649.

This invention relates toenginestartin apparatus and; particularly, to the'type o apparatus which includes an electric motor and means for connecting the motor with the engine including a pinion adapted to move into engagement with a gear con-v neeted ;w-ith the engine but normally out of engagement therewith, and devices whereby operation of the motor will cause the pinion to be completel meshed with the engine gear, after havlng been placed 1n partial engagement therewith, and whereby the pinion will be automatically disengaged from the engine gear when the engine starts. The objects of the present invention are directed more particularly to improvements in the manually operable mechanism for efi'ecting the initial engagement of thepinion with the engine gear. In the present invention the objects are accomplished by providing a spring which normally tends to maintain the pinion'out of engagement with the engine gear, a pinion shifting device, a motor switch, and the means for opcrating the pinion shifting device to move the pinion toward the gear. and to setthe spring for urging the pinion against the gear, and for closing the motor switch.

'Other and further objects and advantages H of the present invention will be apparent from the followingdescription, reference being made to the accompanying drawings,

wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings are fragmentary side views partly in section of an embodiment of the present inventionshowing the mechanism for connecting the motor 40 with the engine in different positions of operation. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates an electric motor and 21 the gear connected with the engine to be started. The means for connecting the motor 20 with the gear 21 includes a pinion 22, threadedly engag ing the spiral splines 23 of a shaft 24, op-- crate-d by the motor 20. In the form of 1nvention shown the shaft 24 is the motor armature shaft and is supported at one end by a gear housing 25, attached to the motor field frame 26 which, by-means not shown, supports the other end. of the shaft 24. Shaft 24 carries a thrust collar 27, and a thrust washer 28 is interposed between the collar 27 and the plane surface 29, provided by the housing 25 It is apparent that causing the motor to operate while the pinion 22 is urged against the gear 21 will cause the pinion 22 to be threaded into complete engagement with the gear 21 and against the stop collar 27, and that when the engine becomes self-operative, the pinion 22 Will beautomatically demeshed from the gear 21 due to spiral spline connection between the pinion 22 and the shaft 24 and to the faster rotation of the engine gear 21 relative to the pinion 22. r

The manually operated mechanism for causing the pinion 22 to be urged against the gear 21.and for causing the motor to operate includes a pedal 30 attached to a rod 31 which extends through a cup-shaped member 32 attached to the floor board 33 of an automobile. Rod 31 is connected with a pedal lever 34 pivoted upon a rod 35 supported by a bracket 36 projecting from the gear housing 25. A spring 37 located between the cup 32 and the pedal 30 tends to produce counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 34 until it engages a stop 38, provided by the shank ,of a stud 39, which extends through the bracket 36. A pawl 40, which is pivoted upon a stud 41, attached to the lever 34, carries a pin 42; and lever 34 carries a pin 43, These pins are connected by a spring 44 which tends to produce counter-clockwise rotation of the pawl until it engages a stop stud 45 carried by a lever 34.

Gear housing 25 supports a bracket 46, extending parallel to but separated from the bracket 36. Brackets 36 and 46 support a pin 47 which provides a pivot for the pinion shifting lever 48, carrying adjacent its upper end a stud 49, providing a bearing for a roller 50, which is located in the path of movement of the pawl 40. Lever 48 includes branches 51 and 52 carrying studs 53 and 54 respectively. Studs 53 and 54 are received by an annular groove 55 defined by flanges 56 and 57 which are provided by a sleeve 58 preferably integralwith the pin ion 22. A spring is connected with the stud 39 and with the stud 54. Normally the axis of the spring 70 is located at the left of the axis of the pin 47. Spring 70 is in an initial state of tension and, therefore, the spring 70 tends to produce clockwise rotation of the lever 48, causing the pinion 22 to be urged toward the left until the flange 56 engages a stop member 59 provided by the shaft 241 The motor switch 60 includes a case 61 attached to the motor frame 26 and provided with an actuating plunger 62 nor mally maintained in switch-open'position ,by a spring 63, which is interposed between the case 61 and a switch actuating bar 64, which is provided with a slot 65 through which the rod extends. The bar is confined laterally between the hub 34 of the lever 34 and a washer 66 maintained upon the rod 35 by a cotter pin 67. The bar 64 carries a stud 68 providing a bearing for a roller 69 which is located in the path of movement of lever 34.

The operation of the invention is as follows: 9

Normally the pinion and its actuating mechanism are located as shown in Fig 1.

To start the engine the pedal 30 is pressed downwardly, thereby causing the pawl to engage the roller 50, carried by the pinion j shaft lever 48. When the lever 34 first engages the roller 69, the bar 64 being yet in normal position, the pawl 40 will have 'moved the roller into the position 50, indicated in Fig. 2 by dot and dash lines. When the roller 50 is in the position 50, the spring 70 will have been moved so that its axis has passed to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, of the axis of the pin 47. The spring 70 is then set for producing counter-clock- ,wise rotation of the lever 48 and will, therefore, urge the pinion22 against the engine gear 21. If the teeth of pinion 22 register fwith the tooth spaces of the gear 21, the

spring 70 will produce partial engagement of the pinion 22 and the gear 21. If tooth abutment should occur, then the spring 70 will move the lever 48 at least as far as shown in Fig. 2, the pinion 22 then being urged by the spring 7 0 against the end faces of the teeth of gear 21, When the pin 50 has ment with the gear 21 does not already exist,

closing of the motor-switch will cause the shaft 24 to effect this registration. The spring 70 will therefore produce a partial engagement of the pinion 22 and gear 21. When partial engagement is effected, rotation of the shaft 24 will cause the pinion 22 to be moved into complete engagement with the gear 21, and against the stop collar 27,

as shown in Fig. 3. When the engine becomes self-operative, the pinion will be automatlcally disengaged from the engine gear 21 due to the spiral spline connection between the pinlon and motor shaft and to the faster rotation of the engine gear relative to the pinion. As the internal combustion .to cause the spring to be restored to normal position; that is, the lever 48 will be moved sufficiently in a clockwise direction from the position shown in full lines, in Fig. 3, to cause the axis of the spring 70 to be located to the left of the axis of the pin 47. Consequently, the spring 7 0 will be reset for moving the lever 48 into the position 48, indicated by dash lines in Fig. 3.

The automatic demeshment of the pinion and the restoration of the spring 70 to its normal position, may take place, although the operator may still maintain the lever 34 in switch closing position as shown in Fig. 3. It is obvious that movement of the roller 50 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position indicated at 50", may take place without interference by the pawl 40. After the starting operation has been accomplished, the pedal 30 is released. The spring 37 restores the lever 34 to the position shown in Fig. 1. As the pawl 40 returns from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig.1, it will ride over the roller 50. during which event the pawl 40 will be separated from the stop 45, stretching the spring 44 beyond its initial state of tension. After the pawl 40 is free of the roller 50 the spring '44 will return the pawl 40 against the stop pin 45. The return of lever 34 to the position shown in Fig. 1 permits the spring 63 to cause the switch plunger 62 to move up wardly, opening the switch.

If the engine should fail to start, after the pinion 22 has been engaged with the engine gear 21, the motor switch may be opened by releasing the pedal 30, although the pinion remains in mesh with the engine gear.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. 7

What I claim is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with the engine including a pinion adapted to mesh with a gear connect ed with the engine, and devices whereby'the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine starts and whereby operation of the motor will move the pinion into complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has been brought into contact or partial engagement with the engine gear; a spring normally set to urge the pinion away from the gear a pinion shifting device; a motor switch and means for operating the pinion shifting device to move the pinion toward the gear and to set the spring for urging the pinion into contact with thegear, and for closing the motor switch.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connect-- ing the motor with the engine including a pinion, movable axiall into and out of mesh with a gear connects with the engine, and devices whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine starts and whereby operation of the motor will move the pinion into complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has been brought into contact or partial engagement with the engine gear; a pinion shifting device; a spring connected with said shifting device and normally set to urge the pinion axially away from the gear; a motor switch; and means for operating the pinion shifting device to move the pinion toward the gear and to set the spring for urging the pinion into contact with the gear, and for closing the motor switch.

3. Engine starting apparatus, comprising in combination; a motor; means for connecting the motor with the engine, including a pinion movable axiall into and out of mesh with a gear connecte with the engine, and

devices whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine starts and whereby operation of the motor will move the pinion into complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has been brought into contact or partial engagement with the engine gear; a lever for shifting the pinion; a coiled spring connected with said lever and a stationary part, the spring normally tending to produce rotation of the lever in a'direction for moving the pinion away from the gear; and means for moving the lever to move the pinion toward the engine gear and to shift the spring until the spring tends to produce rotation of the lever in a direction opposite to normal, whereby the spring will urge the pinion against the gear; and a motor switch operated by said lever movmg means.

4. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a spirally splined shaft driven by the'motor; a pinion threadedly engaging the shaft and axially movable into and out of engagement with a gear connected with the engine; a lever for shifting the pinion; a colled spring'connected with said lever and a stationary part, the spring normally tending to produce rotation of the lever in a direction for moving the pinion away from the gear; a pedal operated device for moving the lever to move the pinion toward the engine gear and to move the spring until the spring tends to produce rotation of the lever in a direction opposite to normal whereby the spring will urge the pinion against the gear; and a motor switch operated by said pedal device. 5. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with the engine including a pinion adapted .to mesh with a gear connected with the engine, and devices whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the engine 'gear when the engine'starts and whereby operation of the motor will move the pinion into complete engagement withthe engine gear after the pinion has been brought into contact or partial engagement with the engine gear; a motor switch, res'ilient means adapted to urge the pinion against the engine gear but normally set for urging the pinion away from the engine gear; and means for setting said resilient means so that it will urge the pinion against the engine gear, and for closing the motor switch.

6. En ine starting apparatus comprising, in combination; a motor; means for connecting the motor with the engine including a pinion adapted to mesh with a gear connected with the engine; and devices whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine starts'and whereby operation of the motor will move the pinion into complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has beenbrought into contactpr partial engagement with the engine gear; a spring normally set to urge the inion awa from the gear; a motor switc a mem er adapted to be moved for setting the spring for urging the pinion against the ear; said member being restored to norma? by the automatic demeshment of the pinion; and pedal operated means for moving said movable member into said spring setting position and then for closing the motor switch, the pedal operated means While in switch-closing position being out of the path of movement of the spring setting member, whereby the restoration of the spring setting member may take place regardless of keeping the motor switch closed.

In testimony whereoffI hereto afiix my signature.

JOE W. MORRISON.

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