US1650637A - Engine starter - Google Patents

Description

Nov. Z9, 1927. 1,650,637

w. L. McGRATH ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 5. 1925 Z5 ZO 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W Inc/emr i 'm //Wfm ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 5. 1923 Nov. 29, 1927.

the pinion in disengaged WILLIAM L. MCGRTH, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 .ECLIPSE .MACHINE COMPANY, F ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

atan

nneiivn s'ramnn.

Application led November 5, 1923. Serial No. 672,910. l

My invention has relation to means for starting or cranking an engine such as an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to that part of the engine starter system known as the drive or transmission which transmits the power of the prime mover such as an electric motor to a member of the engine `to be started such as the flywheel thereof, such drive being capable of manual operation for engagement with the engine member and of automatic disengagement therefrom when the engine operates under its own power. ln the practice of my invention, a driving member such as a pinion which is adapted to engage or mesh with the engine member cooperates with a spring adapted, to hold such pinion in a normal position upon its shaft and the object of my invention is to provide .means whereby the so pressure or tension of thisspring may be varied according to the different relative positions of the pinion on its shaft, in particular to lessen the tension of the spring at the time of the disengagement of the pinion from the engine member or fly-Wheel when" there should be substantially no resistance encountered by the pinion in its longitudinal movement for that purpose, and tov increase the tension of such spring against therpinion when disengaged and held in retracted position on its shaftso as to insure the return of the pinion to its normal position.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevationv partly in section of the engine starter system embodying my invention and showing the parts in their normal or disengaged posit-ion; Fig. 2 a View similar toFig. 1' but illustrating Jthe parts in engaged position; Fig. 3 a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing osition and the manual shift mechanism sti l in operated or shifted position; Fig. la view similar to Fig. 1 exceptthat the pinion is shown at its innermost position justbefore its shaft has r been returned to normal position to release suchl `pinion from its retained position shown; Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of the parts as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 a detailed view of the part of the shaft orsleeve; Fig. 7 a view of one endof the pinion; Fig. 8 a cross section of the pinion on the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7 Fig 9 a sectional elevation on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5; Fig. 10 a sectional elevation of a starter system embodying a Mmodiedforin of construction; Fig 1,1 a de-` tailed view of the` shaft and the spring retainer; Fig. 12 a longitudinalsection of the shaft.

For the purpose of a clear and definite disclosure of my invention, I have shown the 'same embodied in two different constructions of diive, one being illustrated in Figs. 1 tol 9 and the other in Figs. 1() to 12, but it will be understood that such invention may be embodied in structures of somewhat` different formation and arrangement, Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. It will also be understood that while I have shown my invention incorporated in a so-called outboard type of drive and also in the direct type of drive, the same may be incorporated in the nboard type and also in the indirect type of drive.

Referring to the particular embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, the priine mover is an electric motor 1 which is provided with an 'extended armature shaft 2 having a suitable bearing 3 at its outer end. This motor is provided with a suit-able switch and the usual electrical connections (not shown) which are preferably actuated by the manual or pedal shift connections hereinafter described.

Upon the driving or armature shaft 2, there is mounted a hollow shaft or sleeve 4 for rotary [movement with 'the armature shaft and for longitudinal movement thereon. Thishollow shaft may be made in one piece or in two pieces as shown in Fig) 5, with one piece provided with a screw threaded portion 5. As shown, this sleeve which may be termed a screw-shaft, is splined to the armature shaft by meansV of the cooperating splines 6 which are indicated more clearly in Figs. 5 and 12. The screw-shaft is provi ed at its inner end withthe parallel collars or flanges? as either separate or integral parts which flanges form an intervening circumferential groove 8 .with which cooperates the rollers 9 of suitable shifting means.

Such shifting means are here shown as a of a pinion 12 adapted to mesh with the teethl of the flywheel v13 and threaded upon the sleeve -or screw-shaft. This pinion' is normally positioned at the outer end of the screw-shaft and against the stop nut 14 as shown in Fig. 1, and is held in this normal position by means of the coil spring 15 which eneircles the screw shaft and normally bears against the inner face of the pinion or against an interposed spring abutment 16. The object of my present invention is to provide means whereby this spring is capable of imparting to the pinion different degrees of pressure or tension according to the different periods in the cycle of operation, that is according to the different relative positions of the pinion upon its screw-shaft and of the screw-shaft upon the armature shaft.

To this end, the armature Shaft is provided with a suitable abutment for the inner end of the spring, such abutment here consisting of az pin 17 extending transversely of the armature shaft and passing through longitudinal slots 18 in the sleeve 4 and extending therebeyond at both ends. Such abutment also comprises a flanged plate 19 having a central opening whereby it slips upon the sleeve and having a circumferential groove 20 to receive the innermost coil of the spring. This plate is suitably shaped as shown in order to keep the pin in place, suoli pin being removable for dis-assembly purposes. This plate is held against the pin 17 in all the different longitudinal positions of the sleeve as shown by Figs. 1 to 5.

A cup or drum 21 is secured to the sleeve and thereby moves in unison therewith, the pring 15 at its inner end encircling such rum. Within this drum, there is pivoted in the slot 22 of the screw-shaft and upon'the pivot pin 23 a latch 24 whose outer end is adapted to engage a notch 25 in the inner end of the bore of the pinion to thereby hold such pinion in a retracted position such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This latch is spring pressed to operative position by means of the coil spring 26 interposed between the inner end of the latch and the interior of the drum 21. In the inoperative position shown in Fig. 5, such inner end of the latch bears against the periphery 27 of thearmature shaft but when the sleeve is moved outwardly along the armature shaft such end of the latch is forced downwardly by the spring pressure and slides down the sloping shoulder 28 and upon the reduced portion of the armature shaft between the splines and the outer end of the latch is moved upwardly. The latch is thereupon in osition for engagement with the pinion w enever the latter comes within its range. This retaining mechanism per se forms no part of my present invention, but is concerned therewith because it occasions one of the conditions or positions of the pinion-which is taken care of by the spring 15.

Describing a cycle of operation of my engine starter system and beginning with the parts in their normal position shown in Fig. 1, when the operator actuates the shifting means the drive assembly is shifted longitudinal] along the armature shaft to the position s iown in Fig. 2, at which time the cur rent is supplied to the starting motor 7 either automatically as an incident to the actuation of the shifting means or by a separate operation. The spring 15 which had been under some compression in its normal position shown in Fig. 1 now expands to the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time it exerts practically'no resistance or pressure upon the pinion. The drive parts are now in cranking position and when the engine has been cranked and operates under its own power, the pinion will be automatically demeshed due to the fact that the pinion is screw threaded upon its shaft.

Immediately upon the starting of the engine, the operator should release the shifting means which will be returned in the usual way t0 normal position and the pinion will be demeshed by reason of its screw action upon its shaft, but in the event 'that he does not do so, the parts will thereupon be in the relative position shown in Fig. 3 in which the pinion is shown ldemeslied from the flywheel, but engaged by the hitch.

Fig. 4 shows the positions just before the final return movement of the sleeve is completed. This final return movement causes the inner end of the latch 24 to ride up the slope 28 and upon the periphery 27 of the armature shaft, thereby withdrawing such latch from the pinion and permitting the latter to move spiially to normal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the spring 15 becomes compressed and such presure is utilized in forcing the pinion to move spirally to normal position in the manner described inasmuch as the screw threads have a comparatively long lead.

Thus means al'e provided for varying the tension of the spring 15 according to different phases of the cycle of operation to thereb exert different pressures upon the pinion. Vghen the parts are in the relative position shown in Fig. 4, at which time the pinion rcquires its maximum amount of spring pressure, the tension of the spring is at maximum.. When, however, the pinion is in mesh with the flywheel and is about to he demeshed` as shown in Fig. 2, the spring presl sure thereupon is then at a minimum, inasmuch as the spring tension is at a minimum or practically nothing. Therefore. the demeshing of the pinion is not interfered with by the spring and the spring is permitted to exert sufficient pressure upon the pinion at the proper time to insure its return to normal position as shown inv Figs. 1 and The pinion is held out of engagement with the flywheel regardless of the englnes operlou lll-3 Leeoeav ation and of the operators carelessness in not restoring the parts underhis control to normal position. Moreover, the engagement of the pinion with the flywheel cannot be reestablished until after the completion of the cycle above described. The spring must be of suthcient tension to edectively restore the pinion to its normal position against the stop nut but the samemust not interfere with the throwout of the pinion in the demeshing opcraton or prevent sufiicient longitudinal movement of the pinion to enable the pinion to be caught by the latch. Consequently, my novel means provides the requisite spring tension against the pinion for restoring it to normal position and a minimum or practically no tension at the initiation of the throwout of the pinion.

ln Figs. 10 and 1l I have shown a modied form of construction whereby the length of the drive is considerably reduced, The particular length of the drive of Figs. l to 9 is dependent upon the length of the slots 18. ln order to shorten the drive, l attain, in the modified structure, the proper slot length by providing similar slots in both the armature shaft and in the sleeve. Accordingly, the armature shaft is provided with a longitudinal slot 29 at one end of which the transverse vpinion 17 is located, and the sleeve with the longitudinal slots 30, such slots 29 and 30 being in alignment as shown in Fig. 1l. lln other respects, the construction andoperation are the same as that hereinbefore described.

lido not herein broadly claim the construction and the arrangement ofthe drive including the longitudinally shiftable sleeve or driving member or pinion thereon and the catch device for holding the pinion' in demeshed position while the screw shaft or sleeve is still shifted -to cranking position as the sume represent subject matter of my prior applications for patent including application filed on January d, 1923, Serial No.I 610,672, the present applicationbeing directed to the particularu'nvention pointed out in the claims herein.

l claim :Y n

1. An engine starter drive including a longitudinally slidable rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and `for longitudinal movement thereof, and yielding means acting on the driving member tending to hold it to anormal position on the shaftl and acting with a variable degree of pressure according to the longitudinal position of the shaft and with the least pressure in cranking position. c

2. An engine starter drive including a rotatable and longitudinally slidable shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for `longitudinal movement'thcreof, and yielding means Ato be started when such engine starts on its own power, and yielding means cooperating with the driving member and tending to hold it to a normal position on the shaft With a variable tension but with the least tension when about to be disengaged from the engine member. l

4.1km engine starter drive including a longitudinally slidable rotatable shaft. a

driving member mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal lmovement thereof, a stop means on the shaft, and a yielding means cooperating with the driving member and tending to hold it in normal position against the wstop means and acting with a variable degree of pressure according to the longitudinalposition of the shaft and with the least pressure 1n cranking position.

5. An engine starter drive including a longitudinallyk slidable rotatable shaft, ay

driving member mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal -movement thereof, and a spring cooperating with the driving member and tending to hold it in a normal position on the shaft and acting with a variable degree of pressure according to the longitudinal position of the shaft and with the least pressure in cranking position.

6. An engine starter drive including a longitudinally sli'dable rotatable shaft, a driving member' mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof, a stop means on the shaft, and a coiled spring encircling the shaft and cooperating with the driving member and tending to hold it in a normal position against the stop means and acting with a variable degree of pressure according to the longitudinal position of the shaft and' with `the leastpressure in cranking position.

7. An engine starter drive including a longitudinally slidable Irotatable shaft mounted for rotary and longitudinal movement, a driving member mounted thereon `for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, and adapted to engage a member of the engine to be started, and a yielding means cooperating with the driving member and tending to hold it in a normal position on the shaft, such yielding means being constructed and arranged ico fill

titl

driving member mounted on the. hollow shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a pin extending transversely of the driving shaft, said hollow shaft having longitudinal' ,sl-ots through `which the pin extends, and a spring bearing at one end against said pin and at the other end against the driving member.

19. An engine starter drive including` a rotatable driving shaft, a hollow shaft mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a driving member mounted on the hollow shaft for longitudinal movement `thereof and rotary movement therewith` said driving shaft having a radial projectioi'i and said hollow shaft having a longitudinal slot through which such projection extends` a spring abutment connected with said projectionand a spring bearing at one end against the abutment and at the other end againstthe driving member.

20. An engine starter drive-imfluding a rotatable driving shaft, a hollow shaft mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewitl'i, a driving member mounted on the hollow shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said two shafts having pin and slot connection, and a spring connecting between the pin and driving member.

2l. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for rotary movementtherewith and for longitudinal movement thereof, means for holding the driving member in a retracted position on the shaft, and yielding means acting on the driving member tending to hold it to a normal position on the shaft, and acting with a variable degree of pressure.

22. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, av driving member mounted thereon for rotary movement', therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof to engage a member of the engine tobe started, a stop means on the shaft, means on the shaft for engaging the driving member in its longitudinal movement after disengagement from the engine member and for holding it in .retracted position away from the stop means, and yielding means acting on the drivingr member tending to hold it to a normal position against such stop means, the vdegree of pressure of such yielding means being varied.

23. An engine starter drive including a screw shaft, a pinion threaded thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof, into engagement with a'member of the engine to be started, a stop on the shaft against which stop the pinion is normally positioned, means on the shaft for holding the driving member in retracted position on the shaft after disengagementfrom the engine member, and a spring normally pressing the pinion against the stop, the degree .of pressure of such spring being varied.

E24. An engine starter drive including a rotatable driving shaft` a hollow shaft ,mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a driving member mounted on the hollow shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement t-herewith, manually operated means for bodily shift-ing theliollow shaft and driving member longitudinally of the driving shaft, means for holding the driving member in a. disengaged position before the hollow shaft is returned to normal position, and a spring carried by the driving shaft and cooperating with the driving member to exert a tension thereon dependent upon the relative positions of the hollow shaft and driving member.

25. An engine starter drive including a. rotatable driving shaft, a hollow shaft mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewitli,'a

' driving member mounted on thehollow shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith. manually operated means for bodily shift-ing the hollow shaft and driving member longitudinally of the driving shaft, means for holding the driving -member in a disengaged position before the hollow shaft is returned to normal position, a drum secured to the hollow shaft and extending over said holding means, and a spring carried by the driving shaft and extending over said drum and bearing against the driving member.

26. An engine starter drive including a rotatable driving shaft, a hollow Shaft mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a driving member mounted on the hollow shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, manually operated means for bodily shifting the hollow shaft and driving member longitudinally of the driving shaft, means for holding the driving member in a disengaged position before the hollow shaft is returned to normal position, said holding means comprising a latch pivoted on the hollow shaft and adapted to engage the driving member, a spring tending to force the latch to engaging position, a drum secured to the hollow shaft and extending over the latch, said spring being interposed between the drum and the latch, and a spring connected at one end to the driving shaft and bearing at its other end against the driving member.

27. An engine starter drive including a rotatable driving shaft, a hollow screw shaft splined thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a pinion threaded on the screw shaft, said screw shaft having a stop at one end, and a spring connected at one end to thel driving shaft and cooperating with the pinion to normally hold it against such stop.

28. An engine starter drive including a rotatable driving shaft, a hollow screw shaft splined thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a pinion threaded on the screw shaft. said screw shaft having a stop at one end, and a coiled spring encircling the screw shalt and connected at one end to the driving shaft and bearing at its other end against the pinion.

29. An engine starter drive including a rotatable driving shaft., a. hollow screw shaft splined thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a pinion threaded on the screw shaft. said screw shaft having a stop at one end. said driving shaft having a projection and said screw shaft having a longitudinal slot through which such projection extends, and a spring connected at one end to said projection and bearing at its other end against the pinion.

30. An engine starter drive including a longitudinally slidable rotatable shaft having a stop at one end, a driving member mounted on the shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, means for moving the driving member longitudinall)v to disengage it from a member of the engine to be started when the latter becomes the driver, and yielding means cooperating with the driving member to normally hold the same against said stop and acting on such driving member with a pressure which varies according to the position of the driving member on the shaft.

31. An engine starter drive inehuling a longitudinally slidable 'rotatable shaft having a stop at one end. a driving member mounted on the shaft for-rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereot', and a spring cooperating with the driving member to normally hold the same against said stop, whereby the tension ot' the spring is varied according to the longitudinal position of such shaft.

32. An engine starter drive including :L central rotatable driving shaft, a sleeve mounted on such shaft to slide longitudinally thereon and to be driven thereby. :i driving member mounted on the sleeve l'or rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal n'iovement thereof, and yielding means acting on the driving member tending to hold it to a normal position on the sleeve and acting with a variable degree ot' pressure according to the longitudinal position ot such sleeve upon its shatt and with the least pressure in cranking position.

32). An engine starter drive including a central rotatable driving shaft, a screw threaded sleeve mounted on such sbatt to slide longitudinally thereon and to be driven thereby, a driving member threaded on they sleeve for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof, and yielding means acting on the driving member tending to hold it to a normal position on the sleeve and acting with a variable degree of pressure according to the longitudinal position ot such sleeve upon its sha it and with the least pressure in cranking position.

VILLIAM L. MoGllAllI.

Images