US1833948A

US1833948A - Engine starting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1833948A
Application number: US247726A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond P Lansing
Original assignee: Eclipse Machine Co
Current assignee: Eclipse Machine Co
Priority date: 1928-01-18
Filing date: 1928-01-18
Publication date: 1931-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1948-12-01
Also published as: FR666436A

Description

Dec. 1, 1931. R. P. LANSING 1,833,948

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 I 3nv'cntor dttorncg Dec. 1, 1931. v R. P. LANSING 1,833,948

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1928 C5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inwentor 3B I MW 5 Gttornegs- 5 Sheets-Sheet s Gttorneg Patented Dec. 1, 1 931.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I name-nip 2. meme, or mon'ronam, mew JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ECLIPSE mdnnn comm, or ELMIRA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK,- A conrozaarron or new ou ENGINE STARTING- arrmaros Application filed January 18, 1928. Serial No. 247,726.

This invent-ion relates to starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to starting mechanism of the inertia type.

It has heretofore been proposed tojprovide engine inertia starters comprising a housing in which is rotatably mounted a flywheel. The housing, which is adapted to be secured to the rear end of an engine crank case, encloses transmitting mechanism for imparting motion from the flywheel to a driven member that is adapted to be engaged with a member such as a jaw provided on the crank shaft of the engine to be started. The

- transmitting means, which preferably in- After the'fiywheel has been brought to the proper speed of rotation the driven member is longitudinally moved into engagement with the member of the engine to be started, and when so engaged the crankshaftof the engine is rotated at a speed ofiappr'oximately 100 R. P. M. and the engine :is started.

Heretofore the driven jaw member has. been manually moved through suitable rods and operating connections into driving engagement with the engine member. In certaininstances, as in aeroplanes, it is desirable that the manually operable member forcontrolling the engagement of the driven'jaw member with the engine, be located at a dis tance from the latter so that said engagement maybe controlled from the cockpit of the aeroplane, for example. An arrangement of I leversfor this purpose adds to the weight of the apparatus. gine ships where the starter and engines are located at considerable distances from the Q cockpit, it is practically impossible to pro- Moreover, in multi-envide a single location from which to control each of the starter mechanisms with apparatus heretofore employed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel means for engaging starting mechanism with an internal combustion engine to be started. v

Another ob'ect of this invention is to provide electrical means for engagin the starting apparatus and engine, where y the control of the engaging operation mag be effected at a point distant from sai and engine.

Another object is to provide means. whereby the. starters for a multi-engine' ship may starter be selectively actuated from unitary control means located in the cook it.

A further object is to provi e'novel noid means for closing the circuit to the electrio motor and for engaging the starting apparatus with the internal combustionengine.

Another object is to provide inertia starting mechanism embodying both electrical and manual means which may be selectively actuated forengaging the starting apparatus with the engine to be started.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel switch means whereby energy may be automatically stored in the inertia element of the starter mechanism and thereafter said switch means may be actuated to autosolem'atically engage the starter mechanism with the engine. The above and. other ob ects will appear more fully hereinafter in the .detailed description.

r A number of embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying dr'awings,-.but it isto be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, refer ence being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings,

.Fig. 1 is a side. elevation, partly in section and partly diagrammatic, illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

7 Fig; 2 is a view partly in perspective'and partly diagrammatic, illustrating another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 isja. diagrammatic view illustrating olieinaniier in which the present invention may be employed in a multi-engine ship; and

Fig. 4 is an axial sectional view of the parts shown in perspective in Fig. 2. Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the starter mechanism embodies a casing 4 wherein is rotatably mounted an inertia element or flywheel 5 which may beautomatically rotated by an electric motor 6, or which may be manually rotated by means of a shaft 7. a The flywheel is adapted to drive a clutch member 8 through suitable mechanisms, including reduction gearing, mounted in housing 4, and when said flywheel has been brought to a sufficiently high speed of rotation, clutch member 8 is adapted to be thrown into engagement with a corresponding clutch member 9 provided on the shaft 10 of the engine 11 to be started. For purposes of description, there is illustratedin Fig. 4 a particular construction of starting apparatus to be described more fully hereafter, but it is to be expressly understood that the resent invention is not limited to the speei 0 structure shown and may be embodied in structures of different character embraced withinthe scope of the appended claims.

The starting mechanism shown herein embodies a lever 12 adapted to be actuated, when the flywheel is rotating at a sufficiently high speed, to throw member 8 into engagement with the engine shaft, whereby the e ergy stored in the flywheel is effective to start said engine. Heretofore it has been necessary to-actuateflever 12 through suit-' able mechanical connections which usually terminate in the cockpit of the aeroplane when the starteris employed for starting aeroplane engines. In many instances, and

particularly in planes employing more than one engine, such an arrangement is unsatisfactory due to the length and weight of the means employed foractuating lever 12.

The present invention embodies means for electrically actuating lever 12 after the inertia element or flywheel 5 has been brought to a proper speed. In the form shown, said means includes a housing 13 integral with, or secured to, the main'housing 4 of the starter. Houslng 13' encloses solenoid mechanism ineluding a rod or shaft 14 provided with port-ions15 and 16 that extend within solenoid windings or

coils

17 and 18 respectively. The inner end of rod 14 is pivotally connected to one. arm of the bell crank lever 12. Intermediate the pivoted end of rod 14 and coil 18 is a contact member 19 adapted for movement with the rod. The outer end of plunger 15 may be provided with a stop member 20 adapted to engage suitable stops 21 for limitingmovement of said plunger and rod 14 in one direction. If desired,

coils

17 and 18 may be so disposed, relative to portions 15 and 16, and contact '19 may be so arranged that rod 14 will be moved in the same direction, but through different distances, as each of said coils is energized, but preferably, when coil 18 is energized in a manner to be described hereafter, rod 14 is moved to the right to engage contact member 19 with

stationary contacts

22, 22, whereby motor 6 is energized and rendered effective to rotate flywheel 5 and store energy therein. When coil 17 is energized rod 14 ismoved to the left to actuate lever 12 and throw starter jaw 8 into mesh with the jaw member 9 on the engine crank shaft.

Novel switch means are provided for controlling the flow of current from a battery 23 to the

solenoid coils

17 and 18. As shown, the switch mechanism includes acasing 24 that ,is preferably formed of insulating material,

and which is provided with end walls 24a and 24b. Alined openings are provided in the end walls of the casing 24, and a rod 25, provided on one end thereof with an enlarged head or knob 26, slidably extends through said openings. Mounted on rod 25, and centrally within casing 24, is an insulating sleeve 27 that may be secured to said rod as by means of a pin 28. Contact

members

29 and 30 are fixedly attached to the opposite ends of sleeve 27 in any suitable manner, whereby said members are adapted for movement with the sleeve and rod 25. Normally rod 25 and contact

members

29 and 30 are maintained in a central position in casing 24 b means of coil springs 31, 32 which and at their inner ends against the

contact members

29 and 30 respe tively.

Movement of rod 25 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, serves to move contact member 29 into engagement with a pair of contacts 33 that are secured to end wall 24a, as by means of binding posts 34.

Contacts

29, 33 control the flow of current from battery 23, through leads 35., 36 and 37, to coil 18.

Movement of rod 25 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, serves to bring contact member 30 into engagement with a pair of contacts 38 that are secured to the inner surface of end wall 245, as by means of binding posts 39.

Contacts

30 and 38 control the flow of current from battery 23, through leads 40, 41 and 43, to solenoid winding 17.

The operation of the device is as follows Rod 25 is first pulled to the right, whereupon coil 18 is energized and rod 14 is moved to the right, due to the action of the magnetic field of coil 18 on plunger 16. This movement .to the battery. The motor now rotates flywheel 5 and stores therein the necessary sufliciently high speed of rotation, rod 25 is pushed to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, to close

contacts

30, 38, whereupon current flows from battery 23 through lead 40,

contacts

38, 30, lead 41, solenoid winding 17 and lead 43 back to the battery. The energizing of the coil 17 acts on plunger 15 to move rod 14 to the left, whereby bell crank lever 12 is rotated and starter jaw 8 is forced outwardly into engagement with jaw 9. The energy of j the flywheel is now effective to rotate shaft 10 and start the engine. As will be pointed out more fully hereafter, as soon as

contacts

29, 33 are disengaged by movement of rod a to the left to bring

contacts

30, 38 into engagement, motor 6 is de-energized and is automatically disengaged from driving con-- nection with the flywheel. The full energy of the flywheel is therefore effective to rotate the engine crank shaft 10.

If it is not desired to employ the electrical apparatus for throwing starter jaw 8 into engagement with jaw 9, a pull may be manually exerted, through a suitable rod or wire (not. shown) on the arm 12a of lever 12, said pull being in a direction tending to rotate lever 12 in an anti-clockwise direction, whereupon starter jaw 8 will be engaged with the jaw member 9. If, for any reason, it is not desired to employ motor 6' for storing energy in flywheel 5, shaft 7 may be manually rotated as b means of a hand crank (not shown) to ring the flywheel 5 to the desired speed of rotation.

In Fig. 2 there is disclosed another embodiment of the invention which differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in that the solenoid actuated switch for closing the circuit to the motor is mounted independently of the solenoid employed for actuating lever 12. In the form shown, a housing 46, which may be secured 'to, or formed integrall with, the starter housin 4, is provided or receiving a solenoid win ing 47 through which slidably extends a plunger 48. The inner end of plunger 48 has fixedly attached thereto a rod 49 that is pivotally connected by means of a pin 50 to one arm of bell crank lever 12, whereby said lever may be actuated to engage starter jaw 8 with the corresponding jaw on the engine crank shaft. The motor switch constituted by contact member 19 and

contacts

22, 22 is actuated by the energization of coil 17 which acts on a plunger 51 that may a be mounted at a distance from plunger 48.

The push-pull switch, embodying casing 24 and rod 25, is associated with

windings

17 and 47, said switch being similar in construction to the one shown in Fig. 1. When rod 25 is moved to the right, current from battery 23 flows through coil 17, whereupon plunger 51 is moved to the left to engage contact member 19 with contacts 22 and close the circuit through the motor 6. After the flywheel has been brought to the proper speed of rotation, rod 25 is moved to the left, whereupon current is delivered from battery 23 through

leads

52, 53, 54 to the Winding 47. Theenergizing of winding 47 serves to move plunger 48 and rod 49 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, whereupon bell crank lever 12 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction and starter jaw 8 is moved into engagement with the jaw carried by the engine crank shaft. \Vhen rod 25 is released it is returned to normal position by means of springs 31, 32 described above. In this position the circuits to motor 6 and solenoid winding 47 are broken.

In Fig. 3 there is diagrammatically illustrated means for selectively actuating starting devices of the inertia type for a plurality of internal combustion engines, said means being particularly adapted for use in multi-engine aeroplanes. As shown, the electrical motors for rotatingthe flywheels of three starting devices are represented at 55, 56 and 57 respectively. Associated with each of the electric motors are

solenoids

58, 59 and 60 that are adapted when energized to close contacts 19, 22 whereby current is de- .circuit for the windings 47 of said solenoids are connected to leads 61, 62 and 63 respectively.

If it is desired to energize motor 55, selector switch 64 is moved to a position to close the circuit through lead 61 to battery 23. Rod 25 of the push-pull switch is then moved upwardly, as viewedin Fig. 3, to. bring contact member 29 into engagement with contacts 33. Solenoid 58 is now energized, con tacts 19, 22 are closed, and current is delivered to the motor 55 from battery 23 through

leads

68 and 69. When the flywheel, actuated by motor 55, has been brought up to the desired speed, rod 25 is pulled downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3, to bring contact member 30 into engagement with

contacts

38, 38, whereupon solenoid 65 is energized and rod 49 is moved to actuate lever 12.

When it is desired to start the engine associated with the starter provided with motor 56, the selector switch 64 is moved to close the circuit through lead 62 and the push pull switch is actuated in a manner described above. When it is desiredto energize motor 57 the selector switch 64 is moved to close the circuit through lead 63, etc.

In Fig. 4 there is shown one type of starter apparatus which may be employed in accordance with the present invention. The particular construction illustrated com rises a casing 4 in which is mounted a flyw eel 5 adapted to be rotated by means of a motor 6, or manually rotated as by means of shaft 7. It will be understood that said manual means may be omitted from the apparatus if desired, but preferably both the ower means and themanual means are emp 0 ed.

Rigidly secured to the inner end of s aft 7, within housing 4, is a bevel gear 7 O which meshes with a bevel gear 71 that may be fixedly attached, as by means of a nut 72 to a sleeve 73 that projects from the closed end 74 of a barrel 75. The barrel 75 is ro tatably mounted in the en 'ne end of-- the housing 4, ball bearings 76 eing employed for this purpose. Rotatably mounted on the closed end of barrel 7 5, as by means'of tubular sleeves 77 carrying ball bearings 78, are three planetary gears 79, one of which is shown in section. A ring 80, which is preferably formed integrally with sleeves 77, constitutes a retainer for bearings 78 and said ring and sleeves may be rigidly attached to barrel 75 by screws 77a which extend through the sleeves and are threaded into the closed end 74 of the barrel.

Each of the planetary gears 79 meshes with an annular spur gear 81 which is rigid 1y attached to the housing 4, as-by means of studs 82'. Each of the planetary gears 79 also'meshes with a sun gear 83 that is rotatably mounted on sleeve 73 and is preferably formed integral with an annular gear 84. I In driving engagement with annular gear 84 is a pinion 85 which is formed integrally with a bell-shaped member 86. The flanged end of member 86 is toothed to form a spur gear 87 Preferably, the bell-shaped member 86 is rotatably mounted as by means of an integrally formed shaft 88 which is concentric with the pinion 85, said shaft being mounted in a portion of the housing 4 on ball bearings 89. In'mesh with a gear 87 is a pinion 90 which is fixedly attached to a shaft 91 that is keyed to flywheel 5 for rota-' tion therewith. Shaft 91 isrotatably mounted on ball bearings 92 in a circular boss 93 formed in the housing 4.

. When it is desired to manually rotate the flywheel 5, in orderto store energy therein for starting the internal combustion engine, the

operator actuates a hand crank (not shown) that is engaged with shaft 7, whereby said shaft is manually rotated. This motion is transmitted through bevel gears 7 O, 71, sleeve 73, barrel 75, planetary gears 79, sun gear 83, annular gear 84, pinion 85, gear 87 and pinion 90 to the flywheel.

Theenergy of the rotating flywheel 5 is imparted to the starter jaw 8 through means which include the gearing just described. It

interposed between said gearing and the jaw 8 in order that, when said 'jaw is in driving engagement with jaw 9, no injury may result to the gearin from unusual operating conditions such, or example, as a backfire of the engine. For this urpose a multiple disk clutch is preferably interposed between starter jaw 8 and barrel 75, which is rotated by planetary gears 79. The disk clutch comprises a plurality of plates 94 which are splined to the inner surface of barrel 75 closely adjacent the closed end 74 of said barrel. In interleavin relation with plates 94 are a plurality of p ates 95 which are splined to the outer surface of a nut 96 provided with an outwardly projecting flange 96a. In threaded engagement with the inner surface of nut 96 is a shaft 97 which carries at its inner end a stop nut 98, and which is longitudinall splined at its outer end for. engagement with the inner splined portion 8a of starter jaw 8. The frictional engagement of plates 94 ad 95 may be adjusted as by means of a'plurality of coil springs 99 which are operatively mounted between the flanged portion of the nut 96 and an adjusting nut 100 that is threaded into the outer end of barrel 75.

The starter jaw 8, the friction clutch parts, and the barrel 75 rotate as a unitwhen the flywheel 5 is rotated, and said jaw 8 is out of engagement with jaw 9.. When the jaws 8 and 9 are in driving engagement, however, the disk clutch permits slippage between jaw 8 and barrel 7 5 if the load .on jaw 8 is at any time greater than that for which the friction clutch is adjusted.

Means are provided whereby the actuation of bell crank lever 12, in 'a manner described above, will result in starter jaw 8 being moved into meshing engagement with the jaw 9 formed on the engine crank shaft. Preferably, said means are so constituted that completemeshing of the jaws may be secured in orderftii'prevent a jam on the corners of the teeth of the same, and said means are also so constructed as to permit withdrawal of the starter jaw in case the engine fails to start and the starter elements come to rest with jaws 8 and 9 engaged. For this purpose the bell crank lever 12 is fixedly secured to the outer end of a rock shaft 101 which extends through the casing 4 and has rigidly secured to its inner end a lever arm 102.

75 is desirable, however, that yielding means be Rock shaft 101 is laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the starter, but is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 to show the relation of the parts.

Pivotally attached to arm 102 is a meshing rod 108 which slidably extends through sleeve 73, threaded shaft 97, and the hub portion of starter jaw 8. A shoulder 103a, which normally engages the inner end of shaft 97, is provided on rod 103 and the outer end of said rod is threaded to receive a nut 104 that is normally in engagement with the outer face of the hub portion of jaw 8. As previously pointed out, jaw 8 is splined to shaft 97 and is longitudinally slidable relative thereto, but disengagement of the splined portions of these parts is prevented by means of nut 104.

' Intermediate shaft 97 and the hub of the jaw 8, and projecting into a pocket97a formed in the outer end of said shaft, is a coil spring 105 which surrounds rod 103. Resilient meanssuch as a coil spring 106, which is suitably anchored in the casing and secured to rock shaft 101, acts through shaft 103 to normally maintain starter jaw 8 out of engagement with jaw 9 formed on the engine shaft.

The rotation of-the flywheel is imparted through pinion 90, gear 87, pinion 85, gear 84, sun gear 83, planetary gears 79, barrel 75, clutch plates 94, 95, nut 96 and shaft 97, to starter jaw 8. The starter jaw and all of the parts within barrel 75 are rotated in unison when jaw 8 is out of mesh with the jaw 9. Solenoid winding 47 is now energized to actuate rod 49 and bell crank lever 12, whereby shaft 101 is rotated against the tension of spring 106. The'rotation of shaft 101 is imparted through arm 102 to the rod 103 which moves to the left asviewed in Fig. 4. Shoulder 103a forces shaft 97 to the left and the movement of said shaft acts through spring 105 to yieldingly force jaw 8 into engagement with jaw 9, whereupon the energyof the flywheel is efl'ective to start the engine. The longitudinal movement of shaft 97 relative to nut 96 is positively limited by engagement of thethreads of nut 96 with stop nut 98.

After the engine starts under its own power and the speed of rotation of jaw 9 becomes greater than the speed of jaw 8, the tendency of the latter to be driven and the threaded connection between nut 96 and shaft 97 results in the return of jaw 8 and said shaft to demeshing position as soon as the solenoid is deenergized and spring 106 is effective to return rod 103 to normal position. No injury will result to the structure if the solenoid remains energized after the engine starts, since in this event, the splined connection between shaft 97 and jaw 8 permits the latter to be moved out of engagement with jaw 9 under the action of the inclined surfaces of the teeth of said jaws.

Means are provided whereby motor 6 may be employed to store the desired amount of tion 108, the outer smooth end of said shaft being suitably j ournalled in the outer end of shaft 91. In engagement with threaded portion 108 of the motor shaft is a clutch member 109 of the inertia type which is adapted to engage an annular friction member 110 rigidly attached in any suitable manner to the outer face of the flywheel. When the motor is energized the inertia of member 109 is effective to impart a combined rotary and lon gitudinal movement to said member, whereby it -is moved along the threaded portion of shaft 107 into driving engagement with member 110 and the flywheel is rotated. After the flywheel has been brought to the proper speed of rotation, rod 103 is actuated, in the manner above described, to move jaw 8 into mesh with jaw 9, whereupon the energy of the flywheel 5 is effective to start the engine. When motor 6 is deenergized the rotation of shaft 107 decreases, and the engagement of members 109 and 110 is eifective to rotate member 109 relative to shaft 107, whereby the clutch member 109 is moved out of driving engagement with the flywheel.

There is thus provided novel means whereby the inertia type of starter may be quickly energized and thereafter thrown into mesh t with the engine to be started, said means being so constituted that the internal combustion engine and the starter mechanism therefor may be conveniently located at a great distance from the control station, such as the cockpit of an aeroplane. Moreover, the means is so constituted that the starters for a multi-engine ship may be conveniently actuated from a single control point regardless of the distance apart that the engines are mounted. Practically no weight is added since the battery 23employed for energizing the motor and solenoid is ordinarily carried by the aeroplane for other purposes, and the necessity of long control rods with their consequent weight and ineffective operatiom is avoided.

The device is extremely simple in construction and may be readily installed. The push and pull switch, together with the selector switch 64, may be readily positioned on the instrument panel of the plane. The mechanism is so arranged that the flywheel may be selectively rotated electrically or manually and the meshing mechanism for starter jaw 8 is likewise so constituted as to be either electrically or manually operable. It is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described, since various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the invention defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with starting apparatus of the inertia type adapted for use with an internal combustion engine, a motor for storing energy in said apparatus, a source of current supply for themotor, contact means for controlling the flow of current to said motor from said source of supply, means for operatively connecting said starting apparatus to the engine to be started, a solenoid including a pair of windings and a common core therefor, and means for selectively energizing said windings, the energizing of one winding serving to move said core to close said contact means and the energizing of the other winding serving to move said core whereby the means for operatively connecting the starting apparatus with the engine to be started is actuated.

2. In combination with engine starting apparatus of the inertia type, a motor for storing energy in said apparatus, a source of current supply for the motor, a solenoid including a pair of windings and a common core therefor, means for selectively energizing said windings, the energizing of one winding serving to move said core in one direction and the energizing of the other winding serving to move said core in the opposite direction, and contact means actuated by movement of said core in one direction for placing said motor in circuit with the source of current\supply.

3. Incombination with an engine to be started, starting apparatus of the inertia type for starting the engine, electrical means for storing energy in said apparatus, a source of current supply for said electrical means, and means for placing said electrical means in circuit with said source of current supply, said last named means including a solenoid core and a pair of windin s therefor, said windings being-adapted when energized to move said core in opposite directions.

4:. Starting apparatus of the type adapted for use with a plurality of engines comprising, in combination with a plurality of electrically actuated starting devices, a source of current, solenoid actuated members for operatively connecting each of said starting devices with said current supply, means for operatively connecting said starting devices to the engines, solenoids for actuating said last named means, a selector switch for said solenoids, and a push and pull control switch adapted for movement in one direction to place a selected starting device in circuit with said current supply, and for movement in the other direction to energize a selected solenoid whereby the selected starting device is operativly connected to the engine to be starte I 5. In starting apparatus of the type adapted for use with apluralit of engines, iner tia starting devices forsai engines, electrical means for storing energy in each of said devices, means for connecting the starting devices with theassociated engines, solenoid actuated means for actuating said connecting means, and selective switch mechanism including a push and pull switch common to all engines for controlling the operation of said electrical means and said solenoid actuated means whereby said engines may be selectively started.

6. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, the combination with a rotatable member of the engine to be started of a driving member adapted to be engaged with the engine member, means including a high speed rotatable inertia member for actuating said driving member, means for rotating said inertia member to high speed, magnetically actuated means for effecting engagement of the driving and engine members after the inertia member has been rotated to high speed, and common means for selectively controlling the energization of said rotating means and said magnetically actuated means.

7. In combination with starting apparatus for internal combustion engines of the type having a driving member adapted to be engaged with the crankshaft of an engine for the purpose of rotating the latter, means including a rotatable inertia member for actuating said driving member, means for rota'ting said inertia member to high speed for the purpose of storing energytherein, magnetlc means for moving said driving member into engagement with the engine crankshaft,

and common means including a member movable in difi'erent directions for selectively controlling the operation of said magnetic means and said energy storing means.

8. In combination with starting apparatus for internal combustion engines of the t pe wherein a rotatable inertia member is rst actuated in order to store energy therein and subsequently drivably connected to a rotatable member of the engine to be started, electrical means forstoring'energy in said inertia member, a source of current supply for said electrical means, means for controlling the flow of current from said source to said electrical means and for effecting a driving connection between the inertia member and the engine member including a pair of solenoid windings, and switch meansfor selectively controlling the flow ofcurrent to said win 'ngs. ,s

9. In combination with starting apparatus for internal combustion engines of the type wherein a rotatable inertia member is first actuated in order to store energy therein and subsequently operatively connected to the engine to be started for the purpose of cranking the same, a source of current supply, a motor ada ted to receive current from said supply an to actuate said inertia member,

' engine.

solenoid means for operatively connecting the inertia member and the engine including a winding adapted to receive current from said supply, and switch means including a member'movable in one direction to place the motor in circuit with said current supply,

whereby energy is stored in the starting ap-- paratus, said member also. bein adapted to be moved in the opposite .diI'BGtlOIl, whereby the solenoid winding is energized to operatively connect the inertia member and the In testimony whereof I have signed this specification;

RAYMOND P. LANSING.