US1871966A - Engine starting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug-.16, 1932- J.,B. DYE'R ET AL ,3

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1 928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 16, 1932. J. B. DYER ET AL ,96

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1928- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STA res tense PATEM f a'oninzinrnn em) JOHNW. rewson, or iinnnasongnvn-reiva, Assr'enoasro DELGO- 'nnnrv'oonronerron, or nevron, "OHIO, A oonronarron or DELAW RE ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Application 'filed. July .17,

This invention relates to apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine and :particularlyto the type of starting apparatus which comprises a motor, a gear or other connecting member driven by the-motor and movable axially into engagement with a rotat-able part: of the: engine to be started.

' vide-for. connecting the motor with the engine beforethe motor is operated-andalso constructed to :provide for automatically disaconnecting; the motor :from the engine when the engine becomes self operating.

Further'olnects and advantages of the pres GIitlIlVGlltlOIl will'beapparent from the fol lowing; description, reference being had to the accompanying; drawings; wherein a. preferred form of embodiment. ofthe'present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view ofrengine starting apparatus embodying" the present invention.

Fig. 2: is afragmentary end view taken on the plane of the'line 2- 2 of Fig. 1.

3 is a sectional'view-on the line 3 3 of l.

tis a plan view of a sheet metalpiece from which a part of the starting apparatus is made.

Fig. is a fragmentary side view partly in section showing theposition of certain parts of the engine starting apparatus just before the motor pinion meshes with the engine gear. F19. 6 isalongitudmal sectionalview of .a shifti ng f sleeve structure.

. I-is .avi-ewsimilar toiFig. 5 showing the positions o'fparts of the starting apparatns afterthe pinion ha-s been. meshed with the engine gear.

Fig. 8- is aview similar to-Fig. 6 showing apparatus whil e crankingthe engine.

. Fig; '9 sh'owsthe apparatusafterthe engine has automatically demeshed the motor pinion shoulder portions 25A and. 25B is of lesser 192s. "-Scria1 'mpzesgaale.

.is released. V I

. Referring now .to .Fig. '1, therstarting apv paratuscomprises elect io. motor having. a

field frame attached by suitable means not 7 shown with ajgearhousingQLadapted-tobe z-and before the .manually iop'erated actuator i tached to the left endofith-elfield frame :20.'

The shaft 23 supports an armature '24 and-is provided with. helical splinesf25. [:That portion of the saline. shaft betweeninterrupted outside diameter than .the outside diameter ofother portions of thefspline 25. fiThis splinedgportion 25C between the shoulders 25Av and. 25B normally receives .a drive-connecting-member or motor pinion 26:1novable .gagement with a rotatable vengine part ,or flywheel gear 27. 'Thepinioii is provided with aninternal annular groove. 28 adjacent an internal annular. shoulder. 29 which .is" of 31in the shaft23. [Thebottom diameter of the groove 28 is slightly greater than the normal outside diameternof ithe'ring 30. The shoulder. .2 5-1? provides slightobstruction to the sliding movement of the pinion 26 along -.the;position shown-in Fig.1 to-the position shown in Fig. '7tthe annular-shoulder 29will engage thering and squeeze it'into" the groove 31; and when thegroove 28 is in align.

;ment with the ring 80, the ringwill expand into thegroove and thusyieldingly mainaxially along the shaft 23 into driv ng en-' 7 a less diameter than the. normal diameter ofa wire splitfing 'vwhichfits into a l groo've tain the pin-ion infull .engagemen t with the 7 gear 27.

' The pinion ismoved manually intoengagement withthe gear 27 before the, motor-is 1 operated. This manually :operablemeans ineludes an actuator leverlO pivote'datll upon the housing-21*andearryin at its lower end a stud 42-which, isreeeive'd by an aperture:

43 of general triangular shape provided in a shifting sleeve 44. The sleeve 44 is formed by bending into cylindrical form a sheet metal blank 45 shown in Fig. 4. This blank is formed with the opening 43 with the small hole 46 and notches 47. As shown in Fig. 6, the sleeve 44 after-being formed into cylindrical shape is assembled with end discs 48 and 49 and a connecting tubular sleeve or rivet which retains all of these parts in assembled relation. The tube 50 is provided with an opening which will be in alignment with the hole 46 in the sleeve 44 when these parts are assembled. The hole 51 receives the head 52 of a spring pressed plunger having a shank 53 which passes through the hole 46 in the sleeve 44. A spring 54 located between the head 52 of the plunger and the inside wall of the sleeve 44 yieldingly urges the plunger toward the inside of the tube 50. Motion of the plunger is limited by riveting the plunger over at 55 so as to provide a shoulder of greater diameter than the hole'46. The function of the plunger 52 is to frictionally connect the sleeve 44 with the shaft 23 when the plunger is mounted upon the shaft as shown.

The disc 49 shown in Fig. 6 isprovided with clutch teeth which are adapted to engage correspondingly shaped teeth 61 provided by a disc orshaft control-member 62 which is connected with certain splines of the shaft 23. The disc 62transmits axial 'movement through the pinion 26 to a spring 63 which is maintained under compression by means for limiting separationof the CllSC 62 from the pinion 26. This means includes a cup-shaped member 64 which surrounds the spring 63 and disc 62 and which is provided with an annular bead defining an internal annular groove 65 for receiving a wire split ring 66 against which the spring 63 presses the disc 62. The end wall67 of the cup 64 is apertured to receive the shaft 23 and a portion of the hub of the pinion 26 which is riveted over the end wall 67 as indicated at 68. The operating lever 40 carries a stud 70 adapted to engage the head 71 of a switch actuating member for closin a switch contained within a switch case 72 attached by screw 73 to the motor frame 20. A spring armature shaft 23, a floating brake disc 81- 74 yieldingly maintains the switch plunger head 71 in circuit open position.

The lever 40 1S yieldlngly maintained in normal position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 75 which is received by a recess 7 6 in the housing 21 and which bears against a plunger 77 bearing against the lever 40. spring 75 serves also to maintain in engagement the members of abrake for arresting motion of the armature shaft 23 after the operator releases the lever 40. consists of a'brake disc '80 attached to the of suitable friction material, a metallic float- The The brake noise will be eliminated.

is; accessible from the drivers seat. If the pinion 26 does not meet with obstructions by collidingwith the ends of the teeth of the gear 27 before meshing with the gear 27, this 'motion ofthe lever 40 will cause the pinion 26 to be moved directly into mesh with the gear 27 and will cause the motor switch to be closed after the gears have been brought into substantial engagement with each other as shown in Fig. 7. As soon as the motor begins to operate the shaft 23 will rotate in such direction as to cause the pinion 26 to moved from a position such as shown in in which the pinion is completely meshed with the gear 27 and in which further endwise movement toward the right is arrested by the stop ring 30. Then the pinion 26 will turn with the shaft 23 to crank the en gine. ltotation' of the shaft 23 before the enginev startsby means extraneous to the manually operated means, such as'rotation efiected by the motor, causes the sleeve 44 to I be moved from a position such as shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8. This operation takes place due to the frictional engagement between the sleeve and the shaft, the shaft rotating in a'clockwise direction as viewed looking in the direction of the arrow 90 in Fig. 7. Normally the stud 42 is received by a notch 43a extending laterally from the aperture 43 which is defined in part by a laterally extending edge surface 436 against which the pin 42 bears while pushing the pinion into mesh with the engine gear. However when the shaft 23 is rotated by the motor in the direction 'men tioned the notch 43a will move away from the pin 42 and an oblique edge surface 430 will be engaged with the pin 42 while it is being maintained in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Since the sleeve 44 tends to rotate upwardly as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 it is obvious that the sleeve will be thrust toward the left dueto the camming action between the oblique edge 43c and thepin 42. In this way the slee've'44 is retracted from the pinion beforeothe engine starts so that automatic demeshment of the pinion will not be obstructed, also the clutch teeth 60 will be disengagedfrom the, clutch teeth' 61 so that while the engine isbeing cranked the ratcheting of the clutch teeth and accompanying Fig. 7 to the posit-ion shown in Fig. S

When the. engine becomes sell? operatine thepinion and parts directly connectedithere with will be moved; from the; position shown in Eigz 8: to. that shown. in Ei g; 9; Whenthe operator releases. the heater 40, the spring will be released to. move the lever 40.; to normal positionshown in- Fi .v 1 and to. cause the brake member 48 to press thebra-kemembers SQ-and 8L againstthehrakemember 80.

Since the. brake niemben' 82- is non-rotatable the. shai'ts 23 is frict-icnalrly connected with a stationary part and; be quickly brought to rest. Thiseteature is desirable since the operator may-Wish to. repeat the starting op.- eration immediately afterastarting opera:-

tion has, been; per-termed but the engine has direction to the sleeve through the connection, provided by the engaging clutch teeth and 61. Therefore the sleeve will almost instantly disengage itself from the leverpin or stud 42.

In case the pinion should collide with the engine gear before meshing therewith the pinion, shifting-device includes means for rotatingthepinion by manually operating the lever 40 hefiore the motor switch is closed. If the pinion. 26. co1l-ides-With the pinion 27 as shown in Fig; 5, continued connterclfoclc Wise movement of thelener-4O will cause the shaft 23gto be rotated due to the fact that the disc- 62 which is helically splined thereon is prevented from rotatingby the engagement of the clutch teeth 60 and 61 and also. because the sleeve 44 cannot rotate in the direction which thedisc 62 tends to rotate as it is man, ual'ly moved toward the rightalong the shaft 23. It is. obvious.- thatthe sleeve 44 cannot rotate in this direction which is downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1, because. the pin 42 en'- gages. the portion 48d ofthe. notch 43; Con- Seqnenthzthe shaft 23. must rotate. during mot-ion of the lever from the. position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 5-. and the shaft will rotate with. it the pinion. 26 so that it may be registered for engagement With the gear 27?. Following this operation the pinion 26 wilt be-movcd into. snbstanti'al engagement with the gear 27 due to further movement of the lever 40. which finally causes the motor switch to be'closedi In casetl ieteeth of the'pin-ion collideW-ith the engine gear teeth in such manner that the pinion cannot be manually rota-ted relative to the engine gear, the actuatinglever 40 may be released to permit the springo r uths parts tom th peeitions. shown E1 5 to those cont-ions hawn; in; Eng-. D ning these ret rn mov me sth-eisc 2 ends: to pi al upward y; ewe

drawings as it moves toward the lefitz, .SiI ce' he sh tingi eeve i to upwar Ly; the disc is: treeito turn; as it moves to,-

We dthei eft- S ncedsc 62ii no held fr m P0 ng un rdifi the-sha W- il nethe rotated manuallywhen the lever-40 is released.

ihereforethe hatt s r a e nly dur ng.- th

ad an ing 026' e pinien toward the gear- He se a r pcatoper ot he leverfiwi i rotate the shaft a '1- pinioninto. anew'angular resin-9 nd ii ike y the p ni n an gc r eeth w ll noti m. on a u seq e t riah ilhil e m-o i hodii t' t h ares.- nt n nt en; a he 1:. dis lo d. ns t t pre erred form, i-t s t be un er to d that other farms ight. e adap ed, all coming et s: aime s as followe A ngine: dr v c n-p sing-,. in c mhi ati ni rotatab e Tl im m Ll a lainto. drink-it ng -ge nent th a c atable par-tot en ne to. be v startech shaft ems; a d nsmb r, n hn nuallyop. rs 'eme ns; r mo i g he n mber ax al y 1 torrotatingithe e gaa ahle "he ee ember in order to re tetl v being; pressed; a ainst theenginepant. an eng n start dr e omprising; in

mbi ation rctetable nembe mo ab ax,-

ially into d-r .13am en a 'ement with a rotatable; part 0 1: engine to be started, a shaft 7 for d i ng: aid? mem r. and. m t l y pble m ans for ni v ngthe member xi lly and pp yi g y e d ng: press e to t e r veing member; in case of collision with the en While being clain l in whichthemanually. operated means has an 7 actuator, and haying means. auto matically disconnecting the. actuator-from the drix, n ember hcfore the. engine starts and meanstor automatically disconnecting the driving member from the en ine part when the enginehecomesselfloperative.

5. An engine starter drive according to Claim njwh h t e manually operat d s a ana nator, andl ns mean f r automatically disconnecting the actuator from the driving member in response to the cranking e ng ne y he d iv ng. tem.-

ber andmeans for automatically disconnectingthe drivingmember from-theengine part when the engine becomes self operative.

.85' Wi in he c pe; t e aim hich fol owgmepar-t, said means being engageable With 1 in order to ieo 6. An engine starter drive according to claim 2 and having means for automatically disconnecting the driving member from the engine part when the engine becomes selfoperative. a I

7. Am engine starter drive according to claim 2 in which the manually operated means has an actuator, and having means for automatically disconnecting the actuator fromthe driving member before the engine starts and means for automatically disconnecting the driving member from the engine part'when the engine becomes self-operative. 8. An engine starter drive according to claim 2 in which the manually operated means has an actuator, and having means for automatically disconnectingthe actuator from the driving member in response to the cranking of the engine by the driving member, and means for automatically disconnecting the driving member from the engine part when the engine becomes self-operative.

9. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a drive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable therealong into engagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, a shaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith so that axial movement along the shaft is accompanied by relative rotary movement, a manually operable actuator for moving the shaft-control-member along the shaft toward the engine part, means rotatively connecting the actuator and shaftcontrol-member, means for transmitting motion from the shaft-controLmember axially to the drive-connecting-member, and means for preventing rotation of the shaft-controlmember while being moved toward the engine part whereby the shaft may be manually rotated while the drive-connecting-memher is moved against the engine part. i

10. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a. drive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable therealong into engagement with a rotatable part of an engine to'be started, a shaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connectedtherewith so that the axial movement along the shaft is accompanied by relative rotary movement, a manually operated actuator for moving the shaft control member along the shaft toward the engine part, means rotatively connecting the actuator and shaftcontrol-member, a spring for transmitting motion for the shaft-control-member axially to the drive-Connecting-member, and means for preventing rotation of the shaft-controlmember while being moved toward the engine part whereby the shaft may be manually rotated while the drive-connectingmember is moved against the engine part with yielding pressure. H I

11. Eng ne startmg apparatus according to claim 9 in which the manually operable means includes an actuator, and having means for automatically disconnecting the actuator from the drive-connecting member before the engine startsand means for automatically disconnecting the drive-connect ing-member from the engine part when the engine starts. v v

'12. Engine starting apparatus according to claim 9 in which the manually operable. means includes an actuator, and having means'opeijating in response to rotation of the shaft by extraneous means for'automatically disconnecting the actuator from the drive-connectingmember before the engine starts and means for automatically disconnecting the drive-'connecting-member from the engine part when the engine starts.

13. 'An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a drive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable therealong into engagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, a shaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith for axial and rotary movements relative thereto for transmitting motion axially between the shaft-control-member and the drive-connecting member, andmanually operable means for moving the shaft-controlmember axially while preventing rotation of the Ft; ft-control-member whereby to rotate the shaft to facilitate connecting the driveconnecting-member with the engine part.

14%. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a drive connecting 1 member driven by the shaft and movable therealong into engagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, a shaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewithfor axial and rotary movements relative thereto, yielding means for transmitting motion axially between the shaft-controL member and the drive-connecting member, and manually operable means for moving the shaft-control-member axially while preventing rotation of the shaft-control-member whereby/co rotate the shaft to facilitate connecting the drive connecting-member with the engine part. T

15. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft,a drive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable LII Lherealon'g into engagement with a rotatable partof an engine'to be started, a shaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith for axial and rotary movements relative thereto, a spring encircling the shaft for transmitting motion axially between the shaft-controlmember and the drive-connect ing member, and manually operable means for moving the shaft controlanember axial- ,ly while preventing rotation of the shaft-control-member whereby to rotate the shaft to facilitate connecting the drive-connectingmember with the engine part,

Cal

16. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a drive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable therealong into engagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, a shaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith for axial and rotary movements relative thereto, a spring located between the shaft-control-member, and the drive connecting member, means limiting the separation of said members by said spring, and manually operable means for moving the shaft-control-member axially while preventing rotation of the shaft-control-member whereby to rotate the shaft to facilitate connecting the drive-connecting-member with the engine part.

17. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a drive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable thercalong into engagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, a shaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith for axial and rotary movements relative thereto, yielding means transmitting motion axially between said members, a shifting-sleeve movable along the shaft, axially engageable clutching means provided by the shifting-sleeve and shaft-control-member, and manually operable means for moving the sleeve along the shaft into engagement with the shaft-control-member and for moving the latter member axially in order to move the drive-connecting member toward the engine part, and for preventing rotation of the shaft control-member in order to rotate the shaft and drive-connecting-member while the latter is yieldingly pressed against the engine part.

18. Engine starting apparatus according to claim 17 in which the manually operable means includes an actuator, and having means for automatically disconnecting the actuator from the shifting-sleeve before the engine starts, and means for automatically disconnecting the drive-connecting-member from the engine part when the engine starts.

19. Engine starting apparatus according to claim 17 in which the manually operable means includes an actuator, and having means operating in response to rotation of the shaft by extraneous means for automatically disconnecting the actuator from the shifting sleeve before the engine starts, and means for automatically disconnecting the drive-corn necting member from the engine part when the engine starts.

20. Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination, a motor, a helically splined shaft operated thereby, a pinion drivingly connected with said splined portion and movable along the shaft into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, a shaft control member movable along said splined portion and connected therewith, a manually operated actuator movable along the shaft into engagement with the shaft-control-member, means for rotativelyconnecting the actuator and shaft-control-memb-er, means for transmit ting motionfrom the shaft-controhmember axially to the pinion, and means for preventing the turning of the shaft-controlrmember while moving the shaft-control-member and pinion toward the engine part. a

21. Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination, a motor, a helically splined shaft operated thereby, a pinion drivingly connected with said splined portion and movable along the shaft into mesh with a gear of an engine to bestarted, a shaft control.

member movable'along said splined portion and connected therewith, a manually operated actuator movable along theshaft into engagement with the shaft-cont-rol-member, means for rotatively connecting the actuator and shaft-control-member, a spring surrounding the shaft for transmitting motion,

from the shaft-control-member axially to the pinion, and means for preventing the turn ing of the shaft-control-member while movingthe shaft-control-member and pinion toward the engine part.

22. Enginestarting apparatus comprising in combination, a motor, a helicallysplined shaft operated thereby, a pinion drivingly connected with said splined portion and mov able along the shaft into mesh with agear of an engineto be started a shaft control member movable along'said splinedportion and connected therewith, a spring transmit-i ting motion endwise from the control memher to the pinion to move the latter yieldingly against the gear when the control member connected with said splined portion and movable along the shaft into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, a shaft control mem' ber movable along said splined portion and connected therewith, a spring transmitting motion endwise from the control member to the pinion to move the latter yieldingly against the gear when the control member is moved, a shifting sleeve movable along the shaft and having axially engageable clutch connections with the control member, a manually operable actuator for moving the sleeve endwise and for preventing rotation thereof while the sleeve clutches the control member and moves the latter toward the pinion, and means responsive to operation of the motor 6 newness" for automatically disconnecting the: sleeve from the actuator before athe .engine starts;

24. Engine starting 1 apparatus: comprising in combination, a :motor', I aihelically' :splined Y shaftioperated thereby, a :pinion drivingly connected with said splinedz portion andniovable-along the shaft intomesh with-a gearaof' an engine tobestartecLa-shaft control member movable along said -splined-zportion=;and

connected therewith, spring transmitting motion-endwise from the control member to the 'pinion to move the latter yieldingly against the gear WhentheoontroLmember is moved, a shifting sleeve movable alon etheshaft and having axiallyvengageable clutch: connections with the control member, said sleeve havingan aperture lin'the side thereof. including -a laterally extending notch (defined. by a laterallyextendingedge surface, a manually operated :pin movable along the shaft: and normally received abysaid .notch,;a-nd engageable With said-notch surifiacetto move the sleeve end-Wise, said pincooperating with said notch to prevent rotation ofthe sleeve in the direction in which it tends to" rotate While 7 pushing the control member while clutched thereto, means frictionally connecting the sleeve and shaft whereby the tanning .ofthe shaft by the motor will cause thesleeve to turn in'a direction for causing the notch lat-- eral: edge surtace to move out of'the path of "movement of the pin, and an-ioblique surface of said sleeve aperture 1engageable with said pin :dnring'rthe return movementithereoi torestore :the sleeve-to normal position, with the pin located. in said notch.

In testimony whereof We hereto affix .0111" signatures.

J()HN.,B D-YER. JOHN LAWS9N.-

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