US1912669A - Means for controlling the starting of internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1933. H, TRAIL 912,669

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE STARTING OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES I Origifial Filed Oct. 50, 1,926

5 HERBERT HOQ/JTIO mm 'INVEN T0 R by "K Patented June 6, 1933 PATENT OFFICE HERBERT HOB-ATIO TRAIL, OI VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, ASSIGNOB TO MOTOR DEVICES, INCORPORATED, OF CHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS mus Ion. CONTROLLING- THE STARTING or INTERNAL oomros'rron mamas Refiled tor abandoned application Serial ll'o. 145,273, filed October 80, 1 926. This application filed October 14, 1929. Serial 116.39%650.

This invention relates to means for controlling the starting of internal combustion engines, and more in particular to the type of internal combustion engines which uses.an

electrical ignitionsystem, and also an electric' motor for the purpose of rotating the engine prior to its running. under its own power.

One object of my invention is to provide positive means for controlling the electric cir cuit of a starting motor, automatically, upon manual operation of means for energizing an ignition circuit.

v Another object of my invention is to provide positive means for controlling the electric circuit of a starting motor by manual operation of an ignition circuit controlling means from a de-energized to an energized position.

A further object of my invention is to provide, by purely mechanical movements, positive automatic means to energize the circuit of an electric starting motor to rotate an enly, the featuresof the invention, and the parts in their relative operative position.

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagra'mmatical view of certain modified features of the invention.

Figure '3 is a diagrammatical view of a manually operated switch in its inoperative or off position.

Figure 4 is a*diagrammatical view of a manually. operated switch in its intermediate position. v

Figure 5 shows switch co ponents in their relative positions intermediate their on to off positions.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 1 denotes an electric starting motor and 2 is a mechanical starting device having a pinion 3 mounted for axial movement on the motor shaft, and adapted to be automatically moved into and out of driving engagement with an engine gear, (not shown). A circular flange or-weight 4 is gine until the engine runs under its own suitably attached to the pinion 3 for the pur- 25 power, and positive means caused to deenergize and maintain de-energized, the circuit of the starting motor while the engine is running under its own power.

Still another object of my invent-ion is to 30 provide positive automatic means to cause energizing and de-energizing of the'electric circuit of a starting motor upon manual oper-. ation of means for energizing an ignition circuit and means provided whereby the cir cuit of the starting motor is energized prior to the energizing of the ignition circuit.

These objects'of my invention as well as others. together with the many advantages w thereof, will appear as I proceed with my specification. I

Referring to .the drawings which will illust-rate by way of example,convenient forms of the invention Figure 1 shows somewhat diagrammaticalpose of increasing the inertia of the pinion and also to act as an'electric contact member,

as will later appear. I The periphery of said weight is smoothly formed and adapted to coact with the contact arm 5 which is suitably secured to the housing 34 as by the screws 7 and insulated from it by the nonmetallic washers 6. The electro-ma et 9 is adapted to operate-the contact mem er 10 into contact withkthe contacts 11 and 12. The electro-magnet is attached to the starting motor by such means as the contact 12 being-suitably secured to the circuit post 30. Spring means, (not shown,) are adapted to biasor move the contact arm 10 out of contact with the contacts 11 and 12. A denotes a manually operable switch which includes the movable contact arm '13, the movable .contact arm 14 and the insulating member 15 to which is suitably attached the contact arms 13 and 14 in such a manner that they are in sulated one from the other. Thestationary contacts 16, 17 18 and 19 are suitably secured to a stationary member in such a manner that they are insulated one from the other, and arranged in the path of movement of the contact arms 13 and 14. The stationary ignition contact indicated at 21 is so situated that when the switch is in its operative or on position the contact arm 13 contacts with it and energizes the ignition circuit lead indicated at 27. The guard arm 20 is suitably secured to a stationary member, and is spring formed and so arranged that when the switch is operated from its inoperative or oil position to its operative or on position, one end of the contact arm 13 is caused to be operated under the guard arm 20 and in contact with the contact 19. hen the switch is operated from its operative or on position to its inoperative or oil position the contact arm 13 is caused to be operated over the guard arm 20 and out of contact with the stationary contact 19. The switch A is so arranged as to have an inoperative or off position when the contact components are in the relative positions as shown in Figure 3, and further arranged to have an operative or on position when the contact components are in their relative positions as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Any suitable means may be employed to operate the movable contact arms 13 and 14 to their respective on and off positions. 22 represents a source of electric current such as a battery. The leads 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 36 and 23 are included in the electric circuits for controlling the energizing of starting motor and ignition system of the engine to be started. The electro-magnet 9 with its winding 35 coacting with the contact member 10 and the contacts 11 and 12 are for convenience in the form of a unit comprising an electro-magnetically operated switch and arranged in such a manner so as to control the energizingof the electric starting motor circuit. i.

In operation, assuming that the respective components are in their inoperative positions, the manually operated switch parts would be in their respective positions as shown in Figure 3 which would be the inoperative or off position. Now referring to Figure 1, manual operation of the switch to its on position as shown in Figure 1 would cause the contact arm 14 to come into contact with the stationary contacts 17 and 18, while the contact arm 13 would come into and out of contact with the stationary contacts 16 and 19 and make and remain in contact with the stationary contacts 17, 18 and 21. This will cause current to flow from the battery 22' to the terminal 31 of the electro-magnetic switch by way of lead 23 stationary contact 17 contact arm 14 stationary contact 18 and lead 26 through the winding 35 to the terminal ing motor.

32, (and while the switch is in its interme diate position between its on and off positions, as shown in Figure 4,) to ground by way of lead 28 stationary contact 16 contact arm 13 stationary contact 19 and lead 25. This completes the circuit and energizes the electro-magnetic switch 9 which causes the contact arm 10 to make contact with the contacts 11 and 12 thus closing a circuit for the starting motor 1, which causes current to flow from the battery 22 to the starting motor by way of lead 24 to terminal 11 con- ,tact arm 10 contact 12and post 30, thus energizing the starting motor. The energizin of the starting motor causes the pinion 3 tod e moved axially from a position as shown in the dotted lines 8 to the position as shown in full lines in Figure 1, when the circular weight 4 contacts with the contact arm 5, completes another circuit from the electromagnetic switch to ground by way of terminal 32 lead 28 lead 29 contact arm 5 circular weight 4 pinion 3 and casing 33. This is for the purpose of maintaining the circuit of the electro-magnetic switch closed after the manually operated switch A has been moved from its intermediate position as shown in Figure 3, to its on position as shown in Figure 1, when the circuit of the electromagnetic switch is opened by way of the lead 28 to stationary contact 16 as the contact arm 13 is now out of contact with the stationary contacts 16 and 19. r In this manner the electro-magnetic switch is maintained energized until such time as the engine to be started runs under its own power. Under such conditions the pinion 3 moves axially to the position as shown by the-dotted lines 8 when the circular weight 4 is moved out of contact with the contact arm '5 thereby opening the circuit of the electro-magnetic switch 9. This will de-energize the starting motor, by allowing the contact arm 10 to be moved out of contact with the contacts 11 and 12 by said spring means (not shown) before mentioned thus opening the circuit of the start- The starting motor is now positively maintained in a le-energized condition as the circuit of the elk-ctro-magnetic switch 9 is open both by way f lead 28 and lead 29.

Upon operation of the switch A in a reverse direction from its operative or on position to its oil or inoperative position, the ignition circuit indicated at 27, (which is caused to be energized when the switch is in itson position,) is caused to be tie-energized by the contact arm 13 being moved out of contact with the stationary contacts 17 and 21, and the contact arm 13 is caused to be operated over the guard arm 20 thus preventingthe contact arm 13 from contacting with the stationary contact 19 and energizing the electromagnetic switch.

It will bethus noticed, that manual operation of the switch A from its inoperative or off position to its operative or on position first closes the circuit of the electro-magnetic switch by way of leads 23, 26, 28 and to ground by way of lead and causes the initial energizing of the starting motor to produce axial movement of the pinion. In this movement of said pinion the weight 4 contacts with the contact arm 5 to maintain a closed circuit for the electro-magnetic switch by way of leads 23, 26, and to ground by way of lead 28, 29, and contactarm 5, and also to energize an ignitioncircuit by way of lead 23 contact arm 13 contact 21 and lead 27 In the operation of the switch from its on to its off position said switch'acts to de-energize the ignition circuit only, because when the engine to be started, commences to run under its own power, it causes the pinion 3 to inove axially into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. This moves the weight 4 out of contact with the contact arm 5 thereby de-energizing the circuit of the electro-magnetic switch. However should the'engine to be started fail to 'start, the pinion 3 is not moved axially nor is the weight 4 moved out of contact with the contact arm 5, so that the circuit of the electro-magnetic switch is not opened by way of lead 29 and contact arm 5,

but is opened by the contact arm 14 being moved out of contact with the stationary contact 17 as shown in Figure 3. In this manner the complete circuit of the electro-magnetic switch is de-energized with thesingle exception of the lead 23.

In a modified form of the invention as shown in Figure 2 is will be noted that the stationary contact 18 is much shorter in length than the corresponding contact 18 as shown in Figure 1 and the lead 36 is arranged in parallel circuit with lead 26 and is connected with the contact 12. In operation,

upon movement of the switch A from its oil to its on position the contact arm 13 momentarily contacts with the stationary contacts 16 and 19, and the contact arm 14 contacts with the stationary contact 17 and momentarily contacts with the stationary contact 18. This permits current to flow from the battery 22 by way of lead 23 contact 17 to'the terminal 31 of the electromagnetic switch by way of contact arm 14, contact 18 and lead 26, through the winding of the electro-magnetic switch to terminal' 32 and to ground by way of lead 28. contact 16, contact arm 13, contact 19 and lead 25, thus closing the circuit of the electromagnetic switch which closes the circuit of the starting motor. When the start ing. motor is thus energized it causes the pinion 3 to be moved axially outward and this brings the weight 4 into contact with the contact arm 5. Assuming by now that the switch A. is operated completely to its operative or on position, thecontact arm 13 would then be out of contact with the contacts 16 and 19 and would be in contact with contacts 17 and 21 thereby energizing the ignition circuit 27. The contact arm 14 wouldlead 29 and contact arm 5. In this manner the electro-magnetic switch is maintained energized to cause the starting motor to remain operative until the engine to be started runs under its own power. When the engine is running under its own power, it overruns the pinion 3 and moves it and the weight 4 axially out of contact with the contact arm 5. This opens the. circuit of the electro-magnetic switch which causes it to return to its normal inoperative'position wherein the contact arm 10 is out of contact with the contacts 11 and 12 thereby de-energizing the starting motor and the leads 36 and 26. It will be noted that the leads 26, 28, 29 and 36 are now positively automatic means to cause the energizing and de-energizing of a starting motor wherein positive mechanical movements are adapted to control the operation of the automatic means and that should the automatic means fail the energizing and de-energizing of the starting motor is. under manual control of the operator.

The particular arrangements shown and described are by way of illustration only which shows convenient forms of the invention, but it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The term ofi position, as referred to throughout the specificationand claims is intended to mean any position which would be considered a normal. inoperative position of the swich A which would maintain the circuit of the electro-magnetic switch and the ignition circuit de-energized, and the term on position, referred to throughout the specification and claims is intended to mean any position which would be considered switchto control an ignition circuit. and

adaptable for manual operation to off and fon positions, said switch including contacts adapted to be closed and opened intermediate said ofi to on positions, a circuit including said electro-magnet and said contacts, and means whereby said circuit is closed and then opened during operation of said switch from its off to its on position. I

2. In combination with an electric starting motor and a circuit therefor, an electromagnet adapted to control the motor circuit, a switch to control an ignition circuit and adaptable for manual operation to oil and on. positions, said switch including contacts adapted to be closed and opened intermediate said off to on positions, a circuit including said electro-magnet and said contacts. and means whereby said circuit is closed and then opened during operation of said switch from its oil to its on position, and further means whereby when said switch is operated from its on to its off position the said circuit is maintained open.

3. In combination with an electric starting motor and a circuit therefor, an electromagnet adapted to control the motor circuit, of manually operative means to control an ignition circuit. said means adapted for operation to off and on positions, of 'electrical contacts adapted to be closed and then opened by said manually operative means when operated from its off to its on position only, a starting device adapted to operate a circuit make and break device, and a circuit including said electro-magnet said electrical contacts and said circuit make and break device.

4. In combination with an electric starting motor and a circuit therefor, an electromagnet adapted to control the motor circuit, of manuallv operative means adapted to control an ignition circuit, said means arranged for operation to off and on positions. of electrical contacts adapted to be operated by the said manually operative means. a starting device adapted to operate a circuit make and break device. a circuit including said electromaqnet. said electrical contacts and said circuit make and break device and a source of current. and means whereby operation of said manually operative means from its off to its on position is caused to. momentarilv energize said electro-magnet and the said startin device is caused to close the said circuit make and break device to maintain the said electro-magnet energized.

5. In combination with an electric starting motor for an engine, a circuit for said starting motor, electro-magnetic means for controlling the starting motor circuit, a third c rcuit capable of being grounded at either of two points so asto energize said electromagnetic means, a manually operable device for controlling an ignition circuit and movable from an oil to an"on' position, said device when moved partway toward said on position, closing said third circuit by grounding it at one of said points so that said starting motor circuit is energized and ly movable pinion, a circuit for said starting motor, .electro-magnetic means for controlling the starting motor circuit, a third circuit capable of being grounded at either of two points so as to energize said electro-magnetic means, a manually operable device for controlling an ignition circuit and movable from an off to an on position, said device when moved partway toward said on position closing said third circuit by grounding it at one of said points so that said starting motor circuit is energized and when moved completely into said on position, energizing said ignition circuit and breaking said ground connection at said one point, said pinion when said starting motor is energized, closing said third circuit by grounding it at the other of said points and operating when said motor is engine driven, to break said ground connection at said other point to deenergize said third circuit to stop the start- 1 ing motor. I

7. In combination with an electric starting motor for an engine, a circuit-for said starting motor, electro-magnetic means for controlling said starting motor circuit, a third circuit capable of being grounded at either of two points so as to be completed and thereby energize said electro-magnetic means, a switch for controlling an ignition circuit and movable from an off to an on position through an intermediate position and a contact operative when said switch is passing through said intermediate position to provide one of said ground connections for said third circuit, the other of said ground connections being formed by the starting motor when energized to maintain said third circuit closed after said switch has passed beyond said intermediate position and has reached said on position.

8. In combination with an electric starting "motor for an engine, a circuit for said starting motor, electro-rhagnetic means for conhand, this 8th day of October provide one of said ground connections for said third circuit, the other of said ground connections being formed by the starting motor when ener zed to malntain said third circuit closed av ter said switch has passed beyond said intermediate position and has reached said on position, said starting mo-'-

Images