US1920996A

US1920996A - Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines

Info

Publication number: US1920996A
Application number: US621985A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles I Mcneil
Original assignee: Eclipse Machine Co
Current assignee: Eclipse Machine Co
Priority date: 1932-07-11
Filing date: 1932-07-11
Publication date: 1933-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1950-08-08
Also published as: GB427088A; DE675810C; FR758235A

Description

Aug. 8, 1933. c, McNElL 1,920,996

AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 I {a A Z 87 Joflgnufwn AAA/\AAAA MN v v INVENTOR I mess: in

Wm M ,1 TORNEV C. l. M NEIL Aug. 8, 1933.

AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed July 11, 1932 INVENTOR 'C/zar J hLcTLeLb TTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL CODIBUSTION ENGINES York Application July 11, 1932. Serial No. 621,985

11 Claims. (Cl. 290-37) This invention relates to automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines and more particularly to novel controlling mechanism for preventing undesired actuation of the starting mechanism at low engine speeds or during backward rotation of the engine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel controlling device for starting mechanism embodying positively actuated means for preventing operation of the starting mechanism during self-operation of the engine.

It is another object to provide such a device in which a plurality of the products of engine rotation are used to lock the starting mechanism out of operation.

It is a further object to provide such a device in which the lock-out means is efiective for rotation of the'engine in either direction. I

It is another object to provide such a device incorporating means for delaying actuation of the starting mechanism until a predetermined time after the engine has come substantially to rest.

Another object is to provide such a (device in which said time delay is equally effective for forward and rearward rotation of the engine.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a starting system for an internal combustion engine, not shown, comprising a battery 1 grounded at 2 and connected by a lead 3 to an electro-magnetic starting switch 4. The switch 4 is connected through a single turn coil 5 and a lead 6 to a starting motor SM which is grounded at '7 to complete the starting circuit. A control circuit for the starting switch is illustrated comprising a solenoid 8 connected by a lead 9 to a manual switch 11 which may as indicated be the ignition switch of the engine and which is connected through an ammeter A to the battery lead 3. The opposite end of solenoid 8 is connected by a lead 12 to a fixed contact 13 which is normally engaged'by a movable contact 14 mounted on a spring strip which is grounded as indicated at 16 to complete the control circuit.

Means. for opening the control circuit when the engine starts are provided in the form of a magnetic plunger 17 which is arranged to be moved downwardly into engagement with a stop 18 by means of a solenoid 19 connected at one end by a lead 21 to the starting motor side of the starting switch 4, and grounded at its other end as indicated at 22. The plunger 17 is normally maintained in its upper position as illustrated by suitable means such as a spring 23, and is maintained in that position during cranking by the single turn coil 5 which is energized by the cranking current. However, when the engine starts, the release of the load on the starting motor reduces the current flux through the coil 5 thereby weakening said coil sufficiently so that the solenoid 19 is enabled to move the plunger 17 down against the stop 18.

When the plunger moves downwardly under the action of coil 19, a lever 24 is swung there- I by to engage a weight member 25 on the end of the spring strip 15 and bend said strip backward to open

contacts

14, 13.

Means are provided for retaining the plunger 17 in its retracted position and hold

contacts

13, 14 open during self-operation of the engine in the form of a coil 26 connected at one end' by a lead 27 to an engine driven generator G, and

7 source of fluid pressure operated by the engine such as the intake or exhaust manifold or an engine driven pump. As here illustrated, it is intended that the connection be made to the intake manifold or to a vacuum pump whereby the diaphragm will be moved downwardly by vacuum or upwardly by pressure due to backward rotation' of the engine.

An auxiliary switch arm 32 is arranged to be operated by the diaphragm 28 through a link 33 whereby motion of the diaphragm in either direction will cause contact to be made between the switch arm 32 and one or the other of a pair of

contacts

34 and 35 which are connected by a lead 36 to the generator coil lead 27. The switch arm 32 is connected by a lead 38 to the battery lead 9 whereby closure of this auxiliary circuit causes energization of the generator coil 26 from the battery 1. A suitable resistance 39 is preferably inserted in the generator lead 27 between the connection of the auxiliary lead 36 thereto and the generator in order to insure effective energization of the generator coil 26 even though the engine be stationary and prevent excessive discharge of the battery through the generator when the engine is idling.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, starting with the parts in the positions illustrated, closure of the ignition switch 11 causes energization of the solenoid 8 to close the starting switch 4 whereupon cranking of the engine takes place, the plunger 17 of the control relay being maintained in its upper position by the single turn coil 5. When the engine starts, the reduction in the cranking current weakens the coil 5 sufficiently to allow the coil 19 to move plunger 17 to open the

control contacts

13, 14. Meanwhile, the vacuum in the intake manifold acting on the diaphragm 28 causes closure of the auxiliary circuit through the contact 35 whereby the generator coil 26 is energized from the battery 1 to retain the plunger 17 in its lower position.' When the generator picks up as the engine starts, it cooperates to maintain the energization of coil 26 under all operating conditions.

In case of back-fire or backward rotation of the engine, the pressure built up in the engine intake causes the diaphragm 28 to close the auxiliary circuit through the contact 34 whereby the plunger 17 is held down during the backward rotation of the engine.

Whenthe plunger 17 is released, the lever 24 is snapped up by the action of spring 23, whereby the weight mmber 25 is suddenly released and will continue to vibrate for a predetermined time thus preventing effective closure of the control circuit until after the engine has had time to come completely to rest. It will be noted that this time delay is equally eflective whether the engine has been rotating backward or forward.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a second embodiment of 'the invention in which the starting circuit is arranged substantially similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the elements thereof being similarly numbered. In this embodiment, however, the control relay is provided with two sets of contacts in parallel, one set 41, 42 being normally closed, and the other set, 43, 44, being normally open. Contact 41 is mounted on a vibrator strip 45 having a weight member 46 arranged to be actuated by a clapper type armature 47 to move said contact to open position.

. Armature 4'7 is normally held out of engagement with weight member 46 by means such as a spring 50, and is arranged to engage and move said weight member to open contacts 41, 42 under the influence of a coil 48 grounded at 51 and connected by a lead 49 to the starting motor side of the starting switch 4. Armature 47 is arranged to be retained in its attracted position by means of a generator coil 52 grounded at 51 and connected by a lead 53 to generator G.

Contact 44 is mounted on a clapper type armature 54 normally held open by a spring 55, but arranged to be closed by cranking current traversing the single turn coil 5. The strength of spring 55 is adjustable by suitable means such as indicated at 56 whereby cranking current will close contacts 43, 44 but the reduction in the starting current when the engine becomes self-operative will allow the spring 55 to open said contacts. Contact 43 may if desired be mounted on a strip of bi-metal 57 attached to an element of the starting switch 4 whereby overloading of the starting circuit will cause the contact 43 to be withdrawn to interrupt the cranking operation.

In this embodiment of the invention, an, auxila iary circuit is provided for energization of the generator coil 52 from the battery 1 comprising a lead 58 connected to the ignition switch lead 9 and having

contacts

59 and 61 arranged to be engaged by a switch arm 62 which is connected by a lead 63 to the generator coil lead 53. The switch arm 62 is arranged to be operated from a piston 64 by means of a link 65, said piston being slidable within a cylinder 66 having means for connection with an engine-operated source of fluid pressure such as the intake manifold. The switch member 62 is yieldably centered by suitable means such as a spring member 68. A resistance 69 similar to .resistance 39 is preferably inserted in the generator lead 53.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, closure of the ignition switch 11 completes the control circuit through the contacts 41, 42, thus causing closure of the starting switch 4 and consequent energization of the starting motor. The consequent energization of the single turn coil 5 causes closure of the contacts 43, 44, while the energization of the coil 48 causes opening of contacts 41, 42. It will be understood that contacts 43, 44 close prior to the opening of contacts 41, 42 inasmuch as the self-inductance of the single turn coil 5 is much smaller than that of the shunt coil 48.

As soon as the engine starts, contacts 43, 44 are opened by the spring 55 due to the weakening of the single turn coil 5, thus opening the control circuit and causing the starting switch 4 to be opened. The shunt coil 48 is thereby denergized, but contacts 41, 42 are maintained open by action of coil 52 which is energized through the auxiliary circuit from battery 1 which circuit has been closed through the contact 61 by the movement of piston 64 under the efiect of intake vacuum. When the generator G picks up, it cooperates with the auxiliary circuit in maintaining the coil 52 energized under all operating conditions.

In case of backfire, the auxiliary circuit will be energized through contact 59 by reason of the actuation of piston 64 by the pressure in the intake manifold, whereby the coil 52 will be energized to maintain contacts 41, 42 open as long as the backward rotation of the engine persists.

When the coil 52 is deenergized, the armature 47 is released, thus releasing the weight member 46 which vibrates for a predetermined time before coming to rest whereby the closure of the starting switch 4 is delayed to allow the engine to come completely to rest as above set forth.

Although but two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments are possible and that various changes may bemade in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:--

1. In' an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for said switch including a control relay, an engine driven generator, means energized thereby for holding open said control relay and means responsive to self-operation of the engine for energizing said holding means from said battery.

2. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for said switch including a control relay, an engine driven generator, means 3. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for said switch including a control relay, an engine driven generator, a holding coil for said relay adapted to be energized by said generator, a switch for connecting said coil to said battery and means responsive to fluid pressure generated by self-operation of the engine for closing said switch.

4. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch,

a control circuit for said switch including a control relay, an engine driven generator, a holding coil for said relay adapted to be energized by said generator, a switch for connecting said coil to said battery, means responsive to fluid pressure generated by rotation of the engine in either direction for closing said switch, and means for delaying actuation of the starting mechanism for a predetermined time after the deenergization of said holding coil.

5. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefore including a circuit making and breaking means, means for opening said making and breaking .means when the engine starts, an engine driven generator, electromagnetic means energized thereby for holding said making and breaking means open as long as the engine is self-operative, and means responsive to self operation' of the engine for energizing said electro-magnetic holding means from said battery.

6. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a circuit making and break-ing means, means for opening said making and breaking means-when the engine starts, an engine driven generator,

electro-rnagnetic means energized thereby for holding said making and breaking means open as long as the engine is self-operative and fluid pressure means responsive to rotation of the engine for connecting said electro-magnetic hold ing means to be energized by said battery.

7. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including a circuit making and breaking means, means for opening said making and breaking means when the engine starts, an engine driven generator, electro-magnetic means energized thereby for holding said making and breaking means open as long as the engine is self -operative, means including an auxiliary switch for connecting said electro-magnetic holding means to be energized by said battery, and fluid pressure means for closing said auxiliary switchresponsive'to rotation of the engine in either direction.

8. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch, 'a control circuit therefor including circuit making and breaking means having two sets of contacts in parallel, means energized by cranking current for closing one of said sets ofcontacts, means energized by closure of the starting circuit for opening the second set of contacts, and electromagnetic means responsive to a plurality of products of self-operation of the engine for holding open said second set of contacts.

9. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery'and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including circuit making and breaking means having two sets of contacts in parallel, one set being normally open and the other set normally closed, means energized by cranking current for closing the normally open contacts, means energized by closure of the starting circuit for opening the normally closed contacts, means for opening the normally open contacts when the engine starts and electro-magnetic means responsive to a plurality of products of rotation of the engine for holding openthe normally closed contacts during rotation of the engine in either direction.

10. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including circuit making and breaking means having two sets of contacts in parallel, one set being normally open and the other set normally closed, means energized by cranking current for closing the normally open contacts, means energized by closure of the starting circuit for opening the normally closed contacts, means for opening the normally open contacts when the engine starts, an engine driven electro-magnetic means energized generator, thereby for holding open said normally closed contacts, and means responsive to rotation of the engine for energizing said electro-magnetic holding means from said battery.

1-1. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a battery and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including circuit making and breaking means having two sets of contacts in parallel, one set being normally open and the other set normally closed, means energized by cranking current for closing the normally open contacts, means energized by closure of the starting circuit for opening the normally closed contacts, means for opening the normally open contacts when the engine starts, an engine driven generator, electro-magnetic means energized thereby for holding open said normally closed contacts, and fluid'pressure means responsive to rotation of the engine in either direction for connecting said electro-magnetic holding means to be energized by said battery.

CHARLES r. MCNEIL.