US1936555A - Engine starting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 21, 1933. R. P. LANSING v ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 27. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Raymond P Lana/n Gar.

1933- R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Filed Fsfb. 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a w 7/ 0 1 I .76 s

' INVENTOR. E Lana/)7 7 Patented Nov. 21, 1933 1,936,555 ENGINE s'rsnrmc MECHANISM Raymond P. Montclair, N. 1.,

signer.

by mesne assignments, to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange,

New Jersey N. J., a corporation of Application February 27, 1932. Serial No. 595,626 17 Claims. (Cl; 185-41) This invention relates to engine starting mechanism, and more particularly to a device of the spring-motor type adapted for use in cranking internal combustion engines.

One of the objects of the invention is toprovidenovel means for cranking an internal combustion engine which cranking energy may be stored in said means at the will of the operator and utilized thereafter at any convenient time.

- Another object is to provide a novel engine starter of the foregoing type embodying resilient means'as the element in which energy is adapted to be stored.

A further object is the provision of novel starting mechanism particularly adapted for cranking boats.

Another object of the invention is to provide a starter of the foregoing character, resilient energy storing means of such novel construction and disposition asto make it possible to obtain a more effective ratio of torque output with re- 5 spect to the size of theparts employed and the space occupied.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a spring-operated starter of the foregoing.

character, further means for controlling the release of the energy previously stored in the springs and the transfer of such energy to the engine to be started. In this connection a feature of the invention is the provision of means tending to lock the springs against release of such stored energy, in combination with novel speed responsive means for rendering the locking means ineffective during the engine cranking operation, thus insuring a continuation of the cranking operation as long as there is any apac preciable rotative energy remaining in the springs.

Further objects are to provide a device whichis compact, light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture and readily installed in engines now in it use, one which is readily adapted for manuai operation, and one in which the effort required on the part of the operator for storing up energy is reduced to minimum. The above and other objects will appear more fully hereinafter in the detaileddescription.

. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invenis so constructed that small engines such as outboard engines for tion, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings; Y Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of-a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

5 In the form shown, the structure of the present invention preferably includes a two-part housing 4, the lower part of which is adapted to besecured in any suitable manner to the engine to be started or as in the embodiment shown, such member may constitute partoi' the housing of the engine itself, particularly when the en- 75. gine is of the vertically disposed outboard type, as indicated, having a crankshaft- 6 with an upper tapered end 7 adapted to receive a flywheel 8 adjustably held 0 the shaft by the provision of a nut 9. r

The novel starting means of the present invention is disposed preferably directly above the flywheel 8 and "includes a coupling member 11 having a rim portion 12 adapted to fit upon a boss 13 on the flywheel and if desired, additional se- 3 curing means 14. The upper surface of the coupling, 11 is provided with jaw teeth 16 adapted to mesh with corresponding teeth '17 of the complemental coupling and thereby facilitate proper registry with the upper assembly. An inwardly 99 directed flange on member 18 abuts a shoulder 21 on the centralguide bushing 22 which is in turn held fast to the member 18 and has a portion 23 adapted to slidably fit within the central bore in the memberll, the bushing 22 also serving to retain the roller members of the one-wayclutch, to be described.

The energy receiving portion of the starting mechanism includes a plurality of (as shown two) spiral springs 27 and 28 having their outer ends 11 secured to the housing 4 as indicated at 29 and 30, respectively, wherein such securing means is shown as comprising a plurality of screws passing through an aperture in the end of'said spring and engageable with a reinforcing plate 31 (Fig. 4) 1 having a rounded end 32 facilitating the bending of the end of the spring, while at the same. time protecting it from breakage at this point. The fastening means 29 and 30, as shown, are disposed at diametrically opposite points on the starter 10.

housing, this being the preferable arrangement not only for the outer end of the springs, but also for the inner ends which are similarly attached at diametrically opposite points as indicated at 34 and 35 (Figs. 1 and 5), to suitable openings 36 provided in the sleeve portion 38 of the centrally disposed hub 39. This hub 39 is rotatably supported on an annular ring 41 secured to the upper part 42 of the casing 4 by suitable means as indicated at 43, the hub 39 being provided with a peripheral flange 45 adapted to be rotatably received on a corresponding ledge 46 of the bearing ring 41.

In order to provide an automatic release of the power members of the starting mechanism from operative connection with the engine after starting thereof, a one-way driving connection is preferably interposed between thehub 39 and the coupling member 20. As shown, such a one-way driving connection takes the form of an overrunning clutch, the inner race of which is constituted by the hub 39 and the outer race by the coupling member 18, enclosing a plurality of arcuate segments 50 (Figs. 1 and 5) adapted to be maintained in frictional engagement with said outer race, and each adapted to receive a spring pressed plunger 52 operative to hold the rollers 53 in wedging relation between the members 50 and 39 when the latter drives in a clockwise direction, while permitting free overrunning action of the segments 50 when being driven from the engine in a clockwise direction. This one-way clutch differs from the conventional clutch wherein the rollers engage directly with the outer race.

Novel means are provided for storing energy in the springs 2'7 and 28 and for retaining .such energy therein until the transfer thereof to the flywheel to impart initial rotation thereto. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, such means preferably includes the formation on the hub 39 of an upwardly extending sleeve portion 58, the external surface of which is splined as indicated at 59, and the interior surface of which is also suitably formed for reception of a correspondingly shaped end 60 of a removable handcrank 61. With the provision of such means it is apparent that upon rotation of the hub 39 by application of the crank 61 thereto, the springs 2'7 and 28 will be simultaneously wound to store starting energy therein. The means for holding the springs 2'7 and 28 in their wound positions, and for manually releasing said springs thereafter, preferably comprises a pair of cooperating ratchet rings 63 and 64, the former being aflixed to the upper end 65 of the housing by suitable means, such as rivets 66, and the associated ratchet rings 64 being rotatable relatively thereto in response to rotation of the sleeve 58, to which the ring 64 is splined as indicated at 6'7, such rotation of the ring 64 being facilitated by the provision of a suitable bearing 69. A coiled compression spring 68, one end of which abuts the upper end of the surface 39, engages the ring 64 at its other end to normally hold the teeth thereof in mesh with the corresponding teeth on the ratchet ring 63, it being understood that these two sets of teeth are inclined in a direction to permit rotation of the ring 64 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, while restraining any rotation thereof in the opposite direction, pending operation of the releasing means now to be described.

The novel means for releasing the spring locking mechanism just described, and for holding the springs away from the influence of such locking mechanism until substantially all the energy previously stored therein has been spent, includes a plurality of arcuate segmental blocks '70 (Figs. 1 and 2) normally held against the outer peripheral surface of a ring '71 by suitable means such as toroidal spring '73, fitting within the circumferential groove 74 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) of the blocks '70. As shown, the ring '71 has an outwardly turned flange '76 on which the blocks '70 are supported,.the said flange '76 being of sufficient width to support the said blocks even when the latter move outwardly in response to the centrifugal action effective thereon, such outward movement being guided by the provision of downwardly projecting lugs '75 (Fig. 3) integral with blocks '70 and slidable in the radial slots '77 in flange '76. This centrifugal action, in conjunction with the shoulder '78 provided on the upper portion of the housing, serves to lock the blocks '70 and hence the rings '71 and 64 in the lower position to which they may be moved by downward pressure on the knob or thimble 79 which is interposed between the upper surface 65 of the housing and the sleeve 58, the said thimble '79 having an outwardly turned flange 80 extending between the plate 65 and the bearing 69, so that the downward pressure is transmitted through the said bearing to the rings 64 and 71, thus carrying the blocks '70 below the level of the shoulder '78 and permitting their engagement with said shoulder. 105 In this manner, the ratchet member 64, hub 39 and springs 2'7 and 28 are freed from the restraining influence of the ratchet member 63 until such time as practically all the energy previously stored in the said springs is dissipated.

Having thus described the parts entering into the preferred embodiment as illustrated, it will be apparent that the operation thereof will be as follows:

Upon rotation of the hub 39 by application of the crank 61 thereto, the springs 27 and 28 will be simultaneously wound, to store starting energy therein, the ratchet rings 63 and 64 cooperating during this period to prevent a reverse rotation or unwinding of the springs. Also during this period the direciion of rotation of the hub 39 is such as to produce only. idle rotation of the rollers 53 of the one-way clutch. As soon as suflicient tension has been created in the springs, the thimble '79 is manually or otherwise depressed (the hand-crank 61 being first removed, if desired), thereby releasing the ring 64 which thereupon spins in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, in response to the unwinding action of the springs. The centrifugal force thus created 130 urges the blocks '70 out toward the housing wall, causing them to catch under the shoulder '78 and thus lock the ratchet ring 64 away from the fixed ring 63 during the period of torque transfer to the engine flywheel 8; such transfer being by way of hub 39, rollers 53 (now in wedging position) and coupling members 18 and 11. When the engine has thus been started, and the spring energy dissipated, the spring '73 becomes effective to reiurn the blocks '70 into engagement with the peripheral surface of the ring '71. When thus returned, the assembly is again urged to its upper position as indicated in Fig. 1, by the action of the compression spring 68.

There is thus provided a novel engine starting 145 mechanism which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and which can be readily insalled on engines now in use. It will be apparent that various other forms of drive, including gearing and multiple spring combinations, 150

working simultaneously or in sequence, may be substituted for that shown, although preferably the parts are so constructed and arranged as .to permit insiantaneous application of maximum torque to the engine crankshaft on release of the springs. Moreover, in place of the permanent driving connection between the shaft and the engine crankshaft, a construction involving movement to and from engine-engaging position,

equivalents for the construction shown may be,

adopted for securing the springs during the winding operation. Where a greater number of turns of the crankshaft is desired, a multiplying gear by those skilled in the Other changes, additions and substitutions may be made as hereinabove suggested. Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the inveniion.

What is claimed is:

1. In a starter for an internal combustion engine oi the type embodying a driving member adapted to rotate a member of the engine to be started, the combination with said driving member and engine member, of resilient means in which energy may be stored for subsequent transfrom and movable relatively to said hand operated shaft for normally preventing the release of energy stored in said resilient means, and means including a member rotatable with said hand operated shaft for rendering said preventing means ineffective.

2. In a starter for an internal combustion engine of the type embodying a driving member adapted to rotate a member of the engine to be started, the combination with said driving meminternal combustion ennanually, energizing'said resilient means comprising a hand operated shaft operatively connected to said resilient means,

speed responsive means for preventing a re-apall the energy previously stored means.

1. In a starter for an internal combustion eng ne of the type embodying a'driving member adapted to rotate a member of the engine to be 3 started. the combination her and engine member, of resilient means in which energy may be stored for subsequent transfer to said engine member through said driving member, means for manually energizing said resilient means comprising a hand operated shaft operatively connected to said resilient means, means-normally preventing the release of energy stored in said resilient means, a manually operable device for'releasing said resilient means from the influence of said preventing means, and means comprising a member rotatable with said hand operated shaft for preventing a re-application of said preventing means prior to the transfer to said engine member of substantially all the energy previously stored in said resilient means.

5. In a starter for an internal combustion engine of the type embodying a driving member engageable with a member of the engine to be started to transfer rotative energy thereto, the combination withsaid driving member and en-- gine member of a spring in which such rotative energy may be stored, a housing for said spring, a locking device secured to said housing for normally preventing the rotation of said spring in one direction, a shaft for rotating said spring in the opposite direction, and speed responsive means operatively connected with said shaft and adapted to engage said housing to maintain said locking means inefiective during the periodof transfer of rotative energy from said spring to said engine member.

6. In a device bination with a said spring, means for first winding said spring, a rotatable shaft having a one-way driving connection with said spring. a pair of cooperating locking members adapted to prevent unwinding of said spring for any desired period, means secured to said housing for rotatably supporting said shaft, gageable with said shaft for rotatably supporting one of said locking members.

'7. In a device of the class described, in ccmbi nation with a member to be driven,

winding. said spring, a rotatable shaft having asaid spring, a

one-way driving connection with of cooperating locking members adapted to prevent unwinding of said spring for any desired period, and means for yieldably supporting one of said locking members for rotation with said shaft.

8. Engine starting apparatus including a driving member engageable with a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable shaft having a one-way driving connection with said driving member, .means operable through rotation of in a non-driving direction to store energy for subsequent transmission to said driv= ing member upon rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction, and means for preventing such oppositerotation of said shaft for any desired period, said preventing means including a part rotatable in both member to be driven, a spring with said driving memperiod, and means for yieldably supporting one of said locking members for rotation with said shaft, said means comprising a second spring interposed between said shaft and locking members.

10. Engine starting apparatus including a driving member engageable with a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable shaft having a oneway driving connection with said driving member, means operable through rotation of said shaft in a non-driving direction to store energy for subsequent transmission to said driving member upon rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction, and means for preventing such opposite rotation of said shaft for any desired period, said preventing means comprising a relatively stationary locking member and a cooperating locking member rotatable in both directions with said shaft.

11. Engine starting apparatus including 'a driving member engageable with a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable shaft having a one-way driving connection with said driving member, means operable through rotation of said shaft in a non-driving direction to store energy for subsequent transmission to said driving member upon rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction, means for preventing such opposite rotation of said shaft for any desired period, said preventing means comprising a relatively stationary locking member, a cooperating locking member normally in engagement therewith, means for disengaging said locking member, and means responsive to such disengagement for preventing are-engagement until substantially all the previously stored energy has been transmitted to said driving member.

12. In a device of the class described, in combination with a member to be driven, a spring adapted to drive said member upon unwinding, means for first winding said spring, means for preventing an unwinding of said spring for any desired period, said preventing means comprising a relatively stationary locking member, a cooperating locking member normally in engage-' ment therewith, means for disengaging said looking member, and means responsive to such disengagement for preventing a re-engagement until substantially all the previously stored energy has been transmitted to said driving member.

13. In a device of the class described, in combination with a member to be driven, a spring adapted to drive said member upon unwinding, means for first winding said spring, means for preventing an unwinding of said spring for any desired period, said preventing means comprising a part rotatable in both directions with said shaft, means for releasing said preventing means, and radially movable means rotatable with said spring for thereafter means released.

14. In a device of the class described, in combination with a member to be driven, a spring adapted to drive said member upon unwinding, a housing enclosing said spring, means including a splined shaft for first winding said spring, and means for preventing an unwinding of said spring for any desired period, said preventing means comprising a locking member secured to said housing and a cooperating lockingmember having splined engagement with said shaft.

15. In a device of the class described, in combination with a member to be driven, a spring adapted to-drive said member upon unwinding, a housing enclosing said spring, means for first winding said spring, means for preventing an unwinding of said spring for any desired period, said preventing means comprising a locking member secured to said housing, and a cooperating locking member rotatable with said spring, said second named locking member including a part engageable with said housing upon release from said first named locking member.

16. In a device of the class described, in combination with a member to be driven, a spring adapted to drive said member upon unwinding, a housing enclosing said spring, means for first winding said spring for any desired period, means for preventing an unwinding of said spring for any desired period, said preventing means comprising a locking member secured to said housing, a cooperating locking member rotatable with said spring, said second named locking member including a part engageable with said housing upon release from said first named locking member, and means interposed between said spring and locking members to re-engage the latter after unwinding of the spring.

17. In a device of the class described, in combination with a member to be driven, aspring adapted to drive said member upon unwinding, a housing enclosing said spring, means for first winding said spring, means for preventing an unwinding of said spring for any desired period, said preventing means comprising a locking member secured to said housing, a cooperating locking member rotatable with said, spring, said second named locking member including a part engageable with said housing upon release from said first named locking member, and means for re-engaging said locking member, said re-engaging means including a second spring interposed holding said preventing between said first named spring and said housing.

RAYMOND P. LANSING.

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