US1952229A - Engine controlling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1934-. J w ALLEN 1,952,229

ENGINE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29. 1932 IIIVI II Jose /2 14 A //en Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES TOFFIGE ENGINE (CONTIBQLLHNG APPARATUS Jersey Application September 29, 1932, Serial No. $35,426

ii claims. (oi. zen-st) This invention relates to engine controlling apparatus and more particularly to means for inter-relating the operation and control of the ignition and starting mechanism of an internal corn- 5 bustion engine. 7

An object of the invention is to provide interrelated control mechanism of the foregoing character=operative to automatically start an internal combustion engine simultaneously with the ener-- of predetermined duration, measured from the first moment of stall.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for utilizing electrical energy derived from the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine for the purpose of controlling the time of energization and de-energization of the electrical. parts of an engine starting mechanism. In this connection, a feature of the invention is the use of a unidirectional condenser elec- 39 trically associated with the ignition and starting circuits in such manner that energy from the primary winding of the induction circuit, which is produced by the collapse of the magnetic field created by the periodic interruptions of current flowing therein, is stored in said condenser and subsequently transferred to an electro-magnetic device exercising an influence upon the starting circuit.

These and other objects and advantages to be derived from the use of the invention will appear more iully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description and the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment of the invention. It is to be expressly understood, how- ,ever, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had primarily for this purpose to the appended claims.

Inthe drawing, p p Fig. l is a schematic representation of the novel instrumentalities in which the present invention is preferably embodied; and

Fig. 2 is a view in section of one form of condenser suitable Ior use in the circuit shown in Fi l.

in the drawing, the invention is shown as applied to certain accessories of an internal combustion engine, such as a battery 6, or equivalent source of electrical energy, a starting motor 7, and a spark plug 8 constituting one of a series corresponding in number to the number of cylinders of the engine, a portion of the wall of one of which is shown at 9. The means for producing sparks periodically .across the electrodes of plugs 8 may be of any conventional form, but preferably includes a distributor shown diagrammatically at 12 and 13, the former character indicating the stationary contacts electrically connected with the various spark plugs, and the latter referencecharacter indicating the rotating 7a contact electrically connected with the secondary winding 16 of the induction coil 17, the said arm I 13 being rotatable with a shaft 18 connected in the usual manner to rotate in timed relation with the cam 19 which periodically interrupts the circuit of the primarywinding 21 of the induction coil by separating the contacts 22 and 23, the latter being grounded as indicated at 24, and the former connecting with the induction coil as indicated by the conductor 26.

To this conductor 26 there is connected a second conductor 28 leading to the terminal or terminals 29 of a unidirectional condenser 30 which may take the form indicated in Fig. 2, the opposite terminal 31 of the condenser being connected 95 to the winding 34 of an electro-magnetic device 36, and from the winding to the ground 35. Solenoid 36 is shown as having a magnetizable core 37 normally held in the position shown by suitable mechanical means, such as the spring 38, and adapted to be withdrawn from such position upon the creation of a sufliciently strong mag= netic fiux coursing through the said core 3'7. As shown, there is mechanically connected to the core 37, and insulated therefrom, a contact plate ll normally bridging a pair of stationary contacts 42 and 43, the latter being grounded as indicated at ii, and the former connecting with one end of the winding 46 of a second'electro-magnetic device 47, .also shown as in the form of a solenoid having a plunger 48 normally held by the spring 49 in the positionindicatedin Fig. 1, in which position the circuit closing contact 51 con nected therewith is'out of engagement with a pair of stationary contacts 52 and 53, the former of which connects by means of a wire 56 with the positive terminal 57 of the battery 6, while the latter contact connects by means of wire 58 with one side of the armature of the starting motor 7, the other side being grounded as indicated at 59. 13.10

Preferably the switch 62, which corresponds to the conventional ignition switch usually mounted in a position conveniently accessible to the operator of the vehicle in which the engine is installed, has in the present instance the additional function of controlling the flow of current to the condenser, as well as to the solenoids 36 and 47 above described. To this end there is provided an arcuate conducting strip 66 engageable by the switch arm 62 to electrically connect the lead 68 with both lead 69 and the lead 72, as indicated; The lead 72 is shown as extending to winding 21 of the induction coil, and by means of the branch lead 28 to the condenser 30 and solenoid 36, while the lead 69 connects with the solenoid winding 46, as indicated.

As above stated, the condenser is preferably of the unidirectional type, one such type of condenser being shown in Fig. 2, which is a reproduction of the electrolytic condenser disclosed in the Mershon Patent No. 1,784,674.

Thiscondenser construction is suitable for the present invention in that it permits the inductive surges resulting from the periodic collapse of the magnetic field of the induction coil to be collected on the electrodes 75 of the condenser, charging the same to a substantial potential, which in installations thus far made has been of the magnitude of approximately 45 volts when using a condenser of 8 mfds. capacity.

When it is desired to start the engine, the operator throws the switch 62 to closed position, thereby electrically connecting each of the conductors 69 and 72 with the battery, In view of the fact that full battery voltage is immediately effective across the terminals of winding 46, switch 51 is promptly moved to closed position, while the resuiting magnetic flux through the core 37 of the solenoid 36 is insufficient to open the switch ll immediately, and a time interval of definite duration (aspredetermined by the electrical characteristics of the condenser and coils) elapses.

During this interval the switch 51 remains closed by reason of the continued energization of the coil 46. This closure of the switch 51 causes current to flow to the starting motor 7 and the starting mechanism energized thereby (not shown herein) is effective to start rotation of the engine crankshaft and resulting operation of the distributor 13, interrupter l9, and other parts of the ignition system, in the usual manner. I

The engine is thus brought into a condition wherein the ignition and carbureting mechanism become capable of maintaining it in operation, independentlyof any aid from the starting motor 7. De-energization of said motor thereafter occurs (that is, at the end of the predetermined time interval required for fully charging the condenser) and the switch 41 is opened as a result of the increased strength of the magnetic field acting through core 37 due to discharge of the condenser through the winding 34. Ehis in turn de-energizes solenoid 4-7, permitting spring 49 to open the switch 51.

Thereafter, at anytime when an increase in load or decrease in supply of fuel causes'the engin'e to stall, thereby discontinuing the periodic interruptions of the current in the'primary winding, the electrical energy which has been accumulating in the condenser during such periodic interruptions drops off correspondingly and soon becomes ineffective to maintain the coil 34 fully energized. Thereupon the spring 38 becomes elfective to reclose the switch ell and the solenoid 47 is accordingly re-energized, thereby closing the switch 51, and causing re-energization of the starting motor 7 and a recranking of the engine, it being assumed that the switch 66 has remained in the closed position. The resumed operation of ling system wherein the ignition and starting are under the control of a single manually operable instrumentality, and the said functions are so inter-related as to produce energization and deenergization of both in proper timed relation.

What is claimed is: a

1. In a system for starting an internal combustion engine, a starting motor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, said circuit including a normally open switch, a solenoid adapted when energized to close said switch, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, means for simultaneously energizing said solenoid and closing said ignition circuit, and means including a second solenoid responsive to interruption of the current flow through said primary winding to deenergize said first named solenoid.

2. In a system for starting internal combustion engines including a starting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor and battery, an ignition circuit, a single switch controlling the closure of said starting motor and ignition circuits, and means including a condenser operated by' energy drawn from said ignition circuit for rendering said single switch ineffective.

3. In a system for starting an internal combustion engine, a starting motor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, said circuit including a normally open switch, a solenoid adapted when energized to close said switch,

an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, means for simu taneously energizing said solenoid and closing said ignition circuit, means including a second solenoid operated by energy drawn from said ignition circuit to de-energize said first named solenoid, said last named means including a condenser which is first charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit and thereafter discharged though the winding of said second solenoid.

i. In asystem for starting an internal combustion engine, a starting motor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, said circuit including a normally open switch, a solenoid adapted when energized to close said switch, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, means for simultaneously energizing said solenoid and 0105- ing said ignition circuit, means including a second solenoid operated by the energy drawn from said ignition circuit at the moment of interruption of the current flow through said primary winding to de-energize said first named solenoid, said last named means including a condenser which is first charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit and thereafter discharge through the winding of said second solenoid.

5. In a system for starting internal combustion engines including a starting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor and battery, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a circuit circuit interrupting device in series with said prisaid starting motor energized aitera brief interval of predetermined duration, measured from the initial energization of said ignition circuit, said last named means including a condenser which is first charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit and thereafter discharged through the winding of said solenoid.

6. In a system'for starting internal combustion 1 engines including a, starting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor and battery,

,an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a circuit interrupting device in series with said primary windings, a single switch controlling the closure of said starting motor and ignition circuits, and means including a solenoid operated by energy drawn from said ignition circuit at the moment of interruption of the current flow through said primary winding for de-energizing said solenoid for rendering said single switch ineffective to maintain said starting motor energized after a brief interval of predetermined duration, measured irom the initial energization of said ignition circuit, said last named means including a condenser which is first charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit and thereafter discharged, through the winding of said solenoid.

7.. In, a system for starting an internal combustion engine, a starting motor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, said circuit including a normally open switch, asolenoid adapted when energized to close said switch, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, means for simultaneously energizing said solenoid and closing said ignition circuit, means including a second solenoid operated by energy drawn from said ignition circuit to de-energize said first named solenoid, said last named means including a condenser which is first charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit and thereafter discharged through the winding of said second solenoid, and means effective upon a complete discharge or said condenser to re-energize said starting motor circuit.

8. in a system for starting an internal combustion engine, a starting motor, a battery, a circuit connecting said battery and motor, said circuit including a normally open switch, a solenoid adapted when energized to close said switch, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, means for, simultaneously energizing said solenoid and closing said ignition circuit, means including a second solenoid operated by the energy drawn irom said ignition circuit at the moment or" interruption of the current flow through said primary Winding to de-energize said first named solenoid, said last named means including a condenser which is first charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit, and thereafter dis charged through the winding of said second solenoid, and means effective upon a complete discharge of said condenser to re-energize said starting motor circuit.

9. In a system for starting internal combustion engines including a starting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor and battery, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a circuit interrupting device in series with saidprimary winding, 2. single switch controlling the closure of said starting motor and ignition circuits, means including a solenoid operated by energy drawn from said .ignition circuit for rendering said single switch ineffective to maintain'said starting'motor energized after a brief interval of predetermined duration, measured from the initial energization of said ignition circuit, said last named means including a condenser which is first charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit and thereafter discharged through the winding of said solenoid, and means effective upon'a complete discharge of said condenser to re-energize said starting motor circuit.

10. In a system for starting internal combustion engines including a starting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor and battery, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a circuit interrupting device in series with said primary winding, a single switch controlling the closure of said starting motor and ignition circuits, means including a solenoid operated by energy drawn from said ignition circuit at the moment of interruption of the current flow through said primary winding for tie-energizing said solenoid for rendering said single switch ineffective to maintain said starting motor ener-' gized after a brief interval of predetermined duration measured from the initial energization of said ignition circuit, said last named means including a condenser which is first charged by the energy drawn from the ignition circuit and thereafter discharged through the winding of said solenoid, and means effective upon a complete discharge of said condenser to re-energize said starting motor circuit.

ii. in a system for starting internal combustion engines including a starting motor and a battery, a circuit connecting said motor and battery, an ignition circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary windings, a circuit interrupting device in series with said primary windings, a single switch controlling the closure of said starting motor and ignition circuits,., and means including a solenoid operated by energy drawn from said ignition circuit at the moment of interruption of the current flow through saidprimary winding for de-energizing said solenoid for rendering said single switch inefiective to maintain said starting motor energized after a brief interval of predetermined duration, measured from the initial energization of said ignition circuit.

JQSEPH W. ALLEN.

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