US1979867A - Engine starter - Google Patents

Description

Nov., 6, 193 J. A. CHARTER ENGINE STARTER Filed June 8, 1929 z; 34 J5 J;

iatented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES ENGINE STARTER James A. Charter, Chicago, 111., assignor to Charter Drive, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 8, 1929, Serial No. 369,392

11 Claims.

This invention relates to engine starters and particularly to starters for internal combustion engines of automobiles and the like.

Certain of the functional characteristics of my present invention bear relation to starters of the type disclosed in my Patents Nos. 1,554,- 623 and 1,682,368 and my co-pending application Serial No. 343,718, filed March 1, 1929, in that my present invention contemplates the provision 13 of a starter in which a driving pinion is adapted to be moved into engagement with the fly-wheel or driving gear of the engine in response to relative movement between a helical spring and a tracker which is positioned between the convolutions of said spring. The present invention however relates to certain advantageous structural features and novel arrangement of cooperating parts which are not disclosed in my aforementioned application and patents.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a starter mechanism of the type set forth above with an improved structural arrangement for securing one extremity of the helical spring to a companion rotative element of the starter as for example the driving member or pinion. I

A still further object of my present invention is to rigidly connect the extremity of the spring with one of the rotative elements in such a manmar as to enable said spring to be readily attached or detached with respect to said rotative element.

More specifically, my invention contemplates the provision of a recess or slot within the rotative element such as the driving pinion which will enable the extremity of either a right or a left hand spring to be conveniently connected with or detached from said rotary element.

Still another object of my present invention is 40 to provide in combination with the above mentioned helical spring a tracker member of improved practical construction which may be readily associated with or detached from the spiral way presented between the convolutions of said spring and thereby .facilitate .the ease with which the parts comprising the starter mechanism may be assembled or disassembled for purposes of repair or replacement.

In addition to the above mentioned advantageous characteristics my invention contemplates the provision of a tracker means or member bf the above mentioned type which is adapted to project inwardly between the convolutions of the spiral spring and thereby obviate the necessity of providing a tracker member or pro- Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1 after the driving member or pinion has been moved into operative association with 7 the driven gear;

Figure 4 discloses a starter mechanism of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the same being provided with helical springs of modified construction; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 disclosing the driving member or pinion in its advanced position, operatively associated with the driven engine gear.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail 35 wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the. various figures, it will be observed that I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the invention in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive which includes a starter shaft 10 suitably connected with and driven by a starting motor indicated by dotted lines and designated generally by the numeral 12. A driving member or pinion 14 is 'rotatably mounted upon the shaft 10 and this member includes a gear portion 16 and a helical section 18 formed integral therewith. Obviously, the gear 16 and the section 18 might be constructed of two or more elements as distinguished from the integral arrangement shown in the drawing. The cylindrical section 18 is formed with a peripheral T-shaped recess or slot 20 which is adapted to receive a hook portion 22 of a helical spring 24.

This helical spring 24 encircles the drive shaft 10 and the convolutions thereof are spaced so as to present a helical way 26. The hook extremity 22 of the spring is adapted to be received within the T-shaped slot 20 as clearly shown in Figure 1 while the opposite extremity 28 of the 110 1 ion and spring will be longitudinally spring is adapted to engage an abutment or stop when said spring or driving pinion or unit 14 occupies the retracted position shown in Figures 1' and 2.

This abutment or stop 30 is secured to or formed upon the annular section 32 of an actuating -means designated generally by the nurneral 34. The annular section of this actuating section 84 is apertured to be received by the outer extremity of the drive shaft 10 and is secured to said drive shaft in any suitable manner as by means of a set screw 36. Extending laterally of and in the particular instance formed integral with the annular section 32 is an arm 38 which is provided at its outer extremity with a depending lug or tracker 40. The arm 38 is positioned so as to clear the periphery of the coiled spring 24 and the tracker projects downwardly within the helical way 26 presented between the spring convolutions.

1 From the foregoing it will be clear that if the driving pinion or unit 14 together with the spring 24 occupy the retracted position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and sudden rotation is imparted to theshaft 10 in a clockwise direction as viewed from the left of said figures, the pinmoved to the right in response to the rotative movement of the tracker 40 within the helical way 26. In other words, the sudden rotation imparted by the actuating means 34 will 'cause said means to rotate independently of the coiled spring 24 and hence a relative rotative movement takes place between the tracker 40 and the spring so as to cause said spring to be moved axially to the right. As the parts are thus moved to the right,.the teeth of the pinion proper 16 are carried into mesh with a driven gear 42. This gear 42 in many instances comprises a portion of the fly-wheel structure. When the pinion has been advanced to the position shown in Figure 3 into operative association with the driven gear 42, the tracker 40 will be carried into engagement with the hook portion or extremity 28 of the spring. The resilient characteristic of the spring at this instant serves to take up any shock which might result from the sudden en-.

gagement of the tracker with the spring extremity 28. Thus, after the tracker 40 engages the spring extremity 28 a positive driving connection is established between the drive shaft 10 and the driving pinion, so as to impart rotation to the driven gear 42. When the gear 42 has been rotated for a sufficient period to cause the engine with which it is associated to start, the peripheral speed of said gear will eventually exceed the peripheral speed of the driving unit or pinion and under such conditions the pinion will be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive independently of the shaft 10 and its associated actuating means 34. The rotation of the pinion obviously causes similar rotation of the coiled spring 24, with the result that the relative movement between the spring and the tracker 40 causes the spring and pinion as a driving unit to be retracted, thereby withdrawing the pinion from operative engagement with the driven gear 42. The \retracting movement of the spring is interrupted by the engagement of the spring extremity 28 with the abutment 36 carried by the annular member 32. The resiliency of the spring serves to take up the shock experienced by the engagement of the extremity 28 with the abutment 30 or in other words, a cushioning efiect is experienced which materially reduces the shocks which would otherwise be experienced upon the sudden retraction and stopping of the spring and pinion. In some instances there is a tendency for the spring and pinion to rotatively rebound in response to the engagement of the extremity 28 with the abutment 30 and this rebound has a. tendency to impart relative rotation between the tracker and the spring, thereby causing a slight forward movement to the right, Figures 1 and 2, of the pinion. Forward movement of the pinion in response to the rebounding or kick back effect is avoided by the presence of a resilient ring or abutment 44 which is carried by the shaft 10. This resilient abutment 44 does not in itself form the subject matter of the present invention but is described in detail and claimed in my above mentioned co-pending application. It will suffice to say that this ring is split so as to enable the same to expand sumciently so as to annularly project beyond the periphery of the shaft 10. Obviously the resiliency of the abutment 44 is readily overcome when rotation is imparted to the shaft 10 by the starting motor, but said resiliency is sufficient to prevent the pinion or driving unit 14 from being inadvertently moved toward the drivengear in response to the 'kick back or rebounding action of the spring or in response to other vibrations to which the parts are normally subjected.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have disclosed a starter simulating the starter just described but having certain different structural characteristics. Thus, it will be noted that the starter shown in Figures 4 and 5 is provided with the usual shaft 10 and the driving unit 14 comprising the pinion proper and the annular section 18. Encircling the shaft 10 between the section 18 and an annular member or collar 32a is a pair of co-operating coiled springs denoted generally by the numerals 24a and 24b. One extremity of the spring 24!) is provided with a hook 22b which is mounted in the T-slot 20 of the section 18 similarly to the manner described in connection with the structure shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. The opposite extremity of the spring 24b is provided with a hook portion 46 which is adapted, when the springs 24a and 24b occupy the position shown in Figure 5, to interlock with a companion hook portion 48 at one extremity of the spring 24a. The opposite extremity of the spring 241: is provided with a hook 220 which is securedfwithin a T-shaped slot 20a. It will be observed that the spiral way 26a presented between the convolutions of the coil 20a is equal in width to the-width of vthe hook 46 of the spring 24b. Likewise, the spiral or helical way 26b, Figure 5, presented between the convolutions of the spring 24b is equal in width to the hook portion 48 of the spring 24a. Thus one spring is adapted to be screwed into and out of association with the other. When said springs have been screwed together as shown in Figure 4, the hook portion 46 of the spring 24!; is moved into engagement with an abutment or projection 50 carried by the shaft 10 and the driving member or pinion 16 is in its retracted position out of operative association with the driven gear 42.

Assume that the parts occupy the position shown in Figure 4 and rotation is suddenly imparted to the shaft 10 in a clockwise direction as viewed from the left of Figure 4. This sudden rotation will cause an initial independent k to cause the spring 24b and actuating means afiixed engine with which it is vided without departing from the 25 -ing the necessity of providing rotation between the springs 24a and 24b so as the driving pinion connected thereto to be moved axially toward the driven gear 42. when the pinion has been moved to the position shown in Figure 5, the hook portions 46 and 48 of the springs will become retracted, thereby setting up a positive driving connection between the annular section 32a and the driving pinion 16. When the driven gear 42 has been rotated sufliciently to start the associated, and the peripheral speed thereof is in excess of the peripheral speed of the driving pinion, said pinion will be rotated independently of the shaft 10, thereby causing the helical spring 24b to be screwed within the spring 24a, thereby carrying the driving pinion to the position shown in Figure 4. The engagement of the hook portion 46 with the abutment 50 will arrest the axial movement of the parts. Obviously other types of interlocking springs as well as other means for arresting the inward movement of the spring connected with the driving pinion may be prospirit and scope of my invention.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention provides several distinct movements and advantages over types of engine starters which have heretofore been employed. Some of these advantages reside in the provision of a tracker such as the tracker 40 shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive which projects from a point externally of the spring into the helical way of said spring. By having this arrangement it is not necessary to provide the shaft 10 with a radial tracker device and the assembly and disassembly of the parts is greatly facilitated. The simple and unique manner in which I secure the extremity of the helical spring within one of the driving parts presents a structure which is very practical and which provides a very positive connecting means. By having the hook portion 22 of the spring inserted within the T-shaped slot 20, it is impossible by the 5 application of a rotative pull upon the spring,

to dislodge said spring from the section 18. The fact that the section of the hook 22 which lies within the circumferential portion of the T-shaped slot 20 cannot be bent with respect to the remaining portion of the spring positively prevents the spring from being pulled out of said slot. The T arrangement of the slot 20 enables either left or right handed springs to be connectedto the section 18, thereby precluddifierent parts to accommodate diflerently coiled springs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an engine starting device of the class described, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member on said unit for both longitudinal movement and rotary movement, said member being adapted, when properly positioned, to operatively engage an engine part to be driven, a

coiled spring encircling said drive shaft unit and amxed to said engine driving member, and an to said drive shaft unit, said actuating means including a projection and supporting means therefor adapted to extend over the coiled spring and connected with said unit at a point located externally of the coiled spring, said projection being positioned between the convolutions of said spring and adapted in response to relative movement between the spring and the projection, to cause the engine driving member to be carried into operative association with the engine part to be driven.

2. In an engine starting device of the class described, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member on said unit for both longitudinal movement and rotary movement, said member being adapted, when properly positioned, to operatively engage an engine part to be driven, a coiled spring encircling said drive shaft unit and afilxed to said engine driving member, a projection rotatable with said drive shaft unit and movable between the convolutions of said spring, a member extending axially over said coiled spring and providing a support for said projection. said member being rotatable as a unit with said drive shaft unit, a stop engageable with said projection to limit the axial movement of the driving member in one direction, and a stop adapted to be engaged by thd free extremity of the coiled spring to limit axial movement of said spring in the opposite direction.

3. In an engine starting device of the class described, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member on said unit for both longitudinal movement and rotary movement, said member being adapted, when properly positioned, to operatively engage an engine partto be driven, a coiled spring encircling said drive shaft unit and affixed at one extremity to said engine driving member, a projection rotatable with said drive shaft unit and positioned between the ,convolutions of said spring, a member extending axially over said coiled spring and providing a support for said projection, said member being rotatable as a unit with said drive shaft unit, a

stop for engaging-said-projection to limit the longitudinal movement of the spring and driving member in one direction, and a stop rotatable' with said'drive shaft unit for engaging the free extremity of the coiled spring to limit the longitudinal movement thereof in the opposite shiftable longitudinally thereof, said spring being formed at one extremity with a hooked portion, said hooked portion including a section bent in-a circumferential direction, a recess-provided in one of the starter elements for receiving said hooked portion to afiix said spring extremity thereto against relative axial displacement in either directory, and driving means carried by the unit andproiecting within the coil convolutions. a

5. In an engine starting device of the class described, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member for both longitudinal movement and rotary movement, a coiled spring encircling said shaft, one extremity of said coiled spring having a hooked portion, said hooked portion including a section bent in a circumferential direction, a recess being provided in said engine driving unit for receiving the hooked portion of said spring to thereby secure said unit and spring against relative axial displacement in either direction, and means positioned between the convolutions of said spring for efiecting longitudinal movement of the spring with respect unit.

to said drive shaft 6. In an engine starting device of the class described, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member on said unit for both longitudinal movement and rotary movement, a coiled spring for operatively connecting the drive shaft unit with the engine driving member, one extremity of said coiled spring being provided with a laterally extending portion, a T-shaped recess being provided in one of the elements associated therewith for receiving the laterally extending portion of said spring.

7. In an engine starting device of the class described, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member on said unit for both longitudinal movement and rotary movement, said member being adapted, when properly positioned, to operatively engage an engine part to be driven, a coiled spring encircling said drive shaft unit, a member on said drive shaft unit extending into the spring convolutions, a peripheral portion of one of said elements associated with said spring being provided with a recess having an axially extending portion and a circumferential portion extending angularly with respect to said axially extending portion, one extremity of said coiled spring being formed in accordance with the shape of the recess and adapted to be received by said recess for securing said extremity in proper position.

8. In an engine starting device of the class described, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member on said unit for both longitudinal movement and rotary movement, said member being adapted, when properly positioned, to operatively engage an engine part to be driven, a coil spring encircling said drive sh ft and affixed to said engine driving member, and actuating means -aflixed to said drive shaft unit, said means being anchored at a point spaced from the convolutions of said spring and adapted to extend over said spring and having a portion positioned between the convolutions of said spring and adapted, in response to relative movement between it and said spring, to cause the engine,

drivingmember to be carried into operative association with the engine part to be driven.

9 In an engine starting device of the class described, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member on said unit for both longitudinal movement and rotary movement, said member being adapted, when properly positioned, to operatively engage, an engine part to be driven, a coiled sprii-ig encircling said drive shaft t and afllxed to said engine driving member, an actuating means afiixed to said drive shaft unit, said actuating means including a projection supported from a point externally of the coiled spring, said projection being positioned between the convolutions of said spring and adapted in response to relative movement between the spring and the projection, to cause the engine driving member to be carried into operative association with the engine part to be driven, and a stop movable with the drive shaft unit for engaging the free end of the coiled spring when the engine driving member has been shifted away from the engine part to be driven.

10. In an engine starting device, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member on said unit adapted for both longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said member being adapted when properly positioned to operatively engagean engine part to be driven, and connecting means including a coiled spring operatively associated with said drive shaft unit, a peripheral portion of one of said elements associated with said spring being provided with a recess having an axially extending portion and a circumferential portion extending angularly with respect to said axially extending portion, one end of said coiled spring being formed in accordance with the shape of the recess and adapted to be received by said recess for securing said extremity against rotative displacement in at least one direction and also against axial displacement with respect tothe part with which said spring is connected. I

11. In an engine starting device, a drive shaft unit, an engine driving member on said unit adapted for both longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said member being adapted when properly positioned to operatively engage an engine part to be driven, and connecting means including a coiled spring operatively associated with said drive shaft unit, a perip eral portion of one of said elements associated with said spring being provided with a recess having an axially extending portion and a circumferential portion extending angularly with respect to said axially extending portion, one end of said coiled spring being formed with a hook portion adapted to be received by said recess for securing said extremity aga nst rotative displacement in at least one direction and also against axial displacement with respect to the part with which said extremity is connected.

JAMES A. CHARTER.

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