US2001479A - Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

E. A. WATSON AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 24, 1935 May 14, 1935.

INVENTOH firnesi/Znslgglflaiaom BY M MW ATTO NEY Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC STARTING BIECIIANISM FOB INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Ernest Ansley Watson,

Birmingham, England, ass'ignor to Eclipse Machine Company, Elmira,

Great Britain 4 Claims.

Application has been filed in Great Britain December 30, 1933.

This invention relates to an automatic starting device for internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to a device for automatically starting an engine on closure of a manual switch and restarting the same in case of engine stall as long as said manual switch remains closed.

One object of the present invention is to provide an automatic starting device which is reliable and efllcient and provides an uninterrupted cranking operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a starting device of the above type embodying provisions whereby a continuous cranking operation is secured while the device is disconnected as soon as the engine starts and remains inoperative so long as the engine is running under its own power.

Another object of the invention is to effect the automatic control of the starting switch in a simpler and more convenient manner than heretofore.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means responsive to self operation of the engine to allow energization of the means for opening the starting motor circuit.

According to a particular feature of the invention, the opening means are controlled in response to the current flowing through the starting motor circuit.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows a diagrammatic illustration of a preferred form of the invention.

On this drawing, there is illustrated an electrical starting system for an internal combustion engine indicated semi-diagrammatically at 2 comprising a starting motor circuit controlled by a starting switch.

The movable contact a of this switch is closed on to the fixed contact 17 by an electromagnet comprising a winding c and plunger 6, the latter carrying the contact a. The switch is opened when released by a spring (not shown). The circuit through the winding contains a hand switch e (which also controls the engine ignition apparatus 1) and a switch responsive to the action of a second electromagnet. This switch consists of a blade a fixed at the end It and provided witha movable contact i which co-operates with a fixed contact 1. The said second electromagnet comprises a winding 7: and a plunger 1,

December 30, 1933 the latter being arranged to actuate a lever 111. having at its outer end a roller n adapted to lift the free end of the blade g through an abutment piece 0. The supply of current to the winding k is controlled by the starting switch (a, b), and the purpose of this electromagnet is to open the switch contacts 1', a, in the circuit of the first clectrcmagnet c. The switch comprising the contacts 1', 7, is of any convenient delay-action type. In the example illustrated the delay in the proper closing of the contacts i, j, is obtained by the free vibration of the blade g which persists for a short time after release by the lever m. Also the second electromagnet is provided with an additional winding p which can receive cur- 1:, rent from a dynamo q driven by the engine, so that the switch contacts i, 7'. controlled by this electromagnet cannot close while the engine is in motion. The dynamo supplies current to the battery 0 through the ordinary cut-out device indicated by w.

The third electromagnet connects the starting switch contact b to the starting motor s. This magnet may comprise a single turn 1' surrounding a fixed iron part 2:, or it may consist of a short straight length of conductor which is partially embraced by the said iron part. The latter serves to act on a movable part carrying a contact t, which co-operates with a fixed contact u. The electromagnet serves to hold open the said contacts t, u, which are situated between the starting switch and the second electromagnet winding k, until the current taken by the motor falls below some predetermined value.

When the engine is at rest the parts above described occupy the positions shown in the diagram. To effect the starting of the engine by means of the starting motor s (which receives current from a battery 12), the hand switch e is closed. This causes current to flow from the bat- 40 tery to the ignition apparatus 1, and also through the contacts 5, 7', to the winding c. The starting switch (a, b) is thereupon closed. A heavy current now passes from the battery 1) to the starting motor s, and this current causes the third electrornagnet r to open the switch contacts t, u, connected to the winding k of the second electromagnet. After the engine has been started the current falls and when the fall reaches some predetermined value the third eiectromagnet releases the switch (t, u) and allows current to flow to the winding is of the second electromagnet. The exciting of this magnet causes the contacts i, 7', of the delay-action switch in the circuit of the winding c of the first electromagnet to be opened,

thereby allowing the starting switch to be opened by its spring. The contacts 2', are kept apart by current in the winding p derived from the dynamo driven by the engine.

Should the engine stop accidentally current ceases to flow in the winding 1), and the contacts 1'. j, of the delay-action switch close, and after a short interval of time dependent on the persist ence ofthe vibration of the blade 9 after it has been released, the above described cycle of operations is repeated and the engine is automatically re-started. Intentional stopping of the engine is effected by opening the hand switch e abovementioned which controls both the starting switch and the ignition apparatus.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that said embodiment is not exclusive and that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:-

1. An automatic starting system for internal combustion engines, including a battery, a starting motor circuit embodying an electromagnetic switch, a control circuit for said switch, a circuit in parallel with the starting motor circuit embodying electromagnetic means eifective to open said control circuit, said last named circuit including a normally closed switch which opens and disconnects the electromagnetic opening means from the battery during cranking operation and is caused to close when the engine is running under its own power to cause energization of the opening electromagnetic means from the battery to open the control circuit and thereby open the electromagnetic switch.

' 2. An automatic starting system for internal combustion engines, comprising a starting motor circuit, means controlling the energization of said circuit, electromagnetic means in parallel with the starting motor circuit for opening the same, a normally closed switch controlling the energization of said electromagnetic means and electromagnetic means energized by the current in the starting motor circuit for opening the switch when the engine is being cranked while releasing said switch when the engine is rotating under its own power.

3. An automatic starting system for internal combustion engines including a starting motor circuit comprising a switch, a control circuit for said switch including a pair of normally closed contacts and a manually operated switch closure of which causes closure of the starting switch, electromagnetic means in a circuit in parallel with the starting motor circuit for opening said contacts only when the engine starts and electromagnetic means in the starting motor circuit for preventing efiective energization of the first named electromagnetic means so long as the engine is being cranked.

4. An automatic starting system for internal combustion engines including a starting motor circuit comprising a switch, a control circuit for said switch including a pair of normally closed contacts and a manually operated switch closure of which causes closure of the starting switch, a circuit in parallel with the starting motor circuit including a normally closed switch and electromagnetic means which, when energized, causes the opening of the normally closed set of contacts, and electromagnetic means in the starting motor circuit for opening the last named switch to prevent the opening of said contacts when the engine is being cranked.

ERNEST ANSLEY WATSON.

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