US2271383A - Starting means for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 27, 1942. c, wYNNE ETAL 2,271,383

STARTING MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1941 N15 an/ Jan. 27, 1942. c. H. WYNNE ET AL ,3

STARTING MEANS FOR INTERNAL GOMBUSTIONENGINES Filed June 26, 1941 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES 'PA E' rorrice 1 r i I "227133 Y v 'STA'RTING'M EANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION-ENGINES "4 N Charles Horace Lionel Wynne, Hem-y" Christopher .Tryon, and Frank Raymond Fab er Ramsay,

London, England, assignors to'n fNa'pier & Son Limited, London; England, a 'coinpatny 'of Gre'at Britain Application {J n 2 1941,sefri51K 13299314 In Great Britain June 18, 1940 I mfoiaims. .(Cl.;1 23 -'-'-'-'-18'l ."5)

I site ar as, power, thegclo'sing dr 'this-circuitis ;T;I}his invention relates to starting means [for internal combustion engines; more especially the engines of aircraft, and by meansof apparatus oi the "combustion, inertia or other non-continuously turning .type. When a starter of this type ';is employed the engine cylinders are liable to become overcharged with fuel unless a measured quantity of priming fuel is delivered into the cylinders at each starting attempt. The ob- 'ectgof *theinvention is to provide for the delivery into each cylinder of a suitable quantity ofithe priming; i'uel while the starter is causing the engine to be turned over, such fuel delivery being under a pressure Which will cause the fuel ,to

enter the cylinder .in a-finely atomized state so type with which the invention is intended to be more. particularly associated comprises know-n.

effectedlwhile the priming charge of fuel is being injected into the engine cylinder. 1

With-thefuels-containing chamber formed as a cylinder, as-is preferred, thereis in thiscylinder apis'tdn whichis movable in the cylinder through a variable distance, from the delivery .end of the cylinder and thefdi'stan'ce through which the piston is permitted to move when fuel is being deliveredinto the chamber determines the capacity of the'chamber in accordance with the desired amount or fuel whichgi'sto be in' the Ijp'ri-ming charge. QTheifuel in this chamber is kept under eressureby .fneans of aspring or air pressure actingonthepi'ston anus non-return valve controls the'flowoffuel from the, chamber to the engine cylindn -When "this. valve is. lifted to allow the fuelitopass to the engine'cylinder, at the same means 'forrturning over the 'engine by poweri-derived from gas pressure resulting from the combustio'n of a charge contained in a cartridge whichds ignited :or fired when an electric circuit iscompleted. The invention-is applicable, how ever, for use "with other known starting apparatus of the general type in question which, can be brought into operation by means actuated electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically.

According to this invention there is combined with a starting apparatus of the type indicated above, a device which will cause a measured quantity of priming fuel to be injected into the engin cylinder and means for bringing this-deyice into operation and forcausin'g the starter to time there isfclosed. the electric circuit which causes the. starter to function. It is convenient r arrange in -this electric circuit .two separate contacts which have to be made simultaneously seas toefiect the closing of the circuit. One of es e contacts is made when the non-return valve lifted. and the other contact is made when the piston as it moves under the pressure exerted on (it-is approaching the endof the fuel cylinder and delivery of the pr-iming'char-ge is about to end. The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example alternativeconstructions and an arrangement of theapparatus which-may be emplayed in carryingthe invention into practice.

function as the fuel charge is entering the e'ngine cylinder, The device comprises a chamber, which may conveniently be formed as a cylinder,

' adapted to contain under pressure the amount of fuel required for a priming charge and means for permitting the fuel to pass from this chamber into the engine, cylinder and for simultaneously bringing the starter into operation. Means are provided for varying the capacity of this chamto function. Where as is preferred the starting I apparatus is caused to function by the closing of.

an'electric circuit, the electric current for example firing a cartridge which :generates the requimesa "threaded to engage an internal thread extending alongi inthe-end portion of the cylinder A. With-' In these'drawings, V e

Figure. 1315 a sectional elevation of one form of the fuel-'containingchamber, and the parts more particularlyassociated with it. n

Figure 2 isi-ax similar view of the cylindrical 'chamberjshowing an alternative arrangement for maintaining in the chamber the necessary pres sure on the fuel therein certainworking parts being broken away or omittedfor the sake of clear- "Figure. 3 shows diagrammatically how the in:- vention may be arranged in relation to an engine.

. Referring to Figure 1 the fuel-containing chamber is here constituted by the cylinder A, in one end B which may be integral with the cylinder, are the passages through which the .fuel

enters andfio'ws 1away'from the chamber. The 'Otherend C of the cylinder is adjustable being provided 'w'itha sleeve C externally screwin the latter lies and can move a piston D having a rod D which extends and can move freely through a central opening C in the cylinder head C. In the cylinder and between the head C and the piston D is a spring E which tends constantly to move the piston towards the end B of the cylinder. By adjustment of the cylinder head C the end of whose sleeve C forms an abutment, the distance through which the piston can move in the cylinder against the spring can be varied and thus the capacity of the cylinder may be changed to measure and determine the amount of fuel which the cylinder can hold at one time as a priming charge.

By way of the passage F in the end B of the cylinder A fuel may be delivered past the nonreturn valve F by a pump operated by hand or otherwise when required. The outlet passage G leads from the fuel cylinder to the engine cylinder and the flow through this passage is controlled by a non-return valve H. This valve is provided with a spindle H and acted on by a spring H which tends to keep the valve on its seat. In contact with the end of this spindle is the end of one arm J of a lever pivoted at J and adapted to be moved through its other arm J When thus moved the lever will lift the valve H off its seat and allow the measured charge of fuel contained in the cylinder A to flow through the passage G to the engine cylinder. At the same time the arm J of the lever by bearing on the adjustable stud K will bring together the contacts K K and close the part of the electric circuit through wires L, L These contacts will thus be maintained closed so long as the lever is acted on to keep the valve H lifted and allow the flow of fuel to continue from the cylinder A.

This electric circuit controls the operation of the starting apparatus B (Fig. 3), but the circuit will not be fully closed until other contacts K K have been made, and this is effected as the piston D is finishing its stroke when forcing the fuel from the cylinder A into the power cylinders of the engine. On the outer and screwthreaded end portion of the piston rod D is adjustably mounted a sleeve or like member D having such dimensions both in length and thickness that during the last part of the movement of the piston towards the end B of the cylinder, this sleeve by coming into and remaining in contact with a projection K on the contact member K, will bring the contacts K K together, and so complete the closing of the electric circuit through the wires L and L This circuit will remain closed, so far as it is controlled by these two pairs of contacts K K and K K until fuel is again forced into the cylinder A and the piston thereby raised so as to move the sleeve D clear of the contact-making projection K This will be when the cylinder is once more filled. with a priming charge.

In the modified construction of fuel-containing cylinder shown in Figure 2 in place of the necessary pressure being exerted on the piston in the cylinder A by a spring, air under a suitable pressure is admitted to the cylinder behind the piston. This air admission is by way of the passage M' in which is an adjustable non-return valve M Asin the construction shown in Figure 1 the capacity of the cylindermay be'varied, and thus the amount of the fuel in a priming charge, by screwing out or in the cylinder head C, the end of the sleeve C carried by this head forming an abutment which determines the distance that the piston can move when fuel is forced into the cylinder A to charge it.'

Figure 3 shows diagrammatically a general the priming charge through the pipe F Figure 1.

lay-out of the invention and starting apparatus as it may be arranged in practice. In this drawing the engine N is supplied with fuel for normal running from the fuel tank 0 through the pipe line 0 A branch pipe 0 leads to a hand pump P by which fuel can be'drawn from the pipe 0 and delivered into the measuring chamber A for The lever J by means of which the fuel delivery Valve is lifted and the contacts K K brought together has its second arm J connected by a link J to one arm Q of a bell-crank lever pivoted at Q the other arm Q of this lever being connected to an operating knob Q or like device by means of which the lever J J can be actuated.

The starting apparatus is indicated at R and conveniently is of the known type comprising a cartridge of combustible material adapted to be fired by closing an electric circuit when the gaseous pressure produced serves to turn over the engine. The electric circuit includes a battery L and switch S with the wires L, L and L and the contacts K K and K K the latter not being shown in this view, but being as shown in The circuit may be grounded as at T through the metallic parts of the apparatus. The fuel is delivered from the chamber A to the cylinders of the engine N by wayof the pip ing G The switch S enables the circuit controlling the operation of the starter R to be wholly cut out if desired while leaving the priming device free to be actuated as required by means of th knob Q What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the non-continuous turning type indicated, a chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, means for delivering fuel into this chamber, means for maintaining under pressure the fuel in this chamber, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from this chamber into the engine cylinder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such flow and for causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

2. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the non-continuous turning type indicated, a chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, means for varying the capacity of this chamber and thereby determining the amount of fuel which is to constitute the priming charge, means for delivering fuel into this chamber, means for maintaining under pressure the fuel in this chamber, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from this chamber into the engine cylinder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such flow and for causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

3. In apparatus for starting an internal corn bustion engine the combination of a starter of the type in which power is obtained from'gases under pressure produced by combustion of a charge contained in a cartridge, means comprising an electric circuit for effecting the ignition of this combustible charge, a chamber adapted to contain the amount of fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, means for delivering fuel into this chamber, means for maintaining under pressure the fuel in this chamber, means for permitting the fuel to pass from this chamber into the engine cylinder and atthe same time closing the said electric circuit and thereby causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

4. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the type in which poweris obtained from gases under pressure produced by combustion of a charge contained in a cartridge, means comprising an electric circuit for effecting the ignition of this combustible charge, a chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, means for varying the capacity of this chamber and thereby determining the amount of fuel which is to constitute the priming charge, means for deliveringfuel into this chamber, means for maintaining under pressure the fuel in this chamber, means for permitting the fuel to pass from this chamber into the engine cylinder and at the same time closing the said electric circuit and thereby causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel isentering the engine cylinder as set forth.

5. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the type in which power is obtained from gases under pressure produced by combustion of a charge contained in a cartridge, means comprising an electric circuit for effecting the ignition of this combustible charge, a chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, means for delivering fuel into this chamber, means for maintaining under pressure the fuel in this chamber, a valve: controlling the flow of fuel from this chamber into the engine cylinder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such fiOW and at the same time closing the said electric circuit and thereby causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

6. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the type in which power is obtained from gases under pressure produced by combustion of a charge contained in a cartridge, means comprising an electric circuit for effecting the ignition of this combustible charge, a chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, means for varying the capacity of this chamber and thereby determining the amount of fuel which is to constitute the priming charge, means for delivering fuel into this chamber, means for maintaining under pressure the fuel in this chamber, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from this chamber into the engine cylinder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such flow and at the same time closing the said electric circuit and thereby causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

'7. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the non-continuous turning type indicated, a cylindrical chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, a piston movable in this cylinder, means for delivering into this cylinder fuel which then fills the space at one side of the piston, means acting and exerting pressure on the other side of the piston and thereby maintaining under pressure the fuel in the cylinder, a valve which retains the fuel in the cylinder after it has been delivered thereinto, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from the said cylindrical chamber into the engine cylinder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such flow and for causing the starter to function as the fuel charge is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

8. In apparatus for starting an internal com bustion engine the combination of a starter of the non-continuous turning type indicated, a cylindrical chamber adaptedto contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, a piston movable in this cylinder, an adjustable stop which determines the distance through which the piston can move in one direction, means for delivering into this cylinder fuel which then fills the space at one side of the piston the amount of the fuel thus contained in the cylinder being determined by the setting of the said stop which limits the piston movement when the fuel is delivered into the cylinder, means acting and exerting pressure on the other side of the piston and thereby maintaining under pressure the fuel in the cylinder, a valve which retains the fuel in the cylinder after it has been delivered thereinto, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from the said cylindricalchamber into the engine cylinder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such flow and for causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

9- In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the non-continuous turning type indicated, a cylindrical chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, a piston movable in this cylinder, means for delivering into this cylinder fuel which then fills the space at one side of the piston, a spring acting on the other side of the piston and thereby maintaining under pressure the fuel in the cylinder, means for varying the distance through which the pistoncan move and thereby determining the amount of fuel which is to constitute the priming charge, a valve which retains the fuel in the cylinder after it has been delivered thereinto, a valve controlling the fiowof fuel from the said cylindrical chamber into the engine cyl-, inder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such flow and for causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

10. In apparatus for starting an internal com bustion engine the combination of a starter of the non-continuous turning type indicated, a cylindrical chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder/a piston movable in this cylinder, a cylinder head in screw-threaded engagement with the end of the said cylindrical chamber and constituting an adjustable stop which determines the distance through which the piston can move in the direction of the said cylinder head, means for delivering'into this cylinder fuel which then fills the space at one side of the piston the amount of the fuel thus contained in the cylinder being determined by the setting of the said stop which limits the piston movement when the fuel is delivered into the cylinder, means acting and exerting pressure on the other side of the piston and thereby maintaining under pressure the fuel in the cylinder, a valve which retains the fuel in the cylinder after it has been delivered thereinto, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from the said cylindrical chamber into the engine cylinder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such flow and for causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

11.- In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the type in which power is obtained from gases under pressure produced by combustion of a charge contained in a cartridge, means comprising an electric circuit for effecting the ignition of this combustible charge, a cylindrical chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, a piston movable in this cylinder, means for delivering into this cylinder fuel which then fills the space at one side of the piston, means acting and exerting pressure on the other side of the piston and thereby maintaining under pressure the fuel in the cylinder, a valve which retains the fuel in the cylinder after it has been delivered thereinto, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from the said cylindrical chamber into the engine cylinder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such flow and at the same time closing the said electric circuit and thereby causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

12. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the type in which power is obtained from gases under pressure produced by combustion of a charge contained in a cartridge,meanscomprising an electric circuit for effecting the ignition of this combustible charge, a cylindrical chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, a piston movable in this cylinder, means for delivering into this cylinder fuel which then fills the space at one side of the piston, a spring acting on the other side of the piston and thereby maintaining under pressure the fuel in the cylinder, means for varying the distance through which the piston can move and thereby determining the amount of fuel which is to constitute the priming charge, a valve which retains the fuel in the cylinder after it has been delivered thereinto, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from the said cylindrical chamber into the engine cylinder, and means for actuating this valve so as to permit such flow and at the same time closing the said electric circuit and thereby causing the starter to function as the charge of priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

13. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the type in which power is obtained from gases under pressure produced by combustion of a charge contained in a cartridge, means comprising an electric circuit for effecting the ignition of this combustible charge, a chamber adapted to contain the required fuel for a priming charge for the engine cylinder, means for varying the capacity of this chamber and thereby determining the amount of fuel which is to constitute the priming charge, means for delivering fuel into this chamber, means for maintaining under pressure the fuel in this chamber, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from this chamber into the engine cylinder, two separate pairs of switch contacts in the said electric circuit the closing of both of th'ese switches being necessary to complete that circuit, means for actuating the said valve which controls the flow of fuel and thereby permitting the priming charge to flow to the engine cylinder,

means for closing one of the said switches when this valve is actuated and the fuel flow to the engine begins, and means for closing the second switch and thus completing the electric circuit towards the end of the delivery of the priming charge and thereby causing the starter to function while the priming fuel is entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

14. In apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine the combination of a starter of the type in which power is obtained from gases under pressure produced by combustion of a charge contained in a cartridge, means comprising an electric circuit for effecting the ignition of this combustible charge, a cylindrical chamber adapted to contain the fuel required for the priming charge for the engine cylinder, a piston movable in this cylinder, means for delivering into this cylinder fuel which then fills the space at one side of the piston, means acting and exerting pressure on the other side of the piston and thereby maintaining under pressure the fuel in the cylinder, a valve which retains the fuel in the cylinder after it has been delivered thereinto, a valve controlling the flow of fuel from the said cylindrical chamber into the engine cylinder, means for actuating this fuel valve and thereby permitting the priming charge to flow to the engine cylinder, a pair of switch contacts in the said electric circuit with means for closing this switch when the said fuel valve is actuated and the fuel flow to the engine begins; and a second pair of switch contacts in the said electric circuit with means for closing this switch as the said piston in moving nears the end of its fuel delivery stroke, the closing of this second switch completing the electric circuit and causing'the starter to function while the priming fuel is still entering the engine cylinder as set forth.

CHARLES HORACE LIONEL VVYNNE.

HENRY CHRISTOPHER TRYON. FRANK RAYMOND FABER RAMSAY.

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