US2284887A

US2284887A - Engine starting device

Info

Publication number: US2284887A
Application number: US327183A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vollenweider Emil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-04-01
Filing date: 1940-04-01
Publication date: 1942-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-02

Description

E. VOLLENWEIDER ENGINE STARTING DEVICE June 2,; 1942.

.Filed April 1, 1940 WI -I J INV EN TOR. E. Vollenweider 3%. A TTORNEY Patented June 2, 1942 a pairs ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Emil Vollcnweider, Sacramento, Calif.

Application April 1, 1940, Serial No. 327,183

Claims.

This invention relates in general to an engine starting device, and in particular the invention is directed to a unique device for starting model or midget gas engines of the type embodied in model airplanes or the like.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a model engine starting device arranged to be held and actuated with one hand;

actuationof the device being accomplished with a manual movement correspondingto the manipulation of a pair of scissors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which includes a socket member adapted to engage the propeller securing nut on the outer end of the crankshaft of a model airplane engine; said socket having an overrunning clutch associated threwith whereby when the engine begins to run there is no possibility of injury to the person holding the device.

- A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one in section-on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the-drawing, the device comprises a substantially straight supporting lever bar I having a bell crank type lever 2 pivoted at its fulcrum, as at 3, on the bar I intermediate its ends; the arms of the bell crank diverging from bar I, and said bell crank being movable about pivot. 3 in the plane of bar I.

[ At one end of the device the ends of bar I and lever 2 are formed with finger grips 4 and 5,v

which correspond to the grips on a pair of scissors.

is formed with an enlarged, longitudinally extending boss 6 having a shaft 1 rotatably journaled therein; a pinion '8 being fixed on the shaft at the outer end of the boss, while securing nuts 9 are threaded on the other or inner end of said boss.

At the opposite end of the device, the bar l A work engaging head in the form of an outwardly opening socket unit II] is secured on the shaft 1 beyond pinion B, and such socket unit includes a ball type overrunning clutch indicated generally at H and as shown fully in Fig. 3; such clutch being of well known construction, and therefore is not described in detail in this specification. The clutch is arranged so that when socket ID is engaged with the propeller securing nut I2 on the end of the crankshaft C of a model engine, the socket is driven when the grips 4 and 5 arebrought together; said clutch overrunning when the latter is driven by the engine but not'when rotated by shaft 1.

The shaft 1 has rotation imparted thereto in the proper direction through the medium of an arcuate and segmental rack gear I3 which meshes with pinion 8, and is fixed at one end on the outer end of the adjacent arm of lever Z; the arc of this segmental gear having its axis coincident with pivot 3. This rack gear I3 is held in mesh with pinion 8 by means of a fianged idler roller I4 carried by a pin l5 which is parallel to shaft 1 and supported by a lateral finger l5 projecting from bar I.

In use, the device is grasped with the fingers in grips 4 and 5 in the same manner as a pair of scissors and socket H! is engaged with'nu't 12 on the engine crankshaft. The grips 4 and 5 are then separated and brought together quickly,

causing the rack gear to run by the pinion and rotate shaft 1 and socket l0. Due to the rela-- tively small size of the pinion, the revolving speed imparted'to the socket is relatively high, which is desirable to assure easy'and positive starting of the engine.

While primarily adapted for use as a starter for model engines, it is obvious that the device may be employed for other uses.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that Ihave produced such as device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the de -1. An engine starting device comprising a pair 7 of levers pivoted together intermediate their ends, finger grips on one'end of the levers, a longitudinal boss formed on the other end of one lever, a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally out from said boss, a pinion fixed on the shaft, an outwardly opening socket member on the shaft beyond the pinion, and an arcuate segmental rack gear fixed on the adjacent end of the other lever and meshing with said pinion.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said other lever is a bell crank whose arms diverge relative to the one lever from the pivot point of the levers.

3. An engine starting device comprising a pair of levers pivoted together intermediate their ends, finger grips on one end of the levers, a longitudinal boss formed on the otherend of one lever, a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally out from said boss, a pinion fixed on the shaft, an outwardly opening socket member associated with said shaft beyond the pinion, an overrunning clutch interposed between the" shaft and said socket member, and an arcuate segmental rack gear fixed on the adjacent end of the other lever and meshing with said pinion.

4. A device as in claim 1 including an idler wheel mounted with said one lever adjacent said pinion and cooperating with said rack gear to maintain the latter in mesh with said pinion.

5. A starting device for a model engine having a rotary part projecting therefrom, said device comprising a pair of levers pivoted together intermediate their ends and adapted at one end for holding engagement by the fingers of one hand, a member at the other end of one lever for releasable driving engagement with said rotary engine part, means turnably mounting themember on said lever for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the one lever and means between the other lever and the member to rotate the latter upon relative approaching movement of said one end of the levers.

EMIL VOLLENWEIDER.