US2604882A - Internal-combustion engine starter - Google Patents

Description

y 29, 1952 w. H. SCHNACKE 2,604,882

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER Filed July 20, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR 3 4% w. H. SCHNACKE ATTORNEY July 29, 1952 w. H. SCHNACKE 2,604,882

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER Filed July 20, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVEN TOR.

W H- SCHNACKE BY ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1952 Q i: 1 r I 2,604,882 I INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER l Walter-H. S-chnacke, l lifm s i qj ed 1950, Serial minim; I

7"Claims.' (01 1234185) This-invention relates to interna'l combustion 1 engines and more particularly; to starters of the pull type which are commonly used on outboard motors and other relatively smallinternalcornbustion engines Heretofore many starters of this type have been proposed and utilized but these possessed numerous disadvantagessuch as comple'xityof c9nstructionandliability to damage or failure, thus necessitatinglfrequent repair bills and'eone artfstarters required complicated pawl and ratchet mechanisms, also centrifugal a clutches and the. like which of neeessity wererather com; plicated and unlessof extremely rugged com struction nisms such asstart'ers must he'fdolproof as possible. 'In'u'sing such motors the owner often ventures far from. shore, a case of an 'outboard motor, anda fai'lureof the starter orother component part may well result in spending an uncomfortablenight on the water or in some instances might result in serious. consequences due tolfstorfms and the like; Consequently; any

, mechanism used, in such applications-must be relativelysimple, of extremely rugged and light construction and not; susceptible of frequent failure.

sequent loss" of time in use. Many or these prior estremely liable 'tobieakage orv other It 'aecordingly an object 'of'this invention. to

provide an internal Combustion engines. starter of the pull type "in which av minimum number of pa'iftsare utilized and in which the parts may be of'xtremely rugged construction and thus not susceptible of failure.

It is a further object of this invention toprovide an internal combustion engine starter of the pull type in which clutch means is provided for automatically engaging and disengaging the starter mechanism with the crankshaft of the enginev to be started and in which the driving and driven clutch members are automatically engaged and disengaged simply by the operation of pulling the starting rope and releasing the same upon starting of the engine. i ,It is a further object of the invention to provide an internal combustion starter of the pull type in which a minimum number of parts are utilized and which may be applied to existing motors or supplied as original equipment with the same, l It. is a further object of the invention to propull type in which relatively lfewparts. re ui e accuratemachine lwork 'jand' which, consequently, maybe econom' any manufactured and produced for sale in a highly competitive market,

, Other objects and advantages of the invention will be lapparenti'fr in the following description taken in Tconjunb'tionwith the drawii gawherein;

1 Fig, 1 is a t p plan mew of thelstarterof'this invention'jf I j j H r l I Fig, 2;. a' seetienalyiewibn the line 2%21 of "Fig. l and showing' the internal construction of the starter of thisinventio v r V Fig. 3,'a sectionaljvie' similar t0"Fig.i2 on'the line 33 of Fig; l wit 'certain'par'tsin" elevation f rer aifityif 1 pi v Fig, 4 a fragmentary'l'sectional view on the iine'lel fi l "Fi'gi 5; an jexplodedviewpf the driving clutch nieinb'erjan'dassociatedparts;.and 'Fig; 6; an"elev'a tional view" of the driving-clutch member assembled with its associatedfparts;

With continued reference to 'the' drawing there is shown particularly in Fig; 2'an inverted cupshaped housing in "which? is adapted to be secured to amo'torpart ll such asythe'gasoline tank or other-appropriate structurdthehousing I ll serving, to cover and enclose the-flywheel"! 2 mounted "on the crank} shaft-1 3 of thefmotor. The flywheel j'"|'2 iSf'h'ld. in place on the crank shaft '1 3 by 'a driven'clutch' member- I t provided with an internally thre'aded" bore 15 which -en gages "mating threads on "the crank shaft l 3 to securely clampthefiywheellZ in place. The driven" clutch .member I 4 replaces the nut normally supplied with the-motor'toclamp the" fly wheel 12* in place. On, theuppersurface" of driven clutchmemberI4 'thereis provided a vide an internal combustion engine starter of the series of {saw-tooth shaped-clutch teeth I 6 which serve'to engage with other clutch teethpresently to be described; Thehousing' ll! may beprovided with an annular fiange';'l1?liaving apertures l8 for-the reception of 'screi'v-thre'aded fasteners or the' like for l securing the starting" mechanism inplace on'themotoifs f I Adjacent the u percase: the'-h ousing 10 there isprovided an "inwardly eitending annu: lar flange"!!!'havingiai'seriesof *apertures iiil provided therein for the" reception of" screwthreadedffasterfing ineans or the like 21 which threadedly engage a clamping ring 22 disposed below'the flange l9 and serve to5firmly secure in position a cover'2'3' anda' driving clutch supporting. plate 24. The apertures 20 are somewhat larger than the screw-threaded fastenin means 2! for. a purpose to be presently described.

best shown in .Figs.'f5 and 6; driving clutch member 25 comprises a generally cylindrical member having a series of saw-tooth shaped teeth 26 on the lower surface thereof, these teeth serving to mate with and engage the teeth M on the driven clutch member |4. Driving clutch member 25 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed spiral slots 21 which are engaged by a pin 28 disposed in an aperture 29 in a clutch shaft or spindle 30. Clutch spindle 30 is rotatably mounted within clutch driving member 25 and the rotational movement thereof relative to the clutch member 25 is limited by the pin 28 dieposed in spiral slots 21.

Fixed to the plate 24 and carried thereby is a clutch spindle bearing 3| having a bore therein for rotatably receiving a reduced portion-32 ofthe clutch spindle 30. Integral with the-bearing 3| is a friction sleeve 33. As best shown in Fig. 3,

sleeve 33' is provided with opposed spiral slot-.534 which form resilient spiral fingers. The" split sleeve 33 serves to grip the outer surface of the driving clutch memberv25 fora purpose to be presently described. 4]

Thev upper end of the spindle30 is provided with a screw-threaded portion 35 for threadedly receiving a winding drum 36 having a hub 31 and an outer grooved periphery 38 which serves to receive a flexible cable 39 having one' end secured to' the drum 36 and the opposite end projecting through a sleeve 40 provided on the cover 23, the cable terminating in a pull handle 4| exteriorly of the starting device. V As will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 2

4 clutch member M and the rotor may be assumed to be at rest or stopped. When it is desired to start the motor, it is only necessary for the operator to grasp the handle 4| and pull the same toward him in which case the winding drum 36 will be rotated in a clock-wise direction to turn the clutch spindle or shaft 30 and pin 28 carried thereby, this pinmoving in the spiral slots 21 in the driving clutch member 25 to project the clutch member downwardly and the teeth 25 xthereof into engagement with teeth IE on the driven clutch member 14. This relative movement of the driving clutch member 25 is accomplished by reason of the frictional engagement of the split sleeve 33 with the outer surface of the clutch member '25. As will clearly be seen from an inspection of the drawing, this frictional engagement prevents rotary movement of the clutch member 25 with relation to the shaft or spindleuntil the pin 28 engages the end of spiral slots 21, thus causing the slots to act as a cam and force the"clutch member 25 downwardly, into engagement with the driven clutch member i4. Continued movement of the handle 4| outwardly causes rotation of the motor and starting thereof. This movement of the handle 4| also serves to wind the spring 43 causing sufiicient tension to returnflthehandle' 4| to'original position when thesameis released afterstarting of the motor.

and. 3, the winding drum 36 is provided with an to permit convenient tightening of the shaftl 30 I in the hub 31 of the winding drum 3B. 7

In assembling the device on a completed motor or in assembling the device on motor during factory assembly it is only necessary to apply the nut 14 to the crank shaft I3 thus securing the fiywheel l2 in place, nut M, as stated above, forming the driven clutch member of the starter and in the case of an already completed motor this nut would repl-ace'the conventional nut supplied with the motor; and next assembling the starting unit on the motor by clamping the housing ID in place by screw-threaded fastening means or the likeextending through apertures H3 in flange H. The driving clutch member 25 is, centered with relation to the driven clutch member H by moving the plate 24 which serves to carry bearing 3| and driving clutch member '25 and its associated clamping screws 2.| in the enlarged apertures 20 until the driving clutch member 25 is accurately centered with relation to the driven clutch member I4 whereupon the clamping screws 2| are securely tighte'nedjin place. This serves also to retain the cover 23, which houses the winding drum 36 in place onthe as-'- sembly. It will be noted that the housing'w is provided with a series of apertures 45 to permit suitable ventilation around the upper part of the motor. v I f.

The operation of the device may ,be explained with particular reference to Fig. 2 of the drawshown as out of engagement with the driven fllpon' starting of the motor the handle 4| is released or permitted to move inwardly toward the starting mechanism whereupon under the action of spring 43 which became tensioned by the. outward movement of the handle 4! the winding drum 36 is rotated in the opposite direction thus rotating the clutch shaft 30 in the same direction and causing the pin 28 to move in the slots Zl'toretract the driving clutch member upwardly andcause disengagement of the teeth 26 with the teeth lfi'on the driven clutch member 4. Such upward'n ovement of the driving clutch memb'er '25'is caused by the frictional engagement of the split sleeve .33ffwith1the external surface there'ofin the samemann er as described above inconnection with the projection of the driving clutch member downwardly. Upward movement of the driving clutch member 25 is also assisted by the inclined engaging surfaces of the sawtoothsliaped clutch teeth 26 and Hi since upon starting of the motor the crank shaft l3 and driven clutch member [4 carried thereby overruns the driving clutch member 25 and the clutch teeth ex'ercise'a camming action which tends to urge the driving 'clutch member 25 upwardly. Duringvoperation of the motor, downward movement of the driving clutch member 25 is preeluded by the frictional engagement of split sleeve 33 'with the external surface thereof, since it is necessary for clutch member 25 to rotate with relation to clutch shaft 30 in order for the same to movedovvnwardly and teeth 26 to come into engagement with the teeth i6.

j It will be seen that by the above-described invention there has been provided an extremely simple," economically manufactured starting mechanism which may be conveniently applied to new motors or toy motors already in existence and one in 'which inadvertent engagement of the clutch teethduri'ng operation of the motor is prejIt '-wi-1 l be 'obvious' to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the inven tion, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and, therefore, the invention is not limited by thatwhich is 'shown -in the drawingsand described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appendedclaims; H j

Whatisclaimedisal v l'; An internal "combustion-engine starting d'evice comprising a driven clutch member fixed to the crank sha-f-t of the engine and having-saw tooth shaped teeth, 'a housing" securedto a fixed part of said engine and having aninw-ar'dly extending flange, a plurality 'of-"ang-ularly spaced apertures in said flange, a plate engaging the upper surface of said flange, a centrally disposed bearing extending through said plate and supported thereby, a' split sleeve extendingaxi'ally from said bearing toward said driven clutch member, a clutch spindlerotatably mounted in said bearing and extending therefrom in both directions, a driving clutclimem-berrotatably'received'on said sp'indle Within-said sleeve, said sleev frictionally engaging the external surface of said driving clutch member, diametrically dis posed spiral slots in said driving clutch member, a pin extending through said spindle and engag ing said slots to limit relative rotationbetween said driving clutch member, and said spindle, complementary teeth on said drivin'gi clutch member for engagingthe teeth on said driven clutch member, a winding drum securedto-the opposite end of said-spindle, a spiral spring secured to said winding drum and said bearing, a; flexibl member having one end secured to said winding drum and th other end terminating in a-handle exteriorly'of .said device, a clamping ring disposed beneath said fiange'and'having threaded apertures, av cover for said winding drum faridfastening' means for. said-cover extending through said plate and the apertures in said flange and engagingthe threaded apertures in said clamping ring to se cure said plate, bearing and parts carried thereby in position the apertures of said flange being larger than'said fastening means to permitadjustment of the parts, whereby upon movement of said flexible member to rotate said winding drum in'one direction said spring'will betensioned and said driving clutch memberwill .be projected by said pin andslot into engagementwith said driven clutch member to rotate the same and upon reverserotation of said winding drum under the action of said springsaid driving clutch member will beretracted, the operation of said pin and slot'being'caused by'the frictional engagement of said sleeve with said driving clutch member, the retraction of said driving clutch member being assisted by said sawtooth shaped teeth. i

2. An internal combustion engine startingdevice comprising a driven clutch member fixed to the crank shaft of the engine and having teeth, a housing secured to a fixed part of said engine and having an inwardly extending flange, a plurality of angularly spaced apertures ins'aid flange,- a plate engaging the uppersurface of said flange, a centrally disposed bearing extending through said plate and supported thereby, a split sleeve extending axially from said bearing toward said driven clutch member, a clutch spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing and extending therefrom in both directions, a driving clutch member rotatably received on said spindle within said sleeve, said sleeve frictionally engaging the external surface of said driving clutch member, diametrically disposed spiral slots in said driving clutch member, a pin extending through said spindle and engaging said slots to limit relative rotation between said driving clutch 6 member and said spindle, complementary teeth oi'i-"said driving 'clutch men iber for engaging-the teeth on said 'ven clutcumember, winding drum secured I the opposite end of sa'id pi'ndle, a spiral; spr'ing secured to said w inding drum and said bearing, a fleidble member -having one end secured to said winding drum and the other end terminating in a handle exterior'ly 'ot said device, a clamping ring disposed beneath sa'id flange and having threaded a ertures; a cover forsaid winding-drum and fastening means-io'r said cover extendingthrough said plate and the apertures in said flange and engaging the threaded apertures in said clamping ring to secure said plate, bearing and parts carr'ied' the by in position," the apertures 'ofsaid fiange i-1g larger than said fastening-means to perrnit djustment of the parts, whereby upon movement of" said flexible member to rotate said-winding. drum in one direction saidfspringwill'be tensione'd and' said d-riving clutch memberwill be projected by said p-in and slot into engagement with said driven clutch member to rotate the same and-"upon reverse rotation of said winding drum under the action of said spring said driving clutch member will be retracted, the operation of said pin andslot being caused by the frictional engagement of said sleeve with saidd-rivingI clutch memben i 3-. Andnternal combustion engine startingde- 'vicecomprising a drivenclutch member fixed tothe crankshaft of th'e 'engineand having teeth,

a housing secured'to afixed'part of said engine,

aplate engaging the upperfsurface ofsaid housing, a centrallyf'dispos'ed Tbearing extending through" said plateand 5 supported" thereby, "a

split sleeve extending "axially from saidbearing toward said driven clutch me'ml'cer, a clutch spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing' and extending" therefrom in both directions, 'a driving clutch member'rotatably received onsaidspindle within said sleeve; said sleevefrictionallyfengagingth external surface of s'aid drivi ngclutch member; diametrically disposed spiral 5 slots; in said driving clutch member; a pin extending through {said spindle and engaging a said slots'f to limit relative rotation betweensaid driving clutch member and said spindle complementary teeth on said-driving clutch memberfor enga'ging the teeth on said driven clutch member; awinding drum i ed t p pofs te' nd 'f saidisp l'e;

a spiral spring secured to said 'windin'gfd rumand said, bearing, a fiexible member, having one end secured to said winding drum" and the other end'terminating in "a handle exteriorlyfof said device, a cover for said winding drum anfdifastening means forysecuringsaid 'cover,,. said plate, bearing and f parts carried thereby'in position, whereby upon movement. of said flexible member torotate saidwinding drum in one direction said spring will betensi'oned and saiddriving' clutch member will'be projected by said 'pin'and slot into engagement with said'driven clutch member to rotate the same' and upon reverse rotation of said winding drum under the action of said spring said driving clutch member will be retracted, the operation of said pin and slot being caused by the frictional engagement of said sleeve with said driving clutch member.

4. A device, as defined in claim 3, in which said sleeve is provided with diametrically disposed spiral slots to form spirally disposed spring fingers.

5. An internal combustion engine starting device comprising a driven clutch member fixed to to a fixed part of;said' engine, a plate engaging the upper surface of said housing: a; centrally disposed bearing extending through said plate and supported thereby, a split, sleeve extending axially from said bearing toward said driven clutch member, a;clutch spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing and extending therefrom in both directions, a driving clutch member rotatably received on said spindle within said sleeve, said sleeve frictionally engaging the external surface of said driving clutch member, diametrically disposed spiral slots in said driving clutch member,a pin extending through said spindle and engaging said slots to limit relative rotation between said driving clutch 'member and said spindle, complementary means on said driving clutch member and said driven clutch member for providing driving engagement therebetween, a winding drum secured to the opposite endlof said spindle, a spiral spring secured to said winding drum and said bearing, a flexible member having one end secured to said winding drum and the other end'terminating in a handle exteriorly of said device, a cover for said winding drum and fastening means for securing said cover, said plate, bearing and parts carried-thereby in position, whereby upon movement of said flexible member to rotate said winding drum in one direction said spring will be tensioned and said driving clutch member will bev projected by said pin and slot into engagement with said driven clutch member to rotate the same and upon reverse rotation of said winding drum under the action 'of said spring, said driving clutch member will be retracted, the operation-of said pin and said slot being caused by the frictional engagement of said sleeve with said driv ing clutch member.

6. An internal combustion engine starting device comprising adriven clutch member for attachment to the crank-shaft of the engine, a housing havingmeans for mounting on a fixed part ofsaid engine, a plate engaging the upper surface of said housing, a centrally disposed bearing extending through said plate and supported thereby, a clutch spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing and extending therefrom in both directions, a driving clutch member rotatably received on said spindle, friction means mounted on said plate and engaging said driving clutch member, diametrically disposed spiral slots in said driving clutch member, a .pin extending through said spindle and engaging said slots to limit relative rotation between said driving clutch member and said spindle, complementary means on said driving clutch member and said driven clutch member for providing driving engagement therebetween, a winding drum secured to the opposite end of said spindle, resilient means secured to said winding drumand a fixed portion of said device, a flexible member having one end secured to said winding drum and the other end terminating in a handle exteriorly of said device,

a cover for said winding drum and common fastening means for securing said cover, said plate, bearing and parts carriedthereby in position, whereby upon movement of saidfiexible member to rotate said windingdrum in one direction said resilient means will be tensioned and said driving clutch member will be projected by said pin and slot into engagement with said driven clutch member to rotate the same and upon reverse rotation of said winding drum under the action of said resilient means, said driving clutch member will be retracted, the operation of said pin and slot being caused by said frictional engaging means.

7. An internal combustion engine starting device comprising a driven clutch member for attachment to the crank shaft of the engine, a housing having means for mounting on a fixed part of said engine, a plate engaging theupper surface of said housing, a centrally disposed bearing extending through said plate and supported thereby, a clutch spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing and extending therefrom in both directions, a driving clutch member rotatably received on'said spindle, means fixed to said plate and frictionally engaging said driving clutch member, cooperating cam means on said spindle and said driving clutch member whereby upon relative rotation therebetween said driving clutch member will be extended or retracted, complementary means on said driving clutch member and said driven clutch member to provide driving engagement therebetween; a winding drum secured to the opposite end of said spindle, resilient means secured to said winding drum and a fixed portion of said device, a flexible member having one end secured to said winding drum and the other end terminating in a handle exteriorly of said device and common fastening means for securing said plate, bearing and parts carried thereby in position, whereby upon movement of said flexible member to rotate said winding drum in one direction said resilient means will be tensioned and said driving clutch member will be projected by the action of said cam means into engagement with said driven clutch member to rotate the same and upon reverse rotation of said winding drum under the actionof said resilient means said driving clutch member will be retracted, the operation of said cam means being caused by the engagement of said frictional means with said driving clutch member.

WALTER. H. SCHNACKE. v

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PAT NTS Number l ate I I Goiot Jan. 11, 1944

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