US2650988A

US2650988A - Throttle controlled starter switch

Info

Publication number: US2650988A
Application number: US267651A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence C Dermond
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1952-01-22
Filing date: 1952-01-22
Publication date: 1953-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-01

Description

Sept. 1, 1953 Filed Jan. 22, 1952 L. C. DERMOND THROTTLE CONTROLLED STARTER SWITCH 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Z? 24 if INVENTOR. LAW/awe: C. flaeno/ a BY A) 55 T17 MS M a a I his flrroemsys Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'rnno'r'r a CONTROLLED STARTER SWITCH .6 C aims- 1 This invention relates to engine starting apparatus of the semi-automatic'type of starting apparatus in which the control circuit is closed and opened manually to effect energization and de-energization of the starting motor, but in which means are provided which are automatically operated to prevent any possible closing of the control circuit when the engine is operating under its own power.

It has been found desirable in devices of this character to employ a control switch which is closed with a snap action and which is held closed with considerable pressure so as to insure a good contact and prevent pitting, and it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a manually operable control switch of this type which is positive and efficient in its action and which can be manufactured at relatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of a starting apparatus having a control switch constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the control switch attached to the carburetor with which it is associated.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4.4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the starting motor, which is indicated at 20, has a ground connection 2| and an armature shaft 22, on which is splined a sleeve 23 which is secured to one member of an overrunning clutch 24, the other member of which is integral with the driving pinion 25, adapted to be moved into engagement with the fly-wheel gear 26 of the engine, in order to rotate said gear and start the engine whenever the starting motor is operative. The sleeve 23 is moved to the right in Fig. 1 to effect engagement of the pinion with gear 2t and the circuit between the starting motor and the battery is concurrently closed to cause the start,- ing motor to become operative.

To this end the sleeve 23 is provided with a grooved collar 21 which is slidable on the shaft 22 and said collar is engaged by pins 28 which project from a yoke formed on the lower .end of a lever 29, suitably pivoted at 30 and connected at its upper end with the armature 3| of an electromagnet 32, by means of a lost motion connection comprising a pin 33 and a slot 34 which is provided for the purpose of permitting the lever and the armature to have some motion relation to each other.

When the magnet is energized the lever 29 is rocked on its pivot in a counterclockwise direction, the collar 21 compressing a spring 35 which surrounds the sleeve 23 between the collar and the overrunning clutch 24, moving the pinion into engagement with the fiy-wheel gear in the usual manner. Ihe construction of the mechanism between the starting motor and the flywheel gear is the same as is ordinarily employed in manually operated starting devices of the overrunning clutch type. A spring 36 returns the lever 29 and the parts operated thereby to normal position when the abovementioned electromagnet is deenergized.

The electromagnet is provided with two

coils

31 and 38 having a different number of turns for a purpose which is briefly described hereinafter and the circuit connections with the magnet coils will also be briefly described later.

The starting motor is connected by a wire 39 with a fixed contact 40 of a main starting motor switch which connects the starting motor with the battery, a second fixed contact 4! of said main switch being connected by a wire 42 with the battery 43 which is grounded at 44a. A movable contact 45 is adapted to be moved into engagement with the two

fixed contacts

40 and 4| when the armature of the electromagnet is moved to the left in Fig. l, in order to close the circuit between the starting motor and the battery.

The energization of the electromagnet is effected by the closing of the ignition switch designated in its entirety as 44 and a second switch designated generally by the reference numeral 46, in series therewith, the construction of which constitutes the principal feature of novelty of the present invention and which will be described in detail later. The closing of these two switches effects closing of a magnetic switch which is in circuit with the coils of the above described electromagnet.

The ignition switch has a movable contact 47 connected by a wire 48 and a Wire 49 extending from the generator to the Wire 42 previously referred to. The contact 41 is a double contact, one branch of which engages a fixed contact to which is connected to a wire leading to the ignition system and the other branch of which engages a second fixed contact 51 to which is connected a wire 52, leading to a binding post 53 of the switch 46. The latter is provided with a second binding post 55 which is connected by a wire 55 to a winding 56 of a relay which is grounded through the generator by means of a Wire The switch 45 is provided with means to effect electrical connection between the two

binding posts

53 and 54, this mechanism being described later, and when electrical connection between these binding posts is thus effected, current flows from the battery through the ignition switch across the binding posts 53 and 5 through the coil 56 and to ground to energize said coil and energization of the latter closes a switch to effect energization of the main magnet. The latter switch comprises a fixed contact 58 which is connected by a wire 59 to the wire 62 which leads to the battery while a movable contact 55 which cooperates with the fixed contact 58 is connected by a wire GI to the coil 37 which is grounded through a connection 62 and a wire 53 connects the coil 38 with the wire GI, said coil being grounded through the starting motor by means of the wire 64 which connects the coil with the wire 39.

It will be obvious from the above description that when the ignition switch and the switch 35 are both closed, the coil 56 is energized and this effects closing of the contacts 58 and 5%? which are normally open. When this occurs, current will flow from the battery through the wires E2 and 59, the contacts 58 and 5t and wires 5i and 63 to both coils 3i and 38 of the main electromagnet 52, energizing the magnet and effecting the shifting of the pinion and the closing of the main starter switch in the manner previously described.

The magnet is so constructed that one of the coils will be shunted out when the main starter switch is closed so that during the cranking period, when the starting motor is rotating the engine crank shaft, the starter switch is held closed by the force of only one of the coils of the main electromagnet. This mechanism constitutes no part of the present invention and all of the mechanism previously described with the exception of the construction and operating means for the switch at is shown and described in the patent to Dermond, hereinafter mentioned. In view of this complete disclosure and the fact that the specific arrangement of the circuit and construction of the magnet and starter drive are not portions of the present invention, it is unnecessary to further describe the starter system other than to state that the generator is indicated at 55 and is connected through the wire 5? with the relay coil 56, such wire connecting with the generator between the latter and the usual cut-out relay, so that when the generator is in operation when the engine is operating under its own power, the generator will build up counter voltage in the coil 56 and will eifect opening of the

switch contacts

58 and 60 in the event that the switch 416 which is opened by engine suction should for some reason fail to open in response to the effect of engine suction when the engine is self-operative.

The control circuit above-described is about the same as that shown in a number of prior patents, for example, Patent No. 2,326,125, to L. C. Dermond, granted August 10, 1943, but the switch it is considerably different from the corresponding switch on the Dermond patent. The switch d5, as disclosed herein, includes a housing I It which may be secured in any desirable way to a fiat housing 4 boss III formed on the throttle outlet casting M2. The throttle shaft M4, to which throttle M5 is secured, is rotatably mounted in the wall of housing III] and casting H2, and such shaft IId extends into the housing Ilil. A removable plate H5 of suitable insulating material is secured by screws I ll, or in any other suitable way, to the bottom of the housing. This plate supports two fixed contacts of the switch as more fully set forth later and if removed permits access to the interior of housing I It,

Suitably secured in the plate are the binding posts 53 and 5d previously described. Contacts I28 and I2I are connected respectively with the

binding posts

53 and 54 and these contacts are spaced from each other axially with respect to the throttle shaft as shown in Fig. 3. In order to close the control circuit and cause operation of the starting motor a movable contact I22 must be moved to a position to engage the fixed contacts I20, I2I and this is accomplished by operation of the throttle shaft through mechanism which will now be described.

As illustrated, the contact IE2 is a strip of metal secured in any desirable way in a notch formed in the peripheral surface of a block I24 of Bakelite or similar insulating material which is loosely enough mounted adjacent that end of the throttle shaft H4, which extends into the IIII, to permit easy rotation of the throttle shaft while the block [26 is held stationary and to permit the block to be readily rotated on said shaft by a spring, while the shaft is stationary. Secured to the shaft II l between the block I24 and the end of the shaft is a member I25 on which is formed a cam I26, for a purpose described later and at the opposite side of the shaft and integral with member I25, a lug till projects beyond the periphery of said member. This lug engages a lug I28 which projects from one face of the block I2 3, when the throttle is moved toward closed position so as to positively move the block to the position it occupies when the control switch is open. The lug may be integral with the block or a metal pin secured in the block in any suitable way, as is shown in the drawings.

The block I24 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the control switch is open, by a latch member I29 pivoted on a pin I33 suitably mounted in the wall of housing IIS and urged toward the block I25 by a spring I 3i which lies between the latch member and the wall of housing IIii. One end of the spring is received in a depression I32 in the housing wall and the other end fits around a lug I33 on the latch member to prevent the spring being displaced from its operative position. Normally, the spring holds latch member I25 in such position that a toe I3 engages a shoulder E35 on the block I25 and this toe has to be disengaged from said shoulder before the block can be moved counterclockwise, and it must be moved in such direction from its normal position in order to eifect closing of the switch.

In order to move the block I2I to effect closing of the switch, a torsion spring I353 is provided which has one end bent as indicated at I3'I, which extends into a suitable orifice in block I24 and the other end bent around'the edge of the member I25 as indicated-at I38. As the throttle is opened the member I25 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, pushing on the end I31 of the spring I35 and increasing the torsion of such spring. The block I24 is held against movement until the cam I26 engages a lug I 39 formed on the latch member, moving the latch member in a clockwise direction and disengaging the toe I34 from the shoulder I35. When this takes place the spring I36, which is under tension, rotates the block I24 with a snap action, to a position where the contact I22 engages both contacts I26 and I 2 I. It has been found that when the switch is closed by a snap action of the block I25 as described there is less tendency to effect pitting of the switch contacts than when the block I24 is rotated manually and more slowly toits switch closing position by a direct manual operating connection.

Although closing of the switch is automatically prevented, during self operation of the engine, the switch is not opened automatically, but opening of the switch is accomplished only by closing of the throttle. When the throttle is moved to closed position, the member I25 is rotated clockwise and the lug I21, through engagement with lug I28, positively moves block I24 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the control switch is open.

Since the member I25 is secured to the throttle shaft it is constantly moved back and forth when the engine is self-operative as the throttle is opened and closed to control the speed of the engine. During this movement of the member I25 the latch member I29 may be repeatedly disengaged from the shoulder I35 so that means must be provided which is efiective to prevent movement of the block I24 upon release of the latch I29 when the engine is in operation. If such means was not provided, the control switch would be repeatedly closed and the starting apparatus would be ruined by clashing of the starting motor pinion 25 with the moving engine iiywheel gear 25, which would take place at each closing of the control switch. To prevent such repeated closing of the control switch, the block I 24 is positively held against movement when the engine operates under its own power and the opening of the throttle merely stretches spring I36 without moving the block.

To prevent movement of the block I35 as described, a latch MD is provided which is suitably pivoted at MI and is provided with an arm I42 extending in a generally vertical direction and adapted to be moved, when the engine is selfoperative, to a position where it will be engaged by a shoulder I43 formed on block I24. Normally, when the engine is inoperative and is to be started, the arm I42 is not in engagement with the shoulder i i-3, so that the block I24 can move to its switch closing position when the latch I29 is released, as previously described. To move the latch I 48 to its latching position, an arm I4 5 of such latch is pivotally connected at I 45 with a rod I 36 pivotally connected to a pin I41 which extends across a cylindrical space I48 in the bottom of piston I49, slidable in a cylinder I59 formed in the housing I II] and normally held in its lower position as shown in Fig. 2 by a spring I5I positioned in the cylinder above the piston. Formed in the upper end of the cylinder is passage I52 which may be connected in any suitable way with a conduit I553. The conduit may be a copper tube which is connected in any suitable way with a passage I530, formed in the carburetor casting wall and connecting with the mixture passage posterior to the throttle. The particular means for communicating the engine suction to cylinder I58 is no part of the present invention and such means may be of any suitable construction, so long as it communicates the suction of the intake passage posterior to the throttle valve to the space in cylinder I58 above the piston I49.

In the upper end of the cylinder I50 a sealing ring I54 of copper or other suitable material is fitted against a shoulder I55, and when the engine becomes self-operative and the block I24 is restored to its original switch opening position, upon closing of the throttle, the engine suction communicated to the cylinder IE6 through passage i52 is efiective to lift the piston so that its upper annular end I55 will be in sealing engagement with the seal washer. When this takes place, the sealing action which is effected between the washer or ring I5 3 and the piston end I55 is such that less suction will hold the piston in its uppermost position than is required to lift it to such position. Therefore, when the engine suction drops at passage I52 upon opening of the throttle the piston will not drop although the suction may drop below that necessary to lift the piston. Also, the spring I38 holds the shoulder hi3 against the latch arm I 42 with considerable pressure so that considerable pressure of spring 55! is required to disengage the latch arm from the shoulder M3 and the pressure in cylinder I59 will not drop enough during any condition of self-operation of the engine to effect movement of latch arm M2 to its inoperative position. Also, if the cranking suction should ever become great enough to overcome the pressure of spring I55, the latch arm M2 would merely engage the blocl: 52 5 on the smooth surface I57 where it could have no effect in preventing movement of the block, so that a relatively light spring I5I can be employed which is incapable of disengaging latch arm MS from the shoulder I42 under any operating conditions which may be encountered.

The seal washer I55 is held in proper position by a clamping I55 and the piston is cut away at I59 to form a space in which the clamping ring is received when the piston is on its uppermost position with surface I56 engaging the sealing washer. As shown, the piston I49 is of Bakelite or some similar material but a metal can be used if desired.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said starting motor with the current sour a control switch for controlling said circuit having switch operating member movable to different positions to open and close said switch, manual. means for actuating said member, a resilient operating connection between said manual means and said member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member by its actuating means, means operable by said manual means for releasing said latch means after a predetermined movement cf said manual means, to permit movement of said switch operating member by said resilient operating connection to close the switch, and means whereby said manual means positively moves said operating member to position to open said switch.

2. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said starting motor with the current source; a control switch for controlling said circuit having a switch operating member movable to difierent positions to open and close said switch, manual means for actuating said member, a resilient operating connection between said manual means and said member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member by its actuating means, means operable by said manual means for releasing said latch means after a predetermined movement of said manual means, to permit movement of said switch operating member by said resilient operating connection to close the switch, and latch means operable to prevent movement of said switch operating member to position to close said switch when the engine is self-operative.

3. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said starting motor with the current source; a control switch for controlling said circuit having a switch operating member movable to different positions to open and close said switch, manual means for actuating said member, a resilient operating connection between said manual means and said member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member by its actuating means, means operable by said manual means for releasing said latch means after a predetermined movement of said manual means, to permit movement of said switch operating memher by said resilient operating connection to close the switch, normally ineffective latch means to prevent movement of the switch operating memher to switch closing position, and means operable by the engine when self-operative to move said latch means to position to prevent movement of said switch operating member.

4. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said starting motor with the current source; a control switch for controlling said circuit having a switch operating member movable to different positions to open and close said switch, manual means for actuating said member, a resilient operating connection between said manual means and said member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member by its actuating means, means operable by said manual means for releasing said latch means after a predetermined movement of said manual means, to permit movement or" said switch operating member by said resilient operating connection to close -the switch, normally ineffective latch means to prevent movement of the switch operating member to switch closing position, and means operable by engine suction to move said latch means to position to prevent movement of said switch operating member when the engine is self-operative.

5. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said starting motor with the current source; a control switch for controlling said circuit having a switch operating member movable to diiierent positions to open and close said switch, manual means for actuating said member, a resilient operating connection between said manual means and said member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member by its actuating means, means operable by said manual means for releasing said latch means after a predetermined movement of said manual means, to permit movement of said switch operating member by said resilient operating connection to close the switch, latch means operable to prevent movement of said switch operating member to switch closing position when the engine is selfoperative, means for moving said last-named latch means to operative position, means for pre venting movement of said latch means to operative position until the switch is opened, and means operable by said manual means to positively open the switch.

6. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said starting motor with the current source; a control switch for controlling said circuit having a switch operating member movable to diiierent positions to open and close said switch, manual means for actuating said member, a resilient operating connection between said manual means and said member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member by its actuating means, means operable by said manual means for releasing said latch means after a predetermined movement of said manual means, to permit movement of said switch operating memher by said resilient operating connection to close the switch, normally ineffective latch means to prevent movement of the switch operating member to switch closing position, means operable by engine suction to move said last-named latch means to effective position when the engine is self-operative, means preventing such movement of said latch means after the engine has started to run under its own power until the control switch is opened, and means through which said manual means positively eirects opening of the control switch.

'7. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said starting motor with the current source; a control switch for controlling said circuit having a switch operating member movable to different positions to open and close said switch, manual means for actuating said member, a resilient operating connection between said manual means and said member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member by its actuating means, a cam member operable by said manual means and efiective to release the latch means after a predetermined movement of said manual means to permit movement of said switch operating member to close the switch, and a lug on said cam member operable to positively move the switch operating member to switch opening position.

8. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said starting motor with the current source; a control switch for controlling said circuit having a switch operating member movable to different positions to open and close said switch, manual means for actuating said member, a resilient operating connection between said manual means and said member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member by its actuating means, a cam member operable by said manual means and effective to release the latch means after a predetermined movement of said manual means to permit movement of said switch operating member to close the switch, a second latch means operable to prevent movement of said switch operating member to switch closing position when the engine is selfoperative, means preventing movement of said second latch means to operative position after starting of the engine until the control switch is opened, and a lug on said cam member operable to positively move said switch operating member to effect opening of the switch.

9. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a circuit for connecting the starting motor with the current source and a control switch effective to control the closing and opening of said circuit; a carburetor throttle valve for controlling the supply of combustible mixture to the engine and an operating shaft therefor, a switch operating member operated by said shaft and yieldingly connected thereto, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member to switch closing position, means operated by said shaft to release said latch means after a predetermined opening movement of the throttle, and means operable upon closing movement of the throttle to positively move the switch operating member to switch opening position.

10. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a circuit for connecting the starting motor with the current source and a control switch effective to control the closing and opening of said circuit; a carburetor throttle valve for controlling the supply of combustible mixture to the engine and an operating shaft therefor, a switch operating member movable to different positions to close and open said switch, a member secured to said throttle shaft and resiliently connected to said switch operating member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said switch operating member, means effective to release the latch means after a predetermined opening movement of the throttle, and means operable by said second member to positively move the switch operating member to switch opening position as the throttle is moved to closed position.

11. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a circuit for connecting the starting motor with the current source and a control switch effective to control the closing and opening of said circuit; a carburetor throttle valve for controlling the supply of combustible mixture to the engine and an operating shaft therefor, a switch operating member rotatably mounted on said shaft and movable to different positions to effect closing and opening of the switch, a member secured to the shaft and yieldingly connected to said switch operating member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said switch operating member, means whereby said second member is effective to release the latch means after a predetermined opening of the throttle, and means operable by said second member to positively move the switch operating member to switch opening position as the throttle is closed.

12. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a circuit for connecting the starting motor with the current source and a control switch effective to control the closing and opening of said circuit; a carburetor throttle valve for controlling the supply of combustible mixture to the engine and an operating shaft therefor, a switch operating member rotatably mounted on said shaft and movable to different positions to effect closing and opening of the switch, a

member secured to the shaft and yieldingly connected to said switch operating member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said switch operating member, a cam on said second member movable to a position to release the latch means when the throttle has made a predetermined opening movement, and a lug on said second member operable to positively move said switch operating member to switch opening position when the throttle is closed.

13. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a cur-.1 rent source, a circuit for connecting the starting motor with the current source and a control switch effective to control the closing and opening of said circuit; a carburetor throttle valve for controlling the supply of combustible mixture to the engine and an operating shaft therefor, a switch operating member operated by said shaft and yieldingly connected thereto, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member to switch closing position, means operated by said shaft to release said latch means after a predetermined opening movement of the throttle, a second latch means for preventing movement of said switch operating member to switch closing position when the engine is self-operative, and means operable by the engine for moving said second latch means to operative position.

14. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a circuit for connecting the starting motor with the current source and a control switch effective to control the closing and open ing of said circuit; a carburetor throttle valve for controlling the supply of combustible mixture to the engine and an operating shaft therefor, a switch operating member operated by said shaft and yieldingly connected thereto, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member to switch closing position, means operated by said shaft to release said latch means after a predetermined opening movement of the throttle, a second latch means for preventing movement of said switch operating member to switch closing position when the engine is self-operative, and means operable by engine suction for moving said second latch means to operative position.

15. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a circuit for connecting the starting motor with the current source and a control switch effective to control the closing and opening of said circuit; a carburetor throttle valve for controlling the supply of combustible mixture to the engine and an operating shaft therefor, a switch operating member operated by said shaft and yieldingly connected thereto, a latch means normally preventing movement of said member to switch closing position, means operated by said shaft to release said latch means after a predetermined opening movement of the throttle, a second latch means for preventing movement of said switch operating member to switch closing position when the engine is self-operative, means operable by engine suction for moving said second latch means to operative position, means preventing movement of said second latch means to its operative position after the engine is started bustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a circuit for connecting the starting motor with the current source and a control switch effective to control the closing and opening of said circuit; a carburetor throttle valve for controlling the supply of combustible mixture to the engine and an operating shaft therefor, a switch operating member rotatably mounted on said shaft and movable to different positions to effect closing and opening of the switch, a member secured to the shaft and yieldingly connected to said switch operating member, a latch means normally preventing movement of said switch operating member, means on said second member to release the latch means after a predetermined opening movement of the throttle to permit closing of the switch, a second latch means to prevent movement of the switch closing position when the engine is self-operative, means operable by engine suction for moving the second latch means to operative position, means preventing su-ch movement of the second latch means after the engine is started until the switch 12 operating member is moved to its switch opening position, and means operated by said second member to positively move the switch operating member to switch opening position when the throttle is closed.

LAWRENCE C. DERMOND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,385 Cofiey Oct. 26, 1948 1,248,870 Kane Dec. 4, 1917 1,635,078 Gilbert July 5, 1927 1,788,713 Good et a1. Jan. 13, 1931 1,862,006 Collins June 7, 1932 1,974,208 Ferguson 1- Sept. 18, 1934 2,021,502 Ferguson Nov. 19, 1935 2,105,643 Dyer Jan. 18, 1938 2,326,125 Dermond Aug. 10, 1943 2,356,064 Jorgensen et al. Aug. 15, 1944 2,399,542 Collins Apr. 30, 1946 2,492,340 Winkler Dec. 2'7, 1949