US2991779A - Toy engine starting device - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 1961 J. M. BARR TOY ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Sheet 1 2 Sheets- Filed May 20, 1960 JOSMH Mam/sow BAR/g INVENTOR. Wl-lA/V/V a McMA/V/GAL Afforneys fbr Anal/Emu July 11, 1961 J, BARR 2,991,779

TOY ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Filed May 20, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOSIAH MORRISON BARR,

INVENTOR- W/"lA/V/V 8 McMA/V/GAL Af/arneys for A a alkali! United States Patent 2,991,779 TOY ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Josiah Morrison Barr, Manhattan Beach, Calif. Filed May 20, 1960, Ser. No. 30,516 25 Claims. (Cl. 123-179) This invention relates to starting dew'ces for toy internal combustion engines of the type which can be adapted to drive toy vehicles, and relates in particular to a toy engine starting device especially suited for use in conjunction with the engines of toy airplanes.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applications entitled Starting Device for Toy Engines, Serial No. 692,924, filed October 28, 1957, now abandoned, and Starter for Toy Engines, Serial No. 694,- 380, filed November 4, 1957, now abandoned.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toy engine starter having parts related so as to form a starter unit which may be obtained as a self contained assembly and is applied as such to the toy engine and its shaft. Some of the parts of the starter, for example, the clutch discs, are exceedingly small and their assembly into the clutch organization is difficult. They may be readily dropped and lost in the course of normal usage, which means that the clutch is inoperative until the lost parts are replaced. In the present invention the loss of the small clutch parts is avoided for the reason that they are contained within the assembled clutch structure.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toy starting device having a one-way clutch which is positive in its operation and instantaneously elfects driving engagement of the drive part and driven part. In the type of starting device to which the invention pertains, failure of the clutch discs to engage is caused by the constant environment of oily and gummy substances. This is overcome in the present invention by a novel arrangement of 'parts wherein the oily and gummy substances which previously defeated proper and consistent clutch operation are now employed to produce a positive clutching action. In forms of the invention illustrated, the one-way clutch unit of the starter assembly may be removed from the engine separately from the spring and its connecting means, making it possible to quickly and easily install a new one-way clutch which is made as a relatively inexpensive replacement part.

In forms of the invention shown, a cam is connected to one of the relatively rotatable parts and wedge members in the form of small discs are employed to provide a means of clutching engagement between the cam and the other of the relatively rotatable parts. These discs are very small, for example, about one-eighth inch in diameter. The invention provides a simple means for bringing a moving oil film into engagement with the opposite faces of these discs so that they will be almost instantaneously moved into clutching position when a predetermined direction of relative rotation of the cooperat ing parts is established.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a clutch unit for a starting device of this character Wherein a circular clutch body has an annular recess leading in from one face thereof for receiving the cam and the wedge elements of the clutch. The outer face of the recess is then closed by a thin annular plate which is held in operative position by a press fit between its periphery and the peripheral portion of the annular clutch part. Films of oil are maintained in engagement with opposite faces of the wedge members by the inner surfaces of the annular plate and of the radial wall of the annular clutch part. The small parts of the clutch are maintained by the annular plate within the annular cavity -of the rotatable clutch member so that they cannot be displaced and lost. Therefore, the clutch device may be handled by inexperienced and even careless persons without the danger of the starting device being rendered inoperative as the result of the loss of small clutchparts therefrom. i v

It is a further object of the invention to provide-a 'st'arting device of this character having a rotatable-part of annular form adapted to be placed in a position surrounding the engine shaft, this rotatable part having an outwardly faced annular cavity and an inwardly faced annular cavity, one of these cavities containing therein the simple one-way clutch mechanism and the other containing a torsion spring for imparting rotation to the rotatable part. The small clutch parts are held in operative position in their cavity by a thin annular -plate-which is installed in a position to cover the cavity and the" clutch parts contained therein.

It is an object of the invention to provide a starter unit wherein one end of the torsion spring thereof is connected to the rotatable part and the other end of the spring is attached to a connecting member positioned and formed so that it will move into nonrotating engagement with the engine crankcase when the starter is installed on the engine.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be brought out in the following part of the, specification wherein many small details have been described for the purpose of making a complete disclosure, without intending, however, to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the accompanying claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned view showing a form' of the invention connected to a toy aircraft engine;

FIG. 2 is a cross section, to enlarged scale, taken as indicated by the line 2-2 of FIGS. 1 and '3;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by theline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a quarter-section, taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 5, showing an alternative form of the invention adapted to be operated by a pull cord;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section, taken as indicated by the line 6-6 of FIG. 3, showing the connecting hook on the spring of the device;

FIG. 7 is a partly sectioned view illustrating another form of the invention connected to. a toy aircraft engine;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7 of the toy engine starting device and engine and propeller parts with which it cooperates;

FIG. 9 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a quarter section to enlarged scale showing an alternative direction of winding the pull cord of-the device shown in FIG. 9; and 9 FIG. 12 is an enlarged quarter section showing the position of the spring used when the cord is wound as shown in FIG. 11.

vFIG. 1 shows the nose end of a toy airplane fuselage 10 in which a toy internal combustion engine 11 is mounted with its shaft projecting forwardly so that'a'toy the contiguous face 40 of each disc 32.

.A 3 rotatable part 19 which is fixed on the portion 20 of the shaft 16 immediately adjacent the forward end of the tubular projection 17 of the toy engine crankcase 14. The rotatable part 19 is a splined or press fit on the portion 20 of the shaft 16. A second rotatable part consists of a .tion 22 of the part 21 within the cavity 23 will not rotate relatively to the part 21. The noncircular portion 22 has ,diarnetrally opposed fiat faces 26, as best shown in FIG. 2, and the cam member 25 is provided with an opening 27 ,having flats 28 corresponding to the flat faces 26 of the portion 22.

The cam member 25 is an annular plate having diametrally opposed cam notches 29 each defined by a cam edge or face 30 adapted to meet the inner end of an end wall 31 which extends parallel to a center line a--a which intersects the center of rotation of the shaft 16. Clutch wedges 32, consisting of small discs, are disposed in the cam notches 29 adjacent the end walls 31. The cam faces 30, clockwise from the center line 33, converge toward the inner surface 33 of the cylindrical peripheral wall 34 of the rotatable part 19 which surrounds the cavity 23. Accordingly, if the member 19 is rotated in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, the wedges 32 will become wedged between the cam faces 30 of the cam member 25 and the inner surface 33 of the peripheral wall 34 and the cam mechanism shown will lock the parts 19 and 21 together for simultaneous rotation. Similarly, counterclockwise rotation of the cam member 25 will be transmitted through the wedges 32 to the peripheral wall 34 of the rotatable part 19.

The lip 35 of the cylindrical wall 34 has therein a shallow counterbore 37 to receive the periphery of a thin annular plate 38 which surrounds the rotatable part 21 and closes the otherwise open end of the cavity 23. As seen in FIG. 3, the inner face 39 of the plate 38 lies close to The depth of the cavity 23 is such that the opposite faces 41 of the discs 32 lie close to the face 42 of the radial wall of the member 19. This cooperative arrangement of parts employs lubricant and gummy substances which enter the clutch mechanism, and which frequently renders inoperative the one-way clutch mechanisms of toy engine starters, as means for improving the action of toy one-way clutch mechanisms with respect to their quick response to relative-rotation of clutch parts intended to effect engagement 7 of the wedges or discs with the driving and driven clutch parts. Narrow spaces are provided between the spaces 40 and 41 of the discs 32 and the surfaces 39 and 42. Grease or oil entering these thin spaces form films which tend to resist relative movement between the disc 32 and the surfaces 39 and 42, with the result that when the rotatable part is rotated in clockwise direction, the films will move the discs 32 into tight engagement with the cam faces 30 and the inner surface 33 of the peripheral wall 34. Only a relatively small angular movement of the part 19 is required to bring the discs 32 into clutching j position.

The second rotatable part 21 is connected to the engine through spring means comprising a coil spring 44 surrounding a portion of the member 21 and having its inner end connected thereto by suitable means such as 'a rivet 45. An anchor member 46 connects the outer end of the spring 44 to the engine This anchor member 46 consists of a cup having a bottom wall 47 which rests against the engine crankcase 14, and a cylindrical wall 48 which surrounds the spring 44 and to which the outer end of the spring 44 is connected by means of a detachable connection consisting of a hook 49 formed engagement. A pin 50 fixed in the wall 47 of the cup 46 projects into an opening 51 in the wall of the crankcase 14.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, is as follows. The propeller 12 is rotated manually in clockwise direction. This clockwise rotation is imparted to the first rotatable part 19 which is fixed on the shaft. The oil films between the discs 32 and the surfaces 39 and 41 carry the discs 32 in clockwise direction so that they are brought into wedging position between the cam faces 29 and the surface 33. The oneway clutch mechanism then transmits clockwise rotation to the second rotatable part 21 so that the inner end of the spring 44 is rotated in clockwise direction and energy is thereby stored in the spring 44 tending to rotate the rotatable part 21 in counterclockwise direction. The propeller is then released and the torsion spring 44 acting through the rotatable part 21 and the one-way clutch rotates the rotatable part 19 in counterclockwise rotation, so that the shaft 16 will be thereby rotated in counterclockwise direction which is the proper direction of rotation of the engine during its operation. When the energy of the spring 44 has become released and rotation of the rotatable part 21 stops, the one-way clutch will release and the discs 32 will be moved into engagement with the end walls 31 of the notches 29 which are at this time stationary.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a form of the invention which employs, in addition to the parts previously described, a pull cord 55 which is wound upon a spool 56 mounted on the second rotatable part 21. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the previously described parts are given the same numerals so that a repetition of the description will not be necessary. The spool 56 is positioned between the plate 38 of the rotatable part 19 and the spring 44. The hub 57 of the spool 56 has therein a noncircular opening 58 corresponding to the opening 27 in the cam so that it will fit the noncircular portion 22 of the rotatable part 21. As will be seen in FIG. 4, the diametrally opposed fiat faces 26 of the rotatable part 21 are extended in the direction of the engine 14 so as to accommodate thereon the hub 58 of the spool 56. The cuplike anchor member 46 is provided with an extension 60 lying outside the periphery of the spool 56 and having therein an opening 61 through which the cord 55 extends. The cord 55 is provided with a loop 62 by which it may be manually engaged, and has theron a stop 63, such as a knot, for example, for limiting the rewind movement of the cord 55.

When the cord 55 is pulled outwardly from the position in which it is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it will effect rotation of the spool 56, which will in turn rotate the second rotatable part 21 and effect a winding of the spring. The direction in which the clutch mechanism acts is deter mined by the manner in which the starter is to be operated. For example, if the cord 55 is wound upon the spool 56 in clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 5, it will rotate the spool 56 and the parts connected thereto in clockwise direction when it is pulled outwardly. In this use of the invention the spring 44 will be placed in the same direction of winding as described with relation to FIG. 3, and the cam 25 will be placed as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, clockwise rotation of the spool 56 will wind the spring 44 and will rotate the cam 25 in clockwise direction within the cavity of the first rotatable part 19. Then, when the cord has been pulled out to its full extent, it may be released so that the spring 44 will rotate the member 21 and the cam 25 in counterclockwise direction, and this counterclockwise rotation of the cam will '55 are wound may effect actuation of the clutch so that counterclockwise,

engine-starting rotation will be transmitted to the part 19.

The directions in which the spring 44 and the cord be reversed from those described in the foregoing. The cord 55 will be then wound in counterclockwise direction on the spool 56 instead of in the clockwise direction in which it is shown wound in FIG.

'5. Then, when the cord is'pulled outwardly, the counterclockwise rotation of the spool by the cord will be transmitted through the part 21 to the cam plate 25 and also to the spring 44. The clutch mechanism will be actuated to transmit counterclockwise rotation through the rotatable part 19 to the shaft 16 to start the engine, and at the same time the spring 44 will be Wound, storing therein energy to rotate the spool 56 in rewind direction when the pulling force is released from the 'cord 55, and therefore, as the spring 44 unwinds, the cord 55 will be rewound upon the spool 56 ready for a succeeding operation of the starter mechanism.

In one practice of the invention, the one-way clutch unit C consisting of the parts 19, 38, 25 and 32, may be separated from the remaining parts of the starter which may be left in place on the engine when the one-way clutch is removed. Removal of the clutch unit C, comprises merely sliding it rightwardly from the position in which it is shown in FIG. 3 and thereby sliding the cam member 25 off from the end 22 of member 21 which may remain on the projection 17 of the engine 14. The replacement clutch slides readily into the position of one removed. If replacement of a broken spring is required, the part 21 which has the inner end of the spring 44 attached thereto may he slid rightwardly from the tubular projection 17 and the spring hook 49 may be readily disengaged from the slot 49a, after which the replacement spring unit consisting of the parts 21 and 44 may be quickly installed.

If the pull cord 55 of FIGS. 4 and 5 becomes broken,

the spool 56 may be readily slid off from the end 20 of the member 21 to have the cord thereof replaced. The

cylindrical wall 48 may be permanently connected to the engine, if desired, for example, the pin 50 may be a press fit in the opening 51 so as to hold the cup member 46 permanently in place, or, if the entire starter mechanism is to be removed as a unit, the pin 50 may be a sliding fit in the opening 51.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated another form of the invention in a toy airplane fuselage 70 in which a toy internal combustion engine 71 is mounted. Its crankshaft 72 projects forwardly so that a propeller 73 may be secured thereon by a cap nut 74. The engine 71 has a crankcase 75 provided with a bearing 76, as shown in FIG. 8, for the crankshaft 72, this bearing 76 having a projecting" tubular portion 77.

For starting the toy engine 71, a toy engine starter 78 is provided and positioned between the crankcase 75 and the propeller 73. The toy engine starter 78 includes a driven member consisting of an annular rotatable part 79, shown in FIGS. 8and 9, which is fixed on the stepped portion 80 of the shaft 72 contiguous to the end of the projection 77 of the crankcase 75. The rotatable part 79 is a splined or press fit on the portion 80 of the shaft 72 and is held on the shaft portion 80 by the propeller 73 which is in turn held in place by the cap nut 74, rotation of the propeller 73 relatively to the shaft 72 being prevented by radial ridges 81 arranged in a circle on the outer radial face of the driven member 79 for engagement with the contiguous portion of the impeller 73.

A driving member 82 is positioned so as to surround adjacent portions of the tubular extension 77 and the driven member 79. It comprises a circular body 83 having therein an annular outwardly faced recess or cavity 84 and an inwardly faced annular recess or cavity 85, these cavities 84 and 85 being separated by an annular radial wall 86. The annular body 83 has a cylindrical wall portion 87 forming a peripheral wall around'the 16 cavity 84 and also a cylindrical wall portion 8a which surrounds the inwardly faced annular cavity 85.

Within the outwardly faced cavity 84 there is an annular cam plate 89 having a n'on'circular opening 90 to receive the contiguous portion 91 of the driven member 79 which is of corresponding noncircular form so that relative rotation of the cam plate 89 and the driven member 79 is prevented, and therefore, simultaneous rotation of the parts 89 and 79 is effected. The cam plate 89 has therein diametrically opposed notches 92 defined by cam faces 93 and end faces 94, the latter being parallel to a diametral center line b'b which is 'perpendicul'arto the cam faces 93. Clutch wedge elements 95 are disposed in the notches 92, consisting of small discs of such diameter that when appropriate relative rotation of the cam plate 89 and the driving member 88 occurs, the discs 95 will be tightly wedged against the peripheral wall 87, thereby clutching the driving and' driven members 88 and 79 together.

An annular outer cover plate 97 extends radially "im wardly from the peripheral wall 87 in a position to conceal the discs 95 and at least a portion of the cam plate '89. The driving member 82 is connected to the engine by torsion spring means 98 consisting of a spiral spring 99, the outer end of which is connected to the circumferential wall 88 of the annular body 83 by a hook which is bent on the end of the spring 99 and is adapted to be received by a slot 100: in the wall 88, and a ring member 101 which is attached to the inner end of the spring and connects it to the projecting tubular portion 77 of the crankcase 75. As shown in FIG. 10, the external surface 102 of the projecting tubular portion 77, the annular body 82, the one-way clutch parts 89 and 95, the spring 99 and the ring 101 comprise a unit which may be readily moved into the position in which it is shown in the drawing. The ring member 101 will slide readily onto the tubular portion 77 as the unit is brought into its operative position. Then, the driven member 79 may be moved along the projecting portion of the shaft 72 into its operative position upon theshaft portion 80. If the cam plate 89 is fixed on the driven member 79 all of the parts of the toy starting device 78 will forma single unit which may be installed upon orremoved from the crankcase and shaft parts 77 and 80. The annular body 83 of the driving member 82 has thereon parallel radially directed annular flanges 106- so as to form a spool 107 on which a pull cord 108-may be Wound.

The cover plate 97 has, in addition to the valuable function of holding the small clutch parts 89 and 95' in the cavity 84, the utility of holding a film of:oil, grease or gummy substances in contact with the outer faces 100 of the discs 95 to cooperate'with the film of oil, grease or gummy substance which exists between the surface of the radial wall 86 of the driving member 82 and the leftward or inner faces 101 of the discs 95, to cause immediate movement of the discs 95 in clockwise direction, FIG. 9, from the positions in which they are shown, when the driving member 82 is rotated in clockwise direction, thereby causing immediate wedgi'ng or clutching engagement of the discs 95 with the wedge faces 93 and the peripheral wall 87.

In the form of the invention shown in the FIGS; 7-9, the pull cord 108 is wound on the spool 107 in such direction that when the pull cord is pulled outwardly force applied to the loop 109 on its outer en'd,'the driving member 82 will be thereby rotated in counterclockwise direction. Counterclockwise rotation of the driving member 82, effected by pulling out the pull cord 108 is transmitted through the clutch parts 95 and 89 to the driven member 79, thereby rotating the shaft 72 in the proper direction, counterclockwise to start the engine. The spring 99, as shown in FIG. 10, is wound in'counterclockwise direction so'tha't when the driving member 8 2 is rotated in counterclockwise direction-Windingof and storage of energy in the spring 99 will take place. When pulling force is released from the pull cord 108, the spring 99 will unwind and return the driving member 82 to its original position, rewinding the pull oord 108 on the spool 107 so that it will be ready for a subsequent operation.

In the foregoing, I have described a method of operation of the invention wherein the force applied to the pull cord is transmitted instantly through the clutch means to the engine shaft, the spring being used to rewind the, pull cord when the pulling force thereon has been released. The invention may be used in such a manner that the force applied in pulling out the pull cord is used in winding the spring so as to store energy therein, the release of the pull cord then permitting the spring to unwind and transmit its energy through the clutch mechanism to the engine shaft to rotate it in proper direction to start the engine. In FIGS. 11 and 12, I show that the pull cord 108 is wound on the drum 107 in clockwise direction and that the spring 99 is placed so that clocklwise rotation of the member 82 will wind the spring 99.

Referring to FIG. 11, outward pull upon the cord 108 will rotate the member 82 in clockwise direction. The clutch mechanism will be at this time inactive for the reason that the cam faces 93 of the cam plate 89 are disposed so that actuation of the clutch is effected by counterclockwise rotation of the driving member 82. Therefore, the shaft 72 will not be driven, but the rotation of the driving member 82 will wind the spring. When the pull cord is released the spring 99 will unwind and rotate the driving member 82 in counterclockwise direction, effecting actuation of the clutch mechanism and rotating the engine shaft 80 in counterclockwise direction to start the engine and also rewind the pull cord 108.

Referring to FIGS. 9, l1 and 12, the winding of the spring 99, positioned as shown in FIG. 12, may be ac- 'complished by rotating the propeller 73 by hand in clock- '-wise direction. The clockwise rotation of the propeller 73 will be transmitted to the driven member 79, which will rotate the clutch plate 89 in clockwise direction, causing the cam faces 93 thereof to force the wedge elements 95 into engagement with the peripheral wall 87 of the member 82 so that it will rotate in clockwise direction and wind the spring 99. When the propeller 73 is released, the unwinding of the spring 99 will rotate the remaining parts of the starter mechanism in counterclockwise direction so as to rotate the shaft 72 in counterclockwise, engine-starting direction. In this use of the invention the pull cord 108 and the flanges 106 are omitted.

I claim:

1. In a starting device for a toy engine or the like having a shaft connected to the crank of the engine: a first rotary part comprising an annular body having an annular cavity in one face thereof providing a radial wall sur- -rounded by a peripheral wall; a second rotary part hav- -ing a portion thereof projecting into said cavity; one-way clutch means in said cavity comprising a cam member and a wedge member, one of said members engaging said peripheral wall and the other of said members engaging the portion of said second rotary part which projects into said cavity; an annular plate connected to the periphery of said annular body of said first rotary part and extending across the outer part of said cavity to provide a covering wall overlying said wedge member, said radial wall and said covering wall being spaced to provide, in the presence of oily and gummy substances, adhering contact between at least one of said radial and covering walls with said wedge member which will effect, upon relative movement between said walls and said cam member, movement of said wedge member into driving engagement between said cam member and said peripheral wall;

,means for connecting one of said rotary parts to said shaft; and torsion spring means for connecting the other of said rotary parts to said engine,

2. In a starting device for a toy engine or the like having a shaft connected to the crank of the engine: a first rotary part comprising an annular body having an annular cavity in one face thereof providing a radial wall surrounded by a peripheral wall; a second rotary part contiguous to said first rotary part; a cam member in said cavity connected to said second rotary part; drive wedge means between said cam member and said peripheral wall; an annular plate connected to the periphery of said annular body of said first rotary part and extending across the outer part of said cavity to provide a covering wall overlying said wedge means, said radial wall and said covering wall being spaced to provide, in the presence of oily and gummy substances, adhering contact between at least one of said radial and covering walls with said wedge means which will eflect, upon relative movement between said walls and said cam member, movement of said wedge means into driving engagement between said cam member and said peripheral wall; hub means on said first rotary part for connecting it to said shaft; and spring means for connecting said second rotary part to said engine, comprising an annular wall surrounding a portion of said second rotary part, and a torsion spring having one end connected to said second rotary part and the other end connected to said engine.

3. In a starting device for a toy engine or the like having a shaft connected to the crank of the engine: a first rotary part comprising an annular body having an annular cavity in one face thereof providing a radial wall surrounded by a peripheral wall; a second rotary part contiguous to said first rotary part; a cam member in said cavity connected to said second rotary part; drive wedge means between said cam member and said peripheral wall; an annular plate connected to the periphery of said annular body of said first rotary part and extending across the outer part of said cavity to provide a covering wall overlying said wedge means, said radial wall and said covering wall being spaced to provide, in the presence of oily and gummy substances, adhering contact between at least one of said radial and covering walls with said wedge means which will effect, upon relative movement between said walls and said cam member, movement of said wedge means into driving engagement between said cam member and said peripheral wall; means for connecting one of said rotary parts to said shaft; and torsion springs means for connecting the other of said rotary parts to said engine.

4. In a starting device for a toy engine or the like having a shaft connected to the crank of an engine: a first rotary part comprising an annular body having a radial wall and an axial wall defining a cavity in one face thereof; a second rotary part; one-way clutch means in said cavity comprising a cam member and a wedge member, one of said members engaging said axial wall and the other of said members operatively connected to said second rotary part; an annular plate associated with said first rotary part so as to rotate therewith and extending across the outer part of said cavity to provide a covering wall overlying said wedge member, said radial wall and said covering wall being spaced to provide, in the presence of oily and gummy substances, adhering contact between at least one of said radial and covering walls with said wedge member which will effect, upon relative movement between said walls and said cam member, movement of said wedge member into driving engagement between said cam member and said axial wall; means for connecting one of said rotary parts to said shaft; and torsion spring means for connecting the other of said rotary parts to said engine.

5. In a toy clutch device adapted to connect a rotatable member to a second member: a first plate element having a cylindrical wall on one face thereof; a second plate element connected to the periphery of said cylindrical wall and providing a cavity between said plate elements; a cam member in said cavity; drive disc means in e se-1,779

said cayity between said cam member and said cylindrical wall, said plate elements being in overlying relationship to said disc means and being spaced to permit free movement of said disc means into engagement between said cam member and said cylindrical wall, said spaced overlying relationship between said plate elements and said disc means providing, in the presence of oily and gummy substances, adhering contact between at least one of said plate elements and said disc means which will effect, upon relative movement between said plate elements and said cam member, movement of said disc means into engagement between said cam member and said cylindrical wall; means for connecting at least one of said plate elements to said rotatable member; and means for connecting said cam member to said second member.

6. In a toy clutch device adapted to connect a rotatable member to a second member: a first plate element having a cylindrical wall providing a cavity on one face of said first plate element; a cam member in said cavity; drive disc means in said cavity between said cam member and said cylindrical wall; a second plate element connected to the periphery of said cylindrical wall and extending across the outer part of said cavity in overlying relationship to said disc means and being spaced to permit free movement of said disc means into engagement between said cam member and said cylindrical wall, said spaced overlying relationship between said plate elements and said disc means providing, in the presence of oily and gummy substances, adhering contact between at least one of said plate elements and said disc means which will effect, upon relative movement between said plate elements and said cam member, movement of said disc means into engagement between said cam member and "said cylindrical wall; means for connecting at least one of said plate elements to said rotatable member; and means for connecting said cam member to said second member.

7. In a toy starting device for a toy engine having a shaft, the combination of: a first rotary part adapted to be drivably secured to said shaft and having a cavity formed by a side wall and a cylindrical wall, a second rotary part positioned adjacent to said first rotary part on the side of said cavity, said second rotary part being axially aligned with said first rotary part and being rotatable relative to said first rotary part and said shaft; spring means connected to said second rotary part for rotating the same in one direction; overrunning clutch means for "drivably connecting said first rotary part and said second rotary part in one direction, said overrunning clutch means having cooperating cam means and wedge means positioned in said cavity, said cam means being secured to one of said rotary parts and said wedge means being positioned between said cam means and the other of said rotary parts; and a radial wall secured to said cylindrical wall of said first rotary part and projecting across a portion of said cavity so as to cover said wedge means.

8. In' a toy starting device for a toy engine having a shaft, the combination of: a first rotary part adapted to be drivably secured to said shaft and having a cavity formed by a side wall and a cylindrical wall; a second rotary part positioned adjacent to said first rotary part on the side of said cavity, said secondrotary part being axially aligned with said first rotary part and being ro'tatable relative to said first rotary part and said shaft;

spring means connected to said second rotary part for rotating the same in one direction; overrunning clutch means for drivably connecting said first rotary part and said second rotary part in one direction, said overrunning clutch means having cooperating cam means and wedge means positioned in said cavity, said cam means being secured to one of said rotary parts and said wedge means being positioned between said cam means and the other of said rotary parts; and a radial wall secured to said cylindrical wall of said first rotary part-andprojecting across 'a portio'n of said cavity so as to cover said wedge means,

10 whereby in the presence of oil and gummy substances in said cavity said wedge means will have adhering contact between either said side wall or said radial wall causing said wedge means upon relative rotation between said cam means and said cylindrical wall to have driving engagement between said first and second rotary parts.

9. In a toy starting device for a toy engine having a shaft, the combination of: a first rotary part adapted to be drivably secured to said shaft and having a cavity formed by a side wall and a cylindrical peripheral wall; a second rotary part positioned adjacent to said first rotary part on the side of said cavity, said second rotary part being axially aligned with said first rotary part and being rotatable relative to said first rotary part and said shaft; spring means connected to said second rotary part for rotating the same in one direction; overrunning clutch means for drivably connecting said first rotary part and said second rotary part in one direction, said overrunning clutch means having cam means positioned in said cavity inside said peripheral cylindrical wall and secured to said second rotary part and wedge means positioned between said cam means and said cylindrical peripheral wall; and a radial wall secured to said cylindrical peripheral wall of said first rotary part and extending inwardly between said first rotary part and said second rotary part and forming a closed cavity in which said wedge means is contained.

10. In a toy engine starting device for a toy engine having a shaft connected to the piston of the engine: a

driving member surrounding the axis of said shaft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a peripheral wall; a driven member connected to said shaft;

a cam plate connected to said driven member and lying within said cavity; wedge clutching elements disposed between said cam plate and said peripheral wall of said driving member; an annular wall connected to said peripheral wall and extending radially inwardly to cover said clutching elements and hold a film of oil in contact therewith; and torsion spring means connecting said driving member to the crankcase of said engine.

11". In a toy engine starting device for a toy engine having a shaft connected to the piston of the engine: a driving member surrounding the axis of said shaft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a peripheral wall; a driven member connected to said shaft; a cam plate connected to said driven member and lying Within 'said cavity; wedge clutching elements disposed between said cam plate and said peripheral wall of said driving member; an annular wall connected to said peripheral wall and extending radially inwardly to cover said clutching elements and hold a film of oil in contact therewith; and torsion spring means connecting said driving member to the crankcase of said engine, said spring means comprising a coil spring having one end thereof connected to said'driving member, and means connected to the other end of said spring and being adapted for 'nonr'otative engagement with said engine when said driving member is moved into its operative position surrounding said axis of said shaft.

12. In a toy engine starting device for a toy engine having a crankcase and a shaft connected to the piston of the engine: a driving member surrounding the axis of said shaft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a peripheral wall; a driven member connected to said shaft; one-way clutch means in said cavity for connecting said driving and driven members; and an annular Wall extending radially from the peripheral wall of said drivof said sh-aft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a peripheral wall; a driven member connected to said shaft; one-way clutch means in said cavity for connecting said driving and driven members; an annular wall extending radially from the peripheral wall of said driving member to retain said clutch means in said cavity; and torsion spring means connecting said driving member to the crankcase of said engine, said spring means comprising a coil spring having one end thereof connected to said driving member, and means connected to the other end of said spring and being adapted for nonrotative engagement with said engine when said driving member is moved into its operative position surrounding said axis of said shaft.

14. In a toy engine starting device for a toy engine having a crankcase and a shaft connected to the piston of the engine and a tubular extension projecting from the engine crankcase and surrounding a portion of said shaft; a driving member surrounding the axis of said shaft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a peripheral wall; a driven member connected to said shaft; a cam plate connected to said driven member and lying within said cavity; wedge clutching elements disposed between said cam plate and said peripheral wall of said driving member; an annular wall connected to said peripheral wall and extending radially inwardly to cover said clutching elements and hold a film of oil in contact therewith; and torsion spring means connecting said driving member to the crankcase of said engine, said spring means comprising a coil spring having one end thereof connected to said driving member, and a ring member connected to the other end of said spring and being positioned so that it will slide onto said tubular extension of said engine crankcase and make nonrotative engagement therewith when said toy engine started is installed in operative position.

15. In a toy engine starting device for a toy engine having a crankcase and a shaft connected to the piston of the engine and a tubular extension projecting from the engine crankcase and surrounding a portion of said shaft: a driving member surrounding the axis of said shaft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a peripheral wall; a driven member connected to said shaft; one-way clutch means in said cavity for connecting said driving and driven members; an annular wall extending radially from the peripheral wall of said driving member to retain said clutch means in said cavity; and torsion spring means connecting said driving member to the crankcase of said engine, said spring means comprising a coil spring having one end thereof connected to said driving member, and a ring member connected to the other end of said spring and being positioned so that it will slide onto said tubular extension of said engine crankcase and make nonrotative engagement therewith when said toy engine starter is installed in operative position.

16. In a toy engine starting device for a toy engine having a crankcase and a shaft connected to the piston of the engine: a driving member surrounding the axis of said shaft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a peripheral wall; a driven member connected to said shaft; a cam plate connected to said driven member and lying within said cavity; wedge clutching elements disposed between said cam plate and said peripheral wall of said driving member; an annular wall connected to said peripheral wall and extending radially inwardly to cover said clutching elements and hold a film of oil in contact therewith; torsion spring means connecting said driving member to the crankcase of said engine; and a .spool connected to said driving member to receive a pull cord for imparting rotation to the driving member.

17. In a toy engine starting device for a toy engine having a shaft connected to the piston of the engine: a driving member surrounding the axis of said shaft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a pcripheral wall; a driven member connected to said shaft; a cam plate connected to said driven member and lying within said cavity; wedge clutching elements disposed between said cam plate and said peripheral wall of said driving member; an annular wall connected to said peripheral wall and extending radially inwardly to cover said clutching elements and hold a film of oil in contact therewith; torsion spring means connecting said driving member to the crankcase of said engine, said spring means comprising a coil spring having one end thereof connected to said driving member, and means connected to the other end of said spring and being adapted for nonrotative engagement with said engine when said driving member is moved into its operative position surrounding said axis of said shaft; and a spool connected to said driving member to receive a pull cord for imparting rotation to the driving member.

18. In a toy engine starting device for a toy engine having a shaft connected to the piston of the engine and a tubular extension projecting from the engine crankcase and surrounding a portion of said shaft; a driving member surrounding the axis of said shaft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a peripheral wall; a driven member connected to said shaft; one-way clutch means in said cavity for connecting said driving and driven members; an annular wall extending radially from the peripheral wall of said driving member to retain said clutch means in said cavity; torsion spring means connecting said driving member to the crankcase of said engine, said spring means comprising a. coil spring having one end thereof connected to said driving member, and a ring member connected to the other end of said spring and being positioned so that it will slide onto said tubular extension of said engine crankcase and make nonrotative engagement therewith when said toy engine starter is installed in operative position; and a spool connected to said driving member to receive a pull cord for impart ing rotation to the driving member.

19. In a starting device for an engine having a shaft connected to the piston of the engine: a driving member having a central opening and being adapted to surround a portion of said shaft, said member having an outwardly faced annular cavity and an inwardly faced annular cavity; a driven member adapted to be connected to said shaft; one-way clutch means in said outwardly faced cavity for connecting said driving and driven members; means for holding said one-way clutch in said outwardly faced cavity; a torsion spring in said inwardly faced cavity having one end thereof connected to said driving member; and connecting means attached to the other end of said spring adapted to make nonrotative engagement with said engine when said starting device is installed.

20. In a starting device for an engine having a shaft connected to the piston of the engine and a tubular extension projecting from the engine crankcase and surrounding a portion of said shaft: a driving member having a central opening and being adapted to surround a portion of said shaft, said member having an outwardly faced annular cavity and an inwardly faced annular cavity; a driven member adapted to be connected to said shaft; one-way clutch means in said outwardly faced cavity for connecting said driving and driven members; means for holding said one-way clutch in said outwardly faced cavity; a spiral spring in said inwardly faced cavity having its outer end connected to said driving member; and a ring member connected to the inner end of said spring and being adapted to slide onto and make nonrotative engagement with said extension of said engine crankcase when said starting device is installed in operative position.

21. In a starting device for an engine having a shaft connected to the piston of the engine: a driving member having a central opening and being adapted to surround a portion of said shaft, said member having an outwardly faced annular cavity and an inwardly faced annular cavity; a driven member adapted to be connected to said shaft and having a portion projecting within the central part of said outwardly faced cavity; a cam plate in said outwardly faced cavity having an opening to receive said portion of said driven member, said cam plate and said driven member having engagement for preventing relative rotation thereof; wedge elements between said cam plate and the peripheral wall of said cavity; an annular radial wall connected to the outer face of said driving member so as to hold said cam plate and said wedge elements in said outwardly faced cavity; a torsion spring in said inwardly faced cavity having one end thereof connected to said driving member; and connecting means attached to the other end of said spring adapted to make nonrotative engagement with said engine when said starting device is installed.

22. In a starting device for an engine having a shaft connected to the piston of the engine and a tubular extension projecting from the engine crankcase and surrounding a portion of said shaft; a driving member having a central opening and being adapted to surround a portion of said shaft, said member having an outwardly faced annular cavity and an inwardly faced annular cavity; a driven member adapted to be connected to said shaft and having a portion projecting within the central part of said outwardly faced cavity; a cam plate in said outwardly faced cavity having an opening to receive said portion of said driven member, said cam plate and said driven member having engagement for preventing relative rotation thereof; wedge elements between said cam plate and the peripheral wall of said cavity; an annular radial wall connected to the outer face of said driving member so as to hold said cam plate and said wedge elements in said outwardly faced cavity; a spiral spring in said inwardly faced cavity having its outer end con nected to said driving member; and a ring member connected to the inner end of said spring and being adapted to slide onto and make nonrotative engagement with said extension of said engine crankcase when said starting device is installed in operative position.

23. In a toy engine starting device for a toy engine having a crankcase and a shaft connected to the piston of the engine: a first rotatable part surrounding the axis of said shaft, having an annular cavity defined by a radial wall and a peripheral wall; a second rotatable part connected to said shaft; a cam plate connected to said second rotatable part and lying within said cavity; wedge clutching elements disposed between said cam plate and said peripheral wall of said driving member; an annular wall connected to said peripheral wall and extending radially inwardly to cover said clutching elements and hold a film of oil in contact therewith; and torsion spring means connecting said first rotatable part to the crankcase of said engine.

24. In a starting device for an engine having a shaft connected to the piston 0f the engine: a first rotatable part having a central opening and being adapted to surround a portion of said shaft, said part having an out wardly faced annular cavity and an inwardly faced annular cavity; a second rotatable part adapted to be connected to said shaft; one-way clutch means in said outwardly faced cavity for connecting said first and second rotatable parts; means for holding said one-way clutch in said outwardly faced cavity; a torsion spring in said inwardly faced cavity having one end thereof connected to said first rotatable part; and connecting means attached to the other end of said spring adapted to make nonrotative engagement with said engine when said starting device is installed.

25. In a clutch device for connecting a shaft to another member: a first rotatable part having a central opening and being adapted to surround a portion of said shaft, said part having an outwardly faced annular cavity and an inwardly faced annular cavity; a second rotatable part adapted to be connected to said shaft; one-Way clutch means in said outwardly faced cavity for connecting said first and second rotatable parts; means for holding said one-way clutch in said outwardly faced cavity; and means in said inwardly faced cavity for connecting said first rotatable part to said other member.

No references cited.

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