US3416507A

US3416507A - Ether injection assembly for internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: US3416507A
Application number: US591763A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur J Little
Original assignee: Stewart Warner Corp
Current assignee: Stewart Warner Corp
Priority date: 1966-11-03
Filing date: 1966-11-03
Publication date: 1968-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-17

Description

A. .J- LITTLE Dec. 17, 1968 EITHER INJECTION ASSEMBLY FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Nov. 3, 1966 a a N x Z i v\\ 4 a l IP P \\x\\ 6 a a 7 a r H 3 h i 5 a 3 J T +1 V vlL 1 4 fl/ J L A P United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The following specification describes a housing having a pivotable bail for detachably carrying a valved ether can. The can valve is operated on energization of a coil in the housing for releasing ether as an engine starting aid.

A cup-shaped can in the housing seals a passageway in the housing through which the coil armature passes to actuate the valve for preventing contact between the electrical circuit and the ether.

This invention relates in general to internal combustion engine starting aids and more particularly to apparatus for remote control of an ether aerosol can to aid in starting an engine.

A common practice for aid in starting vehicle engines, especially truck engines in cold weather, is to apply a jet of ether to the engine carburetor, since ether provides a rapidly volatized easily combustible vapor. The ether is furnished under pressure in a so-called aerosol can. A valve at one end of the can is manually operated and the ether is directed to the carburetor air opening, which normally connects to the air cleaner. The manual operation of the can and the necessity for dismantling the air cleaner to provide access to the carburetor opening each gives rise to disadvantages while any free vapor presents either a fire or explosion hazard.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide for remote control of an ether aerosol can for aid in starting a vehicle engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for preventing ether passing from an electrically operated aerosol can to an engine carburetor from coming into contact with undesired electrical discharges.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide improved apparatus enabling replacement of an ether aerosol can for remote operation and improved apparatus for the remote control of an ether filled aerosol can for use in engine starting.

Still other objects and features of this invention will become apparent on examination of the following specification, claims and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a relevant portion of a truck and engine having an ether aerosol can remote control assembly utilizing the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the ether aerosol can assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of theupper portion of the assembly shown in FIG. 2; i

FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2; and v FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating the manner in which the solenoid for operating the ether aerosol can is energized.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a portion of a truck is illustrated generally by the reference character 10. The truck comprises the usual motor or engine 12 having a carburetor 14 which supplies a combustible gas air mixture through an intake manifold 16 to the motor 12. Filtered air is supplied to the carburetor through an air cleaner "ice 18 having access to a conventional opening in the carburetor directly below the filter. A firewall 2%) is provided between the motor 12 and a cab in which the driver sits behind a windshield 22. The firewall 20 carries a remote controlled ether aerosol can assembly 24.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the ether aerosol can assembly 24 comprises an annular aluminum housing 26 having a pair of spaced apertured ears 28 projecting in opposite directions to enable the assembly to be securely mounted on the firewall. A top cap 30 of electrically insulating material is seated in an upper edge recess of housing 26 and theh-ousing edge is crirnped over to secure and seal the cap edge. The cap in turn carries a pair of

staked terminals

32 and 39.

Terminal 32 serves to extend an electrical connection from the vehicle battery through a switch 36 indicated in FIG. 5 and a conductor 34 to a coil 38 of a solenoid in housing 26. Terminal 39 serves to extend a ground connection fro-m coil 38 over a conductor 40 to the metal portion of the vehicle, which serves as the battery ground.

The coil 38 includes a conventional bobbin having a central passageway in which an armature 42 is located. A plunger 44 is secured to one end of the armature and extends through a pole piece 45. Also disposed in the central opening of the bobbin is a cup-shaped can 46 having a closed upper end 48 with armature 42 and a portion of plunger 44 disposed for reciprocable movement in the cup-shaped can 46. A peripheral flange 50 is provided at the lower open end of can 46.

The peripheral flange 50 rests on a ring gasket 52 which in turn is supported on a pole piece 45. The can, gasket and pole piece in turn are secured by means of self-tapping screws 53 to an internal platform wall 54 formed in housing 26 to thereby ensure against the communication of any vapors in can 46 with any apparatus in housing 26 carrying electrical current from the vehicle battery. A seal 55 recessed in the top surface of wall 54 is also provided between the pole piece 45 and wall 54 to prevent communication of any fluid between the pole piece and wall 54 into the coil chamber.

The magnetic circuit for coil 38 includes an annular split member 56 and a second pole piece member 58 at the end of coil. Both

pole pieces

45 and 58 are notched with the notches registering with the split in member 56 and receiving an internal ridge 60 on housing 26 to ensure proper location of the coil 38. Can 46 is of thin brass stock to minimize interference with the magnetic circuit and extends through pole piece 58. The extending closed end of can 46 is surrounded by an annular rubber pressure pad 60, which is clamped between the cap 30 and pole piece 58 for holding the coil against axial movement and absorbing vibration.

Wall 54 is generally thick and has a central passageway 62 registering with passageway in plate 45 for receiving plunger 44. A laterally extending passageway 64 is formed in the wall 54 and communicates at one end with passageway 62. The other end of passageway 64 receives a conventional conduit connector 66 for transmitting ether vapor by means of a conduit 68 to the aforementioned carburetor opening.

Passageway 62 extends completely through wall 54 and is provided with a shoulder 70 against which one end of a coil spring 72 rests. The other end of the spring 72 is seated against a shoulder 74 on plunger 44 and serves to bias the shoulder 74 against plate 45 secured to wall 54 while armature 48 is biased towards the closed end of can 46.

Passageway 62 also communicates at its lower end with a central passageway in an annular gasket 76. Gasket 76 is seated in an internal annular recess formed in a skirt portion 78 of housing 26 and the edge of the recess is rolled over to secure the gasket in position. The gasket 76 is provided with a depending annular shoulder 80 for receiving the neck of a conventional ether aerosol can 82 with the valve operating rod 84 of the can extending into the central opening 62 without engaging plunger 44 but where it may be depressed or operated by plunger 44. The gasket restricts the seeping of ether out of passageway 62.

The can 82 is held in position by means of a swingable U-shaped bail 86 whose arms have open ended hooks 88 formed on the ends thereof. The hooks 88 are snap fitted on respective shouldered pins 90 integrally formed on housing 26 for pivotally supporting the bail on housing 26. The bottom or back leg of the bail is provided with a stud member 92 on which knurled nut 94 is threaded. The nut 94 carries a cap member 96 which encircles the bottom of the can 82 to secure the can 82 in position when nut 94 is threaded upwardly on stud 92.

To mount an ether aerosol can 82 in the assembly 24 the bail 86 is simply swung to one side and the neck and valve operating portion of the can 82 inserted inside the internal periphery of shoulder 80 of the gasket 76 with the rod 84 entering opening 62. The back leg of the bail 86 is swung under the can to align cap member 96 with the can and the nut 94 threaded to snug the cap member 96 against the can 82 and the can against the gasket 76. The can is therefore held snugly with the gasket 80 serving to dampen vibrations. To prevent excessive and undesired compression of the gasket 76, skirt 78 is proportioned to act as a stop and engage the can 82 before the can fully compresses gasket 76 or before the rod 84 can engage plunger 44 and possibly open the can valve.

When it is desired to start the engine 12 on a cold morning, the driver in the cab simply closes switch 36 to energize coil 33 over lead 34. The armature 42 and plunger 44 move down against the valve operating rod 84 against the bias of spring 72 and the bias of the spring on the valve operating rod 84. This allows the ether under pressure to escape the can and enter the central opening 62 from which the vapor passes through conduit 68 to the carburetor, where its presence aids the driver in starting the engine. The can 46 ensures that no ether can penetrate the coil chamber and thereby come in contact with the electrical apparatus.

It will be appreciated that, if desired, switch 36 may be placed in series with the starter switch on the ignition as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 5, to synchronize the ether injection with actual cranking of the engine and after the engine is started release of the starter switch prevents the further injection of ether.

The foregoing constitutes a description of apparatus for remote control of an ether aerosol can to aid in engine starting, with the inventive concepts of said apparatus believed set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for use in starting an internal combustion engine having means for comunicating a combustible fluid to said engine, the improvement comprising a housing, a coil in said housing, means for extending an electrical circuit to said coil whereby said coil is energized from a position remote therefrom, an armature encircled by said coil and operated in one direction on energization of said coil, means for detachably supporting an aerosol can containing a combustible fluid on said housing for control by said armature to release said combustible fluid from said can for transport to said engine through said communicating means, one Wall integrally formed intermediate the ends of said housing with said coil and armature disposed on one side of said wall and said can disposed on the opposite side of said wall, a first passageway in said wall extending axially of said coil, means on said armature extending through said first passageway and operated in said one direction on energization of said coil for releasing said combustible fluid from said can whereby said fluid may enter said first passageway, a passageway in said wall extending radially of said coil and communicating fluid in said first passageway to said communicating means for aid in starting said engine, a spring engaged against said one wall for biasing said armature in the direction opposite said one direction, and a cup-shaped metallic nonmagnetic member having an annular wall coaxial with said coil for encircling said armature and an imperforate back wall spaced from said one side and serving as a stop for movement of said biased armature in said opposite direction, a pole piece for said coil sealingly engaged with said one side of said integrally formed wall, and a flange integrally formed on the end of said nonmagnetic member annular wall opposite said back wall for sealing engagement with said pole piece to prevent gas in said passageways contacting said coil.

2. An assembly for use in starting an internal combustion engine of a truck having means for communicating to said engine a combustible fluid ejected from an aerosol can on operation of a fluid releasing member at one end of said can, the improvement comprising a housing, a coil located in said housing and having a central passageway, means for extending an electrical circuit through said housing to said coil from a remote position whereby said coil is energized, an armature located in said coil passageway and including a plunger, means for biasing said plunger and armature in one direction for operation in the opposite direction on energization of said coil, means on said housing for detachably supporting an aerosol can on said housing in a position wherein said releasing member is operated by said operated plunger to eject a combustible fluid from said can, passage means for confining said released fluid for transport to said engine through said communicating means, a wall integrally formed on said housing for separating said coil from said can and having a passageway through which said plunger extends, and a cup-shaped can of metallic nonmagnetic material having an annular wall disposed in said coil central passageway and having an i-mperforate back wall serving as a stop for movement of said armature in one direction with said annular wall encircling said armature and a flange integrally formed at the end of said annular wall opposite said back wall for sealing engagement with one side of said integrally formed wall to seal said coil from engagement by said released fluid in said integral wall passageway.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,463,712 7/1923 Mead 123180 1,730,115 10/1929 Bristol 123180 2,402,964 7/1946 Hoflstrom 123180 2,457,739 12/1948 Sherrill 123180 2,986,135 5/1961 Clark et al 123180 3,189,014 6/1965 Kus 123187.5 3,190,277 6/1965 Tessier 123187.5

WENDEL E. BURNS, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 123187.5