US3645247A

US3645247A - Motor starting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3645247A
Application number: US45788A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pete R D Ambrosio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-06-12
Filing date: 1970-06-12
Publication date: 1972-02-29
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-28

Abstract

An apparatus for starting internal combustion engines of the type used on lawnmowers, snowblowers, and the like. The apparatus includes a cup-shaped driven member of tubular configuration adapted to be connected to the drive shaft of an engine. The upper edge of the driven member has diametrically opposed, inwardly extending recesses. A drive member having a shank for receipt in a power-driven chuck and a transversely extending end portion for engaging the recesses. The driven and driving members are arranged to provide smooth engagement and disengagement with no ''''kick-back.

Description

United States Patent DAnibrosio Feb. 29, 1972 [541 MOTOR STARTING APPARATUS 2,901,911 9/1959 Duncan ..123/179 SE X 2,932,292 4/1960 Trotter et al. ..123/179 SE [72] Invent gig Et a 31221 2253 3,040,854 6/1962 Rauh ...123/179 SE x 3,437,083 4/1969 l-lamman ..123/179 SE [22] Filed: June 12, 1970 Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith [2!] App! 45788 Attorney-Fay, Sharpe and Mulholland [52] 0.8. CI ..123/179 SE ABSTRACT 52 12 4 32 An apparatus for starting internal combustion engines of the le arc 74/55 64/3 28 type used on lawnmowers, snowblowers, and the like. The apparatus includes a cup-shaped driven member of tubular configuration adapted to be connected to the drive shaft of an en- [56] References cued gine. The upper edge of the driven member has diametrically UNITED STATES PATENTS opposed, inwardly extending recesses. A drive member having a shank for receipt in a power-driven chuck and a transversely 1,630,595 5/1927 Babcock ..123/185 S extcnding end portion f engaging the receges The driven Delaney X and members are arranged to rovide mooth engage. 2,093,965 9/ 1937 Hodges ..123/ 185 S mem and disengagement with no kickbackfl 2,731,006 1/1956 Hensel.... ..123/179 SE 2,816,535 12/1957 1 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Sells 123/179 SE PATENTEDFEB29 I912 3.645.247

l ll ll INVENTOR- 42 42 PETE R. DAMBROSIOY MOTOR STARTING APPARATUS The present invention is directed toward the art of internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to an apparatus for facilitating the starting of such engines.

The invention is particularly suited for starting small, two and four cycle gasoline engines of the type used on power lawnmowers, snowblowers, and the like, and will be described with particular reference thereto; however, it will be appreciated the invention is capable of broader application and could be adapted for starting many types and sizes of engines without regard to their use.

The engines on power lawnmowers and similar devices are generally started through the use of a rewind rope or a spring actuated recoil starting unit. As everyone knows, it is often difficult and time consuming to start the engines by use of the rewind ropes. In fact, many times women and the elderly cannot pull the ropes with sufficient force to start the engines. In cold weather the starting problems are even more severe.

Although spring wound types of recoil starting units are an improvement over the rewind rope, they are still difficult and time consuming to use. Additionally, they are subject to frequent malfunction and breakage. The repair or replacement cost on the units tends to be relatively high.

The present invention provides an apparatus which overcomes the above problems arrd permits starting to be accomplished rapidly and easily. Use of the apparatus requires substantially no manual effort. Consequently, women and persons who are not particularly strong can readily start such engines. The use of the inventive apparatus is especially advantageous on snowblowers and similar equipment used in cold weather where starting is especially difficult.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus whereby a conventional electric hand drill can be adapted for starting small gasoline engines.

A further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the type described which is safe and simple to use.

Yet another object is the provision of a device of the kind referred to above which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object is the provision of a starting device for internal combustion engines which can be used as a replacement for recoil starting units.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of the type described which is sized and arranged to avoid kick-back.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a conventional two-cycle engine provided with a starting apparatus formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device showing it with the parts in mated engagement;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the driving element which is mounted in the drill chuck; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring in particular to FIG. 1 the apparatus as shown used on a conventional rotary power mower of the type having a two cycle internal combustion engine 12 which is mounted with its drive shaft extending vertically. Normally this type of engine is provided with starting mechanisms in the form of rewind rope starters or the spring actuated recoil units. As discussed previously, both of these type units are somewhat unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons.

In accordance with the present invention the starting assembly is arranged so that the starting impulse is produced by a standard electric hand drill for example a /4-inch type having a three ampere, 1,000 rpm. motor. According to the invention the apparatus is arranged so that one element is directly connected to the drive shaft of the motor and a second element is releasably engageable with the first element and is adapted for mounting within the chuck of the drill. The

second element is moved into driving engagement with the first element and the drill actuated causing rapid rotation of the motor to cause it to start.

The first or driven element 14 is directly connected to the upwardly extending drive shaft in any convenient manner. Generally, the upper end of the motor drive shaft is threaded such as shown at 16 in FIG. 2. The driven element 14 is connected thereto through the use of a large nut 18. Motors supplied with the standard recoil and rewind units are provided with a threaded drive shaft. Thus, the subject device is arranged so that it can readily replace units of the type discussed.

Referring in particular to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the first member 14 comprises a cup-shaped tubular body portion 20 which is formed from steel tubing having an outer diameter D of approximately 1% inches and an inner diameter of approximately l'r inches. The lower end of the tubular section 20 is closed by a washer member 22 which is brazed or otherwise connected to the lower peripheral edge of member 20. This allows the member 20 to be connected to shaft 16 by the nut 18. Note that the normal spring washer 24 which is standard with prior starting devices bears against the bottom wall of the member 20. With the nut firmly connected, rotation of member 20 causes the drive shaft to be rotated for starting purposes.

The upper end of member 20 is open and is provided with a pair of diagonally opposite recess portions 26 which are adapted to be engaged by the second or driving member 28 which is fitted within the electric drill chuck. The portions 26 can best be seen in FIG. 2. Note that they each include a vertically downwardly extending face or cutout portion 30 and a portion 32 which tapers downwardly from the upper edge of member 20 with the contour shown in FIG. 2.

The driving member 28 is arranged so as to be receivable in the open upper end of member 20 and to engage the cutout portions 26 for releasably driving the member 20 when the drill is actuated. The member 28 includes a vertically extending drive shaft portion 36 which is of a diameter for being received in the chuck of the drill. Depending upon the diameter of the drill used, the diameter of the member 28 could vary however, a [1-inch diameter portion permits the device to be used in a standard Kr-inch drill which most home owners have. At the lower end of the /4-inch shaft 36 there is connected, such as by welding, a transversely extending rectangular bar 38 which is preferably approximately %-inch square. The outer ends of the portion 38 are rounded as shown at 40 in FIG. 5 so as to be of approximately the same curvature as the inner surface of member 20. Centrally positioned in the end faces 40 are short outwardly extending round engaging members or pins 42 which, in the embodiment under consideration, are short sections of lA-inch rod received in openings drilled in the end of the faces 20 and welded or brazed therein. The members 42 extend outwardly a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the wall of member 20.

With the member 28 positioned in the drill it can be received in the member 20 as shown in FIG. 2. Actuation of the drill thus causes the members 42 to drivingly engage the vertical face 30 of the cutout portion 26. As the motor rotates and finally starts, the inclined portion 32, in efiect, drives under the outwardly extending member 42 and permits the drill and member 28 to be smoothly withdrawn with no kickback or catching. Preferably the diameter D is at least I andyg inch, and preferably between at least I to 2 inches. This pennits a [1-inch drill of three a. capacity to start most engines up to approximately four horsepower. If a larger engine is to be started a larger drill would normally be required.

The apparatus described is extremely simple and safe to use and permits difficult starting problems to be avoided. Additionally, it allows easy starting of engines in cold weather and by persons of relatively slight physical stature. Because of the arrangement of

mating parts

14 and 28 the device has no kickback and does not require any special attachments or the like.

The apparatus has been described in great detail sufficient I to anyone of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the same. Obviously, modifications and alterations of the preferred embodiment will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the specification and it is my intention to include all such modifications and alterations as part of my invention insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A starter attachment for use with internal combustion engines having a rotatable drive shaft which extends outwardly of the engine housing, said starter attachment including:

a cup-shaped driven member having a hollow cylindrical tubular body portion having a diameter in the range of 1% to 2 inches terminating in an open outer end and a closed inner end, the outer end having diagonally opposite inwardly extending recesses formed in its outer periphery, each said recess having a gradually inclined face and a face which extends substantially vertically to the outer end;

the closed inner end having an opening which is axial of the body portion and sized to receive the rotatable drive shaft and a nut member to rigidly connect the driven member to the drive shaft;

a driving member having a cylindrical shaft for axial engagement atone end in the chuck of a power-driven drill, the opposite end having a pair of relatively narrow radially extending portions which each extend outwardly from the axis of the cylindrical shaft in opposite directions an amount substantially equal to the radius of the inner wall of the tubular body portion, the outer end faces of the radially extending portions being rounded to be somewhat spherical with a radius substantially equal to the radius of the inner wall of the tubular body, pin members extending outwardly from said outer end faces for engagement with the recesses in the tubular body portion.

Claims

1. A starter attachment for use with internal combustion engines having a rotatable drive shaft which extends outwardly of the engine housing, said starter attachment including: a cup-shaped driven member having a hollow cylindrical tubular body portion having a diameter in the range of 1 1/4 to 2 inches terminating in an open outer end and a closed inner end, the outer end having diagonally opposite inwardly extending recesses formed in its outer periphery, each said recess having a gradually inclined face and a face which extends substantially vertically to the outer end; the closed inner end having an opening which is axial of the body portion and sized to receive the rotatable drive shaft and a nut member to rigidly connect the driven member to the drive shaft; a driving member having a cylindrical shaft for axial engagement at one end in the chuck of a power-driven drill, the opposite end having a pair of relatively narrow radially extending portions which each extend outwardly from the axis of the cylindrical shaft in opposite directions an amount substantially equal to the radius of the inner wall of the tubular body portion, the outer end faces of the radially extending portions being rounded to be somewhat spherical with a radius substantially equal to the radius of the inner wall of the tubular body, pin members extending outwardly from said outer end faces for engagement with the recesses in the tubular body portion.