US998418A - Engine-starting device. - Google Patents

Description

Patented July 18, 1911 2 SHEBTSSHBET 1.

vwenlioz G. J. 'SPOHRER. ENGINE STARTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.11, 1911.

998,418. Patented July 18,1911.

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GREGORY J. SPOHRER, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINE-STARTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18,1911.

Application filed February 11, 1911. Serial No. 608,013. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GREGORY J. Sroniunz, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Franklin, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer- 1 tain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starting Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in engine starting devices and more particularly to a device adapted to be operated by means of compressed air and constructedl and arranged upon a motor vehicle to impart the initial movement to the engine shaft.

Another object resides in the provision of a device of the. above character wl'pch is extremely simple, positive in its operation and may be actuated with a minimum expenditure of power.

A still further object of the invention rcsides in the provision of a double acting foot operated valve -connected to and cooperating with a valve arranged upon the piston cylinder to control the admission and exhaust of the actuating fluid to said cylinder.

A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide a reciprocating piston geared to the motor shaft, and; means automatically operating to eliminate possible breakage of the parts after the completion of the effective stroke of the piston, in the event that the shaft should back kick or retrograde.

W'ith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the piston cylinder; Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof; and Fig. 4 is a. detail fragmentary elevation showing. the ratchet engaging dogs for locking the gear on the engine shaft in their elevated or inoperative positions at the end of the inward or reverse stroke of the piston.

The present invention is more particularly related to engine starting devices of that ment of the rack and thereby impart the initial impulse to the engine, and embodies in its construction improvedmeans for controlling the operation of the movable piston whereby the device is rendered very positive I in its operation, the invention also including character employing, a movable rack Which i co-acts with a gear on the engine shaft to other features of construction nun'ierous deficiencies conunon to this class of automatic ,engine'startcrs are eliminated. lVith the. above ends in view, I. provide the piston cylinder 5 in which a reciprocating piston (3 is arranged. The piston rod 7 secured to the piston (3 and extends through one end of the cylinder. Ahead 8 is secured upon and closes the other end of the cylinder 5. A valve 9 is arranged upon the forward end of the piston c 'lind er through which 'the rod 7 extends, the valve member IO'bc'ing normally seated by means of the springll. The valve stem 12 is connected to the member 10 and is vertically movable in the lateral whereby i extension or enlargement 13 formed on the spherically formed for engagement upon a rib 14 formed upon the movable piston rod 7. The port 15 of the valve 9 connected by means of the pipe 16 with the inlet port 17. \Vith this pipe, approximately intermediate of the inlet and outlet ports, the'exhaustpipe 18 is connected.

The piston '6 is adapted to he reciprocated in its cylinder 5 by means of compressed air or other actuating '[iuid which-is containdd in a tank or reservoir '19 mounted in any convenient place upon the fral'ne of the machine. The admission of the actuating fluid to the piston cylinder is controlled through the medium of a double acting foot operated valve 20. This valvoas illustrated in the accompanying drawings, includes the casings 21 which are integrally or therwisc connected together and have plugs 22 threaded therein .to receive one end of the valve springs 23.

valve casings as indicated at 2'7: ----Tl'ie ends rotate said. shaft in one dlrection of move l of this oscillatory bar are formed WltliSGlflll- These springs norn'ially' 1 act to retain the valve members 2-1 upon .end to the bar 26 as, designated at 31.

The spring 32 normally acts to engage one end of the oscillatory bar 26 with the stem of one of the valves 2-'-l to unseat said valve. This valve case is connected by means of the exhaust pipe 18 with the pipe 16 hereinbefore referred to and conductsthe air exhausted from the piston 5 in the inward or reverse stroke of said piston from whence it is exhausted to the atmosphere through the port 34 in the valve case which is dispos d below the-seat ol the valve member 24. The

other valve case 21 is connected by means of the pipe at a point below the valve memher, with the valve 9 which is arranged on .the forward end of the cvlinder :1 and is adapted to su )lv air to said valve. A )i )e ll l. l

36 also connects the air tank It) with. said valve case above the valve member. The stem of'the exhaust valve is of less length than that of the inlet valve whereby, when the foot rod 2.) is depressed. the valve member 21 of the exhaust will be seated before the inlet valve member is raised from its seat to permit the passage of compressed air from the air tank to the cylinder valve 9 through the medium of the connecting pipe 35. The valve member 10 is automatically 'aised from its seat to open comn'iunieation between said valve and the rear end of the piston cylinder, by means of the rib 1-1. which engages the lower end 12 of the valve stem in the reverse or inward movement ofthe piston. The piston cylinder is provided in its forward end with an exhaust port 5 which opens when the piston is at the extreme end. of its for 'ard movement and after the valve 10 has been seated so that a portion of th v air behind the piston is exhausted. Pressure is not applied upon the foot rod 2.) until the piston has completed its inward stroke and the air has been exhausted from behind the piston through the pipe 18 and the normally open exhaust valve of the double acting i'oot valve 20. As the compressed air is admitted through the cylinder valve 9 to the rear end of said cylinder, the piston is moved forwardly and the rod 7 thereof projected through the forward lateral extension 13 of the forward cylinder head. The rack teeth 37 on said piston mesh with the teeth of a gear 39 which is loosely mounted upon the engine shaft 40. A ratchet 41 is keyed upon said shaft adjacent to the r 39 and upon one face of said gear a cir-, enlar plate 4-2 is arranged, said plate being provided with ribs 4-3 for engagement in the grooves 44- in the face of the gear. This plate has mounted upon its other face at diametrically opposite pointsthe dogs 4-5 which are normally and yieldingly held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 41 by means of suitable leaf springs 46 Which are fixed at one of their ends to the gear plate 42. These dogs 45 are adapted to lock the gear 39 upon the engine shaft to rotate said shaft in the forward or outward movement of the piston rod through the medium of the co-engaged gear teeth and the rack teeth 37. At the end of the outward or ell'ective stroke of the piston, said piston is reversed or returned to its normal position at the inner end of the cylinder through the medium of a helical spring t7 which is arranged upon theengine shaft 4-0 and has one end lixed to the gear 39 and its other end to one of the hearings or supports 48 which are formed upon the ends of arms 49 integrally formed upon the extension 13 of the cylinder head.

Tu order to obviate liability of breakage of the parts by retrograde movement of the engine shaft when the piston has completed its inward ornon-etl'ective stroke, I provide the lifting elements 50 which are pivotally mounted as indicated at 51in longitudinal slots or recesses formed in one of the bearings l8. 'lhese lifting elements are normally held in position in said grooves with their free ends disposed upon opposite sides of the ratchet. ll. by means of the leaf springs 52 l8. in the outward or effective stroke of the piston when the gear 39 is locked upon the engine shaft. the dogs 4-5 engage under the the same against the tension of the springs 52, said dogs retaining their positions in locked engagement with the ratchet. In the reverse movement of the gear caused by the un winding of the spring 4-7, the dogs move idly over the ratchet teeth andover the free ends of the lifting elements 50, said elements throwing the dogs outwardly. .VVhen the piston t reaches the limit of its inward movement, said dogs-are disposed in the positions indicated in Fig. 4, wherein they are shown arranged upon the ends of the elements 50 entirely out of contact with the ratchet teeth. It will thusbe seen that in the event that the engine shaft shonl daccidonlally baek kick orrotate in alreverse -.directiomfthe gear and pl1ate42 will'remain i stationary on said shalt) a; ratchet 41 alone free ends-of the lifting elements 50 and move which are secured at one end to the bearing till turning with the same. In this manner the possibility of damage or breakage of the various elements avoided.

From the foregoing it believed that the construction and operation of my improved engine stirting device will be thoroughly understWJdi The mechanism is at all times under the control ot the operator, the double acting valve 20 being arranged ina tainvenient position upon the dash board of the machine for engagement by the foot ofthe operator. The engine may be easily and quickly started without requiring him to leave his seat.

The invention is also extremely positive and reliable in practical use and by providi'ng'fthe arrangement of parts as above set fprtl many serious defects which have heretotore existed in devices of this cl'ta actcr are eliminated.

\Vhile I have shown and descrihedihe preferred construction of my invention, it will be understood that the device is susceptible ot a great many minor modifications without departing from the essential feature or sacrificing any of the. advantages thereof. I

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is z 1. In an engine starting device, the coin- -bi nation with a cylinder .and a piston mounted to reciprocate therein, of a gear looscty'n'iounted on the engine shaft, a rod extending from the piston through one end of the cylinder having rack teeth formed thereon for engagen'iei'itwith the teeth of said gear, a valve in one end of the cylinder, means carried by the piston rod to engage and open said valve, in the movement of the piston in one direction, said'cylinder having an exhaust port at its other end, an air supply tank to supply air to said cylinder valve, and means under the control of the operator to admit air through said valve to one end oi the cylinder to move the piston in one direction and rot ate the engine shaft, such means normally exhausting air from the same end ol the cyliinler in the reverse movement oi the piston.

in an engine starting device. the combination with a cylinder and a piston mou'nted to reciprocate thcrcin. or' a gear loosely mounted on the engine shaft,- a rod extending from the piston through one. cud ot' the cylinder and brving rack teeth formed thereon cng 'ging with the gear teeth, means for lockiag the gear upoiothe engine shaft to rotatcsai-d shaft. in one direction of movement of the piston. a spring scaled valve arranged in one end ol' the c \'liudci', means 'arricd by the piston rod to automati ally open said valve in the cll'cctivc stroke oi the piston, the other cud oi said cylinder having an cxhaust port thcrciina connection between saidvaiv and the cxhaust p rt of pivotally mounted elements having 'lrcc. ends disposed adjacent to the. ratchet/ the cylinder, a double foot operated valve normally open to said exhaust port. the operation of said 'alve closing the. exhaust and opening comn'iunicaiion with the cylinder, valve, and a supply tank connccledfio said foot operated valve to supply pressure fluid to the cylinder valve.

In an engine starting device. the combination with a cylinden and a piston' to reciprocate therein, of a gear loosely mountcd on the engine shaft, a piston rod connected to the piston and having rack teeth to engage the teeth of said gem-{means for locking the gear on the engine shaft? in one direction of movement of the piston rod to rotate said shaft, a spring seated valve arranged in one end of said cylinder, means carried by the piston rod to automatically open said 'alve and hold the same open during a portion of its ettcctive stroke, said cylinder having an exhaust port in its forward end which is opened after the closing of said valve. said cylinder also having a port connnunitaiting with the valve chamber and an exhaust port in its opposite end, a ci'inncction between said ports, a supply tank, a pair of foot operated valves, a connection between one. of said valves and the pipe connecting said ports, said, valve having an exhaust port and being'normally open to exhaust air from one end of the cylinder, a connection between the other of said valves and the cylinder Valve, a connec tion between said valve and the air supply tank, the opening of said latter valve to admit air through the oylmdervalve to the rear end of the cylinder simultaneously" closing cmmnunication between the other of said valves and the exhaust.

In an engine starting device, thecombination with a cylinderiand apiston mount ed to reciprocate therein, of a gcarloosely mounted on. the engine shaft, a red conncctcd to said piston having rack teeth teeth,- a ratchet keyed uponv said shaft, a plate arranged upon one face of the gear and carried thereby, dogs pivoted upon said plate at. diametrically opposite points "icldingl v held in engagci'ncnt with the teeth ol the ratchet to lock vtliegear on said shaft in one direction of movement of the piston rod whereby the engine shaft is rotated, their adapted to be engaged and moved by said dogs in the etl'cctivc stroke of the piston,

said elements at. the cud of the reverse stroke oi the piston moving the dogs and supportcd to reciprocate therein, ot a gear loosely thereon to engage'ivith the gear ing the same out of contact with the teeth mounted 'on the engine shaft, :1 rod fixed to the piston having rack teeth formed thereon for engagement with the gear teeth, a ratchet keyed upon the shaft, :1 plate carried by the gear, pivoted dogs arranged on said plate at diametrically opposite points normally and yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet teeth to lock the gear on the shaft whereby said shaft is rotatedin one direction of movementof the piston, and oppositely disposed spring held elements pivotally mounted at one of their ends and disposed at their other ends on opposite sides of the ratchet, said members moving the dogs out of contact with the ratchet 15 signature in the presence of two witnesses. 20

GREGORY JOHN SPOHRER. lVit'nesses JOHN E. FEENEY, HUGH REILLY.

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