US1598826A - Engine-starting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 7 1926.

- F. c. KROEGER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1924 Sept. 7,1926. 1,598,826

F. c. KROEGER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed April 1, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK C. KROEGER, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL IOTORB CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAW ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 1,

This invention relates to starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, particularly, to a type of apparatus including an electric motor operating a gear which is movable axially into engagement with a gear connected with the engine such as the engine flywheel gear.

Among the objects of the invention are the connecting of the motor gear with the engine gear and the operating the motor by manual operation, for example, by means of a starting lever, and the demeshing of the motor gear from the engine gear automatically when the engine starts re ardless of whether the starting lever is stiil maintained in engine starting position.

A further object is to prevent connection of the motor gear with the engine gear while the engine is self operative.

In order to accon'iplish these objects the invention provides means responsive to the rotation of the engine during cranking, said means being controlled by the suction of the engine for disconnecting the starting motor pedal from a device which engages the motor gear to shift it axiallv into engagement with the flywheel gear. The motor gear is connected. with the motor shaft by a spiral spline or screw thread. Consequently when the engine becomes self-operative, the motor gear will be automatically demeshcd from the engine gear, although the starting motor pedal may not yet be released by the operator. This suction operated means also prevents connecting the pedal with the motor gear shifting means while the engine isrunning.

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

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view partly in section of a starting motor and gearing including a form of the invention, the apparatus being in normal or inoperative condition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the gear shifting and motor controlling I apparatus in position for cranking the en 1924. krill No. 708,532.

the control lever disconnected from the device for moving the motor pinion.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates a gear housing including a bracket 21 for supporting thehousing upon the frame of an engine not shown but represented in the drawlngs by an engine flywheel gear 22. The housmg 20 supports a motor field frame 23. By means of a bearing not shown the frame 23 supports the motor shaft 24 having one end 'ournaled at 25 in the gear housmg 20. he shaft 24 is provided with a spirally splined or threaded portion 26 which engages an internall threaded motor gear 27 carryin a flange washer 28 proectmg beyond t e periphery of the gear. The motion transmitting device for shiftmg gear 27 endwise into engagement with the gear 22 includes a bifurcated lever 29 pivoted upon a shaft 30 carried by housmg 20, the bifurcations of lever 29 being connected by a yoke 31 and the ends thereof being rounded. at 32 to engage a grooved collar 33. Between collar 33 and the end 34 of the armature core there is located a spacer 35. A- spring 36, coiled around the shaft 30 has one end 37 bearing against the gear housing 20 and against the yoke 31. Between the groove collar 33 and the gear 27 there is located a spring 40 held in an initial state of vcompression by means of sprin housing members 41 and 42 which limitt e separation of members 33 and 27. Housing member 41 is attached as shown in Fig. 1 to the collar 33 and is provided with a flan e 43 connected with a flange 45 of the member 42 by lugs 44 integral with flange 45 and bent around flange 43. Member 42 in provided with an opening 46 which is large enough to clear the motor gear 27 but is smaller in diameter than the external diameter of the washer 28. The manually operable means for moving the motion transmitting device includes a lever 50 pivoted upon the shaft 30 and carrying an adjustable screw 51 adapted to engage the plunger 52 of a motor operating switch enclosed within a housing 53. One terminal of the switch for connection with a current source is shown at 54 and the other terminal not shown is connected with the motor field circuit. The lever 50 is operated by a rod 55'carrying a pedal 56 located in convenient reach of the driver.

The means for connecting the lever with a gear shifting lever 29 includes a pawl 60 pivoted upon a stud 61 carried by lever 50. The pawl engages a notch 62 in the lever 29 and is normally held in this position by means of a spring 63 coiled around the stud 61 and having one end 64 bearing against an ear (S5 of the pawl 60, said ear being at right angles to the main portion of the pawl 60. The other end 66 of spring 63 bears against a stud 67 on lever 50. The ear (35 of pawl 60 is provided with a hole 68 for receiving a nut 69 which is threaded on a rod 7 0 and is provided with a hexagonal head 71. One end of rod 70 is connected by spring 72 with a bracket 7 3 attached to the motor field frame 23. The other end of rod 70 is attached to a bell-crank lever 74 pivoted upon a screw 7 5 attached to a bracket '76. Bracket 76 includes a shelf 7 7 provided with a hole '78 through which extends a rod 79 having a threaded portion engaged by nuts 80 and 8 1. The end of th rod 79 below the shelf 77 is pivotally connected at 82 with the upper end of a flexible metal bellows 83 havingits lower end 84 connected by wire 85 with bell-crank lever 74. The bellows 83 is connected by pipe 86 with the intake manifold of the engine not shown.

A collar 90 is attached to the motor shaft 24 and 'a thrust washer 91 is located between the collar 90 and a plane surface 92 formed on the housing 20.

i The manner of operating the invention is as follows:

hen the engine is at rest the starting apparatus is normally in the position shown in Fig. 1. To start the engine a pedal 56 is depressed causing the lever 50 to move into the position shown in Fig. 2 to effect the movement of the lever 29 and the closing of the motor switch by depressing the plunger 52 to the position shown in Fig. 2. In case the teeth of the gear27 register with the tooth spaces of the gear 22 the en agement of these gears will take place before the motor switch is closed. But in case of tooth abutment the spring 40 will he compremed beyond its initial state of compression as the. collar 33 is moved to the dotted line position 33 shown in Fig. 2, thus permitting the motor switch to be closed. The motor will then turn to register the gear 27 for enmeshment with the gear 22, and slight rotation of gear 27 will release the spring 40 which will quickly jump the gear 27 into engagement with the gear 22. After the gear 27 has been moved endwise along the shaft until it engages the collar 90, the gear 27 will turn with the shaft 24 to operate the engine gear 22. This engine cranking position of gear 27 is shown in Fig. 2.

During movement of gear 27 into mesh with ear 22, the awl 60 will strike the nut head 1 and pro uce a pull on the bellows 83, tending to pull the pawl 60 out of the notch 62. The pawl and notch are so shaped that the pawl 60 will not be released unt1l the driving pressure of the pawl against the lever 29 is relieved. This pressure is relieved by the operation of the motor which urges the gear 27 against the collar 90 due to the end thrust produced by the spiral splines. Therefore, collar 33 tends to move the lever 29 away from the end of the pawl 60. In Fig. 2 the dotted line position 33 shows the extent to which the collar 33 can be moved to the right by pedal operation, and the full line position shows the positions to which the collar 33 can be moved by the operation of the motor. Hence it is apparent, after gear meshment, pawl pressure on lever 29 is relieved.

During engine cranking, as shown in Fig. 2, engine suction is suflicient to cause the bellows 83 to move awl 60 away from notch 62, after the awl riving pressure has been relieved in t e manner stated. \Vhen the engine becomes self operative, this suction will be even greater; and therefore, the gear 27 will be automatically demeshed although the starter pedal may still be held down.

As shown in Fig. 3, the motor gear 27 cannot be connected with the engine while the engine is self operative, because the vacuum in bellows 83 is then sufiicient to cause the bellows, operating through nut head 71, to hold ear of pawl 60 in such position that when the lever 50 is rotated counterclockwise, the pawl 60 will be retracted from notch 62. It will be noted that the bellows is now able to retract the pawl 60, although pawl driving pressure had not been previously relieved.

The demeshing of the gear 27 is assisted by spring 36 which maintains the gear shifting mechanism in position shown in Fig. 3. The spacer 35 limits the endwise movement of the collar 33 to the left as viewed in Fig. 3.

To stop the motor the operator releases the pedal 56. A spring 56'. located between the pedal and the stationary part such as the floor board 56" of the vehicle causes the lever 50 to return to the position shown in Fig. 1. A slight clearance between the pawl (30 and lever 29 is provided in the normal at rest position of the apparatus, so that the pawl 60 will then enter the notch 63.

It is apparent therefore, that the starting apparatus will not be damaged by failure to release the pedal 56 as soon as the engine starts. Automatic demeshment of gear 27 will take place regardless of the status of the starting pedal 56. Therefore the present invention avoids the use of an overrunning clutch connecting the motor armature wit starting gears in order to protect the armature against excessive rotation when the engine starts.

Since the gear 27 cannot be moved into mesh with the engine gear 22, while the engine is running, no damage to the gear teeth can occur by 0 eratin the pedal 56.

While the orm o embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be under stood that other forms might be ado ted, all comin within the scope of the c aims which fol ow.-

What I claimis as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an engine having a gear; a motor and gear driven thereby; a motion transmitting member for meshing the motor gear with the engine gear; a manually operable member for actuating the motion transmitting member; an engine operated device for disconnecting said members before the engine becomes self-operative and for reventing reconnection of said members w lo the engine is running; and automatic means for demeshing the motor gear.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an engine having a gear; a motor and gear driven thereby; a motion transmitting member for meshing the motor gear with the engine gear; a manually operable member for actuating the motion transmitting member, and for cau the motor to operate; an en ine 0 rate device for disconnecting sai mem rs before theengine becomes self-operative and for preventing reconnection of said members while the engine is running; and automatic means for demeshing the motor gear.

3. Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination, an engine having a gear; a motor and gear driven thereby; a motion transmitting member for meshing the motor gear with the engine gear; a manually operable member for actuating the motion transmitting member; means responsive to engine suction for automatically disconnecting said members; and automatic means for demeshe ing the motor gear when the engine starts. 4. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an engine having a gear; a motor and gear driven thereby; a motion transmitting member for meshing the motor gear with the engine gear; a manually operable member for actuating the motion transmitting member; means responsive to engine suction for automatically disconnecting said members and for preventing reconnection of said members while the engine is running; and automatic means for demeshing the motor gear when the engine starts.

5. Engine starting apparatus comprising,

in combination, an engine having a gear;

- motor and a motor and gear driven thereby; a motion transmittin member for meshing the motor gear with t e engine gear; a manually operable member for actuating the motion transmitting member; means responsive to engine suction for automatically disconnectin said members before the engine becomes se -operative, and for preventing reconnection of said members while the en 'ne is running; and automatic means for emeshing the motor gear when the engine starts.

6. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an engine having a gear; a motor and gear driven thereby; a motion transmitting lever for meshing the motor gear with the engine gear; a manually operable lever for means normally connecting said levers; engine operated means for automatically disoonnectin said levers before the engine becomes sel -operative; and automatic means for demeshing the motor gear when the engine starts.

7. Engine starting apparatuscomprising, in combination, an engine having a gear"; a motor and gear driven thereby; a motion transmittin lever for meshing the motor gear with tl e engine gear; a manually operable lever for actuating the first lever; a pawl pivoted on the second lever and normally engaging the first lever; engine operated means for causing said pawl to be disengagfd from the first lever before the engine eoomes self-operative; and automatic means for deme the engine starts.

8. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an engine having a gear; a gear driven thereby" a motion transm1ttmg lever for meshing the motor gear with the engine gear; a manually operable lever for actuating the first'lever; a pawl pivoted on the second lever and normally engaging the first lever; means controlled by engine suction for causin said pawl to be disengaged from the fir'stever; and automatic means for demeshing the motor gEar when the engine starts.

9. ngine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an engine having a gear; a motor and shaft driven thereby; 'a motor gear spirally splined to said shaft; a motion transmitting member for moving the motor gear axia ly into mesh with the engine gear; a manually operable member for actuating the motion transmitting memberand automatic means for disconnecting said members before the engine starts, whereb to permit the motor gear to be automatica ly demeshed from the engine gear.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

FREDERICK C. KROEGER.

ng the motor gear when actuating the first lever;

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