US1310091A - Enchne-stahting device - Google Patents

Description

1. n. memos; ENGINE SIARTING DEVICE. APPUQATIQN FILED MAR-15. 1918.

INVENTOR .JL/L/LE H R/CHHRDS ATTORN Y Patented July 15, 1919.

JULIUS H. RICHARDS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ENGINE-STARTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 15,1919.

Application filed March is, 1918. Serial No. 222,979.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULms H. Rrcnsnos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine- Starting Devices, of which the following is a specification. x

In the use ofdnternal combustion engines on autovehicles it has become almost universal practice to crank them by means of an electric motor receiving its power from a storage battery. Various methods of applying the electricmotor to the engine have been proposed and used. A very common method of-engagement involves the use of a weighted inion connected to the starting motor sha through the medium of a. sleeve and a heavy spring, the driving pinion, be ing automatically moved into and out of engagement' with the engine driven member,

such as the gear on the fly wheel, when current is appliedto the electric motor. Such an engagement is known as the Bendix drive.

There are certain limitationsto a drive of this kind, one such being the number of teeth that may be cut on the driving pinion to get a high gear ratio of engagement, that is to say, the lower the number of teeth on the pinion with a certain fixed number of teeth on the fly wheel the greater will be the purchase of the starting motor on the engine. Another objection to the Bendix drive is the length of same and cost of manufacturing.

It is the object of my invention to produce a starting device which will be small and compact, cheap to manufacture and capable of beingconstructed so as to give the greatest purchase betweenthe starting motor andthe engine that is possible to obtain,-the only limit being the strength of the materials.

These and other objects will be a. parent after a study of the specification an draw ings, in which Figure 1 is a part, plan and sectional view of my starting device in its normal position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the elements of my starting device.

Fig. 3 is a right hand view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a-view of thedrivi pinion with part broken away to show certain details.

Fig. 5 isa view of the retaining ring serving in part to hold the driving device together.

Fig. 6 is a. view of the threaded nut for causing the drivin pinion to move'in-and out of mesh with t e engine driven member.

Fig. 7 is a view of a loclrwasher used in cooperation with the retaining ring shown in ig. 5.

Fig. 8. is a view of a spring lock used in the starting device.

Re'fcrrin now to the details, wherein like numbers re er to corresponding parts in the various views, 1 illustrates an engine driven member, which, in the form shown, is a fly wheel, which carries gear teeth 2. 3 is the end of a starting motor shaft. The motor itself is not shown as this is no part of my invention and its functions are well understood. The shaft 3 is reduced for a portion of its length at 4 and upon this reduced portion is carried a ar wheel or driving pinion 5. In the Bendix drive the interior bore of the pinion. 5 is threaded to run on a threaded sleeve but in my improved device the bore of the pinion 5 is smooth. The left hand end of the pinion 5 which I term the nonworking end, since it is not in engagement with the flywheel, has the teeth turned oli down to the root and a. collar 6 placed thereon and'the remaining portion of the stock of the pinion 5 is spun oior at. 7 to hold the collar 6 rigidly in place on the pinion 5.

I will now describe the method in which the pinion 5 with the collar 6 assembled thereon, as above described, is drivingly connected to the shaft 3. A cylindrical drum 8 has one end (see Fig. 3) perforated so as to have teeth 9 to correspond in number and contour to the teeth in pinion -The other end of the drum is open but the surface thereof terminates in fingers 10 which have slots 11 therein, the purpose of which will be later pointed out. The extreme end of the shaft 3 is threaded at 12 with a suitable type of thread and a nut 13 is adapted to be carried thereon. The nut 13 has notches 14 corresponding in number and width to the fin erslO of the drum 8. As shown in Fig. 1 t e drum is carried on the pinion frinthe manner already explained and the nut 13 screwed on to the threaded end 12 to proper position, when the pinion 5 and the drum 8 are slid over the shaft 3, so the fingers 10 engage the notches 14 of the nut 13. As will be seen in Fig. 1, the part of the nut 13 between the notches 14 preferably projects beyond the cylindrical surface of the drum 8 so as to prevent any chance of the fingers 1O frorr'rspringing out of the notches 14. This construction enables me to use a flat l king washer, later referred to, thereby cheapening the cost of the manufacture of my device. The flat locking washer 15 having slots 16 adapted to receive the fingers 10 is then placed over said fingers and the retaining ring 17, having projections 18 that are adapted to enter the slots 11 in fingers 10, is snapped into position thereby locking the drum 8 and the pinion 5 to the nut 13 hence completing the drive connection between the shaft 3 and the pinion 5. From the above it is seen that my method of fastening the nut 13 to the drum 8 constitutes a quick detachable means for the purpose of easy and rapid assembly and disassembly when necessary.

Thereare other details which enter into the operative connection of the pinion 5 to the shaft 3 which I will now explain. A portion of the shaft 3 is reduced at 19 and on this reduced part is carried a spring 20 that is held in place by a washer 22 which in turn is held against the spring 20 by a spring lock 21 that engages a groove in the shaft 3 at the point where the threaded por tion 12 and the reduced portion 19 meet. The inner part of the nut 13 has a flange 24 for supporting one end of a spring 25 carried within the drum 8. The other end of the spring 25 rests against the collar 6. The function of the spring 20 will be later referred to. A washer 23 serves as an abutment for the spring 20 at the point adjacent the pinion 5. I prefer in the assembly of my starting device to put a certain initial pressure on the spring 25 so as to always exert sufiicicnt pressure against the parts to prevent them from rattling. This is one of the functions of the spring Between the end of the pinion 5 and the shoulder 26 on the shaft 3 there is a spring 27 for the pun pose of keeping the pinion 5 and its asso ciated parts from creeping forward into engagement with the gear teeth 2. I prefer to use a washer 28, resting against the shoulder 26, for the spring 27 to abut against.

Coming now to the operation of my starting device, which is shown in its normal position, when the starting motor is operated the pinion 5, on account of the inertia of the pinion 5 and its associated parts, starts advancing longitudinally into engagement with the gear teeth 2. Just revions to the full engagement of the pinion 5 with the gear 2 the flange 24 comes into engagement with the washer 22 and the sprin 1 20 is compressed thereb taking up the s ock of engagement. hen the engine starts on its own power and the gear 2 begins to travel faster than it was driven by the pinion 5, the nut 13 immediately operates to draw the pinion 5 out of engagement with the engine driven member and under this condition the inner end of the pinion 5 strikes against the washer 23 so that the spring 20 acts to absorb the disengaging blow of the starting device. Should, for any reason, the teeth of the pinion 5 meet end on with the teeth 2 when travelin into engagement thereby preventing its orward travel, the nut 13 will still continue to move forward pushing the drum 8 forward on the teeth of the pinion 5 compressing the spring 25 until this spring has been compressed to a point where it offers sufficient resistance to cause the nut 13 to begin to turn the pinion 5. It will be understood that the pinion 5 will need to move but a little before it will line up with the teeth 2 and it will then, due to the compression of the spring 25 and the action of nut 13, slip immediately into engagement. It is, therefore. seen that sprin 25 serves an additional function as just escribed in addition to the function first mentioned heretofore.

It will be understood that although I have shown my starting device ada ted to be engaged with the gear on the y wheel, that the engine driven member may be some other gear operated by the engine.

In the drawing I have shown a drive of the inboard type, that is to say, a type in which the starting pinion is moved toward the starting motor and no bearin is required on the outer end of the driving shaft. It will be understood that my device is readily susceptible to the necessary changes to make it into an outboard type. that 18 to se one in which the driving shaft has an out ard bearing external to the starting motor, both types being in use in the trade. It is also to be understood that my device is susceptible to other changes as to its details without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a starting device the combination of, an engine driven member having gear teeth thereon, a drivin shaft having screw threads, a inion guidingly supported on the shaft, or engagement with the gear teeth of the engine driven member, a nut carried by the screw threads, a drum operatively connected with the pinion and having spaced promotions at one end. said nut havmg promotions extending between the drum projections and beyond the outer surface of the drum, means to hold the projections in assembled relation comprising a flat annular washer fitting about the drum pro jections and behind the nut projections and a snap ring cooperating with the drum projections and holding the washer in place.

2. In a starting device the combination of, an engine driven member having gear teeth thereon, a driving shaft having a smooth portion and a screw threaded portion, a pinion having a smooth bore guid ingly supported on the smooth portion of said shaft for engagement with the gear teeth on the engine driven member, a nut 3. A drive for engine starters comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for both longitudinal and rotary movement thereof and rotary movement therewith and adapted to cooperate with and drive a member of the engine to be started, a control member mounted on said shaft for longitudinal and rotary movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, driving means connecting between the driving member and the control member, and a single means serving for stopping said longitudinal movement of the control member back and forth on said shaft.

4. In a starting device the combination of, an engine driven memberhaving gear teeth thereon, a driving shaft havin screw threads, a gear wheel having a smal bore slidably supported on the shaft adjacent the engine driven member and adapted to engage the gear teeth thereon, a drum operatively connected at one end to the gear wheel, a nut carried on said screw threads and operatively en aging the other end of said drum and quic detachable means consisting of two elements only, a flat locking washer and a snap ring engaging the outer extremities of the drum whereby the said drum is held in driving relationship between the nut and gear wheel.

5. In a starting devicethe combination of, an engine driven member having gear teeth thereon, a driving shaft having screw threads, a nut carried on said thr eads, a gear wheel carrying a collar slidin ly supported on said sha t adjacent sai engine member and adapted to engage the gear teeth thereon, said nut and ear wheel being operatively connected toget er by a drum having one end fitting in the teeth of said gear wheel and abutting against said collar and the other end fastened to said nut, and a'spring within said drum having one end annularly supported by said nut and the otherend abutting against said collar, said spring serving to prevent rattle between.

said arts.

6; n a starting device the combination of, an engine driven member having gear teeth thereon, a driving shaft having screw 'threaded rotatable member, a. drivin threads, a nut carried on said threads, a gear wheel carrying a collar slidingly supported on said shaft adjacent said engine, member and adapted to engage the gear teeth thereon, said nut and gear wheel being operatively connected together bya cylindrical drum havin one end slidingly fitting in the teeth of sair gear wheel and abutting against said collar with the other end cletacha'bly fastened to said nut, and a spring within said drum having one end annularly supported by said nut and the other end abutting against said collar adjacent the drum end, said spring having a normal tension to prevent rattle between the gear wheel, nut and drum and also serving to permit the nut and drum to advance longitudinally along the shaft should the gear wheel meet with an obstruction in oing into engagement with the gear teeth ont e engine driven member, whereby when the gear wheel is slightly rotated the compression on said spring will slide the gear wheel quickly into mesh as described.

7. In an engine starter drive including a 1811b ber mounted thereon for longitudina movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said driving member consisting of a nut adapted to travel on the threaded part of said rotatable member, a cyliudricnlly shaped member fastened at one end to said nut and having a gear wheel operatively connected to the other end, a spring within the cylindrical member adapted to exert initial pressure between said nut and gear wheel; and a second spring within the cylindrical member carried on said rotatable member adjacent the threaded pait serving as a stop for said nut and driving member in both longitudinal directions of travel as described.

8. In an engine starter drive including a threaded rotatable member, a driving member mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said driving member consisting of a nut adapted to travel on the threaded part of said rotatable member, a cylindrically shaped member detachably fastened at one end to said nut and having a gear wheel operatively' connected to the other end, means within the cylindrical member for exerting an initial pressure between said nut and gear wheel for the purpose described; and means within the cylindrical member carried by said rotatable member for limiting the longitudinal movement of the nut an driving member in both directions.

9. In an engine starter drive including a threaded rotatable member, a drivin member mounted thereon for longitudina move ment thereof and rotary movement therewith, said driving member consisting of a nut adapted to travel on the threaded part of said rotatable member, a cylindrically shaped member fastened at one end to said nut and having a gear wheel operatively connected to the other end, means within the cylindrical member having an initial pressure between said nut and gear wheel for preventing rattle and further for assisting said nut in operating said gear wheel as described; and means carried within the cylindrical member for limiting the travel of said nut longitudinally in two directions.

10. In an engine starter drive including a threaded rotatable member, a driving member mounted'thereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said driving member consisting of a nut adapted to travel on the threaded part of said rotatable member, a cylindrically shaped member fastened at one end to said nut and having a gear wheel operatively connected to the other end, means within the cylindrical member having an initial pressure between said nut and gear wheel for preventing rattle and further for assisting said nut in operating said gear wheel as described; and means carried within the cylindrical member for limiting the travel of said nut longitudinally in two directions, and means for preventing said driving member from creeping on the rotatable member.

11. In an engine starter drive including a threaded rotatable member, a driving membcr mounted thereon for longitudinal move ment thereof and rotary movement therewith, said driving member consisting of a not adapted to travel on the threaded part of said rotatable member, a cylindrically sha ed member detachably fastened at one en to said nut and having a gear wheel operatively connected to the other end, a helical spring within the cylindrical member annularly supported at one end by said nut and having the other end abutting against said gear wheel and exerting an initial pressure against each; a second helical spring within the first carried on said rotatable member for limiting the longitudinal travel of said driving member and absorbing with the first mentioned spring the shocks of engagement, and a resilient member for preventing the driving member from creeping on the rotatab'le member.

12. In a starting device the combination of, an engine driven member having gear teeth thereon, a driving shaft having a gear wheel carried thereon and adapted to engage with the gear teeth on the engine driven member, said gear wheel being drivingly connected to said driving shaft through the following instrumentalities; a collar attached to the non-working end of the gear wheel, a cylindrical drum having one end perforated to conform to the shape and number of the teeth on the ear wheel and carried thereon, the other end being open with the surface of the drum terminating in slotted fingers, threads on said shaft, a nut carried on said threads and having a notched flange, said notches adapted to receive said fingers of the drum and the material between said notches extending beyond the outer surface of the drum to prevent said fingers from springing out of said notches, a flat annular lockwasher having slots therein to receive the ends of saidfingers and 'a retaining ring having projections adapted to engage the slots insaid fingers whereb the drum is locked securely to the nut as escribed.

13. A starter for gas engines and the like comprising in combination, a driven member operatively connected with the engine, a driving member adapted to cooperate with and drive the other member but normally out of cooperation therewith, shifting means for said driving member operated by a starting motor and a single resilient means for limiting the range of said shifting means in its forward and backward movement.

14. An apparatus of the class described, in combination, an engine driven gear, a driving gear adapted to cooperate therewith, a motor driven shaft having a portion inclined to its axis for effecting the movement of said driving gear into mesh with said driven gear, means-for then transmitting torque from said shaft to said driving gear including a rigid member coiiperating with said shaft and a resilient stop for limiting the motion of the rigid member and connecting it for operation of the driving ear, said resilient stop serving also to limit t e motion of the rigid member when the driving gear is forced out of mesh with the driven gear on the starting of the engine.

15. A starter for gas engines and the like comprising in combination, an engine driven member, a driving member adapted'to c0- operate with the other member but normally out of cooperation therewith, shifting means for said driving member operated by a starting motor, said shifting means including a flanged nut, a coiled spring between said nut and supported on the flange thereof and said driving gear to transmit longitudinal impulses from said nut to said driving gear to glace it in mesh with said driven gear, a

rum cooperatlng with sa d nut and with the teeth of said driving gear, and a yielding stop to limit the forward longitudinal travel of said nut to compel said nut, said drum and said driving gear to turn with said motor whereby the engine is started, said yielding stop serving also to limit the rearward longitudinal travel of said nut and driving gear when the said gear is expelled from engagement with. the engine driven member as the engine starts under its own power.

16. In a starter for gas engine and the like,

a combined shifting and starting member, including a driving pinion, a drum cooperating therewith to drive the same, a flanged rigid member adapted to connect said drum to a motor driven element, a spring interposed between said ri id element supported on said flange and said driving pinion, a flat annular lock washer for maintaining'said rigid member against said spring and a sna ring for securing said lock washer in position on said drum. n 17. In a starter for gas engines and the like, a combined shifting and starting member, including a drum for cooperation with a driving gear, a nut within one end of said drum having portions extending beyond the surface of said drum, said drum having longitudinal fingers within the extended portions of said nut, a fiat annular lock washer to assist in holding said nut within said drum having slots through which said fingers may pass and a snap ring cooperating with said fingers for keeping the lock washer in place.

In witness whereof I afiix my signature.

JULnis H. RICHARDS.

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