GB847955A - Positively operated starting device for starting motors - Google Patents

Abstract

847,955. Engine starter drives. LAFITTE, T. Oct. 2, 1957 [Oct. 13, 1956; Dec. 28, 1956; Jan. 9, 1957; July 6, 1957], No. 30893/57. Class 7(5). The invention relates to the starting of internalcombustion engines and more particularly to a positively operated starter comprising a control of the kind in which a pinion mounted on the shaft of an electric motor meshes by longitudinal displacement with a tooth wheel integral with the motor to be started. In Fig. 1 a sleeve 1 which is operated by a forked lever 34 has teeth 6 which co-operate with teeth 7 on the pinion 8. The number of teeth on the sleeve is preferably double the number of teeth on the pinion. The teeth form a one-way drive. The lever 34 may be controlled either by hand or by a solenoid. When the lever 34 is operated the pinion is first brought into mesh with the engine gear 33. If movement of the lever 34 is continued it pivots about pins 19 and operates member 23 which brings the contacts 24, 26 into contact with one another. Thus the starting motor is energized. The helical threads 5 and co-operating grooves apply a force to the sleeve 1 which cause it to act on the pinion and drive it towards the stop 10. If tooth abutment occurs when the lever 34 is first operated the contacts 24, 26 are engaged and the motor started but the motor is stopped when the pinion engages the gear 34. In the case of solenoid operation the solenoid core may carry a rod which passes through the casing and may be manually operated. Or a pusher member may be provided in the front part of the starter for manual operation. In Fig. 9 the tension of the spring 56 may be adjusted by the disc 57 and the lock-nut 58. A threaded ring 73 is provided and may be made of sound deadening material (plastic, celeron, nylon). This ring has sufficient thickness to receive the shock of the pinion 8 operated by its spring 9 when the cogs of the ratchet periodically return to their meshing position. This will result in a notably deadened click. Alternatively, to increase the audibility of the click there may be added either to the pinion 8 or to the sleeve 1 one or several vibrating blades. In Fig. 12 a ring 78 which may rotate and slide on the shaft 3 helps to centre the sleeve 1. The ring may be of steel with a high chrome content or a bronze or nylon. The ring can rotate freely in the pinion 8. In Fig. 15 the sleeve 1 has a conical friction surface 91 engaging a similar surface on a ring 89. In Fig. 16 the pinion 8 is provided with a conical joint 93 and rotates on an oscillating ring 94 which is in turn free to rotate and to slide on the shaft 3 of the starter.