US1290620A - Motor-starter. - Google Patents

Description

I. 1. MAI IA.

MOTOR STARTER.

7 APPLICATION FILED NOV-9.19M.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

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9 4/. f I w 6 Q .Z.\\ 0 w i flaw J DWMa anal-nag UNITED srnrns PATN FFICE.

' ravine. MAHA, or wrcnrra mints, TEXAS.

MOTOR-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1919.

Application filed iiovember 9, i917. Serial No. 201,093.

To all 'whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVIN J. MAHA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wichita Falls, in the county of Wichita and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor- Starte'rs, of which the following. is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic startem for motors, and its primary object is to provide'a spring starter which is simple of construction reliable and eflicient in action, and adapted. to be rewound or renergized by the power of the motor itself.

A further object of the invention is to" provide clutchdevices of a reliable and of ficient type "for connecting one portion of the starter spring with the motor shaft for rewinding action when necessary and for connectinghanother portion of the motor 20 spring wit the motor shaft for utilizing the power of said spring to start the motor.

The invention'consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference bein had to the accompanying drawing, in w ich:--

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsed tion through the starter and crank case of the motor, showing the starter in normal or vertical position.

Fig. 2 IS a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

tionof the frame of the en inc of the Inachine or vehicle driven th reby. In the present instance I have shown the starting mechanism arranged to transmit motion to the engine shaft in a counter-clockwise direction but it is to be understood that, dependent upon circumstances or conditions,

the starting mechanism may be arranged to transmit, starting motion to the motor shaft in eithera clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction.

The starter comprises a spring starting motor, of the coiled or spiral spring type, the coiled motor spring 5 being arranged within an inclosing drum or--casi-ng comprising a pair of spaced disks 6 and 7, andanan'nular Referringto the drawing, i designates the wall 8 carried by one of the disks, in the present instance the disk 7. The wall8 projects from the peripheral edge of the disk '1 toward the peripheral edge of the disk 6 and carries an annular series of rollers 9 engaged a proper bearing for the outeredge of thedisk 6 is afforded and provision made to adapt said disks to have independent rotary motion while coming close; together and forming an inclosing casing for the springb,

'by' the peripheral edge of the disk 6, where to shield and. protect said spring from liability of injury.

Thedisk 6 is provided with a hub or sleeve 10 projecting within the spring casing and towardthe disk 7. To this hub or sleeve 10, which is loosely mounted on the shaft section. 3, is secured the innerfend oi the sirin 5, thecnter end of which is suita ly i astened to the inner periphery of the.

wall 8, and hence through said wallto the disk 7. The disk is loosely mounted for rotation on the shaft section 3, and said disks 6 and 7 are held in properly spaced relation by the sleeve 10, which holds them from sliding motion toward each other, and b 'collars 11' and 12, which respectively h'ol said disks from outward relative sliding motion on said shaft section 3.

The disk 6 is employed for transmittingmotion frnm the motor shaft to the spring for rewinding or retensioning said spring, while the disk '2 is employed as a dr vmg element for transmitting motion from the spring to the shaft for starting the motor into action. Formed upon theouter side of the disk 6 is a friction clutch member 13, having a beveled. or taperedinternal frie tion face, adapted to be engaged by the corresponding beveled friction face of an adjustahle clutch member or disk 14, whereby the disk 6 may be connected withthe shaft for transmitting motion thereto to rewind the spring and thereafter disconnect it therefrom to allow said disk to be held stationary while the shaft revolves. The clutch member 14: is provided with a sleeve 15 feathered to slide upon androtate with the shaft section 3, as shown M3 16, and said sleeve is angularly grooved to receive projections upon the forked end 17 of a bellcrank lever 18. This lever 18 is connected by a rod 19 with any'suitable type of operating device for throwing the clutch member 14 into and ont oi action, a spring 20 also being provided to assist in throwing the tain it in retracted position. Formed upon the periphery of the'clutch member 13 is an annular seriesof ratchet teeth 21 for engagement with a pivoted dog or pawl 22. The dog or pawl 22 is pivoted to the frame piece 4; and provided with arms 23 on which act springs 24 for normally holding the pawl in engaging position, while permitting it to ride over'the inclined surfaces of the ratchet teeth. The awl allows the disk 6 to be rotated by t e friction clutch members 13 and 14 in one direction to wind u the motor spring 5, and automatically 100 s the disk 6 from rotation in the opposite direction for an obvious purpose.

The disk 7 is provided upon its outer face with a friction clutch member 25, similar *to' 'the Iclutch member '13, and which is adapted to be engaged by a clutch member 26, of, similar construction to the clutch 'member 14. Theclutch member 26 is provided with a sleeve 27 feathered to slide upon and rotate with the, shaft section 3, as shown at 28, and having suitable connection with the forked end 29 of a bell-crank lever 30, whereby the disk 26 may be shifted into and out of engagement with the disk 25. Connected with'the lever 30 is a rod 31' leading to a suitable type of operating device (not shown) whereby the. clutch member 26 may be thrown into and out of engagement with the clutch member 25. A spring 32, similar to the spring 20, is provided for'action uppn-the lever 30 to assist in retracting the clutch member 26 and to normally serve to hold it in retracted position. When the clutch member 26 is thrown into engagement with the clutchmember 25, the disk 7 is fixed to the shaft section 3 for rotation therewith, so that when said disk 7 is free to revolve under the action of the spring 5 the power of the spring willbe u'tilized'for transmitting motion to the shaftsection 3 to start the motor into action.

The disk 7 is normally held from motion in a motor starting direction by pawl andratchet mechanism comprising an annular series of ratchet teeth 33, formed-upon the periphery of the clutch member 25, which ratchet teeth are adapted ,for engagement with a pawl 34 pivotally mounted upon the frame piece 4, said pawl having arms 35 I connected with springs 36 whereby the pawl is normally held in engagement with the shoulders of theratchet teeth to-lock the disk 7 against movement in one direction, While permitting thepawl to-slide. freely over the ratchet teeth to permit rotary motiorr'of the disk 7 in the opposite direction. The pawl normally holds the-disk 7 fixed against rotation by the action of the spring 5, so that the spring is normally maintained I m a rewound or tensioned condition. By,

however, throwing the pawl 34; out of em gagement with the ratchet toothfwith which it is engaged, it will be obvious that rotary motion of the disk 7 through the power ob tained from the uncoiling of the spring will be permitted, and that, in such action, when the clutch members 25 and 26 are in engagement motion will be transmitted to the shaft section 3 to start the motor. For the purpose of automatically retracting the pawl '34 when the clutch member 26. is thrown into action, the said pawl is provided with a beveled nose or projection 37 which lies in thepath of the beveled face of the clutch member 26, said clutch member thusi'serv- "'ing to swing the pawl 34to a release posinormally holds the spring from rewinding motion, will permit the spring to unwind for revolvingthe motorshaft to start the motor, the spring being locked against further unwinding motion, after the startingof the motor, by the retraction of the clutch member 26,-which allows the pawl 34 toagain move back to starting position. The spring may be of such size and power as to be capable of starting the motor a number of times before it requires to be rewound.

At any time when the engineis in motion it ,will be evident that the spring may be rewound' by simply throwing the clutch member 14 into action. Any suitable means'may be provided for indicating when the spring is fully wound, or this may be determined by the judgment of the operator or feel of the operating device connected with the rod 19, since, as soon as the spring approachesa fully wound condition and its resistance increases there Wlll be a tendency of the clutch member 14 to sl1p, the motion of which may be detected by the hand of the j operator holding the control device.

Any

suitable or well known means may, however, be employed for automatically throwing the clutch member 1 1: out of action when the spring is fully rewound.

My lnvention provides a simple, reliable and eflicient form of spring'starter for the" motors of traction engines, automobiles and like machines'or vehicles driven by internal combustion engmes, which starter is of a character which may be primed for opera-' startsthe motor in apositive'and reliable .tion at intervals by the power of the running motor and may be thrown into action to any suitable point along thelength'of the motorshaft, according to the arrangement 'of the motor upon the machme or vehicle.

In practice a suitable tool or clutch lever may be employed forengagement with the ratchet teeth 21 of clutch member 13 for the purpose of nntlally winding up the spring 5 or at other times manuallywinding it up 'when'desired or required. Also a pawl and ratchet mechanism of ordinary type may be employed in connection with the sleeve 27 of clutch member if), to hold said clutch member from retrograde rotation, to obviate liability. of damage-to'the starter mechanism in theerent of the engine backfir ng. i

Having thus fully described my invent ton.

I.claim:

v 1. In a motor starter, the combination of an engine shaft. a ,pair of spaced disks loosely mounted on said shaft. 'a coiled power spring fixed at its ends to the respective disks, (;1pawl and ratchet devices for holding each Sfk,--against motion in one directitm while permitting it to have motion in the opposite d'trt' ctioiha clutch device for connectiri'g ma of said disks ,with the shaft for communicating motion from the shaft to wind up thespring. and a clutch device for connecting the other disk with 'the. shaft. the holding pawl associated with said disk having a cam which lies in the path of-shifting movement of said clutch device. whereby the said holding pawl may be retracted and thedisk simultaneously coupled to the shaft for transmitting power from the spring. to

the shaft for a motor starting-:ution.

Zyln a-motor starter, the eom'lnmttlon of an engine shaft, apalr of spaced disks loosely mounted on said shaft. oneof said disks having a hub and the other an annular wall. and said disks collectively forming an int-losing casing; a spiral power spring inclosed within said casing and fixed respectll'tl) at ltsopposite ends to said sleeve and having a central hub and the 'other a.

laterally projecting peripheral wall. said. parts taalpera'ti ely forming -a casing. a coiled spring inclosetl within said casing and respectively.connected at its ends with said sleeuealul peripheral wall. friction clutch members upon the outer faces-of said disks, said clutch members being provided with ratchet teeth. locking dogs mounted upon a.

stationary part of the frameto engage the ratchet teeth of the disks. a sliding friction clut h member on the sha ft for engagement with one of said clutch members. and a sliding friction clutch upon the shaft for engag ing the other clutch member and simultaneousl-y contacting the coacting pawl-to throw the same outof locking position.

in testimony '.llcreof l allix my signature.

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