US2020789A - Starting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 12, 1935.

T. J-B. LAFITTE 2,020,789

STARTING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 32 75 l/w z/vra/e 33 m R Nov. 12, 1935. T 2,020,789

STARTING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig- E 56 //VVE/VZOR, v 53 M A W g @716 Nov. 12, 1935. T, J-B, LAFITTE STARTING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1935- T. J-B. LAFITTE 2,020,789

STARTING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l/w zrv ran,

Q l Kc a a m Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE STARTING MECHANISM York Application March 25, 1933, Serial No. 662,850 In France September 29, 1932 11 Claims.

This invention relates to starters, but more particularly to starters adapted to be utilized in conjunction with internal combustion engines.

One object .of the invention is to provide a 5 starter wherein the engagement and disengagement of the starting pinion may be readily controlled in conjunction with the ignition circuit and starting motor circuit as a function of the operation of the engine to be started.

10 Another object is to provide a novel construction by which the engagement or disengagement of the starting pinion is governed by the engine vacuum.

Still another object of the invention is to sim- 7. plify and insure the control of the starting mechanism through association of the controls thereof with the accelerator pedal or with control means disposed on the vehicle dash.

Another object is to so dispose the various ele- 20 ments of the mechanism that the purely mechanical elements are separated from electrical elements by a wall which serves as journal for the armature shaft of the starting motor, the electrical elements being positioned so as to be 25 readily accessible while the mechanical elements are wholly encased.

Otherobjects and advantagesof the invention will appear from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings 30 wherein:

Fig. l is a lateral elevation of the starting mechanism showing the starting pinion in mesh with the ring gear.

Fig.2 is a section at 2-2 on Fig. 1 certain ele- 35 ments being omitted for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a section at 3-3 on Fig. l with certain omissions for clarity.

Fig. 4: is a rear view of a detail of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a lateral elevation showing the starting pinion in mesh with the ring gear.

Fig. 6 shows the ends of the teeth of the starting pinion and ring gear in position butted against each other, the electrical contact being open.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 withthe elec- 45 trical contacts closed.

8 is a detail showing the starting contacts and ignition contacts interrupted.

Fig. 9 shows an ensemble of controls leading to the vehicle dash and to the accelerator pedal, and

50 Fig. 10 shows a modified control of the starting motor contacts.

Having reference particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the starting motor I is provided with a casing 2 forming a journal for the armature shaft 55 3 which is adapted to rotate in the bearing '4 and carry splined thereon a pinion disposed to mesh With a similar pinion 6 positioned so as to be capable of meshing with the ring gear "i of the motor to be started. The spacing and positioning of the pinions 5 and 6 are assured by a frame 8 5 designed to oscillate on the bearing 0 and through the intermediary of a ring 9 on the hearing if! which ispinned to the shaft 3. The pinion 6 carries two rings H capable of turning on a member 12 which is maintained in place by a bolt 14.

Disposed on a prolongation of this bolt It is a swinging member l6 provided with a fork I! in which engages a runner l8 turning on a spindle I9 that is riveted or rigidly fixed to the lever 20.

The lever 20 carries a prolongation 2| and is riveted or rigidly fixed by any means found suitable on the shaft 22 which, traversing the housingg2, projects therefrom on the side on which the starting motor is positioned. On the shaft 22 there is fixed another lever 23 whose spherical extremity 24 is fricticnally engaged between two shell-like members 25 constructed of insulating material. These members 25 are fixed to a plate 26 of copper or any other good conductor which is adapted to engage with two contacts 2'! and 25 28 having the extensions 26 and 30 (Fig. 2), suitably insulated from the plate 3| fixed to the housing'Z. The other extremity of the swinging member l6 has the form of a fork and is adapted to straddle and be pinned to a link member 32 (Fig- 30 ures 1,.3, 5, 6 and 7) which is articulated on the piston 33 at 34. The piston 33 and its extension ,35 are adapted to slide in the cylinder 35 with a very small. amount of friction. The cylinder may be constructed together with the housing 2 as a 35 single casting.

Adjacent the cylinder 36 (Fig. 3) is found a chamber 38 into which open the orifices 39 and '40. The orifice 40 is furnished with a valve 4| carrying ahole 42 of a suitable sizeand the valve 40 being maintained on its seat by a spring 43. The spring alsobears against the edge of a stamping 4'4 guided by the element 35 and provided with openings 46 in suitable number. To themember 45 there is attached a conduit 41 connecting the 45 chamber 38 with the intake manifold of the engine at a point where the degree of vacuum is ever the greatest. The total section of the open ings 46 should be at least 10% greater than the section of the conduit 47. An opening 74 is 50 adapted to communicate the interior of the cylinder'36 with the atmosphere.

The frame 8 oscillates about the shaft 3 and when the pinion 6 meshes with the ring gear 1, is adapted to butt against an eminence 48.

When the pinion 3 and ring gear 1 are out of mesh, the frame is retained or held by the link 32 through the intermediary of the piston 33 which is retracted, as will hereinafter appear. Provided on the eminence 48 is a spindle 49 on which is articulated an oscillating lever 50 having a toe 5| (Fig. 1) and equipped with a spring 53 connecting the point 52 to a fixed point 55. The

upper extremity of the lever 55 is adaptedto press against the swinging member I5 and as a result of the spring 53, it continually tends to draw the piston 33 out of the cylinder 35 into the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Another spring 56 having one of its extremities attached to the frame 8 at 57? and its other extremity fixed at a point 58, tends to oscillate the frame 8 about the shaft 3 and like spring 53 tends to effect the engagement of the pinion 3 and the ring gear 1. A lever 53 fixed on a spindle 6E! traversing the casing 2 is provided with a toe 59 adapted to engage and bear upon the toe 5! of the lever 53. The spindle 38 passes through the casing 2 and is furnished with an angular arm M. This arm may be brought into the position 32 as indicated on Fig. 5 and is adapted to be controlled either manually or through a connection to the accelerator pedal.

The plate 3! is traversed by a shouldered push member 5 (Fig. 8) the upper part of which, 65, is provided with a helicoidal groove 56 in which a finger 5? is adapted to engage. A lever 68 controls the rotation of the push member and effects the advance or retraction of the member above the plate 31. This advance or retraction brings about the closing and opening, respectively, of the ignition circuit as more clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The extremity of a flat spring to rests in a groove 18 in the part 65 of the push member 54, the flat spring carrying a contact 75 insulated therefrom and having attached thereto the electrical conduit H. The second electrical conduit of the circuit 13 is connected to a contact 12 fixedly mounted and insulated as illustrated. As shown in Fig. 4, the push member may be advanced out of or beyond the plate 3! with the result that. the contact 1'0 is raised through the intermediary of the flat spring 63 to which it is aflixed and the finger 61 cooperating'with the helicoidal groove E56, with the resultthat contacts 73 and T2 are engaged and the ignition circuit is closed.

The functioning of the mechanism so far disclosed is as follows. 7

The pinions 5 and 6 and the ring gear I being i in mesh as indicated in Fig. 1, are'maintained in this position wherein the frame 8 butts against the eminence 43, due tothe attraction of the spring 53 on the'lever 53. In this position the piston is displaced to its maximum degree to the right and the valve 35. obstructs opening 49 whilst the piston 33, uncovers the opening to atmosphere'M. The swinging member l6 has oscillated around the axis l5 and effected the oscillation of the levers 23 and 23, effecting thereby contact of the plate 25 with the contacts 2i and 28, thus establishing the contact causing closure of the circuit of the starting motor. The

motor, on commencing to rotate, transmits motion to the ring gear I through the pinions 5 and 6 until the moment the enginestarts.

At this moment the reaction of the teeth of the pinion 6 on the teeth of the gear I effects oscillationoftheframe 8 around its axis 3. This results in a reaction through the axis l5 on the swinging member i6 which, pivoting about 8 and i9, pushes on the link 32 through the intermediary der 36 out through the opening 14, the valve 35 uncovers the opening 39 at the moment the piston 33 again obstructs the opening 14, the suction of the engine acting through the conduit 41 lifts the valve 3i, and a vacuum is created in the This vacuum chamber 38 and the cylinder 36. effects the retraction of the piston 33 with the result that the ensemble is brought into the po- .sition indicated in Fig. 5.

The traction exercised by the piston 33, however, is exerted on the extremity of the swinging member it through the intermediary of the link 32, whilst the spring 5%? draws on the frame 8 which, through the axis 55, acts upon the swinging member [5. This effects, through the fork ll, the oscillation of lever 23, of the shaft 22 and of the lever 23 with the result that a separation is effected between the contacts 21 and 28 and the plate 26, thereby interrupting the starting motor current and causing the motor to stop. This movement is limited by the prolongation 2| which is adapted to butt against the fixed memher 15. small spring Tl (Fig. 4) which centers on the push member 5 and bears on a spherically headed lever 23.

It is to be noted that in the position of the elements as shown in Fig. 5, the spring 53 which is but slightly stretched, acts on the lever 50 through a lever arm considerably smaller than the lever arm as illustrated in Fig. 1. As a result of this disposition of the lever arms, a very small vacuum is enabled to maintain the piston 33 in its retracted position. When the vacuum, as a result, for example, of the stopping of the engine, disappears altogether, the spring 56, exerting its effort on the frame 8, causes it to oscillate about the axis 3, tending to effect the meshing of pinion 3 with the ring gear I. The spring 53 like: wise acts through the intermediary of the lever 55, causing it to push on the base of the swinging member i6, but in order to efiect movement thereof, it is necessary that it move the piston 33 which resists this movement, due to the fact that the valve it is closed and the air must overcomethe vacuum in chamber 38 and cylinder 35 through a small, suitably calibrated hole.

It is obvious, therefore, that the effect of spring 53 on the swinging member I6 is inferior to that of the spring 55 with the resultthat the swinging member ifi oscillates around the axis 15 and through the intermediary of the fork l I acts upon the levers 25 and 23, which remain in the positions shown on Fig. 5 (the circuit being interrupted) until the moment in which the meshing of pinion 5 and ring gear '1 is effected. The frame 8 then butts against the eminence 48, thereby annulling the effect of the spring 56 and the spring This condition of affairs is aided by a 53 continuing to retract, effects the swinging of the member l3 and the oscillation of levers 20 and 23 into the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein the contact between 26 and 2'! and 28 is established. The starting motor thereupon commences to rotate'again until the moment that the engine starts, whereupon the cycle is again repeated.

Heretofore it has been supposed that the meshing of pinion 3 with the ring gear '1 was. fully erfected. This, however, is not always the case for, sometimes, the'engagement of the teeth is not complete and in some instances there is no engagement as, for example, when the ends of the teeth button each other. Such a coincidence isillustrated in Figures 6 and 7 wherein it can be noted that the pinion fi and ring gear I are in engagement only by the ends of their respective teeth. In this circumstance, the functioning is as follows:

When the teeth of pinion 6 and of the ring gear 1 butt end on on each other, the effect of spring 56 is annulled, whilst the spring 53 continues to retract, resulting in causing the swinging member l6 and the levers 20 and 23 to move from the position illustrated in Fig. 6 tothat illustrated in Fig. 7 which is that wherein the circuit is established. Immediately on closing of the'circuit of the starting motor, the motor commences to turn and the teeth of pinion 6 mesh completely with the teeth of the ring gear I, for the effect of the springs 53 and 56 is exerted immediately on frame 8 to bring it into position where it butts against the eminence 48. The ring gear 1 is then rotated as above disclosedand the cycle of events reoommences. It is to be pointed out that the effect of the spring 53 on the retracted piston 33 can be made as small as desired through a modification of the lever arm on which the spring acts with the result that a very small vacuum may be sufficient to maintainthe pinion 6 .and the ring gear 1 out of the mesh.

The valve 4| is adapted to be lifted by suction and is provided with a small opening 42 of definite diameter in order to provide a dashpot effect, thereby introducing a time element for the pisten 33 to return to its position corresponding to the meshing of pinion 6 and ring gear 1. After the engine has stopped, neglecting leakage, it is by this opening 42 that air will enter the chamber 38 for the purpose of dissipating the vacuum existing therein.

This valve is also designed to avoid the harmful effects of the engine backfiring. The opening 42 without other provision offers a small but nevertheless effective passage for the excess pressures created through the backfiring of the engine and in order to avoid a transmittal of such pressures to the chamber 38, a member 44 which may be a stamping, is disposed above the member 4|. The member 44 is provided with a series of openings 46 which, when it is lifted from the element 4| through the intermediary of spring 43, permits the passage of fluid through the opening 46, between 44 and 4| and thus, through the opening 42. On the creation of an excess pressure due, for instance, to backfiring of the engine, the element 44 compresses spring 43 and comes into engagement with the element 4| thereby interrupting the opening 42 and thus precluding the transmittal of pressure into the chamber 38.

For the purpose of guarding against an absence of vacuum either because of its being too weak by consequence of toosudden an opening of the throttle or by consequence of leakage in the conduit 21, or by consequence of any other condition which might cause an absence of vacuum, means are provided comprising the levers GI .and 59 for controlling the toe 5| of the lever 50. Alteration of the position of lever 6| from that illustrated in Fig. 5 in full lines to that illustrated in dotted lines 62 results in moving the lever 50 from the position of Fig. 1 wherein the pinion 6 and ring gear 1 are engaged, to the position indicated in Fig. 5 where the two gears are unmeshed.

Figure .9 illustrates an arrangement whereby these elements may .be controlled manually through the intermediary of a button provided on an automobile dash, or through the accelerator pedal. A lever 6| is hitched by a link or by a cable and through the intermediary of a double slide member 8|-82, to the lever 83 on the one hand fixed to the accelerator pedal and on the other hand to a double arm lever 85-86 which oscillates about the axis 81. The arm 36 of the last mentioned lever is controlled by a button 88 disposed on the automobile dash, a spring 89 being provided to maintain the button either in advanced or retracted position and as a consequence, the lever 85 in the position indicated on Fig. 9 or in the position 90. The operation of the mechanism of Fig. 9 is as follows:

Supposing pinion 6 in mesh with the ring gear I and the accelerator pedal in idling position as indicated on Fig. 9, the lever 83 is towards the upper end of the slide 8| or may even butt against the upper end of this slide. Pressure on the accelerator pedal 84 will result in bringing the lever 83 into a position analogous to 92, thereby moving the lever 6| into the position 62 thus effecting the disengagement or unmeshing of pinion 6 and ring gear 1, in the event that the engine vacuum has not already effected this operation. This movement of the pedal 84 effects movement of the double slide member 8|-82, but this movement, however, has no effect on the elements illustrated above lever 83 as will be noted from the Figure 9.

If, by pressing on the button 88, it is caused to advance, lever 86 moves into position where it is maintained by spring 89 which, during this movement, passes to the other side of the center of the axis 81. The result of this movement is that the lever 85 takes the position 9| and the link or cable 93 lifts the double slide member 8|82 and therethrough the lever 6| into the position 62. As a consequence thereof the pinion 6 and the ring gear I are disengaged or unmeshed. If, for any reason whatsoever the vacuum necessary for the operation of the automatic starting mechanism should fail, the mechanism just disclosed will permit, through a button disposed on the automobile dash, the engagement or the disengagement necessary for effecting the starting of the motor.

For the purpose of reducing the number of contacts providing current for the starting mechanism and for the purpose .of avoiding the mounting of electrical cables or circuits on the dash of the automobile, recourse may be had to an arrangement represented in detail in Figures 4, 8 and 9. The push member 55 fixed to the lever 68 is controlled for its rotation in one direction, by the Bowden wire 94-95, or by any other means found suitable, and for rotation in the opposite direction, by a return spring not illustrated. When the button 96 is depressed, the double lever 9|98 is moved from the position illustrated in full lines to the position 99|BE|. The resulting movement of the lever 68 causes the push member 64 to advance due to the helicoidal groove 66 in which the finger 61 engages. Now, when the push member 64 is advanced as indicated in Fig. 4, arm 23 is unlocked and contact between the plate 26 and the contacts 21 and 28 may be effected through the lever 29 and starting of the motor may take place On the contrary, however, when the push member 64 is retracted as illustrated in Fig. 8, it precludes the raising or rotation of lever -23 and thereby prevents the effecting of contactgbetweenifi, '21 and 28 and consequently does not permit the starting motor to be energized.

This same rotation of 68 effects at the same time the control of the ignition contacts as follows. When the push member 64-65 is advanced, the groove 18 permits the fiat spring 69 to assure contact between contacts 10 and 12 thus permitting the ignition circuit to be completed, but when the push member is directed in the position illustrated in Fig. 8, the groove 18 effects a withdrawal of the flat spring member 69 and consequently an interruption of the circuit at contacts 1G and 72. It is to be noted that the interruption of the circuit at the contacts 18 and l2 and the rendering inoperative of the lever 23 through the intermediary of the push member 64fi5, as well as making of the contact through iii and F2 and rendering contact possible between 26, 21' and 28 through unlocking of the lever 23, takes place simultaneously.

In the preceding embodiment, swinging member I5 is pivoted in such a way that the piston 33 has a: course longer than the pinion 6, but obviously the relation between the course of the piston and of the pinion 6 may be altered to suit the exigencies of the particular installation.

It is to be noted also that only the purely mechanical parts of the mechanism are housed within the motor housing 2, the electrical elements being positioned exteriorly thereto for the purpose of rendering them of easy access. The housing 2, whilst not only providing an effective operation between'the purely mechanical and the electrical elements also provides a journal for the armature shaft and permits ready attachment of the vacuum conduit and the mechanical controls. It is also to be noted that the closing of the electrical circuits is eifected only after the teeth of the starting pinion lo and ring gear I are brought into engagement.

Fig. 10 shows a modified control of the starting motor electrical contacts. The movement of piston H32 controls the valve me which, as in the arrangernent before disclosed, obstructs or uncovers the opening its leading to a source of vacuum, for instance the intake manifold. Through its ends I and Hit, the piston 532 permits communication of the opening lil'i, now with the part submitted to the depression by the side IE8, now with the atmosphere by the side I69. The orifice I0? is connected to a cylinder llll which contains a piston I I l opposed by a spring H2; On the end of this piston there is provided a suitably insulated and elastically mounted contact H4 to which is connected a source of electrical current,

and this contact engages with another contact sipated, the piston I92 is returned to the position i It through the intermediary of the elements disclosed in conjunction with the prior em.- bodiments and the valve is moved from the position I as to the position ill with the result that the conduit IM is obstructed and the edge 35 of the piston I 93 is moved to the position I I8. This results in the communication of'the orifice N11 with the atmosphere and frees the auxiliary energization of the starting motor.

It is to be understood that the dimensions and form of the preceding mechanisms may be varied, that the elements may be interchanged, modified or completed and the various details thereof piston Ill which,-as a result ofthe pressure of spring H2, closes the contact H4H5 thereby assuring the arrival of electrical current for the tion of the starting motor actuated by oscillation of said transmitting mechanism, and means for delaying energization of the starting motor until after the transmitting mechanism has oscillated into operative position.

2. In a device of the class disclosed, a starting motor having a shaft, mechanism for transmitting motion to an engine to be started disposed for oscillation into operative or inoperative position on said shaft, means to control the energization of the starting motor actuated by oscillation of said transmitting mechanism, means urging the transmitting mechanism into operative position, and means for delaying energization of the starting motor until after the transmitting mechanism has oscillated into operative position, said means being operable in case of failure of the transmitting mechanism to properly engage, to

-energize the starting motor, to secure operative engagement and actuation of the transmitting mechanism.

' for oscillation into operative or inoperative position on said shaft and means to control the energization of the starting motor mounted for oscillation on said transmitting mechanism and controlled by the intake vacuum of the engine.

4. In a device of the class disclosed, a starting motor, an engine ignition circuit, a starting motor circuit, mechanism for transmitting motion from the starting motor to an engine to be started and adapted to oscillate into operative and inoperative position,'means positioned for oscillationon said transmitting mechanism for controlling the ignitionand starting circuits and manually operated'means for closing the ignition circuit and rendering the means positioned on said transmitting means operable to'control the starting motor circuit.

5. In a device of the class disclosed, a starting motor, an engine ignition circuit, a starting motor circuit, mechanism for transmitting motion from the starting motor to an engine to be started and adapted to oscillate into operative and inoperative position, means positioned for oscillation on said transmitting mechanism for controlling the ignition and starting circuits and engine operated and manually operated means for positioning said transmitting mechanism and said oscillating means;

6.In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanism therefor including a starting motor and an electrical circuit therefor, means including an oscillatably mounted gear for connecting the motor to crank the engine, means yieldably urging said gear toward operative position, and means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine for withdrawing said gear.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanism therefor including a starting motor and an electrical circuit therefor, means including an oscillatably mounted gear for connecting the motor to crank the engine, means yieldably urging said gear toward operative position, means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine for withdrawing said gear and means controlled by movement of said gear for actuating the starting switch.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanism therefor including a starting motor and an electrical circuit therefor, means including a movably mounted gear for connecting the motor to crank the engine, means yieldably urging said gear toward operative position, means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine for withdrawing said gear, and means controlled by the engine accelerator for preventing movement of the starter gear to operative position.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanism therefor including a starting motor and an electrical circuit therefor, means including a movably mounted gear for connecting the motor to crank the engine, means yieldably urging said gear toward operative position, means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine for withdrawing said gear, means controlled by movement of said gear for actuating the starting switch and unitary means for controlling the engine ignition system and for preventing closure of the starting switch when the ignition switch is opened.

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanism therefor including a motor and a starting switch, means including a movably mounted gear for connecting the motor tocrank the engine and disconnecting the motor when the engine starts, means for moving the gear into operative position, and means for closing the starting switch when such movement of the gear is stopped.

11. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanism therefor including a motor and a starting switch, means including a movably mounted gear for connecting the motor to crank the engine and disconnecting the motor when the engine starts, means for urging the gear toward operative position, means responsive to the intake vacuum of the engine for holding the gear in idle position, and means responsive to positive pressure in the engine intake for delaying reengagement of the pinion.

THEODORE JEAN-BAPTIS'I'E LAFI'I'IE.

Images