US2201393A - Engine starter control - Google Patents

Description

May 21,1940; K. F. DOUGLAS 2,201 ,s93

ENGINE STARTER CONTROL Filed Feb. 1, 1939 wi l mmmml l m a INVENTOR. fwd/1,0513: Jnnezfh, Z .[0 {as (/ATYURNEY.

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Patented May '21, 1940 j UNITED STAT S aromas gnome sma'rsn common Kenneth F. Douglas,

Elmira, N/ Y assignor to Bendix 'AviationGorporation, South Bend, hit, a corporation of Delaware Application February 1, 1939, Serial ,No; 254,089"

1 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an engine starter control and more' particularly to a 'twostage starting system in, which the starter gearing is engaged by.partial energization of; the

starting. motor, after which the motor is fully energized for cranking purposes.

ilt is an object of the present invention to provide a novel two-stage starting system incorporating adevice iorjinterposing a time delay between the initial actuation of the starting motor and the full energization thereof.

It is another object to provide such a device in which the initial energi'zation 'ot the motor is controlled by a starting switch and a resistor, and the full energization of the-motoriis controlled by a second switchwhich bridges the It is another object provide such a device in which the time delay is arranged to prevent closure 01 the second switch until a predetermined time after closure or the starting switch,-

Another object is to provide such a device in which the time delay mechanism is actuated by the closure of the starting switch.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent irom the following description taken in. connection with the accompanying drawing in which: 1 t

Fig. l is a'semi-diagrammatic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a similar illustration oia second embodiment thereof.

In Fig. l of the drawing there is illustrated a starting system comprising a battery I grounded at 2 and ected'by'leads .land 4 to a magnetic start-ingswitch indicated generally by numerale-compnsing fixed contacts (and I and a movable contact I mounted on a magnetic plunger 9.. Contact I of'the starting switch is connected by .a lead ,lli to a resistor R which in turn isconnected by a lead It to a starting motor SM whichis grounded at l2to complete the starting circuit. It will bfunderstood that; the motor is arranged-to actuate a starter gear of conventional type to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, but since these elements amp: the usual construction-it is deemed unnecm to further illustrate them.

A control circuit'u'or the magnetic starting switch 5 is provided comprising a manual switch ll connected by a lead it to, the battery lead 3 and by a lead I! to a solenoid I 6 which is drranged when energized. to attract the plunger L V mounted ontha end of the armature 23 in posi- O to cause closure of the starting switch. Solenoid ll is connected by a lead llto the starting "motor switch closes.

lead whereby the control circuit is completed through the starting motor and the ground l2.

Means for providing a bridging circuit around the resistor R and starting switch 5 is provided comprising a-lead I8 which connects the battery lead Sto a magnetic bridging switch indicated generally by numeral l9. Switch l9 comprises a ilxed'contact 2| connected to lead l8 and a' movable contact 22 mounted on an armature 23 pivoted at .24 and connected bya lead 25 to the starting motor. 1 7 It A control circuit for the magnetic bridging switch, I! is provided comprisinga contact 26 mounted on a spring 21 and arranged to be engaged by the movable contact 8' oithe starting switch upon closure of the starting switch. Contact spring 21 is anchored at 28 and connected by a lead 29 to a ilaifispring member '3l.' Spring member it carries a movable contact 32 arranged to engase'f'afixed contact 38 which is connected by a lead 3! to an electromagnet 35 arranged "when energized to attract the armature 23 ct the bridging switch I; to cause closure of said switch. Electromagnet 35 is connected by a lead 38 to a thermostatic conducting element 31 ahchored at 38 and having at its free. end acontact 30. Contact 39 is arranged normally. to.

engage a fixed contact II which is connected by a'lead 42 to a generator G driven by the engine to be started, whereby self-operation oi the engine causes the generator to oppose the voltage or thebattery I through the control circuit tor the bridging switch I, thus causing deenergization of the control circuit and opening 01' the bridging switch. Contacts 32 and a means are provided for setting the contact 32 in vibration when the starting iiwitch is closed to 1 spring it positioned adjacent an'enlargement II on the end of the magnetic plunger I of the starting switch, the inclined sides of which enlargement are arranged to engage the weight 48 and set it, in vibration when thestarting Means for. closed irrespective otopening oi the starting switch B- is provided comprising a contact holding the. bridging switch is oi the control circuit-to; the bridging switch are normally-closed, but

tion to engage a fixed contact I! which is connected by a lead 41 to the lead it for the elec tromagnet l5.

Means for causing deenergization of the control circuit for bridging switch I9 after a predetermined time of cranking is provided comprising a heating coil R for the thermostatic element 31, which heating coil is connected by a lead 49 to thebridging switch member 23 and w a lead to a ground connection 52. In the operation of this embodiment of th invention, closure of the manual switch I! completes the control circuit for the starting switch 5 from battery I through leads 3. and H, switch l3, lead liysolenoid it, .lead I! and starting motor SM to the ground at l2. Solenoid I6 is thereby energized and attracts the plunger 9,

causing closure of the starting switch 5. Closure of switch 5 completes the starting circuit from battery I through leads 3 and 4; contacts 6, 8

and I, lead I, resistor .R, lead Ii and starting motor SM to the ground at i2. The starting motor is thereby energized from the battery. with a voltage suitably reduced by the resistor R to cause engagementof the starting gearing without damage thereto. V

Closure of the starting switch also connects the contact 26 to the battery i by engagement with the movable contact 8 of the starting switch. At the instant of closure, however, contact 32 is set in vibration by virtue of its mounting on the pendulous member 3|, the bob 4 3 ofwhich has been set.irr motion by-the enlargement M on the end of the plunger 9. After a predetermined time of vibration, contact 32 comes to rest against contact 33 whereupon thecontrol circuitforthe bridging switch I! is completed from the contact 26 through spring'fl, lead 29, spring 3|, conit for the cranking operation.

Closure of said'bridging circuit causes deenerg ization of the solenoid ii of the starting switch whereby the starting switch opens. The bridge ing switch I! is-maintained closed however, by'

the holding circuit comprising contacts 45, l and lead 41 sothatcranking continues. When the engine starts, electromagnet 35 of. the bridging switch is deenergized by-the generator G which is connected to oppose the flow of current fom the battery through said electromagnet,-whereby the various elements .of the starter control return to their original positions. If theengine should fail to start after a predetermined time of cranking, thermostatic contacts 39, 4f will open, thus deenergizing the electromagnet 35 and interrupting the cranking operation.

In the embodiment'of the invention illustrated -in Fig. 2, the starting'-circuit, the bridging circuit and the control cii'cuit'for the bridging starting. switch areprovided.

As here shown, me closing mm 1dr switch comprises a plunger-14 slidably mounted within a solenoid ll in position to enage the end of the plunger 9 01' the starting switch and cause closure of the switch upon energization of solenoid 55. A control circuit for solenoid 55 is provided comprising a lead I connecting the battery lead 3 to a manual switch 51. Switch 51 is connected by lead to solenoid 55, the opposite end of which solenoid is ground at 59 to complete its control circuit.

- Means for holding the starting switch 5 closed is provided in the form of a solenoid ,il connected by a lead 62 to the starting circuit lead II and by a lead 63 to the starting circuit lead I I on the opposite side of the resistor R.

Means are provided for setting in vibration the 'pendulous contact carrying spring II of the control circuit for ,the bridging switch I! in the form of a lever 64 pivoted at 65 and provided at its free end with a roller 66 arranged to engage the bob 43 of the vibrator. Lever 64 has fixed thereon a laterally extending pin 61 positioned to engage a collar 68 fixed on plunger 54 whereby downward motion of plunger 54 swings the lever 64 down into engagement with the vibrator, causing'contacts 32, 33 to be held open as long as the plunger 54 remains in its lower position.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, closure of the manual switch 51 completes the control circuit for the solenoid 55 whereby plunger 54 is caused to move down and engage the plunger 8 of the starting switch, thus closing the starting switch. The starting circuit through the resistor R; is thus completed 'to energize the motor to cause engagement of the starter "gearing as previously described. The holding coil SI of the starting switch is also energized by the voltage drop through the resistor}! whereby the starting switch is held closed irrespective of deenergization of the closing means therefor.

Closure of the startingswitch connects the contact 2 to the battery, but thecontr'ol circuit -for the bridging switch I! is not completed since at thistime contacts 32, 33 are held open by the actionof the lever 64. When the operator opens the manual switch I1, deenergizing the closing means for the starting switch; the parts thereof return to their idle pomtions and the lever 64 releases the vibrator time delay whereby after a predetermined period of vibration, contacts 32, II close, thus completing the control circuit for the bridging switch I. and causing closure thereof.v The full battery voltage is thusapplied to the starting motor for cranking purposes, The holding coil II of the starting switch is deenergiaed by the closure of the bridging switch, but the bridgingswitch is held closed by virtue of the connection -41 from holding contacts ll, 46 which maintains the electromagnet 35 energized until the control circuit therefor is deenergized' either by thegenerator G responsive to self-operation of the engine or by the thermostat 31 after a predetermined time of cranking as herein above set forth Although but two forms of the invention have.

been shown and described in detail, it will be understoodthat other embodiments'are possible and various changes-may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as deilned in the claims appended hereto. What is claimed is:

1.In an enginestarter control, a starting circuit including a battery,- astarting motorfa starting switch and; resistor, means including 75.

a switch providing a bridge circuit around the resistor, and means whereby closure of the starting switch causes closure of the bridging switch, said closing means including a pair of contacts and means actuated by closure of the startingswitch for vibrating said contacts a predetermined time before'eflective closure thereof.

. 2. In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including a battery, a starting motor, a starting switch and a resistor, means including a magnetic switch providing a bridge circuit around the resistor, and means whereby closure or the starting switch causes closure of the bridging switch, said closing means comprising a control circuit for the bridging switch including a fixed contact and a pendulously mounted contact, and means actuated by closure of the starting switch for closing the control circuit, said last means being arranged to set the pendulously mounted contactin vibration to delay eflective closure of the control circuit for a predetermined time.

,3. In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including' a battery, a starting. motor, a

' starting'switch and a. resistor for reducing the initial flow of current through said starting switch to the starting motor, means inclmiing a.

magnetic switch for short-circuiti'ng the resistor,

a control circuit for the magnetic switch including a pair of normally closed contacts, one of which is pendulously mounted, and manually controllable means for closing the starting switch and setting the pendulously mounted contact in vibration to delay eflective closure or the control circuit for a predetermined time.

4. In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including a battery, a starting motor, a starting switch and a resistor for reducing the initial flow oi current through said starting switch to the starting motor, means including a' magnetic switch for short-circuiting the resistor, a control circuit for the magnetic switch including a pair of contacts closed by closure of the starting switch, a pair of normally closed contacts in series therewith, one of which is pendulously mounted, manually controllable means for closing the starting switch and setting the pendulously mounted contact in vibration to delay eil'ective closure or the control circuit, and means responsive to self-operation oi the engine to deenergize the control circuit.

aromas closing the starting switch and setting the pendulously mounted contact in vibration to delay eifective closure of the control circuit, and means for deenergizing the control circuit after a predetermined time oi'. cranking. I

6.'In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including a battery, a starting motor, a starting switch and a resistor for reducing the voltage or the battery, a magnetic switch for bridging said resistor, a control circuit for the magnetic switch comprising contacts closed by closure of the starting switch, and means responsive to self-operation of the engine to be started for deenergizing the control circuit.

7. In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including a battery, a starting motor, a starting switch and a resistor (or reducing the voltage of the battery, a magnetic switch for bridging said resistor, a control circuit for the magnetic switch comprising contacts closed by closure of the starting switch, and means for deenergizing the control circuit responsive to overloading of the starting circuit.

8. In combination with an engine starter including a battery, a starting motor, and means responsive to energization of the starting motor for establishing a driving connection from the starting motor to a member of the engine to be started, a two-stage starter'control therefor including a starting switch, closure 01. which enerq gizes the starting motor sufliciently to establish said driving connection, a second switch, closure of which causes the full battery voltage to be applied to the starting motor, said starting switch comprising a movable member, and means including a time delay actuating device operated by said movable member for causing closure or the second switch a predetermined time after closure of the starting switch.

, KENNETH 1". DOUGLAS.

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