US1258302A - Starter. - Google Patents

Description

V. BENDIXl STARYER. APPLICATION msn MAR. l5, |916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT BENDIX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STARTER.

Application filed March 15, 1916.

1,125,935. My invention concerns that part of a starting device known as a transmission or drive for transmitting the power of a prime mover such as an electric motor to some member of the engine to be started.

such as 'its ily wheel. In my type of starter the drive includes a screw shaft operated by the prime mover either directly or indirectly, and having mounted thereon aL driving member in the form of Ia pinion, adapted to engage or mesh with the fly wheel or other engine member for rotating the crank shaft thereof in the starting operation. The object of my invention` is to improve the resilient driving connection between the prime mover and the screw shaft by providing a coiled spring of a formation especially adapted for its particular purposes and functions.

In drives of this type there is a possibility of the coils of the spring becoming displaced in the coiling action, that is when the power is being transmitted from the motor to the screw sleeve or shafton which the driving pinion is mounted. In case ofsuch displacement there will be a binding between the spring and associated parts as well as the possibility of a displaced coil dropping between two of such parts where movement is desired. It is therefore necessary to employ a spring whose coils will not thus become displaced and at the saine time provide for free compression and eX- pansion of such spring longitudinally. Speaking in general terms I-have overcome the difliculties in question by providing a spring whose coils are elliptical in crosssection with the longer diameters at right angles to the axis of the coils of the spring.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a section of my transmission or drive embodying my invention and showing a part of the prime mover or shaft actuated thereby, and a part of the engine member such as the fly wheel; and Fig. 2 a perspective of the coiled spring.

Referring to the embodiment of my in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Serial No. 84,463.

vention as herein shown, the prime mover (not shown) which may be in the form of an electric motor, is adapted to actuate a driving shaft 1, either directly or indirectly, in the manner clearly shown in my patent aforesaid. Upon the inner portion of this shaft there is mounted a sleeve 2 which is free thereon, and also capable of some oscillation and longitudinal movement. This sleeve is provided eXteriorly intermediate its length with screw-threads, on which is mounted to screw a pinion 3, having teeth adapted to mesh with corresponding teeth 4 on the fly wheel 5 of the engine. This sleeve has at its inner end a stop nut 6.

A resilient driving connection is provided between the shaft 1 and the sleeve 2, the same comprising a coiled spring 7 anchored at one end t0 the shaft and at the other end to the sleeve. According to the specific construction herein shown, a spring barrel 8 is arranged concentrically of the shaft 1 and held in place at the outer end thereof by means of a pin or bolt 9, which also forms the means for anchoring the outer end of the spring 7. The other end of the spring is anchored to a stud or bolt 10, screwing into the outer end of the sleeve 2. The sleeve and spring barrel are arranged in axial alinement but not in contact, inasmuch as a space 11 is left therebetween, in order that the sleeve may have a slight movement outwardly against the tension of the spring.

As shown in the drawings the coils of the spring are elliptical in cross-section, with the result that, their longer diameters are presented in line with the stress due to the coiling action, thereby giving the greatest possible strength with a given amount of metal. Also this form of spring prevents displacement of any one or more of the coils which would have a tendency to bind upon the spring barrel, or to slip into the space 11 and prevent the eiid-wise movement above referred to. Furthermore this formation of spring provides a very free compression and expansion of the spring consistent with the great strength thereof with respect to the coiling action, it being understood that the power of the motor is transmitted through this spring to the screw sleeve or shaft. This form of spring provides the suflicient amount of strength for the objects in view, and at the same time permits of the closest possible istance between the anchoring bolts.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in connection with a certain construction of transmission or drive, yet it will be understood that it is not limited to any specific construction, for instance, while I have herein shown the screw shaft as of the hollowor` sleeve form, yet my invention is equally applicable to the construction employing the solid form of screw shaft as shown, for instance, in my prior Patent No. 1,146,992, issued to me on July Q0, 1915.

I claim:

l. For use in transmission mechanism in engine starting apparatus, a spring coperating\ with such mechanism and forming a yielding driving connection therein in the line of transmission of power, said spring being of the coiled type and having its coils flattened in a direction at right angles to the axis of the coil. l

2. For use in transmission mechanism in engine starting apparatus, a spring coperating with such mechanism and forming therein in the line of transmission of power a driving connection having a yielding torsional action and a yielding longitudinal action, said spring being of the coiled type and having its coils flattened at right angles to the axis of the coil to provide the strength for said torsional action and the resiliency for said longitudinal action.

3. For use in transmission mechanism in engine starting apparatus, a spring coperating with such mechanism and forming a yielding dri-ving connection therein between different rotatable members of the transmission mechanism, said spring being of the coiled type and having its coils flattened in a direction at right angles to the axis of the coil.

4. In engine starting apparatus, a transmission mechanism including tWo rotatable members, one of which has a longitudinal movement, and a yielding driving connection between such members consisting of a A coiled spring having its coils flattened in a direction at right angles to the axis of the coil and arranged for torsional and for extension and compression actions.

5. In engine starting apparatus, a transmission mechanism including a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted thereon, and a yielding driving means for driving the shaft consisting of a coiled spring having its coils flattened in a direction at right angles to the axis of the coil.

6. In engine starting apparatus, a transmission mechanism including a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted thereon, and a yielding driving, means for driving the shaft consisting of a coiled spring conneeeoa nected with and encircling the shaft and having'its coils flattened in a direction at right angles to the axis of the coil,

7. In engine starting apparatus, a tra-nsmission mechanism including a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted thereon, and a yielding driving means for driving the shaft consisting of a coiled spring having its coils flattened in a direction at right angles to the axis of the coil, said shaft having a limited longitudinal movement against the tension of such spring.

8. The combination of a motor, a driving member, operating lmeans between the motor and driving member for causing automatic engagement of the motor with and disengagement of the same from a member of the engine to be started, said means including a resilient driving connection consisting of a coiled spring, whose coils are flattened in a direction at right angles to the axis of the coil.

9. In transmission mechanism for an engine starter, the combination of a rotatable screw shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, and a resilient driving connection for the screw shaft consisting of a coil spring, whose coils are flattened in a direction at right angles to the axis of the coil.

l0. In transmission mechanism for an engine starter, the combination of a rotatable screw shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, and a resilient driving connection for the screw shaft consisting of a coil spring whose coils are substantially elliptical in cross-section with the greater diameter at substantially right angles to the axis of the coil and to the axis of the screw shaft.

11. In transmission mechanism for an engine starter, the combination of a rotatable screw shaft, a driving member mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, a driving shaft, a coil spring forming a resilient driving connection between the screw shaft and the driving shaft, anchoring bolts connected With said shafts respectively, and adapted VINCENT BENDIx.

Witnesses:

S. E. HIBBEN, ROBERT DonnMAN.

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