US1228304A - Safety means for cranking internal-combustion engines. - Google Patents

Description

W. S- EKLUND.

SAFETY MEANS FOR CRANKING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 050.29. 1916.

1,228,304.. Patented May 29,1917. I

WALFRID S. EKLUND, OF BONNER, LOUISIANA.

SAFETY MEANS FOR CRANKING IN TERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 191 '2'.

Application filed December 29, 1916. Serial No. 139,711.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, WALrnIn S. EKLUND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Donner, in the parish of Terrebonne and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Means for Cranking Internal-Combustion Engines, and dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

The invention relates to a safety cranking device for internal combustion engines.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of cranking devices for internal combustion engines and to provide a simple, practical and efficient safety cranking device of strong, durable and inexpensive construction adapted to be applied to various types'of engines and cars and equipped with means for automatically disengaging the crank from the engine crank shaft when the engine kicks or reverses.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of vconstruction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a safet cranking deviceconstructed in accordance with this invention. V

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a rear .view of the external ratchet member.

Fig. 4: is a sectional view of the external ratchet member.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the internal ratchet member.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the adjustable diskor plate. 7

Fig. 8 is a sectional view thereof.

ratchet member of cylindrical form provided with four spaced points or engaging portions 1 which engage with a cross pin in an engine crank shaft (not shown). The outer ratchet member is arranged on an internal ratchet member 2 having four spaced points or portions 2 which are adapted to disengage the cranking means from. the engine crank shaft should the engine kick or reverse. The portions 2 present inclined edges to the cross pin of the crank, which is yieldably held in engagement with the inclined edges of the portions 2 by the points or engaging portions 1 of the external ratchet member, the edges of the points or engaging portions of the external ratchet member being curved, as shown, and adapted to release the said cross pin of the engine crank shaft under an excess of pressure. The internal ratchet member is provided with a reduced portion or sleeve 3 extending rearwardly from the body of the internal ratchet member which'is cylindrical'to conform to the configuration of the external ratchet member and provide a bearing for the same.

Mounted for rotary movement or adjustment on the sleeve 3* of the internal ratchet member is an adjusting disk or plate 3 provided with a pair of forwardly projecting lugs 4 adapted to seat in spaced openings 5 of an annular series of openings formed in the flange or shoulder of the exterior ratchet member. The adjustable plate is provided with openings 6 which are adapted to receive one end 7 a of a spring 7 which has its other end 8 secured inan opening 8 of the reduced portion or sleeve of the internal ratchet member. The tension of the spring is controlled by adjusting the rotary plate on the reduced portion or sleeve and by advancing the disk or plate the tension of the spring is increased and a backward movement of the plate will reduce the tension so that the spring may be adjusted to suit the requirement. The tension spring 7 performs three difierent functions. It maintains the external ratchet member and the adjusting plate against the internal ratchet member, and holds the adjusting plate in looking engagement and gives the desired tension between the external and internal ratchet members to enable the cranking device to exert the desired pressure in the ordinary cranking of the engine and to automatically release the crank when the engine kicks or reverses. The reduced cylindrical portion or sleeve of the internal ratchet member forms a crank-receiving openmg 9 for the reception ofa crank 10 which is secured to the internalratchet member by a'pin 11. The external ratchet member is provided with forwardly projecting lugs 12 arranged diametrically opposite each other at an opening 14: in the external ratchet member and adapted to extend into openings 13 in the internal ratchet member. The openings 13, which are located at diametrically opposite points at opposite sides of the reduced cylindrical portion or sleeve and slightly beyond the same, are of greater width than the lugs 12 to allow for a limited relative rotary movement of the internal and external ratchet members to permit a disengagement of the device from the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine. The lugs 12 and the openings 13 maintain the internal and external ratchet members in proper alinement at all times. The openings 13 are internal ratchet. member by the hook shaped points or portions of the external ratchet member. Should the engine kick or reverse the excessive pressure exerted'on the cross pin causes the external ratchet member 1 to revolve and release the cross pin. This rotary movement is, against the action of the tension spring which yields under the excessive pressure and permits the cross pin to become disengaged from the device through the action of the inclined edges of the points. or portions of the internal ratchet member.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety cranking device for internal combustion engines comprising an internal ratchet member. provided withc engagin g portions to receive the cross pin. of a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, an.

outer ratchet member provided with engagmg portions for holding the cross pm 1n engagen1ent'with the engaging portions of the internal ratchet member, and a spring yield ably connecting the inner and outer ratchet .ing inclined edges adapted to receive the cross pin of a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, an outer substantlally cylindrical ratchet member provided with approximately hook-shaped engaging portions for holding the cross. pin in engagement with the said inclined edges, and 'a spring yieldably connecting the inner and outer ratchet members and adapted to permit the outer ratchet'member to yield under an excess of pressure for releasing the cross pin.

3. A safety cranking device for internal combustion engines comprisingan internal ratchet member of substantially cylindrical form provided with engaging portions having inclined edges adapted to receive the cross pin of a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, an outer substantially cylindrical ratchet member provided with approximately hook-shaped engaging portions for holding the cross pin in engagement with the said inclined edges, a rotary adjusting plate mounted on the inner ratchet member and provided with means for adjustably engaging the outer ratchet member, and a spring connected with the inner memher and the plate. I

4. A. safety cranking device for internal combustion engines comprising an internal ratchet member having engaging portions, an outer ratchet member mounted for rotary movement on the inner ratchet member and provided with engaging portions for holding a crank shaft in engagement with the internal ratchet member, said external ratchet member being provided with an annular series of openings, an adjusting plate mounted for rotary adjustment on the internal ratchet member and provided with lugs for engaging the openings of the ex.- ternal ratchet member, and a coiled spring disposed on the internal ratchet member and having its terminals connected with the same and with the adjusting plate.

5. A. safety cranking device for internal combustion engines including an internal ratchet member. having engaging portions and provided with a reduced cylindrical portion or sleeve having means for securing a crank to it, said internal ratchet member being provided with openings, an external ratchet member having engaging points and mounted for rotary movement on the internal ratchet member and provided with lugs extending into the said openings and limiting such rotary movement, and a spring connected with the internal and external ratchet members.

6. A safety cranking device for internal combustion engines including an inner ratchet member having a reduced portion or sleeve and provided with an opening, an external ratchet member mounted for rotary movement on the internal ratchet member and having a lug for engaging the said opening and provided with spaced openings, an adjusting plate also mounted for rotary movement on the internal ratchet member and provided with a lug or projection for engaging the openings of the external ratchet member, and a coiled spring disposed on the internal ratchet member and c0nnected with the same and with the adjusting plate and maintaining the adjusting plate in interlocked relation with the external ratchet member and retaining the lug of the latter in the opening of the internal ratchet member, said spring also yieldably maintaining the internal and external ratchet members in engagement with the crank .shaft of an engine and permitting disengagement under excessive pressure.

WALFRID S. EKLUN D. Witnesses:

W. E. PAYNE, H. ROMONE.

Uopies of this patent may be obtaiigad for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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