US1799042A - Engine-starting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1931. J. B. DYER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1928 March 31, 1931. J. B. DYER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 31, 1931. B Y R 1,799,042

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Fil ed Oct. 24, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet s llllHlIHlI I V F1914. 85% i n/ I I i I :1 :1 I q H. llllHlll I Patented Mar. 31, 1931 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN B. DYER, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DELGO-REMY CORPORATION, OF

DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE EnerNn-sran-r ne APPARATUS Application filed October 24, 1928. Serial'No. 314,809.

This invention relates to apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, and

particularly to the type of apparatus which comprises an electrlc motor and means for connecting the motor with a gear of the engine to be started, and including a pinion and provisions whereby the pinion will be auto matically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine starts.

Examples of engine starters of this type are disclosed in the'copending applications of I. J. Renter, Serial N 0. 289,162, filed June 29, 1928,1111. Hardman, Serial No. 728,531, filed July 28, 1924, and J. B. Dyer, Serial No. 258,071, filed February 29, 1928. The engine starters disclosed in these applications include manually operable means for moving the pinion into mesh with the engine gear and V for closing the motor circuit only after the pinion has been substantially meshed with the engine gear, said manually operable means including provisions for causing the pinion to rotate while being yieldingly pressed against the engine gear in order to facilitate gear meshing in case the pinion should abut the engine gear before going into mesh.

One of the objects of the present invention is to simplify the construction of and to revidedbetween the shifter and pinion sothat duce the cost of manufacture of engine start ing apparatus of this type, and this aim is accomplished by connecting the pinion and motor shaft by a lost motion spline connection which'will permit manually rotating the pinion sufficiently to effect a gear meshing registration. In the disclosed form of the present invention, the pinion has a lost motion driving connection with helical splines provided on the motor driven shaft. A pinion shifter is slidab-le along the shaft and is connected preferably with the helical splines thereof so that axial movement of the shifter is accompanied rotation thereof; Connections are prothe pinion will rotate with the shifter, and these connections provide for relative axial movement between the pinion and shifter so that in case motion of the pinion-into mesh with the engine gear is arrested by the pinion er is manually operate'dbya pedal or other" suitable device which is automatically dis connected from the shifter before the engine startsso that after the engine'becomes selfoperative, the pinion may be automatically demeshed regardless of the status of the pedal.

Further objects and advantages of the present'invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, w ferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearlyshown. V

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is afragmentary View, partly in longitudinal sect1on,of an engine starting ape paratus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view ofa portion of the arrow 3 of Fig.1.

Fig. sis asectional view on the lineZl-A of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a portion of the apparatus, thissection being taken on a vertical plane'as indicated by the'line '5 5 of Fig. 4. p

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the lineI6- 6 of Fig. 5. i Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of parts shown inFig. 1, and shows the condition of the apparatus at the instant the motor pinion has been rotated into meshing registration with the gear of the engine. F ig. 8 is a sectionalview on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 i

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of certain parts shown in Fig. 7 this view being taken in the direction of arrow 9 of Fig. 7. s

herein a pre-[ Fig. -2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Figs. and 11 are development views of certain parts shown in Figs. 1 and 7 respectively, Fig. 10 showing these parts in normal position, and Fi 11 showing the same parts corresponding to the position shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but shows the apparatus in position just prior to closing the motor switch.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing the condition of the apparatus during the cranking operation.

Fig. 141 is a view similar to Fig. 13, showing the starting apparatus after the engine has become self-operative and before the operator has released the pedal.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank used to form a sleeve employed to transmit motion from the pedal to the pinion shifter.

Fig. 16 is a double size view of a pinion thrust washer, this view being taken in the plane of the line 16-16 of Fig.1.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates the field frame of an electric motor which is secured to a gear housing 21 adapted to be attached to an engine frame not shown. The frame 20 carries a bearing, not shown, for supporting the left end of a motor armature shaft 22, and the frame 21 provides a bearing 23 for said shaft. The motor circuit is controlled by a switch having a casing 24, a fragment of which is shown in Fig. 1. The casing 2 1 encloses contacts, one of which is movable by a switch plunger 25 normally held in switch-open position by a spring 26. The means for connecting the shaft 22 with the flywheel of an engine to be started comprise a pinion 31 and provisions for automatically causing the pinion to be demeshed from the gear 30 when the engine starts. These provisions result from employing helical splines 32 on the shaft 22 for driving the pinion 31. On referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the internal helical splines 33 of pinion 31 are substantially narrower than the helical grooves 34 between the splines 32 of the shaft 22. This construction provides what is designated a lost motion helical spline connection between the shaft and pinion. Normally the splines of the pinion are spaced from the driving side of the splines of the shaft and are normally maintained in engagement with the demeshing sides of the splines of the shaft. This normal relation between the pinion and shaft will be described when describing the pinion shifter.

The pinion shifter 37 is a disc-like body having internal splines which cooperate with the splines of the shaft with relatively little lost motion. Therefore, axial movement of the shifter along the shaft will be accompanied by rotary motion of the shifter. Rotary motion of the shifter is imparted to the pinion 31 by providing the pinion with a tubular extension 35 having diametrically opposite grooves 36, each receiving a tang 37a extending from the shifter 37. Motion is imparted from the shifter 37 axially to the pinion 31 by a spring 38 encircling the shaft 22 and located between the shifter 37 and the pinion 31. Thus it will be seen that motion of the shifter 37 axially toward the gear 30 will cause the pinion 31 to be yieldingly urged toward the gear and in case of gear tooth abutment, the pinion 31 will be yieldingly pressed by the spring 38 against the gear while the shifter 37 continues to move axially along the shaft in order to rotate the pinion into meshingregistration with the engine gear. It is desirable that the pinion be yieldingly pressed against the engine gear while being rotated for the reason that a yielding pressure will permit the pinion to recede along the shaft slightly while being rotated in engagement with the end face of a gear tooth. If the pinion were not permitted to recede slightly it might become interlocked with the engine gear due to the engagement of roughened surfaces at the ends of the abutting pinion and gear teeth.

' "'"ring is normally in a state of on shown in Fig. 5 and the means 4 ting separation of the pinion from i r ii to a greater extent than shown in 5, includes the motor shaft itself. It be noted that the spring 38 tends to age the shifter 37 axially toward the left and the pinion 31 axially toward the right as viewed in the drawings. Due to the connection between the shifter and pinion provided by the tangs 37a and. grooved tubular extension 36, relative endwise movement between the pinion and shifter can take place only axially of the shaft. Therefore the helical splines 32 of the shaft cooperate with the heli cal splines of the shifter and pinion to limit separation of these two elements. It is apparent from Fig. 10 that the spring 38 tends to move the helical splines 37?) of the shifter 37 only in an axial direction until they enone side of the shaft splines 32. The

spring urges the splines 33 of the pinion only in an axial direction until they engage the den .cshed sides of the splines 32 of the Therefore, no other means are reed to limit- .separation of the pinion and shifter while these elements are mounted upon the shaft.

'ilhe shif er splines 376 are normally yieldi. gly pressed against portions 32a of the shaft p ines', which portions are inclined at a smaller angle to the shaft axis than other portions of the splines. This construction )rovides means for locking the pinion 31 to the shaft 22 in such a way that it cannot be moved toward the engine gear unless the shifter be moved toward the engine gear. It is apparent from Fig. 10 that, if one were to take hold of the pinion 31 and pull it towardthe right, resistance would be offered immediately due to the factJthatthe shifter and pinion are so connected that one cannot be moved helically without moving the other and that movement of the pinion splines 03 helically along a shaft spline portion of one lead or pitch cannot take place while the splines 376 of the shifter attempt to move along a shaft spline portion of a different pitch. In other words, it'is apparent that if one were to attempt to slide the pinion splines 33 along the shaft splines 32 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 10, these pinion splines will become tightly wedged against the shaft splines due to the fact that the shifter splines 37 Z), while engaging the shaft splined portion 326;, will prevent rotary motion of the pinion. Therefore, while the shifter 37 remains in normal position, the pinion willnot drift accidentally into meshwith the enginegear.

The manually operable means for actuating thepinion'shi ter 37 includes alever 40 adapted to be operated bya pedal not shown and pivoted upon a stud 41 attached by a nut 42 to the gear housing 21 as shown in Fig. 2. The lever 40 is normally maintained in the position shown in 1 by a spring having its intermediate portion-43 coiled around the stud 41 and having end portions 44. and 45 engaging respectively the housing 21 and the lever 40. The spring 43'is so biased as to urge the lever 40 in a clockwise direction. The lever 40 carries astud 44 adapted to engage the switch plunger 25. v 7

Motion is transmitted from the lever 40 to the shifter '37 by devices "which are disco'nnectible in response to the operation of'the starter while cranking the engine. 1 These devicescomprise a stud attached adjacent, thelower end ofthe'lever 40 and normally re ceived by a notch 51 in a sleeve 52 which is mounted concentrically upona hub'53. The.

hub 53 supports discs 54 and 55 which space the sleeve 52 from the hub 53. The disc 54 is j provided adjacent its periphery with notches which receive tangs 56 extending from the sleeve 52. Thus relative movement between the sleeve 52 and the disc 54 is limited inone direction toward the interior of the sleeve or toward the disc 55. The disc 55-is provided as shown in Fig. 6 with a tang 57 which is received by an opening 58 in the sleeve 52 and which, when assembled, bears against the edge surface 58a (see Fig. The sleeve i 52 is provided with tangs 59 bent inwardly to provide stops also for engaging that surface of the disc 55 which facesthe disc 54. Thus when the sleeve 52 and the disc 55 are assembled, relative motion between them is limited in one direction so that the disc 55 cannot be moved toward the disc 54 after it has been assembled and engages the tangs 59 and the edge surface 58a of the opening 58 in the sleeve 52. The hub 53 which is made of tubing orby rolling up a piece of flat Thus the sleeve 52, hub 53 and discs 54 and 55 are permanently maintained in assembled relation. The sleeve 52 is'formed preferably from the blank shown in Fig. 15 which is provided with interlocking dovetail tangs and notches62 and. 63 which are interlocked to maintain the blank in cylindrical form.

The notch 51 may be considered as an eX- tension from a substantially triangular open-.

ing 64 which .is-defined particularly by an edge surface 65 and'an edge surface 66 both ofwhich are oblique tothe axis of rotation of the sleeve 52. The edge surface 65 of the assembled sleeve 52 is at an angle of 3 to 4 degrees with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 22 while the edge surface 66 is located at a much greater angle.

In order to increase the frictional engagement between the shaft 22 and the sleeve 52, the hub 53 with which the sleeve 52 isdrivingly connected is provided with an opening 7 0 which receives a button 71 yieldingly urged against the shaft 22 by a leaf spring 72 so shaped as to retain the button 71 with in the opening whether the hub 53 be mounted upon the shaft to beremoved therefrom. V While the pinion is driving the engine gear 30 it engages a'thrust collar which is more vclearlyshown in double scale inrFigs. 16 and 17. The thrust collar '80 includes a plane portion 81 and aperipheral portion 82. v The plane portion is provided with a central aperture adapted to receive the splined shaft 22. 'Those parts ofthe plane portion 81 be I tween the notches83 which receive the shaft spline32 are adapted to bear against a wire spilt ring 84 recelved by a groove 85 m the shaft 22. The peripheral portion 82 is provided with tangs 86 which are bent around the wire 84 as shown in Fig. 1 after the thrust collar 80 has been assembled. End thrust fro-m the shaft is transmitted to the gear housing 21 by a plane washer 87 which engages a finished surface 88 provided by the housing adjacent the left end of the bearing 23. y i

The operation of the engine starter is as follows: V

The lever40 is moved in a counterclockwise direction thereby causing the stud 50 to move toward the right along the shaft 22 and to cause the sleeve 52 to move in the same direction in order to move the pinion shifter 37 toward the engine gear 30. While the pinion is being moved into mesh with the engine gear and before the motor switch is closed, the edge surface defining the notch 51 in the sleeve 52 is engaged by the stud 50. In case motion of the pinion toward the right is arrested by the engagement of its teeth with the teeth of the gear, continued counterclockwise movement of the lever 40 will cause the pinion shifter 37 to move in a helical path about the shaft 22 while the pinion 31 is being yiel-dingly pressed by the spring 38 against the engine gear. During the movement of the lever 40 from the posltion shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 7, the pinion will be rotated from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 8 and its internal helical splines will be transferred from the demeshing sides of the shaft splines 32 as shown in 10 to the driving sides of the shaft splines as shown in Fig. 11. This amount of preliminary rotation of the pinion will be suiiicient to cause its teeth to be registered for meshing with the engine gear. Fig. 7 shows the apparatus just at the instant the pinion is ready to mesh with the engine gear. Fig. 11 which corresponds to Fig. 7 shows that the shifter splines 37?) have been moved considerably closer than normal to the pinion 31. Therefore the spring 38 will be considerably more compressed at the instant the pinion has been turned for meshing with the engine gear. lVhen this condition is brought about the spring 38 will be released in order to cause the pinion to move forward into mesh. with the engine gear. If the lever 40 remained fixed during this spring operated movement f the pinion, the pinion would move into mesh with the engine gear until its internal splines are in contact with the demeshing sides of the shaft splines. By the time the lever 40 has been moved into the position she vn in Fig. 12, just prior to closing the switch, the pinion will have been rotated until its splines 33 are engaged by the driving sides of the shaft .plines 32.

Further movement of the lever 40 in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in 12 toward that shown in Fig. 1.3 will cause the stud l4- of the lever 40 to push the switch plunger 25 into switch closet position. This will cause the motor to turn the shaft 22 and the pinion 31 to drive the engine g ar 30. The driving direction of rotatioi f the shaft 22 is clockwise as viewed from the 1'. ght hand end looking in. the direcion of arrow 90 in Fig. 1. While the engine is being cranked. the shaft 22 will retate the sleeve in the same direction by virtue of a frictional drag between these parts in order to withdraw the notch 51 from the stud 50 and to cause the oblique surface 66 to engage the stud 51. Due to the engagement of the surface 66 with the stud 51 while the sleeve 52 is rotating, the sleeve will be ca-mmed toward the left as viewed in the drawings, from the position shown in Fig. 12 to that shown in Fig. 13. Consequently, the hub 53 of the sleeve 52 will be retracted from the pinion shifter 37 so that the pinion together with its shifter may be moved toward the left free of obstruction when the pinion is automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine starts. Hence automatic demeshment of the pinion may take place regardless of the status of the lever l0. After the starting operation, the operator will release the lever 40 to permit the spring 43 to restore the lever to the po sition shown in Fig. 1. During clockwise movement of the lever 40 to and normal position the stud 51 carried by it will engage the inclined surface 66 provided by the sleeve 52, in order to cause the sleeve to be rotated again to normal position so that the notch 51 will again rceive the stud 50. Therefore it is apparent that the operator must permit the lever 40 to be returned to normal position before the starting operation can be repeated.

During the operation of demeshing the pinion, the pinion will be whirled with considerable force in a helical path out of mesh with the engine gear and the pinion shifter will be moved with the pinion in substantially the same path until it engages the sleeve hub 53. Due to its greater momentum, the pinion 31 may move further toward the left before coming to rest thereby compressing the spring 38 slightly beyond its normal state of compression. lVhen the momentum of the whirling pinion istahen up by compression of the spring 38, the spring 38 will rebound to throw the pinion back into normal position as shown in Fig. 10. There will be no tendency for the shifter 37 to rebound after striking the hub 53 because it is being followed up by the pinion and compressed spring 38. In the normal position of the shifter 37 its splines 37?) have a slight amount of lost motion with respect to the shaft splines 32. Hence when the shifter 37 is restored to normal position, its splines 37?) will be sure to recede from the pinion splines 33 sufficiently to engage those portions 32a of the shaft splines which are inclined to the shaft axis a different angle from other portions of the shaft splines. In other words, there should be sufficient lost motion to insure that the shifter splines 37?) move a substantial distance toward the left from the junction of the shaft spline portions 32a with portions to the right thereof. This construction therefore insures that there will always be such cooperation between the shifter splines 37?) and shaft spline portions 32a that the pinion 31 will be locked to the shaft until released by movement of the shifter 37 toward the right.

The present invention embodies the essential features of the inventions disclosed in ii i i) 'ment over the copending application, Serial No. 258,071 particularly with respect to the fact that'the pinion is directly drivenby the motor shaft and not by an intermediate element which constitutes part of the means for rotating thepinion while it is being pressed against the engine gear. By providing the lost motion spline connection between the pinion and shaft, the pinion may be directly driven by the shaft and the lost motion will permit rotating the pinion relative to the shaft in order that gear meshing will be facilitated. The pinion shifter,since it does not transmit cranking torque from the motor to the pinion, but is only used to turn thepinion manually, may be made very cheaply. The cost of construction is reduced also since means other than the shaft itself arenot required for limiting the separation of the shifter from the pinion. Also dueto this feature, the assembling of the shifter and pinion together upon the shaft has been greatly facilitated.

While the form of embodiment of thepresent invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; and pinion shifting means constructed to initially rotatethe pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine 'starts, and .a. lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; and pinion shifting means constructed to urge the pinion against the gear with 7 ieldinv )ressure and to initiall rotate the. pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion.

3. Engine; starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axiallyalong the shaft into mesh'with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; a pinion shifter movable axially of the shaft and connected with the pinion to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operable actuator for moving the shifter; and means for automatically disconnecting the actuator from the shifter before the engine starts;

4:. Engine starting'apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions wherebythe pinion will be'automatically dem-eshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion drivingconnection between the shaft and pinion; apinion shifter movable axially of the shaft and connected with the pinion to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a spring tranmitting axial movement from the shifter to the pinion; and means for operating the shifter. r

5. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor witha gear of-an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinionwill be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; a'pinion shifter movable axially of the shaft and connected with the pinion to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft movement from the shifter to the pinion; a manually operable actuator for moving the shifter; and means for automatically disconnecting the actuator from the shifter before and pinion; a spring transmitting axial 7. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a pinion shiftable axially of the shaft, and connected thereto by a lost motion connection, a shifter movable along the shaft and having connection therewith whereby longitudinal movement along the shaft is accompanied by rotary movement, a spring rendered operative by longitudinal movement of the shifter for yieldingly urging the pinion toward a gear of the engine to be started; and means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing with the engine gear.

8. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a pinion shift able axially of the shaft and connected thereto by a lost motion connection, a shifter movable along the shaft and having connection therewith whereby longitudinal movement along the shaft is accompanied by retary movement, a spring for transmitting movement from the shifter longitudinally to the pinion for yieldingly urging the pinion agalnsta gear of the engine to be started in case of tooth abutment; and means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing with the engine gear.

9. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a pinion shiftable axially of the shaft and connected thereto by a lost motion connection, a shifter movable along the shaft and having connection therewith whereby longitudinal movement along the shaft is accompanied by rotary movement, a normally compressed spring between the shifter and pinion for transmitting movement from the shifter longitudinally to the pinion for yieldingly urging the pinion against a gear of the engine to be started in case of tooth abutment; means limiting separation of the pinion from the shifter and means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to -facilitate meshing with the engine gear.

10. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a pinion shiftable axially of the shaft and connected thereto by a lost motion connection, a shifter movable along the shaft and having connection therewith whereby longitudinal movement along the shaft is accompanied by rotary movement, a normally compressed spring between the shifter and pinion for transmitting movement from the shifter longitudinally to the pinion for yieldingly urging the pinion against a gear of the engine to be started in case of tooth abutment; means provided by the shaft for limiting separation of the pinion from the shifter; and means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing with the engine gear.

11. Engine starting apparatus comprising,

in combination, a drive shaft, a starter pinion movable along the shaft into mesh with a gear of the engine to be started, means for shifting the pinion, and means for locking the pinion to the shaft, said means being unlocked only by operation of the shifting means prior to the movement of the pinion toward the engine gear.

12. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a splined drive shaft, a starter pinion movable along the shaft into mesh with a. gear of the engine to be started, means for shifting the pinion, and means for wedging the pinion against the splines of the shaft to prevent movement of the pinion toward the engine gear, said wedging means being released only by operation of the shifting means.

13. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, a helically splined shaft operated by the motor, a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, and pinion shifting means constructed to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion.

14. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, a helically splined shaft operated by the motor, a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, and means for shifting the pinion into mesh with the engine gear and operable in case of gear tooth abutment to apply pressure yieldingly between the pinion and engine gear while turning the pinion into meshing registration and taking up lost motion between the pinion and shaft. 7 i V 15. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination. a motor, a helically splined shaft operated by the motor, a pinion. having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, a pinion shifter movable longitudinally of the shaft and so connected therewith that longitudinal movement of the shifter effects rotation thereof, means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing, and means for operat' ing the shifter.

16. Engine starting apparatus comprising. in combination. a motor, a helicallv splined shaft operated by the motor, a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, a. pinion shifter mounted upon the shaft and helicallv splined thereto whereby longitudinal movement of the shifter effects rotation thereof. means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate. meshing,- and means for operating the shifter. V

17. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, a helically salined shaft driven thereby, a pinion and a pinion shifter mounted upon said shaft and connected with said splines, the pinion having a lostmotion driven connection with the shaft splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, a spring transmitting motion from the shifter to the pinion whereby the pinion will be yieldingly pressed against the gear in case of geartooth abutment prior to-meshing, means transmitting rotary movement from the shifterto the pinion, and means for operating the shifter' 18. Engine starting apparatus according to claim 17 in which those portions of the shaft splines normally engaged by the shifter are inclined relative to the shaft at an angle differing from the angular inclination of the shaft spline portions engageable with the pinion whereby separation of the pinion from the shifter is limited and the pinion is prevented from moving toward the engine gear unless actuated by the shifter.

19. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh'with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically deineshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; pinion shifting means constructed to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnect-ibis motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifting means, means for automatically moving the element connected with the shifting means away from the path of movement of the element connected with the actuator before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements.

20. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, rovisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost metion'driving connection between the shaft and pinion; p1n1onsh1ft1ng means constructed to urge the plnlon against the gear with yielding pressure and to initially rotate the-pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost moe tion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pin ion shifting means; means for automatically moving the element connected with the shifting means away from the path of movement of the element connected with the actuator before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connection between 'hese elements. r

21. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means forconnectingthemotor with a gear of an engine to be started. and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft intomesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and elect motion drivin connection between the shaft and pinion; a pinion shifter movable axially on V the shaft and so connected with the shaft that axial movement is accompanied by rotary movement, and connected with the pinion to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting "elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifter;

means for automatically moving the element connected with the shifter away from the path of movement of the element connected with the actuator before the engine. starts;

and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements,

22. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pin ion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; a pinion shifter movable axially along the shaft and having connection therewith whereby longitudinal movement along the shaft is accompanied. by rotary movement; a

spring rendered operative by longitudinal movement of the shifter for yieldingly urging the pinion toward the engine gear; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion willbe initiallyrotated to facilitate meshing with the engine gear, said connecting means permitting the shifter to move axially relative to the pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifter; means for automatically moving the element connected with the shifter away from the path of movement of the element connected with the actuator before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements.

23. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be 7 l started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear,provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; a pinion shifter movable along the shaft and having connection therewith whereby longitudinal movement along the shaft is accompanied by rotary movement, a normally compressed spring between the shifter and pinion for transmitting movement from the shifter longitudinally to the pinion for yield- .ingly urging the pinion against a gear of the engine to be started in case of tooth abutment; means limiting separation of the pinion from the shifter; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing with the engine gear; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifter; means for automatically moving the element connected with the shifter away from the path of movement of the element connected with the actuator before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connection, between these elements.

24:. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; pinion shifting means constructed to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifting means; means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for automatically moving the element connected with the shifting means away from the path of movement of the element connected with the actuator before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements.

25. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be rted and including a shaft, a pinion movto axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion pinion shiftingn'ieans constructed to urge toe pinion the gear with yielding pressure and to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion ransmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifting means; means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for automatically moving the element connected with the shifting means away from the path of movement of the element connected with the actuator before the engine starts; and means for movement, and connected with the pinion to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifter; means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for automatically moving the element connected with the shifter away from the path of movement of the element connected with the actuator before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements.

27. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; a pinion shif er movable axially along the shaft and having connection therewith whereby longitudinal movement along the shaft is accompanied by rotary move ment; a spring rendered operative by longitudinal movement of the shifter for yieldingly urging the pinion toward the engine gear; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing with the engine gear, said connecting means permitting the shifter to move axially relative to the pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively con nected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifter; means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for automatically movin the element connected with the shiftor away from the path of movement orul element connected with the actuator before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements.

28. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft,a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the'engin'e gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the negine starts, and a lost mo: tion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; a pinion shifter movable along the shaft and having connection therewith whereby longitudinal movement along the shaft is accompanied by rotary movement,

a normally compressed spring between the shifter and pinion for transmitting movement from the shifter longitudinally to the pinion for yieldingly urging the pinion against a gear of the engine to be started in case of tooth abutment; means limiting separation of the pinion from the shifter; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initialiy rotated to facilitate meshing with the engine gear; amanually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifter; means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for automatically moving the element connected with the shifter away from the path of movement of the element connected with theactuatorbefore the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements.

29. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting'the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially alongthe shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; pinion shifting means constructed to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifting means, the element operatively connected with the shifting means being mounted for limited rotation as well as movement axially of the pinion; means frictionally connecting said last mentioned element with the shaft whereby the element will be rotated awa from the. path of movementof the actuator element; and means for restoring the operative connection between the elements.

. 30. Engine starting apparatuscomprising, in combination, a motor; means for connectng t m r th a'gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion mov-v able axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pin- -ion will be automatically demeshed fromthe tion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifting means, the element operatively connected with the shifting means being mounted for limited rotation as well as-movement axially of the pinion; means frictionally connecting said last nientioned element with the shaft whereby the element will be rotated away'from the path of movement-of the actuator element; and means for restoring the operative connection between the elenients. i

31. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of'an engine tob'e started and including a shaft, a pinion mov able axially along the shaft into' mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby thepinion will be automatically dem'eshedfromthe gear when the engine ant nna lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; a pinion shifter movabie'axially'on the shaft and so connected with the shaft that axial movement is accompanied by rotary movement, and connected with the pinion'to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion-shifter, the V'element operatively connected with the shifter being mounted for limited rotation as well as movement axially of the pinion; means frictionally connecting said last mentioned element with the shaft whereby the element wili be rotated away from the path of movement of the actuator element; and means for restoring the operative connection between the el ments. v

32; Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor;means for connect ing the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion mow able axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pin Y ion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; a pinion shifter movable axially along the shaft and having connection therewith where'by longitudinal movement along -the"s'haft"is accompanied by rotary move- J ment; a spring rendered operative by longitudinal movement of the shifter for yieldingly urging the pinion toward the engine gear; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing with the engine gear, said connecting means permitting the shifter to move axially relative to the pinion; a manually operable actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and the pinion shifter, the element operatively connected with the shifter being mounted for limited rotation as well as movement axially of the pinion; means frictionally connecting said last mentioned element with the shaft whereby the element will be rotated away from the path of movement of the actuator element; and means for restoring the operative connection between the elements.

33. Engine starting apparatus con'iprisinp', in combination, a motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of an engine to be started and including a shaft, a pinion movable axially along the shaft into mesh with the engine gear, provisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts, and a lost motion driving connection between the shaft and pinion; a pinion shifter movable along the shaft and having connection therewith whereby longitudinal movement along the shaft is accompanied by rotary movement, a normally compressed spring between the shif er and pinion for transmitting movement from the shifter longitudinally to the pinion for yieldingly urging the pinion against a gear of the engine to be started in case of tooth abutment; means limiting separation of the pinion from the shifter; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing with the engine gear; a manually operable actuator; disconnectiblc motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuato andthe pinion shifter, the element operatively connected with the shifter being mounted for limited rotation as well as movement axially of the pinion; means frictionally connecting said last mentioned element with the shaft whereby the element will be rotated away from the path of movement of the actuator element; and means for restoring the operative connection between the elements.

34. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an-engine to be started; a pinion shifter constructed to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft'and'pinion; a man ually operated actuator; disconnectible 1110 tion transmitting elements operatively con nected respectively with the actuator and shifter; means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for automatically moving the element connected with the shifter away from the path of movement of the actuator element before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connections between these elements.

35. Engine starting apparatus comprisin in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a pinion shifter constructed to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operated actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively con nected respectively with the actuator and shifter, the element operatively connected with the shifter being supported by the shaft; means frictionally connecting the last mentioned element with the shaft whereby the element will be rotated away from the path of movement of the actuator element; and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements.

36. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; pinion shifter constructed to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take up lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operated actuator; an element moved by the actuator longitudinally of the shaft; a device rotatably supported by the shaft and frictional] y connected therewith and adapted to move the shifter endwise to mesh the pinion with the engine gear; an element provided by said device and normally in the path of movement of the actuator element but moved out of the path of movement of the actuator element when the motor operates; and a cam-element provided by said device and coacting with the actuator element to arise the device to be retracted from the engine gear due to rotation of the device by the shaft when the motor operates, and also coacting with the actuator element to effect the rotation of the device to normal position when'thejactuator is returned to normal position.

37. Engine starting apparatus comprising. in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; pinion shifter means constructed to initially rotate the pinion prior to meshing and to take hp lost motion between the shaft and pinion; a manually operated actuator; a pin element moved by the actuator along the shaft; and a cylindrical device rotatably supported by the shaft and frictionally connected therewith and movable against the shifter to move the pinion toward the engine gear said device having a recess for receiving the pin and so shaped as to provide a surface normally located in the path of movement of the pin but moved out of the path of movement of the pin when the motor operates,'and so shaped as to provide a surface oblique to the shaft and coacting with the pin to cause the device to be retracted from the engine gear due to rotation of the device by the shaft when the motor operates, and also coacting with the pinto effect the rotation of the device to normal position when the pin is re- 1 turned to normal position.

38. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a-motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with 'i the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; means for shifting the pinion into mesh with the engine gear and operable in case of gear tooth abutment to apply pressure yieldingly between the-pinion and engine gear While turning the pinion into meshing registration and taking up lost motion between the pinion and shaft; a ;manually operated actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements J ope-ratively connected respectively with the actuator and pinion shifting means; means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for automatically moving the element connected with the shifting means away from the path of movement of the actuator element before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connections between these elements. r

39. Engine starting apparatus comprising,

in combination a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lost mot-ion driving connection with the;

helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; means for shifting the pinion into mesh with the engine gear and operable in case of gear tooth abutment to apply pressure yieldingly between the pinion and engine gear while turn- I ing the pinion into meshing registration and taking up lost motion between the pinion and shaft; 'amanually operated actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and pinion shifting means, the element operatively connected with the shifting means being supported'by the shaft; means fricti'onally connecting the last mentioned elementwith the shaft whereby the element I will'be rotated awayfrom the path of move-. meat e'f'the actuator element; and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements.

4.0. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the'motor; a pinion having a' lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; means for shifting the pinion into mesh with theengine gear and operable in case of gear tooth abutment to apply pressure yieldingly between the pinion and engine gear while turning the pinion into meshing registration and taking up lost motion between the pinion and shaft; a manually operated actuator; an element moved by the actuator longitudinally of the shaft; a device rotatably supported by the shaft and frictionally connected therewith and adapted to move the pinion shifting means endwise to mesh the pinion with the 1 engine gear; an element provided by said device and normally in the path of movement of the actuator element but moved out of the path of movement of the actuator element when the motor operates; and a cameelement provided by said device and coacting with the actuator element to cause the device to be retracted from the engine gear due to rotation of the device by the shaft when the motor operates, and also coacting with the actuator element to effect the rotation of the device to normal position when the actuatoris returned to normal position.

ll. Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pin ion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started;

means for shifting the pinion into mesh with the engine gear and operable in .case of gear tooth abutment to apply pressure yieldingly between the pinion and engine gear while turning the pinion into meshing registration and taking up lost motion between the pinionand shaft; a manually operated actuator; a pin element moved by the actuator along the shaft; and a cylindrical device rotatably with the pin to cause the device to be retracted from the engine gear due to rotation 1 of the device by the "shaft when the motor operates, and also coac'ting with the pin to effect the rotation of the device to normal position when the pin is returned to normal position.

42. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a pinion shifter mounted upon the shaft and helically splined thereto whereby longitudinal movement of the shifter effects rotation thereof; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing; a manually operated actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and shifter; means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for automatically moving the element connected with the shifter away from the path of movement of the actuator element before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connections between these elements.

43. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a pinion shifter mounted upon the shaft and helically splined thereto whereby longitudinal movement of the shifter effects rotation thereof; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing; a manually operated actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and shifter, the element operatively connected with the shifter being supported by the shaft; means frictionally connecting the last mentioned element with the shaft whereby the element will be rotated away from the path of movement of the actuator element; and means for restoring the operative connection between these elements.

44. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lostmotion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a pinion shiftermounted upon the shaft and helically splined thereto whereby longitudinal movement of the shifter effects rotation thereof; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rofated to facilitate meshing; a manually operated actuator; an element moved by the actuator longitudinally of the shaft; a device rotatably supported by the shaft and frictionally connected therewith and adapted to move the shifter endwise to mesh the pinion with the engine gear; an element provided by said device and normally in the path of movement of the actuator element but moved out of the path of movement of the actuator element when the motor operates; and a camelement provided by said device and coacting with the actuator element to cause the device to be retracted from the engine gear due to rotation of the device by the shaft when the motor operates, and also coacting with the actuator element to effect the rotation of the device to normal position when the actuator is returned to normal position.

45. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft operated by the motor; a pinion having a lost motion driving connection with the helical splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a pinion shifter mounted upon the shaft and helically splined thereto whereby longitudinal movement of the shifter effects rotation thereof; means connecting the shifter and pinion so that the pinion will be initially rotated to facilitate meshing; a manually operated actuator; a pin element moved by the actuator along the shaft; and a cylindrical device rotatably supported by the shaft and frictionally connected therewith and movable against the shifter to move the pinion toward the engine gear, said device having a recess for receiving the pin and so shaped as to provide a surface normally located in the path of movement of the pin but moved out of the path of movement of the pin when the motor operates, and so shaped as to provide a surface oblique to the shaft and coacting with the pin to cause the device to be retracted from the engine gear due to rotation of the device by the shaft when the motor operates, and also coacting with the pin to effect the rotation of the device to normal position when the pin is returned to normal position.

46. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft driven thereby; a pinion and a pinion shifter mounted upon said shaft and connected with said splines, the pinion having a lost motion driven connection with the shaft splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a spring transmitting motion from the shifter to the pinion whereby the pinion will be yieldingly pressed against the gear in case of gear tooth abutment prior to meshing; means transmitting rotary movement from the shifter to the pinion; a manually operated actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and shifter; means responsive to the operation of the starting motor for automatically moving the element connected with the shifter away from the path of movement of the actuator element before the engine starts; and means for restoring the operative connections between these elements.

I 47 Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft driven thereby; a pinion and a pinion shifter mounted upon said shaft and connected with said splines, the pinion having a lost motion driven connection with the shaft splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a spring transmitting motion from the shifter to the pinion whereby the pinion will be yieldingly pressed against the gear in case of gear tooth abutment prior to meshing; means transmitting rotary movement from the shifter to the pinion; a manually operated actuator; disconnectible motion transmitting elements operatively connected respectively with the actuator and shifter, the element operatively connected with the shifter being supported by the shaft; means frictionally connecting the last mentioned element with the shaft whereby the element will be rotated away from the path of movement of the actuatorelement; and means for restoring the operatlve connection between these elements.

48. Engine starting apparatus compr1sing, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft driven thereby; a pinion and a pinion shifter mounted upon said shaft and connected with said splines, the pinion having a lostmotion driven connection with the shaft splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a spring transmitting motion from the shifter to the pinion whereby the pinion will be yieldingly pressed against the gear in case of gear tooth abutment prior to meshing; means transmitting rotary movement from the shifter to the pinion; a manually operated actuator; an element moved by the actuator longitudinally of the shaft; a device rotatably supported by the shaft and frictionally connected therewith and adapted to move the shifter endwise to mesh the pinion with the engine gear; an element provided by said device and normally in the path of movement of the actuator element but moved out of the path of movement of the actuator element when the motor operates; and a cam-element provided by said device and coacting with the actuator elementto cause the device to be retracted from the engine gear due to rotation of the device by the shaft when the motor operates, and also coacting with the actuator element to effect therotation of the device to normal position when the actuator is returned to normal position.

49. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a helically splined shaft driven thereby; a pinion and a pinion shifter mounted upon said shaft and connected with said splines, the pinion having a lost motion driven connection with the shaft splines and movable into mesh with a gear of an engine to'be started; a spring transmitting motion from the shifter to the pinion whereby the pinion will be yieldingly pressed against the gear in case of gear tooth abutment prior to meshing; means transmitting rotary movement from the shifter to the pinion; a manually operated actuator; a pin element moved by the actuator along the shaft; and a cylindrical device rotatably supported by the shaft and frictionally connected therewith and movable against the shifter to move the pinion toward the engine gear, said device having a recess for receiving the pin and so shaped as to provide a surface normally located in the. path of movement of the pin but moved out of the path of movement of the pin when the motor operates, and so shaped as to provide a surface oblique to the shaft and coacting with the pin to cause the device to be retracted from the engine gear due to rotation of the device by the shaft when the motor operates, and also coacting with the pin to effect the rotation of the device to normal position when the pin is returned to normal position.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature. 7

JOHN B. DYER.

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