US2009036A - Semiautomatic starting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1935.

M. P. WHITNEY SEMIAUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANI SM Filed April 29, 1935 37 43' 44 41 19 21 1 M 1 SM MA -gm [N VENTOR TORNEY M mm? Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEMIAUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM Application April 29,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a semi-automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines and more particularly to a controlling relay for a starting system so arranged that manipu1ation of a manual switch such as the ignition switch of the engine initiates the cranking operation, the cranking being automatically interrupted when the engine starts, and the starting system being maintained inoperative until the ignition switch is opened and reclosed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a semi-automatic starting mechanism of the above type which is efiicient and reliable while simple and economical in construction.

It is another object to provide such a device which is independent of any running function of the engine for its operation.

It is a further object to provide such a device which uses a function of the starting motor to cause disconnection of the starting mechanism when the engine starts.

It is another object to provide such a device which is easily installed by means of simple wiring connections.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic View showing in perspective a preferred embodiment of the invention, the parts being shown in normal or idle position and some thereof being cut away for the sake of clarity;

Fig, 2 is a similar View showing the parts in the positions assumed during the cranking operation; and

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the parts in the positions assumed during the self-operation of the engine.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is illustrated a starting system for an internal combustion engine, not shown, including a battery l, grounded at 2 and connected by a lead 3 to a starter controlling device including a magnetic starting switch, indicated generally by numeral 4, the starting switch being connected by a lead 5 to a starting motor SM which is grounded at t to complete the starting circuit.

A control circuit for the magnetic starting switch is provided comprising the battery I, lead 3, a manual switch "I which is preferably the ignition switch for the engine, lead 8 and electromagnet 9. The control circuit is normally completed from electromagnet 9 through lead I l contact l2, contact I 3 normally in engagement therewith,

1933, Serial No. 668,583

and swinging armature l4 carrying the contact it, which armature is grounded to complete the control circuit as indicated at 15.

An alternative ground connection for the electromagnet 9 is provided in the form of a lead 16 5 which is grounded indicated at IT through an element 22% having sufhcient resistance to substantially weaken the electromagnet 9 when the contacts l2, [3 are open.

The starting switch 4 comprises stationary con- 1:) tact members 19 and 22 and a bridging conductor 22 mounted on a rod 23 traversing the electromagnet $9 and provided at its upper end with an armature 2 arranged to cooperate with a U -shaped field member 25 and a central pole piece which are magnetized by the electromagnet 9. The bridging element 22 of the switch is mounted for limited sliding movement on the lower end of the rod 23 against the compression of a spring 21 whereby the armature 24 is permitted to engage the pole 26 and field 25 by a slight additional movement after the switch element 22 has engaged the contacts [9, 2!.

Contacts 52, 13 are arranged to be normally closed so as to cause energization of electromagnet 9 when the ignition switch '3 is closed, but according to the present invention, means are provided for causing the contacts to be opened when the en ine starts and to be held open as long as the operator-controlled ignition switch 1 remains an closed. This is accomplished by providing means actuated by the closing of the starting switch for displacing the contacts l2, l3 in unison to cause them to be tensioned toward open position, means for holding said contacts together in displaced position during the cranking operation, which means releases the contacts when the engine starts, and means for holding the contact I2 in displaced position as long as the ignition switch is closed, whereby the release of the contact l3 when the engine starts causes the contacts to open and remain open.

The means for displacing the contacts l2, l3 as here shown comprises an actuating element in the form of a bar 28 attached at its upper end to the armature 24 as indicated at 29 and arranged to slide through a guide opening 3! in a frame member 32. The lower end of the bar 28 carries a triangular shaped cam 33 arranged to engage with a pin 34 projecting from the pivoted armature M. The cam member 33 is approximately in the form of a right triangle the side forming the hypotenuse of which is arranged as illustrated in Fig. l to move the pin 34 in a direction to swing the armature 14 toward the starting switch 4 when the bar 28 is moved downward by the main armature 2d. The altitude of the right triangle is slightly less than the total travel of the bar 28 whereby when the armature 2t is in its fully closed position, the cam 33 has passed slightly below the pin 34, as shown in Fig. 2, leaving the armature I l free to return to idle position.

The means for holding the contacts l2, H3 in displaced position comprises an L-shaped member of magnetic material, one arm 5% or" which is arranged to contact the frame plate 32 which is also of magnetic material and the other arm of which forms the support 3? for the swinging armature it. The member 35 thus traverses the U-shaped loop formed by the elements i9, 22, 2| of the starting switch and is accordingly magnetized by cranking current traversing said switch elements. A fixed pole piece for the armature it is provided as here illustrated by bending down a tongue 33 from the frame plate 32 into close proximity to the upper end of the armature it, means such as a non-magnetic adjusting screw 39 being preferably provided for regulating the minimum air gap between the armature and pole piece and thereby regulating the retaining force exerted by the cranking current. Adjustable yielding means in the form of a spring ii is provided for normally hold ng the armature it against a suitable back stop 42.

In order that the contact l2 may be normally retained in engagement with the contact l3 and may be moved by said contact it when the armature M is displaced, the contact i2 is mounted on a spring strip 53 insulated from the member 35. The means for retaining the contact 22 in displaced position comprises a small auxiliary armature #34 yieldably retained in a recess in the main. armature 2 1 as by means ofv guides 35 and compression springs ii). A rod l? is suitably attachedto an extended portion of said armature 44 as indicated at 43, and is arranged to slide through an opening 49 in the frame plate 32 into proximity with the end 5i of the spring strip 33. The end 5! of said strip is preferably bent at right angles in order to provide vertical resiliency, and the'end of the rod 3? is notched as shown more particularly at 52 in Fig. 2 to engage and retain the end of the spring strip when theiarmature 4G is in its lower position. The springs 46 are made so delicate that the armature t isretained in its lower position by a very slight amount of magnetism in the electromagnet 9, whereas a spring 53 is provided for normally retaining the armature 2 1 in open position, which spring is of sufficient strength to cause the opening of the starting switch in response to the reduction in the strength of electromagnet 9 caused by the insertion of the resistance I8 in its control circuit.

In the operation of this device and starting with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1, closure of the ignition switch completes the circuit from the battery 5 through leads 3 and 8 to electromagnet sand from thence through lead ll, contacts i2 and E3 to the ground at 15. The consequent energization of electromagnet 9 attracts armatures Z i'and ti l causing the bridging member 22 to engage the main switch contacts l9, 2!, while the bar 28 causes cam 33 to swing armature i i inwardly and displace contacts 12, it'while' the lower end of rod il slides into the return path of the end 5! of. spring strip 53. As soon as the starting switch 4 is closed, cranking 'is initiated and a heavy current traverses the elements as, 22, '21 or the switch, causing the magnetization of the magnetic circuit formed by elements i i, 31, 3t, 32 and 38 whereby the armature M is retained in its inner position although the cam 33 has passed below the rod 36. This is the cranking position or" the parts as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the engine starts, the reduction in the current traversing the starting circuit due to the release of the cranking load causes the flux between the pole piece 38 and armature is to be reduced sufficiently to permit spring ll to swing the armature it back to its idle position. At this time, however, the contact i2 is prevented from following the contact l3 by reason of the latching engagement of the rod ll with the end of the spring strip whereby contacts i2, it are opened.

Opening contacts l2, l3 break the direct ground connection of the electromagnet 9 whereby it is connected to the ground only by lead it and resistance E8. Resistance E8 causes the electromagnet 9 to be so weakened as to release the main armature 24 which is moved to idle position by the spring 53, thereby opening the starting switch. Auxiliary armature lid, however, is retained by the weak magnetization of electromagnet 9 whereby contacts i2, iii are held open during the self-operation of the engine as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the engine is stopped by the opening of ignition switch it, the electromagnet 9 is completely deenergized and the auxiliary armature 5 i permitted to return to its idle position as illustrated in Fig. 1 under the action of springs 46.

Although but one form or" the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments are possible and that various changes may be made in the details or" construction and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a starter controlling device, a magnetic starting switch including a movable armature, a control circuit therefor including normally closed switch means, means connected to be moved by said armature for tensioning said switch means toward open position, means responsive to crank ing current for holding said switch means closed during cranking but arranged to allow said switch means to open when the cranking load is relieved and means under the control of the operator for holding said switch means open.

2. In a starter controlling device, a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit therefor including normally closed contacts and a manual switch, means actuated by the closing movement of the starting switch for biasing said contacts to openposition, means energized by the cranking current for holding said contacts closed during cranking, and means directly under the control of said manual switch for locking said contacts open.

'3. In a semi-automatic starter control for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including astarting switch, a control circuit therefor including a manual switch and make and break means, means whereby closure of the starting switch displaces the elements of the make and break device in unison and holds one only thereof in displaced position, and means responsive to cranking current for holding said elements in displaced position.

4. In a semi-automatic starter control for in ternal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a starting switch, a control circuit there for including a manual switch and make and break means, means whereby closure of the starting switch displaces the elements of the make and break device in unison and holds one only thereof in displaced position, means responsive to cranking current for holding said elements in displaced position, and means including said manual switch for controlling said first holding means.

5. In a semi-automatic starter control for internal combustion engines, a starting switch, a set of yieldably mounted control contacts, means actuated by closure of the starting switch for displacing said contacts in unison and means responsive to the relief of the cranking load for releasing one only of said contacts.

6. In a semiautomatic starter control for internal combustion engines, a starting switch, a set of yieldably mounted control contacts, means actuated by closure of the starting switch for displacing said contacts in unison, means responsive to cranking current for holding said contacts displaced, and means under the control of the operator for holding one only of said contacts in displaced position.

7. A semi-automatic starting system for internal combustion engines including a magnetic starting switch having main switch contacts and control contacts, a main armature for controlling the main contacts, means operated by said main armature for displacing the control contacts in unison, an auxiliary armature and means operated by said auxiliary armature for holding one only of said control contacts in displaced position.

8. A semi-automatic starting system for internal combustion engines including a magnetic starting switch having main switch contacts and control contacts, a main armature for controlling the main contacts, means operated by said main armature for displacing the control contacts in unison, means responsive to cranking current for holding the control contacts displaced, an auxiliary armature, and means operated by said auxiliary armature for holding one only of said control contacts in displaced position.

9. A semi-automatic starting system for internal combustion engines including a magnetic starting switch having main switch contacts and control contacts, a main armature for controlling the main contacts, means operated by said main armature for displacing the control contacts in unison, an auxiliary armature and means operated by said auxiliary armature for holding one only of said control contacts in displaced position, and means under the control of the operator for controlling said auxiliary armature.

MAURICE P. WHITNEY.

Images