US2103405A - Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

D 1937. F. 'r.- CHRISTIAN 2,103,405

AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 3 1mb 7. I Wa/ A TTORNE y' Dec. 28, 1937. F. r. CHRISTIAN 2,103,405 AUTOMATIC STARTING IECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 28, 1937 AUTOMATIC STAB-TING FOB COMBUSTION ENG Frank '1'. christian, Elmira, N. 1., aldgnor to Eclipse Machine Company,

N. Y a

corporation of New York Application April 29, 1931, Serial No. 538,049

Claims. (Cl. 177-311) This invention relates to automatic starting mechanism for lntemal combustion engines and more particularly to a device for protecting the starting mechanism and the source of electrical 5 energy in case the engine fails to start after a predetermined time of cranking, or in case of an overloading of the starting mechanism such as would be caused by an attempt to start a motor vehicle with the transmission gears engaged and the brakes set, or by a Jamming of the starting gearing due to a failure to secure proper mesh thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic starting mechanism embodying 18 a novel means for opening the starting circuit after a predetermined amount of energy has been expended through the starting circuit without securing self-operation of the engine.

Another object is to provide such a device in which the automatic opening of the starting circult is secured by means of a heat-responsive device having a heating element in the starting motor, circuit.

A further object is to. provide such a device in which when the safety device has functioned, the

starting circuit will remain open until the operator has performed some act to close the break in the starting circuit.

Another object is to provide such a device which furnishes an audible signal to warn the operator of the inoperative condition of the engine or starting mechanism and remind him to disconnect the automatic starting mechanism.

- Further objects and advantages will be apparcut to those skilled in this art from the followins description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of one preferred embodiment of the invention; the

automatic starting switch elements being shown,

in elevation and partly in vertical section; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a starting motor circuit including a battery ill, one terminal of which is grounded at I l and the other terminal of which is connected by a lead I: to an automatic 7 starting mechanism comprising a starting switch having'stationary elements I3 and I4 and a movable insulated bridging element I6. The lead I! is connected to the stationary switch element i3, and the stationary element 14 is connected through a single turn coil I! to a heating element it, and this in turn is connected to the starting 55 motor 8M through a second switch comprising stationary elements II and. I 8 movable, insulated bridging element 22.

The movable element I! of the starter switch is mounted on a magnetic plunger 23 which is normally maintained in its upper position by means 5 such as a spring 14 but which may be drawn down to close the starting switch by a solenoid 26. Said solenoid is included in a control circuit which when closed, causes the solenoid 26 to be enersized to close the starting switch. This control 1 circuit comprises the battery ll, lead l2, ammeter A, manual switch 21 (which may, as indicated, be the ignition switch of the internal combustion engine) lead 28, solenoid 26, lead 29, fixed contact 3| movable contact 32, spring strip 33 and ground 15 connection 34. The spring strip I; is arranged to normally hold the contact 32 against the fixed contact 3| whereby closure of the manual switch 21 by the operator will cause energization of the control circuit.

Means are provided for automatically opening the control circuit when the engine starts, for holding said circuit open as long as the engine is self-operative, and for delaying the closing thereof until a predetermined time after the engine 25 has come substantially to rest. As illustrated, these means include a wedge-shaped weight member 30 mounted on the end of the spring strip 33 in the path of movement of a roller 31. Said roller is mounted on the end of a lever 38 pivoted at SI and having a pin 4| at an intermediate point thereof projecting laterally between a pair of 42 and 43 on a movable magnetic relay plunger M. A voltage coil 46 and a generator coil 41 are arranged to surround the lower part of the 86 relay plunger 44 and, when energized, attract the same downwardly. The voltage coil 48 is connected atone end by a lead II to the stationary starting switch member I, and is grounded at its other end at It. Generator coil 41 is con- 40 nected at one end by a lead II to the generator G and is also groimded at its other end at 49. Relay plunger 44 is normally retained in its upper position against a spacing sleeve I! by means such as a spring I: whereby the roller 31 is maintained 45 as illustrated out of contact with the weight member ll so that the contact 32 normally rests against contact 3|. r

The movable member 22 of the second switch member is biased toward open position by means 50 such as a spring I4 and is adapted to be retained in closed position by means of a latch 58 pivoted at I1 and having a nose 58 adapted to engage under a terminal flange II of the switch member 22. The latch ll is yieldably urged toward engag- II ing position by means such as a spring 6! engaging the free end thereof and adapted to move it toward a suitable stop member 62.

The-latch 56 is adapted to be moved out of engaging position by means of an electro-magnet 63 suitably mounted adjacent the free end of said latch. One terminal-of this electro-magnet is grounded asindicated at 64 and the other terminal is connected by means of a lead 66 to a fixed contact '67. A heat-responsive member 68 is fixedly mounted at one end in any suitable manner as indicated at 69 and is provided at its i'reeend with a movable contact 1| adapted to engage the fixedcontact 61. 58 is arranged within the heating element iii of the starting circuit, and the contact H is electrlcally connected to the heating element as indicated at ill. The heat-responsive member $8 is so arranged that a rise in temperature thereof causes the free end to move contact H into engagement with the fixed contact 61 and thus energize the electromagnet" 63 from the starting circuit.

In the normal operation of the device. closure of the ignition switch 21 closes the control circuit, thus causing the solenoid 36 to close the starting switch l3, i6, M. This completes the starting circuit through the single turn coil l'l, heating element I8, second switch I9, 22, 2i, and starting motor SM whereby the starting motor is caused to crank the engine. During this time the voltage coil 46 is energized by reason of its connection the latter to overcome the efiect of the single turn coil Ill and the spring 53, and draw the plunger 34 downwardly. This causes'the lever 38 to carry the roller 3! into engagement with the weight member 36 and bend the spring strip 33 backward sufficiently to move the contact 32 away from contact 3!. The consequent opening of the control circuit causes the deenergization of the solehold 26, thus releasing the starting switch plunger 23 whereupon the spring 26 operates to open the starting switch. The relay plunger 36 is not immediately released, however, since the voltage coil 56 is traversed by a slightamount of current generated by the starting motor spinning by momentum in its residual field, this current be-- ing sufilcient to hold the plunger 44 against its pole piece l3 until the starting motor has come substantially to rest. Before the voltage coil 38 becomes entirely deenergized, the generator G which is driven from the engine builds up sufilcient voltage to energize the generator coil t? and retain the relay plunger M in its lower position, thus holding the contact 32 out of engagement with contact 3!.

If the engine should stall for any reason, the generator coil ll becomes deenergized and the spring 53 raises the relay plunger 44, releasing the weight member 36 which vibrates for a predetermined length of time due to its pendulous mounting on the spring strip 33, thus giving the engine time to come completelyto rest. when The heat-responsive member the vibration ceases and the contact 32 comes to rest against the contact 3|, the starting operation is repeated.

If, however, when the ignition switch 21 is closed, the engine should fail'to start owing to improper functional conditions'or to a jamming of the starter gearing, the heating element l8 will gradually heat up the heat-responsive member 68 until the latter deflects sumciently to cause contact ii to engage contact 61. The consequent energization of the electro-magnet 63 causes the latch 56 to be swung out of engaging position whereby the movable switch member 22 is released and moves outwardly under the action of spring 54, thus breaking the starting circuit.

When the starting circuit is thus broken, the deenergization of the single turn coil l1 allows the voltage coil 46 to withdrawthe relay plunger it, thus opening the control circuit and releasing the starting switch. As soon as thestarting switch opens, however, the voltage coil 46 is deenergized and the spring 53' then returns the relay plunger M to its upper position, causing the starting switch to be closed again as soon as the vibrator contact 32 comes to rest against contact 3i. The starting switch plunger 23 and relay plunger 46 are thus caused to continuously reciprocate at short time intervals determined by the vibrator time delay element 33. This produces a characteristic clicking sound which warns the operator of the inoperative condition and reminds him to open the ignition switch preparatory to taking steps to secure proper starting action.

When the inoperative condition of the engine has been remedied, it is only necessary for the operator to depress the movable switch member ed on the end of the heat-responsive member 68' and electrically connected to the heating element it of the starting circuit, the heat-responsive member 58' being so arranged as normally to hold the switch member ti against the switch member Bil.

Means are provided to secure a quick break between the switch members and ill, and to retain the switch member at in open position until released by the operator. In the form illustrated, this means comprises a yieldable detent in the formof a plunger 82 carrying a roller 83 of suitable insulating material which is normally pressed against one end of switch member 8i by means such as a spring 88. The switch member 8i is preferably provided with depressions 86 and iiladapted to conform to the roller 33 and thereby cause a spring 86 to be;com-- pressed whenever the switch member at moves to or from its closed position.

The operation of this device is substantially similar to that previously described. It the engine fails to start, the heating element l8 causes the heat-responsive member 68' to tend to be deflected in a direction to move the switch member 8| away from the switch member 80. When this eflect becomes large enough to overcome the resistance of the detent 82, the switch member ti will snap open, thus breaking the starting circuit. When the operator, warned by the ensuing clicking of the starting switch and relay plunger, has taken the necessary steps to secure proper functioning oi the engine and starting apparatus, it is merely necessary for him to withdraw the detent 82 by means of the head 88 thereof, thus allowing the heat-responsive member I which has now cooled, to move the switch member Ii to closed position. Reclosure oi the ignition switch 21 will thereupon cause the automatic starting device to operate in the usual manner.

the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto;

What is claimed is:

1. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines including a starting motor and means for automatically energizing said starting motor it the engine stalls and for deenergizing said'motor when the engine starts, and auxiliary means for deenergizing said motor and maintaining the same deenergized in case the motor fails to start the engine in a predetermined time, said energizing and deenergizing means comprising elements rendered eiiective by the operation oi said auxiliary deenergizing means to produces signal to theoperator in case of such failure to start.

2. Automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines including a starting motor and means for automatically energizing said starting motor ii the engine stalls and for deenergizing said motor when the engine starts, and auxiliary means for deenergizlng said motor and maintaining the same deenergized in casethemotoriailstostarttheengineina predetermined time, said energizing and deenergizing means comprising elements rendered effective by the operation of said auxiliary deenergizing means to produce a sustained audible signal until stopped by the operator. 3. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a motor and a starting switch, means including a control circuit for closing said starting switch it the engine stalls, and for opening said switch when the engine starts, and auxiliary means for opening and holding open said starting circuit ii the motor fails to start in a predetermined time, said closing and opening means comprising elements controlled by said control circuit and rendered eilective by the operation of said auxiliary opening means to'produce an audible warning signal.

4. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a motor and a starting switch having an electro-magnetic actuating plunger, means including a control circuit for closing said starting switch it the engine stalls and opening said switch when the engine starts, and independent means for opening and holding open said starting circuit if the motor fails to start the engine in a predetermined time, said closing and opening means comprising elements controlled by said control circuit and rendered eflective by the op-' eration of said auxiliary opening means to cause a continuous periodic reciprocation or the switch plunger.

' 5. In an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a motor and a starting switch, means for closing the starting switch it the engine stalls, means for opening said switch responsive to a predetermined diminution of the cranking current, a second switch in series with said starting switch for interrupting the cranking current therethrough, and means responsive to a predetermined excess of cranking current for opening said second switch.

' FRANK '1. CHRISTIAN.

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