US2516787A - Starting of internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1950 c. J. MOODY 2,516,787

STARTING 0F INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 16, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 21 F G I INVENTOR. CLARK JMULZUY BYCQQQQMM y 5, 1950 c. J. MOODY 2,516,787

STARTING 0F INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 16, 1948 3 SheetsSheet 2 llllllllHl llll ll I I 33 as 32 INVENTOR. CLARK JMUUJJY .ATTUHZYEY July 25, 1950 c J. MOODY s'ma'rmc 0F INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 16, 1948 IN VEN TOR. C'LA RK J MUDDY .AT'TUHNEY I Y 6 7 6 B Patented July 25, 1950 OFFICE STARTING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENG INES

Clark J. Moody, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to California Research Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application June 16, 1948, Serial No. 33,365

1 This invention relates to the starting of internal combustion engines in cold weather. The starting of automobile and airplane engines under low temperature conditions has long presented a problem. Many years ago automobile engines were equipped with primer cups connected to the engine into which cups gasoline was poured and thence conducted to the cylinders to prime the latter for expediting the starting of the engine. For the past decade or more it has not been customary to equip automobile engines with such cups.

The problem of starting automobile and airplane engines under frigid conditions, especially at temperature substantially below zero, has re- -mained a source of considerable trouble and Fluid suitable for quickly starting annoyance. internal combustion engines in frigid weather, at temperature as low as -40' F. has been available on the market for, several years. Such fluid contains ethyl ether as its major component. One mode of application of the fluid to the engine has been through a pump mounted on the dash, and connected to a tank containing the starting or priming fluid, for impelling the fluid through a suitable connection to the intake manifold of the engine. Another method involves the use of a spray gun for injecting fluid from a supply tank through a hole in the manifold of a Diesel engine or through the air filter of a gasoline engine.

The foregoing methods of starting internal combustion engines in cold weather involve storing substantial quantities of the starting or priming fluid in a supply tank or container, as, for example, a gallon can or a three-pint can, from which fluid is transferred to a smaller can connected to the pump or spray gun. The fluid remaining in the opened gallon or three-pint can creates a storage hazard; while the can connected to the pump or spray gun also stores fluid for repeated use.

The present invention obviates the hazards incident to the prior practice in the storage of the inflammable and explosive starting or priming fluid. The invention provides a charge of starting fluid, sutflcient for one starting of the engine, in a flexible container which is discarded after a single use. More specifically, it provides a charge of starting or priming fluid in a capsule of gelatinous material. It further provides for the prompt and effective injection of the fluid into the engine by merely rupturing the capsule.

Other features and advantages of the inven 8 Claims. (Cl. 123-187-5) tion will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

-Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in longitudinal section and partly broken away,

showing an embodiment of a cup adapted for connection to the engine and for disrupting the capsule containing priming-fluid, in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, on an enlarged scale, showing a priming-fluid capsule.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of an internal combustion engine with the cup of Fig. 1 connected thereto.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the capsule-receiving cup mounted on the dashboard of an automobile or other vehicle and connected to the intake-manifold of the engine.

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section of an alternative embodiment of capsule-receiving cup.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation, with parts in vertical section, showing means for mounting a capsule-receiving cup on a vehicle dashboard.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view showing a capsule-receiving cup mounted on a pump on a dashboard.

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical section of another modification of a capsule-receiving cup having provisions for readily adapting it for receiving capsules of different sizes.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the cup of Fig. 8 in condition for receiving a capsule of larger size.

Figs. 10 and 11 are similar views showing said cup conditioned for receiving capsules of still larger sizes.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing a series of capsules of different sizes which may be placed in the respective cups of Figs. 8-11, inclusive.

Referring to the drawings, the capsule shell 10 shown in Fig. 2 is formed of gelatinous material, such as a suitably plasticized commercial gelatin solution. Said gelatin solution may be the conventional one of gelatin, glycerin, and water, the glycerin acting as a plasticizer of the gelatin. I have found that the conventional plasticized gelatin capsule shells employed for the marketing of bath oils are particularly well adapted to serve as containers for the starting or priming fluid.

As previously noted, the major constituent of efi'ective cold-weather starting or priming fluid on the market is ethyl ether, which is highly volatile and combustible. I have taken conventional oil bath capsules, replaced their oil bath content by conventional ethyl ether starting fluid, and, after rescaling the capsules, subjected them to abnormally high temperatures as well as to temperatures abnormally low. My tests showed that the capsules retained their elasticity and preserved the starting fluid effectively and without leakage, despite the abnormal temperatures to which they were subjected.

In accordance with my invention, a quantity of priming or starting fluid, suflicient for one starting of an internal combustion engine, is sealed within a capsule shell of suitable plastic mate rial such as above referred to. One way in which the charge of priming fluid may be discharged into the engine is shown in Fig. 1, wherein a primer cup II communicates through passage I2 and a suitable pipe fitting I3 with the interior of an internal combustion engine I4 (Fig. 3). As shown in Fig. 3, the pipe I3 may conveniently be connected to a pipe section I3, which in turn is fitted into a threaded hole provided in the intake manifold I4 or any other desired portion of the engine I4 for communicating with the interior of one or more of the cylinders. A rotatable valve I5 is provided with an opening I6 movable into and out of registry with the passage I 2, and carries on its outer end a suitable handle II. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the passage I2 is blocked by said valve I5. handle I! normally maintains said valve in that position.

Extending upwardly in the cup II is a needle or puncturing tool I8 for rupturing the plastic capsule when the latter is inserted in the cup. Said puncturing tool I8 may be mounted in any suitable way in said cup. As shown in Fig. 1, it may conveniently have a curved or bowed extension I9, attached to the side of the cup by a rivet 20. The cup II is provided with a cover 2|, pivoted at 22, which cover may be of well-known type, continuously biased to closed position by a suitable spring (not shown) extending about the pivot 22.

In the operation of the cup arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the handle I! is operated to rotate the valve I5 to open communication between the cup and the pipe fitting I3 by way of the passage I2. The cover 2| is then opened and the capsule containing the priming fluid is inserted by hand into the cup. During the insertion of the capsule, its lower end encounters the tool I8 and is punctured thereby in the further downward movement of said capsule. As soon as the capsule is fully inserted the operator withdraws his hand, and the cover 2I is closed. The highly volatile priming fluid, released from the punctured capsule, proceeds downwardly through passage I2 and fitting I3 into the intake manifold or other portion of the engine so that the latter may be quickly started. Prior to starting of the engine, the handle I! is operated to restore the valve I5 to the closed position shown in Fig. 1. The ruptured capsule may be withdrawn from the tool I8 and discarded at any convenient time after discharge of its contents.

As shown in Fig. 4, the cup I I may be mounted, on the dashboard 23 of an automobile, airplane,

ormotor boat, through a pipe 24 extending from the fitting I3 to the intake manifold of the engine H. Y a

The weight of the In Fig.5 I have shown a modified embodiment,

4 top has perforations 28 which provide communication between the interior of the cup and the interior of the pipe fitting 26. Said fitting is connected by suitable piping to the intake mani fold of the engine, as in Fig. 3. or 4, for example.

Surrounding the top portion 21 of said fitting is a spring 29, seated at its lower end in the bottom of the cup and bearing at its upper end against a washer 30.

The exterior of the cup 25 is threaded, as shown at 3|, for cooperation with interior screw threads 32 on the skirt or flange 33 of a cover 34. Projecting downwardly from said cover is a boss or extension 35, which, as the cover is screwed downwardly on the cup, presses downwardly upon the upper end of a capsule I0 to force the lower end of said capsule on to the point of the puncturing cone 21. The cover 34 may be knurled, as shown. to facilitate turning thereof by hand.

A piercing element 36 projects downwardly from the cover boss 35, and may be suitably attached thereto, as by a screw-threaded extension 36' of said piercing element.

In the operation of the cup shown in Fig. 5, the capsule I0 is inserted with its lower end resting upon the washer 30. The cover 34 is then applied, and is rotated so as to move downwardly on the cup. The downwardly extending element 36 of said cover acts upon the upper end of the capsule to force the latter downwardly, compressing the spring 29, and bringing the lower end of the capsule against the tip of the cone 21. As the downward movement of the cover 34 continues, the capsule is punctured at both its upper and lower ends. Puncturing of the capsule at both ends is found desirable, in the Fig. 5 arrangement, to insure that the capsule is thoroughly drained under the vacuum applied to the interior of the tightly closed receptacle 25 during the operation of the engine. In the cranking of the engine by the starter the fluid contents of the capsule pass quickly therefrom into the engine, with resultant prompt starting of the latter.

After the engine has been started, the cover 34 may be unscrewed from the primer cup 25. As the cover is unscrewed the washer is raised by the spring 29, and projects the punctured capsule upwardly so that the operator may readily remove it from the cup.

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated a convenient form of means for mounting the primer cup on a dashboard 31. Such mounting means comprises a block 38, of wood or other suitable material, extending through and threaded in an opening in said dashboard. Said block may be held in place by nuts 33 and 40 threaded on its opposite ends and engaging opposite sides of the dashboard 31. A cover 4| of metal or other desired material may be applied over the front end of said block, as shown.

The block 38 has bored therethrough a downwardly inclined opening through which extends a pipe 42, threaded at opposite ends. At one end said pipe is threaded into a fitting 43,.having a curved passageway 44, into the upper end of which passageway there is threaded the lower end of the previously mentioned fitting 25. It will, of course, be understood that at its lower end the pipe 42 is connected through other piping (such as pipe 24 in Fig. 4) to the intake manifold or other part of the engine. a capsule in the cup 25 passes downwardly through fittings 26 and 43, pipe 42, and connected piping to the engine to be started. .The

Thus the priming fluid released from block 38 provides an eifective support for the pipe 42, fittings l8 and 28, and cup 25.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7, there is mounted on the dash a pump 48 of conventional design, operated by a plunger 81 through a knob 48 readily grasped by the operator. The fitting 28 of primer cup 25 is threaded into a fitting 49 (similar to fitting 48 in Fig. 6) and communicating with a pipe 58 threaded into said fitting. At its further end, said pipe communicates through an elbow ii and pipe section 52 with the interior of the pump. The latter, in turn, communicates, through conduit '53 and piping connected thereto, with the intake manifold or other portion of the engine to be started. The fitting 49 may, as shown, be mounted in a suitable clamp 54 fastened to the pump casing. The pipe may extend through aligned openings in the dash 45 and in suitable nuts 55, 55 threaded on the pump for clamping the same firmly to the dash.

In the operation of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, the operator inserts a capsule in the primer cup 25, closes the cover 34, and then operates the pump plunger l'I. The priming fluid thus is pumped from the cup 25, through pipe 5'.) and conduit 53, to the engine. This arrangement is particularly useful in installations where the engine is at the same or a higher level than the dashboard. as in airplanes.

Since diflerent sizes'of engines may require different amounts of starting fluid, the single-use capsules may be made in correspondingly different sizes. For instance, in Fig. 12, there is indicated diagrammatically at a capsule suitable for starting an engine of a light automobile. Capsule 6| shown as twice the size of capsule 68, may be used to start an engine of larger size, as for a heavier automobile or a truck. Capsule 62, three times the size of capsule 80, may be employed to start a still larger engine. The capsule 63, four times the size of capsule 80, may be used for an aeroplane engine. It will, of course, be understood that the capsule sizes may be varied as desired, in accordance with the amounts of fluid required for starting different engines.

In Figs, 8-11, I have shown a further embodiment of a primer cup or capsule receptacle, arranged to accommodate readily different sizes of capsules. In Fig. 8, the cup or receptacle includes a lower puncturing tool 66, which may conveniently comprise a conical member 61 extending outwardly from a base member 68. The end of said cone opposite said base member 83 forms a piercing projection. Below said projection said cone is open to the interior of the receptacle 65 through one or more openings 61' in said cone.

The base 68 has an extension 69, externally threaded for engagement with a correspondingly threaded opening in the lower wall portion 65' of into a communicating passageway I0. It will of course be understood that said passageway I0 is placed in communication with the intake manifold of an engine, by suitable piping.

The base or flange 68 forms a seat for the lower end of a coil spring II, the upper end of which spring supports a washer I2.

To insure drainage of the fluid from the interior of the receptacle 6! when the base 88 5 does not closely fit the side walls of the receptacle 88 above the bottom wall portion 66', one or more drainage openings, such as shown at 69', may be provided in the extension 69 as shown. Said openings provide communication between the lower interior portion of receptacle 85 and the hollow interior of the extension 69. so that any fluid in the lowermost part of said receptacle adjacent the flange 88 may drain out through said openings 69'.

wardly extending boss or plunger portion I8, exteriorly threaded for engagement with interior threads in the upper portion of the receptacle. Said plunger has a threaded hole therein, which, in Fig. 8, receives the threaded end I5 of a plunger extension 16. The latter, in turn has a threaded hole adapted to receive the threaded end 11 of a further extension or spacer I8.

The spacer I8 also is provided with a threaded hole in its lower end, receiving the threaded extension I9 of an upper puncturing tool 88. Said puncturing tool 80 may conveniently be of the same construction as described above with respect to the puncturing tool 66. When no capsule is in the receptacle 65, and the cover I3 is screwed completely into said receptacle, the parts above-described assume the position shown in Fig. 8, wherein the upper puncturing tool 80 extends through an opening 8| in the washer I2.

When the receptacle 65 in Fig; 8 is to be used for starting the engine to which it is connected. the cover I3 is unscrewed, and removed from the receptacle. The extensions I6 and I8, and tool 80, being secured to said cover, are of course removed with it. A capsule, such as shown at 60, is then inserted into said receptacle so that the lower end of said capsule rests upon the washer I2. The unitary assembly of the cover I3, extensions I6 and I8, and tool 80, is then inserted and 45 the cover is screwed downwardly into the receptacle. The tool 80 engages the upper end of the capsule and forces the latter downwardly, against the action of the spring II, bringing the lower end of the capsule against the lower puncturing b0 tool 86, which then projects through the opening 8| in the lowered washer I2. As the downward movement of the cover I3 and tool 88 continues, the upper and lower ends of the capsule are punctured by the tools 88 and 86, and the b5 volatile contents pass from the capsule to the engine by way of the hollow interior of the threaded extension 89, and the passageway II).

If a capsule of larger size, such as the capsule 6|, is to be used, the intermediate extension I6 00 is detached from the cover plunger 14, and the extension or spacer I8 is attached directly to said cover plunger, as shown in Fig. 9. The upper puncturing tool 80 is now spaced appropriately from the lower tool 66 for puncturing 0 said larger capsule as the cover I3 is screwed downwardly into the receptacle.

When a still larger capsule, such as capsule 62, is to be inserted in the receptacle, the extension or spacer I8 is removed, and the end I9 of the tool 88 is screwed directly into the cover plunger I4, as shown in Fig. 10.

For using a capsule of further increased size, such as capsule 83. an extension or adapter sleeve 83 is employed. This sleeve has an upper portion interiorly threaded for cooperation with the The cover I3 for the receptacle 85 has a down r exterior threads on the cover plunger ll, and a lower portion ll exteriorly threaded to cooperate with the interior threads in the upper part of the receptacle 3!. When said capsule of further increased size is to be used, the cover 13 and attached plunger I are removed from ,the receptacle, and the downward extension 84 of the sleeve 88 is screwed into the receptacle, as shown in Fig. 11. Then, after insertion of the :apsule, the cover I3, with too] 80 directly attached thereto, is screwed downwardly into the upper portion of said sleeve 83. During said iownward movement of the cover 13, the upper and lower tools 59 and 8 effect puncturing of :he corresponding ends of the capsule.

For conveniently mounting the receptacle 55 )n the dashboard of an automobile, the recep- ;acle may have formed integrally therewith a )racket 86 having laterally-extending flanges l1, I! provided with holes 8! for the passage of aolts or screws.

In addition to the advantages of the various "eatures of my invention hereinbefore referred 10, it will be noted that the capsules lend themielves readily to speedy filling by conventional iutomatic machinery.

When desired the capsules may be conveniently melted in sleeves of cardboard or other suitable naterial, open at their ends, whereby the crosssectional diameter of the capsules may be preierved despite pronounced increase in temperamm and the capsules may be readily fitted into )rimer cups having substantially the same diam- :ter.

Where the volatile fluid contents of the capsule, is in the case of an ethyl ether starting fluid, are

ieavier than air, the fluid contents readily passinder the influence of gravity from the punc- ;ured capsule into the engine manifold. In the event that it is desired to admit air to the re- :eptacle, as where the engine manifold is at a iigher level than the receptacle for the capiule, and a pump is employed as in Fig. '7, it will re apparent that an air inlet valve of any suitis or conventional type may be provided in a :ide wall of the receptacle for admitting air ihereto while at the same time preventing the scape of fluid from the receptacle to the external itmosphere.

The upper puncturing tool 35 for the recepacle 25, in Fig. 5, may if desired be of the same :onstruction as that of the puncturing tool 88.

The terms and expressions which I have emloyed are used as terms of description and not |f limitation, and I have no intention, in the we of such terms and expressions, of excluding my equivalents of the features shown and de cribed or portions thereon, but recognize that 'arious modifications are possible within the cope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a charge of priming fluid or an internal combustion engine, and a singleuse gelatinous capsule containing said charge.

higher volatility than gasoline, and a llIIBlB-uoo- 5. A primer cup for internal combustion en'- gines, said cup having a chamber for communication with said engine and adapted to receive a priming-fluid capsule, a piercing element in said cup adapted to engage the lower end of said capsule, a cover movable into and out of said cup, a piercing element attachable to said cover for engaging the upper end of said capsule, and

means comprising an adapter element movablewith respect to said last mentioned piercing element and insertible into said cup for varying the distance of said last mentioned piercing element from the first mentioned piercing element to ac commodate capsules of varying sizes.

6. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup having a chamber for communication with said engine and adapted to receive a priming=fluid capsule, a piercing element in said cup adapted to engage the lower endof said capsule, a cover movable into and out 01' said cup, an adapter sleeve insertible into said cup and having an upper portion for receiving said cover, and a piercing element carried by said cover for engaging the upper end of said capsule.

7. In combination, a charge of priming fluid containing ethyl ether, and a single-use gelatinous capsule containing said charge.

8. In combination, a primer cup having an REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,526,838 Dart Feb. 17, 1925 1,592,953 Midgeley, Jr. July 20, 1926 2,018,570 Poetschke Oct. 22, 1935 2,364,356 Greathous'e Dec. 5, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,252 Great Britain of 1913 32,684 France of 1927 (addition to 826.458)

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