US2681053A - Starting of internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

June 15, 1954 J MOODY STARTING 0F INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG] 7 A I IIIIIAIIII iurvli FIG.4

INVENTOR 7 CLARK J. MOODY ATTORNEY.

June 15, 1954 c. J. MOODY 2,681,053

STARTING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5

79 I INVENTOR.

CLARK J. MOODY ATTORNEY.

Patented June 1 5, 1954 UNITED STATE ATENT OFFICE STARTING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Application July 29, 1950, Serial No. 176,691

16 Claims.

This invention relates to the starting of internal combustion engines in cold weather. The problem of starting automobile and airplane engines under frigid conditions, especially at temperatures substantially below zero, has long been a source of considerable trouble and annoyance. Fluid, containing ethyl ether as its major component, and suitable for quickly starting internal combustion engines in frigid weather, at temperatures as low as 40 F., has been available on the market for years. 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 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 invention disclosed in my application Serial No. 33,365, filed June 16, 1948, now Patent No. 2,516,787, July 25, 1950, obviates the hazards incident to the prior practice in the storage of the inflammable and explosive starting or priming fluid. In accordance with the disclosure in that application, a charge of starting fluid, sufiicient for one starting of the engine, is stored in a flexible container which is discarded after a single use; such container specifically comprising a capsule of suitable plastic material, which capsule is placed in a primer cup connected to the engine and then ruptured for discharging its contents into the interior of said engine.

The present invention provides a novel and improved primer cup for receiving and puncturing the capsules. The invention provides a primer cup, simple in construction but particularly efflcient in operation, for receiving one or more capsules and puncturing them with marked facility to discharge their contents into the engine.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described and claimed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 75,950, filed February 11, 1949, and now abandoned.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a primer cup embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, showing the embodiment of Fig. l mounted on a pump on a dashboard of a vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a view of the lower portion of the primer cup, showing a plurality of capsules therein.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation showing the primer cup mounted on the dashboard of 2. vehicle and connected to the intake-manifold of the engine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of another primer cup embodying certain modifications of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view showing in elevation the puncturing element of Fig. 5, together with a portion of the supporting plunger.

Fig. 7 is a plan view, looking upwardly from the bottom of the elements shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view of a further detail.

Referring to Figs. 1-4 of the drawings, a primer cup H comprises a receptacle portion I2 adapted to receive the capsule l3 of suitable plastic material containing starting fluid, such as the conventional ethyl ether fluid above referred to. As disclosed in my aforementioned application, Serial No. 33,365, conventional plasticized gelatin capsule shells of the type employed for the marketing of bath oils have been found to be well adapted to serve as containers for the starting or priming fluid.

Removably attached to the receptacle i2 is a barrel M in the end I5 of which there is slidably mounted a plunger l6 carrying a puncturing tool i1. Conveniently the open end portion E8 of said barrel may be provided with exterior threads, as shown, for engagement with interior threads on a boss [9 extending from the receptacle portion I2.

The puncturing tool l'l may be attached to the plunger It in any suitable manner. For instance, the tool may be welded or otherwise secured to a flange 29, attached in turn by welding or otherwise to an end of said plunger [5. The flange 29 may also serve as a guide for said plunger during its movements in the barrel M. The end of said plunger which projects through the end E5 of the barrel may be threadedly attached, as shown, to a sleeve 2| depending from a knob 2! which may be conveniently grasped for manipulation of the plunger.

The plunger it may be solid, if desired, but preferably is hollow to save material and decrease its weight. Adjacent one end the plunger is provided with an external groove 22 for engagement with a spring-pressed ball 23 in the upper end portion of the barrel Ill. Said ball 23, in cooperation with said groove 22, thus serves as a detent to hold the plunger in its innermost position. Another groove 24 in the lower end portion of the plunger cooperates with said ball 23 to maintain the plunger in its fully retracted position.

The plunger flange 28 may be provided with holes to facilitate operation of the plunger in the event that liquid from punctured capsules should accumulate in the barrel l l.

The puncturing tool i? may also comprise barbs 29, for retracting the punctured capsule shell when the plunger is drawn backwardly.

The lower portion of the receptacle 3? is inwardly curved as shown; and projecting upwardly from the curved inner surface of said receptacle portion are a plurality of curved ribs [2. While two of said ribs are shown in Fig. 1, it will be understood that any desired number thereof (six, for example) may be provided, preferably equally spaced around the interior of the receptacle, to support the lower curved end of the capsule l3. Said ribs may conveniently be formed integrally with the receptacle.

Below its inwardly curved portion, the receptacle I2 is provided with a downward extension 25 having therein a longitudinal channel or counterbore 25. The latter, at its lower end, communicates through an opening 23' with a substantially horizontal passage 2? in a lateral extension 28 of said receptacle. Said passage 28 may be connected to the interior of the engine in any suitable manner. The inner ends of the ribs l2 tern inate substantially in line with the channel 26, as shown in Fig. 1; so that the space between said ends of said ribs is or" substantially the diameter of said channel. The spaces between adjacent rib surfaces communicate with said space between the ends of said ribs, and thus with said channel 26.

The receptacle portion !2 of the primer cup may be formed integral with, Or suitably secured to, a bracket 30 having laterally extending flanges 3| whereby said bracket, and thus the entire primer cup assembly carried thereby, may be readily bolted to the dash-board 32 of an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle.

In Fig. 2, the primer cup assembly is shown mounted on a pump 35 of conventional design, operated by a plunger 35 through a knob 37 readily grasped by the operator. The extension 28 of the primer cup receptacle may, as shown, be mounted in a suitable clamp 33 secured to the pump casing. A pipe elbow 39 is threaded into the passage 2'! of said receptacle extension 28 and in turn communicates through pipe section 63, elbow 4i, and pipe section :32 with the intericr of the pump. The latter is connected through conduit 33 and suitable piping with the intake manifold or other portion of the engine to be started. This arrangement is particularly useful in installations where the engine is at the same or a higher level than the dashboard, as in aeroplanes.

When the primer cup is connected to a point in the engine below said cup, the pump may be omitted, if desired, and a connection made directly between said cup and engine. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the pressed detent 2'3.

4 cup II is secured to the dashboard is through the bracket 30 and the passage 21 in the cup extension 28 is connected directly through piping with the intake manifold of the engine 3.

To insert a capsule, the barrel [e is unscrewed from the receptacle [2. The capsule is then placed in the receptacle, with its lower end seated on the upper surfaces of the curved ribs l2. Then the barrel l 4 is screwed into said receptacle, the plunger I6 having previously been retracted so that its groove 24 is engaged by the spring- The plunger may then be pushed downwardly by the operator until the tip of the puncturing tool I! has passed through both ends of the capsule. The highly volatile primlng fluid, released from the punctured capsule proceeds downwardly through the channel 25, opening 26', and passage 2? and thence (in the arrangement of Fig. 4 directly to the engine through the piping 45. In the Fig. 3 arrangement, the fluid passing into said passage 2? is pumped to the engine by the operatorthrough actuation of the plunger 36.

When the plunger i6 is pushed downwardly to its fullest extent, with the tip of its puncturing tool extended through the lower end of the capsule, the upper groove 22 of said plunger I6 is engaged by the detent 23. Also, in this position of the plunger, its barbs 29 have passed complete- 1y through the upper end .01 the capsule. The channel 25 is of sufficient length to permit movement of the puncturing tool ii to such extent as to pass its tip completely through both ends of the capsule.

After the engine has been started, the plunger I6 is fully retracted, bringing its groove 24 into engagement with detent 23. Through the barbs 29, the punctured capsule shell is completely withdrawn into the barrel it. said barrel is then unscrewed from the receptacle l2, and the retracted capsule shell may be readily ejected through the open end of said barrel by pushing the plunger I 6 downwardly.

When the engine to be started is of a size larger than one which can be started by a single capsule, a plurality of capsules may be inserted in the barrel I l. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, one capsule has been placed on the ribs or shoulders E2 in the receptacle !2, and a second capsule has been placed in the barrel I l, with its lower end resting on the upper end of the first capsule. In Fig. 3 the plunger 16 is shown pushed downwardly sufficiently to bring the puncturing tool l3 through both ends of the upper capsule and into the upper end of the lower capsule, but it will of course be understood that the plunger may be moved further downwardly to bring the barbs 29 into the lower capsule and to pass the tip of the puncturing tool through the lower end of said bottom capsule. The contents of both punctured capsules pass down into passage 2'1 and thence to the engine.

If desired, the hollow interior of the plunger 16 may be open to the exterior through a hole 4?.

Turning now to the modified primer cup shown in Fig. 5, the receptacle portion 5i for receiving the capsule l3 has attached thereto a barrel 52. The end 53 of said barrel has slidably mounted therein a tubular plunger 54 carrying a puncturing tool 55. Conveniently, the open end portion 56 of said barrel may be formed with exterior threads, as shown, for engagement with interior threads on a boss 57 extending from the receptacle portion 51.

The puncturingtool .55 may be of Sheet steel,

bent along the major portion of its length into U-shaped cross-section to provide a longitudinal channel 58, and having the side walls at its lower end extended and pressed together into pointed formation as shown at 59. The upper end of said puncturing tool fits into the lower end of the tubular plunger 54 and may be secured there to in any suitable manner, as by welding or brazing. Also secured to the lower end of said lunger and to said puncturing tool, as by brazing or welding, is a, flange 60, which serves as a guide for the plunger during the movements of the latter in the barrel 52. Said flange 63 may be provided with holes 60 to facilitate operation of the plunger and the attached puncturing tool in the event that liquid from punctured capsules should accumulate in the barrel 52.

The end of the plunger 54 which projects through the end 53 of the barrel may be threadedly attached, as shown, to a sleeve 6| depending from a knob 62 which may be conveniently grasped for manipulation of the plunger. Said knob 62 is further provided with a depending skirt 63 which, when the knob and plunger are in their normal lowermost position, overlaps the upper end of the barrel 52 and insures against seepage of moisture into the screw threads connecting said plunger and knob, as might otherwise occur in installations where the primer cup is exposed to rain or snow.

Adjacent one end, the plunger 54 is provided with an external groove 64 for engagement with a spring-pressed ball 65 in the upper end portion of the barrel 52. Said ball 55, in cooperation with said groove 64, thus serves as a detent to hold the plunger in its innermost position. Another groove 65 in the lowermost portion of the plunger cooperates with said ball 65 to maintain the plunger in its fully retracted position.

The puncturing tool 55 may also comprise barbs 57, for retracting the punctured capsule shell when the plunger is drawn upwardly.

Near its lower end, the barrel 52 is provided with an outwardly flaring, downwardly extending, skirt 68; the lower end of which skirt is spaced from the adjacent wall of the barrel to provide an open-ended annular channel 69. Said channel receives an upwardly extending flange or extension Ill from the receptacle boss 51 when the barrel 52 is threaded into said boss, as shown in Fig. 5. The resultant over-lapping of said skirt 58 and flange l0 protects the screw threads within said boss from seepage of water into said threads when the primer cup is exposed to the elements. A gasket ll of rubber or other suitable resilient material, may be interposed between the upper end of the flange l0 and the adjacent end of the channel 69.

Between its upper and lower ends the receptacle 5| is provided with an inwardly curved seat portion 12 having a plurality of upwardly projecting curved ribs 12, similar to the ribs l2 of Fig. 1, to support the lower end of the capsule. Said ribs 12' may conveniently be formed integrally with the receptacle and are preferably equally spaced around its interior. A channel '13 extends downwardly through said ribs 12 and seat 12, and opens into a chamber M in the lower end of the receptacle 5|. Said lower end is normally closed by a plug 15 having screw threaded engagement with said end, and also having an exterior flange or knob 15 whereby the plug may be readily removed or reinserted. A gasket '56 may be interposed between said flange l5 and the lower end of said receptacle, as shown.

The screw plug I5 carries on its upper surface a cylindrical shell 11 having a bottom 18 and longitudinal slots 19 through its cylindrical wall. A screw 80, threaded through the bottom plate is of said shell, attaches said shell removably to the plug 15. Within said shell 11 there is positioned a cylindrical wire screen 8|, the lower end of which screen rests on the bottom plate 78 of said shell. A sheet of soft metal such as tin, may be folded over the upper ends of said shell and screen and crimped thereto to bind said ends firmly together, as shown at 8|. After the shell and screen are attached together and to the plug 15, the latter is screwed into the lower end of the receptacle 5 bringing the shell and screen fully into the receptacle chamber 14, with the upper ends of said shell and screen fitting into an annular curved recess 82 in said receptacle above the chamber 14.

A boss 83, extending laterally from the lower end portion of the receptacle 5|, is bored internally to provide an outlet channel 84 communicating with the aforementioned chamber id. Said bore, as shown, is threaded for attachment to a pipe or conduit extending to the intake manifold or other portion of the engine to be started.

When the slotted shell 11 and the screen 81 are inserted into the chamber 14, and the plug 75 is screwed into the lower end of the receptacle, the contents of a punctured capsule seated on the ribs 12' will flow through said shell and screen and thence through the outlet 84 to the engine. At the same time said shell and screen prevent any fragments of the capsule from passing into said outlet. This is of particular advantage in very cold weather, when the capsules may become somewhat brittle, and hardened fragments thereof pass downwardly through the channel 13. Any such fragments are caught by the screen BI, and may readily be removed simply by removing the plug l5.

It will also be apparent that the foregoing construction enables ready removal of the shell and screen as a unit from the plug 15, and their expeditious replacement, whenever either becomes worn out.

It will be noted that when said plug I5 is screwed fully into the receptacle 5|, the bottom plate 18 of the shell 11 is above the outlet 84, so that no fluid can accumulate in the shell ll or screen 8| below said outlet.

The receptacle portion 5| of the primer cup 50 may be formed integrally with, or suitably secured to, a bracket 85 having laterally extending flanges 86 whereby said bracket, and thus the entire primer cup assembly carried thereby, may readily be bolted to the dashboard of an automobile or other vehicle.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a priming-fluid capsule, a barrel ex-= tending from said receptacle, a tool for puncturing said capsule, and a plunger slidably mounted 7 in said barrel and carrying said tool, said plunger extending through an end of said barrel for manipulation to bring said tool into capsulepuncturing position and to withdraw said tool therefrom, and spring-actuated detent means in said barrel cooperating with said plunger to retain the latter and said tool in diiferent positions.

2. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a priming-fluid capsule, a barrel extending from said receptacle, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel, a tool movable with said plunger for puncturing said capsule, tool also having barb means movable into said capsule for withdrawing the same upon retraction of said plunger, an end of said plunger extending through said barrel for manipulation by an operator.

3. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a priming-fluid capsule, a barrel extending from said receptacle, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel, a tool movable with said plunger for puncturing said capsule, said tool also having barb means movable into said capsule for withdrawing the same upon retraction of said plunger, and spring-actuated detent means in said barrel cooperating with said plunger to retain the latter and said tool in different positions.

4. A. primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a priming-fluid capsule, spaced ribs in said chamber curved to conform with a curved end of said capsule and forming a seat therefor, said chamber having a discharge opening below said ribs adapted to be connected to an internal combustion engine for discharging priming fluid thereinto, and a tool movable with respect to said receptacle for puncturing said capsule.

5. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a priming fluid capsule, a barrel removably attached to said receptacle, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel, and a tool movable with said plunger for puncturing said capsule, said plunger extending through said barrel for manipulation to and from capsule-puncturing position, said barrel being of internal volume sufiicient to accommodate another capsule adjacent the capsule in said receptacle when said plunger is retracted from puncturing position.

6. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfluid capsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, said receptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluid from said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with said second chamber, and a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsule fragments from entering said outlet.

'7. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a priming-fluid capsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, said receptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluid from said cap sule and also having an outlet in communication with said second chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsule fragments from entering said outlet, and means comprising a plug engageable with said receptacle for inserting and removing said screen.

8. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle having. an internal chamber for receiving a priming-fluid capsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, said receptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluid from said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with said second chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsule fragments from entering said outlet, a plug rcmovably engaging said receptacle, and means for securing said screen to said plug.

9. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfluid capsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, said receptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluid from said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with said second chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsule fragments from entering said outlet, a plug removably engaging said receptacle, and means for removably securing said screen to said plug.

18. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfluid capsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, said receptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluid from said capsule and also having an outlet in corninunication with said second chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsule fragments from entering said outlet, a slotted shell surrounding said screen, and means removably engaging said receptacle and supporting said screen and said shell.

11. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfluid capsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, said receptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluid from said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with said second chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsule fragments from entering said outlet, a shell having a bottom portion engaged by the lower end of said screen and a slotted wall portion surrounding said screen, and means removably engaging said receptacle and supporting said screen and said shell.

12. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfiuid capsule, a seat in said chamber for an end or" said capsule, said receptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluid from said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with said second chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsule fragments from entering said outlet, a shell having a bottom portion engaged by the lower end of said screen and a slotted wall portion surrounding said screen, means securing the upper end of said screen to said shell, and means removably engaging said receptacle and supporting said shell and said screen.

13. A primer cup for internal combustion engines said cup comprising a receptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a priming-fluid capsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, said receptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluid from said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with said second chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsule fragments from entering said outlet, a shell having a bottom portion engaged by the lower end of said screen and a slotted wall portion surrounding said screen, a plug removably engaging said receptacle, and means cooperating with the bottom of said shell for attaching the latter to said plug.

14. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a priming fluid capsule, a barrel having threaded engagement with said receptacle, a tool for puncturing said capsule, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel and carrying said tool, and means comprising overlapping annular members on said receptacle and barrel, respectively, for protecting the interengaged threads on said receptacle and barrel against entry of moisture thereinto.

15. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a priming fluid capsule, a barrel having threaded engagement with said receptacle, a tool for puncturingsaid capsule, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel and carrying said tool, and means for protecting the interengaged threads on said receptacle and barrel against entry of moisture thereinto, said means comprising an annular flange on one of said members extending into an annular opening in the other.

16. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a priming fluid capsule, a barrel eX- tending from said receptacle, a tool for puncturing said capsule, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel and carrying said tool, said plunger extending through an end of said barrel, a knob having screw threaded engagement with said plunger beyond said barrel, and a skirt on said knob overlapping the adjacent end of the barrel, when said plunger is in normal position, for protecting the interengaged screw threads of said plunger and knob from entry of moisture thereinto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,004,359 Brown Sept. 26, 1911 1,475,903 Urtasun Nov. 27, 1923 1,741,339 Sager Dec. 31, 1929 2,364,356 Greathouse Dec. 5, 1944 2,516,787 Moody July 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,252 Great Britain of 1913

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