US1047114A - System of starting internal-combustion-engine-driven motor-vehicles. - Google Patents

Description

H. O'NEILL. SYSTEM OF STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE DRIVEN MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED HAYS, 1911.

1,047,1 14, I Patented Dec. 10, 1912;

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY GIBSON ONEILL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO WIL- LIAM E. THOMPSON AND ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN F. O'BRIEN, BOTH OF DETROIT,

MICHIGAN.

SYSTEM 01 STARTING INTEBNAL-GOMBUSTION-ENGINE-DRIVEN MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed May 6, 1911. Serial No. 625,565.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY GmsoN ONEILL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented gertainnew and useful Improvements in Systems of Starting Internal- CombustioIi-Engine-Driven Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to engine starters more particularly designed for use upon motor vehicles, and it is one of the objects of the invention to effect the starting by the utilization of agencies having also a function in the normal operation of the machine. Thus the dynamo generator and storage battery which forms a part of the ignition system and lighting systemnormally used on the car are, with -my improvement, adapted to constitute the main elements of the startingsystem.

A further 'object of the invention is to obtain the necessary starting torque with a motor and battery of minimum size and capacity, thereby reducing weight and conserving the space onrthe car.

Still further it is an object to render the starting positive by insuring the presence of explosive gases upon the initial suction stroke of the engine.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, my apparatus sent/ed diagrammatically.

A is a stora e battery and B is a dynamomotor for com ined torque and current generation, C is a drive connection between the generator B and the motor which is diagrammatically represented as a belt or chain engaging the engine fly-wheel D. By utilizin the fly-wheel in this transmission I am enabled to obtain a relatively large speed reduction such for instance as-six to one from the motor to the engine shaft and at the same time to obtain a compact arrangement of parts.

As has been stated it is one of the objects of the invention to obtain the requisite starting torque with as small a motor and. battery as possible. For this purpose the organizais repretion of the motor. is such as to-obtain'the structed to have a relatively low ohmic resistance so as to be capable of carrying a large current volume with a relatively low electro-motive force. This will produce the high power for starting, but with such a drain upon the battery continuation for more than a brief interval would have a destructive'ac'tion. Thus special provision must be made for avoiding such a result which I obtain primarily by the use of a self-opening circuit closing switch. In addition to this a dash-pot or other timing mechanism is employed for regulating the time interval during which the switch remains closed. This being sufficient to insure the starting but limited to avoid destructive action.

As diagrammatically illustrated, G is the element for manual operation shown in the form of a push-rod. This rod is mechanically connected by levers H with the relief valves for the various engine cylinders s0 asto relieve the compression during starting, and the rod is further connected with an electric switch I for controlling the motor circuit.

J is a spring for automatically returning the rod when the operating pressure is re-- closing of this switch is efiected, the rod through the lever connections H will operate the relief valves to reduce the resistance of turning the engine crank. The switch I is connected by leads L, L L and L with the battery and the generator B, the arrangement being such as to completely connect these devices when the switch is open and to include.

them in series when the switchis closed. Thiscircuit also includes the series coil F ofatheimotor to increase the starting torque.

In addition to the circuit just described, the

generator B and battery A are adapted to be connected by an independent circuit M,

, load switch to open the circuit.

vOne of the general causes of failure in starting is the lack of an explosive mixture for the initial suction stroke. This I have guarded against by providing an electric heating unit P arranged to vaporize a suflicient quantity of the liquid fuel to produce the explosive gas. unit is arranged in the carbureter and either directly immersed in the liquid fuel or closely associated with the fuel discharge nozzle. The circuit for the heater is closed upon the initial movement of the rod G by suitable means such as the bridge contact Q on said rod for coupling the circuit terminal contacts R and S, and when the circuit is closed the heater P is in series with the battery.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described the operation is as follows: WVhenever the rod G (which ma be mounted on the dash-board or any ot er convenient location on the vehicle) is pushed inward, the initial movement will close the circuit T for the heater P. This will cause the instantaneous vaporizing of a portion of the liquid fuel so that before mechanical motion is imparted to the engine an explosive gas will be produced. The further movement of the rod G operates the levers H for opening the relief valves after which the switch I is closed, throwing the battery and motor B with the series coil F included in circuit. All of these operations are performed during the inward movement of the rod G against the tension of the spring J and upon the release of said rod the spring will return it to its initial position. On account however, of the dash-pot K a definite time interval is required to completely return the rod, this being sufficient to insure the startmg of the engine but not long-enough to have a detrimental effect on the battery. During the return movement the levers H Wlll gradually close the relief valves on the completion of theoperation (which need not require more than one or two seconds) and the engine is then in normal working condition. I

As soon as the engine is started, the generator B is mechanically driven and the electromotive force developed will rise until the under load switch is operated to close the circuit M. The current will then be utilized for recharging the battery A and Preferably this heating 0 may also be employed for operating the ignition system and the lighting system which however, are not shown in the diagram.

What I claimas my invention is:

. 1. An engine starter comprising a motor organized for high starting torque efliciency, a battery sufiicient to operate said motor for a brief interval, a circuit closing switch for said battery and motor, and means automatically operating to limit the interval in which the circuit is closed to that within the operating capacity of the battery.

2. An engine starter comprising an electric motor organized for high startingtorque efliciency and having a mechanical transmission with the engine, a battery sufficient to supply said motor with current for the brief interval in which the circuit is closed, and means operating automatically upon the attainment of the requisite electromotive force for converting said motor into an efficient current generator to recharge the battery.

3. An engine starter comprising a dynamo motor having a mechanical transmission with the engine, a battery having a capacity sufficient to supply current to said motor for a brief interval, a switch for coupling said battery to said motor, means acting automatically to open the circuit within a predetermined limit, a circuit for connecting said motor as a current generator with said battery for re-charging the same, and a switch automatically operating upon the attainment of the requisite electromotive force in the generator to close said re-charging circuit.

4. An engine starter comprising a dynamo motor, a storage battery having a capacity sutficient to supply said motor for a brief interval, a circuit closing switch for said motor and battery, means for automatically openin said switch after a predetermined interva and mechanical connections to said switch for initially relieving and subsequently restoring the compression of the engine.

5. All engine starter comprising a dynamo motor having a mechanical transmission with the engine, a storage battery having a capacity sufficient to supply current to said motor for a brief interval, manually operable means for closing the clrcuit of said battery and motor, means for automatically opening said circuit after a predetermined interval, and associated instrumentalities for facilitating the starting of the engine simultaneously operated by said manually operated means.

6. In an engine starter, the combination with means for mechanically actuating the engine,of an electric fuel vaporizer for generating the explosive gas for the initial operation, and acommon controlling means for said mechanical starter and electric vaporlzer.

7.-In an engine starter, the combination with means for mechanically actuating the engine, of an) electric fuel vaporizer for supplying the explosive gas for the initial operatlon of the engine, a compression relief chanical starter and the electric vaporizer.

9. An engine starter comprising a motor organized for high starting torque eificiency,

said motor having a relatively low ohmic resistance whereby it is adapted to carry a large current volume a battery suflicient to operate said motor for a brief interval, a

circuit closing switch for said battery and motor, and means for automatically opening said circuit within a predetermined time limited to an interval within the operating capacity of the battery.

10. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor, of a. circuit for the motor, an

electric fuel vaporizer for supplying the explosivegas for the initial operation of the engine, a circuit for said electrical vaporizer, a compression relief mechanism, and

of to first close the vaporizer circuit, to then open the relief valve and to thenclose the motor circuit.

11. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor, of a circuit for the motor, an electric fuel vaporizer for supplying the explosive gas for the initial operation of the engine, a circuit for said electrical vaporlzer, a compression relief mechanism, mechanism acting upon the operation thereof to first close the vaporizer circuit, to then open the relief valve and to then close the motor circuit, and means acting automatically to operate said mechanism after a predetermined period to return said mechanism to its normal position. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

.HENRY GIBSON ONEILL. Witnesses:

James P. BARRY, WILLIAM PAGEL.

mechanism acting upon the operation there a

Images