Patent ID: 6325036
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: F02D,F02N,Y10T

Abstract:
An internal combustion engine comprising:a rotatable engine member;a shaft rotatable in a loading direction in response to rotation of said rotatable engine member, said shaft rotatable in an unloading direction opposite said loading direction to start said engine;an energy storing mechanism including at least one elastic member, said elastic member being loaded in response to rotation of said shaft in said loading direction and causing said shaft to rotate in said unloading direction in response to unloading of said elastic member;a locking mechanism selectively preventing rotation of said shaft in said unloading direction to maintain said elastic member in a loaded state; anda clutch mechanism operatively disposed between said locking mechanism and said shaft to permit rotation of said shaft in said unloading direction when a preselected torsional threshold between said shaft and said locking mechanism is reached.