Patent GB-191400119-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the Starting and Ignition Systems of Internal Combustion Engines used on Motor Vehicles.
Inventor: VARLEY RICHARD
IPC: F02N15/04
Filed: 1913-04-12
Granted: 1914-04-14
Abstract: 119. Varley, R. April 12, 1913. Starting; turning-gear.-The multi-cylinder engine of a motor vehicle or boat is started by igniting a charge in one of the cylinders or by turning the engine by an electric motor inducing a charge and then igniting, the gearing connecting the turning-gear to the engine being automatically disconnected at the moment of ignition. To close the starting-circuit, a rod 29, Fig. 12, has to be moved axially; this movement opens the ignition circuit which is only closed when the gearing is disconnected. A switch 95 is moved over a contact 93 to place the contact-breaker 86, trembler induction-coil 89, and battery 96 in series; the circuit may be completed by a push button 108, and if there is a charge in one of the cylinders the engine is started. To turn the engine a plate 102 on the rod 29 and a lever 65 are moved into engagement with a spring contact 107. With the connexion of the switch 95 and contact 93 a circuit is completed from the battery to an electric motor 10, which turns the engine. The lever 65, when moved, also adjusts the timing of the ignition through the pin and helical slot drive 62, between the shaft 5 on which the contact-breaker is mounted and the shaft 4 connected to the engine. With the rod 29 in the normal position, the ordinary ignition circuit is closed through the plate 100 and contact 99. The motor armature 9, Fig. 2, is mounted on a hollow shaft 8, rotating on the shaft 5 on which a generator armature 6 is fixed. A pinion 11 on the shaft 8 gears with a reducing-train comprising planet-pinions 12, 16 carried on a spider 13, a fixed internally-toothed wheel 14, and a pinion 17 free to slide and rotate on the shaft 4. The shaft 4 is connected to the engine shaft by chain gearing. To connect the pinion 17 to the shaft 4, the pinion is moved axially by a fork 23 to engage a spring-pressed plunger 22 on the pinion with a plate 20 fast on the shaft. The plunger 22 is bevelled on one side to allow the plate 20 to overrun the pinion 17. The fork 23 is carried by a sleeve 24 and normally is held with the gear in disengaged position by a spring 27 which keeps the fork against an abutment 25. The sleeve surrounds the rod 29 and is moved axially by the rod, the return movement being cushioned by a dash-pot 34. The fork is prevented from moving during normal running by a spring-pulled lever 40, Fig. 6, pivoted on the casing 2 and entering between a shoulder 41 on the sleeve 24 and a lug 42 on the casing. To move the fork, the rod 29 is turned so that a lever 49 on the rod bears on and depresses a slidable rod 47, which in turn oscillates a campiece 45 to move the lever 40 out of the path of the fork. Further rotary movement of the rod 29 causes the lever 49 to wipe past the rod 47, the rod being turned until a lug on a collar 30, Fig. 2, on the rod can engage with a slot 56 in the casing ; the rod 29 can then move axially to move the fork. The cam - piece carries a spring-pressed plunger 53 which, when the piece has been moved, bears on the hub of the plate 20 ; when the shaft rotates, the piece is moved back to its normal position and the lever 47 returns to lock the fork. The rod 29 drives the lever 49 through a lostmotion device 58. When the fork is moved to engage the gear-wheels, a spring catch 37, Fig. 2, engages a pin 38 on the fork and holds the wheels in gear ; to disengage this catch simultaneously with ignition in the cylinder the plate 20 is formed with cams 39, Fig. 6, which lift the catch. In order to turn the engine through several revolutions, the wheels may be held in gear by holding the rod 29. The cams 39 also release the gear on a reverse rotation of the engine shaft.