Patent GB-307981-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to engine starting apparatus
IPC: F02N99/00
Filed: 1927-10-21
Abstract: 307,981. White, A. E., (Delco-Remy Corporation). Oct. 21, 1927. Turning-gear. - In an electric starter having a pinion 30 mounted on a motor-driven shaft 22 for longitudinal and rotary movement and automatically disengaged from the engine gear 31 when the engine starts, and a manually operable member 42 connected to a sleeve 52, Figs. 1 and 2, or 113, Figs. 7 and 8, slidable along the shaft 22 into engagement with the pinion to move the pinion into mesh with the engine gear, the connection is such that, if the pinion teeth clash with those of the engine gear, the pinion is rotated while remaining pressed against the engine gear, and the disengagement of the pinion when the engine starts takes place irrespective of the position of the member 42. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pinion 30 is mounted on helical splines 23 on the shaft 22. The sleeve 52 is secured to a hub 60 and has teeth 54 for engagement with the bevelled ends of the teeth of the pinion and a helical slot 53 engaged by a pin 51 on the lever 42, which is actuated by a pedal 47. The tendency of the sleeve to rotate at the beginning of its movement towards the pinion 30 is checked by a floating disc 81. of yieldable material such as cork interposed between brake discs 80, 82 on the shaft 22 and the sleeve, the discs being normally held in engagement by the spring 50 on the pedal 47. The tendency to rotate is also checked by a spring-pressed plunger 90, Fig. 2, carried by the housing 21 and bearing against a lug 93 on the edge of a disc 62 carried by the hub 60. The lug 93 comprises cylindrical surfaces 93<a>, 93<c> connected by an oblique surface 98<b>, and the plunger 90 is normally in contact with the surface 93<a>. If the teeth of the pinion clash with those of the gear 31, the sleeve and pinion are rotated by means of the pin and slot until the teeth are in register. When the pinion is nearly fully in mesh, the lever 42 engages the switch plunger 43 of the starting motor, and the pinion 30 moves away from the sleeve 52 into full mesh with the gear 31 and drives the gear. An end stop for the pinion consists of a spring ring 25 adapted to engage a recess 33 in the pinion and to prevent axial movement of the pinion due to variations of the torque required to turn the engine. When the engine starts, the pinion 30 and sleeve 52 are moved automatically away from the gear 31, the movement being allowed by the slot 53 even if the pedel 47 is still depressed. The splined part of the shaft 22 is reduced between lines 23a, 23<b> in order to prevent drifting of the pinion into mesh with the engine gear while the engine is running. In the event of backfire during the meshing operation, the pinion will be moved to the right in Fig. 1. out of engagement with the sleeve 52. In a modification, Figs. 7 and 8, a toothed flange 110 on the pinion 30 is engaged by a loose sleeve 113 provided with a stud 121, 122 engaged by a link 118 connected at 119 to the lever 42. In order to increase the tendency to produce axial movement of the sleeve 113 on depressing the pedal 47, a bar 126 is pivoted at 127 on the link 118 and slides in a sleeve 128 in the hub 41 of the lever 42, a compression spring 129 surrounding the bar 126 and resisting counter-clockwise rotation of the link 118 relatively to the lever 42. In starting the engine, an extension 139 on the link 118 engages the flange 110 and separates it from the sleeve 113 before the switch 43 is closed by the lever 42 ; and the automatic return of the pinion throws over the link 118 and bar 126 into a position in which the spring 129 holds the link 118 upright and the sleeve 113 against a stop 133. Instead of toothed members 113, 110, coned friction clutches may be employed. Specification 279,895 is referred to.