Patent GB-377248-A (GB)
Title: Improvement in means for starting internal combustion engines
IPC: F01L13/00
Filed: 1931-03-19
Abstract: 377,248. Starting. CASERTA, M. A., 1511, Glynn Court, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. March 19, 1931, No. 8455. Convention date, March 19, 1930. [Class 7 (v).] A starting device comprises means for distributing a pressure fluid to the engine cylinders to turn the engine, and means for supplying the cylinders or the induction pipe with compressed priming mixture at a rate proportional to the engine speed. The distributer prevents the introduction of priming fluid to the cylinders or the induction pipe while the engine is stationary whatever the position of the engine shaft, and comprises in one form, Fig. 1, a chamber 8 into which a fluid pressure supply conduit 11 opens, a fuel chamber 14, and a fluid measuring chamber 25. Ported discs 3, 7, 22, 26 controlling outlet ports are mounted on shafts 2, 5, 23, 24 coupled for rotation and driven from the engine. The disc 3 has a port 33 admitting compressed fluid in turn to conduits 10 leading to the engine cylinders, and the disc 7 has a port 34 admitting fluid through ports 13 to the chamber 14, which is provided with a fuel nozzle 15 projecting into an outlet pipe 20 leading to the chamber 25. The disc 22 has a port 35 admitting the priming mixture from the chamber 25 to conduits 27 provided with check valves 37 and leading to the conduits 10, and the disc 26 has ports 36 communicating in turn with a conduit 32, through which fluid is intermittently discharged through a priming carburetter 78 described below. The ports 34, 35, 36 are so arranged that the port 34 is open while the ports 35, 36 are closed, and vice versa, so that the chambers 14, 25 are alternately filled with pressure fluid and discharged through conduits 27, 32. As shown in Fig 12, the apparatus comprises a compressed-fluid receiver 100 provided with valved outlet conduits 103, 11 leading respectively to the priming carburetter 78 and to the distributer 84, which is connected to the engine cylinders 70 by the pipes 10 provided with check valves 71. A starting lever 108 is pivoted at 111 to a bracket 106 and is provided with a pivoted arm 113 carrying pivoted contact members 114 for successively closing electric switches 122, 140. The switch 122 is connected to a battery 123 and heating coils 124, 125 surrounding the intake manifold 73 and the conduit 75 leading from the priming carburetter 78 to the manifold 73; and the switch 140 is connected to the current source 117 and distributer 120 of an ignition circuit. On depressing the lever 108, the heating coils 124, 125 are switched on, and the lever engages and afterwards releases a pivoted member 105 on the stem of the valve 102, which is opened and then allowed to close, allowing a limited amount of compressed fluid to pass through the conduit 103 and through the carburetter 78 and conduit 75 to the manifold 73. Further movement of the lever closes the ignition circuit 119 and holds open the valve 101, allowing pressure fluid to pass through the conduit 11, distributer 84, and conduits 10 to the cylinders on the power stroke. When the engine turns, warm combustible mixture is drawn into the cylinders in turn from the manifold 73, which now receives combustible mixture from the carburetter 78, to which compressed fluid is supplied intermittently from the distributer 84 through the conduit 32. In a modified form of distributer, Fig. 5, a single rotary disc 43 has a port 44 leading in turn to the conduits 10, a port 45 leading through ports 47 to the fuel chamber 52, and a radial groove 46 connecting the outlet 48 of the chamber 52 to the conduits 10 in turn when the ports 47 are closed. In a further modification, Figs. 7 and 8, in which the conduits 90 are utilized as intermittent flow reservoirs, the disc 61 has a port 63 leading to the conduits 10 and a circular port formed by grooves 65, 66 and communicating with a radial groove 68, so that fluid trapped in the conduits 10 escapes periodically through the conduit 32 to the carburetter 78, Fig. 12. In another modification, a single disc has ports leading from the inlet chamber to the conduits 10 and to the measuring chamber respectively, and a radial groove enabling fluid from the measuring chamber to escape periodically to the conduit 32. In a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 1, the disc 26 is omitted and the disc 3 is of the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Ignition at starting may be effected by a magneto driven by a compressed-air engine actuated by the starting fluid, which may. be supplied by a branch conduit from the conduit 11, Fig. 12. Alternatively, the magneto may be driven from the main engine through a cone clutch, which is disengaged by a governor when the engine starts or when the engine runs at,more than idling speed.