Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-05-13
HOW ELECTRICITY
STARTS YOUR AUTOMOBILE.
Explaining How Small Electric
Generator is Changed Into
Motor to Crank the Engine.

Nearly every late model car is
equipped with an electric sed-start-
er-pat very lew people understand
now TINS nttle elecrric levlce works.
1hey press a button, OF lever, ana
the motor spins until the car starts
and are satlsaed with the results
without Investigating the, cause.
a typical starting device f0r auto
mobiles is the new Genemotor for
rord cars, winch includes a genera
tor motor Tor starting the car and
a complete lighting system from the
same source. 4 description oil how
TINS novel device operates. viii be
typical, as they all work on the SELF
same principle.
me mechanism OF the system con-
sls5s OF single electrical unit,
wound Tor IL volts, when operates
as a generator or a motor as the case
may De, ana the necessary accessor-
les, lor attaching to ana operating on
tne ord car. la ADDITION, six
Cell, 44@ampere-hour battery is in
Guided. The outht thus combines
5tle functions OF d generator, which
furnishes the primary current re-
quired Tor starting the car and oper-
ating the head, side and tail lights,
as well as those OF motor Tor spinn-
ing the engine.
ANY electrical generator can be
used as an electric motor by passing
current through it. when the car
is running the tiny generator is busy
producing current winch IS stored III
che battery carried on the running
board. When the battery is FULLY
charged the generator is automatic
ally cut out and runs Idle until more
current is drawn from the battery
and sent through the field and arma-
ture Of the generator, thus changing
it into motor which spins the en-
CINE.
me generator motor is fully en-
closed, about 10 in. long overall, lin.
diameter and weighs about 81 Id. 1t
is supported rigidly on the right
hand side of Ford engine, viewed
from the front, by a pressed steel
bracket secured at three points. AS
a motor, it viii develop torque OF
about AS ft-lb.; and the torque de-
veioped at the engine shaft by means
Of the selected gear ratio has been
found amply adequate to start a
Ford car under very severe condl-
lions Of tight adjustments in the en-
CINE and cold weather. The storage
battery is carried on the right-hand
running board of the car, and IS en-
ployed to accumulate current while
The car is in motion for supplying
the starting and lighting system
when the car is at rest.
When the car has attained speed OF
about II miles per hour, the Genera
tor, acting as a generator, develops
an electromotive force sufficiently
high to overcome the normal voltage
>af the battery and permit charging
toNtake place At this point, the re
verse current relay operates, closing
the circuit between the generator and
battery, and charging begins at
,ow rate, the. calrent gradually in
creasing as the speed OF the car in
creases to a maximum of Slightly
oger 10 arnperes. A suitable 26-tooth
steel pFocket is mounted on the en-
CINE Shaft at the point where the
crank is ordinarily applied. A ID
tooth steel pinion, mounted on the,
aotor shaft, drives this sprocket and
shis the engine through silent
chain.
ne main switch and reverse cur
rent Eelay are mounted in an enclos-
I'd metallic case on top of the Gene
motor and are readily accessible. The
witch, which controls the motor, is
s5osed through a cam actuated by a
| ush rod extending through the dash
3card Of the car and terminating in
a knob conveniently located near the
steering wheel column. The reverse
lrrent relay prevents current feed
ls1l ~ tss asnerstor 7-'sas OH
! AGA The engine 5 not running.
| The lighting switch, mounted on
| ne dashboard at the right-hand side
K the spark coil as one sits in the
az, enables the side lights and tail
| ght, head lights, and tail lights, or
| III, to be thrown on or off. 1t is APP
| olicable either to the straight dash
| 3r the new cowl hood on Ford cars.
The Generator is equally as simple
| and efficient in operation as it is in
| lesign, and has successfully respond
| ID to every test known for judging a
| seif-starter Any woman or child
AN manipulate it. The motor starts
| instantly when the switch rod is pu-
shed forward to make the switch con-
tact. and the switch automatically