Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for. Starting Gas Engines or the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for. Starting Gas Engines
or the like.
°
We, CARL SCHÜTZ, Locksmith and HEINRICH HEYDEMEYER Machinist, both of
28, Wilhelmstrasse Bad Oeynhausen, Westphalia, in the German Empire, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of this invention is to bring power engines before starting into the most
favourable position. for starting, and especially in the case of steam engines, gas motors
and the like to adjust the cranks beyond the so-called dead point. This has hitherto
been usually done in the case of small machines by revolving the flywheel by hand, in
the case of machines of larger size by the well-known ratchet device or by treading
upon the spokes of the wheel. This plan is however, especially in the case of gas
engines a very dangerous one, because in these, after the introduction of the explosive
mixture the ignition and the moving of the machine often takes place only after several
revolutions of the flywheel effected. as stated, but then in a very sudden manner. This
danger is completely obviated by the present invention which is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings :-in
Figure 1 in front view, in
Figures 2 and 3 in two different.side views, in
Figure 4 in plan.
Upon the shaft A of the flywheel is firmly keyed a wheel B with diagonally set
teeth, or the circumference of the flywheel can be adapted at the side to form an outer
or inner wheel of similar pattern. Alongside this toothed wheel there is provided
either in front of, above, or beneath the flywheel axle a shaft C with a wheel D engaging
in the teeth of the wheel A, which shaft Crests loosely without fastening in the
bearings E so that a sideways adjustment of the axle is possible. A setting fork F
engages on the same between the connection f and the ratchet wheel G, which is
fixed upon the axle H and actuated by means of the lever J; consequently the axle C
can thereby be adjusted sideways. The lever aforesaid is held by means of the
spring and the pin affixed to it and engaging in the bar k, in the position
corresponding to the adjustment of the gearing, and in this manner there is prevented
any turning of the shaft in consequence of the pawl L falling against the ratchet
wheel.
The application, and method of operation of the arrangement is as follows:-
The pin is first released, and the wheel D is brought into contact with the teeth
of the wheel B by the sideways adjustment of the axle C by means of the lever J.
If the crank handle P be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow on the
drawing the diagonally set teeth of the wheel D press against those of the wheel B,
and even if the gearing be only to a slight extent engaged with it the counter wheel
will be drawn over to the left into the fixed wheel through the operation of the
teeth acting as inclined planes. Consequently, the shaft C will remain during the
turning fully in the given position. If the machine be now suddenly set in motion
by means of its own driving power, so that on the contrary the wheel D is propelled
by means of the wheel B then the opposite sides of the engaging teeth will press
against each other and the wheel D will be pushed sideways to the right, on which
the lever J is brought by means of the fork G in the middle position and the peg
gurempian.
Upon the shaft A of the flywheel is firmly keyed a wheel B with diagonally set
teeth, or the circumference of the flywheel can be adapted at the side to form an outer
or inner wheel of similar pattern. Alongside this toothed wheel there is provided
either in front of, above, or beneath the flywheel axle a shaft C with a wheel D engaging
in the teeth of the wheel A, which shaft Crests loosely without fastening in the
bearings E so that a sideways adjustment of the axle is possible. A setting fork F
engages on the same between the connection f and the ratchet wheel G, which is
fixed upon the axle H and actuated by means of the lever J; consequently the axle C
can thereby be adjusted sideways. The lever aforesaid is held by means of the
spring and the pin affixed to it and engaging in the bar k, in the position
corresponding to the adjustment of the gearing, and in this manner there is prevented
any turning of the shaft in consequence of the pawl L falling against the ratchet
wheel.
:―
The application, and method of operation of the arrangement is as follows
The pin is first released, and the wheel D is brought into contact with the teeth
of the wheel B by the sideways adjustment of the axle C by means of the lever J.
If the crank handle P be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow on the
drawing the diagonally set teeth of the wheel D press against those of the wheel B,
and even if the gearing be only to a slight extent engaged with it the counter wheel
will be drawn over to the left into the fixed wheel through the operation of the
teeth acting as inclined planes. Consequently, the shaft C will remain during the
turning fully in the given position. If the machine be now suddenly set in motion
by means of its own driving power, so that on the contrary the wheel D is propelled
by means of the wheel B then the opposite sides of the engaging teeth will press
against each other and the wheel D will be pushed sideways to the right, on which
the lever J is brought by means of the fork G in the middle position and the peg

page_text: dropped into the bark whilst the pawl L falls into the ratchet wheel G. In order to
avoid any danger through the handle P, this latter is connected indirectly with the
shaft by means of the clutch mechanism P¹, so that when the turning of the motor
begins suddenly during the time in which the uncoupling of the wheels is being
effected and consequently revolution of the shaft C takes place, the handle P will be
also immediately pushed sideways.
It is obvious that the abovedescribed invention is capable of application in various
modifications in order to adapt it to the varying circumstances and to the special"
construction of the engine to which it is applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The arrangement for the starting of power engines consisting essentially of a
revolving mechanism for the overcoming of the dead points characterised by the
provision upon the main shaft of the engine of a wheel with diagonally placed teeth,
into contact with which can be brought a wheel fixed upon a special shaft through the
sideways adjustment of the said shaft, so that by the turning of the special shaft
the main shaft of the engine can be revolved, and so that the latter when it revolves
of its own motion pushes the teeth of the gear wheel sideways and moves the same out
of gear.
2. In a mechanism for the starting of power engines such as set forth in Claim 1,
an adjusting fork with a spring bolt which upon the disengaging of the gearing by
means of the wheel of the power engine springs into a fixed slot and 'thereby fixes the
auxiliary shaft, whilst a pawl falling at the same time into the ratchet wheel prevents
the revolving thereof.
'
3. In an auxiliary shaft such as that set forth in Claims 1 and 2 the arrangement
that the crank handle serving to revolve the same is fixed loosely upon the said shaft
and engages by means of the clutch gearing provided with diagonally placed teeth with
the said shaft.
April 109.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.