Year: 1899

page_text: I, JOHN HOPE, of 14, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to means for starting auto-cars, and more particu-
larly cars which are driven by internal combustion engines using oil or gaseous
fuel; and it has for its object, mainly, to enable this to be performed from the
seat or place from which the car is driven and controlled.
According to this invention, there is employed in connection with the rim
of the fly-wheel (or a special wheel) of the motor, a toggle gripping device
having circular movement around the axis of the wheel, and operated by a
band, cord, or the like, from the seat of the driver, by pulling up a handle.
In one form, this toggle is a lever gripping or clutch device, hinged centrally
to a lever supported from a joint about the axle, and having the actuating band
or connection attached to the outer end, whilst the inner end, which may be
roughened, acts on the periphery of the rim of the wheel, but is normally
pulled or pressed away from same by a spring. In action, when the band,
cord, or similar connection is pulled up by the operator, the end of the toggle
is pulled onto the rim periphery, and so grips it, and by pulling once or twice
in this manner, the engine is turned round, and the charge ignited in the usual
way, and set going. The return movement of the toggle carrying arm or lever,
and parts, is effected by a spring.
According to one construction, the operating band connected with the toggle
is connected with a pulley below the car body, or in other suitable position:
while a band, or the like, passes up from another part of this pulley (say of
smaller diameter) to the car where it is provided with a handle near the feet
of the driver. By pulling up this band, the other part of the band is coiled
on the pulley, whilst the handle part is uncoiled.
In one form of spring mechanism for effecting the return action of the gripping
mechanism, when the handle is pulled, a collar on a fixed rod, is pulled along
this rod, through a strap or band, which is coiled on a disc, or sector, on the
pulley, or its shaft, referred to, and compresses a spring on this rod. When,
therefore, the actuating handle is lowered, the reaction of the spring forces the
collar out, and through the band, rotates the pulley wheels, and so takes the
gripping device back to its normal position, ready for further action.
In engines of the compression type, it is necessary to enable this starting to be
effected, practically, to employ half the usual compression; and for this purpose
a double cam, roller, and lever device, is employed for temporarily releasing
the compression in the compression stroke to this extent. According to this
invention, this is effected by operating the said roller lever or roller from the
operator's seat or place, say by a lever, say a foot lever, of the floor of the vehicle,
and connected with the said lever by connecting rods. This connection is not

page_text: rigid but has free movement in itself, so that after it has been operated by
A
the foot lever, the roller lever of the engine can have free movement.
mechanism by which this is accomplished consists of blocks on the ends of two
parts of the rod connection, side by side, and connected together by a link or
pair of links, with the adjacent faces of the blocks a certain distance apart. By
this mechanism, when the connection rod, connected with the foot lever, is
moved, the block on it is brought in contact with the block of the other part of
the connection, by the link; and then the connection becomes rigid, and the
roller support is operated; after which the roller lever can move in itself through
the link connection. And when the mechanism is moved in the opposite direc-
tion, the same freedom or liberty of movement of the roller lever and parts for
effecting the partial compression, takes place.
It is to be stated that the improvements herein described may be employed
separately as well as conjointly, as herein more particularly described.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
I, JOHN HOPE, of 14, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, 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:
-
This invention has reference to means for starting auto-cars, and more particu-
larly cars which are driven by internal combustion engines using oil or gaseous
fuel and it has for its object, mainly, to enable this to be performed from the
seat or place from which the car is driven and controlled.
According to this invention, there is employed in connection with the rim
of the fly-wheel (or a special wheel) of the motor, a toggle gripping device
having circular movement around the axis of the wheel, and operated by a
band, cord, or the like, from the seat of the driver, by pulling up a handle.
In one form, this toggle is a lever gripping or clutch device, hinged centrally
to a lever supported from a joint about the axle, and having the actuating band
or connection attached to the outer end; whilst the inner end, which may be
roughened, acts on the periphery of the rim of the wheel, but is normally
pulled or pressed away from same by a spring. In action, when the band,
cord, or similar connection is pulled up by the operator, the end of the toggle
is pulled onto the rim periphery, and so grips it, and by pulling once or twice
in this manner, the engine is turned round, and the charge ignited in the usual
way, and set going. The return movement of the toggle carrying arm or lever,
and parts, is effected by a spring.
According to one construction, the operating band connected with the toggle
is connected with a pulley below the car body, or in other suitable position;
while a band, or the like, passes up from another part of this pulley (say of
smaller diameter) to the car, where it is provided with a handle near the feet
of the driver. By pulling up this band, the other part of the band is coiled
on the pulley, while the handle part is uncoiled.
In one form of spring mechanism for effecting the return action of the gripping

page_text: mechanism, when the handle is pulled, a collar on a fixed rod is pulled along
this rod, through a strap or band which is coiled on a disc, or sector, on the
pulley, or its shaft, referred to, and compresses a spring on this rod. When,
therefore, the actuating handle is lowered, the reaction of the spring forces the
collar out, and through the band, rotates the pulley wheels, and so takes the
gripping device back to its normal position, ready for further action.
In engines of the compression type, to enable this starting to be readily
effected, half the usual compression is employed; and for this purpose
a double cam, roller, and lever device, is employed for temporarily releasing
the compression in the compression stroke to this extent. According to this
invention, this is effected by operating the said roller lever or roller from the
operator's seat or place, say by a lever, say a foot lever, on the floor of the vehicle,
and connected with the said lever by connecting rods. This connection is not
rigid, but has free movement in itself, so that after it has been operated by
A
the foot lever, the roller lever of the engine can have free movement.
mechanism by which this is accomplished consists of blocks on the ends of two
parts of the rod connection, side by side, and connected together by a link or
pair of links, with the adjacent faces of the blocks a certain distance apart. By
this mechanism, when the connection rod connected with the foot lever, is
moved, the block on it is brought in contact with the block of the other part of
the connection, by the link and then the connection becomes rigid, and the
roller support is operated; after which the roller lever can move in itself through
the link connection. And when the mechanism is moved in the opposite direc-
tion, the same freedom or liberty of movement of the roller lever and parts for
effecting the partial compression, takes place.
:
66
"
In the drawings hereto annexed illustrating the invention, Figure 1, is a
Benz
general view of an auto-carriage with propelling machinery on the
system, with my improvements applied to it.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, and Figure 3 a front elevation, showing the
gripping mechanisms for turning the fly-wheel of the engine, in detail; and
Figures 4 & 5 are side elevation, and end view, showing a modified form of
such gripping mechanism.
Figures 6, 6, and 6", are side elevations, and Figure 7 is a plan, showing
the details connected with the means of manipulation for providing half com-
pression.
Figure 8 is a side elevation, and Figure 9 an end view, showing the hand
actuated mechanism; and Figure 8 is a detail.
Referring to the drawings, a is a lever mounted loosely on the hub of the
fly-wheel 6 of the motor or engine, carrying a toggle gripping device a¹. The
upper part of the eye or collar of the lever a, has a segment at a² upon it, to
which one end of the chain a³ is connected; and the other end of this chain
is connected to a sleeve or ring c, adapted to slide on the rod c', and normally
pressed in one direction by the spring, this being for the purpose of keeping
The rod c is
the lever a in a normal position of rest, and ready for action.
fixed at both ends on to a suitable part of the frame or machinery of the car;
and has an adjustable sleeve thereon, to give the requisite tension and strength
of spring.
The lever a may be simply bent and turned up at a double angle, at its lower
end, as shown in Figures 2 and 3; or, it may be a complete double lever supported
at its two upper ends on the hub of the fly-wheel, or on the shaft. The toggle a¹
is mounted loosely on a hinge pin at and the coil spring a, fixed in the lever a at
one end, and acting upon the toggle at the other, presses the upper or engaging
edge of the gripper out of contact with the wheel b, and normally holds it
there. The other end of the toggle has the actuating strap e attached to it;
and by it it is moved about the pin in its engaging and active movements.
This strap e is actuated from the seat d of the car: that is at the bottom of
the car just in front of the seat d, the direct pull-up handle f is provided; and

page_text: the strap e to which this handle is directly connected, passes through the guide
rollers to a double differential pulley wheel 9. The part of the strap e to
which the handle f is connected, wraps round, and is attached to the smaller
of these pullies; whilst the part e which is directly connected to the toggle
gripper, is directly connected to the larger of the two pullies. By this means
the amount of movement of the latter part, and the lever a is greater, and con-
sequently more rapid, than that of the handle f.
The double pullies are supported from the lower part or frame proper
of the carriage by brackets f2. To actuate this mechanism, the driver reaches
down, say, between his legs, and grasps the handle f, and then gives it a sharp
pull upwards. This is transmitted through the belt e to the toggle ¹, only at
a still sharper rate, owing to the speeding up due to the double pulley g; and
this action on the end of the toggle a moves it about its supporting hinge
pin bringing the engaging edge a, (which may be serrated, as shown, or
smooth) on to the periphery of the engine fly-wheel b, and instantly grips same,
and so effects a rigid engagement or connection between the handle f, (which
is near and handy to the driver as he sits on his seat), and the engine fly-wheel b
enclosed within its casing; and for the full stroke of this handle, this engage-
ment and connection continues. Hence the wheel b is sharply turned, and by
one or two of such actions, in conjunction with the half compression effected
as described, the engine can be easily started from the driver's seat.
The return stroke of the parts, after the pull-out, is effected by the spring c²,
acting through the sleeve c, and the chain on the lever a.
In the modified toggle gripping device shown in Figures 4 and 5 there are
two toggles acting on the edge of the rim of the wheel, in lieu of the peri-
phery. These toggles are mounted on vertical spindles a', carried by a plate a
fixed on the hanger or lever, and the spindles, carrying the grippers a¹, are
operated by levers 7 fixed at a, and have tortional springs a for bringing them
back to their normal position. These two levers are connected through pulling
links as, to the end of which the belt or strap is attached, this strap being
passed over a roller 0 in the end of the plate ³, as shewn. A link a connects
the lower ends of the spindles a together.
The action of this modification is similar to that shewn and set forth with
reference to Figures 2 and 3; namely, when the pull links are acted upon,
they turn the spindles through the levers 7, and so bring the active edges
of the grippers a¹ on to the edges of the wheel b, which grip it equally on either
side the rest of the movement being the same as described with reference to
Figures 2 and 3. When the strap e is released, the springs move the
grippers a¹ off the wheel, and allow of the return of the parts to their normal
position.
Referring now to the means for enabling the driver from his seat to work the
engine with a half compression, that is, only a portion of the full compression
of the combustible charge in the cylinder k, and at the same time as turning
the fly-wheel b, a lever h standing up above the floor of the vehicle in front
of the driver, and in a convenient position, so as to be able to work it by his
feet, is provided; and this lever passes through the floor, and is connected by
a rod with the cam mechanism which operates the exhaust valve of the engine.
The exhaust valve casing is designated j, being its spindle. It is on the
cylinder k of the engine, and is operated from the crank shaft 7. This mechanism.
seen in general view in Figure 1, is shewn in detail in Figures 6, 6, 6, and 7
and consists as follows:-
:
The valve stem is operated by the cam m through a lever n. a rod o: a
rocking lever on the spindle and an arm resting on a flat ledge on the
boss or lower end of the arm p, as shewn; and the rod is connected with the
lever by a link, and a loose link connection. The cam m is driven at 5
half speed by tooth gearing in the usual way from the main shaft z. The main
exhaust rise on the cam m is designated m¹. and the rise for operating the exhaust

page_text: for obtaining half compression, is designated m²; and a roller wheel n¹ on the
lever n, which acts in connection with these rises of the cam in the well known
manner, receives its lateral movement for effecting this object, by the link r.
That is, in the position shown in the drawings, the roller will act only in
connection with the rise m¹; but when this link is moved by the rod i about
the connecting pin r, the inclined part will act on the end of the spindle n²
of the roller, and will displace such spindle and the roller laterally, so that
it lies both in the path of the rise m', and the half compression rise m², and
will be operated by the cam pieces. When the link is withdrawn, the roller n'
is moved back automatically, say by a spring. In action, by pressing the lever h
forward by the foot, it pushes through the rods i the link r over to actuate the
spindle as just described, and so effects the half compression; and then by
drawing this lever by the foot back again, this device is thrown out of action,
and full compression takes place.
When the half compression mechanism is " off," the link r, and the end of
the rod connected with it, receive movement by the action of the cam m¹ and
lever n each revolution. That this may take place without affecting the lever n
and mechanisms generally, a free movement is provided by the blocks 23 at the
points in the rod i, and the connecting links 2; these links 22 being made
of such a length, that when vertical, space between the two blocks exists (see
Figure 6); and hence no matter in what position the upper block p³ may be,
the lower block may be moved longitudinally in relation to it, and thus is
provided the free movement referred to. But, at the same time, when using the
mechanism by the movement of the rod i connected with the lever h, one way
or the other, these blocks p³ will be brought on to one another, and the device
then becomes a solid connection, capable of moving the arm r in either direc-
tion.
The main characteristic and effect, therefore, of this invention is such, that
in connection with auto-cars driven by oil or gas engines, it provides by the
hand actuated part for turning the fly-wheel from the vehicle seat, and a device
by the foot for controlling the amount of compression, a means by which such
engines can be easily started by the passenger or driver, and as
required; and SO that the engine has not to keep running con-
tinuously while the vehicle is standing, as at present happens, which is a
great defect.
Or in other words, when it is required to stop the vehicle
temporarily in making a call, or otherwise, the engine may be stopped; and
then when it is desired to go on again, just by operating the strap e and the
lever h, the engine is at once started, and the vehicle can at once proceed.
To provide that the ignition of the charges in the cylinder at starting, does
not take place before the dead centre of the stroke, an operating connection
is provided between the driver's or operator's seat, and the igniting mechanism,
to vary and adjust the time of ignition to that required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The herein described improvement connected with auto-cars, consisting
of a hand actuated mechanism for turning the engine shaft, and adapted to be
operated by an occupant from his seat; and means, operated also by the occupant
from his seat, adapted to control and regulate the compression of the charge of
the engine, whereby the said engine can be readily restarted after stopping;
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. Means for starting auto-cars, consisting of a frictional gripping device
adapted to act upon the edge or rim of the flywheel of the engine; a hand actuated
device, as f, adapted to be actuated from the seat of the car, and a connection e,
connecting the said hand actuated part, and gripping device; substantially as
set forth.

page_text: 3. Means for starting auto-cars, consisting of an arm, as a, freely supported
from the engine shaft, and carrying a gripping device, such as a¹, adapted to
act on the edge of the wheel b; and a spring, as , which brings the said arm
back into a normal position of rest after being actuated by the hand; substantially
as set forth.
4. A mechanism or means for operating the fly-wheel of an auto-car engine
from the seat thereof, arranged, constructed, and adapted to operate, substantially
as set forth with reference to, and shown in the drawings.
5. In connection with means for starting auto-cars, a lever, as h adapted to
be operated by the foot of the occupant, and connected with the cam mechanism
of the engine for operating the exhaust valve; and adapted to shift the part of,
or on, the said mechanism, which is acted upon by the said cams; substantially
as herein set forth.
6. In means for starting auto-cars, a connection connecting the part operated
upon by the occupant, and the part of the mechanism operated by the cams for
actuating the exhaust valve, having upon it a loose or moveable joint; operated
substantially as set forth for the purposes specified.
7. In connection with means for starting auto-cars, the lever h, connecting
rod, and joint p thereon, and link r, connecting with the cam actuated
lever n, arranged and operating as set forth.
ليم
1
1000
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.