Improvements in Mechanism for Starting Gas Engines and similar Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1900-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Starting Gas Engines and similar
Engines.
I, JOHN DALRYMPLE BELL, of Clifton Hall, Ratho, in the County of Mid.
Lothian, North Britain, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said invention relates to gas engines and similar engines which have
ordinarily to be started by turning the crank shafts with their fly wheels by
hand; and it consists in applying to the shafts improved mechanism by means
of which the starting may be effected more satisfactorily and safely than
hitherto.
The improved mechanism comprises a hand lever or hand wheel of sufficient
size the boss of which is made with an internal screw thread to engage with a
screw thread formed on the end of the crank shaft or on a boss fixed on the end
of the crank shaft. The boss of the lever or hand wheel is fitted to turn loosely
on a short extension of reduced diameter on the end of the crank shaft or on;
the boss fixed thereon. When the lever or hand wheel is moved to turn the
crank shaft the screw threads engage, but on the engine getting into motion,
the crank shaft screws the lever or hand wheel out of gear. The lever or land
wheel is, however, prevented from being entirely thrown off by one or more
pins in its boss engaging in a groove in the crank-shaft extension, this groove
being partly of a screw form. Similar levers or hand wheels may be applied
to both ends of the crank shaft, the screw threads being disposed to suit the
direction in which the shaft turns. When a lever is used it is by preference
provided with a winch handle.
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1000
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Starting Gas Engines and similar
Engines.
I. JOHN DALRYMPLE BELL, of Clifton Hall, Ratho, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
-
My said invention relates to gas engines and similar engines which have
ordinarily to be started by turning the crank shafts with their fly wheels by
hand; and it consists in applying to the shafts improved mechanism by means
of which the starting may be effected more satisfactorily and safely than
hitherto

page_text: And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to in describing the improvements.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a plan, Figure, 2, a transverse section, Figure, 3,
a side elevation partly in section, Figure, 4, an end elevation, and Figure, 5, a
view similar to Figure, 3, of the improved mechanism. In these drawings the
same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are
repeated.
The improved méchanism comprises a hand lever, A, of sufficient size. The
boss, B, of the lever, A, is fitted to turn loosely on a short projection or stud, C,
the eye of the boss being preferably furnished with a brass liner, D. The
stud or pin, C, is formed with a boss or enlargement, E, which is formed with
a socket, G, to fit the end of the engine crank shaft, H, the boss being fixed
to the shaft by means of pinching or key pins, J. The inner face of the hand
lever boss, B, is formed with a screw clutch, K, to engage with a corresponding
clutch, L, formed on the stud boss, E, and the lever boss is provided with a
holding pin, M, having a slightly rounded end, R, which engages in grooves, N, P,
formed on the stud, C, a blade spring, Q, being fitted to the lever boss to act
on the pin so as to keep it in contact with the grooves. The grooves, N, are
of a screw form, but the outer groove, P, is a plain groove encircling the stud.
When it is desired to turn the crank shaft, H, to start the engine, the hand
lever, A, is connected to the shaft by placing the screw clutches, K, L, in gear
with each other as shown in Figure, 3, so that motion may be thereby trans-
mitted from the lever to the shaft. The hand lever, A, can be moved directly
into its geared position as the spring controlled pin, M, can be easily forced
out of the grooves, P, N, when ordinary hand pressure is applied to push the
lever along the stud. When the engine gets into motion the crank shaft, H,
screws the hand lever, A, outwards so as to put the clutches, K, L, out of gear;
the screwing movement being caused by the action of the screw grooves, N, on
the lever pin, M. When the pin, M, as the lever moves outwards, reaches the
end of the screw grooves, N, it engages in the outer plain groove, P, as shown
in Figure, 5, thereby preventing the lever from dropping off the stud, C, and
at the same time holding it in a convenient position until it is required again
to turn the crank shaft.
Instead of employing a screw clutch arrangement as herein before described,
to connect the hand lever, A, and crank shaft, H, the hand lever boss, B, may
be made with an internal screw thread to engage with a corresponding screw
thread formed on the stud boss, E, so that the lever and shaft may be connected
by simply screwing the parts together. With this connecting arrangement,
when it is desired to turn the shaft to start the engine, the hand lever is screwed
onto the stud boss until the parts are pressed tightly against each other and
a firm connection is made, so that motion can be transmitted from the lever to
the shaft. When the engine gets into motion the crank shaft screws the lever
off the boss thereby disconnecting it from the shaft, and causing it to occupy
its outward ungeared position on the stud, C. The screw clutch, L, or equivalent
connecting screwed part, instead of being formed on a separate boss piece, E,
may be formed on the crank shaft itself, and the stud, C, instead of being formed
on the boss piece, E, may be formed in a piece with the crank shaft. Similar
levers or hand wheels may be applied to both ends of the engine crank shaft,
the screw threads or equivalent parts being disposed to suit the direction in
which the shaft turns.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
Improvements in mechanism for starting gas engines and similar engines,
Amprising a hand lever or hand wheel the boss of which is formed with a

page_text: screwed or equivalent part to engage in a corresponding part formed on the end
of the engine crank shaft or on a boss piece fixed on the end of the shaft, the
boss of the lever or hand wheel being arranged to go out of gear on the engine
starting and turning the shaft, the parts being constructed arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dotad this Twenter first dow of Tul, 1000
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.