Improvements in Engine Starters.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engine Starters.
OWEN JONES MEACOCK 19 Seller Street Chester, Mechanical Engineer. I do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the starting of gas, oil, steam or other engines
having rotary motion and consists of a disc which can be put in contact by
foot or hand lever, with the periphery of fly wheel or pulley on the engine crank
shaft. The said disc to be rotated quickly by a lowering weight; the axis upon
which the disc is fitted has connected thereto a barrel or drum upon which a
chain or rope is wound, one end of the chain or rope being secured to the said
barrel or drum, the other end being attached to the aforementioned lowering
weight; in some cases it is preferred to pass the chain or rope over a combination
of pulleys, when the lowering weight would pass through a less space than in the
direct attachment; in some cases this would be effected by the use of differential
drums, or through geared wheels, or a rack may be used when a pinion would be
fitted in lieu of the aforementioned barrel or drum; the rack being weighted
directly, or indirectly through the medium of a rope or chain.
In some cases we may apply the above starting arrangement to a counter-shaft
when a band could be used to communicate the motion to engine crankshaft.
The engine would preferably be started without a load, or it may be started
with partial load; but it can be started against full load or duty, by adding to the
lowering weight.
The said lowering weight can be raised by the engine ready for restarting at
any desired time; hand motion can also be applied for raising the lowering weight
by manual power.
Dated this 8th day of February 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engine Starters.
OWEN JONES MEACOCK 19 Seller Street Chester, Mechanical Engineer. I 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 :-
•
Referring to Drawing No. 1. which shews various applications of my invention
Fig. 1. répresents in elevation and Fig. 2 in plan the arrangement of direct
application of the lowering weight to barrel or drum.
Figs. 3 & 4 application of the lowering weight to barrel or drum through the
medium of a series of pulleys.
Figs. 5 & 6 shew arrangement of differential druins.
Figs. 7 & 8 represent application through geared wheels & to counter or line
shaft.
Figs. 9 & 10 shew direct rack application.
Figs. 11 & 12 represent rack application with chain or rope passing over a pulley
to lowering weight

page_text: 14 snew arrangement of rack application with ram raising motion.
Referring to Drawing No. 2. the details of my invention are shewn drawn to a
larger scale.
Figs. 15 & 16 represent barrel application....
Figs. 17 & 18 shew the direct rack application.
Figs. 19. 20 & 21 represent the rack application with chain or rope lowering
weight attachment.
The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several figures of the
drawings.
A is the operating disc put in contact with the periphery of fly wheel or pulley
for starting the engine and with the sustaining brake B.
When weight is being raised or the disc A disengaged from periphery of fly
wheel or pulley the disc A rests upon the brake B the operating barrel or rack is
marked C and E indicates the lowering weight.
In the arrangement shewn in Figs. 15 & 16 the operation of the starter is as
follows The disc A is shewn resting on the brake B which latter consists of a
radial palm or recess corresponding with the radius of the periphery of disc A & is
held in this position by the lowering weight E pulling the disc A downwards
through the medium of the rope or chain F this rope or chain passes over a sheave
or pulley G and the descent of the lowering weight E in starting the engine causes
the pulley G to rotate the axis H. The pulley G has also a sliding motion along
the axis H being fitted on one or more feathers or a portion of the axis is formed
square in section; the pulley G in sliding accommodates the rope or chain whilst
uncoiling or coiling on the barrel C and in rotating the axis H the screwed
portion communicates reciprocating motion to the bar K through the connecting
bracket L bringing the projection M under the starting lever D bringing the
disc A from having contact with the periphery of fly wheel just as the lowering
weight E is approaching the bottom of its travel and the disc A coming against
the brake B gradually arrests the lowering weight E at bottom of travel.
To put the disc A in contact with the periphery of fly wheel for starting the
engine pressure on the lever D either by foot or hand or preferably by placing a
small weight on same (when the pressure is more uniform than either foot or hand
power) which depresses the lever D and through the medium of link P & lever Q
raises the disc A from the brake & presses same against the periphery of fly wheel
or pulley.
The disc A is loose upon an eccentric axis R. To raise the lowering weight E by
hand power a ratchet S is fitted on end of barrel C and by raising the ratchet handle T
with the pawl U in gear the lowering weight E ascends. The pawl U is shewn by
dotted lines out of gear, the self contained frame is lettered V.
Referring to Figs. 17 & 18 the direct rack application is operated thus-To put
the disc A in contact with the periphery of fly wheel after the weight E is raised
slide the starting weights W. X to position shewn by full lines the levers D D' will
become depressed to position shewn in dotted lines. The disc A will be released
from brake B and the disc A will be pressed against the periphery of the fly wheel
when the lowering weight being free to descend will give quick rotation to the
disc A.
The weights WX are moved inwards to position shewn by dotted lines during
the raising of the lowering weight E sometimes the weight W only need be
moved.
As the lowering weight E approaches the bottom of its travel the cam Y formed
on or attached to the rack C engages the roller Z and automatically disengages the
disc A and arrests the descent of the lowering weight E.
To raise the lowering weight E ready for re-starting a handle A' is provided
with a train of spur gearing B₁ B" B the wheel B is disengaged as shewn by
dotted lines when the weight E is quite up the wheel B is fitted on one or more
feathers at end of axis R and slides thereon.
The axis R is fitted in vertical sliding bearings N¹ N" at either end this

page_text: Ene levers
עע
operating through link putting the disc A.
in gear.
In lieu of the raising handle A' a fast & loose pulley may be fitted o pinion B
when a belt or cord driven from the engine or other rotating shaft can be utilized
to raise weight E for re-starting.
Referring to Figs. 19. 20. & 21 the method of operating the indirect rack
arrangement is similar to that afore described in reference to Figs. 17 & 18 with
the following modifications-The automatic cam V is formed on or attached to the
lowering weight E the levers D D' are attached by pin or stay F and one starting
weight W is applied.
The vertical guide frame in which the lowering weight E is guided is lettered G¹
to raise the weight E by hand power a ratchet & lever as afore described in
reference to Figs. 15 & 16 may be fitted on the square H' at end of axis R or a
fast & loose belt driven pulley may be fitted at H'. Fig. 21 shews a section through
guide Grack C & weight E the rack C is guided by rollers W" Wi
Referring to Drawing No. 1. Figs. 13 & 14 the rack is raised in this case by
means of a hand pump lever N charging cylinder E (which latter acts as lowering
weight) through the tubular ram K" in some cases this can be effected by a cock J'
communicating with a water pressure main or elevated tank: the starting weight W
is moved to dotted lines to put the pulley in contact with the periphery of fly
wheel when upon the water being released from ram K" by means of a release
valve L' the rack descends rotating the disc A. When the weight W is in position
shewn by full lines at end of lever D it keeps the cylinder E up & puts the disc A
against the brake B.
The barrel or drum C may be in some cases of narrow width sufficient to take
about 3 coils of chain or rope when a small weight at loose end gives sufficient
frictional contact on barrel & the rope fleets as the lowering weight E descends or
notches or indentations may be formed on the drum C when only about half a coil
of the chain or rope will be necessary.
The rack C is shewn of rigid construction but in some cases I should prefer the
use of a flexible rack when the teeth of the pinion C would be formed to engage
the links of the flexible rack.
With further reference to Figs. 3 & 4 Drawing No. 1. O is the guide pulley
for chain and O" & O are the multiplying pulleys or sheaves with the com-
bination shewn the lowering weight E only descends through one fourth the
distance as in the direct application shewn in Figs. 1 & 2 in giving the same
number of rotations of the disc A the weight E being proportionately increased
in bulk.
Referring again to Figs. 5 & 6 the reduction of distance through which the
lowering weight E descends is effected through the differential drums M' M", and
in Figs. 7 & 8 the spur wheels R & S effect this object. Figs. 7 & 8 also shew
application to counter or line shaft P the pulley P" through the belt K trans-
mitting the motion of disc A to the engine shaft through pulley Pon engine
crank shaft.
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 [
claim is:
First. The system of starting rotary engines by means of a quickly rotating
disc operating on the periphery of fly wheel or pulley on engine shaft or pulley on
counter or line shalt in which the disc rotative power consists of a lowering weight
acting substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated on the
drawings.
Secondly. The system of sustaining the lowering weight ready for putting the
disc in rotation for starting the engine by a radial palm or segment upon which
the disc is pressed by the lowering weight substantially in the manner hereinbefors
described and illustrated on the drawings.

page_text: Thirdly. The system of automatically disengaging the disc and of bringing
the lowering weight to rest upon its near completion of full descent acting
substantially in the manner as hereinbefore described and illustrated on the
drawings.
Dated this 18th dew of October 1894.