Improvements in or relating to the Starting of Motive Power Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Lift, 14th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec.. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Starting of Motive Power
Engines.
I, BENJAMIN SMITH of Widcombe Hill, Bath in the County of Somerset, Carpenter
and Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to the starting of motive power engines more especially
those operated by gas or oil and has for its object to operate such engines until the
motive agent is introduced for their subsequent operation.
The apparatus which may be constructed in many different ways in one arrange-
ment consists of a weight secured to a chain or cord adapted to be coiled on a drum
on the shaft of which is also carried a brake drum a toothed wheel and a chain
wheel. The toothed wheel gears with a wheel mounted loosely upon a shaft carried
by the framing of the apparatus and upon which wheel is formed one part of a
clutch coupling the teeth of which like ratchet teeth are adapted to engage in one
direction only. With the last mentioned wheel gears a toothed pinion secured on a
shaft which is square ended so that if desired a crank handle may be applied thereto
for re-setting the apparatus by hand. The second part of the before mentioned clutch is
preferably formed in one with a cone secured on the end of the driving shaft of the
engine for the starting of which this apparatus is to be used, a second chain wheel
with a conical recess being adapted to slide on the said driving shaft so that the
conical recess will fit on to the before mentioned cone when the chain wheel is for
this purpose moved preferably by a clutch fork or lever. An endless chain passes
around the chain wheels; a brake band with weighted lever attached thereto passes
around the before mentioned brake drum and a suitable detent is applied for the
purpose of keeping the clutch coupling disengaged.
Assuming the weight to be wound up and that it be desired to start the engine
a suitably connected lever is operated so that it may simultaneously release the detent
and brake band and engage the clutch. The weight will then descend and carry
round the engine shaft and as soon as the engine now started out-runs the speed of
the clutch driven by the weight the clutch by reason of the shape of its teeth will be
moved out of engagement and will cause the before mentioned brake band and detent
to be applied and thus prevent any further descent of the weight which may then
again be wound up either by hand by means of the crank handle or by the engine
when the before mentioned cones have for this purpose been engaged with each
other. .
In another arrangement there are provided two sets of clutch couplings and
weights and cords one for transmitting motion to the engine and the other for
assisting the engine in winding up the first mentioned weight suitable springs and
levers being applied for the purpose of throwing the said clutches into and out of
gear.
In place of transmitting motion from the weight operated shaft to the engine shaft
and vice versa in the manner before described it may be transmitted by means of bevil
toothed wheels one of which will be secured on the first named shaft and the other
two carried loosely on the engine shaft but capable of being connected therewith
preferably by means of a double friction clutch which when in gear with one of these
wheels transmits motion to the engine for starting it and when in gear with the other
wheel transmits motion from the engine to the starting device for winding up the
weight. If desired leather belting, friction wheels or other equivalent means may be
employed for transmitting motion between the starter and the engine.
Where the before described apparatus is used for starting an engine which is

page_text: employed for operating a lift or the like the weight of the lift if sufficient may be
used to start the engine, or if the weight of the lift is not sufficient some merchandise
or other weight may be placed in it to make up the deficiency.
Dated this 16th day of Wahu 100
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Starting of Motive Power
Engines.
I, BENJAMIN SMITH of Widcombe Hill, Bath, in the County of Somerset, Carpenter
and Builder, 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 relates to the starting of motive power engines more especially those
operated by gas or oil and has for its object to operate such engines until the motive
agent is introduced for their subsequent operation.
The apparatus which may be constructed in many different ways in one arrange-
ment consists of a weight secured to a chain or cord adapted to be coiled on a drum
on the shaft of which is also carried a brake drum a toothed wheel and a chain
wheel. The toothed wheel gears with a wheel mounted loosely upon a shaft carried
by the framing of the apparatus and upon which wheel is formed one part of a
clutch coupling the teeth of which like ratchet teeth are adapted to engage in one
direction only. With the last mentioned wheel gears a toothed pinion secured on a
shaft which is square ended so that if desired a crank handle may be applied thereto
for re-setting the apparatus by hand. The second part of the before mentioned clutch
is preferably formed in one with a cone secured on the end of the driving shaft of
the engine for the starting of which this apparatus is to be used a second chain
wheel, with a conical recess heing adapted to slide on the said driving shaft so that
the conical recess will fit on to the before mentioned cone when the chain wheel is for
this purpose moved preferably by a clutch fork or lever. An endless chain passes
around the chain, wheels; a brake band with weighted lever attached thereto passes
around the before mentioned brake drum and a suitable detent is applied for the
purpose of keeping the clutch coupling disengaged.
Assuming. the weight to be wound up and that it be desired to start the engine a
suitably.connected lever is operated so that it may simultaneously release the detent
and. brake band and engage the clutch. The weight will then descend and carry
round the engine shaft and as soon as the engine now started out-runs the speed of
the clutch driven by the weight the clutch by reason of the shape of its teeth will
be moved out of engagement and will cause the before mentioned brake band and
detent to be applied and thus prevent any further descent of the weight which
may then again be. wound up either by hand by means of the crank handle
or.by the engine when the before mentioned cones have for this purpose been engaged
with each other..
In another arrangement there are provided two sets of clutch couplings and
weights: and cords one for transmitting motion to the engine and the other for
assisting the engine in winding up the first mentioned weight suitable springs
and levers being applied for the purpose of throwing the said clutches into and out
of gear..
In place of transmitting motion from the weight operated shaft to the engine shaft
and vice versa.in the manner before described it may be transmitted by means of bevil
toothed wheels one of which will be secured on the first named shaft and the other
two carried loosely on the engine shaft but capable of being connected therewith
preferably by means of a double friction clutch which when in gear with one of these
wheels transmits motion to the engine for starting. it and when in gear with the
other wheel transmits motion from the engine to the starting device for winding up

page_text: the weight. If desired leather belting, friction wheels or other equivalent means may
be employed for transmitting motion between the starter and the engine.
Where the before described apparatus is used for starting an engine which is
employed for operating a lift or the like the weight of the lift if sufficient may be
used to start the engine, or if the weight of the lift is not sufficient some merchandise
or other weight may be placed in it to make up the deficiency.
In the accompanying drawings I have represented an engine starter constructed
according to this invention in which spur wheels are used for the transmission of
power between the said starter and the engine to which it is applied. Of these
drawings Figs. 12 and 3 are respectively a front elevation, a side elevation and a
plan of the complete machine, and Fig. 4 a part rear elevation and Fig. a vertical
section of the upper part of the said machine.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the motor weight a portion of which only is represented in dotted lines in
figs. 1 and 2 and which in plan is shown in fig. 3. B is the chain, rope, cord, or
equivalent (hereinafter termed rope) to one end of which the weight A is securely
fastened. is the drum or barrel to which the other end of the rope B is securely
fastened and on which it is adapted to be coiled. is the shaft on which the
barrel is keyed or otherwise suitably secured, and which is supported in bearings³])
preferably formed in part with the standards of the general framing D which is
also provided with the bosses or bearings D2 and D³ hereinafter referred to. The base
of the frame D is hollow and the rope B passes freely through it. E is the brake
drum with which the rope barrel C is formed integrally or to which if desired it may
be secured in any convenient manner or they may be fixed independently upon the
shaft C. E is the brake band which wraps around the brake drum E and the ends
of which as shown in dotted lines in fig. 2 are connected one to a stud E³ on one arm
and the other to a stud E on the other arm of the brake lever E of which the
shaft E constitutes. the pivot, the studs E and E being so arranged relatively to the
pivot E that when the lever is moved one end of the brake band E' will be moved
to a greater extent than the other. E' is a weight which when allowed to fall or
rest unopposed causes the brake band E' to tighten around the drum E in the well
known manner.
F and G are toothed wheels which like the barrel C and drum E
are keyed or otherwise suitably secured on the shaft C¹. H is the wheel with which
gears the wheel F and H' is the shaft or stud upon which the wheel H is mounted
loosely this stud being secured in the before mentioned boss D². Upon the boss of
the wheel H at the side remote from the framing D is formed the clutch face H2 the
teeth of which like ratchet teeth are adapted to engage only when moved in one
direction. On the opposite side of the boss adjacent to the framing D is formed the
flange H shown most clearly in section in fig. 5 by means of which and a hook J
pivotted in the framing and engaging therewith the clutch face H2 is held in its
disengaged position. K is the pinion with which gears the wheel H and which is
secured on one end of the shaft K¹ supported in the before mentioned bearing D³
the opposite end of the shaft being squared as at K³ to admit of a winch handle
being placed thereon for winding up the motor weight A as hereinafter explained.
Lis the second clutch face which is formed preferably in one with the conical
sleeve L fig. 5 and M is the driving shaft of the engine for the starting of which this
apparatus is to be used and upon or near the end of which the conical sleeve L is
rigidly secured in any convenient manner it being here explained that the before
described apparatus is arranged in such position that the said engine shaft M and the
shaft or stud H are co-axial and their opposing ends are near each other. M' is a
pinion which is mounted loosely upon the engine shaft M and which through the
intermediate wheel N figs. 1, 2 and 3 is geared with the before mentioned wheel G
which is fast upon the shaft C. The projecting boss of the pinion M¹ as shown
clearly in Fig. 5 is conically recessed at M² to correspond with the contour of the
cone L and it is provided with an annular groove M³ for receiving the prongs or arms
of the clutch fork O. This fork is secured to the bar O' through which and the hand
lever to which it is connected by a stud 0³ the pinion 'M' is capable of being

page_text: moved so that the recess M2 may be forced on to or removed from and out of
frictional contact with the cone L. The intermediate wheel N is mounted on a
shaft N supported in twin bracket plates N2 which are themselves supported on the
shaft and on the rims M of the pinion M the said plates being prevented from
lateral displacement by the wheel G between their lower ends being fixed on the
shaft. The connection between the plates N2 and rims M is only in the nature of a
bearing and in no way hinders the pinion M being moved sidewise for being engaged
with or disengaged from the cone L. The before mentioned hand lever O2 is pivotted
at O to a bracket D preferably formed in part with the standard D³ and which
bracket also serves to support and guide the outer end of the bar O¹
P is a shaft supported in the standard D³ of the framing D transversely to and
preferably between the shafts H and K' and upon the outer end of which is provided
the hand wheel P figs. 2 and 3 or equivalent means for operating it. P2 figs. 2 and 3
is a coiled spring encircling a portion of the outer end of the shaft P and so con-
nected to it and to the standard D as to tend always to return the shaft to its normal
position. The before mentioned hook Jis pivotted at J so that it is capable of being
raised and lowered in the opening D in the standard D³ and upon the shaft P where
it crosses this opening below the hook J is fitted a cam arm Ps shown most clearly in
fig. 5 so that by turning the shaft P in the required direction the cam P³ will raise the
free end of the hook J to disengage it from the flange H³. Upon the projecting end
of the shaft opposite to that carrying the hand wheel P' is provided the cam arm P
figs. 1 and 2 which is adapted to bear against the face of the flange H3 or boss of the
wheel H so as to move the clutch face H2 into engagement with the clutch face L'
the arms P and P being so disposed to each other that not until the hook J is
disengaged from the flange H³ will the arm P+ hear against the wheel H. The
different positions assumed by these arms P³ P4 and the hook J when so operated are
represented in dotted lines in Figs. 1. and 5.
Qis the hand lever wbich is connected by the rod Q₁ fig. 2 to the brake lever E
so that by depressing the said hand lever the effect of the weight, E on the brake
band E will be removed and the brake thereby released. R. fig. 4 is a catch pivotted
as a lever at R¹ to the standard D and so arranged that its nose or lower end R² can
engage with the opening Q2 in the lever Q into which as shown in dotted lines in
fig. 4 it will be forced by the spring S when the lever Q is depressed thus serving to
retain the said lever in its lowered position against the influence of the weight Es
and keeping off the brake. T fig 4 is a plate slotted so as to be capable of sliding on
a screw T which holds it against the side of the standard D and to the upper part
of which plate is pivotted the upper end of the catch lever R in such manner that
when the plate T is moved towards the lever R the nose R2 thereof if then engaged
with the opening Q2 would be withdrawn from it. U in figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the
drawings represents a portion of the fly wheel of the engine to be started by the
before described apparatus.
Assuming the weight A to have been wound up and the apparatus to be generally
as represented in full lines in the drawings and supposing that it is desired to start
the engine the operation for effecting this may be described as follows-The shaft P
by means of the hand-wheel P' figs. 2 and 3 is turned so that the hook is raised
out of engagement with the flange H by which time the cam P will have come
against the said flange and will push the wheel H along the shaft H¹ so that the
clutch faces H L will be engaged one with the other and the engine shaft M thereby
coupled with the wheel H. As soon as it is released the shaft P under the influence
of its spring returns to its normal position. The hand lever Q is then depressed
so as to release the brake and the catch R under the influence of the spring S will
engage with the opening Q³ in the hand lever Q and retain it in its depressed
position and thus keep the brake band free from the drum E. Immediately the
brake resistance has in this manner been removed the weight. A will have commenced
to descend and thus through the unwinding of the rope B off the barrel C impart
rotary motion to the said barrel and through the shaft C and wheels F and H and
clutch HI transmit this motion to the engine shaft M. By thus initially operating

page_text: the engine the motive agent is admitted and the engine will soon out-run the starter
at which juncture the clutch L' which is keyed to the engine shaft M by reason of
the shape of its teeth will force the clutch H away from and out of engagement
with it and in so doing will force the flange H3 under the hook J which will retain
the clutch in the position into which it is so moved and at the same time the
flange H will have been pushed against the plate T thereby causing the engaging
end R of the catch R to be withdrawn from the opening Q2 of the lever Q and the
weight E thus left unopposed, will fall and thus again apply the brake and bring
the before described starting apparatus to a standstill, the direction in which the
weight tends to turn the drums C and E causing the brake to be applied the stronger
as will be clearly understood by referring to figure 2.
When it is desired to wind up the weight to be ready for again starting the engine
this will be best effected before the engine is stopped so as to utilize the power of the
engine for that purpose. To effect this the lever O2 is pulled over so that through the
bar O and fork O the conical recess M² of the pinion M' is moved on to the cone L.
which being fixed on the engine shaft M will by friction rotate the pinion M. The
motion thus imparted to the pinion M₁ will be transmitted through the wheels N
and G to the shaft C upon which the latter of these wheels and the barrel Û are
secured the said barrel being thus rotated in the required direction for the re-winding
on it of the rope B. When the weight A has in this manner been raised to the
required position the clutch H' L' either by hand or some automatic means is dis-
engaged and the engine will run free of the starting apparatus which will then be
ready for again starting the engine.
Should the engine have been stopped before the weight has been wound up the said
weight may be raised by hand by applying a crank or winch handle to the squared
end K2 of the shaft K and by its means and through the pinion K and wheels H
and Frotating the barrel Cin the required direction.
If desired the shaft P may be coupled by suitable connections to the hand lover Q
so that the engagement of the clutch H2 L may be simultaneous with and effected by
the same operation as effects the release of the brake.
The before described apparatus may be modified in many ways without departing
from the essential features of the invention for example instead of transmitting motion
between the starter and engine by spur gearing in the manner shown in the accom-
panying drawings it may be transmitted by bevil gearing. A convenient arrangement
of such a description would be to place the apparatus so that the axis of the shaft H¹
will be in the same horizontal plane but at right angles to that of the engine driving
shaft M which will carry loosely two bevil wheels both gearing with a bevil wheel on
the shaft P3 and by a suitable clutch or the like either of the wheels on the engine shaft
can for the time being be secured so as either to transmit power to the engine for
starting it or transmit power from the engine for winding up the weight A.
Instead of transmitting motion between engine and starter as before described
it may be transmitted by rope, chain, or equivalent gearing which arrangement
will admit of the starting apparatus being located at a distance from the engine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. In apparatus for starting a motive power engine the combination with a clutch
portion such as L' secured to the engine shaft of another portion such as H' which
may be engaged therewith and is directly operated by a falling weight and adapted
to be automatically disengaged from the portion when the engine out-runs the speed
of the starting apparatus substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for starting a motive power engine the combination with spur, rope
chain or equivalent gearing and a suitable clutch such as H' L' for transmitting to
the engine shaft motion produced by a falling weight of other similar gearing and

page_text: another clutch such as L M for transmitting motion from the engine for winding
up the weight or re-setting the said starting apparatus substantially as herein
described.
3. In apparatus for starting a motive power engine the combination with a hook
for retaining a sliding clutch portion such as H2 in its disengaged position of two cam
arms such as PP carried by the same shaft one cam P for releasing the hook from
the said portion H2 and the other cam P4 for moving it when so released into its
engaged position substantially as herein described.
4. In apparatus for starting a motive power engine the combination with a brake of
a catch or detent for retaining the brake in its disengaged position and arranged so
that as soon as the speed of the engine out-runs that of the starting apparatus the
catch or detent will be released and admit of the brake being applied substantially as
herein described.
.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete apparatus
for starting a motive power engine substantially as herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination with a motive power engine of a starting device adapted to
start and to be wound up or re-set by the engine substantially as described.
7. The combination with a motive power engine of a weight operated starting
device constructed and operating substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of November 1889.
B. SMITH.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.