Starting device for internal combustion engines

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6536396
  • Patent Number
    6,536,396
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 7, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 25, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A starting device has a strip connected to a pulley for a pull start mechanism. The strip is composed of a high performance plastic and is provided with an integral handle. A connection means connects the strip to the pulley on its distal end. The strip fits neatly in a coil around a pulley hub. It lays flat during storage and exerts substantially no lateral pressure against the walls of the pulley. With this construction, the strip does not fray and affords a storing mechanism that is cleaner than a conventional rope system. The starting device has few parts and is easy to assemble. It is lightweight, inexpensive to construct and facilitates starting in an efficient, reliable manner.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention relates to a starting device for internal combustion engines; and more particularly to a starter strip operable to initiate movement of the drive shaft of a small engine during starting.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Starting mechanisms for internal combustion engines, for example small engines used in lawn and power applications, and even smaller engines designed for model planes and the like, need improvement. These mechanisms are typically of the rope and pulley type, and when used present the manufacturer and user numerous problems.




Some of the problems presented by conventional starting mechanisms include broken rope, tangled rope, spreading of the pulley sides, inconsistent pulls, jamming of the rope, wear on the rope, the expense of attaching handles, the attachment to the pulley, and the like.




A major complaint with conventional starting systems is that they are prone to failure and expensive to repair. Servicing these systems oftentimes entails labor intensive operations and testing, as well as added expense in materials for parts of the mechanisms involved: rope, knotting, handles and pulley design. Design requirements specified for rope systems make them difficult to construct and do not allow for starting mechanism that afford a consistent, non-obstructive wind up or pull.




It would be desirable to provide an improvement to the conventional rope and pulley mechanisms, which would alleviate these problems.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a starting device having a strip, which is connected to the pulley of a pull start mechanism. In one embodiment, the strip is composed of a high performance polymer, such as nylon, preferably Capron® nylon 6 from Honeywell International Inc. and can be provided with an integral handle, such as by molding. Preferably, the strip is made by injection molding, extrusion or other methods from a high strength material. The strip is connected to the pulley by a connection means on its distal end. The strip is designed to fit neatly in a coil around a pulley hub.




More specifically, the invention provides a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising an elongated flexible starter strip provided with a handle on a first end and a connection means on a second end. A housing partially encloses the apparatus and is provided with an opening for receiving the starter strip. A receptacle, provided with a central hub and a post, is fixed within the housing. Rotatably positioned on the hub is a starter pulley provided with a channel for storing the starter strip. The pulley has one or more slots for securely receiving the connection means. When thus received, the first end of the starter strip is secured to the starter pulley and the elongated starter strip is wound around the starter pulley within the channel. A spirally wound spring having inner and outer ends are provided for rewinding the starter pulley. The spring is positioned within the receptacle with its inner end fixed to the pulley and its outer end fixed to the post. A ratcheting means is provided for connecting the pulley to the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine. The ratcheting means provides for uncoupled rotation between the pulley and the drive shaft when the pulley rotates in the opposite direction of normal drive shaft rotation. Coupled rotation between the pulley and the drive shaft is also provided by the ratcheting means when the pulley rotates in the direction of normal drive shaft rotation. With this arrangement, the handle is pulled causing the strip to unwind. The spring becomes wound and the pulley rotates, causing the ratchet means to engage the drive shaft and start the engine. Upon release of the strip, the spring unwinds, causing the strip to be rewound on the pulley.




The starting device of this invention provides an efficient pulley design since the starting strip lays flat and exerts substantially no lateral pressure against the walls of the pulley. When constructed from a high strength plastic material such Capron® nylon 6 resin from Honeywell International Inc., the strip lasts longer than a conventional starter rope. In addition, with such construction, the starter strip does not fray and affords a storing mechanism that is much cleaner than a conventional rope system.




Advantageously, the present starting device can have an integral pulley handle. With this feature, the device has fewer parts. It is easier to assemble, owing to the absence of attachment points typically required for actuation with rope or cords (which are usually knotted). Lateral pressure on the pulley is virtually eliminated. Conventional rope/pulley constructions can be replaced by lightweight, inexpensive rewinding devices that facilitate starting in an efficient, reliable manner. The propensity for snagging, wedging or knotting of the starter cord is replaced by a consistent, non-obstructive wind up or pull.




Rope breakage is eliminated. A constant grab and pull accompanies each starting attempt. Engine powered units can be redesigned into units that are smaller, lighter, less expensive, more efficient and much more reliable in operation.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing in which:





FIG. 1

is an exploded view of the starter mechanism of this invention;





FIG. 2



a


is a perspective view of a first alternative connection means of the invention comprising a “T” shaped portion at the distal end of the starting strip for connection thereof to the starter mechanism;





FIG. 2



b


is a perspective view of a second alternative connection means of the invention comprising a jogged tab portion at the distal end of the starting strip for connection thereof to the starter mechanism;





FIG. 2



c


is a perspective view of a third alternative connection means of the invention comprising a mold snap portion at the distal end of the starting strip and an extension of the hub of the pulley having a window appointed for receiving the mold snap portion;





FIG. 2



d


is perspective view of a fourth alternative connection means of the invention comprising a forked shaped distal end of the starting strip formed of spaced tines for connection of the starting strip to the starter mechanism; and





FIG. 3

is a view of the starter mechanism in a power chain saw.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The starting strip of this invention is formed from a material, which is somewhat flexible. Such material is typically formed by molding or extruding the strip from a thermoplastic material. A preferred material is composed of a high performance polymer, such as a nylon, preferably Capron® nylon 6 from Honeywell International Inc. The strip is provided with a distal end for connection to the starter pulley of a conventional small gasoline engine, and an opposite end, which is adapted to be grasped by the user when the engine is to be started. The opposite end is preferably provided with an integral handle that can be readily grasped by the user, and may be of any suitable shape. For example, the strip may have the form of a plastic wire or the like. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that instead of being integral with the strip, the handle can be comprised of a separate part.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, the invention provides a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising a starter strip


30


having an elongated flexible member


32


provided with a handle


34


on a first end and a connection means


38


on a second end. A housing


12


partially encloses the apparatus. Housing


12


is provided with an opening


17


for receiving the starter strip


30


. A receptacle


14


is provided with a central hub


18


and a post


15


. The receptacle


14


is fixed within the housing


12


. A starter pulley


22


is rotatably positioned on the hub


18


and provided with a channel


22




a


for storing the starter strip


30


. Pulley


22


has one or more slots


28


for securely receiving the connection means


38


. The first end of the starter strip


30


is secured to the starter pulley


22


and the elongated starter strip


30


is wound around the starter pulley


22


within the channel


22




a.


In the aspect of the invention depicted in

FIG. 1

, a means for connecting strip


30


to pulley


22


is provided by engagement of tab


36


in slot


26


located in flange


23




a.


Spirally wound spring


16


has inner end


15




b


and outer end


15




a.


The spring


16


is positioned within the receptacle


14


for rewinding the starter pulley


22


. Spring


16


has its inner end


15




b


fixed to the pulley


22


and its outer end


15




a


fixed to the post


15


. A ratcheting means


27


connects the pulley


22


to the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine. The ratcheting


27


means provides for uncoupled rotation between the pulley


22


and the drive shaft when the pulley


22


rotates in the opposite direction


29




b


of normal drive shaft rotation. In addition, ratcheting means


27


provides for coupled rotation between the pulley


22


and the drive shaft when the pulley


22


rotates in the direction


29




a


of normal drive shaft rotation.




In operation, handle


34


is pulled causing strip


30


to unwind and rotate pulley


22


. Ratchet means


27


is thereby caused to engage and rotate the drive shaft, starting the engine. Upon release of strip


30


, spring


16


unwinds. Strip


30


is thereby rewound on pulley


22


.




The starter strip


30


could be adapted for fast loading using a pre-designed bend as connection means


38


. In this embodiment, tab


36


provides means for connecting strip


30


to pulley


22


, as shown by FIG.


1


. This embodiment of starter strip


30


eliminates the crimping, sticking and other failures of wind up cord units. Also eliminated is the effect of dirt settling into the pulley mechanism and failures due to abrasion caused thereby. Alternate means for connecting strip


30


to pulley


22


are shown in

FIGS. 2



a


-


2




d


and described in detail hereinafter.




This invention delivers a more consistent pull because strip


30


comes straight off of the pulley


22


, rather than having to untangle itself from a developed nesting arrangement produced during winding of rope-type starting devices. The strip


30


has substantially uniform dimensions. It can be standardized and incorporated into a wide variety of engine units and products, all of which can be started thereby in an efficient, reliable manner.




Receptacle


14


has a central hub


18


, which is provided with an opening


19


for receiving screw


24


. Starter pulley


22


is disk shaped, comprising flanges


23




a


and


23




b


separated by hub


23


. This arrangement forms channel


22




a


adapted for winding and storing strip


30


. Hub


23


has opening


20


for receiving hub


18


of receptacle


14


. In this manner, pulley


22


is free to rotate about hub


18


. Pulley


22


is retained on hub


18


by means of a screw


24


and washer


26


. The screw


24


is secured in opening


19


of hub


18


to thereby retain both the starter pulley


22


and spring


16


within housing


12


. View A of

FIG. 1

is a side view of pulley


22


. View B is a cross-section side view of pulley


22


and a partially wound starter strip


30


.




The starting mechanism described above with reference to

FIG. 1

is a conventional spring-loaded mechanism. In accordance with another embodiment of the starting mechanism, one flange


23




a


or


23




b


of pulley


22


is provided with an attachment slot


28


. Starter strip


30


has an elongated central portion


32


, a handle


34


and a connection means


38


. Each of handle


34


and connection means


38


can be integral with the central portion


32


. Connection means


38


is provided with a generally L-shaped tab


36


, which is adapted to be received in slot


28


.




Starter pull strip


30


is formed of a flexible plastic material, such as nylon or other high strength material, by injection molding or other technique and shaped so as to fit neatly in a coil around hub


23


of pulley


22


. In the embodiment shown, starter strip


30


is composed of a high performance polymer, such as a nylon, preferably Capron® nylon 6 from Honeywell International Inc. Starter strip


30


is appointed to be wound between flanges


23




a


and


23




b


of starter pulley


22


, with tab


36


fitting into slot


28


, as shown by phantom lines in FIG.


1


. Strip


30


enters housing


12


through opening


17


. To actuate the starting mechanism, starter strip


30


is placed in the position depicted by FIG.


1


. Handle


34


is pulled to the right, as shown in the drawing. Such action causes rotation of starter pulley


22


, which is attached to the engine drive shaft in a conventional way (not shown). Such rotary motion of pulley


22


is imparted to the drive shaft, starting the engine.




Handle


34


and tab


36


are shown herein to be integral components of starter pull strip


30


. Such integral construction of the starter pull strip


30


is readily achieved by conventional forming operations, such as injection molding and the like. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that either or both of the handle


34


and tab


36


could comprise separate components that are attached by suitable fastening means to central portion


32


of pull strip


30


.




Referring to

FIGS. 2



a


-


2




d


of the drawings, there are shown several alternatives for attaching central flexible member


32


of pull strip


30


to pulley


22


. In a first of these alternatives depicted in

FIG. 2



a,


connection means


38


is provided with a “T” shaped portion


40


. In this aspect of the invention each of starter pulley flanges


23




a


and


23




b


have slotted openings (not shown). The “T” shaped portion


40


is adapted to fit into slotted openings of pulley flanges


23




a


and


23




b,


shown in FIG.


1


.




In a second alternative for attaching the member


32


to pulley


22


shown in

FIG. 2



b,


jogged tab


48


of connection means


38


is adapted to be inserted into slot


28


, shown in FIG.


1


. It will be understood by the skilled worker that other attachment alternatives may be provided to connect strip


30


to pulley


22


.




In a third attachment alternative shown in

FIG. 2



c,


slot


28


takes the form of window


44


into which mold snap portion


41


of connection means


38


is adapted to be received. Hub


23


of pulley


22


has an extension


46


in which window


44


is provided. As illustrated in

FIG. 2



d,


connection means


38


may alternatively be provided with a forked shaped end


42


formed of spaced tines adapted to be engaged in window


44


.




As a fifth attachment alternative pull strip


30


is integrated with hub


23


of pulley


22


during molding to provide a single integrally molded part.




Referring to

FIG. 3

there is shown a portable chain saw


60


. Chain saw


60


includes a housing


62


which encloses the engine, and a housing


12


which encloses the starter assembly. Starter strip


30


is pulled by handle


34


and unwinds the starter strip wound within housing


12


.




The starting mechanism of the present invention can be used with a myriad of small engines. In addition to the power chain saw illustrated in

FIG. 3

, it may be utilized in a leaf blower, weed trimmer, and the like. The present invention is especially suited to be incorporated on most small engines in the same way that pulley and rope mechanisms are now provided. The entire system disclosed herein can be designed and adapted for use as part of a small engine unit.




Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to but that further changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.



Claims
  • 1. A starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft, comprising:a. an elongated flexible starter strip having a handle on a first end and a connection means on a second end; b. a housing partially enclosing said apparatus, said housing having an opening therein for receiving said starter strip; c. a receptacle having a central hub and a post, said receptacle being fixed within said housing; d. a starter pulley rotatably positioned on said hub and provided with a channel for storing said starter strip, said pulley having one or more slots for securely receiving said connection means, said first end of said starter strip being secured to said starter pulley and said elongated starter strip being wound around said starter pulley within said channel; e. a spirally wound spring having inner and outer ends for rewinding said starter pulley, said spring being positioned within said receptacle and having said inner end fixed to said pulley and said outer end fixed to said post; and f. a ratcheting means for connecting said pulley to the drive shaft of said internal combustion engine, said ratcheting means being operative to produce uncoupled rotation between said pulley and said drive shaft when said pulley rotates in a direction opposite to a rotation direction extant during normal drive shaft rotation, and coupled rotation between said pulley and said drive shaft when said pulley rotates in said rotation direction extant during normal drive shaft rotation; g. said handle, upon being pulled, unwinding said strip, thereby winding said spring and rotating said pulley, causing said ratchet means to engage said drive shaft and start said engine; and h. said spring unwinding upon release of said strip, causing said strip to be rewound on said pulley.
  • 2. A starting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said starter strip is composed of an injection molded high performance polymer.
  • 3. A starting apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said polymer is composed of nylon.
  • 4. A starting apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said nylon is nylon 6.
  • 5. A starting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises an L-shaped tab.
  • 6. A starting apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises a T-shaped tab.
  • 7. A starting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises a fork-shaped tab.
  • 8. A starting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises a jogged tab.
  • 9. A starting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulley has a flange thereon, and said slot of said pulley is located on said flange.
  • 10. A starting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulley has a hub thereon, and said slot is located on said hub.
  • 11. A starting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulley includes a hub comprising an extension having a window therein forming said slot, and said connection means comprises a mold snap portion adapted to be received in said window.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/138,204, filed Jun. 9, 1999.

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Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/138204 Jun 1999 US