Electric starting system

• US 4,415,812 A
• Filed: 01/11/1982
• Issued: 11/15/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Alexander, Timothy C., Griffith, Donald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truhe, J. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flower, Terrance L.
• Application Number:
  US06/338,639
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 290/31, 290/36 R, 290/38 R, 290/38 C, 290/38 E, 290/48, 290/DIG. 1, 290/DIG. 3, 290/DIG. 11, 318/284, 318/285
• US Class Current: 290/38.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0851 characterised by means for controlling the engagement or disengagement between engine and starter, e.g. meshing of pinion and engine gear
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/067 the starter comprising an electro-magnetically actuated lever
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/041 Starter speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/043 Starter voltage

Abstract

An electric starting system for cranking an internal combustion engine by an electric cranking motor. The system prevents energization of the cranking motor following initial energization and subsequent deenergization by sensing the voltage generated by the cranking motor when it is deenergized and preventing reenergization of the cranking motor until this voltage drops to some value indicative of a low cranking motor speed.

Claims

1. An electric starting system for cranking an engine comprising, an electric cranking motor, a voltage source, a start switch, cranking motor control means including a switching means operative in a first state to permit initial energization of the cranking motor from the voltage source when the start switch is initially closed and operative in a second state to prevent subsequent energization of the cranking motor from the voltage source when the start switch is subsequently opened and then reclosed, voltage responsive means coupled to said switching means for controlling its state of operation, means responsive to initial closure of said start switch for energizing said cranking motor and for applying a voltage to said voltage responsive means from said voltage source of such a magnitude as to cause said voltage responsive means to actuate said switching means from said first state to said second state, means disconnecting said cranking motor and voltage source when said start switch is subsequently opened, and means for applying the voltage generated in said cranking motor to said voltage responsive means when said cranking motor is disconnected from said voltage source, the magnitude of the generated voltage being such as to cause the voltage responsive means to maintain the switching means in said second state to prevent energization of the cranking motor until said generated voltage decreases to a predetermined value.

2. An electric starting system for cranking an engine comprising, a source of voltage, a start switch, an electric cranking motor, means including first and second switching means operative when either is in a conductive state to permit energization of the cranking motor from said voltage source and operative when both are in a nonconductive state to prevent energization of the cranking motor, means responsive to initial closure of said start switch for actuating said first switching means to a nonconductive state and said second switching means to a conductive state to energize said cranking motor, means responsive to subsequent opening of said start switch to deenergize said cranking motor and actuate said second switching means to its nonconductive state, and means responsive to the voltage generated in said motor while it is deenergized for maintaining said first switching means in its nonconductive state until said generated voltage decreases to some predetermined value whereby the cranking motor is prevented from being energized until said generated voltage decreases to said predetermined value.

3. An electric starting system for cranking an engine comprising, a source of voltage, a start switch, an electric cranking motor, means including first and second switching means operative when either is in a conductive state to permit energization of the cranking motor from said voltage source and operative when both are in a nonconductive state to prevent energization of the cranking motor, means responsive to initial closure of said start switch for actuating said first switching means to a nonconductive state and said second switching means to a conductive state to energize said cranking motor, said last-named means including a voltage comparator coupled to said first switching means for controlling said first switching means, means responsive to subsequent opening of said start switch to deenergize said cranking motor and actuate said second switching means to its nonconductive state, and means responsive to the voltage generated in said motor while it is deenergized for maintaining said first switching means in its nonconductive state until said generated voltage decreases to some predetermined value whereby the cranking motor is prevented from being energized until said generated voltage decreases to said predetermined value, said last-named means comprising said voltage comparator and means for applying the generated voltage to said voltage comparator.

4. An electric starting system for cranking an engine comprising, an electric cranking motor, a voltage source, a manually operable start switch, a voltage comparator having an input terminal and an output terminal, means including a cranking motor control circuit which when energized is operative to cause the cranking motor to be connected to the voltage source and when deenergized is operative to cause the cranking motor to be disconnected from the voltage source, first and second parallel connected switching means, means connecting said start switch and said first and second parallel connected switching means in series between said voltage source and said control circuit, means coupled to the output terminal of said voltage comparator controlling said first switching means, means for applying source voltage to said input terminal of said comparator when said start switch is initially closed to bias the comparator to a state wherein said first switching means is actuated to an open condition, a circuit connecting said motor to said input terminal of said comparator to apply the voltage generated in said motor to said input terminal when said motor is disconnected from said voltage source and when said input terminal is disconnected from said voltage source, the voltage generated in said motor operative to maintain the comparator biased to a state wherein said first switching means is maintained in an open condition until the generated voltage decreases to some value indicative of low cranking motor speed, and means responsive to opening of said start switch following intial closure thereof to disconnect said input terminal from said voltage source and actuate said second switching means to an open condition.

5. An electric starting system for cranking an engine comprising, an electric cranking motor, a voltage source, a manually operable start switch, first and second relay coils, said first relay coil when energized actuating normally closed first contact means to an open position and said second relay coil when energized actuating second and third normally open contact means to a closed position, magnetic switch means including an actuating coil operative when energized to connect said voltage source and cranking motor and operative when deenergized to disconnect said voltage source and cranking motor, a voltage comparator having an input terminal and an output terminal, a circuit for controlling the energization of the actuating coil of said magnetic switch connected between said voltage source and actuating coil comprising in a series connection said start switch and a circuit comprised of a parallel connection of said first and second contact means, said parallel connected contact means connected in series with said second relay coil to thereby energize said second relay coil when said start switch is initially closed, a circuit for connecting said input terminal of said voltage comparator to said voltage source comprising said third contact means, means coupling the output terminal of said voltage comparator to said first relay coil, and a circuit including a diode connecting said cranking motor to said input terminal of said voltage comparator whereby said input terminal has cranking motor generated voltage applied thereto when said magnetic switch means is opened to disconnect said cranking motor and voltage source, the generated voltage being of such a magnitude as to bias the comparator output to such a state as to maintain said first relay coil energized to thereby maintain said first contract means in an open condition until said generated voltage decreases to some predetermined value indicative of low cranking motor speed.