Engine Starter Attachments for Drill/Driver Gun

Abstract

A specialty nut and specialty ratchet driver device used to start an internal combustion engine, each with an integrated one direction clutch, designed to be an attachment for a commercially available battery operated drill/driver gun. In the case of the specialty nut, it is screwed onto the crank shaft of a small internal combustion engine with the integrated one direction clutch pointing outward. One end of a driver shaft is inserted into the one direction clutch and the other end of the shaft is inserted into the chuck of a battery operated drill/driver gun. In the case of the specialty ratchet driver device, a standard nut is present on the threaded engine crank shaft and a socket is placed over that nut. The specialty ratchet driver with an integrated one direction clutch is inserted into the driver receptacle of the socket placed over the nut on the crank shaft. One end of a drive shaft is inserted into the one direction clutch portion of the specialty ratchet driver device and the other end of the drive shaft is inserted into the chuck of a battery operated drill/driver gun. In both cases, the torque of the drill/driver gun turns the crank shaft of the engine with sufficient force to initiate starting of the engine. The one direction clutch then allows the engine to turn faster than the drill/driver so as not to impede the engine start up.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine starter attachment for a drill/driver gun comprising: a nut with a front portion, a back portion, an outer surface and an inner surface; a one direction clutch having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; a drive shaft having a first end and a second end; the outer diameter of the one direction clutch being fixed into the front portion of the inner surface of the nut and the inner diameter of the one direction clutch adapted to removeably receive the first end of the drive shaft; the back portion of the nut having threads on the inner surface to attach to a threaded portion of a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine; the second end of the of the drive shaft adapted to be inserted into a chuck of the drill/driver gun.

2. The internal combustion engine starter of claim 2, wherein the second end of the drive shaft has a hex configuration.

3. An internal combustion engine starter attachment for a drill/driver gun comprising: a socket driver attachment with a square drive on one end and an internal cylindrical hole on the other end; the square drive end of the socket driver attachment adapted to fit into a standard socket driver hole to engage a socket placed on a nut located on the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine; a one direction clutch having an inner diameter and an outer diameter where the inner diameter removeably accepts a drive shaft and the outer diameter is fixed into the internal cylindrical hole of the socket driver attachment; an exposed end of the drive shaft being inserted into a chuck of the drill driver gun.

4. The internal combustion engine starter of claim 3, wherein the exposed end of the drive shaft has a hex configuration.

5. The internal combustion engine starter of claim 3, wherein the square drive end of the socket head driver is configured to any of the standard sizes of square driver socket ends ranging from and including one-quarter of an inch to and including three and one-half inches.

6. The internal combustion engine starter of claim 3, wherein the square drive end of the socket head driver is a #4 spline drive.

7. The internal combustion engine starter of claim 3, wherein the square drive end of the socket head driver is a #5 spline drive.

8. The internal combustion engine starter of claim 4, wherein the square drive end of the socket head driver is configured to any of the standard sizes of square driver socket ends ranging from and including one-quarter of an inch to and including three and one-half inches.

9. The internal combustion engine starter of claim 4, wherein the square drive end of the socket head driver is a #4 spline drive.

10. The internal combustion engine starter of claim 4, wherein the square drive end of the socket head driver is a #5 spline drive.

11. A reversible internal combustion engine starter attachment for a drill/driver gun comprising: a square socket driver with four outer faces and having an internal cylindrical through hole; a one direction clutch having an inner diameter and an outer diameter where the outer diameter is fixed into the internal cylindrical through hole of the square socket driver; the four faces of the square socket driver configured to fit into a standard socket hole to engage a socket placed on a nut located on a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine; the square socket driver and the one direction clutch assembly are removeably retained on a drive shaft and capable of being reversibly attached to the drive shaft; an exposed end of the drive shaft being inserted into a chuck of the drill/driver gun.

12. The reversible internal combustion engine starter of claim 11, wherein the exposed end of the drive shaft has a hex configuration.

13. The reversible internal combustion engine starter of claim 11, wherein the square socket driver is configured to any of the standard sizes of square driver socket ends ranging from and including one-quarter of an inch to and including three and one-half inches.

14. The reversible internal combustion engine starter of claim 11, wherein the square socket driver is a #4 spline drive.

15. The reversible internal combustion engine starter of claim 11, wherein the square socket driver is a #5 spline drive.

16. The reversible internal combustion engine starter of claim 11, wherein the square socket driver and the one direction clutch assembly are removeably retained on the drive shaft by means of snap rings.

17. The reversible internal combustion engine starter of claim 12, wherein the square socket driver is configured to any of the standard sizes of square driver socket ends ranging from and including one-quarter of an inch to and including three and one-half inches.

18. The reversible internal combustion engine starter of claim 12, wherein the square socket driver is a #4 spline drive.

19. The reversible internal combustion engine starter of claim 12, wherein the square socket driver is a #5 spline drive.

20. The reversible internal combustion engine starter of claim 12, wherein the square socket driver and the one direction clutch assembly are removeably retained on the shaft by means of snap rings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the one direction clutch.

[0007] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the internal threads.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross section of the side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a view showing a preferred embodiment of the invention inserted into a drill/driver gun and applied to a small motor.

[0011] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the socket driver attachment.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a side view of an engine crank shaft and nut with a cross section of a socket.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, an engine crank shaft and nut with a cross section of a socket

[0014] FIG. 9 is a cross section of the side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention and a drive shaft.

[0015] FIG. 10 is an exploded assembly view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 11 is a view showing a preferred embodiment of the invention inserted into a drill/driver gun and applied to a small motor.

[0017] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the one direction clutch.

[0018] FIG. 13 is a side view of an engine crank shaft and nut with a cross section of a socket.

[0019] FIG. 14 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, an engine crank shaft and nut with a cross section of a socket

[0020] FIG. 15 is a cross section of the side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention and a drive shaft.

[0021] FIG. 16 is an exploded assembly view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 17 is a view showing the device inserted into a drill/driver gun and applied to a small motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0023] The present invention will now be described in terms of the presently preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many obvious modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

[0024] The present invention can be used as a fixture to a battery operated drill/driver gun as a starter on any internal combustion engine which is started by turning the crank shaft while introducing fuel into the piston cylinder and an ignition source when necessary. Internal combustion engines are used to power out door maintenance machines for the home and farm. Specifically, lawn mowers, tractors, snow blowers, weed whackers and chain saws. These machines are most often started with recoil start mechanisms referred to as a pull cords. The recoil starter mechanism consists of a rope coiled around the end of the crankshaft of the machine. When the rope is pulled the crankshaft is spun and the flywheel keeps turning to start the engine.

[0025] The present invention is directed to a device to be used in conjunction with a commercially available battery operated drill/driver gun. Specifically, the device in each of its preferred embodiments is a tool designed to be powered by a drive shaft set in the chuck of the drill driver/gun. FIGS. 5, 11 and 17. When affixed to the drill/driver gun, the device converts a standard battery operated drill/driver gun into a starter for an internal combustion engine.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises an elongate nut (1) screwed onto the threaded crank shaft of an internal combustion engine. FIG. 1. The elongate nut has internal threads (3) on the inside diameter of one side (FIG. 2) and a commercially available miniature one direction clutch mechanism (2)such as the one available by JTEKT Corporationpressed into the inside diameter of the other side (FIG. 1). Once the elongate nut is screwed onto the threaded engine crank shaft, a drive shaft (4) is inserted into the inside diameter of the one direction clutch mechanism (2). FIG. 4. The one direction clutch (2) allows motion only in the direction that the engine crank shaft is to be rotated in order to start. FIG. 5. The hexagonal end (5) of drive shaft (4) is then inserted into a commercially available battery operated drill/driver gun. FIG. 5. Of course, the hexagonal end (5) of drive shaft (4) can also be inserted into an alternating current powered drill/driver gun as well. The device is interfaced with the drill/driver gun in one of two ways. First, the hexagonal end of the device is inserted directly into the chuck of the drill/driver and then tightened down in the chuck. Second, the hexagonal end of the device is inserted directly into a hexagonal nut driver already set into the chuck of the drill/driver gun.

[0027] The drill/driver is then activated and the engine crank shaft is spun in a counter-clockwise direction. FIG. 5. Once the fuel ignites, the engine begins to run and the elongate nut, crank shaft and flywheel will start to turn in the same direction as the device in the drill/driver. At this moment, the gears in the drill/driver required to generate the torque necessary to crank the engine, now act to interfere with the engine operating on its own power. The gears in the drill/driver act as a break and inhibit the engine from catching and ruining. This phenomenon makes the use of a drill/driver gun without the use of the current invention unsuitable as a starter device for these machines.

[0028] The current invention addresses this issue by allowing the elongate nut (I) of the present invention to rotate faster than the drive shaft (4). FIG. 4. The elongate nut (1) can do this because of the one direction clutch (2) in the elongate nut (1) in which the drive shaft (4) rides. FIG. 4. and FIG. 5. The ability for the engine to spin faster than the drill/driver at the moment the engine starts is critical because the engine will not catch and continue to run on its own unless it is allowed to run up faster than the drive shaft (4) attached to the drill/driver chuck at the moment the engine begins to run on its own power.

[0029] In a second preferred embodiment, the device is comprised of a socket driver attachment (6) and a drive shaft (4) with the inside diameter of a one direction clutch (2) secured onto the drive shaft (4) with snap rings (7). FIG. 10. This assembly is pressed into the inner diameter of the socket driver attachment (6). FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

[0030] In this embodiment, a socket is attached to a nut on the engine crank shaft. FIG. 7. The socket driver attachment (6) on the assembled device is inserted into the square opening at the end of the socket. FIG. 8. Any standard size socket driver can be used including , , up to 3 and #4 and #5 spline drives. Also, a spring loaded pin is present on the socket driver attachment (6) (FIG. 9) in order to interface with an indent present on the inside of the square opening at the end of a socket. Again, the one direction clutch (2) allows motion only in the direction that the engine crank shaft is to be rotated in order to start. FIG. 11. The hexagonal end (5) of drive shaft (4) is then inserted into a commercially available battery operated drill/driver gun. FIG. 6. The device is interfaced with the drill/driver gun in one of two ways. First, the hexagonal end of the device is inserted directly into the chuck of the drill/driver and then tightened down in the chuck. Second, the hexagonal end of the device is inserted directly into a hexagonal nut driver already set into the chuck of the drill/driver gun.

[0031] The drill/driver is then activated and the engine crank shaft is spun in a counter-clockwise direction. FIG. 11. Once the fuel ignites, the engine begins to run and the elongate nut, crankshaft and flywheel will start to turn in the same direction as the device in the drill/driver. At this moment, the gears in the drill/driver required to generate the torque to crank the engine, now act to interfere with the engine operating on its own power. The gears in the drill/driver act as a break and inhibit the engine from catching and ruining.

[0032] This phenomenon makes the use of a drill/driver gun without the use of the current invention unsuitable as a starter device for these machines.

[0033] The current invention addresses this issue by allowing the socket driver attachment (6) of the present embodiment to rotate faster than the drive shaft (4). FIG. 6 and FIG. 9. The socket driver attachment (6) can do this because of the one direction clutch (2) pressed into the inner diameter of the socket driver attachment (6). FIG. 10. The ability for the engine to spin faster than the drill/driver at the moment the engine starts is critical because the engine will not catch and continue to run on its own unless it is allowed to run up faster than the drive shaft (4) attached to the drill/driver chuck at the moment the engine begins to run on its own power.

[0034] In a third preferred embodiment, the device is comprised of a square socket driver (8) with a one direction clutch (2) pressed into the inside diameter of the square socket driver (8). FIG. 12. A drive shaft (4) fits into the inside diameter of the one direction clutch (2) and is secured to the drive shaft by snap rings (7). FIG. 16. In this configuration, the socket driver (8) can be removed from the drive shaft (4) with relative ease and reversed and placed back on the drive shaft (4) so that the one direction clutch operates in the reverse direction. This feature allows the user of the device of this third preferred embodiment the flexibility to start engines that start by turning the engine crank shaft clockwise or counter-clockwise.

[0035] In this embodiment, a socket is attached to a nut on the engine crank shaft. FIG. 13. The square socket driver (8) on the assembled device is inserted into the square opening at the end of the socket. FIG. 14. Any standard size socket driver dimension can be used for the square socket driver (8) including , , up to 3. Also, an indent is present on one side of the square socket driver (FIG. 16) in order to accept a protrusion on the inside of the square opening at the end of the socket. Again, the one direction clutch (2) allows motion only in the direction that the engine crank shaft is to be rotated in order to start. FIG. 17. The hexagonal end (5) of drive shaft (4) is then inserted into a commercially available battery operated drill/driver gun. FIG. 16. The device is interfaced with the drill/driver gun in one of two directions. First, the hexagonal end of the device is inserted directly into the chuck of the drill/driver and then tightened down in the chuck. Second, the hexagonal end of the device is inserted directly into a hexagonal nut driver already set into the chuck of the drill/driver gun.

[0036] The drill/driver is then activated and the engine crank shaft is spun in a counter-clockwise direction. FIG. 17. Once the fuel ignites, the engine begins to run and the square socket driver (8), crank shaft and flywheel will start to turn in the same direction as the device in the drill/driver. At this moment, the gears in the drill/driver required to generate the torque necessary to crank the engine, now act to interfere with the engine operating on its own power. The gears in the drill/driver act as a break and inhibit the engine from catching and ruining. This phenomenon makes the use of a drill/driver gun without the use of the current invention unsuitable as a starter device for these machines.

[0037] The current invention addresses this issue by allowing the square socket driver (8) of the present embodiment to rotate faster than the drive shaft (4). FIG. 16. The square socket driver (8) can do this because of the one direction clutch (2) pressed into the inner diameter of the square socket driver (8). FIG. 16. The ability for the engine to spin faster than the drill/driver at the moment the engine starts is critical because the engine will not catch and continue to run on its own unless it is allowed to run up faster than the drive shaft (4) attached to the drill/driver chuck at the moment the engine begins to run on its own power.

[0038] Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the embodiments just described merely illustrate the principles of the present invention. Many obvious modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.