Internal combustion engine starting system

Claim 1

In an electrically actuated series connected starting system for a water jacket encased internal combustion engine having a starter switch connected to a battery, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a container for storing a volatile starting fluid under pressure; b. an electrically actuatable discharge means connected to said container for discharging the starting fluid from said container, said discharge means including an electrically actuated solenoid means for metering a predetermined quantity of the fluid upon electrical energization of said discharge means and for discharging the predetermined quantity of the starting fluid upon electrical de-energization of said discharge means; c. conduit means extending from said discharge means to the engine for transmitting the discharged predetermined quantity of the starting fluid from said discharge means to the engine; d. a timing switch electrically connected in series between the starter switch and said discharge means for periodically electrically energizing said discharge means, said timing switch including a current limiting heating element connected in parallel with a normally open bimetallic relay responsive to said heating element for periodically establishing a short circuit across said heating element; e. a normally closed thermostatic switch mounted adjacent the water jacket of the engine for sensing the ambient temperature of the engine, said thermostatic switch being actuated in response to a predetermined ambient temperature of the engine; f. electrical conductor means for electrically connecting said thermostatic switch to said discharge means; and g. further electrical conductor means for electrically connecting said thermostatic switch to the battery; whereby, the starting fluid is continually periodically discharged into the engine until either the starting switch is turned off or until the engine reaches an ambient temperature, whichever occurs first.