Combination AC and DC electrical starting motor for engines

Claim 1

In an internal combustion engine prime mover system including an internal combustion engine, starter motor means coupled to the engine for starting the engine, a battery connected to the starter motor means, and an ignition system connected to the battery and to the starter motor means for controlling the starter motor means, the improvement wherein the starter motor means comprises, in combination: (a) first means responsive to a first current for actuating the starter motor means; (b) second means responsive to a second current different from the first current for actuating the starter motor means simultaneously with the first means; wherein each of the first means and second means comprises, in combination: (1) an electric motor; and (2) an electrical solenoid connectible to a source of current for selectively actuating the motor simultaneously with actuating of the motor of the other of the first and second means by the solenoid of the other of the first and second means, the solenoid of the first means being actuatable by a DC current for supplying DC current to its respective motor, and the solenoid of the second means being actuatable by a DC current for supplying AC current to its respective motor, the DC and AC current forming the first current and second current, respectively; and wherein said ignition system includes an ignition switch which is electrically connected to said electrical solenoid of said first means and said electrical solenoid of said second means for effecting actuation of each solenoid by supplying DC current thereto for simultaneously actuating each solenoid.