Auxiliary starter mechanism for automobile engines and the like

Claim 2

An auxiliary starter mechanism for a vehicle having an engine and a primary starting system including a shaft mounting a drive gear endwardly movable along the shaft to and from a cranking position with the drive gear in driving relation to the engine and the shaft being rotational about its longitudinal axis to rotate the drive gear thereof in driving relation to the engine and a mechanism operable to move the drive gear along the shaft to and from the cranking position, the auxiliary starter mechanism comprising: A. a motor driven by gas pressure borne by the vehicle and connected in rotational driving relation to the shaft of the primary starting system; B. a gas conduit mounted on the motor in position to introduce a gas thereto in driving relation to the motor and having a remote end portion; c. a reservoir containing a gas under pressure and having a coupling operable to release the compressed gas therefrom; D. a connector mounted on the remote end portion of said gas conduit and adapted to be attached to the coupling of said reservoir to permit gas under pressure to flow from the reservoir into the gas conduit; E. a gas cylinder borne by the vehicle, linked to said mechanism of the primary starting system and operable when pressurized to move the drive gear of the primary starting system along the shaft to said cranking position; and F. a gas conduit interconnecting the first of said gas conduits and the gas cylinder to pressurize said gas cylinder with gas under pressure from the reservoir.

Claim 3

An auxiliary starter mechanism for a vehicle having a spare tire inflated with air under pressure and having a valve stem, an engine and a primary starting system including a shaft mounting a drive gear endwardly movable along the shaft to and from a cranking position with the drive gear in driving relation to the engine and the shaft being rotational about its longitudinal axis to rotate the drive gear thereof in driving relation to the engine and a mechanism operable to move the drive gear along the shaft to and from the cranking position, the auxiliary starter mechanism comprising: A. a motor driven by air under pressure borne by the vehicle and connected in rotational driving relation to the shaft of the primary startng system; B. an air conduit mounted on the motor in position to introduce air under pressure thereto in driving relation to the motor and having a remote end portion; C. a connector mounted on the remote end portion of said air conduit and adapted to be attached to the valve stem of the spare tire to permit air under pressure to flow from the spare tire through the valve stem and into said air conduit; D. an air cylinder borne by the vehicle, linked to the mechanism of the primary starting system and operable when pressurized to move the drive gear of the primary starting system along the shaft to said cranking position; and E. an air conduit interconnecting the first of said air conduits and the air cylinder to pressurize said air cylinder with air under pressure from the spare tire.

Claim 4

An auxiliary starter mechanism for a vehicle having a spare tire inflated with air under pressure and having a valve stem, an engine and a primary starting system including a shaft mounting a drive gear endwardly movable along the shaft to and from a cranking position with the drive gear in driving relation to the engine and the shaft being rotational about its longitudinal axis to rotate the drive gear thereof in driving relation to the engine and a mechanism operable to move the drive gear along the shaft to and from the cranking position, the auxiliary starter mechanism comprising: A. a motor driven by air under pressure borne by the vehicle and connected in rotational driving relation to the shaft of the primary startng system; B. an air conduit mounted on the motor in position to introduce air under pressure thereto in driving relation to the motor and having a remote end portion; C. a connector mounted on the remote end portion of said air conduit and adapted to be attached to the valve stem of the spare tire to permit air under pressure to flow from the spare tire through the valve stem and into said air conduit; D. an air cylinder borne by the vehicle, linked to the mechanism of the primary starting system and operable when pressurized to move the drive gear of the primary starting system along the shaft to said cranking position; and E. an air conduit interconnecting the first of said air conduits and the air cylinder to pressurize said air cylinder with air under pressure from the spare tire.

Claim 5

The auxiliary starter mechanism of claim 2 wherein a control valve is mounted on the first of said air conduits between the remote end portion theeof and said connection with the second of said air conduits operable in a closed attitude to seal the first of said conduits to retain said air under pressure and operable in an opened attitude to release the air under pressure along the first of said conduits beyond the control valve.

Claim 6

The auxiliary starter mechanism of claim 3 wherein a hand pump is mounted in communication with the first of said air conduits between the remote end portion thereof and the control valve and operable to admit air to and to pressurize said air within the first of said air conduits.