Stopping and restarting device for the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle

Claim 1

Apparatus for stopping and restarting the engine of a motor vehicle in response to movement of the vehicle accelerator pedal to and from a closed engine throttle position, including, a freely rotatable flywheel, a first friction clutch means driven by the engine and movable into frictional engagement with the flywheel for the drive thereof, a second friction clutch means for connecting the engine to the vehicle gearing, first electrically operated servo means for engaging the first clutch means, second servo means for engaging the second clutch means, an electrical circuit including switch means movable between a first position establishing the engine ignition circuit and supplying fuel to the engine and energizing the first servo means to drive the flywheel from the engine and movable to a second position interrupting the ignition circuit and the fuel flow to the engine and deenergizing the first servo means thereby permitting a free rotation of the flywheel, means operatively connecting the vehicle accelerator pedal and the switch means for moving the switch means from the first position to the second position in response to release of the accelerator pedal to a closed engine throttle position to shut off the engine and movable back to the first position in response to depression of the accelerator pedal to reenergize the first servo means to reconnect the flywheel and engine crankshaft to thereby provide a drive and restart of the engine by the flywheel, and time delay means in the electrical circuit operable upon release of the accelerator pedal to delay interruption of the ignition circuit and interruption of the fuel supply for a predetermined time period.