Ford Motor Company Limited

Lawrence R Foote

Dante S Giardini

An apparatus combination for improving the starting mode of a starter for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The combination comprises a supporting means effective to support the starting motor armature, both for rotary movement about an axis within the field winding and for axial movement in response to the axially directed magnetic forces of the winding. Friction means are employed to sequentially engage each of two conical surfaces carried by the member to be driven by the starter motor, such sequential engagement being in response to the axial movement of the armature. Means are also disclosed to assist the frictional engagement between the conical surfaces of the driven member by use of a resilient ring which allows full metal-to-metal contact between the friction means and driven member, but also provides extended interengagement with the friction means by distortion of the ring along a tangent to the friction means.

Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines

A system for controlling the application of heat energy to a ceramic exhaust gas sensor and for linearizing the output signal from the sensor. The system compares, electrically, the resistance of a conductive heater winding against a fixed reference and permits a flow of electrical current through the heater whenever the comparison indicates that the temperature of the heater is below the desired level. By periodically establishing a flow of electrical energy through the heater and terminating that flow whenever the heater temperature reaches the desired level, the temperature of the heater may be held at the desired level with great accuracy. In order to periodically reestablish the flow of electrical energy through the heater, the system further provides an oscillator arranged to reestablish current flow through the heater a fixed time period following termination of current flow through the heater. The system also provides a linearizing amplifier connected to the sensor to provide an output signal which is linear with respect to changes in the air/fuel ratio of the mixture being combusted.

Electrical control system for an exhaust gas sensor

A system for controlling the application of heat energy to a ceramic exhaust gas sensor and for linearizing the output signal from the sensor is disclosed. The system compares, electrically, the resistance of a conductive heater winding against a fixed reference and permits a flow of electrical current through the heater whenever the comparison indicates that the temperature of the heater is below the desired level. By periodically establishing a flow of electrical energy through the heater and terminating that flow whenever the heater temperature reaches the desired level, the temperature of the heater may be held at the desired level with great accuracy. In order to periodically reestablish the flow of electrical energy through the heater, the system further provides an oscillator arranged to reestablish current flow through the heater a fixed time period following termination of current flow through the heater. The system also provides a linearizing amplifier connected to the sensor to provide an output signal which is linear with respect to changes in the air/fuel ratio of the mixture being combusted.

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Birmingham, MI, United States of America

Lawrence R Foote