# US 10,865,756 B2 · Assisting a kick starter for reliable start and safety on a motorcycle

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- Number: US 10,865,756 B2
- Document ID: US10865756B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/278,001
- Filed: 2019-02-15
- Published: 2019-06-13
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-16
- Assignees: John Alexander Manning
- Applicants: John Alexander Manning
- Inventors: John Alexander Manning; Nicholas Jackson Woodbury; William David Nicolay; John Harold Drew; Bryan Thomas Dooley; Brianna Weiss; Zachary Centerbar; Noah Tyler Briggs
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865756B2

## CPC

- F02N 3/04: having foot-actuated levers
- F16D 41/16: the action being reversible
- F01L 13/08: for decompression, e.g. during starting; for changing compression ratio
- F02N 11/0803: {characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop (F02N11/0814 takes precedence)}
- F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES

## Abstract

A start assist system is configured to generate torsion load on an crankshaft of a motorcycle. The configurations include a hub adapted to couple with a kick start lever on a motorcycle, a load generating unit, the loading generating unit adapted to generate torsion on the hub, and circuitry to regulate operation of the load generating unit in response to a position of the kick start lever. The torsion load operates to assist an operator to kick-start the machine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A motorcycle, comprising:
a kick start lever;
a hub coupled with the kick start lever;
a pneumatic actuator coupled with the hub;
a sensor disposed in proximity to the hub and responsive to a position of the hub as actuated by the kick start lever,
wherein the pneumatic actuator applies torsion load to the hub in response to a signal from the sensor that corresponds with rotation of the kick start lever.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The motorcycle of claim 1, further comprising:
a chain coupled to the hub and the pneumatic actuator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The motorcycle of claim 1, further comprising:
an air cylinder coupled with the pneumatic actuator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The motorcycle of claim 1, further comprising:
an air cylinder;
a pneumatic control system with a solenoid downstream of the air cylinder and upstream of the pneumatic actuator,
wherein the solenoid opens and closes in response to the signal.

### Claim 5

A kit, comprising:
a hub adapted to couple with a kick start lever on a motorcycle;
a load generating unit, the loading generating unit adapted to generate torsion on the hub; and
circuitry to regulate operation of the load generating unit in response to a position of the kick start lever.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The kit of claim 5, wherein the load generating unit comprises a pneumatic actuator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The kit of claim 5, wherein the load generating unit comprises:
a pneumatic actuator; and
a bracket adapted to mount to the motorcycle and to receive and support the pneumatic actuator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The kit of claim 5, further comprising:
an air cylinder; and
a container adapted to mount to the motorcycle and to receive and support the air cylinder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The kit of claim 5, further comprising:
a solenoid; and
a fluid circuit adapted to couple the solenoid to the load generating unit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The kit of claim 5, wherein the load generating unit comprises a chain drive that attaches to the hub.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The kit of claim 5, further comprising:
a sensor adapted to generate a signal that corresponds with a position of the hub.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The kit of claim 5, further comprising:
a control unit adapted to mount to handlebars on motorcycle and to couple with the circuitry, the control unit comprising switches and lights.

### Claim 13 (depends on 5)

The kit of claim 5, further comprising:
a chain; and
a pin,
wherein the hub comprises a body with a flanged portion having opposing flanges spaced apart to receive the chain and a through hole aligned on both flanges to receive the pin.

### Claim 14 (depends on 5)

The kit of claim 5, wherein the hub comprises a body with a bore on a first side that is sized to receive a kick-start shaft on the motorcycle and a boss on an a second side that is sized to receive the kick start lever.

### Claim 15

A method, comprising:
on a motorcycle having a kick start lever,
energizing an actuator in response to an input indicating a ready position for the kick start lever; and
transferring a load from the actuator to an input shaft that couples with a crankshaft on an engine.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
applying the load to a chain that couples the actuator with the input shaft.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
monitoring rotation of the lever; and
releasing a pneumatic signal to the actuator in response to the ready position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
energizing a solenoid to release a pneumatic signal to the actuator in response to the ready position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
receiving a first signal from a sensor that monitors rotation of the kick start lever to the ready position;
receiving a second signal from a switch; and
releasing a pneumatic signal to the actuator in response to both the first signal and the second signal.