Batteryless engine starting system

A system for starting an internal combustion engine without assistance of a battery, the engine including a crankshaft, a flywheel operatively connected to the crankshaft, an air injector, a fuel injector, an air/fuel mixture chamber and a combustion chamber, the system comprising:

• a pull-start assembly coupled to the engine;
• a permanent magnet alternative operationally connected to the pull-start assembly and disposed to convert mechanical energy created by the pull-start assembly into electrical energy;
• an electronic control unit disposed to control operation of the engine;
• at least one capacitor electrically connected to the alternator and the electronic control unit, the at least one capacitor disposed to power the electronic control unit;
• an air relief valve coupled to the air injector;
• and
• a manual pump coupled to the fuel injector and disposed to force at least a small portion of liquid fuel into the air/fuel mixture chamber while the relief valve is open, and wherein closing of the relief valve combined with operation of the pull-start assembly generates a signal transmitted to the electronic control unit to initiate an ignition cycle in the combustion chamber without assistance of a battery.

A method of starting an internal combustion engine without assistance of a battery, the engine including an air injector, a fuel injector, an air/fuel mixture chamber and an internal combustion chamber, the method comprising the steps:

• providing a pull-start assembly in operational connection with the engine;
• providing a means operationally connected to the pull-start assembly for converting mechanical energy created by the pull-start assembly into electrical energy;
• providing at least one specific-power energy storage device electrically connected to the means for converting mechanical energy;
• providing an electronic control unit disposed to control operation of the engine and electrically connected to the at least one specific-power energy storage device;
• providing an air relief valve coupled to the air injector;
• providing a manual pump coupled to the fuel injector;
• opening the air relief valve to atmosphere;
• activating the pull-start assembly thereby generating mechanical energy;
• converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy by the means for converting mechanical energy;
• storing generated electrical energy in the at least one specific-power energy storage device;
• operating the manual pump to admit at least a portion of the liquid fuel into the airlfuel mixture chamber;
• closing the relief valve;
• repeating activation of the pull-start assembly while activating the electronic control unit using the electric energy stored in the at least one specific-power energy storage device;
• and
• generating a signal by the electronic control unit to initiate an ignition cycle in the combustion chamber thereby starting the engine without assistance of a battery.

A method of starting an internal combustion engine without assistance of a battery, the engine including a crankshaft, a flywheel operatively connected to the crankshaft, an air injector, a fuel injector, an air/fuel mixture chamber and an internal combustion chamber, the method comprising the steps:

• providing a pull-start assembly in operational connection with the engine;
• providing a permanent magnet alternator operationally connected to the pull-start assembly and capable of converting mechanical energy created by the pull-start assembly into electrical energy;
• providing at least one energy storage capacitor electrically connected to the alternator;
• providing an electronic control unit disposed to control operation of the engine and electrically connected to the at least one energy storage capacitor;
• providing an air relief valve coupled to the air injector;
• providing a manual pump coupled to the fuel injector;
• opening the air relief valve to atmosphere;
• activating the pull-start assembly thereby generating mechanical energy;
• converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy by the alternator;
• storing generated electrical energy in the at least one energy storage capacitor;
• operating the manual pump to admit at least a portion of liquid fuel into the air/fuel mixture chamber;
• closing the relief valve;
• repeating activation of the pull-start assembly while activating the electronic control unit using the electric energy stored in the energy storage capacitor;
• and
• generating a signal by the electronic control unit to initiate an ignition cycle in the combustion chamber thereby starting the engine without assistance of a battery.