Abstract: A magnetic switch including a plunger is disposed on a rear end side of an armature via an end frame so that a moving direction of the plunger is perpendicular to an axial direction of the armature, and is fixed to the end frame by a fixing member. The fixing member is composed of a semi-circular portion having a shape corresponding to an outer circumference of the magnetic switch and arm portions extending from the semi-circular portion. Further, each of the arm portions has a deflection portion at an end thereof on a semi-circular portion side, and a claw portions at the opposite end (front end) thereof that is bent inward to be engaged with the end frame. When fixing the magnetic switch to the end frame, the deflection portion is deformed to have elasticity, and the claw portion is engaged with the end frame. As a result, the fixing member can easily and securely fix the magnetic switch to the end frame.

Abstract: An electric rotating machine has an armature coil comprising outer and inner coil trunks disposed in slots of an armature core as well as outer and inner coil arms disposed along an axial side surface of the armature core. The outer coil arms are arranged to operate as a commutator and in slidable contact with brushes. The diameters of the radially outermost parts of the outer coil arms and the brushes are larger than that of the radially outermost surface of the outer conductor. This arrangement assures a larger commutator-brush contact area that reduces current density as well as heat generation in the commutator-brush contact area. As the radially outwardly extending parts of the outer coil arms are exposed to the surrounding air, the outer coil trunk, the outer coil arm and the brushes as well as the radially outwardly extending part are cooled effectively during rotation of the armature core.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetic poles each made of a permanent magnet is circumferentially arranged at regular intervals on the inner circumferential surface of a yoke. Bulged portions are axially formed on a wall portion of the yoke between the adjacent two magnetic poles. The bulged portions extend in a direction from the inner circumferential side of the yoke toward the outer circumferential side thereof. Each bulged portion is semicircular in section and connected with a cylindrical wall portion of the yoke through a radius. An angle between a side surface of each magnetic pole and the inner circumferential surface of each bulged portion is larger than an angle between the side surface of each magnetic pole and an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall portion of the yoke. An open end of the yoke is closed with an end cover fixed to the yoke with a plurality of through-bolts by tightening.

Abstract: In a starter, a power supply terminal connected to a solenoid coil of a magnet switch and connectable to a starter external circuit is provided on an end cover. The power supply terminal includes a terminal metal member, a bimetal which interrupts electric conduction between the solenoid coil and the terminal metal member at the time of temperature rise above a predetermined temperature, and a casing contacting a foot part of the terminal metal member and encasing the bimetal therein. The bimetal responds to each of the excessive heating of the terminal metal member and excessive energization current to interrupt the conduction. In case of a single axis-type starter, the power supply terminal is provided on a recess so that the terminal metal member does not extend axially beyond the rear end face of the end cover.

Abstract: An electric rotating machine and manufacturing method of the same is provided that can securely press-fit magnetic poles against an inner circumference of a yoke with a cylindrical body. By directly contacting a first and second end portions of the cylindrical body and moving the same relatively, the diameter of the cylindrical body widens in the outer radial direction to press-fit the magnetic poles against the inner circumference of the yoke. Thus, the variation of the inner diameter of the magnetic poles that occurs due to the dimensional error in permanent magnet thickness and inner diameter of the yoke is absorbed by the relative movement of the first and second end portions. This stabilizes the fixing force of the magnet, and allows the magnet to be securely fixed to the yoke without excessive stress on the cylindrical body. Furthermore, the displacement of the magnetic poles can be restricted by bending axial ends of the cylindrical body radially outwardly.

Abstract: A brush holder is held between a yoke of a starter motor and an end frame made of resin. The brush holder has an engaging guide portion projecting axially therefrom and engaging the yoke and the end frame and a projected peripheral portion projecting outside from peripheral surfaces of the yoke and that of the end frame. The brush holder contacts the yoke and the end frame at cylindrical surfaces thereof and surfaces perpendicular to the cylindrical surfaces. This construction allows the brush holder to be prevented from loosening, thus improving the vibration proof and durability of the brush holder. Further, the brush holder contacts the yoke and the end frame at the cylindrical surfaces thereof and the surfaces perpendicular to the cylindrical surfaces, thus dissipating the heat of a brush through the brush holder and the yoke more efficiently.

Abstract: A starter which reduces the number of parts for a pinion rotation regulation and provides an accurate magnet switch operation. A concave portion is formed on the bottom side of a plunger to store a spherical body set on the rear end of a cord-shaped member, e.g., wire. A male screw and a fixing are used so that the length of the cord-shaped member is adjusted thereby. The length of the string-shaped member is adjusted so that the claw of the pinion rotation regulating member fits into the notch on the outer circumference of a pinion gear. Furthermore, the claw is fit into the notch via the wire when the plunger moves. The cord-shaped member may be replaced by a rod member disposed radially inside or outside the yoke.

Abstract: A retreat restricting member for restricting the retreat of a pinion in an advanced state of the pinion on an output shaft and in a resulting meshed state of a pinion gear with a ring gear is engaged with a pair of pins rotatably, the pins being each attached to a thrust ring. In a rotation restricting member for restricting the rotation of the pinion, upon meshing of the pinion gear with the ring gear, the front end of a rotation restricting bar is disengaged from a recess of a rotation restricting plate and falls to the rear end side of the thrust ring, thereby releasing the rotation-restricted state of the pinion. Further, engaging portions of the rotation restricting member come into engagement with engaging recesses of the retreat restricting member to hold the posture of the member, thereby inhibiting the retreat of the pinion.

Abstract: A starter motor has an armature, a commutator and brushes slidably supported by a brush holder, and a magnet switch controls motor operation. A switch supporting member supports the magnet switch and an energization control unit accommodating a bimetal switch having a contact therein. The energization control unit opens its inner contact to shut off the current carried to a magnet switch coil when the temperature of heat transferred via switch supporting member, i.e., the heat of the coil transferred via brushes and a switch yoke, reaches a predetermined temperature, thereby stopping motor operation.

Abstract: Rotation of a pinion is regulated by a pinion regulating claw when a starter is actuated. After the pinion engages a ring gear, the regulating claw positioned rearward the pinion regulates the return of the pinion from the ring gear. A thrust bearing including a rolling bearing positioned on the rear face of the pinion absorbs the difference between the rotational speed of the pinion and that of the regulating claw. Such a construction allows only the pinion to move axially and a magnet switch to be made compact and light.

Abstract: A commutator having a sliding surface formed by arranging a plurality of segments insulated with each other into a circle on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a shaft is provided at one end of a armature. A plurality of brushes slide on the sliding surface. As seen from an axial direction, the brushes have a substantially trapezoidal shapes having widths that get narrower towards a center of the commutator. The brushes have a back end surface to which a spring is attached to. The back end surface is inclined towards the edge of the sliding surface of the commutator. The brush holders for receiving the brushes have recesses that are substantially trapezoidal in shape to correspond with the peripheries of the brushes.

Abstract: An upper coil bar and lower coil bar are disposed in slots of an armature core. The upper coil bars have upper coil-end sections which extend radially from the outer periphery of the armature core and together from a commutator surface with which a brush member is in contact. The upper coil-end sections and coil-end sections of the lower coil bars are retained by a fixing cap fixed between a shaft of the rotary electric machine and the upper coil-end sections, and also by a spacer disposed between the upper coil-end sections and the lower coil-end sections so that the commutator surface can be maintained smooth even under conditions of thermal expansion or high-speed operation.

Abstract: An attracting coil is directly wound on a non-magnetic heat-conductive sleeve and a plunger contacts the sleeve in a starter. An influence of heat generated through current flow to a motor and heat generated at the attracting coil through current flow to the attracting coil itself are transmitted and released from the attracting coil directly to the plunger. Therefore, decline of the attracting force of the attracting coil is prevented. A magnet switch is provided in the vicinity of the opposite end of a pinion of the motor. Thus, when the starter is mounted on an engine, the starter does not interfere with the engine and the mounting work is facilitated.

Abstract: First and second switches are disposed in a housing which accommodates a magnetic switch of a starter motor. The magnetic switch is composed of a plunger and a exciting coil to drive the plunger. A movable contact of the first switch is mechanically connected to the plunger at such a space from a stationary contact of the first switch that it supplies driving current through a current limiting resistor when a pinion of the starter motor is brought in contact with a ring gear of an engine. A movable contact of the second switch is mechanically connected to to the plunger at such a space that it bypasses the current limiting resistor when the pinion is brought in mesh with the ring gear. A timer composed of a bimetal switch is provided to interrupt the driving current through the current limiting resistor if the resistor is heated at a designated temperature.

Abstract: A direct current motor for vehicle engine starters includes a plurality of primary and auxiliary magnetic poles made of permanent magnets arranged between a cylindrical yoke and a cylindrical sleeve inside which an armature is rotatably supported. In order to fixedly support each auxiliary magnetic pole in position between circumferentially adjacent two of the primary magnetic poles, the primary magnetic pole is formed with slanted faces on both circumferential sides thereof to provide a radially inwardly decreasing circumferential width and the auxiliary magnetic pole is formed with slanted faces on both circumferential sides thereof to provide a radially inwardly increasing circumferential width, so that the primary magnetic poles presses the auxiliary magnetic poles radially inwardly when the slanted faces abut each other.

Abstract: In an armature of a starter motor, commutator bars are formed by bending one end portions of upper layer armature conductors toward the inner circumferential side in the radial direction along an axial end surface of an armature core. A brush which slidably contacts commutator bars is constructed in a multi-layered type comprised of two kinds of brush materials each having different specific resistance layered in a rotational direction of the armature.

Abstract: In a starter motor for a starter, a plurality of permanent magnets are arranged circumferentially inside a cylindrical yoke and outside an armature. A cylindrical sleeve is fitted with the permanent magnets to radially outwardly fix the permanent magnets to the yoke. A discharge hole for discharging a cooling air from the inside to the outside of the motor is formed on the bottom of the yoke at a position between the adjacent two of the permanent magnets. The sleeve restricts the splash water from entering directly inside the motor through the discharge hole.

Abstract: An electric rotating machine and manufacturing method of the same is provided that can securely press-fit magnetic poles against an inner circumference of a yoke with a cylindrical body. By directly contacting a first and second end portions of the cylindrical body and moving the same relatively, the diameter of the cylindrical body widens in the outer radial direction to press-fit the magnetic poles against the inner circumference of the yoke. Thus, the variation of the inner diameter of the magnetic poles that occurs due to the dimensional error in permanent magnet thickness and inner diameter of the yoke is absorbed by the relative movement of the first and second end portions. This stabilizes the fixing force of the magnet, and allows the magnet to be securely fixed to the yoke without excessive stress on the cylindrical body. Furthermore, the displacement of the magnetic poles can be restricted by bending axial ends of the cylindrical body radially outwardly.

Abstract: In a starter, when a magnet switch is operated for starter operation, an auxiliary movable contact connected to a main movable contact by a holding member comes into contact with an auxiliary stationary contact to supply an electric current from a battery through resistors, auxiliary stationary contact and auxiliary movable contact to apply a low voltage to a motor for low speed rotation. Subsequently, as a plunger of the magnet switch moves further, the main movable contact comes into electrical contact with a main stationary contact, so that the resistors are short-circuited and the electric current from the battery flows to the motor without flowing through the resistors to drive the motor for high speed rotation.

Abstract: An electric rotating machine which withstands mechanical and thermal loads applied thereto is provided. Coil arms and coil trunks are provided in roughly parallel orientation to the end faces of an armature core only through insulating rings and insulating spacers. Metal brush is disposed on coil arms constituting a commutator, whereby the overall length of the armature can be remarkably shortened. The coil arms are strongly pressed against and fixed to the side of armature core by a collar, so that the resistance to the centrifugal force can be remarkably improved. A cylindrical ring is circumferentially fitted on the upper coil trunks to prevent radially outward movement of the coil arms due to the centrifugal force. The coil arms disposed in a non-commutator side are made radially shorter than those disposed in the commutator side. Thus, electric resistance of an armature coil is reduced and radial movement caused by the centrifugal force is reduced.