Abstract: In a rotary electric machine, a field coil member includes a first edgewise coil composed of a plurality of coaxially layered convolutions. The coaxially layered convolutions are wound around the outer periphery of the first pole core. The field coil member includes a second edgewise coil composed of a plurality of coaxially layered convolutions. The coaxially layered convolutions are wound around the outer periphery of the second pole core. The field coil member includes a link portion connecting between the first edgewise coil and the second edgewise coil in series. One of the first and second edgewise coils has one coil end extending therefrom to cross over the link portion at a crossover portion thereof. The crossover portion between the one coil end and the link portion is arranged to be non-overlapped with the convolutions of the one of the first and second edgewise coils.

Abstract: In a rotary electric machine, a field coil member includes a first edgewise coil composed of a plurality of coaxially layered convolutions. The coaxially layered convolutions are wound around the outer periphery of the first pole core. The field coil member includes a second edgewise coil composed of a plurality of coaxially layered convolutions. The coaxially layered convolutions are wound around the outer periphery of the second pole core. The field coil member includes a link portion connecting between the first edgewise coil and the second edgewise coil in series. One of the first and second edgewise coils has one coil end extending therefrom to cross over the link portion at a crossover portion thereof. The crossover portion between the one coil end and the link portion is arranged to be non-overlapped with the convolutions of the one of the first and second edgewise coils.

Abstract: According to the invention, a starter includes a motor and an electromagnetic switch. The electromagnetic switch includes a switch case, a movable contact, a fixed contact, a contact cover, an excitation coil, an excitation coil terminal, a motor terminal, and a protective cover. The excitation coil terminal has a first end, which is located inside the contact cover and electrically connected to the excitation coil, and a second end that protrudes outside the contact cover so as to be electrically connected to a power source. The motor terminal has a first end, which is located inside the contact cover and electrically connected to the fixed contact, and a second end that protrudes outside the contact cover and is electrically connected to the motor. The protective cover covers both the second end of the excitation coil terminal and the second end of the motor terminal, thereby protecting both the second ends.

Abstract: A starter for an engine is equipped with a planetary gear speed reducer, a restraining mechanism, and a shock absorber which is made up of a rotary disc, a stationary disc, a case, and a load applying mechanism. The load applying mechanism applies a load to the stationary and rotary discs to develop a given degree of friction therebetween. When an excessive torque acts on the rotary disc through the internal gear, the shock absorber induces the rotary disc to rotate against the given degree of friction to absorb the torque to eliminate a physical impact to be exerted on the planetary gear speed reducer. The restraining mechanism restrains the load applying mechanism from moving in a radius direction of the internal thread to avoid undesirable engagement of the load applying mechanism with the internal thread, thereby ensuring the stability in applying the load to the stationary and rotary discs.

Abstract: A rotational torque of an electric motor of a starter is transmitted to an output shaft having a pinion gear engaging with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine via a one-way clutch. A tube forming a clutch-inner and the output shaft are spline-coupled to allow the output shaft to reciprocally move in the axial direction while transmitting the rotational torque of the tube to the output shaft. The output shaft is slidably supported by a supporting portion formed at a front end of the tube. To establish air communication between an inside space of the tube and an outside space, an air passage is formed either in the supporting portion or on the output shaft. Pressure changes in the inner space due to reciprocal movement of the output shaft are suppressed by air communication through the air passage, and lubricant in the tube is well retained therein.

Abstract: The starter for an engine of a vehicle includes a motor generating torque for starting the engine, an output shaft configured to move in an axial direction thereof by being pressed at a pressure-receiving portion thereof, and applied with the torque to rotate, and a lever switch configured to press the pressure-receiving portion of the output shaft at a pressure-applying portion thereof in accordance with an external command so that a pinion rotatably fixed to the output shaft engages with a gear of the engine to thereby start the engine. A protection member rotatable with respect to the pressure-receiving portion is provided between the pressure-receiving portion and the pressure-applying portion. The pressure-applying portion facing the pressure-receiving portion across from the protection member is formed with a groove to be filled by lubricant.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switch has a solenoid and an electric contact section set to a closed state in response to an attraction force of the solenoid. The contact section is covered with a contact cover fixed to the solenoid, and a terminal electrically connected with the solenoid is placed within the cover. An end of the terminal is protruded from the cover and is electrically connected with a conducting member. The member has a portion joined to the terminal and other portions separated or detachable from the terminal. In the maintenance of the switch, the portion of the member joined to the terminal is removed from the switch. After the maintenance, one of the other portions of the member is joined to the end of the terminal.

Abstract: A magnet switch which may be employed in automotive engine starters is provided. The magnet switch includes a metallic terminal which extends through a hole formed in a switch cover to have one of ends thereof protruding outside the cover. The other end of the terminal is connected to an exciting coil to energize it to establish an electric connection between contacts. The magnet switch also includes a cylindrical seal and a stopper. The seal is fit on the end of the terminal to hermetically seal a clearance between the hole and the terminal. The stopper provided on the terminal works to stop the seal from moving to the other end of the terminal, thereby ensuring the stability of installation and sealing performance of the seal in the magnet switch.

Abstract: The rotational electric machine includes a cylindrical yoke and a field winding connected to an inner surface of the cylindrical yoke. The field winding is composed of plural formed coils, each coupled to a bobbin. The bobbin includes a first flange for insulating the formed coil from the inner surface of the cylindrical yoke, a second flange for insulating the formed coil from a supporting brim of a pole core and a pipe portion for insulating the formed coil from a boss portion of the pole core. The first flange is made all around the pipe portion while the second flange is formed to extend only in the lateral direction of the pipe portion. The bobbin is easily coupled to the formed coil by flexibly bending the bobbin. Alternatively, the bobbin or bobbins may be made by folding a bobbin sheet after placing the formed coils on the bobbin sheet.

Abstract: A starter for automotive engines is provided which is equipped with a planetary gear train working as a speed reducer. The starter also includes a partition plate and a thrust washer. The partition plate extends radially of the starter between an electric motor and a planetary gear train to isolate the planetary gear train from a motor chamber. The thrust washer extends radially of the starter in abutment with the partition plate so as to bear a thrust load, as transmitted from the planetary gear train. The thrust washer also includes an outer peripheral portion which is placed between a rear end surface of an internal gear of the planetary gear train and the front end surface of the partition plate and has an elastic mechanism working to elastically urge the internal gear of the planetary gear train frontward in the axial direction of the starter.

Abstract: A bobbin has a primary surface member contacted to an inner periphery of a cylindrical yoke and a secondary surface member which faces the primary surface member. The primary and secondary surface members form an accommodating space part into which a form coil is accommodated. One or more inserting holes are formed in the primary and secondary surface members. The inserting holes correspond to boss parts of a pole core which correspond to coil parts of the form coil. A plurality of nail parts is formed around each inserting hole. An inserting hole is formed in the secondary surface member. When assembling the boss parts of the pole core into the bobbin, the plural nail parts are bent toward the inner direction of the inserting hole, and finally placed between the boss parts and the inner periphery of the coil parts of the form coil.

Abstract: According to the coating method of the present invention, the uneven portion on the land of the upstream side makes it possible to increase a contact area between the coating solution and the land, thereby improving the stability of a bead. In other words, according to the coating method of the present invention, it is possible to improve the stability of a bead on the upstream side, the stability having been reduced by the overbite shape of the die. Thus, even when a coating solution having a low viscosity of 10 cp or less is applied with a small coating amount of 10 cc/m2 or less, it is possible to increase the speed of the web without causing an uneven coating.

Abstract: The starter includes a housing housing a solenoid and fixed to an engine, a center case held between a motor thereof and the housing, a clutch housed in the center case, and a pinion shaft movable in its axial direction and spline-connected to an inner periphery of an inner tube of the clutch, which is rotatably supported by a bearing. The housing has a tubular wall section through which the pinion shaft extends and to which the center case is coupled in the axial direction. The tubular wall section is formed with a through hole. The center case has a bearing holding section holding the bearing and a cylindrical projecting section projecting in the axial direction towards the housing at a position radially outwardly of the bearing holding section inside the tubular wall section. The outer periphery of the projecting section faces the through hole.

Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor, a planetary gear speed reduction device for reducing a rotational speed of the electric motor and an excessive-torque-absorbing device. The excessive-torque-absorbing device is composed of plural rotatable disks that form an internal gear of the speed reduction device, plural fixed disks and a disk spring. Both disks are alternately laminated and pressed in the laminated direction by the disk spring. When a rotational torque of the electric motor to be transmitted to a pinion gear of the starter exceeds a predetermined level, slippage occurs between the rotatable disks and the fixed disks, and thereby the excessive torque is absorbed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switch mounted on a starter for cranking an internal combustion engine includes an excitation coil for driving a plunger upon supplying electric current to the excitation coil. A conductor member led out from the excitation coil is connected to an outside cable to supply electric current to the excitation coil. The conductor member is made of a thin plate to be easily led out from a molded contact cover and is connected to a reinforcing member made of a thick plate that is embedded in the contact cover. The outside cable is connected to the reinforcing member so that the thin conductor member is not damages by a high vibration of an engine. The outside cable is easily connected to the reinforcing member with a screw after completion of the electromagnetic switch.

Abstract: In a rotary electric machine, a field coil member includes a first edgewise coil composed of a plurality of coaxially layered convolutions. The coaxially layered convolutions are wound around the outer periphery of the first pole core. The field coil member includes a second edgewise coil composed of a plurality of coaxially layered convolutions. The coaxially layered convolutions are wound around the outer periphery of the second pole core. The field coil member includes a link portion connecting between the first edgewise coil and the second edgewise coil in series. One of the first and second edgewise coils has one coil end extending therefrom to cross over the link portion at a crossover portion thereof. The crossover portion between the one coil end and the link portion is arranged to be non-overlapped with the convolutions of the one of the first and second edgewise coils.

Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor, an output shaft, and a one-way clutch for transmitting a rotational torque of the electric motor to the output shaft. The one-way clutch is composed of a clutch-outer driven by the electric motor, a clutch-inner spline-coupled to the output shaft, and rollers disposed between the clutch-outer and the clutch-inner. A portion of the clutch-inner is utilized as an inner ring of a ball bearing rotatably supporting the clutch-inner. A ball-groove rotatably supporting the bearing balls and retaining lubricant therein is formed on the outer circumference of the clutch-inner. In this manner, an original inner ring of the ball bearing can be eliminated without adversely affecting the lubricating function.

Abstract: A magnet switch which may be employed in automotive engine starters is provided. The magnet switch includes a metallic terminal which extends through a hole formed in a switch cover to have one of ends thereof protruding outside the cover. The other end of the terminal is connected to an exciting coil to energize it to establish an electric connection between contacts. The magnet switch also includes a cylindrical seal and a stopper. The seal is fit on the end of the terminal to hermetically seal a clearance between the hole and the terminal. The stopper provided on the terminal works to stop the seal from moving to the other end of the terminal, thereby ensuring the stability of installation and sealing performance of the seal in the magnet switch.

Abstract: According to the invention, a starter includes a motor and an electromagnetic switch. The electromagnetic switch includes a switch case, a movable contact, a fixed contact, a contact cover, an excitation coil, an excitation coil terminal, a motor terminal, and a protective cover. The excitation coil terminal has a first end, which is located inside the contact cover and electrically connected to the excitation coil, and a second end that protrudes outside the contact cover so as to be electrically connected to a power source. The motor terminal has a first end, which is located inside the contact cover and electrically connected to the fixed contact, and a second end that protrudes outside the contact cover and is electrically connected to the motor. The protective cover covers both the second end of the excitation coil terminal and the second end of the motor terminal, thereby protecting both the second ends.

Abstract: A starter includes a motor, a pinion, a pinion carrier carrying the pinion, a ring member provided on the pinion carrier, a shifting member, and a lubricant blocking member. The ring member is rotatable relative to the pinion carrier and restricted in axial movement toward the pinion. The shifting member has a ring portion that is arranged on the pinion carrier with the ring member interposed between the ring portion and the pinion. The ring portion has an axial end face that has a recess for receiving lubricant and is covered by the ring member. The shifting member is configured to shift, by pushing the ring member with the ring portion, the pinion in the axial direction, thereby bringing the pinion into mesh with a ring gear of an engine. The lubricant blocking member blocks the lubricant from being scattered due to rotation of the pinion carrier with the pinion.