Abstract: In a starter for an engine, a magnet switch attracts a plunger by a magnetic force generated by a solenoid coil wound around a sleeve, so that a pinion fitted on an output shaft of a starter motor is driven by movement of the plunger to engage with an engine ring gear. The the plunger is pressed to contact tightly with the sleeve, whereby the relative movement between the plunger and the sleeve is restricted as long as the coil is held deenergized. The pressing may be attained by an inclined surface provided on the plunger or a flexture of a transmitting member which connects the plunger and a pinion.

Abstract: The starting device for starting an internal combustion engine includes a starter motor (12) with a pinion for cranking the internal combustion engine; a voltage source (40) for the starter motor; a starter relay (14) for connecting and disconnecting the voltage source to and from the starter motor and an electronic relay (32) for triggering the starter relay according to control signals from the motor controller (50). The electronic relay (32) is mounted on the starter motor or in the starter relay. The electronic relay (32) includes a power module (34) with a redundancy circuit including two transistors (144', 144") coupled with each other by a logic circuit for preventing starter operation when one of the two transistors is defective.

Abstract: A multi-function apparatus and a method for performing the functions of a starter, alternator and engine stabilization system for an engine of a motor vehicle. The apparatus comprises a rotor, a stator and a switching/detection system associated with the stator. The stator comprises three independent stator sectors which each comprise a plurality of independent stator coils. The rotor comprises a plurality of rotor poles about its periphery. The rotor is secured to the flex plate of the engine and the stator sectors are secured to the bell housing of the vehicle's power train. The stator coils each protrude through opening formed in the bell housing such that the rotor poles are closely adjacent the stator coils without contacting the stator coils as the rotor rotates.

Abstract: A resilient restricting member of a rotation restricting member which restricts a pinion moving body from rotating is accommodated in a frame of a restricting member holder under a flexed and loaded state so that the rotation restricting member has a sufficient rotation-restricting function as long as the rotary force of the pinion moving body does not exceed the load acting thereon at the time of engagement and restriction of rotation. When a pinion gear abuts the end face of a ring gear and the pinion moving body is restricted from moving forward, the entire rotary force of an output shaft acts on the pinion moving body. The resilient restricting member flexes further in the restricting member holder to allow rotation of the pinion moving body, thus enabling the pinion gear to mesh the ring gear. Thus, the rotary force of the output shaft is converted to the advancing force of the pinion moving body surely even when the spiraling of the helical spline is not so large.

Abstract: A starter assembly for starting an engine is provided incorporating a mechanical diode in the drive train between the starter motor and the engine, including two coaxial plates with facing surfaces that are linked by pivoting members. The pivoting members are recessed into a facing surface of the first plate. They pivot outward under spring force from the facing surface of the first plate to engage slots in the facing surface of the second plate. This allows the first plate to drive the second plate, but also allows the second plate to overrun the first plate.

Abstract: A starter comprising: a motor 24, a clutch 21, which is connected to the motor 24; a pinion gear 22, which is connected to the clutch 21 and engages and disengages with the ring gear of the engine; an electromagnetic switch 2, which switches on and off an electric current for the motor 24; a reciprocating shift lever 4, which is linked to the electromagnetic switch 2; and lever springs 105, which press the shift lever 4 so that the pinion gear 22 is elastically pushed against and engaged with the ring gear; wherein the lever springs 105 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane 25 which includes the central axis of the motor 24 and the central axis of the electromagnetic switch 2, the lever springs 105 are attached to cylindrical portions 106b which are a plurality of protrusions on the plate 106, and the lever springs 105 and the shift lever 4 come into contact through a plate 106.

Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine and a motor/generator as a rotary driving source. A differential device has a first shaft connected to the engine, a second shaft connected to the motor/generator, and a third shaft connected to a transmission device. The first and the second shafts can be coupled by a direct clutch. At the time of start of the vehicle with the engine in an idling condition, the motor/generator is controlled to enter a reverse rotation power generating condition, and the engine speed is maintained near an idling speed. After the start of the vehicle, when the motor/generator is in a forward rotation condition, the motor/generator is controlled to operate as a motor to maintain the engine speed at a target speed, and when the engine speed and the motor/generator speed coincide with each other, the direct clutch is made to enter a coupled condition thereby to prevent the occurrence of coupling shock, and also to reduce a driving time of the motor/generator.

Abstract: A positive-side brush and a negative-side brush are held by a motor frame and contact the sliding-contact surface of a commutator. A displacement member switches the state of one brush connected with a starting power source from an ON state in which the brush contacts the commutator to an OFF state in which the brush is separated from the commutator or vice versa. The displacement member comprises a slide rail holding the brush movably, a return spring which returns the brush to the OFF state, and a push button which is manually operated to press the brush against the commutator so as to turn on the brush. A starting electric circuit can be opened or closed by operating the push button.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle starter motor, the controller comprising means for applying power to the electric starter motor as a function in particular of the open or closed state of a starter switch, wherein said means include in particular an RC type circuit having a charging time constant that is shorter than its discharging time constant and that charges and discharges depending on whether the starter switch is closed or open, said control means also including means for preventing power being applied to the starter motor when the voltage across the terminals of the capacitor means of the RC circuit exceeds a given threshold.

Abstract: A motor vehicle starter has a contactor of the type that includes an electronic control circuit, which includes a printed circuit board in the form of a disc with a central hole through which the body of the control rod of the contactor passes. The electronic components of the control circuit are carried by the circuit board, which is located in an axial position within the interior of the pot-shaped end cap of the contactor, between the fixed core and the movable contact of the contactor. The electronic control circuit is mounted within a protective housing which is arranged inside the end cap, between the fixed core and the movable contact, and this housing also has electrical connection facilities.

Abstract: A vehicle antitheft system includes a housing that is supported by the vehicle's starting current power line between the vehicle's battery and the vehicle's starter motor. The starting current power line is cut, and one end of the line is advanced into an input channel that is established by an input bus bar in the housing. The other end of the line is advanced into an output channel that is established by an output bus bar in the housing. Plural MOSFETs are in electrical contact with the bus bars, and a control circuit controls the MOSFETs in response to a remotely generated rf enable signal. Consequently, the vehicle can be started by turning the ignition switch only after receipt of the enable signal. The starting current power line is held in the channels by set screws.

Abstract: Between a relay terminal of a direct current motor and a contact terminal of an electromagnetic switch, there is provided a fuse which is melted to cut off an electric current upon reaching a predetermined temperature. By properly setting the predetermined temperature at which the fuse melts, it is possible to make the fuse heated to a high temperature and melted in a relatively short time to cut off the electric current in the event of, for example, a continuous operative condition caused due to such a failure as fusion adhesion of a movable contact point with a B-terminal and an M-terminal or fusion adhesion of a contact point mechanism outside a starter, or an overcurrent supply condition caused upon a rotor being locked.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic switch for a starter, a plunger is housed to face a grounding plate through an air gap in the inner circumference of an attraction coil. When the attraction coil is energized and magnetic flux flows in the magnetic circuit, the plunger is attracted toward the grounding plate by the magnetic force. The plunger has a hollow recess as a variable magnetic resistance member at its bottom end which is opposite to the air gap. The hollow recess extends inwardly from the bottom surface of the plunger by a predetermined length and is closed by a plug body fitted in the opening to have a closed hollow space. The variable magnetic resistance member may be provided by a reduced diameter part in place of or in combination with the hollow recess.

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: A device for controlling an automobile vehicle starter motor contactor including a power contact controlling the supply of power to the electric motor of the starter motor and at least one coil controlling the movement of said contact, said device including a unit for controlling the starter motor and a transistor controlled by said unit that controls the energizing of the coil(s) of the contactor, wherein the control unit includes means for turning off the transistor if, between two successive times following closing of the starter switch, the voltage drop at a point connected to receive the battery voltage is smaller than a given threshold.

Abstract: A starting assistance device for a vehicle has an electric motor and a dog clutch which is switched on at the time of starting of the vehicle to thereby transmit a torque to idler wheels. A sensor is provided to detect the switching on and switching off of the dog clutch. In case the switching off of the dog clutch is not detected when the rotational speeds of the idler wheels have exceeded a predetermined value after the starting of the vehicle, the electric motor is driven in such a direction of rotation so as to cancel the torque which operates on the dog clutch due to the frictional force in the electric motor.

Abstract: A power output apparatus 110 includes a planetary gear 120 having a planetary carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear, an engine 150 having a crankshaft 156 linked with the planetary carrier, a first motor MG1 attached to the sun gear, and a second motor MG2 attached to the ring gear. Part of the torque generated by the engine 150 is output to a power feed gear 128 via the ring gear, while the first motor MG1 receives the residual torque. The second motor MG2 outputs a torque having a greater magnitude than and an opposite direction to this torque, so as to rotate the ring gear reversely. The electric power consumed by the second motor MG2 is supplied by the electric power regenerated by the first motor MG1. This structure enables the power output from the engine 150 to be converted to a power of reverse direction and output to the ring gear.

Abstract: A device for controlling an automobile vehicle starter motor contactor having a power contact controlling the supply of power to the electric motor of the starter motor and at least one coil controlling the movement of said contact, one of the coils of said contactor being connected between the power supply terminal at the battery voltage and the electric motor, said device including a control unit for the starter motor and a transistor controlled by said unit that controls the supply of power to the coil or coils of the contactor, wherein the control unit includes means for turning off the transistor if the voltage at a given point between the coil and the motor is not greater than a predetermined threshold at the end of a predetermined time period from the starter switch of the vehicle closing.

Abstract: An improved drive arrangement for a starter motor includes a rubber cushion between a drive plate and a pinion gear. The rubber cushion has seals at inner and outer locations which seal against the drive plate. In this way, the area between the drive plate and the rubber cushion is sealed to prevent contaminants from reaching the area and harming the connection between the drive plate and cushion.

Abstract: In a starter for an engine, a magnet switch attracts a plunger by a magnetic force generated by a solenoid coil wound around a sleeve, so that a pinion fitted on an output shaft of a starter motor is driven by movement of the plunger to engage with an engine ring gear. The the plunger is pressed to contact tightly with the sleeve, whereby the relative movement between the plunger and the sleeve is restricted as long as the coil is held deenergized. The pressing may be attained by an inclined surface provided on the plunger or a flexture of a transmitting member which connects the plunger and a pinion.

Abstract: A starter for a motor vehicle internal combustion engine includes an electronic means for controlling cut off of the starter, whereby fluctuations are detected in the signal which correspond to the voltage or current of the starter, the power supply to the starter being interrupted when these fluctuations disappear. The automatic cut-off method includes determining, in the signal, successive periods during which the voltage is constantly increasing, the starter being cut off when one of these periods becomes greater than a given threshold. This threshold is given distinct values, firstly during an inspection time period which begins on closing of the starter contactor, and secondly, after the inspection time period. The duration of the inspection time period is chosen so as to be long enough to include the case in which the first and second fluctuations at the start of the compression strokes of the engines are substantially coincident with each other.

Abstract: A secondary power system for an aircraft utilizes a variable frequency electrical distribution system that provides power to one or more loads that can tolerate distortion components. In addition, a DC distribution system is coupled to the variable frequency distribution system and is isolated from a fixed frequency electrical distribution. Distortion caused by rectification for the DC system is isolated from the fixed frequency system, thereby improving the power quality in the fixed frequency system.

Abstract: A control device for a coupling electromagnet in particular for a starter motor for a motor vehicle, operable to regulate the speed of engagement of the pinion of the ring gear in such a way as to avoid stresses wear and noise due to excessive speed of engagement in the initial phase of the starting operation. The device operates in a closed loop with a feedback signal generated by an estimator.

Abstract: A starter has a motor, output shaft driven by the motor, a pinion moving body mounted on the output shaft and engageable with a ring gear, an electromagnet switch, and a rotation restricting member driven by the electromagnet switch to engage and restrict rotation of the pinion moving body until engagement of a pinion gear with the ring gear. To protect the pinion rotation restricting member, continued engagement of the rotation restricting member with the pinion moving body is released by a guide when the pinion moving body rotates a predetermined angle. Further, to protect the pinion moving body, the pinion moving body is advanced closely to the ring gear and thereafter the motor is allowed to rotate so that the pinion engages the ring gear at low rotation speeds.

Abstract: A starter has a housing formed with a fitting part and a flange on the outer periphery thereof. The fitting part is in circular shape when viewed in the axial direction and is press-fitted, in the socket-and-spigot joint manner, into a fitting hole of an engine-side body with the flange being in abutment with a fitting plane of the engine-side body. The outer diameter Ho of the fitting part is set larger than the axial length of the center of gravity of an armature of a starter motor from a fitting plane of the flange.

Abstract: A starter for a drive unit, such as an internal combustion engine, includes a stationary and a movable base element which form a linear motor. The movable base element is seated on a revolving shaft of the drive unit an inertia mass of a flywheel of the drive unit. The inertia mass of the flywheel is rigidly connected with the revolving shaft and is acted upon with sufficient torque required for the starting of the drive unit. Upon starting, the linear motor is switched over into a generator operation.

Abstract: In an engine starter according to the present invention, an annular stopper disposed between the pinion unit and the solenoid device so as to determine the rest position of the pinion unit is formed with a tongue projecting radially outwardly from its outer periphery, and a shoulder surface defined in the gear cover so as to abut an end surface of the solenoid device and thereby determine the axial position of the solenoid device is formed with a recess for receiving the tongue of the annular stopper, with the tongue and the recess being dimensioned with respect to each other so as to allow the tongue to be resiliently interposed between the recessed part of the shoulder surface and the end surface of the solenoid device and to define a space which accommodates a corresponding deformation of the tongue.

Abstract: A motor vehicle starter is cut out automatically as soon as the engine is running by itself. The cut-out is controlled by a method in which the starter supply voltage is measured and the starter is cut out when this voltage reaches a threshold value. On closing of the ignition switch, but before any power is supplied to the starter, the starter supply voltage is measured for several values of current in at least one circuit in the wiring network of the vehicle connected to the vehicle battery. The value of the threshold voltage is then calculated from these measurements, as a function of parameters that characterize the electrical circuitry of the vehicle at the time of starting the engine, at least one of these parameters being capable of being determined from the current measurements.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to carry out control and enable an engine to output a desired power, thereby preventing unexpected charge or discharge of storage battery means. A power output apparatus of the present invention sets energy Pe to be output from an engine, in order to cancel a deviation .DELTA.Pb of a charge-discharge electric power Pb of a battery from its target value Pb* , and controls operation of the engine to output the energy Pe. The energy Pe output from the engine is subjected to torque conversion by means of a clutch motor and an assist motor and output to a drive shaft as a required power. In case that the converted energy is not equal to the required power, the battery is charged with the surplus electric power or is discharged to supplement the shortage of electric power. Namely regulation of the energy Pe results in controlling the charge-discharge electric power Pb of the battery.

Abstract: A contactor for a motor vehicle starter comprises a contactor coil, a movable contactor core actuated by a control rod, and a fixed contactor core. It also has an electromagnetic auxiliary control relay which includes a movable relay core carrying a movable contact ring which is arranged for cooperation with at least one pair of fixed relay contacts, carried by a fixed annular contact carrier plate. The relay coil, the contact carrier plate, and the movable contact ring are arranged in axial succession, in that order towards the front of the contactor, and are disposed between the movable contact of the contactor and the fixed core, so that the relay and the contactor are closed in the same, forward, direction.

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: In a starter, a planetary gear reduction mechanism has pins supporting planetary gears and directly fitted into an outer member of a one-way clutch. The outer member rotates with the revolution of the planetary gear. An internal gear engaged with the planetary gears is connected with a rotary disk of a shock absorbing device disposed on the outer periphery of the one-way clutch through a connecting member and an elastic member. The connecting member has engaging projections engaged with the elastic member within the connecting recess of the internal gear. The engagement projections are housed within the connecting recess with some clearance provided in the radial direction. The internal gear is thus held radially movably with respect to the rotary disk via the connecting member.

Abstract: In a starter having a planetary gear reduction mechanism and a shock absorbing device, a first friction plate of the shock absorbing device is engaged with an internal gear of the reduction mechanism to restrict the internal gear from rotating. A space is provided radially between the internal gear and a housing to allow rotation of the internal gear upon application of an impact shock. A cylindrical member which is harder than the housing is disposed between the space relatively movably against the housing and the internal gear so that the internal gear is restricted from directly contacting the housing.

Abstract: In a magnet switch, when an exciting coil is turned on to generate magnetic force, a plunger is moved by the magnetic force so that a movable contact contacts a fixed contact. The fixed contact includes an elastically deformable, flat plate-like elastic deformable portion having a contact portion which is contacted by the movable contact and a terminal bolt connected to a battery. When the movable contact contacts the contact portion of the fixed contact, the elastically deformable portion is elastically deformed by the collision force to absorb collision force, thereby preventing the bouncing of the movable contact.

Abstract: A rotation restricting member made of a resilient body such as a leaf spring is driven by a magnet switch upon energization of a motor and engages engaging grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface of an outer portion of a one-way clutch so that the rotation restricting member restricts rotation of the one-way clutch. The motor has first and second field coils connected in parallel. The first field coil is connected to an exciting coil in the magnet switch in series and the second field coil is connected to a motor contact in the magnet switch in series. When a starter switch is actuated, only the first field coil is actuated first with low voltage. Then, the motor contact is closed and the second field coil is actuated also so that the motor rotates at a high speed with full voltage.

Abstract: Starter device comprising an electric starter motor and a main switch of the normally open type connected between a supply input of the electric motor and a battery. The device comprises a main switch activation circuit comprising a first and a second switches arranged in series with each other and connected between the battery and a main switch activation device. The first switch is in the form of a manually operated switch operated by an ignition key and the second switch, of the normally open type, is closed by a power enable signal output by an electronic control circuit designed to inhibit the production of the enable signal when the voltage of the battery falls below a threshold value. An electrical connection device extends between the supply input of the main switch and a control input of the second switch in order to provide a supply voltage to the control input and keep the second switch closed independently of the production of the enable signal.

Abstract: In a starter having a pinion gear on an output shaft driven by a starter motor, a magnet switch, and a shift lever pivotally connecting the pinion and the magnet switch, the shift lever is formed at one end thereof with an annular arm body for engagement with the pinion gear. The annular arm body is engaged with the pinion gear to receive the pinion returning force evenly thereby to prevent damage on the shift lever. Preferably the annular arm body is engaged with the pinion gear through a plate and a bearing.

Abstract: A starting system and method for a gas turbine engine checks to determine whether ignition has occurred in a light off window. If such ignition has not occurred, a starter coupled to the gas turbine engine is deactuated to allow deceleration through the light off window while still attempting to ignite gases in the combustor. By providing an extra interval of time to achieve ignition, start reliability is enhanced.

Abstract: In a coaxial engine starter comprising a pinion (6) connected to the output shaft (4) which is driven by an electric motor (3), via a helical spline (19), a switch unit (7) for selectively closing a power supply line to the electric motor, and a solenoid device (9) consisting of an annular armature and an annular energization coil surrounding the output shaft to axially drive the pinion and a moveable contact of the switch unit in the axial direction, the switch is adapted to be closed before the pinion is actuated by the solenoid device. Therefore, the output requirement for the solenoid device can be reduced as opposed to the conventional starter in which the pinion is actuated strictly by the solenoid device, and the size of the engine starter can be reduced.

Abstract: In an armature in which upper coil end arms extend toward an armature shaft substantially perpendicular to the armature shaft, at least one of first and second bearings supporting the armature shaft uses a ball bearing. The inner ring of the ball bearing is fixed to the armature shaft and the outer ring of the ball bearing is fixed to a cylindrical part of a holding plate such as of a brush holding member. The armature is pressed in the axial direction by brush springs so that, even if the armature tends to move in the axial direction due to armature imbalance when it rotates at high speeds, it is prevented from such an axial movement and is kept centered by the axial pressing action of the brush springs combined with a thrust bearing action of the ball bearing.

Abstract: An output shaft is arranged coaxially with an armature shaft forwardly of a starter motor, and an electromagnetic switch is arranged at the rear of the starter motor. The output shaft and the armature shaft are independently supported by a first to fourth bearings. The first and second bearings are held on a housing and a center case. In the starter motor, a face type commutator is provided on the rear end of the armature, so that the axial length of the armature shaft is set short. The third and fourth bearings are held on a partition wall of a yoke of the starter motor and a holder, respectively.

Abstract: A starting control apparatus of the present invention prevents a variation in output torque of an internal combustion engine at a time of starting the internal combustion engine, while effectively reducing an emission. In response to a requirement for starting an engine (150) (S212), a controller (180) calculates an idle revolving speed Ni that is a target at a starting time and a required amount of the air Qi for maintaining the idle revolving speed Ni (S213). The idle revolving speed Ni and the required amount of the air Qi are respectively set equal to a target engine speed Ne* and a target amount of air intake Q* (S214). The controller (180) sets torque command values Tm1* and Tm2* of first and second motors MG1 and MG2, in order to enable the motors MG1 and MG2 to generate a cranking torque required for revolving the engine (150) at the target revolving speed Ne* (S216 and S218), and controls the first motor MG1 and the second motor MG2 (S220 and S222).

Abstract: A starter dynamo having a pinion engageable with a ring gear and an armature for rotating the pinion is supplied at engine starting with an electric storage power from an electric double layered capacitor used exclusively for the starter dynamo. With this storage power, the armature rotates and, with this armature rotation, the pinion rotates. An engine ring gear is driven through the pinion to start the engine. After the engine starting, the ring gear rotation is transmitted to the armature through the pinion and the starter dynamo charges the electric double-layered capacitor. Thus, an electric storage power required for the next engine starting is charged in a short period of time.

Abstract: A rotation restricting member is driven to engage a pinion moving member by a magnet switch and restricts it to rotate, so that it advances under rotation of an output shaft accompanied with energization of a motor and is engaged with a ring gear. Since it is satisfactory to displace the rotation restricting member in order to cause the pinion restricting member to abut against the pinion moving member under application of residual plunger stroke after both contacts of the magnet switch are abutted, it is not necessary to arrange any resilient member between a plunger and the rotation restricting member, thereby simplifying configuration of the magnet switch.

Abstract: A motor vehicle starter head includes a starter pinion which slides axially on a starter head shaft, an actuator coupled with the pinion for axial movement with the latter, and abutment means for limiting the travel of the pinion in sliding movement with respect to the starter head shaft, at least towards its working position. The actuator has internal splines cooperating with external splines on the starter head shaft, and the abutment means comprise an abutment member which is coupled for axial movement with the actuator and which cooperates with a transverse flank of the external splines on the shaft.

Abstract: A starter apparatus comprises a mounting arrangement for an engine 16, an overhang type front housing 21, and a metal flange member 22 for mounting a starter main body. A sealing ring 23 and accommodating groove 22c are provided in the cast iron flange member, to avoid any weakening groove in the aluminum front housing. An excess number of screw holes 21a, 22b and 16a are provided in the front housing, the flange member and the engine to enable the mounting angle of the starter apparatus to be adapted to different engine requirements.

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: In a starter, one end of a spring is connected with a pinion, whereas the other end of the spring is connected with an annular plate. A regulation claw of a regulation member for moving the pinion toward a ring gear is made separate from the spring which is flexed in the rotational direction of an output shaft so as to engage the pinion with the ring gear, when the pinion is brought into contact with the ring gear. Thus, appropriate setting of the specification of the regulation claw of the regulation member and that of the spring can be very easily accomplished. Further, because the specification of the spring can be independently appropriately set without difficulty, the spring is made more durable.

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 starter for an automotive vehicle is comprised of an output shaft rotationally driven by a DC motor, a pinion having on its inner circumference a helical spline engaged with a helical spline on the output shaft. A pinion restricting member has a long arm engageable with teeth formed on the outer circumference of the pinion. A drive housing abuts axially at the pinion restricting member, and a center case abuts axially against the pinion restricting member. The pinion restricting member is held assuredly and axially by the drive housing and the center case.