Abstract: An electric starter for an internal combustion engine has a coaxial pinion drive mechanism for urging the pinion gear into a positively fully meshed arrangement with the flywheel of the internal combustion engine prior to full power application to the cranking motor. The pinion drive mechanism is incompressible throughout its motion. The drive solenoid has a solid plunger which is limited in its stroke corresponding to the fully meshed position of the pinion gear by a pair of electrical contacts which are shorted at full stroke by the plunger functioning as a contact therebetween. The cranking motor is operated at a slow rotation at all times prior to full meshing of the pinion gear to aid in meshing thus reducing tooth wear and gear lash.

Abstract: A starter unit for an internal combustion engine, especially a motor vehicle engine, comprises an electric motor and an electromagnetic actuator, having parallel axes and being secured on a starter frame or chassis which has at least one starter nose. The starter nose defines a hood which envelops the end of the output member of the electromagnetic actuator and the free end of the shaft of the motor. The motor shaft carries a Bendix gear or pinion. The unit also includes an actuating lever for controlling axial displacements of the Bendix gear. The actuating lever pivots about an axis which is substantially at right angles to the axes of the motor and actuator.

Abstract: In an overhang type starter motor, an inner periphery of a front portion of a pinion 5 is engaged with a spline serration 2a formed at a front part of a pinion shaft 2; a spring 8 is disposed at a shoulder portion of an intermediate portion of the pinion 5 so as to urge the pinion 5 toward a pinion stopper 6; and the inner periphery of the rear part 5a of the pinion 5 is in slide contact with an outer diameter portion 2b of the pinion shaft so that the pinion does not incline when it comes to engagement with a ring gear of an engine.

Abstract: A covering for electrical machines has at least one film which is placed around a pole housing and around parts attached to the pole housing and which is permanently shrunk onto the pole housing and the parts.

Abstract: An impact start assist device for an electric motor comprises a driven member coupled to a load and a drive member coupled to the motor and to the driven member. The driven member and the drive member are rotatable, relative to each other, through at least a portion of a revolution. The device further comprises an arrangement for providing a substantially instantaneous transfer of angular momentum from the drive member to the driven member after relative rotation of the members through at least the portion of the revolution. A locking arrangement is provided for locking the drive member and the driven member together at high rotational speeds. At least a portion of the locking arrangement is centrifugally actuated, and a spring is provided to disengage the locking mechanism at low speeds, or at rest.

Abstract: A starting motor with an intermediate gear wherein rotation of a rotating shaft of a DC motor is transmitted to a pinion in a one-way rotational direction by an overrunning clutch, and an intermediate gear supported rotatably and forward-and-backward slidably by an intermediate shaft retained by a front bracket through a bearing and in mesh with the pinion, meshes with a ring-gear of an internal combustion engine by a forward movement thereof thereby starting the internal combustion engine, characterized by that; a storage for a lubricant is provided at a middle portion of the intermediate gear in the axial direction, which is fixed to an inner diameter portion of the intermediate gear; and dust seals are provided in a bearing with metal back supported by the intermediate shaft and at both ends of the inner diameter portion of the intermediate gear.

Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine including mechanical components subject to an impact load during operation including a shift lever, internal gear, gear cover formed integrally with the internal gear, front case, center bracket, and brush holder disposed in a rear bracket. At least one of the mechanical components is formed of a synthetic resin having a glass transition temperature greater than 90.degree. C. such as an aromatic copolymer and nylon series, whereby a workability and an impact load absorbing capacity of the mechanical components as well as the bending rupture strength are capable of withstanding an impact load caused by an abnormal operation of the starter at a high environmental temperature greater than 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A coaxial starter comprises an electric motor housed in a cylindrical yoke, a clutch mechanism for transmitting rotational force of the electric motor to an output shaft disposed on the same axis as an armature shaft of the electric motor, and a front bracket for supporting the output shaft. The yoke of the electric motor is formed of a metal sheet integrally with the front bracket through drawing.

Abstract: The system includes a storage battery, and an electric starter motor operable to rotate the internal combustion engine. A capacitor of high-capacitance, arranged immediately adjacent the electric motor, is adapted to store enough electrical energy to supply the electric motor during the starting of the internal combustion engine. A connection control system in a first condition connects the capacitor to the battery to enable the capacitor to be recharged and, in a second condition, connects the capacitor to the electric motor to enable electrical energy to be transferred thereto.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprises an electric motor having an armature winding of a single turn and a hollow armature rotary shaft for generating a rotational force for starting an engine. The starter also comprises an over-running clutch mechanism disposed within the hollow armature rotary shaft for preventing the occurrence of an excessive-speed of the armature and having a pinion having a gear teeth number equal to or less than seven for engaging with a ring gear of an engine upon starting of the electric motor. A solenoid switch is also disposed behind the electric motor for moving a pinion shaft forward and supplying an electric power to the electric motor.

Abstract: An engine starter comprises an electric motor for starting an engine when the motor is energized, an electromagnetic switch including a pair of normally-open contacts connected to each other to form an energizing circuit for the motor at the time of energizing a coil of the switch, and a pair of normally-closed contacts connected to each other to form a grounding circuit for the motor at the time of de-energizing of said coil, and a restriction device for restricting a braking electrical current generated due to an inertial rotation of the motor.

Abstract: An engine starter comprising an electric motor having a hollow armature rotary shaft, a solenoid switch for energizing the electric motor and having a push rod extending into the into the hollow armatur rotary shaft, an output rotary shaft having a pinion disposed on a front end thereof, the output rotary shaft being axially slidable relative to the armature rotary shaft to move the pinion into and out of engagement with an engine ring gear. A clutch outer member of an over-running clutch unit is mounted on the output rotary shaft and is connected to the electric motor for being rotated thereby, and a clutch inner member driven by the clutch outer member through a plurality of rollers is provided with helical splines on its inner circumferential surface.

Abstract: The starting device for an internal combustion engine includes a housing, an electrical drive motor (10) with a drive shaft (16), a starting pinion (12) for engagement with a rim gear of the engine and an intermediate gear (11) making an operative connection between the drive shaft and the starting pinion. For damping or absorption of the shocks and preventing fractures arising from the compression stroke of the starting engine the starting pinion (12) is connected directly or indirectly nonrotatably with the gear shaft (24) of the intermediate gear (11) and the gear shaft (24) is coupled with a hollow wheel (21) via an elastic damping ring (34). The drive shaft (16) meshes with its outer toothing (19) in the internal toothing (20) of the hollow wheel. The hollow wheel (21) is received in a bearing (25) in the housing and the damping ring (34) is made of rubber or plastic, is inserted in the hollow wheel (21) and, surrounds the gear shaft (24 ).

Abstract: In a starter, the pinion, which is rotated by torque of an electric motor, is slid axially by the plunger of an electromagnetic switch and is pushed against the engine ring gear by a conically coiled compression coil, which allows employment of a small electromagnetic switch. Further, in an electromagnetic switch in which the plunger confronted coaxially with the stationary iron core slidably supporting a rod with a movable contact is moved towards the stationary iron core by electromagnetic force, a conically coiled spring is interposed between the plunger and the stationary iron core in such a manner that the spring is substantially coaxial with the plunger and the iron core, so that the playing of the rod is prevented.

Abstract: An electromagnetic push-out unit which controls engagement and disengagement between a pinion gear and a ring gear for an engine in a starter device via a non-magnetic cylindrical member disposed concentrically with a pinion shaft mechanically coupled to an electrical motor.

Abstract: In a planet gear speed-reducing starter in which the rotation of the armature rotary shaft is applied through a planet gear speed-reducing mechanism to the output rotary shaft coupled to the planet gear speed-reducing mechanism, a carrier supporting the planetary gears of the planet gear speed-reducing mechanism is fitted on the rear end portion of the output rotary shaft with its rearward movement limited in such a manner that the output rotary shaft is limited in rearward movement while the carrier is limited in forward movement, and the carrier and the output rotary shaft are slidable with a predetermined torque with each other, whereby the impact occurring therewith is absorbed sufficiently.

Abstract: A starter of an engine which comprises a starting motor, a detector which generates a voltage corresponding with a revolution of the engine, an electromagnetic switch having a coil which draws a plunger that supports a moving contact so that fixed contacts are shorted by the moving contact, and a magnet which retains the drawn plunger, a main switch and a usually open touch switch for activating the electromagnetic switch in starting up of the engine, a voltage comparator which compares a weak inverse direction current flown in the coil when the fixed contacts are closed, with the voltage from the detecting means and outputs a current when the voltage is higher than the weak inverse direction current, and a switch device for stopping the starting motor which makes ON and OFF according an output from the voltage comparator and generates an inverse drawing force by flowing a strong inverse direction current in the coil.

Abstract: In a starter motor, its electromagnetic switch has a movable contact cooperating with normally open contact member and normally closed contact member, and a part of a stationary contact in the normally closed contact member is formed into a locking piece to prevent the movable contact from contacting the passage formed in the cap of the switch, or the electromagnetic switch has a first movable contact cooperating with normally open contact member and a second movable contact cooperating with normally closed contact member, and an insulating partition wall is disposed between the first and second movable contacts, whereby the creeping distance between the normally open contact member and the normally closed contact member is increased as much, and the occurrence of current leakage is prevented.

Abstract: A starter motor for an engine which does not readily admit water into a casing thereof and which allows water to be discharged promptly from the housing. The starter motor comprises a seal member for closing a gap between an outer periphery of a pinion moving member on an output rotary shaft or of an overrunning clutch and the casing, and the casing has two communicating holes formed therein for the communication with the atmospheric air outside the casing. One of the communicating holes is formed at a lower portion of the casing so that water may be discharged outwardly from within the casing therethrough. The other communicating hole is formed at a higher location of the casing and may be a communicating groove formed in an end face of a front bracket of the casing along which the front bracket is coupled to a yoke of an electric motor which is mounted in the casing and operatively coupled to the pinion moving member by way of the overrunning clutch.

Abstract: An engaging lever lock for rotor turning gear in a steam turbine includes a selectable lock that is disposed to hold the lever at its engaged position and control circuitry for activating the selectable lock. With a first embodiment, the selectable lock includes an electromagnet. On the other hand, with a second embodiment, the selectable lock includes a plunger-pin arrangement that is activated by a solenoid to extend into a hole formed in the lever, and is biased toward a retracted position away from the hole by a spring which is disposed around the pin between the plunger and the solenoid.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprising a d.c. electric motor (11), a planetary speed reduction gear unit (20), a unidirectional clutch and a pinion. The planetary gear unit (20) includes a large-diameter inner gear member (17) mounted to the front end of the motor housing (11a). The clutch and the pinion are housed within a front machine frame (21) attached to the inner gear member. The inner gear member (17) is securely held in place between the motor housing (11a) and the front machine frame (21) by U-shaped connectors (22) and through bolts (23) fastening the front machine frame (21), the inner gear member (17) and the motor housing (11a) together. Alternatively, the inner gear member (27; 37) including gear teeth (27a; 38a) may be directly thread-engaged by the through bolts (32) positioned radially inward of the inner gear teeth (27a; 38a) and the front machine frame (29) may be attached to the inner gear member (27; 37).

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprising an electric motor (1) having a hollow armature rotary shaft (2) rotatably supported by a housing (17) and an output rotary shaft (3) coaxially slidably disposed within the armature rotary shaft (2) and having a pinion (4) at a front end thereof. The motor housing has a central bore within which the armature rotary shaft (2) and the plunger rod (6a) are disposed to define an annular clearance between the housing and the plunger rod (6a). Disposed behind the motor (1) is a solenoid switch (5) having a magnetically movable iron core (6) including a plunger rod (6a) coaxially slidable relative to the armature rotary shaft (2) for operatively pushing forward the output rotary shaft (3) within said hollow armature rotary shaft (2).

Abstract: An engine starter is equipped with a motor having a cylindrical armature rotating shaft (3), a clutch mechanism (15) which transmits the rotational force of the motor, an output rotating shaft (17) which is disposed so as to mesh with the clutch mechanism (15) and be movable in the axial direction, and a solenoid switch (25) which has a moving member (32) which pushes the output rotating shaft (17) in the axial direction by electromagnetic force, the switch also causing a movable contact to contact a stationary contact and supply current to the motor. The output rotating shaft and the front portion of the moving body (32) of the solenoid switch (25) are both inserted into the cylindrical bore of the armature rotating shaft (3) from opposite ends, a sleeve bearing (23) is fit into the cylindrical bore and journals the output rotating shaft (17), whereby a cylindrical engine starter is obtained having a short overall length.

Abstract: A starter motor comprises an oil seal of resilient sheet material disposed between a bearing supporting a pinion slider and a front frame portion having an opening in which the bearing is supported and in resilient contact with the slidable support surface and an annular metal holder having an angled U shape cross section and fixedly secured to the slidable support surface with a valley portion thereof facing to the bearing and an annular lip extending forwardly from a peripheral edge of the opening so that it enters into the valley portion of the holder when the pinion slider is in a rest position. At least one drain is formed in an outer wall of the front frame portion and extends along the oil seal. The oil seal of resilent material may have a generally T shape cross section with a lateral bar portion thereof being used as the oil seal and a vertical bar portion thereof being used as the annular lip. A drain hole may be formed in the vertical bar portion.

Abstract: A starter apparatus comprising an electric motor including an armature rotary shaft (35) made hollow so that power transmission mechanism (40) can be internally positioned and an armature core (36) mounted to the rotary shaft (35) and having in the periphery thereof a large number of slots (37) for winding therein an armature coil (38, 39). The armature coil of the electric motor (34) is composed by winding a single wave-winding coil (38) and a double wave-winding coil (39) in combination so that three coil conductor sections are positioned per one slot (37) for majority of the slots.

Abstract: A coaxial starter in which a motor armature rotary shaft, an axially slidable output rotary shaft having a pinion at its front end and a solenoid switch disposed behind the motor are arranged on a common aixs. A portion of an iron core of the solenoid switch is extended such that the iron core portion journals the armature rotary shaft and separates a space containing a brush and a commutator of the motor from an interior space of the solenoid switch, and that the iron core portion has mounted thereon, through an insulating material, a power source side stationary contact and a brush side stationary contact. Also disclosed is a core and contact terminal assembly for a solenoid switch, comprising a casing containing therein a coil with a bobbin, a plunger slidably inserted into a bush mounted within the bobbin and a disc-shaped core disposed at an axial end portion of the casing.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprising an electric motor including a brush assembly, an output shaft with a pinion and slidable relative to the motor and a solenoid switch having a movable iron core for closing and opening switch contacts. A cylindrical member rearwardly extends from the rear end of the brush assembly of the motor to surround a contact operating space in which the switch contacts move and has a rear edge located close to a front end of the movable iron core to define a small clearance therebetween. A shield member is also disposed behind the movable contact and has an outer edge located close to the rear edge of the tubular member and defines a radially small clearance therebetween. Thus, the cylindrical member and the shield member substantially surround the contact operating space and they are in a telescopically movable relationship relative to each other.

Abstract: A solenoid switch for a coaxial engine starter comprises within a cylindrical case 31 a solenoid coil 33 wound around a hollow bobbin 34. The case supports stationary contact assemblies 42, 43 each composed of an electrical conductor 44 including a stationary contact element 45 and an electrically insulating member 46 disposed around the conductor so that the stationary contact element is within a cylindrical space 36 of the bobbin. A movable contact 39 is mounted on a plunger 37 which is magnetically actuatable by the solenoid coil for separably engaging with the stationary contact elements. The outer surface 50 of a tubular wall 47 of the bobbin is oval in cross-section so that thicker-wall portions 47a are defined between the inner and the outer surfaces 49, 50.

Abstract: A moisture drain bush for use in a moisture drain hole in an engine starter motor housing wall comprises a stem having an inner and an outer end and an axial length equal to a housing wall thickness and having an axial groove extending between the inner and the outer ends of the stem. An inner flange has a flat inner surface radially extending from the inner end of the stem and larger than the drain hole is provided. The inner flange also has an inner radial groove connected at its inner end to the inner end of the axial groove in the stem and radially extending therefrom to open at the outer periphery of the inner flange. An outer flange having a flat inner surface radially extends from the outer end of the stem and larger than the drain hole is provided. The outer flange has an outer radial groove extending across the outer flange to open at the outer periphery of the outer flange at substantially diametrically opposite positions, the outer radial groove being connected to the outer end of the axial groove.

Abstract: A water proof structure for a use in a starter motor comprising a front bracket, an over-running clutch axially slidably supported on a rotary shaft, and a pinion mounted to the over-running clutch and movable between a forward position for engagement with an engine ring gear and a rearward position for disengagement from the engine ring gear. The front bracket includes a tubular wall 22 surrounding the over-running clutch and having formed therein an opening for allowing the pinion in the forward position to be projected therethrough and a moisture drain opening 20c in its bottom. The water proof structure comprises a radial wall 25 extending from the front bracket toward a front end of the pinion in the forward position for substantially closing a gap between the tubular wall and the pinion. At the corner of the bottom portion of the radial wall and the tubular wall, a moisture drain hole 27 is provided.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprising an electric motor having an armature rotary shaft 23, an output rotary shaft 5 axially slidably supported in an axial alignment relationship with the armature rotary shaft and a pinion 10 disposed on the front end of the output rotary shaft. The starter also comprises a planetary speed reduction gear 7 having a sun gear disposed on the armature rotary shaft, a plurality of planetary gears rotatable around the sun gear and a stationary internal gear engaging the planetary gear, and an over-running clutch 21 having a clutch outer member supporting the planetary gears and a clutch inner member slidably coupled to the output rotary shaft and having front and rear ends. The clutch inner member is rotatably supported at its front end by a first bearing 11 supported by the machine frame 8 and at its rear end by a second bearing 25 mounted on the armature rotary shaft in front of the sun gear of the planetary speed reduction gear.

Abstract: An engine starter comprising an electric motor having a hollow armature rotary shaft, a solenoid switch for energizing the electric motor and having a push rod extending into the hollow armatur rotary shaft, an output rotary shaft having a pinion disposed on a front end thereof, the output rotary shaft being axially slidable relative to the armature rotary shaft to move the pinion into and out of engagement with an engine ring gear. A clutch outer member of an over-running clutch unit is mounted on the output rotary shaft and is connected to the electric motor for being rotated thereby, and a clutch inner member driven by the clutch outer member through a plurality of rollers is provided with helical splines on its inner circumferential surface.

Abstract: The coaxial engine starter of the present invention comprises an electric motor having a rotary armature shaft and a yoke, a solenoid switch disposed behind the electric motor, an output rotary shaft disposed in front of the electric motor in an axially aligned relationship, and a planetary speed reduction gear disposed in front of and in axial alignment with the electric motor. The planetary speed reduction gear comprises a sun gear disposed on the motor armature shaft, a plurality of planetary gears disposed around the sun gear and an inner gear disposed around the planetary gears. The output rotary shaft has mounted thereon a pinion gear for engaging with an engine ring gear to be driven.

Abstract: A coaxial type starter device comprises, in axial alignment, an armature rotary shaft for a motor, a rotary output shaft with a pinion at its front end which is supported so as to be slidable in its axial direction, and an electromagnetic switch device attached to the rear end of the motor. Two windows are formed in the end wall of a rear bracket attached to the rear end of the yoke of the motor; two stationary contacts at the power source side and the brush side are arranged at the rear end portion of the motor and project inside of the electromagnetic switch device through the windows; an exciting coil is disposed in the electromagnetic switch device; and a cup-shaped plunger is slidably arranged in the electromagnetic switch device. A rod is axially movable with the plunger and supports movable contacts to be brought into engagement with the stationary contacts, and a cylindrical body is formed at the end wall of the rear bracket to surround the movable contacts.

Abstract: In a starter device of a type having a tubular rotary output shaft is in alignment with the armature shaft of a d.c. motor, and a tubular pinion moving shaft which has a pinion to be meshed with the ring gear of an automobile engine at its one end and receives therein the rotary output shaft, is connectable to the armature shaft by means of an overrunning clutch, the rotary output shaft is a tubular shaft and a movable shaft is disposed in the tubular rotary output shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction in association with the tubular pinion moving shaft, wherein the movable shaft has a stopper which is brought into contact with an immovable part which does not move in at least the axial direction of the starter device when the movable shaft is moved by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A coaxial starter comprising an electric motor which produces torque; a speed reduction planet gear mechanism which transmits the rotation of the armature shaft of the motor so that the rotational speed of the output portion of the mechanism is lower than that of the shaft; an overrunning clutch which transmits the output torque of the mechanism when the clutch is engaged; an output rotary shaft whose rear portion constitutes the inner member of the clutch; a pinion provided on the outside circumferential surface of the output rotary shaft so that the pinion is engaged with the ring gear of an engine as the torque of the output rotary shaft is received by the pinion; an electromagnetic switch provided around the pinion to move the pinion forward and energize the motor; and a spring provided between an actuator, which is moved forward when the switch is energized, and the pinion to push said pinion forward.

Abstract: An engine starter comprises an elongated pinion shifter unit 23 axially slidably mounted on an output rotary shaft 21 coupled to a d.c. motor for rotation therewith, and includes a pinion 8 mounted at a first end of the unit and a unidirectional clutch 6 disposed at a second end. A first sleeve bearing 24 is disposed between the first end of the pinion shifter unit and the output rotary shaft, and a second sleeve bearing 25 is disposed between the second end of the pinion shifter unit and the output rotary shaft. The first and the second sleeve bearings are spaced apart from each other, and the first sleeve bearing is made of a material wear resistant under a relatively large load, such as an iron-based material, and the second sleeve bearing is made of a material wear resistant under a high speed rotation condition, such as a copper-based material.

Abstract: A starter motor comprising; a solenoid switch having an attracting movable part; an electric motor arranged at one side in the axial direction; an output shaft driven by the electric motor; a one-way clutch unit carried on and around the output shaft so as to be slidable thereon; a shift lever having an upper end engaged with the attracting movable part, and a lower end engaged in a peripheral groove in the one-way clutch unit, the shift lever being arranged to be capable of rocking about a rocking fulcrum part which is positioned between the upper end and the lower end of the lever, and which is in touch with the inner surface of a front housing wall; wherein the lever has the upper end and the rocking fulcrum part positioned at the one side in the axial direction with respect to the lower end.

Abstract: A pinion shifting mechanism of an automotive engine starter is disclosed in which the pivot support 5c of the shift lever 5 on which it turns is supported at its rear side by a resilient support means 32 instead of a rigid support surface. The shift lever operatively coupling the plunger 7 of the electromagnetic switch 4 with the pinion assembly is coupled to the plunger via an engager member 15 slidably disposed in the cylindrical bore formed in the plunger. The engager member is urged backward with respect to the plunger by a helical spring 17 disposed around the engager within the bore of the plunger. When the plunger is attracted from the initial front position toward the stationary core 8 of the electromagnetic switch, the resilient support means yields first to allow a backward translation of the pivot support of the shift lever; the spring urging the engager yields only afterwards.

Abstract: A coaxial type starter comprises a motor having a tubular armature rotary shaft, an electromagnetic switch located at the rear part of the motor and having an operating shaft arranged in the same axial line as the armature shaft, an overrunning clutch for transmitting a rotating force only in one direction, and a pinion shaft which is disposed in the armature shaft to receive the rotating force thereof through the overrunning clutch. The front end portion of a clutch inner member in the overrunning clutch device is supported by a bearing which is fitted to a front bracket; the pinion shaft is so arranged that it is engaged with the inner circumference of the clutch inner member through a spline, and pinion teeth formed at the front end of the pinion shaft are radially overlapped by the bearing.

Abstract: A moisture drain bush for use in a moisture drain hole in an engine starter motor housing wall comprises a stem having a first and a second end and an axial length equal to a housing wall thickness and having an axial groove extending between the first and second ends of the stem. A first flange may be frustoconical shape so that its conical circumferential surface guide and assists smooth insertion of the flange into the drain hole, and has a flat inner surface radially extending from the first end of the stem and larger than the drain hole is provided. The first flange also has a first radial groove connected to one end of the axial groove in the stem and radially extending to the outer periphery of the first flange. A second flange having a flat inner surface radially extends from the second end of the stem and larger than the drain hole is provided.

Abstract: An engine starter suitable to be used under severe corrosive conditions is disclosed, wherein the inner race of the ball bearing for supporting the pinion driving shaft is made of a martensitic stainless steel hardened by a heat treatment, which is effective in maintaining a good sliding contact between the inner race of the bearing and the pinion driving shaft. The balls of the bearing may be covered by a seal at both open sides thereof; further, the front open end of the pinion may be closed by a cap.

Abstract: A coaxial starter comprising an electric motor having an armature shaft which is a tubular shaft, an output rotary shaft slidable in the axial direction thereof extends at one end of the motor so that the torque of the armature shaft is transmitted to the output rotary shaft through a driving power transmission means. A pinion is provided on the output rotary shaft at the end of the coaxial starter. An electromagnetic switch provided at the other end of the motor has an actuator rod extending into the internal opening of the armature shaft through the opening of the wall of the motor so that the rod is moved in the axial direction of the motor at the time of electric energizing of the switch. This slides the output rotary shaft in the axial direction of the motor. The coaxial starter further comprises a bearing fitted in the opening of the wall and supporting the armature shaft and the rod.

Abstract: A moisture draining arrangement for a vertical shaft engine starter comprising a substantially cup-shaped rear bracket at the lower end of the starter and having a bottom wall including a water drain hole. The moisture draining arrangement further comprises a shield member disposed spaced apart from the bottom wall of the rear bracket but substantially directly below the drain hole thereby defining a substantially winding water flow passage to prevent splashed water from directly entering into the engine starter through the drain hole.

Abstract: An engine starter apparatus being arranged such that a rotational force from an electric motor is transmitted to an output rotary shaft through a planetary speed reduction gear. The number Zs of teeth of a sun gear, the number Zp of teeth of a planet gear, the number Zi of teeth of an internal gear and the number N of the planet gears satisfy the equation (Zs+Zi)N=an integer, and the pressure angle .alpha.bi of the engagement between the planet gear and the internal gear is arranged to be cos.sup.-1 {(Zi-Zp)/(Zs+Zp).times.cos.alpha.bs}, where .alpha.bs is the pressure angle of the engagement between the sun gear and the planet gear.

Abstract: A starter comprises an electric motor which produces torque for starting an engine; a speed reduction planet gear unit in which a carrier by which a plurality of planet gears are rotatably supported is integrally formed with a rotary shaft disposed coaxially with the armature shaft of the electric motor, so that the rotary shaft is rotated at a lower speed than the armature shaft as the torque of the armature shaft is transmitted to the rotary shaft; an output rotary shaft provided with a speed reduction gear engaged with the gear formed on the rotary shaft; and a pinion supported on the output rotary shaft so that the pinion can be engaged with and disengaged from the ring gear of the engine and can be rotated by the torque of the inner member of the clutch.

Abstract: An engine starter has a cup-shaped front bracket 24 for containing an output rotary shaft 23 having a pinion 28 on its front end and axially slidable, a driving force transmitting unit 22, an electric motor 21 having a hollow cylindrical yoke fitted in rear a opening of the front bracket, and a solenoid switch 30 mounted to the rear portion of the electric motor and having an operating rod 35, 38 which extends through the interior of the electric motor to abut against the output rotary shaft for pushing out the output rotary shaft. The front bracket has on its outer periphery a mounting flange 42 of a mounting spigot joint diameter larger than the outer diameter of an inner gear 25b of a planetary speed reduction gear of the driving force transmitting unit or the outer diameter of the yoke of the electric motor.

Abstract: A turning gear apparatus mounted adjacent the bull gear of a large turbomachine rotor has a carriage pivotably mounted to the frame, a first pinion rotatably mounted on the carriage, and a second pinion continuously engaging the first pinion and rotatably mounted to the frame coaxial with the carriage pivoting axis. The improvement comprises locating the carriage on the side of the bull gear where it rotates in an upward direction, with the axis of the second pinion located such that when the carriage is pivoted and the first pinion engages the bull gear, the axis of rotation of the first pinion is located on a selected angle below the horizintal substantially equal to the pressure angle of the bull gear tooth, resulting in substantially vertical reaction forces.

Abstract: A coaxial starter for starting an engine comprises an electric motor having an armature shaft which is hollow; an output rotary shaft which is disposed at the front end of the motor and inserted in the internal opening of the armature shaft at one end of the output rotary shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the output rotary shaft, and has a pinion at the other end thereof so that the pinion is engaged with or disengaged from the ring gear of an engine; an overrunning clutch for transmitting the rotatory power of the armature shaft to the output rotary shaft; and an electromagnetic switch disposed at the rear end of the motor so as to energize the motor and slide the output rotary shaft, wherein a housing nearly shaped as a cup and having a through hole in the rear portion of the housing is provided between the yoke of the motor and the switch; a bearing for supporting the armature shaft is provided in the housing; the brush holder of the motor is supported in such a manner that the holder is

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprises an electric motor having a tubular armature rotary shaft and an output rotary shaft disposed at the front end of the electric motor and having at one end a pinion capable of engaging and disengaging an engine ring gear and axially slidably inserted into an inner bore of the armature rotary shaft at the other end. A planetary speed reduction gear including a sun gear formed around the outer periphery of the front end of the armature rotary shaft and a plurality of planetary gears meshing with the sun gear for reducing rotational speed of the armature rotary shaft is provided and an over-running clutch fitted on the output rotary shaft for transmitting the rotation of the armature rotary shaft transmitted through the planetary speed reduction gear to the output rotary shaft, the over-running clutch having a clutch inner member including a front end surface which abuts against a rear end surface of the pinion when output rotary shaft is moved rearward.