Abstract: A starter motor which comprises a housing, an electric motor having an output rotary shaft, a pinion shift cylinder driven by the output rotary shaft and having a pinion for driving an engine to be started, the pinion shift cylinder having a sliding support surface exposed to the interior of the housing. The housing supports a support bearing which has a slinding surface in engagement with the sliding support surface of the pinion shift cylinder for slidably and rotatably supporting it. The starter motor also comprises a cylindrical cover for lovering the sliding support surface of the pinion shift cylinder against any foreign matter.

Abstract: A coaxial type starter device comprises a d.c. motor, a pinion provided at the front end of an armature rotary shaft of the d.c. motor and an output rotary shaft arranged in alignment with the armature rotary shaft so as to be movable in its axial direction so that a rotating force of the armature rotary shaft is transmitted to the output rotary shaft through a planet gear speed-reducing device and an overrunning clutch device, wherein a carrier for supporting each planet gear wheel has a cylindrical portion at its front end and the cylindrical portion is fitted to the outer circumference of an clutch outer member of the overrunning clutch device so as to cause a relative sliding movement in their circumferential directions when a predetermined torque is produced.

Abstract: A coaxial type starter with an overrunning clutch device has a clutch inner member which is provided with a cylindrical portion formed integrally therewith and extended forwardly; is rotatably supported by first and second bearings spaced apart in the axial direction so that they bear the cylindrical portion; and has a helical spline at the inner circumferential surface so as to be engaged with a helical spline formed at the outer circumferential surface of an output rotary shaft inserted in the clutch inner member so that a rotating force by the armature rotary shaft is transmitted to the output shaft.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter in which a solenoid switch is disposed behind an electric motor, a planetary speed reduction gear is disposed in front of the electric motor, and an ouptut rotary shaft is driven by the electric motor through the planetary speed reduction gear, a housing to which a bearing for receiving radial loads from the output rotary shaft is secured is integrally formed by a synthetic resin with an inner gear of the planetary speed reduction gear. A metallic flange for attaching the starter to an engine may be mounted to the housing by an electrically conductive securing member, and an electrical conductor for electrically connecting the flange to a motor yoke through the securing member may also be provided.

Abstract: A coaxial starter which includes a motor having a tubular armature shaft to which an armature and a commutator are attached; an output shaft arranged at the front end side of the motor and having one end provided with a pinion disengageably engaged with a ring gear of an engine and the other end inserted into the inside path of the tubular armature shaft so as to be axially slidable, the output shaft having a large-diameter portion thereof; a driving power transmission device having an overrunning clutch for transmitting rotation force of the armature shaft through the overrunning clutch to the output shaft; a bearing provided between a front end surface of the armature shaft, perpendicular to the axial direction thereof and the end surface of the large-diameter portion of the output shaft; and an electromagnetic switching unit provided on a rear end side of the motor for energizing the motor and for sliding the output shaft.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprising a solenoid switch assembly including a non-magnetic sleeve disposed side by side relative to the iron-system bushing for guiding the plunger in a moving space from its return position to the position in which the plunger abuts against the front magnetic path section. An end face of the rear magnetic path section on the side of the front magnetic path section is an outwardly facing slope surface. The direction of twist of the helical spline formed on the output rotary shaft is opposite to the direction of wind of the return coil spring.

Abstract: A pinion stopper arrangement for a starter motor comprises a motor output shaft having a circumferential projection and a coaxial pinion shaft rotatably supported on the output shaft. Two shafts are connected by an over-running clutch having a clutch outer member connected to the output shaft by helical splines and a clutch inner member directly connected to the pinion shaft. An elastic stopper ring is snap fitted between the clutch outer member and the circumferential projection on the output shaft, so that the elastic stopper ring, in cooperation with the circumferential projection on said output shaft, restricts the axial movement of the over-running clutch and the pinion gear relative to the output shaft.

Abstract: An engine starter comprises a hollow armature rotary shaft having a plurality of cam surfaces of an over-running clutch mechanism and having at one end a reduced-diameter portion on which a sleeve member is press fit and at the other end a stopper. The sleeve member has a rolled portion on its outer circumference on which an armature core is secured by press fit so that the armature core is firmly held by the sleeve member and the stopper on the armature rotary shaft. The armature rotary shaft may have a polygonal cross-sectional outer configuration so that the armature core can be firmly press-fit onto polygonal armature rotary shaft. A method for concurrently brazing and magnetically annealing the armature core comprises heating the armature assembly between 780.degree. C. and 850.degree. C.

Abstract: A starter includes a movable pinion cylinder mounted on a rotary output shaft so that the movable pinion cylinder is slidable on the rotary output shaft a by predetermined distance together with an overrunning clutch. The movable pinion cylinder has the front end portion formed into a pinion which is engaged with an engine ring gear, and the rear end portion formed into a clutch inner forming a part of the overrunning clutch. The starter further includes a cylindrical cap connected to the front end of the rotary output shaft to cover the front end portion of the rotary output shaft, a protrusion extended from the center of the end face of the cap toward the end face of the rotary output shaft, the protrusion having an air hole extended along the axial line thereof, and a hole formed in the end face of the rotary output shaft at the center to receive the protrusion.

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 be movable in the axial direction so as to mesh with the clutch mechanism (15), and a solenoid switch (25) which has a moving member (35) which pushes the output rotating shaft (17) in the axial direction by electromagnetic force and which causes a movable contact (39) to contact a stationary contact (40) and supply current to the motor. The rear portion of the output rotating shaft (17) and the front portion of the moving body (35) are both inserted into the cylindrical bore of the armature rotating shaft (3) from opposite ends. The rear bracket (7) of the motor is made from molded plastic.

Abstract: A starter used to start an engine of a vehicle includes an electric motor generating rotational force. The motor has an integrally formed cup-shaped casing one end of which is open, an armature disposed within the casing, a disk (or face) type commutator supported on a rotary shaft of the armature, and brush means having brushes pressed against a brush slide contact surface of the disk type commutator and a brush supporting member made of a resin material which retains the brushes axially slidably and which is rigidly secured to the closed end wall of the casing. Since the starter employs a disk type commutator, it is possible to accommodate the brushes in the brush supporting member together with the associated springs in one unit. Accordingly, the structure is simplified and the number of required parts is reduced considerably. Thus, assembly is extremely easy.

Abstract: A starter motor of the so-called overhang type in which a portion of the pinion 109 which has no teeth slides through a bearing 119 provided in the front bracket, comprises an output shaft 105 composed of a first portion 105a on which a helical spline 107 is formed, a second portion 105b having a smaller diameter than that of the first portion on which an inner member 108 of an over-running clutch 104 slides together with a bearing 110 provided on an inner surface thereof, and a third portion having a smaller diameter than that of the second portion on which a stopper member 113 for restricting an axial slide movement of a pinion is provided and the pinion having an inner diameter of a portion thereof on which the pinion teeth are formed smaller than an inner diameter of the inner member.

Abstract: A double insulated starter motor for use with power equipment. A combination of insulating members about a motor together with various insulating members for electrically isolating the starter gear from the motor are collectively utilized to effect double insulation of a starter designed for use with power equipment, especially outdoor equipment subject to adverse environmental and operating conditions.

Abstract: A coaxial starter motor comprising a d.c. motor having a hollow rotary shaft extended forward and a planetary speed reduction gear having a sun gear disposed on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft. The starter motor comprises an over-runing clutch of which inner sleeve rotates in one direction and is provided at the inner circumference with helical splines, the over-runing clutch being disposed on the front side of the rotary shaft and rotated at a reduced speed by the planetary gear speed reduction gear. Also provided is an output sleeve mounted on the front end portion of the rotary shaft and having a pinion at its front end portion and axially movably and relatively rotatably supported by a bearing, in which helical splines formed close to the rear portion of the outer periphery is in mesh with helical splines of the inner sleeve. A solenoid switch is disposed on the rear end portion of the d. c.

Abstract: In a starting electric motor comprising: a movable pinion cylinder slidably mounted on the extension of the output shaft of the motor, the movable pinion cylinder having the front end portion formed into a pinion part, the rear end portion formed into a clutch inner part of an overrunning clutch, and the middle portion formed into a slidably supporting surface held by a first bearing fitted in the front frame, the shaft extension being supported by the front frame through the movable pinion cylinder, the movable pinion cylinder is slidably and rotatably supported on the shaft extension by a second bearing fixedly fitted in an inner cylindrical wall which is extended in the movable pinion cylinder from the clutch inner part to the middle portion with a gap relatively large between the inner cylindrical wall and the shaft extension.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a starter for starting an internal combustion engine which comprises:(a) a starter motor having a starter shaft;(b) a pinion gear splined to the starter shaft so as to be slidable along the starter shaft for connection and disconnection of the starter motor to the engine;(c) a shifting motor having a shifting shaft;(d) a sliding means helical splined to the shifting shaft for a reciprocal movement along the shifting shaft according to a rotational movement of the shifting shaft; and(e) a shift arm for transmitting the reciprocal movement of the sliding means to the pinion gear so as to move the latter for connection and disconnection of the starter motor and the engine.

Abstract: An overhang type starter is arranged such that a pinion provided at the front end of a driving shaft is provided in a position ahead of a bearing which supports the shaft rotatably. The driving shaft has an annular projection formed thereon at a position close to the pinion, the annular projection being slidably supported by a bearing. Since the driving shaft is supported by the annular projection thereof, when the shaft is advanced to its operative position, it is supported at the same point as in the case when the shaft is in a retracted position, and therefore no change occurs in the amount of overhang of the pinion. Accordingly, deflection of the driving shaft and the rotary output shaft is minimized.

Abstract: An improved vehicle reverse control system having a power circuit for a starter motor for starting an engine. The circuit may include a control element for controlling the starter motor, in combination with separate control elements for starting the engine and for controlling reverse operation, at least one of which may be located on or near the operator's handle grip. The circuit may also include an element which detects reverse operation and an element which suppresses the starter motor whenever the vehicle is operated in reverse. The circuit may also include an element for detecting when the engine is operating and an element for disabling reverse operation of the starter motor when the engine is operating. The circuit may also include elements for suppressing engine start and for suppressing reverse operation, disposed so that the starter motor may be controlled for only one of the two operations at a time.

Abstract: An engine starter motor comprises a d.c. motor and a transmission device of high reduction ratio, the d.c. motor having an output shaft connected through the transmission device to an input shaft of an engine. The transmission device includes a wave generator connected to the output shaft of the d.c. motor, an internal gear 20; 48 formed integrally with a housing of the d.c. motor, and a flexible gear 21; 45 having an output shaft connected to the input shaft of the engine and meshing with the internal gear.

Abstract: A stopper member in the form of a pin or pins or a pair of ring halves having inner teeth is fixedly supported by a thrust spline and meshes with engaging grooves having a definite length and formed on an output portion of a planet shaft to limit an axial movement of a pinion.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprises an electric motor including a yoke, an armature and a hollow armature shaft, an output shaft arranged coaxially with the armature shaft, a planet reduction gear mechanism disposed between the armature shaft and the output shaft for reducing a rotational speed of the armature shaft and rotating the output shaft at a reduced rotational speed, an electromagnetic switch having a plunger ganged with a rod for selectively coupling the output shaft to the planet reduction gear mechanism, a front bracket including an internal gear of the planet reduction gear mechanism and a bearing receiving a radial load and bolt means for securing the front bracket, the electromagnetic switch and the yoke of the motor to an engine bracket, all together.

Abstract: A starting motor is securely mounted in a holder rotatably mounted on a shaft, a pinion is secured to an output shaft of a starting motor in the holder. The holder is arranged to be rotated by an operator through a start lever from a home position to a starting position so as to engage the pinion with a ring gear securely mounted on a crankshaft. A pair of contacts are provided on the holder, and a contact is provided on the start lever so as to engage with the former contacts. The holder and the start lever are arranged to engage the latter contact with the former contacts when the holder is at the starting position and the start lever is returned to the home position to close an engine starting circuit, so that the starting motor is driven to start the engine.

Abstract: The coaxial type starter device of the present invention has a hollow rotary shaft of the armature of the d.c. motor. A rod is slidably inserted in the armature rotary shaft in its axial direction. One end of the rod is connected to a solenoid-operated switch device and the other end is adapted to push a output rotary shaft.A thick-walled portion is formed in the hollow armature rotary shaft so as to extend from the inner wall in the radial direction so that the thick-walled portion directly supports the rod or indirectly supports the rod through a sleeve bearing.

Abstract: An auxiliary rotation type starter has an electromagnetic switch for actuating a motor and an auxiliary switch for actuating the electromagnetic switch. The electromagnetic switch is provided with a current coil and a voltage coil. The current coil has a coil wound in one direction and a coil wound in the opposite direction, and the voltage coil has a coil wound in the one direction. One end of the current coil is connected to the auxiliary switch and the other end is connected to the motor. One end of the voltage coil is connected to the auxiliary coil and the other end is connected to the ground.

Abstract: A starting motor comprising an epicycle reduction gear, a sun gear installed at the end of the rotary shaft of a driving motor, a plurality of planet gears engaging with the sun gear, a flange for supporting the planet gears, and an internal gear having cylindrical means including an output shaft driven by the revolution of the planet gears and a gear formed on the inner peripheral face thereof, the gear engaging with the planet gears, and a side plate extended from the cylindrical means in the diametric direction and positioned opposite to the flange, a pinion capable of sliding on the output shaft, a bearing surface being formed on either the flange or side plate to allow the opposite contact to slide thereon and a recess filled with grease being provided in the bearing surface.

Abstract: A starter motor in which the plunger of a solenoid switch supplying power to the starter motor also drives a lever through a return spring. The lever is connected on its other end to a pinion which moves along the output shaft of the starter motor to connect it to a ring gear of an engine to be started. The return spring biases the pinion away from the ring gear. The return spring and a drive rod acting on the lever are contained in a hollow of the solenoid plunger.

Abstract: A ground cable system for the electrical circuit of a vehicle including a battery having first and second terminals, an ignition switch electrically coupled to the first terminal and having a start contact and having a start position in which the start contact is electrically coupled to the first terminal, a ground, and a starting motor electrically coupled to the start contact of the ignition switch and to the ground.

Abstract: An electronically commutated coaxial starter motor for use with internal combustion engines of the type including those utilized with lawn mowers, pumps, generators, automobiles and the like.

Abstract: A starter with a gear reduction mechanism including an internal ring gear formed of synthetic resin and a reinforcing member. The internal ring gear has a cylindrical portion and a toothed portion formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. The reinforcing member is secured around an outer surface of the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: An electric starter for cranking an internal combustion engine. The starter has a solenoid which has a motor terminal. The motor terminal is connected to the electric cranking motor of the starter by conductor means which are located entirely internally of the starter. The solenoid has a battery terminal that is provided with a threaded bore that is adapted to receive a connector bolt.

Abstract: A starter drive for an internal combustion engine in which the starter drive is mounted within the starter housing, and an ignition key activated solenoid for energizing the motor of the starter drive is contained in a solenoid housing that is attached to the starter housing and is integral therewith. The solenoid has a solenoid coil and an annular armature, and upon the energization of the solenoid coil by the connection of such solenoid coil to the battery through the ignition key, the annular armature, which is normally spring biased away from the solenoid coil, is magnetically attracted thereto. This movement of the annular armature establishes an electrical contact between a first terminal, which is connected to the battery, and a second contact which is connected to the starter motor.

Abstract: A driving pinion fixed on the shaft of a first motor meshes with a toothed wheel mounted to rotate freely with respect to the casing of the starter and which includes a bore having helical grooves with which cooperate corresponding grooves made on the periphery of the shank of an actuator pinion which is engagable with the crown wheel of a combustion engine. The spur toothing of the actuator pinion are in mesh with the inner toothing of a bore of another pinion which is actuated by a second motor. Resilient members are provided to normally urge the actuator pinion out of engagement with the crown wheel of the combustion engine.

Abstract: An engine starter has a plunger electromagnetically actuated by holding and attracting coils to move a pinion toward a ring gear on the engine and also to move a first movable contact on the plunger towards first and second stationary contacts to be electrically connected together by the first movable contact to electrically energize a starter motor. A relay is provided and has normally open contacts electrically connected in series to a power source and the connection between the holding and attracting coils. The relay coil is connected in series to a starter switch and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is formed by a normally closed switch having a third stationary contact connected to the relay coil, and a bimetallic element carrying a second movable contact grounded through the bimetallic element.

Abstract: An improved engine starter has a DC motor with a rotor shaft drivingly connected to an output shaft by a planetary reduction gear, the sun gear of the reduction gear being formed on the outer surface of the rotor shaft and the ring gear of the reduction gear being located on the inner surface of the yoke of the DC motor. The improvement comprises the yoke having a support portion integrally formed thereon which rotatably supports a one-piece end of the output shaft which is connected to the rotor shaft. Preferably, the yoke is formed by deep drawing of mild steel. A dust preventing member forms a labyrinth seal around the rotor shaft and prevents dust from entering the motor from the reduction gear.

Abstract: A starter motor includes a housing; an armature shaft having front and rear opposite ends mounted in the housing; armature laminations mounted on the armature shaft; a field coil assembly for causing rotation of the armature shaft, the field coil assembly including three series-connected coils and a shunt coil, all positioned in the housing in surrounding relation to the armature laminations; an inertia style drive mounted on the armature shaft forward of the armature laminations and including a pinion gear for engaging with an engine flywheel during rotation of the armature shaft; a center plate connected to the housing and mounted on the armature shaft between the inertia style drive and the armature laminations; a first ball bearing assembly for mounting the center plate on the armature shaft; a second ball bearing assembly for mounting the front and/or rear ends of the armature shaft in the housing; an oil cap connected to the housing at the front end thereof for providing lubrication of the armature shaf

Abstract: A starter drive for engagement with the engine ring gear of an internal combustion engine for starting the internal combustion engine. The starter drive has a housing with a cavity formed therein, an electromagnet fixedly connected with the housing adjacent the cavity, a motor driven shaft extending through the electromagnet into the cavity, a first case connected to the motor driven shaft by a helical spline, an armature movably interconnected with the first case and engageable with the electromagnet, a second case movably interconnected with the first case but rotatably driven thereby, at least one biasing element interposed the first and second case, and a pinion gear rotatably driven by the second case through a one-way clutch, the pinion gear being selectively engaged with the engine ring gear to start the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An electric starter comprising a base plate supporting the housing of its electric motor and the yoke of its contactor, wherein the base plate has a central bore in which is placed a bearing maintained in position by means of a disc of plastics material moulded over the plate and which further constitutes the outer ring gear of an epicycloidal reduction gear placed between the electric motor and the shaft of the starter actuator. The disc may further include a lateral lug constituting support for the pin of the actuator lever. A flange made around the ring may form a seal between the housing of the electric motor and the base plate. The invention is more particularly applicable to electric starters for internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A multi-function starter comprises a prime shaft to be rotated by a driving means and having a cylindrical recess at its one end, a pinion to be rotated by the prime shaft thereby driving a ring gear of an engine, an intermediate shaft being slidable in the axial direction to be fitted into the cylindrical recess of the prime shaft for rotation along with the prime shaft and an actuating means for moving the intermediate shaft in the axial direction to selectively engage a gear wheel fitted to the intermediate shaft with a gear wheel for an auxiliary load device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved starter for an internal combustion engine comprising a reinforced support made of plastic or metal which is not fully rigid. A metal shell covers the nose element of the support so that said shell absorbs the stresses to which the support is subjected. The shell comprises a flange which is fixed to the base plate of the starter by the screws which mount the starter to the casing of the engine. For this purpose, bushings are disposed between the flange of the shell and the metal base plate of the starter so that the non-rigid support is not subjected to the compressive stresses exerted by the screws. The invention is more particularly applicable to the automobile industry.

Abstract: A reduction gear type D.C. starter motor for an internal combustion engine including a planetary type reduction gear system mounted in a front bracket at a faucet joint portion between it and a rear bracket, the rear bracket and the yoke being integrally formed.

Abstract: Described is a method of starting an electric starting motor for an internal combustion engine. The motor shaft has a pinion at the shaft end for meshing with a ring gear provided to the engine. The pinion is shifted by a shift lever into a position meshing with the ring gear, after which the starting motor is excited for causing rotation of the ring gear and thereby starting the engine. According to the invention, until the time the pinion engages the ring gear, brush means of the starting motor are shifted away from the electrically neutral axis towards pole sides of the permanent magnet of the motor where the main magnetic field produced by the magnet is strengthened by the armature-reaction magnetic fluxes. After the pinion is engaged with the ring gear, said brush means are returned again to their positions on said neutral axis.

Abstract: A starter motor housing comprising a tubular housing formed by an annular wall having a thickened wall portion adjacent the stator winding of the starter motor. The stator cores abut against and are secured to the inner periphery of the thickened wall portion to increase the flux path and, thus, the effective flux energy produced by the stator windings. However, the thickened wall portion is disposed intermediate radially reduced wall end portions to reduce the weight and size of the motor housing. Preferably, the tubular housing is an iron casting.

Abstract: A starter apparatus comprises a D.C. motor, a solenoid actuator, a hollow sleeve having at one end thereof a pinion and a one way clutch. A torque of an armature of the D.C. motor is transmitted through the one way clutch to the hollow sleeve and further transmitted to a ring gear of an engine, which is engaged with a pinion of the hollow sleeve, thereby performing a start up of the engine. The engagement or disengagement between the pinion and the ring gear is carried out by means that the solenoid actuator reciprocates only the hollow sleeve through a shift lever.

Abstract: An engine automatic control system for vehicles is adapted to automatically stop the engine when the vehicle motion is arrested, to automatically start the engine in response to operation of a starting mechanism for effecting start of the vehicle, and to maintain the engine rotation after start of the vehicle in dependence upon change of the level of speed pulses from a speed sensor assembly. The control system is arranged to be ineffective in its function for automatic stop of the engine when the speed sensor assembly is inoperative to maintain the engine rotation under the operative condition of the control system.

Abstract: A turning gear arrangement for a turbomachine such as a large steam driven turbine-generator is disclosed. The turning gear arrangement includes a prime mover system which generates high starting torque for rolling the rotor of the turbine-generator over a narrow low speed range and which provides a lower, substantially constant torque over a wider high speed range. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a drive gear mounted on the turbine motor shaft; a fixed gearing system through which drive torque is transmitted to the rotor shaft; and a prime mover having an electrical motor to provide high initial torque to start and maintain rotation of the turbine over a low speed range, and a hydraulic turbine providing lower, substantially constant torque to maintain rotation over a higher speed range.

Abstract: A two stage positive shift starter drive system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A pair of electrical switches are sequentially actuated by an actuator solenoid engaging the starter drive's pinion gear with the engine's ring gear. The first switch actuated after a predetermined displacement of the solenoid's armature applies electrical power to the cranking motor through a resistance connected in series with the cranking motor and connected in parallel with the solenoid pull-in coil. The resistance reduces the electrical power applied to the cranking motor and the potential across the solenoid pull-in coil thereby reducing the rotational speed and the engagement force applied to the pinion gear. The end of the armature travel closes the second switch applying full power to the cranking motor permitting normal cranking of the engine with the pinion gear fully engaged with the ring gear.

Abstract: A starter drive for internal combustion engines is disclosed. The starter drive is mounted within the starter housing and connected to the motor driven shaft. The shaft has a screw thread formed thereon near the armature of the starter and a cylindrical end portion. A screw sleeve member cooperatively engages the threaded screw of the motor driven shaft. A ring armature member is centrally mounted to the threaded screw member. A unidirectional clutch member connects the screw sleeve member, the ring armature member and the drive pinion gear. An engaging member holds the ring armature member to the starter housing when the drive pinion is advanced axially along the motor driven shaft by the rotation of the motor when the motor is activated. Thus, the drive pinion engages the engine ring gear such that the drive pinion is held in mesh with the engine ring gear and the total motor torque is transmitted to the engine ring gear until the motor is deactivated.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for use in a high speed starter motor/turbine assembly wherein the elements thereof must be extremely well balanced. Opposing clutch elements are unitary rigid structures without moving parts. The starter motor rotor and one of the clutch elements are assembled as a unitary balanced structure for high speed rotation and axial movement to engage or disengage the other clutch element and its associated balanced turbine load.

Abstract: The invention pertains to electric starter motors for internal combustion engines, particularly motors used with smaller engines such as employed to power lawn mowers, snow blowers, lawn tractors and similar equipment. The motor housing is formed of a dielectric material as to be doubly electrically insulated for protection against electrical shock, the motor casing features simplify assembly of the field coil within the casing, and the motor armature shaft portion and starter pinion shaft portion are formed as two components, rather than the usual one piece, permitting separate heat treatment and eliminating the need for shaft straightening after hardening as required when the armature and pinion shaft are homogeneously formed.

Abstract: The invention pertains to electric starters for internal combustion engines, and in particular, to electric starters for small engines such as used with yard equipment, for instance, lawn tractors, snow blowers lawnmowers, and the like wherein the starter includes a pinion gear having cushioning means associated therewith which is of a variable characteristic such that soft cushioning is initially produced to protect the initial engagement of the pinion gear with the engine flywheel teeth, and stiffer cushioning occurs during high torque transmission during engine cranking. Preferably, the resiliency of cushioning achieved is proportional to the radius of contact between the cushioning means and the starter pinion gear.