Abstract: The starting device includes a starting pinion mounted on a thrust rod and movable between a disengaged and engaged position with an internal combustion engine; a movable switching bolt located in a solenoid; a sphere mounted at an end face of the switching bolt closest to the thrust rod; a disc and a spring device arranged between the sphere and the end face of the switching bolt, the spring device being located between the disc and the end face, and a holding device for retaining the sphere on the end face of the switching bolt.

Abstract: Centrifugally disengageable engine starter gearing for selectively starting an engine having a starting gear. The engine starter gearing includes a power shaft, a sleeve slidably secured to the power shaft, a pinion gear slidably mounted to the power shaft and movable into engagement with the starting gear, a driven clutch member secured to the pinion gear and having a circular recess therein, a driving clutch member mounted to the sleeve, and mutually engageable clutch teeth on the driving and driven clutch members. A housing having an open end and a closed end is fitted over the driving and driven clutch members. An abutment confines the driving and driven clutch members within the housing. A radially inwardly extending shoulder is located on the driving clutch member adjacent the circular recess. An annular thrust washer having an inner conical surface abuts a loose washer which abuts the radially inwardly extending shoulder.

Abstract: A rotatable flange device for mounting a starter to an engine thereby permitting ready orientation of the starter and associated connections to adapt the starter configuration to a wide variety of engines, mounting positions, and vehicles.

Abstract: A step starter for attachment to devices having small internal combustion engines of up to 15 horsepower or more having recoil-type starters includes a vertical track formed from channel stock. A trolley having a foot pedal extending therefrom is disposed in the track. A distal end of the engine starter pull cord is attached to the trolley. An operator steps on the pedal and depresses the pedal downward thereby operating the recoil starter. The track includes a mounting bracket formed to permit attachment of the step starter to a desired device.

Abstract: A universal starter motor assembly, which may be affixed to many different makes and models of internal combustion engines. A starter motor and solenoid assembly of the gear reduction type has a face plate which covers the armature gear, supports the idler gear and the outer bearing of the clutch assembly extends through the face plate. Many different styles of mounting adapters can be easily attached to the face plate and are shaped and configured to permit the starter motor assembly to be affixed to a particular style of internal combustion engine. The pinion gear of the starter motor is removable and replaceable from the exterior of the universal starter motor.

Abstract: A starter motor including an electric motor (1) having an armature (1b) balanced in terms of rotation, thereby preventing the generation of a centrifugal force and its application to a bearing (8).

Abstract: In an engine used for a portable working apparatus such as a brush cutter, there are arranged a drive gear rotated by a starter motor, and a driven gear engaging with the drive gear and connected to a crankshaft through a nonreturn clutch. The driven gear is fixed to the crankshaft until the starter motor starts the engine and released from the crankshaft after the start of the engine and after a rotational speed of the crankshaft exceeds that of the starter motor.

Abstract: A starter system for an internal combustion engine having a casing provided with a mounting circumferential surface adapted to be substantially closely fitted into an associated mounting bore provided in the engine or a transmission housing associated therewith, and a mounting flange extending radially from the casing and provided with a mounting end surface perpendicular to a longitudinal line of the output shaft of the starter system and spaced from the mounting circumferential surface along the longitudinal line. Because of the presence of the distance between the mounting end surface of the mounting flange and the mounting circumferential surface of the starter casing closely fitted into the mounting bore, the reaction force acting on the pinion is prevented from being amplified and transmitted to the mounting surfaces by means of an undesirable lever action.

Abstract: The housing has a bell-shaped end portion with an axial aperture in which the output pinion of the starter motor unit is supported for rotation and a side aperture through which the pinion can mate with a rotary member of the internal combustion engine. The side wall of the bell-shaped portion opposite the side aperture has a recess with a flat wall portion extending in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the bell-shaped portion.

Abstract: The space between a pinion and starter case in an electric starter is sealed by a flexible disk. This disk rotates on the pinion. The pinion contains a circular slot for the disk, which has a central cut-out portion in the profile of the pinion teeth, which hold the disk in place in the slot once the disk is installed. The disk is installed by lightly forcing it over the teeth on the pinion. This seal blocks path for particulate and contaminants into the interior of the starter through the space between the pinion and the starter case.

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: A starter motor is adapted to transmit through an overrunning clutch device a rotating force of an armature to a rotary output shaft to which a pinion is fitted by means of a linear spline structure so that the pinion is engageable with a ring gear connected to an engine. The rotary output shaft has a shoulder portion between a helical spline portion, which is engaged with a helical spline which in turn is formed at the inner circumference of the front part of a clutch inner member in the overrunning clutch device, and a linear spline portion to which the pinion is fitted, and a spring is disposed inside the inner diameter of the heical spline of the clutch inner member and between the helical spline of the rotary output shaft and the rear end of the pinion so that the pinion is pushed forwardly wherein the shoulder portion has a diamter smaller than the diameter of the root of the helical spline of the rotary output shaft.

Abstract: An oil-sealing structure of a motor including a bearing supporting a motor shaft, and an oil seal provided in the space between the motor shaft and a bracket and positioned close to one end of the motor shaft while separated by a predetermined distance from the bearing. An outer peripheral surface of the motor shaft faces, within the space, an inner peripheral surface of the bracket. Steps are formed on the motor-shaft outer peripheral surface and positioned between the bearing and the oil seal, with their diameter increasing in a stepped manner toward the bearing. A stepped groove is formed on the bracket inner peripheral surface and positioned between the bearing and the oil seal, with its diameter decreasing in a stepped manner toward the bearing. An oil outlet is also formed on the bracket inner peripheral surface for discharging oil which has penetrated beyond the oil seal. The structure is capable of highly secure prevention of oil penetration into 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 hollow armature 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: An inertia drive engine starter comprising an electric motor having an armature shaft provided with an axial, bottomed central bore in the front end, a slide output shaft provided with a pinion at the front end thereof and a stopper at the rear end thereof received in the bottomed central bore of the armature shaft, and an overrunning clutch for transmitting the torque of the armature shaft to the slide output shaft. Internal helical splines formed in the inner surface of the inner race of the overrunning clutch and external helical splines formed in the outer surface of the slide output shaft are engaged to transmit the torque of the armature shaft to the slide output shaft and to thrust the slide output shaft to the front when the electric motor is actuated.

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 engine starter where a pinion, which is engaged or disengaged with a ring gear of the engine to be started, is formed as an integral part of a drive shaft at an end of the drive shaft which is movable in the axial direction thereof while being rotated by an electric motor. The engine starter has no restriction of the root thickness of the pinion or the number of teeth of the pinion, and has a large gear ratio to the ring gear.

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 comprises a DC motor having a hollow armature rotation shaft, a drive force transmitting device for transmitting a drive force generated by the DC motor, the drive force transmitting device includes a planetary gear speed reducer connected to the armature rotation shaft axially slidably received in a hollow portion of the armature rotation shaft, the output rotation shaft having a helical spline portion engaged with a helical spline portion of the overrunning clutch device, a pinion mounted on a front end of the output rotation shaft to engage a ring gear of an engine and spring device, provided adjacent to a side face of said pinion, for urging said pinion forwardly.

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: An engine (10) includes a starter (28) mounted to the top portion (11a) of a crankcase (11). Further, engine (10) utilizes a flywheel (23) which has its teeth (23c) as an integral one-piece unit.

Abstract: A starting apparatus for a 4-cycle gasoline engine in which a necessary capacity of a starter motor is reduced by arranging that the engine can be started in a low revolution region of less than 350 rpm, and in which the starter motor is mounted around a starting clutch mechanism connected to a crankshaft. The starter motor is mounted to a recoil starter and connected to a rotary portion of the recoil starter in interlocking relation.

Abstract: A kick starting apparatus for a motorcycle comprises a kick lever for starting a kick operation, a kick shaft rotatably mounted to a crank case and a clutch case of the motorcycle when they are mated, a kick drive gear mounted to the kick shaft, a kick idle gear mated with the kick drive gear and rotatably connected to a drive shaft of a power transmission system of the motorcycle, and a kick shaft return spring elastically mounted to the kick shaft. The crank case is provided with an attachment boss disposed inside and near the mating face of the crank case and the boss is provided with a hole extending substantially in parallel to the kick shaft. The kick shaft return spring has a main body accommodated in the clutch case when mated with the crank case, a free end bent firmly engaged with the kick shaft, and a stationary end to be inserted into the hole formed in the attachment boss with a right angle so as to extend in parallel to the kick shaft.

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 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 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: A centrifugally disengageable engine starter gear of the positive shift type that has a clutch to provide for driving and indexing of the starter gear, an internal mechanism keeps the clutch teeth in engagement during the indexing function, and a centrifugal separator separates the clutch teeth in an overrunning condition. The separator includes a plurality of flyweight members disposed in a like plurality of flyweight recesses provided in a driven member of the clutch. Radial displacement of the plurality of flyweight members axially displaces a thrust washer to separate the clutch teeth. A projection extending longitudinally from each web which separates the flyweight recesses prevents the flyweight members from disengaging from the flyweight recesses during an overrunning mode.

Abstract: A starter drive for an internal combustion engine having a clutch to provide rotary torque from a starter motor to a pinion gear connectable to a gear associated with an engine. The clutch has means for indexing the pinion gear to engage the gear associated with the engine, means for maintaining the teeth of the clutch engaged during the indexing function, means for automatically separating the clutch teeth when the engine starts and for maintaining separation of the teeth as long as the rotational speed of the pinion gear is greater than a predetermined speed. The starter drive includes two serially arranged resilient members between a driven clutch member and the sleeve on which the starter drive is slidably mounted. The housing is resiliently suspended between the two resilient members.

Abstract: A starter pinion shifting arrangement comprising a solenoid switch having a hook which can be pulled by a plunger which can be electromagnetically actuated through a compression spring, and a shift lever connected between the hook and a sliding thrust and a pinion movement unit slidably mounted on a support shaft and including a pinion engageable with a driven gear. A clearance is provided through which the hook can be pulled by the plunger when the hook is in a stopped position when the pinion is in a stopper abutting position in which the pinion moved by the attraction toward a stationary core of the plunger is in engagement with the driven gear. An elastic member, which is flexed through said shift lever by the compression force of the compression spring when it is flexed as the pinion movement unit is in the stopper abutting position in which the pinion is in engagement with the driven gear, may be disposed in an engagement portion between the shift lever and the pinion movement unit.

Abstract: A starter motor having a pinion engageable with a ring gear of an engine to start the engine by the motor. The pinion of the starter motor is the over-hang type which is over-hanging relative to a front housing, and the number of teeth of the pinion is seven.

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: Apparatus is described for use in a vehicle having a forward motion transmission operatively connected between an engine and the output shaft connecting the drive wheel and a reverse drive mechanism arranged to be operatively connected to the output shaft for driving the vehicle in reverse. A speed change shift device is arranged to operate the forward motion transmission and the reverse drive mechanism so as to prevent simultaneous operation of the two apparatus.

Abstract: A pinion clutch for a starter is constituted such that a spline tube having first and second helical splines on the inner and outer surfaces thereof respectively is disposed on a drive shaft, the inner surface of the spline tube is engaged to the drive shaft by the first helical spline, while the outer surface of the spline tube is engaged to a clutch-outer by the second helical spline, and rollers are disposed between a clutch-inner which is integrally formed with a pinion and the clutch-outer so that a one-way clutch function is realized. The pinion clutch comprises a meshing spring and an impact torque absorbing spring urging the spline tube and the clutch-outer in a direction in which the spline tube and the clutch-outer move away from each other are in series disposed between the spline tube and the clutch-outer. The meshing spring and the impact torque absorbing spring have individual spring constants.

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: An engine starter motor comprising a d.c. motor having an armature rotary shaft 7 an over-running clutch 31 slidably mounted on the armature rotary shaft between a forward position and a rearward position and including a clutch inner cylinder 32, and a pinion 33 mounted on the clutch inner cylinder. In order to energize the d.c. motor and slide the over-running clutch together with the pinion between the forward and rearward positions, a solenoid switch 15 and a shift lever 34 are provided. The shift lever comprises a main body 34a, a first end portion 34b operatively coupled to the solenoid switch and a second end poriton operatively coupled to the over-running clutch. The second end of the shift lever is bifurcated into two tines 34e and each of the tines is provided with a forward extension 344 forwardly extending substantially parallel to the rotary shaft and an inwardly extending engagement projection 34g for engagement with the over-running clutch.

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 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 type starter device comprises a motor having a dubular armature rotary shaft 22a, a rotary output shaft 3 partially inserted in the tubular armature shaft from its one side, the rotary output shaft being provided with a pinion 4 to be engaged with a ring gear of an engine, a driving force transmitting unit, disposed at one side of the motor and between the armature rotary shaft and the rotary output shaft, comprising a roller type overrunning clutch 30 and a planet gear wheel type speed reducing mechanism 10 for reducing a revolutional speed of the armature rotary shaft, and an electromagnetic switch, disposed at the other side of the motor, which causes the pinion of the rotary output shaft to engage with or disengage from the ring gear of the engine.

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: An overhang-type starter comprising a ball bearing fixedly fitted in a front bracket; a pinion drive shaft supported by the bearing; and a pinion formed on the shaft at the front end thereof so that the pinion is located in front of the bearing at least when the pinion is moved forward, wherein a water drain hole is provided in the ball bearing support portion of said bracket at the lowermost point of the portion and communicates with the interior of the bracket.

Abstract: In a starter having a planet gear speed reducer, an impact stress receiving mechanism is made up of components suitable in configuration for mass production including a ring gear having an internal gear engaged with a plurality of planet gears and axially extended ratchet-shaped teeth on the outer wall. A movable cylinder has teeth formed in the inner wall which are engaged with the ratchet-shaped teeth, and a straight spline gear on the outer wall which is engaged with the starter frame. The movable cylinder is axially slidably mounted on the ring gear. A rubber ring is arranged adjacent to the movable cylinder to absorb the force of moving the movable cylinder axially which is formed when impact stress is produced in the power transmission of the starter.

Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine is disclosed which comprises a motor, an output shaft operatively coupled to the armature shaft of the motor, and an axially slidable assembly splined to the output shaft and including an overrunning clutch and a hollow shaft having a pinion formed at the front end thereof.According to a first aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the pinion, the teeth of which have a top surface of substantial circumferential width, is, when the hollow shaft is at the extreme rear position, received into and supported by an annular ball bearing which is mounted to the front frame to rotatably and axially slidably support the hollow shaft. According to a second aspect, the rear side surface of the ball bearing mounted to the front frame to support rotatably the hollow shaft abuts against the front side of the clutch to stop the forward movement of the axially slidably assembly.

Abstract: A coaxial type starter includes an overrunning clutch constructed to absorb external laods applied to the output shaft 5 through the pinion 8. In a first embodiment a moving tube 14 is disposed between a clutch inner 12 and the output shaft, and has helical splines in both surfaces thereof with their respective rotational directions reversed so that the tube is driven inwardly against an elastic absorber 16 when an external load is applied. A second embodiment is provided with an output shaft stopper 12D on the clutch inner itself, so that a forwardly moving force thereof is absorbed by an elastic body disposed between a projection 12C on the clutch inner and a bearing 15.

Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine is disclosed which comprises a motor, an output shaft operatively coupled to the armature shaft of the motor, and an axially slidable assembly splined to the output shaft and including an overrunning clutch and a hollow shaft having a pinion formed at the front end thereof.According to a first aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the pinion, the teeth of which have a top surface of substantial circumferential width, is, when the hollow shaft is at the extreme rear position, received into and supported by an annular ball bearing which is mounted to the front frame to rotatably and axially slidably support the hollow shaft. According to a second aspect, the rear side surface of the ball bearing mounted to the front frame to support rotatably the hollow shaft abuts against the front side of the clutch to stop the forward movement of the axially slidably assembly.

Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine is disclosed which comprises a motor, an output shaft operatively coupled to the armature shaft of the motor, and an axially slidable assembly splined to the output shaft and including an overrunning clutch and a hollow shaft having a pinion formed at the front end thereof. At least a portion of the pinion, the teeth of which have a top surface of substantial circumferential width, is, when the hollow shaft is at the extreme rear position, received into and supported by an annular ball bearing which is mounted to the front frame to rotatably and axially slidably support the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A starter device for an internal combustion engine comprises an output shaft driven by a motor, and a hollow cylindrical assembly disposed coaxially around and axially slidably on the output shaft, which assembly includes a hollow shaft splined to the output shaft, and a hollow cylinder disposed at the front side of the hollow shaft and coupled thereto through an overrunning clutch which transmits a rotational force in one rotational direction. Integrally formed at the front end of the hollow cylinder is a pinion which is placed into driving engagement with a ring gear of the associated engine when the axially slidable assembly is slid to a front position by a shift lever which urges the clutch to move in the axial direction. According to one aspect of the present invention, an annular sealing member is interposed between the hollow cylinder and the output shaft at an axial position in front of the sleeve bearing which rotatably supports the hollow shaft around the output shaft.

Abstract: In an engine starter having a planet reduction gear mechanism including a planet gear arm formed integrally on a driven shaft of the mechanism and having a plurality of holes and a corresponding number of roller pins pressure-inserted into the holes from one side surface of the planet gear arm and rotatably supporting planet gears, respectively, each hole is chamferred in the other side surface of the planet gear arm to receive a protrusion to be formed in the other side by the pressure-insertion of the roller pin.

Abstract: At least one axial groove is formed on an output shaft which extends from an end of the output shaft to a stop ring groove and has a depth substantially equal to that of the stop ring groove to allow a stop ring fitted therein to be pushed up by a pin or the like inserted along the axial groove into the stop ring groove. A stop ring groove may be formed in a position on the output drive shaft adjacent to an end thereof, and an extension of a pinion drive shaft is provided which extends from an end face of the pinion drive shaft to form a cylindrical protective cover for a stopper fitted by the stop ring received in the groove and protruding from the end surface of the pinion drive shaft when the latter is retracted fully.

Abstract: An annular thrust ring for use in a mechanism that causes the confronting teeth of two clutch members to automatically separate when the driven clutch member has sufficient speed to overtake the drive clutch member. The annular thrust ring has a V-shaped cross-section formed by progressive dies to facilitate lower production cost.