Abstract: A starter for a general purpose engine has a starting motor with an armature shaft disposed in axial alignment with the engine crankshaft. The armature shaft is coupled via a planetary gear set to an intermediate shaft, also in axial alignment with the engine crankshaft, which is coupled to the engine crankshaft via an overrunning clutch. This clutch permits the engine crankshaft to overrun the intermediate shaft after the engine is started. Having a pull rope wound thereon, a starting reel is rotatably and coaxially supported over the intermediate shaft. A centrifugal clutch normally holds the starting reel disconnected from the engine crankshaft and, upon rotation of the starting reel as a result of exertion of a manual pull on the pull rope, drivingly connects the starting reel to the engine crankshaft.

Abstract: A manually operated gear shift mechanism for a motorcycle, or the like, includes a cable-driven pulley system operative to move a clutch to alternate operative positions in a power transmission system. The cables are arranged such that one is in tension regardless of the direction of rotation of the pulleys. The handle for operating the pulleys carries a releasable locking mechanism operative to secure the pulleys and, concomitantly, the clutch in their respective operative positions.

Abstract: In an overhung type starting electric motor, a pinion part of a movable pinion cylinder is made smaller in inside diameter than a clutch inner part and a cylindrical part thereof, and a stepped part is provided between a helical spline part and the small diameter part of a rotary shaft in such a manner that a very small gap is formed between the stepped part and the inner cylindrical wall of the clutch inner part of the movable pinion cylinder, and a very small gap is formed also between the small diameter part of the rotary shaft and the inner cylindrical wall of the pinion part of the movable piston cylinder. A misalignment preventing ring is fitted in the clutch outer of an overrunning clutch to be slidable on the stepped part.

Abstract: In the present invention, a clutch plate is attached to a crankshaft; revolving-field poles are fixed on this clutch plate; and a magnetic gap is provided between the outer peripheral section of a pair of field cores which hold field coils, and the inner peripheral section of the revolving-field poles. Since a clutch plate material suitable for the accomplishment of clutch function can be selected, it is possible to improve the reliability of the clutch and to avoid giving a heat effect to the revolving-field poles. Furthermore, decreasing the size and weight of the fixed magnetic field can reduce parts cost as well as assembly cost.

Abstract: A throttle lever holding mechanism is disclosed in which an intermediate locking member is provided for at least one of first and second throttle levers. The throttle lever is moved in an operational direction so that the throttle lever is kept under a predetermined operational condition by the intermediate locking member. The throttle lever is further moved in the operational direction so that the locking of the throttle lever by the intermediate locking member is released.

Abstract: A construction of a starter motor for taking off the power to the outside, is operable wherein the power from the starter motor can be taken off as the externally operating section other than the power of an engine. The starter motor includes a first reduction mechanism having a motor shaft as an input shaft. The motor shaft transmits power to a coaxial output shaft. A pinion gear is provided on the engine side of the first output shaft in association with a ring gear. A second reduction mechanism utilizes the first output shaft as an input shaft, to transmit power to a second output shaft. The second output shaft is rotatably coupled onto the first output shaft and coaxial therwith, to permit the power to be taken off to the outside near the pinion gear. The first and second reduction mechanisms each include a sun gear provided on the input shaft, an internal gear and a plurality of planetary gears provided between the sun gear and the internal gear and being mesh with the both gears.

Abstract: The starter motor includes a first output shaft with a pinion gear in mesh with a ring gear of an engine. A first reduction mechanism outputs power from a motor shaft through the first output shaft. A second output shaft and a second reduction mechanism output power from the first output shaft through the second output shaft. The second output shaft is rotatably coupled onto the first output shaft and made coaxial therewith. Power can be taken out on the side of the pinion gear. Both output shafts are associated with each other through a stop member for regulating relative displacement in the axial directions, so that thrusts in directions opposite to the above directions different from each other, which have not been borne, can be borne by each of the output shafts on the other side, respectively.

Abstract: A cylindrical yoke 3 of a d.c. motor of an engine starter having a planet reduction gear mechanism and a bracket 5 fitted on an extension of the yoke without relative rotation therebetween is formed integrally on an inner surface of the extension with internal gear teeth 4 of the planet reduction gear mechanism, which mesh with a solar gear 6 formed integrally on an armature shaft 2 of the motor through planet gears 7 supported by a flange 10 of an output shaft 11 of the starter. The motor is separated from the planet reduction gear mechanism by a flange 3b, 22 arranged therebetween and supporting a bearing 16 which supports the armature shaft.

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: A small metal shield is disclosed which lengthens the life of the rectangular springs in starter drives for internal combustion engines. The shield has a rectangular face which slightly overlaps the edges of the spring and a projection which seats the shield in the spring between the end of the spring and the cylindrical roller. The projection may be perpendicular to the face or at a slight angle from the perpendicular.

Abstract: A recoil apparatus has a drum rotatably disposed within a casing. A peripheral groove is formed in the drum in such a manner as to open in the outer periphery of the drum. A recoil spring member is formed into a spiral shape and is received within the peripheral groove, with its inner end being secured to the drum and its outer end extending from the casing to the outside. A pulling knob is mounted on the outer end of the recoil spring member.

Abstract: A starting apparatus for small-sized engines which is composed of a combination of a cell motor and a recoil starter is disclosed. A rotor gear is loosely fitted on a support shaft of the recoil starter on which a reel is supported, and the rotor gear is also meshed with a pinion gear constituting a reduction gear of the cell motor which is disposed side by side with the recoil starter. When the recoil starter is used, the rotor gear is rotated through the reel. When either the cell motor or the recoil starter is actuated, the rotor gear is rotated only in the forward direction by the function of a one-way clutch (including a ratchet type one-way clutch), whereas, when the reel or the pinion gear rotates reversely, they race but do not cause the rotor gear to rotate by the function of the one-way clutches. The forward rotation of the rotor gear is used to drive a pulley which is secured to the crankshaft, thus starting the engine.

Abstract: In order to reduce the space requirements of an internal combustion engine the starter apparatus therefor includes an axially elongated intermediate gear shaft containing gears at each end, one of which meshes with the starter motor pinion and the other of which meshes with the ring gear on the crankshaft.

Abstract: Centrifugally disengageable engine starter gearing for selectively starting an engine having a starting gear.

Abstract: A transmission unit for self-propelled vehicles, comprising two pulleys, i.e., a driving pulley and a driven pulley, with variable pitch, connected to each other by a transmission belt, is provided with an engine start-up device with an actuation group acting downstream the driven pulley; such an actuation group causes, at start-up time, the jockey element to act on the transmission belt, for the purpose of recovering possible slack of the belt; furthermore, lock elements, disengageable by centrifugal force, are provided, which mutually constrain, at start-up time, the two half-pulleys which compose the driven pulley, for the purpose of preventing the belts from wedging themselves between the same half-pulley.

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: Centrifugally disengageable engine starter gearing 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 an annular or circular recess with an inclined or conical surface therein, a driving clutch member mounted to the sleeve, mutually engageable clutch teeth on the driving and driven clutch members, a barrel housing having an open end and being at least partly fitted over the driving and driven clutch members, an abutment confining the driving and driven clutch members within the housing, a resilient member biasing the driving and driven clutch members into mutual engagement, and a radially inwardly extending shoulder on the driving clutch member adjacent the circular recess.

Abstract: A reduction starter employing a planetary gear type reduction gear mechanism having an outer ring gear displaceable radially of a common axis of a central sun gear and an output shaft carrying planet gears for revolution about the common axis. The outer ring gear is formed by an internally toothed ring gear elastically deformable to assure uniform distribution of load torque to all planet gears. The tooth root bending stress of the ring gear is substantially equalized to the outer periphery bending stress thereof to improve the load performance of the planetary gear type reduction gear mechanism and thus reduce the size and weight of the starter. The outer ring gear has an outer rim of a radial thickness t and a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth each having a height h. The rim thickness t is determined to'fall with a range of from +.ltoreq.0.8 h to +.gtoreq.0.4 h.

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 radially movable centrifugal flyweight members circumferentially spaced in a circular recess that contains individually formed flyweight guides that cooperate therewith to prevent excessive circumferential displacement of the flyweights during their radial movement. The method of forming flyweight guides from the clutch housing is also disclosed.

Abstract: A starting handle for internal combustion engines. A hand crank and a starting shaft are connected to an appropriate element of the engine to be started. A driving mechanism is provided between the hand crank and the starting shaft, so that when the hand crank is turned in the starting direction, the hand crank drives the starting shaft and thereby the engine element. The driving mechanism is released in the event of kickback of the starting shaft and movement thereof in the direction opposite to the direction of starting. A weighted element is provided independent of the engine and is mounted coaxially with respect to the starting shaft. The weighted element is held by gravity in a vertical position and, in the event of kickback, is restrained from movement from the vertical to cause the driving mechanism between the hand crank and the starting shaft to be released.

Abstract: A reverse drive for small vehicles in which an output shaft of a starter motor disposed independently of a driving internal combustion engine can be coupled to a power transmission system between the internal combustion engine and a rear wheel in such a way that the rear wheel is driven in the reverse direction. The starter motor may be capable of normal and reverse rotations, the normal rotation of the starter motor being transmitted to the internal combustion engine through a starting clutch, and the reverse rotation of said starter motor being transmitted to the power transmission system through a reverse clutch. Otherwise, the starter motor may be capable of rotating only in one direction. In this case, the output of the starter motor is transmitted to the output side of the power transmission system through a reverse transmission line while the power transmission system is interrupted.

Abstract: A starter drive for cranking an engine. The starter drive has a pinion. A bushing is press fitted to the bore of the pinion. The pinion and bushing are supported for rotation and sliding movement by a shaft or sleeve. A thin film of grease is located between the inner surface of the bushing and the outer surface of the shaft or sleeve. The inner surface of the bushing has a plurality of contaminant collecting grooves. The grooves collect the contaminants to thereby prevent grease degradation and wear out.

Abstract: Engine starter gearing of the positive shift dentil type clutch with a resilient member to absorb the torsional loads on the starter gearing upon its engagement, the starter gearing having a sleeve member with a straight spline on its inside surface and a helical spline on its outside surface whereby torque is imposed on a driving clutch member, the driving clutch member having an inside surface with a notch therein, a lock ring being positioned in the notch and engaging the sleeve member to fixedly position the sleeve member with respect to the driven clutch member.

Abstract: A kick type starting device for an engine, comprising a drive clutch body operatively connected to a kick axle of a kick pedal such that when the kick pedal is actuated engaging thrust and rotary torque are given to the driving clutch body, and a driven clutch body provided on an engine crank shaft and brought into engagement with the driving clutch body when the latter is advanced by the engaging thrust, wherein when the kick pedal returns to its resting position in a state where the driving and driven clutch bodies are engaged, a cam mechanism provided between the kick axle and the driving clutch body is actuated to cause the driving clutch body to be disengaged from the driven clutch body so as to cut the transmission of the reverse torque from the crank shaft to the kick axle.

Abstract: A manual starter crank has an integrated safety device providing protection against backfiring during starting of an internal combustion engine. The manual starter crank has a starter shaft which, when turning in a starting direction, engages the free end of a cam shaft of the internal combustion engine. The safety device is integrated into the casing of the manual starter crank and includes a ratchet with a pivot axis which is approximately parallel to the starter shaft. In the engaged position of the ratchet, a free end thereof engages an abutment surface on the starter shaft, whereby the manual starter crank is connected in torque transmitting relation with the engine cam shaft when the crank is turned in a starting direction. The safety device includes a disengaging bushing surrounding the starter shaft and which is mounted on a bearing support by a one-way clutch and presents a disengaging pin in the path of movement of the ratchet.

Abstract: The device comprises a first pinion to be coupled to the motor shaft of the engine, and a pair of racks engaging opposite sides of the first pinion. A pair of springs, each engage one of the two racks for moving the racks to start the motor. The direction of thrust of the first of the springs against its rack is opposite to the direction of thrust of the second of the springs against its rack. The second pinion engages the two racks and is rotated by a manual start-up device to load the springs so that, when released, the springs can move the racks to start the motor.

Abstract: Centrifugally disengageable engine starter gearing 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 with an inclined or conical surface therein, a driving clutch member mounted to the sleeve, mutually engageable clutch teeth on the driving and driven clutch members, a barrel housing having an open end and being at least partly fitted over the driving and driven clutch members, an abutment confining the driving and driven clutch members within the housing, a resilient member biasing the driving and driven clutch members into mutual engagement, a radially inwardly extending shoulder on the driving clutch member adjacent the circular recess. A plurality of centrifugal flyweight members are annularly arranged in the circular recess.

Abstract: Centrifugally disengageable engine starter gearing selectively starting an engine having a starting gear.

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 rope-operated recoil starter particularly suitable for use with lawn mowers having the starter rope handle mounted upon the mower handle. The starter structure is the Bendix type having an engine flywheel engagable gear axially translatable upon the rope pulley. A friction brake member associated with the gear produces the gear axial translation. Lost motion means automatically operate the friction brake for producing a delay in gear translation with respect to pulley rotation preventing inadvertent gear-flywheel engagement due to mower handle movement. Additionally, a positive lockout associated with the friction brake member prevents engagement of the gear with the flywheel except during rotation of the rope pulley in an engine cranking direction. The rope pulley is provided with a rope storage ledge for accommodating the extra rope necessary to permit the rope handle to be mounted on the mower handle, and to provide extra rope for cranking, if desired.

Abstract: A combined manual and power starting device for a gasoline engine which may be started by rotating the crankshaft thereof, the starting device consisting of a pair of rotary drive members operable respectively by manual and power devices, the manual device consisting of a pulley and a rope wrapped around the pulley to be pulled to turn the pulley in one direction to start the engine, so that the pulley cannot be turned by any device other than the rope without unwinding the rope therefrom, a power train connecting the power drive member to the crankshaft through a primary overrunning clutch, and a power train connecting the manual drive member to the crankshaft through the primary clutch, and also a secondary overrunning clutch, the secondary clutch being in series with the primary clutch but not in the power train from the power drive member to the crankshaft.

Abstract: Centrifugally disengageable engine starter gearing selectively starting an engine having a starting gear.

Abstract: A mechanical starter is formed by two disc-shaped elements coaxial with e other and rotatable with respect to each other to which at least two strips of elastomeric material, coplanar with each other, are fixed through their ends. One of the two disc-shaped elements is secured to an envelope of the internal combustion engine while the other disc-shaped element rotates with respect to the first. Apparatus is provided for deforming the strips of elastomeric material to thereby store energy in the strips and for delivering the stored energy to the shaft of the engine.

Abstract: A top mounting pull-rope recoil starter as might be employed on a vertical crankshaft small internal combustion engine for rotary lawnmower or similar applications. The pull-rope pulley connects to a ratchet wheel through a twist-lock coupling and the spring chamber formed within the ratchet wheel and pulley is sealed against dust by a rotating seal formed between the pulley and starter housing. The ratchet wheel is selectively engaged by engine flywheel supported pawls, which have integral leaf springs normally biasing them into engagement with the ratchet wheel. When the engine is running, however, the centrifugal force generated by the rotating flywheel on the pawls moves the pawls against the bias of the integral leaf springs out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. The blower housing and starter housing are coupled together by a twist lock arrangement, and securely fastened together by a fastener, such as a threaded screw or a rivet passing through the starter housing into the blower housing.

Abstract: A device for starting small internal combustion engines using a hand-held power drill for rotating the starting device. The device consists of cup attached to the crankshaft of the engine. The upwardly facing open end of the cup has two diametrically opposing slots therein. For rotating the cup there is provided a spindle, one end of which is insertable in the chuck of the drill, the other end having a depending cylindrical shell attached which is fitted inside the cup, the shell having and engagement pin passing diametrically through the wall of the shell and providing a projecting portion on each side to engage the slots in the cup.

Abstract: A device for manually starting an internal combustion engine includes a rotatably supported shaft, a hand crank, and a safety mechanism operatively coupling the hand crank and shaft and adapted to interrupt the transmission of power therebetween in the event the engine produces a kickback of the shaft. The device includes a closed casing which is filled with a frost-proof lubricant such as lubricating grease, the safety mechanism being provided in the closed casing.

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 starter for internal combustion engines having a stationary box-shaped envelope enclosing a rotatable disc-shaped body. A strip of elastomeric material having its ends secured to the stationary envelope crosses the rotatable disc-shaped body and engages pins projecting therefrom. A manually rotatable handle is provided to rotate the rotatable body, thus winding and stretching the elastomer strip. Means are provided to release the loaded elastomeric strip and thus rotate the engine to start it.

Abstract: An engine starter comprises a d.c. motor, a pinion secured to one end of the rotary shaft of the d.c. motor, a rotary flange having a ring gear which is always interlocked with the pinion to be driven, a flywheel which is on one hand, connected to the rotary flange through rotational force one-way coupling clutch and is, on the other hand, firmly secured to the crank shaft of the engine, an air motor connected to the other end of the rotary shaft of the d.c. motor and an air tank communicated to the air motor through a piping, an electromagnetic valve being interposed in the piping.

Abstract: A starting device for gasoline engines which may be started by spinning the crankshafts thereof, and comprising a torque transmission device consisting of a male friction cone adapted to be fixed in and turned axially by an ordinary electric drill device, and a matching conical female cup adapted to be affixed concentrically to an engine crankshaft and to receive the male cone therein so that rotation of the latter rotates the former to start the engine. A novel connection of the cone to the electric drill permits misalignment of the drill axis with the crankshaft, and damps the application of rotary force to the cup to avoid shocks to the system.

Abstract: A safety system for a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission, a shift lever movable into select positions for allowing the transmission to assume the corresponding gear conditions thereof, stepped operation surfaces, and a stop pin movable with the shift lever and slidably engageable with the stepped operation surfaces for retaining the shift lever at one of the select positions. A position detector switch is provided which connects the starter motor of the vehicle with an electric power source. The position detector switch includes at least one stationary contact member mounted to one of the stepped operation surfaces, and a single movable contact member mounted to the stop pin at the portion engageable with the stepped operation surfaces.

Abstract: A rotor rotating device connected to an oil supply system for turning the rotor of a rotary machine, which rotor is fitted with a gear wheel, the device including: a hydraulic motor; a hub mounted to be rotated by the motor; a pinion mounted on the hub and dimensioned to mesh with the gear wheel; a screw shift drive operatively associated with the pinion for permitting movement of the pinion in the direction of the axis of rotation of the hub between a first position in which the pinion is disengaged from the gear wheel and a second position in which the pinion meshes with the gear wheel; a compression spring disposed to urge the pinion toward the first position; and a piston connected to the pinion and arranged to be actuated by oil under pressure from the oil supply system for moving the pinion into the second position.

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 starter comprises a flywheel relatively rotatably mounted on the engine crank shaft and an electromagnetically operated clutch for selectively connecting and disconnecting the flywheel and the crank shaft. The rotational energy of the engine started by any conventional starter is stored in the flywheel which keeps rotating when the flywheel is disconnected from the crank shaft, and the stored energy in the rotating flywheel can be used to crank the engine.

Abstract: A recoil starter mechanism (10) mounted in axial alignment with the flywheel (12) of an internal combustion engine has a drive plate (16) with clutch teeth (34) which moves axially when rotated to engage clutch teeth (17) on the flywheel and rotate the flywheel (12) to start the engine. The drive plate (16) is driven axially and rotationally by ramps (30) on the starter pulley (14) when the starter rope (24) is pulled. A brake plate (18) frictionally engaging the starter housing (13) has arms (37) engaging the drive plate to resist rotation of the drive plate (16), thereby forcing the drive plate to move axially as the starter pulley (14) is rotated.

Abstract: An electric starter apparatus for small internal combustion engines wherein engagement of a starter pinion gear with engine flywheel gear teeth is produced by the axial translation of a nut member mating with helices formed on the motor shaft. An elastomer drive and cushion member is interposed between the nut and pinion gear wherein axial displacement of the pinion gear is through the elastomer, as is the transmission of torque to the gear. The elastomer includes an annular axially extending projection received within an annular recess defined in the pinion gear whereby the recess partially confines the elastomer during torque transmission and engine cranking, and concentrically locates the elastomer relative to the motor shaft.

Abstract: A mechanical starter for internal combustion engines in which the energy necessary to start the internal combustion engine is provided by elastomeric elements which are stretched by winding them around a nucleus composed of a plurality of mutually contacting washers is disclosed.

Abstract: A starter drive for internal combustion engines. 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 screw thread 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 pinion gear. An engaging member holds the ring armature member to the starter housing when the pinion gear is advanced axially along the motor driven shaft by the rotation of the motor when the motor is activated. Thus, the pinion gear engages the engine ring gear such that the pinion gear is held in mesh with the ring gear and the total motor torque is transmitted to the ring gear until the motor is deactivated.

Abstract: An apparatus combination for improving the starting mode of a starter for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The combination comprises a supporting means effective to support the starting motor armature, both for rotary movement about an axis within the field winding and for axial movement in response to the axially directed magnetic forces of the winding. Friction means are employed to sequentially engage each of two conical surfaces carried by the member to be driven by the starter motor, such sequential engagement being in response to the axial movement of the armature. Means are also disclosed to assist the frictional engagement between the conical surfaces of the driven member by use of a resilient ring which allows full metal-to-metal contact between the friction means and driven member, but also provides extended interengagement with the friction means by distortion of the ring along a tangent to the friction means.