Reduction Gearing Patents (Class 74/7E)
  • Patent number: 6142028
    Abstract: A starter is composed of an output shaft, a pinion having an outer gear slidably disposed on the output shaft, a planetary gear-type speed reduction mechanism, a one-way clutch having clutch outer linked with the planetary gears, a clutch inner linked with the output shaft and a plurality of rollers disposed between the clutch outer and clutch inner, and an alignment member, disposed around the one-way clutch. The alignment member restricts deviation of axis of the clutch outer from the axis of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Soh
  • Patent number: 6134977
    Abstract: A cranking device (10) for internal combustion engines, in which the mounting of a gear arrangement (15) with a free-wheel coupling (25), a power takeoff shaft (17) and a shifting pinion (26) as well as a starting relay (30) on a intermediate plate (21) is to be automated. It is proposed that the intermediate plate (21) and a bearing block (36) for the deflection lever (27) of the starting relay (30) form an assembly unit, on which on the one hand the gear arrangement (15) with the power takeoff shaft (17) and the shifting pinion (26) as well as the starting relay (30) can be pre-mounted, and in which on the other hand these parts can be joined together by the deflection lever (27) that is mounted in detent-lockable fashion on the bearing block (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Siegbert Wessels
  • Patent number: 6109122
    Abstract: A starter motor assembly is provided. A motor housing encloses an electric motor having a rotatable armature shaft. A planetary gear assembly is provided in a pinion housing, including planetary gears, a planet carrier, and a drive shaft. A pinion is engageable with the drive shaft for turning a flywheel of an engine. A non-load-bearing overrunning clutch assembly is provided, including an outer clutch piece removably fixed with respect to the pinion housing to be non-rotatable, and a rotatable inner clutch piece engaged with the planetary gears. Structure provided between the outer and inner clutch pieces allows rotation of the inner clutch piece in one direction and locks up the inner clutch piece in the other direction. When the starter motor assembly is energized, rotation of the armature shaft and planetary gears at a first rotational velocity rotates the inner clutch piece in the lockup direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Delco Remy International, Inc.
    Inventors: Laszlo Bori, Attila Lepres
  • Patent number: 6109121
    Abstract: An electric starter for a kick-only motorcycle which can be mounted directly on the motorcycle and connected to the kickshaft of the motorcycle, or can be used as a stand-alone starter connected to the kicker arm, where the starter drives a pinion gear which partially rotates a kicker arc gear to crank the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: Timothy L. Brown
  • Patent number: 6089112
    Abstract: A starter assembly for starting an engine is provided incorporating a mechanical diode in the drive train between the starter motor and the engine, including two coaxial plates with facing surfaces that are linked by pivoting members. The pivoting members are recessed into a facing surface of the first plate. They pivot outward under spring force from the facing surface of the first plate to engage slots in the facing surface of the second plate. This allows the first plate to drive the second plate, but also allows the second plate to overrun the first plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kelly, Robert J. Oliver, Donald A. Cech, Allan D. Hillyer
  • Patent number: 6076413
    Abstract: A starter for a motor vehicle comprises an electric motor having an output shaft which drives a coaxial starter head through a speed reducer. The speed reducer incorporates an epicyclic gear train, including a cylindrical casing within which the internally toothed crown wheel of the epicyclic gear train is mounted in rotation. The crown wheel is coupled in rotation to the casing through a friction type torque limiting device, which is interposed axially between the crown wheel and a transverse plate of the casing. The torque limiting device includes at least one annular transverse friction surface of the crown wheel, which is biased elastically into axial engagement against a reaction surface coupled in rotation to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Jacques Verot, Charles Girardot
  • Patent number: 6076412
    Abstract: In an engine starter comprising: a DC electric motor; an output shaft; a pinion unit; a reduction gear unit for transmitting an output of the electric motor to the pinion unit through the output shaft; a solenoid device for axially moving the pinion unit into mesh with a ring gear of the engine; a cover member for surrounding at least the pinion and the reduction gear unit, the cover member having an opening facing the electric motor; a substantially cylindrical member for surrounding the electric motor so as to serve as a yoke for the electric motor; a disk-shaped plate for covering an end of the electric motor facing away from the pinion unit; and an annular separator disposed between the reduction gear unit and the electric motor so as to separate them from each other, the disk-shaped plate is provided with at least one axial protrusions for engaging an inner surface of one end portion of the substantially cylindrical member so as to align the disk-shaped plate and the substantially cylindrical member with
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: MITSUBA Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nara, Michio Okada, Masaaki Ohya, Yoshikazu Sato, Shinichi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 5956996
    Abstract: In an engine starter, to facilitate the assembling of a solenoid assembly, an annular outer peripheral wall is formed in the casing for receiving the energization solenoid assembly and to secure the solenoid assembly by crimping a free end of the annular outer peripheral wall onto an axial end of the solenoid assembly, and the energization solenoid assembly is fitted into the bore defined by the annular outer peripheral wall by engaging the outer periphery of the solenoid assembly with three fingers of an assembly tool. A plurality of crimping portions are defined by a plurality of recesses provided along the circumferential direction of the free end of the annular outer peripheral wall so that the fingers of an assembling tool when inserting the solenoid assembly are not interfered by the annular outer peripheral wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nara, Masaaki Ohya, Yoshikazu Sato, Michio Okada, Shinichi Nagashima, Eiichi Kimura
  • Patent number: 5953956
    Abstract: A pinion (7A) of a starter motor for an internal combustion engine, which pinion has an outer peripheral surface formed with gear teeth (7G) and an inner peripheral surface snugly fit with a bearing (8) so that the pinion can slideably move along an output shaft (6) of the starter motor through the medium of the bearing (8). The internal combustion engine is started by the starter motor through a ring gear of the engine which gear is caused to mesh with the gear teeth of the pinion upon starting of the engine. An inner diameter of a tip end portion (7a) of the pinion at which the pinion is brought into contact with the ring gear upon meshing therewith is so dimensioned as to lie between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the bearing (8) in order to increase the strength of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 5945742
    Abstract: A starter has a motor, output shaft driven by the motor, a pinion moving body mounted on the output shaft and engageable with a ring gear, an electromagnet switch, and a rotation restricting member driven by the electromagnet switch to engage and restrict rotation of the pinion moving body until engagement of a pinion gear with the ring gear. To protect the pinion rotation restricting member, continued engagement of the rotation restricting member with the pinion moving body is released by a guide when the pinion moving body rotates a predetermined angle. Further, to protect the pinion moving body, the pinion moving body is advanced closely to the ring gear and thereafter the motor is allowed to rotate so that the pinion engages the ring gear at low rotation speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Araki, Keiichi Matsushima, Masahiro Soh
  • Patent number: 5937696
    Abstract: In an engine starter according to the present invention, an annular stopper disposed between the pinion unit and the solenoid device so as to determine the rest position of the pinion unit is formed with a tongue projecting radially outwardly from its outer periphery, and a shoulder surface defined in the gear cover so as to abut an end surface of the solenoid device and thereby determine the axial position of the solenoid device is formed with a recess for receiving the tongue of the annular stopper, with the tongue and the recess being dimensioned with respect to each other so as to allow the tongue to be resiliently interposed between the recessed part of the shoulder surface and the end surface of the solenoid device and to define a space which accommodates a corresponding deformation of the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Ohya, Koji Nara, Michio Okada, Yoshikazu Sato, Shinichi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 5905309
    Abstract: In a starter having a planetary gear reduction mechanism and a shock absorbing device, a first friction plate of the shock absorbing device is engaged with an internal gear of the reduction mechanism to restrict the internal gear from rotating. A space is provided radially between the internal gear and a housing to allow rotation of the internal gear upon application of an impact shock. A cylindrical member which is harder than the housing is disposed between the space relatively movably against the housing and the internal gear so that the internal gear is restricted from directly contacting the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Ohmi, Keiichi Matsushima, Tsutomu Shiga, Yasuhiro Nagao
  • Patent number: 5905310
    Abstract: In a starter, a planetary gear reduction mechanism has pins supporting planetary gears and directly fitted into an outer member of a one-way clutch. The outer member rotates with the revolution of the planetary gear. An internal gear engaged with the planetary gears is connected with a rotary disk of a shock absorbing device disposed on the outer periphery of the one-way clutch through a connecting member and an elastic member. The connecting member has engaging projections engaged with the elastic member within the connecting recess of the internal gear. The engagement projections are housed within the connecting recess with some clearance provided in the radial direction. The internal gear is thus held radially movably with respect to the rotary disk via the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Nagao
  • Patent number: 5901604
    Abstract: In an engine starter including a solenoid device for actuating a switch for the electric motor and to drive the pinion into mesh with the ring gear of an internal combustion engine, the solenoid device includes an armature outer member which moves in the direction to push out the pinion against the spring force of a first return spring in the energized state of the solenoid device, and an armature inner member which is resiliently urged by a second return spring, and is telescopically disposed with respect to the armature outer member with a coil spring interposed coaxially between them. An annular spring retainer is press fitted into the inner bore of the armature outer member to receive a corresponding coil end of the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Sato, Michio Okada, Koji Nara, Masaaki Ohya, Shinichi Nagashima, Eiichi Kimura
  • Patent number: 5857380
    Abstract: To reduce the size of a starter for installing it in a smaller engine compartment, the rotational speed of the starter motor has to be high and it is reduced to a certain speed through a reduction device to obtain a higher torque. To realize a high reduction ratio in a small planetary gear reduction device, an impact force imposed on the device at an instant a starter pinion engages with a engine ring gear and repeating impacts during a cranking period must be reduced. As a coupling between an internal gear and a housing of the reduction device, a flexible or a resilient coupling is disclosed herein. The flexible or resilient coupling relieves an excessive impact force at the engagement by permitting rotation of the internal gear relative to the housing, and reduces noise caused by the cranking impacts by permitting a small vibrating move of the internal gear. The flexible coupling is realized by a combination of a bumpy surface and projections coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Sadayoshi Kajino, Tsutomu Shiga, Keiichi Matsushima, Akifumi Hosoya, Masanori Ohmi
  • Patent number: 5848551
    Abstract: In a starter having a pinion gear on an output shaft driven by a starter motor, a magnet switch, and a shift lever pivotally connecting the pinion and the magnet switch, the shift lever is formed at one end thereof with an annular arm body for engagement with the pinion gear. The annular arm body is engaged with the pinion gear to receive the pinion returning force evenly thereby to prevent damage on the shift lever. Preferably the annular arm body is engaged with the pinion gear through a plate and a bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Ohmi, Takeshi Araki, Nobuyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5848552
    Abstract: In a cylindrical yoke 1 of a planetary gear-type starter which acts as the magnetic field of the motor of a planetary gear-type starter for reducing the rotation of a motor output shaft 31 and transmitting the reduction rotation to a starter output shaft 21 so that an inner peripheral gear portion is improved in precision by suppressing a material remaining in the yoke 1 and gear noise is reduced in operation, the yoke 1 comprises an opening formed at the bottom portion of the yoke for journaling the starter output shaft of the planetary gear-type starter, an inner peripheral gear portion 11 formed in the vicinity of the bottom portion 12 of the yoke, and an annular thick portion 18 formed between the inner peripheral gear portion and the bottom portion on the inner peripheral side thereof, wherein the yoke 1 incorporates the flange 2 of the starter output shaft and planetary gears 4 which are rotatably mounted to the flange as well as engaged with the outer peripheral gear portion 32 of the motor output shaf
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mine, Akira Morishita, Yoshihiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 5823047
    Abstract: A separating wall comprised of a slanting portion, an anti-falling portion and a thrust receiving portion, is provided integrally with a yoke. The slanting portion is formed from the front end of the yoke to the side of a speed reduction mechanism, tilting in the inner radial direction. The anti-falling portion is formed extending substantially vertically from the slanting portion to the inner radial direction preventing planetary gears of the speed reduction mechanism from coming-off mounting pins, by way of contacting the pins supporting the planetary gears and the end surface of a bearing. The thrust receiving portion supports a shaft rotatably via a bearing fitted with the shaft and receives thrust load of the shaft. The thrust receiving portion is cylindrically shaped and bent from the anti-falling portion to the side of an armature core. The cylindrical portion of the thrust receiving portion is pressed and fitted around the outer periphery of the bearing fitted to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Akifumi Hosoya
  • Patent number: 5819583
    Abstract: In a one-way clutch used in a starter for engines, a locking concave for locking a roller thereto is formed on a roller-moving surface of one clutch member having a peripheral surface facing a peripheral surface of the other clutch member having a wedge-shaped groove for accommodating the roller. A resilient member for disengaging the roller from the locking concave at the time of overrunning is accommodated in an annular groove, thus urging the roller radially outwardly. The roller is prevented from colliding with the locking concave at the time of overrunning so that vibrations and noise are not generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Matsushima, Shinya Yamanouchi, Tsutomu Shiga, Nobuyuki Hayashi, Masanori Ohmi
  • Patent number: 5777393
    Abstract: A retreat restricting member for restricting the retreat of a pinion in an advanced state of the pinion on an output shaft and in a resulting meshed state of a pinion gear with a ring gear is engaged with a pair of pins rotatably, the pins being each attached to a thrust ring. In a rotation restricting member for restricting the rotation of the pinion, upon meshing of the pinion gear with the ring gear, the front end of a rotation restricting bar is disengaged from a recess of a rotation restricting plate and falls to the rear end side of the thrust ring, thereby releasing the rotation-restricted state of the pinion. Further, engaging portions of the rotation restricting member come into engagement with engaging recesses of the retreat restricting member to hold the posture of the member, thereby inhibiting the retreat of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Katoh, Takeshi Araki, Masami Niimi, Tsutomu Shiga
  • Patent number: 5765439
    Abstract: A starter for an automotive vehicle is comprised of an output shaft rotationally driven by a DC motor, a pinion having on its inner circumference a helical spline engaged with a helical spline on the output shaft. A pinion restricting member has a long arm engageable with teeth formed on the outer circumference of the pinion. A drive housing abuts axially at the pinion restricting member, and a center case abuts axially against the pinion restricting member. The pinion restricting member is held assuredly and axially by the drive housing and the center case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Araki
  • Patent number: 5760487
    Abstract: In a coaxial engine starter comprising a pinion connected to the output shaft which is driven by an electric motor, via a helical spline, a switch unit for selectively closing a power supply line to the electric motor, and a solenoid device consisting of an annular armature and an annular energization coil surrounding the output shaft to axially drive the pinion and a moveable contact of the switch unit in the axial direction, the energization coil is disposed between the electric motor and the pinion with a commutator of the electric motor facing the energization coil, and a pigtail for one of the brushes is directly connected to the moveable contact. Also, the contacts of the switch unit are placed between a pair of adjacent brushes of the commutator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Kimura, Shinichi Nagashima, Mitsuhiro Kogure, Michio Okada, Koji Nara
  • Patent number: 5755137
    Abstract: A starter includes a pinion supported in a housing rotatably and engageably with a ring gear fitted to a crankshaft, and a starter motor fixed to the housing and having a rotary shaft for driving the pinion through a speed reduction mechanism. The starter is mounted on an engine block in such a manner that an axis center of the motor is located closer to the axis center of the ring gear than an axis center of the pinion. This starter mounting structure reduces the rotary vibrations of the starter motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Tomida
  • Patent number: 5751070
    Abstract: A rotor 2 has a rotary shaft 20. A drive shaft 7 is provided around an outer periphery of rotary shaft 20 and is rotatably supported on a housing. Drive shaft 7 has the same axial center as rotary shaft 20, and has a pinion gear 7b meshing with a ring gear 8 of an engine. A speed-reduction mechanism 4 includes a sun gear 2b provided on rotary shaft 20, a planetary gear 4b meshing with sun gear 2b, and an internal gear 4a meshing with planetary gear 4b. A reduction shaft 5 receives a rotational torque transmitted from rotor 2 through speed-reduction mechanism 4. A first one-way clutch 6b is interposed between reduction shaft 5 and drive shaft 7 for connecting reduction shaft 5 to drive shaft 7 only when any rotational torque is transmitted from reduction shaft 5 to drive shaft 7. A second one-way clutch 6a is interposed between drive shaft 7 and rotary shaft 20 for connecting drive shaft 7 to rotary shaft 20 only when any rotational torque is transmitted, from drive shaft 7 to rotary shaft 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nagao, Tsutomu Shiga, Nobuyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5746089
    Abstract: In a starter including a planetary gear reducer for reducing a rotational output of a motor and transmitting the reduced rotational output to a starting object, the motor includes an armature 3, a motor output shaft 31 and a cylindrical yoke 1. The planetary gear reducer includes a ring gear 8 fitted in and engaged with the yoke at its one end and having an inner peripheral gear portion 11 formed on the inner periphery thereof, a bearing 13 mounted on the side wall of the ring gear at the center thereof, a plurality of planetary gears 4 rotatably interposed between the outer peripheral gear portion 32 of the motor output shaft and the inner peripheral gear portion of the ring gear and a starter output shaft 21 rotatably supported by the ring gear side wall, the starter output shaft being connected at its one end with the planetary gears and adapted to be engageable at its other end with the starting object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 5740694
    Abstract: A plurality of rollers is accommodated in respective roller-accommodating grooves formed on an inner peripheral face of a clutch outer member integral with a planet carrier connected with an output shaft. The rollers contact a peripheral face (roller-contact face) of a clutch inner member integral with a stationary member. Roller-engaging grooves are formed on an outer peripheral face of the clutch inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nagao, Mitsuhiro Murata
  • Patent number: 5737964
    Abstract: Around the outer circumference of an armature core 520, there are arranged a stator core 558 and a stator coil 559 wound on the stator core 558, forming a fixed magnetic field device. The stator coil 559 has its one end portion arranged in the space at the outer circumference of a planetary gear speed reduction mechanism 300, i.e., at the outer circumference of a center bracket 360. A motor partition 800 is formed with a stepped portion 810 so as to accommodate the aforementioned one end portion. On the other hand, the other end of the stator coil 559 is arranged in the space at the outer circumference of a brush 910. In short, the planetary gear speed reduction mechanism 300 has its external diameter made smaller than the inner circumferential diameter of the stator coil 559.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Shiga, Nobuyuki Hayashi, Masanori Ohmi, Sadayoshi Kajino
  • Patent number: 5735169
    Abstract: An attracting coil is directly wound on a non-magnetic heat-conductive sleeve and a plunger contacts the sleeve in a starter. An influence of heat generated through current flow to a motor and heat generated at the attracting coil through current flow to the attracting coil itself are transmitted and released from the attracting coil directly to the plunger. Therefore, decline of the attracting force of the attracting coil is prevented. A magnet switch is provided in the vicinity of the opposite end of a pinion of the motor. Thus, when the starter is mounted on an engine, the starter does not interfere with the engine and the mounting work is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Nippoondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Niimi, Masanori Ohmi, Tsutomu Shiga, Nobuyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5718147
    Abstract: An electric starter includes a metal base plate which supports the body of a starter head which is actuated by a lever articulated on an articulation support member. The articulation support member is carried by the base plate, on which it is formed by being molded in a plastics material. A crown having internal teeth is also molded on to the base plate in a plastics material, simultaneously with the molding of the support member. The support member and the toothed crown are two separate components, each formed in the mold from a separately injected, separate charge of plastics material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Marie-Aline Clerc-Roch, Robert Jacquet
  • Patent number: 5706699
    Abstract: A starter motor with an intermediate gear includes a retaining member free from being deformed or damaged due to the centrifugal force induced by the high-speed revolution of the intermediate gear of a starter motor driven by the ring gear of an engine. The retaining member is used to prevent a movable coupling for coupling an overrunning clutch and the intermediate gear from axially slipping out. A flange-like retaining member 67b for preventing the movable coupling 68 from axially slipping out is integrally formed on the diametral outside of the end portion of the boss 67a of the intermediate gear 67.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Moribayashi
  • Patent number: 5688203
    Abstract: A planetary gear reduction starter has packing designed to absorb the variations in the axial dimension of a component, so that it eliminates the need of tight control of the axial dimension of the component and enables lower cost, higher productivity, and reduced size of the completed starter. The packing is constituted by an annular section, a jaw which extends in the radial, inward direction from one end of the annular section, and a plurality of projections which are laid out radially at equiangular pitches on the inner surface of the jaw and which have a semicircular section. The annular section of the packing is fitted around the outer peripheral surface of an internal gear assembly and the jaw is held in a compressed state between the end surface of the internal gear assembly and the side surface of the plate. The compressive deformation of the projections varies according to the axial dimension of the internal gear assembly or the plate, thereby absorbing the variations in the axial dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kyohei Yamamoto, Shuzo Isozumi, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5649879
    Abstract: A planetary gear reduction mechanism permitting easy mounting of a plate that separates a gear reduction section from a motor section. A flange portion 20 that is integrally formed with an output shaft rotation axis 11 is provided on its rear side a ring of support pins 21 having an open-ended cylinder shape and circumferentially equally spaced in a circle. A plate 22 has on its front side of the flange portion 22a a ring of projections 22b circumferentially equally spaced, and the projections 22b are engaged with the support pins 21. With planetary gears 7 attached onto the support pins 21, the plate 22 is mounted by press-fit inserting the projections 22b into the openings of the support pins 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Kusumoto, Keiichi Konishi, Shuzo Isozumi
  • Patent number: 5592912
    Abstract: In a starter, to improve a heat dissipation performance, an axial length from the end of a starter housing fit into a clutch housing to a starter installation surface of the clutch housing is set to be longer than an axial length from the end of a starter motor not fit into the clutch housing to the starter installation surface. Alternatively, the exposed surface area of the starter housing fit into the clutch housing is set to be larger than the exposed surface area of the portion of the starter housing not fit into the clutch housing and the starter motor. With this configuration, the starter housing can be effectively cooled by whirling air flow in the clutch housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Uryu, Nobuyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5578884
    Abstract: A permanent magnet type rotating machine comprises a cylindrical yoke; a plurality of permanent magnets installed on an inner periphery of the cylindrical yoke; a rotor rotatably installed at an inner peripheral portion of the plurality of permanent magnets; and a retaining portion provided at a conventional constituent member of the permanent magnet type rotating machine to elastically retain the plurality of permanent magnets in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Moribayashi, Shuzou Isozumi, Takeo Gotou
  • Patent number: 5577977
    Abstract: A starter equipped with a planetary gear reduction mechanism, which allows a significant reduction in the inertial mass of the planetary gear shaft supporting member is disclosed. The invention includes a planetary gear shafts that are formed integral with the planetary gear shaft supporting member, which is inserted and secured on a drive shaft. Such a structure allows for the weight of the planetary gear shaft supporting member to be reduced significantly, and reduction in the inertial mass of the drive shaft is likewise achieved. Further, breakage of teeth of the pinion gear or the ring gear at repeated engagements of the rotating pinion gear is prevented. In addition, the planetary gear shaft supporting member and the planetary gear shafts are made by forming a metal plate and the planetary gear shafts can be manufactured easily by bending the plate or burring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nagao, Sadayoshi Kajino, Tsutomu Shiga
  • Patent number: 5576588
    Abstract: A permanent magnet type rotating machine comprises a cylindrical yoke; a plurality of permanent magnets installed on an inner periphery of the cylindrical yoke; a rotor rotatably installed at an inner peripheral portion of the plurality of permanent magnets; and a retaining portion provided at a conventional constituent member of the permanent magnet type rotating machine to elastically retain the plurality of permanent magnets in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Moribayashi, Shuzou Isozumi, Takeo Gotou
  • Patent number: 5557976
    Abstract: In a planetary gear reduction starter, a motor, a planetary gear reduction mechanism connected to the front end of the motor, a rotary output shaft extending from the planetary gear reduction mechanism and an overrunning clutch engageable with the rotary output shaft are assembled together without using a front bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Moribayashi, Shuzo Isozumi, Akira Morishita
  • Patent number: 5549011
    Abstract: A starter having a highly reliable overrunning clutch which has grooves on both a clutch member inner and a clutch outer member. Rollers are sandwiched from the front and rear torque conveyance direction by the roller contact surface of each groove, so a large stress such as with the roller-type overrunning clutch using the wedge-effect is not applied on each contact surface and roller contact surface. This reduces the inertia of the clutch, and suppresses the impact force generated when a pinion engages an engine ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Shiga, Nobuyuki Hayashi, Masanori Ohmi, Yasuhiro Nagao
  • Patent number: 5535713
    Abstract: A combination field box and engine starter for model airplane engines is provided. The engine starter is mounted on the upper portion of one of the sidewalls of the portable field box. The field box includes a bracing assembly on the wall opposite to where the engine starter is mounted for preventing the box from sliding or tipping when pressure is applied to the starter during an engine starting operation. Additionally, the engine starter is provided with a torque enhancing gear train and an over-speed clutch which allows it to start relatively large model airplane engines with power generated by a compact battery pack formed from eight 1.2 volt nickel-cadmium cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Douglas J. Braddock
  • Patent number: 5533415
    Abstract: The starter apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a starter motor; an axially shiftable starting gear engageable with a ring gear of the internal combustion engine; a drive train for transferring rotary motion of a drive shaft of the starter motor to the starting gear, the drive train including a plurality of parts from the starting gear to the drive shaft; a free wheel clutch coupled with the drive shaft of the starter motor; and a shock absorber spring device for damping torque shocks between the starting gear and the drive shaft occurring on operation of the starter and located in the drive train between the starting gear and the drive shaft of the starter motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Robert Bosch G.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Manfred Ackermann, Ngoc-Thach Nguyen, Siegfried Schustek, Quang-Ngoc Tran
  • Patent number: 5528945
    Abstract: In an engine starter comprising a one-way clutch provided around a pinion support shaft carrying a pinion in a torque transmitting relationship but in an axially slidable manner, and an annular input gear to transmit torque to a clutch outer member of the one-way clutch, to prevent an eccentricity of the clutch outer member from seriously affecting the coupling structure between the motor and the input gear, the outer circumferential surface of the clutch outer member is provided with an external teeth serration while the input gear 12 is provided with an internal teeth serration so as to form a serration coupling. The serration coupling is provided with a sufficient radially play to accommodate a maximum eccentricity of the clutch outer member. Thus, the engine starter can be made reliable in use without requiring any undue precision during the fabrication process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsuba Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Okada
  • Patent number: 5473956
    Abstract: A starter with an epicycle reduction gear having a one-way clutch within the casing thereof, which can shut off dust and filthy water, has a simplified structure, has a reduced number of parts and components, has reduced size and weight and has improved durability of the one-way clutch. Such a starter achieves these effects by housing the one-way clutch within the casing of the epicycle reduction gear. The one-way clutch is housed within the casing of the epicycle reduction gear, which includes a plurality of planetary gears. The one-way clutch comprises a small-diameter cylindrical part of the casing, serving as a clutch inner member, a small-diameter cylindrical part of the internal gear, serving as a clutch outer member, fit on the small-diameter cylindrical part of the casing, a clutch roller disposed between the small-diameter cylindrical part of the casing and the small-diameter cylindrical part of internal gear, and a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Murata, Yashiro Nagao, Nobuyuki Hayashi, Tsutomu Shiga
  • Patent number: 5471890
    Abstract: A starter with an improved overrunning clutch for automotive use. The overrunning clutch has a clutch outer integrally formed with an internal gear of a planetary gear speed reduction mechanism driven by a starter motor, a clutch inner integrally formed with a center bracket which supports a drive shaft rotatably therethrough and rollers interposed between cylindrical portions of the clutch outer and the clutch inner. On the inner circumference of the clutch outer, roller storage portion is formed to extend radially circumferentially so that the roller is fully stored therein at the time of overrunning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Shiga, Nobuyuki Hayashi, Masanori Ohmi, Yasuhiro Nagao, Mitsuhiro Murata
  • Patent number: 5443553
    Abstract: A starter includes a housing having a water barrier wall, a drive shaft disposed in the housing, and pinion gear having a flange portion. The water barrier wall comes into contact with the flange portion when the starter is in operation. The pinion gear is adapted to engage with a ring gear of an engine, which the starter starts. The pinion gear contacts the drive shaft through a sliding portion. The structure of the starter prevents water, dust, dirt and other contaminants from leaking into the housing via a window in the housing. Thus, the function and operability of the starter is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Shiga, Nobuyuki Hayashi, Masanori Ohmi, Masami Niimi
  • Patent number: 5418400
    Abstract: A combination generator and starter motor includes a rotor with an internal ring gear, a plurality of dual pinion gears which mesh with the rotor and two sun gears which mesh with the dual pinion gears. A large torque multiplication from the rotor to one of the sun gears is provided when the combination generator and starter motor operates as a starter motor. A one-to-one ratio of rotation between that sun gear and the rotor is provided when the combination generator and starter motor operates as a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Thomas R. Stockton
  • Patent number: 5370009
    Abstract: A starter motor for an internal combustion engine having an overrunning clutch (40) which transfers rotation of a d.c. motor to a pinion gear for driving an internal combustion engine. An outer member (41) of the overrunning clutch (40) is slidable along an output shaft (7). When the clutch is slid toward the engine (forward) the d.c. motor is electrically energized and its rotation is imparted to the output shaft (7) via a planetary reduction gear (13). When the overrunning clutch (40) is in this position, the clutch outer member (41) is coupled to the output shaft (7) by helical spline (8). Clutch inner member (22), which is caused to rotate by the rollers (23), transmits rotary motion to the pinion, thus rotating the engine. The overrunning clutch is caused to slide along the output shaft by a shift lever (34) which is moved forward and rearward by an electromagnetic switch (31). The shift lever has a two-pronged lower end engaged with an annular engagement groove (41c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuzo Isozumi
  • Patent number: 5353657
    Abstract: A starting system for an internal combustion engine includes a starter motor and solenoid mounted within separate, angularly spaced receptacles of a reduction gear housing. The starter motor drives a reduction gear within a the gear housing, which, in turn, drives a pinion gear on a shaft. The solenoid controls a retractable rod which selectively pivots a cantilever arm within the housing. The pivoted cantilever arm pushes the pinion gear shaft against the action of a coil spring, which urges the pinion gear into engagement with the engine flywheel ring gear, turning the flywheel ring gear. The solenoid also acts as a switch for the starter motor. When the engine is started, power is removed from the solenoid, which causes the rod to extend, pivoting the cantilever arm in the opposite direction, and allowing the spring to withdraw the pinion gear from engagement with the flywheel ring gear. A plurality of strengthening ribs give the housing strength with a minimal weight addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: William C. Bainbridge, III
  • Patent number: 5353658
    Abstract: In a starter for internal combustion engines, a tubular pinion gear support shaft 8 is rotatably supported by a casing, and coupled to a drive shaft of a motor so as to be rotatively driven by the motor, and an annular pinion gear 3 is fitted on the pinion gear support shaft in axially slidable but rotatively drivable relationship. A push rod 9 is axially slidably received in the tubular pinion gear support shaft and provided with a free end engaged with a free end of the pinion gear for transmitting a shifting force for driving the pinion gear into meshing with a ring gear of an engine from a shift lever to the push rod. A shift spring 15 consisting of a compression coil spring is coaxially received in the pinion gear support shaft and interposed between an associated end of the shift lever and a base end of the push rod. Thus, the assembling of the starter is simplified while the action of the shift spring is stabilized, and the design of the starter is made compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsuba Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nagashima, Hitoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 5341697
    Abstract: A shift lever supporting device for a starter motor has a support 40 in a cylindrical form which has at its front end a cut groove 40a, a shift lever 34 fitted to the groove at an intermediate portion of the shift lever, a connection pin 36 inserted in the support 40 and the intermediate portion of the shift lever to pivotally support the shift lever, and a packing 37 of rubber fitted to the rear end of the support 40 by interposing a plate 38. The support 40, the plate 38 and the packing 37 are inserted into a hole 6a formed in a front bracket 6, and the rear end of the packing is received by the front end of an intermediate bracket 4 or a yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuzo Isozumi
  • Patent number: 5323663
    Abstract: A starter comprises a planetary gear reduction mechanism including an internal gear provided with a cylindrical chamber, a rotary disk, and a friction disk for restricting the rotary disk. The rotary disk is prevented from angularly moving with respect to the internal gear through an elastic member. When a larger load is applied to the internal gear which the elastic member cannot absorb, the rotary disk is released from the friction disk to angularly move to absorb such larger load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Ohgi, Yasuhiro Nagao, Kazuo Hirama, Youichi Hasegawa