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

Abstract: A slip ring unit arranged to be force-fitted on to an alternator shaft, especially a motor vehicle alternator shaft, is made by moulding insulating material over electrically conductive elements so as to encapsulate the latter. It has a generally cylindrical body which includes two slip rings at its outer surface, the slip rings being connected to two electrical connecting elements for connecting the slip ring unit to the ends of winding wires of the alternator. The body of the unit has a bore for accommodating the alternator shaft. The insulating material is extended beyond one of the two slip rings, to define a collar at that end of the unit on which the fitting force is to be applied. At least one notch is formed in the extension constituted by the collar, these notches extending through the whole axial thickness of the latter so as to leave one side of the adjacent slip ring exposed. The applied fitting force can then be exerted directly on the slip ring, through the notch.

Abstract: A starter head for an internal combustion engine that has a motor shaft and a starter pinion which is arranged for sliding movement along the motor shaft. A fastening shroud secures a free wheel and a drive sleeve to the starter pinion. The drive sleeve carries a return device, which has a ring member having at its inner periphery a plurality of resiliently deformable teeth. These teeth cooperate, in snap-fitting engagement, with a groove which is formed on the outer periphery of an end portion of the drive sleeve.

Abstract: In a method for regulating the excitation current of an inductor of a motor vehicle alternator, the alternator is of the kind comprising a rectifier bridge supplying a rectified voltage (which is to be regulated) having a low frequency fluctuation of variable amplitude with a high frequency waveform of constant amplitude superimposed on it, the rectified voltage Ub+ being thus a periodic voltage, each cycle of which comprises a first alternate period, during the course of which a voltage is applied to the inductor of the alternator, and a second alternate period, during which no voltage is applied to the inductor.