Abstract: Motor vehicle starter comprising a starter head provided with a pinion (1), a driver (2) and a coupling device with a conical clutch for coupling the pinion to the driver (2), in which the conical clutch comprises a first frustoconical friction surface (8) fixed to the pinion and a second frustoconical friction surface (8?) with a shape complementary to the first surface (8) and fixed to the driver and in which the coupling device comprises on the one hand a hollow-shaped coupling piece having. a bottom extended by an annular skirt directed axially towards one of the elements consisting of pinion and driver and on the other hand axially acting elastic means (10) bearing on a first stop fixed to the coupling piece for acting on a second stop fixed to one of the elements consisting of pinion and driver. The elastic means comprise axially deformable tongues (10b) and extend circumferentially.

Abstract: Motor vehicle starter comprising a starter head provided with a pinion (1), a driver (2) and a coupling device with a conical clutch for coupling the pinion to the driver (2), in which the conical clutch comprises a first frustoconical friction surface (8) fixed to the pinion and a second frustoconical friction surface (8′) with a shape complementary to the first surface (8) and fixed to the driver and in which the coupling device comprises on the one hand a hollow-shaped coupling piece having a bottom extended by an annular skirt directed axially towards one of the elements consisting of pinion and driver and on the other hand axially acting elastic means (10) bearing on a first stop fixed to the coupling piece for acting on a second stop fixed to one of the elements consisting of pinion and driver; the skirt is fixed to the pinion or driver and carries internally the surface (8, 8′) concerned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of supplying power to a motor-vehicle electric-starter contactor (10) in which, on a circuit (T1, B, 20, 25) for supplying power to the contactor (10), an effective-power-supply signal (R1, R2, R3) is provided having a chosen profile, characterised in that, on the power-supply circuit (T1, B, 20, 25), a supplementary signal (T, R4) is also provided having a shape which is chosen in order to facilitate the identification of the profile of the effective-power-supply signal (R1, R2, R3).

Abstract: A heat engine has a starting system comprising two starters so arranged that their pinions engage the starter crown of the engine in parallel once the ignition key is turned. Each starter comprises an electric motor and a power interrupter connected in the power circuit of the motor and controlled by energizing a coil. The closing of the interrupter of one of the starters is delayed with respect to the other one. Reopening of one of the interrupters due to the voltage drop caused by closing the interrupter of the other starter is avoided by appropriate selection of the time delay.

Abstract: The starter for a motor vehicle comprises a starter head provided with a driver (12) and a pinion (1), an electric motor (M) provided with a shaft (101) able to drive a starter-head shaft (100), an electromagnetic contactor (2) extending parallel to the electric motor (M) above it and comprising a movable core (2d), a fork (13) mounted with articulation at its top end on the movable core (2b); the driver (12) comprises a groove for receiving the bottom end of the fork (13) delimited by two flanks (121, 122) whilst the starter head is locked in rotation by means of cooperation between the fork (13) and the driver (12) for its passage from its idle position to its position of meshing with the starting ring.

Abstract: A heat engine has a starting system comprising two starters so arranged that their pinions engage the starter crown of the engine in parallel once the ignition key is turned. Each starter comprises an electric motor and a power interrupter connected in the power circuit of the motor and controlled by energising a coil. The closing of the interrupter of one of the starters is delayed with respect to the other one. Reopening of one of the interrupters due to the voltage drop caused by closing the interrupter of the other starter is avoided by appropriate selection of the time delay.

Abstract: Motor vehicle starter comprising a starter head provided with a pinion (1), a driver (2) and a coupling device with a conical clutch for coupling the pinion to the driver (2), in which the conical clutch comprises a first frustoconical friction surface (8) fixed to the pinion and a second frustoconical friction surface (8′) with a shape complementary to the first surface (8) and fixed to the driver and in which the coupling device comprises on the one hand a hollow-shaped coupling piece having a bottom extended by an annular skirt directed axially towards one of the elements consisting of pinion and driver and on the other hand axially acting elastic means (10) bearing on a first stop fixed to the coupling piece for acting on a second stop fixed to one of the elements consisting of pinion and driver. The elastic means comprise axially deformable tongues (10b) and extend circumferentially.

Abstract: Method for controlling the thermal engine of a motor vehicle according to which the said thermal engine is cut off and automatically restarted at the beginning and end of temporary immobilisation periods, according to which the automatic cutting off of the thermal engine is inhibited when the vehicle battery is discharged below a given inhibition threshold, characterised in that the thermal engine is automatically restarted when the vehicle battery is discharged below the said inhibition threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for energising a coil for driving a moving contactor core of an electric starter for a motor vehicle, in which the effective current is varied in the coil during displacement of the core to its contact position, and in which, in the course of this displacement, there take place: a first driving phase with an effective current which is high enough to set the core in motion, and then a second driving phase with a smaller effective current, in which, after a determined or predetermined time, the effective current is continuously increased.

Abstract: A device for controlling the power supply to the electric motor of a starter for a vehicle having a power switch connected in series with the electric motor, units for controlling the power switch, and an auxiliary switch which shorts the electric motor when the power switch is opened, where the auxiliary switch is a static electronic component.

Abstract: In a device for controlling the power supply of the electric motor of a starter of a motor vehicle, and of an automobile in particular, a power switch is connected in series with the electric motor to control the motor power. The switch consists of an electronic power unit capable of being controlled.

Abstract: In a starter for a motor vehicle internal combustion engine the pinion is rotationally coupled to the drive bush by a device enabling rotation of the drive bush relative to the pinion when the rotation speed of the pinion is greater than that of the drive bush. The device has complementary front and rear friction surfaces respectively carried by the pinion and the drive bush. The pinion is mounted to be mobile axially relative to the drive bush to which it is coupled. The two friction surfaces are pressed elastically into contact with each with a predetermined force.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle starter motor, the controller comprising means for applying power to the electric starter motor as a function in particular of the open or closed state of a starter switch, wherein said means include in particular an RC type circuit having a charging time constant that is shorter than its discharging time constant and that charges and discharges depending on whether the starter switch is closed or open, said control means also including means for preventing power being applied to the starter motor when the voltage across the terminals of the capacitor means of the RC circuit exceeds a given threshold.

Abstract: A motor vehicle starter has a contactor of the type that includes an electronic control circuit, which includes a printed circuit board in the form of a disc with a central hole through which the body of the control rod of the contactor passes. The electronic components of the control circuit are carried by the circuit board, which is located in an axial position within the interior of the pot-shaped end cap of the contactor, between the fixed core and the movable contact of the contactor. The electronic control circuit is mounted within a protective housing which is arranged inside the end cap, between the fixed core and the movable contact, and this housing also has electrical connection facilities.

Abstract: A device for controlling an automobile vehicle starter motor contactor including a power contact controlling the supply of power to the electric motor of the starter motor and at least one coil controlling the movement of said contact, said device including a unit for controlling the starter motor and a transistor controlled by said unit that controls the energizing of the coil(s) of the contactor, wherein the control unit includes means for turning off the transistor if, between two successive times following closing of the starter switch, the voltage drop at a point connected to receive the battery voltage is smaller than a given threshold.

Abstract: A device for controlling an automobile vehicle starter motor contactor having a power contact controlling the supply of power to the electric motor of the starter motor and at least one coil controlling the movement of said contact, one of the coils of said contactor being connected between the power supply terminal at the battery voltage and the electric motor, said device including a control unit for the starter motor and a transistor controlled by said unit that controls the supply of power to the coil or coils of the contactor, wherein the control unit includes means for turning off the transistor if the voltage at a given point between the coil and the motor is not greater than a predetermined threshold at the end of a predetermined time period from the starter switch of the vehicle closing.

Abstract: Interruption of the power supply to a motor vehicle starter, so as to cut off the starter, is controlled automatically by detecting the fluctuations in the power supply voltage of the starter, and by then interrupting the power supply when these fluctuations disappear. For each new fluctuation in the power supply voltage, a monitoring period is generated. The duration of this monitoring period is such that the latter terminates substantially after the occurrence of a peak in the fluctuation, and the power supply is interrupted when no peak has been detected in the last monitoring period.

Abstract: A starter for a motor vehicle internal combustion engine includes an electronic means for controlling cut off of the starter, whereby fluctuations are detected in the signal which correspond to the voltage or current of the starter, the power supply to the starter being interrupted when these fluctuations disappear. The automatic cut-off method includes determining, in the signal, successive periods during which the voltage is constantly increasing, the starter being cut off when one of these periods becomes greater than a given threshold. This threshold is given distinct values, firstly during an inspection time period which begins on closing of the starter contactor, and secondly, after the inspection time period. The duration of the inspection time period is chosen so as to be long enough to include the case in which the first and second fluctuations at the start of the compression strokes of the engines are substantially coincident with each other.

Abstract: A motor vehicle starter is cut out automatically as soon as the engine is running by itself. The cut-out is controlled by a method in which the starter supply voltage is measured and the starter is cut out when this voltage reaches a threshold value. On closing of the ignition switch, but before any power is supplied to the starter, the starter supply voltage is measured for several values of current in at least one circuit in the wiring network of the vehicle connected to the vehicle battery. The value of the threshold voltage is then calculated from these measurements, as a function of parameters that characterize the electrical circuitry of the vehicle at the time of starting the engine, at least one of these parameters being capable of being determined from the current measurements.

Abstract: A motor vehicle starter contactor includes a fixed core and a control rod for displacing a movable contact into and out of cooperation with fixed contact terminals carried on the base of a cover hood of the contactor. The contactor also has an electronic control circuit, the components of which are carried by a printed circuit board in the form of a disc, which is located within the cover hood of the contactor, in an axial position intermediate between the fixed core and the movable contact. The printed circuit board is fixed on a support which is carried by the fixed core. The support provides, in particular, electrical ground connection between the printed circuit and the fixed core.