Abstract: An electric starter for an internal combustion engine has a coaxial pinion drive mechanism for urging the pinion gear into a positively fully meshed arrangement with the flywheel of the internal combustion engine prior to full power application to the cranking motor. The pinion drive mechanism is incompressible throughout its motion. The drive solenoid has a solid plunger which is limited in its stroke corresponding to the fully meshed position of the pinion gear by a pair of electrical contacts which are shorted at full stroke by the plunger functioning as a contact therebetween. The cranking motor is operated at a slow rotation at all times prior to full meshing of the pinion gear to aid in meshing thus reducing tooth wear and gear lash.

Abstract: A brush holder assembly for a dynamoelectric machine. The assembly comprises an annular metallic support plate that carries a plurality of metallic brush holders. Each brush holder slidably supports a brush. Two of the brush holders have tangs that extend from a respective brush holder. A bus bar formed of copper is welded to the tangs to thereby support the bus bar from the brush holders. The brushes that are associated with the two brush holders are each connected to a brush conductor. The brush conductors are welded to the bus bar. Another conductor or lead is welded to the bus bar to feed current to the bus bar.

Abstract: Brush rigging for a dynamoelectric machine such as an electric cranking motor for cranking an internal combustion engine. A support carries a plurality of radially extending brush holders each of which slidably supports a brush. The brushes are urged radially inwardly by an elastomeric band that is formed of electrical insulating material. The band directly engages the outer ends of the brushes and a plurality of pins that are carried by the support. The pins are located between pairs of brush holders.

Abstract: The present invention provides an end of arm tooling (EOAT) internal gripper device for a robot. The EOAT of the present invention provides a gripper portion which can be elastically deformed by being extended or retracted by an internal rod actuator. Extension of the actuator rod causes the gripper portion to assume a smaller dimensional shape for insertion into a workpiece cavity. Retraction of the actuator rod causes the gripper portion to increase in dimension therefore engaging and gripping the workpiece. The EOAT of the present invention is extremely useful in applications requiring large amounts of compliance, delicate handling, and/or in environments wherein an air supply is not available or desirable.