Abstract: An armature of a rotary electric machine composed of an armature core, an armature winding and a shaft is manufactured in the following manner. A conductor bar including plural conductors connected in line is formed, and each conductor is cut out from the conductor bar. The conductor in a straight shape is inserted into each slot of the armature core, and then both side portions of the conductor are bent at substantially right angle so that the side portions are positioned along axial end surfaces of the armature core. The side portions are further skewed and electrically connected to form the armature winding. An outer surface of the side portions circularly arranged on the axial end surface of the armature core is used as a commutator surface.

Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine is composed of an electric motor, an output shaft driven by the motor, a pinion gear coupled to the output shaft, and a magnetic switch. Electric power is supplied to the motor from an on-board battery through a switch, a movable contact of which is driven by the magnetic switch. The movable contact is connected to a brush lead wire via a connection formed by soft-soldering. The connection formed by the soft-soldering is positioned close to the commutator and covered with an end cover, so that the temperature of the connection becomes higher than other places in the starter. The connection easily melts away to thereby shut off power supply to the motor when its temperature becomes unusually high, and thereby the starter is protected from overheating.

Abstract: A carrier portion includes a side wall portion which restricts shifting of rollers in the axial direction. The side wall portion has a receiving hole formed at a radial central region. A clutch outer, integrally formed with the carrier portion, is rotatably supported via a bearing by a front axial end portion of an armature shaft. The bearing is fixed by press fitting on an inner cylindrical surface of the receiving hole. A tapered portion, provided at an edge of the front axial end portion of the armature shaft, is a guide surface for guiding the armature shaft into the bearing. The length of the front axial end portion is determined in such a manner that the side surface of a sun gear can contact with the side surfaces of the planetary gears in the axial direction after the tapered portion entirely enters inside the bearing.

Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine is composed of an electric motor, an output shaft driven by the motor, a pinion gear coupled to the output shaft, and a magnetic switch. Electric power is supplied to the motor from an on-board battery through a switch, a movable contact of which is driven by the magnetic switch. The movable contact is connected to a brush lead wire via a connection formed by soft-soldering. The connection formed by the soft-soldering is positioned close to the commutator and covered with an end cover, so that the temperature of the connection becomes higher than other places in the starter. The connection easily melts away to thereby shut off power supply to the motor when its temperature becomes unusually high, and thereby the starter is protected from overheating.

Abstract: An armature of a rotary electric machine composed of an armature core, an armature winding and a shaft is manufactured in the following manner. A conductor bar including plural conductors connected in line is formed, and each conductor is cut out from the conductor bar. The conductor in a straight shape is inserted into each slot of the armature core, and then both side portions of the conductor are bent at substantially right angle so that the side portions are positioned along axial end surfaces of the armature core. The side portions are further skewed and electrically connected to form the armature winding. An outer surface of the side portions circularly arranged on the axial end surface of the armature core is used as a commutator surface.

Abstract: An overrunning clutch which exhibits improved resistance to wear owing to grease filled thereinto which exhibits resistance to thermal oxidation even at increased temperatures due to overrunning. The overrunning clutch has a plurality of cam cases formed between its outer and inner members and also has a plurality of rollers arranged one by one in the cases. The cases are filled with a grease containing a first extreme pressure additive which is liquid and a second extreme pressure additive which is solid and yet melts at a prescribed temperature. Below the prescribed temperature, only the first extreme pressure additive functions as a lubricant, so that the rollers permit the engagement of the outer and inner members for the transmission of turning force from one member to the other. When the prescribed temperature is reached in the overrunning state, the second extreme pressure additive melts to function as a lubricant, thereby preventing the rollers from wearing.