Abstract: A starter for an engine is equipped with a planetary gear speed reducer, a restraining mechanism, and a shock absorber which is made up of a rotary disc, a stationary disc, a case, and a load applying mechanism. The load applying mechanism applies a load to the stationary and rotary discs to develop a given degree of friction therebetween. When an excessive torque acts on the rotary disc through the internal gear, the shock absorber induces the rotary disc to rotate against the given degree of friction to absorb the torque to eliminate a physical impact to be exerted on the planetary gear speed reducer. The restraining mechanism restrains the load applying mechanism from moving in a radius direction of the internal thread to avoid undesirable engagement of the load applying mechanism with the internal thread, thereby ensuring the stability in applying the load to the stationary and rotary discs.

Abstract: A starter and a method of manufacturing the starter are disclosed wherein the starter comprises a case, a housing disposed in front of the case, a pinion moving body slidably received by the case and the housing, and a lever unit having a lever, swingably supported on a lever support member, for actuating the pinion moving body to an operative position to allow a pinion to be brought into meshing engagement with a ring gear of an engine to start up the same. The lever support member is mounted on the case via a positioning mechanism composed of positioning components, formed on the lever support member, and the positioning components, formed on the case, with which the positioning components engage, respectively.

Abstract: A starter for an engine is equipped with a planetary gear speed reducer, a restraining mechanism, and a shock absorber which is made up of a rotary disc, a stationary disc, a case, and a load applying mechanism. The load applying mechanism applies a load to the stationary and rotary discs to develop a given degree of friction therebetween. When an excessive torque acts on the rotary disc through the internal gear, the shock absorber induces the rotary disc to rotate against the given degree of friction to absorb the torque to eliminate a physical impact to be exerted on the planetary gear speed reducer. The restraining mechanism restrains the load applying mechanism from moving in a radius direction of the internal thread to avoid undesirable engagement of the load applying mechanism with the internal thread, thereby ensuring the stability in applying the load to the stationary and rotary discs.

Abstract: A rotational torque of an electric motor of a starter is transmitted to an output shaft having a pinion gear engaging with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine via a one-way clutch. A tube forming a clutch-inner and the output shaft are spline-coupled to allow the output shaft to reciprocally move in the axial direction while transmitting the rotational torque of the tube to the output shaft. The output shaft is slidably supported by a supporting portion formed at a front end of the tube. To establish air communication between an inside space of the tube and an outside space, an air passage is formed either in the supporting portion or on the output shaft. Pressure changes in the inner space due to reciprocal movement of the output shaft are suppressed by air communication through the air passage, and lubricant in the tube is well retained therein.

Abstract: A starter for automotive engines is provided which is equipped with a planetary gear train working as a speed reducer. The starter also includes a partition plate and a thrust washer. The partition plate extends radially of the starter between an electric motor and a planetary gear train to isolate the planetary gear train from a motor chamber. The thrust washer extends radially of the starter in abutment with the partition plate so as to bear a thrust load, as transmitted from the planetary gear train. The thrust washer also includes an outer peripheral portion which is placed between a rear end surface of an internal gear of the planetary gear train and the front end surface of the partition plate and has an elastic mechanism working to elastically urge the internal gear of the planetary gear train frontward in the axial direction of the starter.

Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor, a planetary gear speed reduction device for reducing a rotational speed of the electric motor and an excessive-torque-absorbing device. The excessive-torque-absorbing device is composed of plural rotatable disks that form an internal gear of the speed reduction device, plural fixed disks and a disk spring. Both disks are alternately laminated and pressed in the laminated direction by the disk spring. When a rotational torque of the electric motor to be transmitted to a pinion gear of the starter exceeds a predetermined level, slippage occurs between the rotatable disks and the fixed disks, and thereby the excessive torque is absorbed.

Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine includes a device for absorbing a rotational torque exceeding a predetermined level. In this device, a laminated body composed of fixed disks and the rotatable disks is used. A frictional force in the laminated body is preset by a spring member pressing the laminated body in the laminated direction. To avoid concentration of the pressing force to a position where the spring force is imposed, a certain gap is formed between the spring member and the laminated body. To give a proper surface hardness to an internal gear portion of the rotatable disk and to give an abrasion-resistive property to a portion contacting the fixed disk, the rotatable disk is subjected to soft nitriding treatment. Thus, a stable frictional force is secured in the laminated body, and a long life of the excessive-torque-absorbing device is realized.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switch mounted on a starter for cranking an internal combustion engine includes an excitation coil for driving a plunger upon supplying electric current to the excitation coil. A conductor member led out from the excitation coil is connected to an outside cable to supply electric current to the excitation coil. The conductor member is made of a thin plate to be easily led out from a molded contact cover and is connected to a reinforcing member made of a thick plate that is embedded in the contact cover. The outside cable is connected to the reinforcing member so that the thin conductor member is not damages by a high vibration of an engine. The outside cable is easily connected to the reinforcing member with a screw after completion of the electromagnetic switch.

Abstract: A starter for an engine includes a motor, a cylindrical tube, a one-way clutch, an output shaft, and a pinion gear. The motor generates a rotational force. A first bearing rotatably supports the tube. The tube includes a female helical spline on its inner surface. The clutch transfers a rotational force from the motor to the tube. The output shaft has first and second ends axially aligned with a shaft of the motor. The first end has a male helical spline that engages the female helical spline of the tube. A second bearing rotatably and slidably supports the second end of the output shaft. The pinion gear is disposed on the output shaft and is slidable to engage the output shaft and a ring gear on the engine. The output shaft has a straight spline engaging the pinion gear.

Abstract: In a starter, a one-way clutch that transmits rotation of a motor to an output shaft has a clutch inner portion. The clutch inner portion has female helical splines in an inner periphery. Also, the clutch inner portion has a stopper at a front end of the female helical splines on the side opposite to the motor. The female helical splines engage with male helical splines formed on a rear end of the output shaft so that the output shaft is slidable in an axial direction. When the male helical splines of the output shaft are brought into contact with the stopper, relative rotation of the helical splines is restricted, thereby to stop the axial movement of the output shaft.

Abstract: A starter and a method of manufacturing the starter are disclosed wherein the starter comprises a case, a housing disposed in front of the case, a pinion moving body slidably received by the case and the housing, and a lever unit having a lever, swingably supported on a lever support member, for actuating the pinion moving body to an operative position to allow a pinion to be brought into meshing engagement with a ring gear of an engine to start up the same. The lever support member is mounted on the case via a positioning mechanism composed of positioning components, formed on the lever support member, and the positioning components, formed on the case, with which the positioning components engage, respectively.

Abstract: A shock absorbing device 8 includes a transmitting section 81, first friction plates 82, second friction plates 83, and a dish spring 84. The transmitting section 81 is engaged with the inner cylindrical portion of the second friction plates 83 and also engaged with an outer cylindrical surface of an internal gear 42. The first friction plates 82 are stationarily fixed to an end portion 102a of a central housing. The second friction plates 83 are brought into frictional engagement with the first friction plates 82 under a resilient force applied from the dish spring 84. The first friction plates 82 and the second friction plates 83 are alternately laminated.

Abstract: A starter for automotive engines is provided which is equipped with a pinion carrier which is shifted by a magnetic attraction, as transmitted from a solenoid switch through a shift lever, to establish engagement of a pinion with a ring gear jointed to the engine. If thrust acting on the pinion carrier to urge the pinion against the ring gear through when the pinion has been shifted and hit the ring gear, so that the pinion is placed in abutment with the ring gear is defined as N (Newton), and the mass of the pinion carrier is defined as g (gram), a relation of g/N?6 is met. This improves the ability of engagement of the pinion with the ring gear, thus resulting in an increased life span of the starter.

Abstract: A starter for automotive engines is provided which is equipped with a planetary gear speed reducer and a torque impact absorber. The torque impact absorber is made up of an outer cylindrical shell and an internal gear of a planetary gear train. The outer cylindrical shell has formed thereon a plurality of lock protrusions which are fitted in a starter casing to keep the outer cylindrical shell from rotating. The protrusions extend in an axial direction of the starter, thus permitting the size of the starter to be decreased.

Abstract: A rotational torque of an electric motor of a starter is transmitted to an output shaft having a pinion gear engaging with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine via a one-way clutch. A tube forming a clutch-inner and the output shaft are spline-coupled to allow the output shaft to reciprocally move in the axial direction while transmitting the rotational torque of the tube to the output shaft. The output shaft is slidably supported by a supporting portion formed at a front end of the tube. To establish air communication between an inside space of the tube and an outside space, an air passage is formed either in the supporting portion or on the output shaft. Pressure changes in the inner space due to reciprocal movement of the output shaft are suppressed by air communication through the air passage, and lubricant in the tube is well retained therein.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switch mounted on a starter for cranking an internal combustion engine includes an excitation coil for driving a plunger upon supplying electric current to the excitation coil. A conductor member led out from the excitation coil is connected to an outside cable to supply electric current to the excitation coil. The conductor member is made of a thin plate to be easily led out from a molded contact cover and is connected to a reinforcing member made of a thick plate that is embedded in the contact cover. The outside cable is connected to the reinforcing member so that the thin conductor member is not damages by a high vibration of an engine. The outside cable is easily connected to the reinforcing member with a screw after completion of the electromagnetic switch.

Abstract: A starter for automotive engines is provided which is equipped with a planetary gear train working as a speed reducer. The starter also includes a partition plate and a thrust washer. The partition plate extends radially of the starter between an electric motor and a planetary gear train to isolate the planetary gear train from a motor chamber. The thrust washer extends radially of the starter in abutment with the partition plate so as to bear a thrust load, as transmitted from the planetary gear train. The thrust washer also includes an outer peripheral portion which is placed between a rear end surface of an internal gear of the planetary gear train and the front end surface of the partition plate and has an elastic mechanism working to elastically urge the internal gear of the planetary gear train frontward in the axial direction of the starter.

Abstract: A starter capable of preventing the slippage of a clutch at engine starting and of transmitting a higher torque. In the starter, a power transmission device is integrated with a carrier for supporting a planetary gear of a reduction assembly and an output shaft is helical-spline-coupled to the power transmission device. A pinion shaft is fitted over an outer circumference of the output shaft through a first bearing and second bearing and a one-way clutch is provided for transmitting the rotation of the output signal to the pinion shaft. The first bearing is made such that its tip portion protrudes toward the pinion side with respect to a tip portion of a housing bearing in an engaging state of the pinion with a ring gear and, hence, at cranking, the first and second bearings receive a load from the ring gear to the pinion.

Abstract: An engine starter equipped with an impact absorber. The impact absorber is arranged between a planetary gear train and an overrunning clutch of the starter. The absorber includes a friction plate which is disposed between a clutch outer and a carrier plate of the overrunning clutch and urged elastically into frictional abutment with the carrier plate. This structure eliminates the need for installing the friction plate on an internal gear of the planetary gear train, thus permitting the internal gear to be reduced in size.

Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine is mainly composed of an electric motor and a magnetic switch having a battery bolt connected to an on-board battery and a motor bolt connected to the electric motor. When the magnetic switch is closed, electric power is supplied to the electric motor to thereby generate a rotational torque for cranking the engine. One end of a motor terminal is electrically connected to the motor bolt, and the other end is led into a motor casing through a rubber insulator supported on the motor casing. The motor terminal includes one or more curved portions having resiliency, and they are positioned between the rubber insulator and the motor bolt. Water penetration into the motor casing is prevented by the rubber insulator, and the vibration of the motor terminal is alleviated by resiliency of the curved portions.