Abstract: A brush body 4 of a metal-graphite brush 2 is composed of a commutator side portion 6 which contains graphite, copper and a metal sulfide solid lubricant, and a lead side portion 8 which contains graphite and copper but does not contain any metal sulfide solid lubricant. A lead wire 10 is attached to the lead side portion 8 containing no metal sulfide solid lubricant.

Abstract: A copper-zinc alloy powder of which zinc content is from 10 to 50 wt % and of which mean particle diameter is from 15 ?m or under is added to a Pb-less brush body comprising graphite, copper and a metal sulfide solid lubricant of a copper-graphite brush.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic switch of a starter, a bobbin has two terminal holders on a flange. Each of the terminal holders defines a slot on its end surface and a terminal is press-fitted in the slot in an axial direction of the bobbin. An end of an excitation coil wound around the bobbin is pulled out the bobbin and connected to the terminal. A molded cover provides a through hole and is mounted on the terminal so that the terminal passes through the through hole. A sealing member is press-fitted on the terminal to air-tightly seal the through hole. A rod cover fitted on a rod supporting a movable contact has slits on its cylindrical part in the axial direction. The slits are closed before a distal end of the cylindrical part.

Abstract: A brush body 4 of a metal-graphite brush 2 is composed of a commutator side portion 6 which contains graphite, copper and a metal sulfide solid lubricant, and a lead side portion 8 which contains graphite and copper but does not contain any metal sulfide solid lubricant. A lead wire 10 is attached to the lead side portion 8 containing no metal sulfide solid lubricant.

Abstract: A metal-graphite brush comprises a brush body which is made by mixing and molding metal powder and graphite powder. 2 mg to 30 mg as amounts of phosphate ion of at least one of phosphoric acid and a phosphate compound is added to 1 g of the brush body of the metal-graphite brush.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a starter is presented. The shock absorber includes a rotary disk, a stationary disk and a disk spring. The rotary disk is pressed by the disk spring against a stationary disk to generate frictional force when the rotary disk is rotated by an excessive shock thereby absorbing the shock. The rotary disk has a plurality of press-formed rectangular dimples at a surface opposite the stationary disk, and each side of each the rectangular dimple inclines to a direction of rolling of the raw material of the rotary disk.

Abstract: In a starter, a barrel of a one-way clutch fits on an outer circumference of an output shaft. The barrel and the output shaft have spline portions and engage with each other. A chemical conversion coating is formed on at least one of the spline portion of the output shaft and the spline portion of the barrel. Microscopic asperities of a dimension within 10 &mgr;m are formed on the surface of the chemical conversion coating to hold grease applied on the spline portions. The chemical conversion coating is formed by immersing the spline portion in a chemical treatment solution, such as zinc phosphate solution. Alternatively, the asperities can be directly formed on the spline portions.

Abstract: In a multilayer brush composed chiefly of copper and graphite and incorporated therein with a solid lubricant, which consists essentially of two types of brushes, a high-copper-content part brush containing the copper in a large quantity and a low-copper-content part brush containing the copper in a small quantity, at least the high-copper-content part brush contains zinc in an amount of from 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight, and the zinc and the copper form an alloy. This can provide a multilayer brush having a superior durability, which can prevent the performance of motors from lowering, without use of the harmful substance such as lead, and may less undergo any wear due to mechanical and electrical sparkling of the brush.

Abstract: In a multilayer brush composed chiefly of copper and graphite and incorporated therein with a solid lubricant, which consists essentially of two types of brushes, a high-copper-content part brush containing the copper in a large quantity and a low-copper-content part brush containing the copper in a small quantity, at least the high-copper-content part brush contains zinc in an amount of from 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight, and the zinc and the copper form an alloy. This can provide a multilayer brush having a superior durability, which can prevent the performance of motors from lowering, without use of the harmful substance such as lead, and may less undergo any wear due to mechanical and electrical sparkling of the brush.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic switch of a starter, a bobbin has two terminal holders on a flange. Each of the terminal holders defines a slot on its end surface and a terminal is press-fitted in the slot in an axial direction of the bobbin. An end of an excitation coil wound around the bobbin is pulled out the bobbin and connected to the terminal. A molded cover provides a through hole and is mounted on the terminal so that the terminal passes through the through hole. A sealing member is press-fitted on the terminal to air-tightly seal the through hole. A rod cover fitted on a rod supporting a movable contact has slits on its cylindrical part in the axial direction. The slits are closed before a distal end of the cylindrical part.

Abstract: Ag particles produced by chemical reduction and having a mean particle size of 5 &mgr;m are added by 0.05-3 wt % and Zn are added by 2-10 wt % to a Pb-less brush body containing graphite, Cu and a metal sulfide solid lubricant of a metal-graphite brush.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a starter for an engine, capable of driving the engine at a high torque at the beginning of the starting and of driving it in a high-rotation condition at the end of the starting. An inner circumferential tapered portion of a movable cam plate is pressed against an outer circumferential portion of an outer cam of a clutch so that the outer cam and an internal gear are integrated to rotate at the same speed. Thus, on the epicycle reduction principle, in an epicycle reduction gear device, a sun gear, a planetary gear and an arm portion enter an identical-rotation condition, that is, a reduction ratio 1 condition. Moreover, an outer circumferential tapered portion of the movable cam plate is pressed against a tapered portion of a housing so that the internal gear is placed into a fixed, non-rotatable condition, thereby providing an ordinary epicycle reduction to produce a high reduction ratio.

Abstract: In a rotary electric machine, a collar for restricting expansion of coil ends includes a boss fitted on an armature rotation shaft, a flange radially extending from the boss and a pressing portion for pressing coil ends toward an armature core. The thickness of the boss is greater than that of the flange, so that the force F1 that is caused by deflection of the flange when coil ends expand due to a temperature increase is smaller than the force F2 that is required to remove the boss from the rotation shaft. The force F1 is applied to the boss in a direction that the collar separates from the armature core. Because the pressing portion presses against the coil ends toward the armature core through an insulation ring, the coil ends are restricted from expanding by a centrifugal force when the armature rotates.

Abstract: A metal-graphite brush has a copper-graphite brush body to which a metal sulfide solid lubricant is added and a lead embedded. Indium is at least added to an interface between the brush body and the lead in a concentration of 0.4-8 wt %.

Abstract: A grease composition suitable for use with vehicle electrical equipment and vehicle engine starters is disclosed, which has excellent abrasion resistance and anti-seizure property, long service life, excellent lubricity at low temperatures, and has no adverse effect on electric contacts. The composition contains: (A) a silicon-free synthetic oil having a kinematic viscosity of 10 to 60 mm2/s at 40° C.; (B) a urea thickener; (C) melamine cyanurate; and (D) polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A starter motor includes an intermediate gear engaging with and driven by a pinion connected to an output shaft of an electrical motor. The intermediate gear is coupled to the pinion by means of a retainer to be shifted in its axial direction together with the pinion. The intermediate gear engages with a ring gear of an engine to crank up the engine when it is shifted in the axial direction. The retainer is connected to a pinion boss by forcibly enlarging a resilient opening of its groove, and the resilient opening recovers its original position after the retainer is connected to the pinion boss. In this manner, the retainer is prevented from dropping off from the pinion boss during an assembling process of the starter motor. The retainer is made of resin to have an enough thickness to secure a sufficient mechanical strength.

Abstract: Ag particles produced by chemical reduction and having a mean particle size of 5 &mgr;m are added by 0.05-3 wt % and Zn are added by 2-10 wt % to a Pb-less brush body containing graphite, Cu and a metal sulfide solid lubricant of a metal-graphite brush.

Abstract: To reduce entire length and radial dimension of a starter, the starter includes a driving lever composed of a lever body and a lever pin as a pivot center of the driving lever body. Further, the lever pin is disposed close to a center case in the radial direction. The dimension between supporting positions of both arm portions supporting the lever pin is set large. To provide the waterproof structure of a starter, a projection provided on a lever seal is inserted into a positioning hole of a lever holder in a lever assembly of a starter. Further, a tip of the projection comes in contact with a peripheral surface of a lever pin at a lower side than the center of the lever pin.

Abstract: A copper-zinc alloy powder of which zinc content is from 10 to 50 wt % and of which mean particle diameter is from 15 &mgr;m or under is added to a Pb-less brush body comprising graphite, copper and a metal sulfide solid lubricant of a copper-graphite brush.

Abstract: A metal-graphite brush comprises a brush body which is made by mixing and molding metal powder and graphite powder. 2 mg to 30 mg as amounts of phosphate ion of at least one of phosphoric acid and a phosphate compound is added to 1 g of the brush body of the metal-graphite brush.