Abstract: A starter mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a spring that is wound during the starting operation of the internal combustion engine. As the operator pulls the starter rope of the engine the starter spring begins to wind creating a force within the spring. Once the spring force overcomes the compression force of the piston the spring will unwind thereby turning the crankshaft of the engine and consequently starting the engine. The starter rope is returned to the housing of the starter mechanism by the use of a rope return spring.

Abstract: A recoil starter featuring a capability of efficiently cooling an engine, easy fabrication and handlings of a power storage spiral spring and an enhanced assemblability is provided.

Abstract: A recoil starter having a driving member and a driven member, wherein the driving member further includes recoiling unidirectional rotating means. The recoiling unidirectional rotating means includes a movable locking claw member which is supported by one of the rope reel and the interlocking rotor in such a manner that it is rotatable therewith and movable in a direction along the rotational axis thereof, an urging member for urging the movable locking claw member toward the other of the rope reel and the interlocking rotor, and an engaging member mounted on the other of the rope reel and the interlocking rotor.

Abstract: A starter mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a spring that is wound during the starting operation of the internal combustion engine. As the operator pulls the starter rope of the engine the starter spring begins to wind creating a force within the spring. Once the spring force overcomes the compression force of the piston the spring will unwind thereby turning the crankshaft of the engine and consequently starting the engine. The starter rope is returned to the housing of the starter mechanism by the use of a rope return spring.

Abstract: There is provided a recoil starter which is capable of inhibiting settling and bending in the spiral spring of spiral spring mechanism, thus improving the durability of the spiral spring and preventing the internal hook end of the spiral spring from being easily disengaged from the core portion. The spiral spring mechanism comprises a spiral spring case placed close to the driving member, a actuating pulley placed close to the driven member, a spiral spring interposed between the spiral spring case and the actuating pulley, and means for rotating the spiral spring case only unidirectionally, wherein the outer and inner ends of the spiral spring are fastened to the spiral spring case and the actuating pulley, respectively.

Abstract: Provided are starters for securely starting an internal combustion engine. The starters have a reel rotatably mounted in a case, a starting rope wound on the reel, a rotor rotatably mounted in the case, a spring for storing energy with rotation of the rotor in a predetermined direction, an engaging mechanism for engaging the reel with the rotor with pullout of the starting rope to transmit a torque of the reel to the rotor to store energy in the spring, and an engagement release mechanism for releasing the engagement between the reel and the rotor at the start of rewinding of the starting rope onto the reel to rotate the rotor by a restoring force of the spring. This arrangement permits the internal combustion engine to be started readily and securely.

Abstract: A recoil starter wherein unidirectional rotating means is enabled to sustain a larger magnitude of torque, obviating the employment of parts which are high in mechanical strength, in rigidity and in working precision, thus making it possible to reduce the weight and the manufacturing cost thereof. The recoil starter includes a driving member, a driven member, and buffering/power-accumulating means interposed between the driving member and the driven member. The buffering/power-accumulating means is enabled, during the driving process, to accumulate the power supplied through the driving process while alleviating impact to the driven member. The accumulated power is subsequently employed to drive the driven member.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a spring housing rotatably mounted to the engine's engine housing for rotation about an axis of rotation. An energy storing mechanism including at least one elastic member is housed within the spring housing. A spring loading mechanism includes at least one roller movable into and out of engagement between the engine's flywheel and the spring housing, such that rotation of the flywheel is converted through the at least one roller to cause rotation of the spring housing in a direction that loads the elastic member. An engine starting mechanism includes a helically threaded member interconnected with the spring housing and a starter pinion threaded onto the helically threaded member. Rotation of the spring housing in response to unloading of the elastic member causes the starter pinion to move into engagement with the flywheel, thereby rotating the flywheel and starting the engine.

Abstract: An engine starting device includes a first pulley mounted to the crankshaft of an engine for rotation with the crankshaft. A second pulley is mounted to an arbor that extends into a spring housing containing an elastic member. The elastic member is interconnected with the arbor such that rotation of the arbor in a loading direction loads the elastic member. A belt interconnects the two pulleys and a tensioner is mounted near the belt to selectively apply tension to the belt. When the tensioner applies sufficient tension to the belt, the second pulley rotates in response to the first pulley and crankshaft rotating. Rotation of the second pulley causes the elastic member to become loaded in response to rotation of the arbor in the loading direction. A ratchet wheel and pawl may be used to keep the arbor from rotating in the unloading direction. To initiate start up of the engine, the pawl is removed from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: An engine starting device includes a roller selectively engageable between the crankshaft of an engine and an arbor. The roller causes the arbor to rotate in a loading direction in response to rotation of the crankshaft. Rotation of the arbor loads an elastic member. A locking mechanism, such as a ratchet wheel and pawl may be used to keep the elastic member loaded until it is desired to startup the engine. Engine startup is initiated by disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel and permitting the elastic member to unload. A pinion gear is mounted on a helically threaded portion of the arbor and moves axially along the helically threaded portion in response to unloading of the elastic member. The pinion gear engages teeth on the flywheel and causes the flywheel to rotate in a starting direction under the influence of the unloading elastic member.

Abstract: An engine starting and stopping device includes a first roller selectively abutting the flywheel of an engine for rotation on a first shaft in response to rotation of the flywheel. A second roller abuts the first roller and rotates in response to rotation of the first roller. A second shaft and an overwind clutch couple the second roller with a third roller such that the third roller rotates in response to rotation of the second roller. The third roller abuts a spring housing and causes rotation of the spring housing in response to rotation of the third roller. A spring is housed within the spring housing and is loaded in response to rotation of the spring housing. The overwind clutch slips when the spring is loaded to a preselected level to protect the spring from overwinding. The spring is selectively unloaded to rotate the spring housing in an unloading direction. Rotation of the spring housing in the unloading direction causes rotation of the engine's crankshaft and startup of the engine.

Abstract: There is provided a recoil starter which is capable of inhibiting settling and bending in the spiral spring of spiral spring mechanism, thus improving the durability of the spiral spring and preventing the internal hook end of the spiral spring from being easily disengaged from the core portion. The spiral spring mechanism comprises a spiral spring case placed close to the driving member, a actuating pulley placed close to the driven member, a spiral spring interposed between the spiral spring case and the actuating pulley, and means for rotating the spiral spring case only unidirectionally, wherein the outer and inner ends of the spiral spring are fastened to the spiral spring case and the actuating pulley, respectively.

Abstract: A recoil starter featuring a capability of efficiently cooling an engine, easy fabrication and handlings of a power storage spiral spring and an enhanced assemblability is provided.

Abstract: A starter that is capable of minimizing fluctuations in the pulling force of a starter rope so as to make it possible to perform a smooth pulling operation when starting an internal combustion engine includes a driving section (A), a driven section (B), and a buffering/power-accumulating device (15) interposed between the driving section (A) and the driven section (B).

Abstract: A recoil starter having a driving member and a driven member, wherein the driving member further includes recoiling unidirectional rotating means. The recoiling unidirectional rotating means includes a movable locking claw member which is supported by one of the rope reel and the interlocking rotor in such a manner that it is rotatable therewith and movable in a direction along the rotational axis thereof, an urging member for urging the movable locking claw member toward the other of the rope reel and the interlocking rotor, and an engaging member mounted on the other of the rope reel and the interlocking rotor.

Abstract: Provided are starters for securely starting an internal combustion engine. The starters have a reel rotatably mounted in a case, a starting rope wound on the reel, a rotor rotatably mounted in the case, a spring for storing energy with rotation of the rotor in a predetermined direction, an engaging mechanism for engaging the reel with the rotor with pullout of the starting rope to transmit a torque of the reel to the rotor to store energy in the spring, and an engagement release mechanism for releasing the engagement between the reel and the rotor at the start of rewinding of the starting rope onto the reel to rotate the rotor by a restoring force of the spring. This arrangement permits the internal combustion engine to be started readily and securely.

Abstract: A recoil starter wherein unidirectional rotating means is enabled to sustain a larger magnitude of torque, obviating the employment of parts which are high in mechanical strength, in rigidity and in working precision, thus making it possible to reduce the weight and the manufacturing cost thereof. The recoil starter includes a driving member, a driven member, and buffering/power-accumulating means interposed between the driving member and the driven member. The buffering/power-accumulating means is enabled, during the driving process, to accumulate the power supplied through the driving process while alleviating impact to the driven member. The accumulated power is subsequently employed to drive the driven member.

Abstract: An engine starting and stopping device for an internal combustion engine includes an energy storing mechanism having at least one elastic member such as a spring, an input element engageable with the elastic member and movable during engine coast down to load the elastic member, and an output element that is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism. The output element is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism as the elastic member unloads from the loaded state, to thereby move a rotatable member (i.e., a crankshaft and/or flywheel) of the engine during starting of the engine. An input control device is also provided for positioning the input element into engagement with the rotatable member of the engine such that rotation of the rotatable member moves the input element to load the elastic member during engine coast down and also to brake the engine.

Abstract: An engine starting and stopping device includes a first roller selectively abutting the flywheel of an engine for rotation on a first shaft in response to rotation of the flywheel. A second roller abuts the first roller and rotates in response to rotation of the first roller. A second shaft and an overwind clutch couple the second roller with a third roller such that the third roller rotates in response to rotation of the second roller. The third roller abuts a spring housing and causes rotation of the spring housing in response to rotation of the third roller. A spring is housed within the spring housing and is loaded in response to rotation of the spring housing. The overwind clutch slips when the spring is loaded to a preselected level to protect the spring from overwinding. The spring is selectively unloaded to rotate the spring housing in an unloading direction. Rotation of the spring housing in the unloading direction causes rotation of the engine's crankshaft and startup of the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a spring housing rotatably mounted to the engine's engine housing for rotation about an axis of rotation. An energy storing mechanism including at least one elastic member is housed within the spring housing. A spring loading mechanism includes at least one roller movable into and out of engagement between the engine's flywheel and the spring housing, such that rotation of the flywheel is converted through the at least one roller to cause rotation of the spring housing in a direction that loads the elastic member. An engine starting mechanism includes a helically threaded member interconnected with the spring housing and a starter pinion threaded onto the helically threaded member. Rotation of the spring housing in response to unloading of the elastic member causes the starter pinion to move into engagement with the flywheel, thereby rotating the flywheel and starting the engine.

Abstract: An engine starting device includes a roller selectively engageable between the crankshaft of an engine and an arbor. The roller causes the arbor to rotate in a loading direction in response to rotation of the crankshaft. Rotation of the arbor loads an elastic member. A locking mechanism, such as a ratchet wheel and pawl may be used to keep the elastic member loaded until it is desired to startup the engine. Engine startup is initiated by disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel and permitting the elastic member to unload. A pinion gear is mounted on a helically threaded portion of the arbor and moves axially along the helically threaded portion in response to unloading of the elastic member. The pinion gear engages teeth on the flywheel and causes the flywheel to rotate in a starting direction under the influence of the unloading elastic member.

Abstract: A starting and stopping device for an internal combustion engine includes an energy storing device including at least one elastic member. The elastic member is loaded in response to rotation of a main shaft, and the main shaft rotates in an unloading direction in response to unloading of the elastic member. A locking mechanism selectively prevents the elastic member from unloading from a loaded state by preventing the shaft from rotating in the unloading direction. A clutch mechanism is operatively disposed between the main shaft and the locking mechanism to permit rotation of the shaft in the unloading direction when a preselected torsional threshold between the shaft and the locking mechanism is reached.

Abstract: An engine starting device includes a first pulley mounted to the crankshaft of an engine for rotation with the crankshaft. A second pulley is mounted to an arbor that extends into a spring housing containing an elastic member. The elastic member is interconnected with the arbor such that rotation of the arbor in a loading direction loads the elastic member. A belt interconnects the two pulleys and a tensioner is mounted near the belt to selectively apply tension to the belt. When the tensioner applies sufficient tension to the belt, the second pulley rotates in response to the first pulley and crankshaft rotating. Rotation of the second pulley causes the elastic member to become loaded in response to rotation of the arbor in the loading direction. A ratchet wheel and pawl may be used to keep the arbor from rotating in the unloading direction. To initiate start up of the engine, the pawl is removed from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing, a crankshaft supported within the engine housing for rotation with respect to the engine housing, and a flywheel fixedly mounted to the crankshaft and rotatable with the crankshaft in a starting direction to start the engine. A coil spring has an outer end fixedly interconnected with respect to the engine housing, and an inner end. A unidirectional clutch has a portion connected to the inner end of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is characterized by an interference condition in which the unidirectional clutch couples the inner end of the spring to the flywheel such that the flywheel and crankshaft may be rotated in the starting direction in response to unloading of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is also characterized by a non-interference condition in which the inner end of the spring is uncoupled from the flywheel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing and a crankshaft supported for rotation within the engine housing and rotatable in a starting direction to start said engine. At least one cup is fixedly mounted to the crankshaft for rotation therewith. A starter shaft is supported by the engine housing for rotation. A spring housing includes a circumferential flange that defines an annular track with the at least one cup, and a spring is housed within the spring housing. The spring has a first end interconnected with the spring housing and a second end interconnected with the engine housing. A friction roller is movable into the annular track and into engagement with both of the circumferential flange and the at least one cup to cause rotation of the spring housing and loading of the spring in response to rotation of the crankshaft.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing and a crankshaft supported for rotation within the engine housing and rotatable in a starting direction to start said engine. At least one cup is fixedly mounted to the crankshaft for rotation therewith. A starter shaft is supported by the engine housing for rotation. A spring housing includes a circumferential flange that defines an annular track with the at least one cup, and a spring is housed within the spring housing. The spring has a first end interconnected with the spring housing and a second end interconnected with the engine housing. A friction roller is movable into the annular track and into engagement with both of the circumferential flange and the at least one cup to cause rotation of the spring housing and loading of the spring in response to rotation of the crankshaft.

Abstract: An engine starting device for an internal combustion engine, includes an energy storing mechanism including at least one elastic member, an input element engageable with the elastic member and movable into contact with a rotatable engine member of an engine to load the elastic member, an output element that is movable in response to unloading of the elastic member, at least one manual actuator to enable unloading of the elastic member, a locking mechanism engageable with the energy storing mechanism to prevent the elastic member from unloading from a loaded state, a sliding member, a cam member mounted to the sliding member, a pivot link pivotably mounted to the sliding member, and a key device coupled to the pivot link. In operation, rotation of the key device in a locking direction causes the pivot link to move the sliding member, thereby causing the cam member to engage the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is positioned in engagement with the energy storing mechanism.

Abstract: An engine starting device for an internal combustion engine, includes an energy storing mechanism including at least one elastic member, an input element engageable with the elastic member and movable into contact with a rotatable engine member of an engine to load the elastic member, an output element that is movable in response to unloading of the elastic member, at least one manual actuator to enable unloading of the elastic member, a locking mechanism engageable with the energy storing mechanism to prevent the elastic member from unloading from a loaded state, a sliding member, a cam member mounted to the sliding member, a pivot link pivotably mounted to the sliding member, and a key device coupled to the pivot link. In operation, rotation of the key device in a locking direction causes the pivot link to move the sliding member, thereby causing the cam member to engage the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is positioned in engagement with the energy storing mechanism.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing, a crankshaft supported within the engine housing for rotation with respect to the engine housing, and a flywheel fixedly mounted to the crankshaft and rotatable with the crankshaft in a starting direction to start the engine. A coil spring has an outer end fixedly interconnected with respect to the engine housing, and an inner end. A unidirectional clutch has a portion connected to the inner end of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is characterized by an interference condition in which the unidirectional clutch couples the inner end of the spring to the flywheel such that the flywheel and crankshaft may be rotated in the starting direction in response to unloading of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is also characterized by a non-interference condition in which the inner end of the spring is uncoupled from the flywheel.

Abstract: An engine starting and stopping device for an internal combustion engine includes an energy storing mechanism having at least one elastic member such as a spring, an input element engageable with the elastic member and movable during engine coast down to load the elastic member, and an output element that is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism. The output element is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism as the elastic member unloads from the loaded state, to thereby move a rotatable member (i.e., a crankshaft and/or flywheel) of the engine during starting of the engine. An input control device is also provided for positioning the input element into engagement with the rotatable member of the engine such that rotation of the rotatable member moves the input element to load the elastic member during engine coast down and also to brake the engine.