Inertia Starters Patents (Class 290/38B)
  • Patent number: 6114772
    Abstract: In a starter, a plate that turns with a pinion moving body is disposed behind the pinion moving body. The plate has a receiving part that engages with the lower extension of a rotation restricting member for restricting the rotation of the pinion moving body until a pinion gear engages with a ring gear. In a power supply circuit for a starter motor, a first switch and a second switch are provided. The first switch turns on first to energize the starter motor. When the pinion gear engages with the ring gear thereafter, the second switch turns on to energize further the starter motor by short-circuiting a resistor wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Araki, Keiichi Matsushima
  • Patent number: 6098584
    Abstract: The starter apparatus for an internal combustion engine (2) includes a starter-generator including a device for rotating a flywheel (5) to a predetermined rotational speed and a device for rotating the crankshaft (3) of the engine to directly start the engine; at least one clutch (6, 7) for directly coupling or disengaging the flywheel (5) with the crankshaft (3) of the engine (2) so that the flywheel (5) starts the engine (2) with the rotational energy stored in the flywheel (5) by the starter-generator in an impulse starting method and a changeover device (11) for changing between the impulse starting method based on engagement of the flywheel (5) with the engine (2) and a direct starting method in which the starter-generator (4) is directly coupled to the engine, wherein the changeover device switches between the direct starting method and the impulse starting method as a function of a temperature of the engine (2) so that the impulse starting method is used at comparatively lower temperatures and the dire
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Ahner, Siegfried Schustek, Manfred Ackermann, Martin Eisenhardt, Robert Schenk
  • Patent number: 5877575
    Abstract: In a starter for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a pinion; shift mechanism for moving the pinion into mesh with a ring gear of the engine; a housing for accommodating the pinion and the shift mechanism; an electric motor for rotating the pinion; a substantially cylindrical motor casing for accommodating the electric motor; a contact unit for selectively providing electric power to the electric motor; a brush holder stay disposed between the housing and the motor casing, the brush holder stay having a cavity opened toward the motor casing and the contact unit being mounted in the cavity; and a cover for covering the cavity of the brush holder stay, the cover is made of a flexible member so that the cover is naturally curved, and the cover is disposed between the brush holder stay and the motor casing with its concave surface facing the brush holder stay so that the cover is pushed toward the brush holder stay by an axial end of the motor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nara, Masaaki Ohya, Yoshikazu Sato, Michio Okada, Shinichi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 5777393
    Abstract: A retreat restricting member for restricting the retreat of a pinion in an advanced state of the pinion on an output shaft and in a resulting meshed state of a pinion gear with a ring gear is engaged with a pair of pins rotatably, the pins being each attached to a thrust ring. In a rotation restricting member for restricting the rotation of the pinion, upon meshing of the pinion gear with the ring gear, the front end of a rotation restricting bar is disengaged from a recess of a rotation restricting plate and falls to the rear end side of the thrust ring, thereby releasing the rotation-restricted state of the pinion. Further, engaging portions of the rotation restricting member come into engagement with engaging recesses of the retreat restricting member to hold the posture of the member, thereby inhibiting the retreat of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Katoh, Takeshi Araki, Masami Niimi, Tsutomu Shiga
  • Patent number: 4703188
    Abstract: A power source for a starter motor comprising a frame, a hand crank rotatably connected to the frame, a flywheel generator connected to the hand crank, and power transmission electrically connected to the flywheel generator so as to transmit energy to a starter motor. The flywheel generator comprises a flywheel connected to the hand crank, a permanent magnet fixedly attached to the flywheel, and a stator winding mounted to the frame. The stator winding is electrically connected to the power transmitter. The power transmitter includes a rectifier bridge electrically connected to the flywheel generator and connector leads for connecting the rectifier bridge to terminals associated with a starter motor. A gear train is arranged within the frame so as to transmit a greater rate of rotation to the flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Power Group International Corp.
    Inventor: Mario H. Gottfried
  • Patent number: 4626696
    Abstract: A propulsion system for use in automotive vehicles wherein the flywheel is connectable with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine by a first clutch and with the input shaft of the change-speed transmission by a second clutch. When the engine would be idling (such as during stoppage of the vehicle at an intersection) or running unnecessarily for another reason (such as during coasting of the vehicle), the two clutches are disengaged and the flywheel rotates by inertia to restart the engine, when necessary, in response to engagement of the first clutch. If the RPM of the flywheel reaches a preselected lower threshold value, a starter-generator unit automatically accelerates the flywheel so that its RPM rises above the threshold value and is thus sufficient to ensure that the engine is restarted on engagement of the first clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Maucher, Oswald Friedmann, Siegfried Sonntag
  • Patent number: 4551630
    Abstract: An electric starting system for cranking an internal combustion engine that utilizes a starter having a solenoid that is provided with pull-in and hold-in coils. The solenoid includes a plunger which when shifted operates solenoid switch contacts and shifts a pinion into mesh with the ring gear of the engine to be cranked. The electric starting motor has series and shunt field coils and during cranking operation the shunt field is energized through the hold-in coil of the solenoid and the series field is energized through the pull-in coil of the solenoid. This mode of energization produces a small indexing torque that slowly rotates the pinion when end tooth abutment occurs between the pinion and the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Stahura, Daniel D. Richey
  • Patent number: 4525632
    Abstract: A reduction gear type D.C. starter motor for an internal combustion engine including a planetary type reduction gear system mounted in a front bracket at a faucet joint portion between it and a rear bracket, the rear bracket and the yoke being integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshinori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4507565
    Abstract: Described is a method of starting an electric starting motor for an internal combustion engine. The motor shaft has a pinion at the shaft end for meshing with a ring gear provided to the engine. The pinion is shifted by a shift lever into a position meshing with the ring gear, after which the starting motor is excited for causing rotation of the ring gear and thereby starting the engine. According to the invention, until the time the pinion engages the ring gear, brush means of the starting motor are shifted away from the electrically neutral axis towards pole sides of the permanent magnet of the motor where the main magnetic field produced by the magnet is strengthened by the armature-reaction magnetic fluxes. After the pinion is engaged with the ring gear, said brush means are returned again to their positions on said neutral axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Hamano
  • Patent number: 4507566
    Abstract: A gasoline engine is equipped with an auxiliary driven wheel selectively engageable with a driving wheel on the shaft of an electric motor mounted for movement relative to the gasoline engine and operable from a remote point. A compact housing enables use of the invention on existing equipment, such as a lawnmower, or installation as original equipment at the time of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Inventors: Ralph W. Leatherman, Boyce Leatherman
  • Patent number: 4488054
    Abstract: A starter apparatus comprises a D.C. motor, a solenoid actuator, a hollow sleeve having at one end thereof a pinion and a one way clutch. A torque of an armature of the D.C. motor is transmitted through the one way clutch to the hollow sleeve and further transmitted to a ring gear of an engine, which is engaged with a pinion of the hollow sleeve, thereby performing a start up of the engine. The engagement or disengagement between the pinion and the ring gear is carried out by means that the solenoid actuator reciprocates only the hollow sleeve through a shift lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohei Ebihara
  • Patent number: 4458156
    Abstract: A propulsion system for use in automotive vehicles wherein the flywheel is connectable with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine by a first clutch and with the input shaft of the change-speed transmission by a second clutch. When the engine would be idling (such as during stoppage of the vehicle at an intersection) or running unnecessarily for another reason (such as during coasting of the vehicle), the two clutches are disengaged and the flywheel rotates by inertia to restart the engine, when necessary, in response to engagement of the first clutch. If the RPM of the flywheel reaches a preselected lower threshold value, a starter-generator unit automatically accelerates the flywheel so that its RPM rises above the threshold value and is thus sufficient to ensure that the engine is restarted on engagement of the first clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Maucher, Oswald Friedmann, Siegfried Sonntag
  • Patent number: 4426585
    Abstract: In combination with a brushless, three phase synchronous motor forming part of a flywheel starter of an internal combustion engine and having a stator with field windings and a winding-free toothed rotor having a pole pitch angle, a circuit for generating a rotating field for the windings is disclosed. The circuit includes a sensor positioned near the rotor for generating signals indicative of the pole pitch time of the rotor. A divider circuit is provided for generating a current flow signal for each field winding in response to the sensor signals. A delay network is coupled to the divider circuit and determines a time delay between the start of the pole pitch time and the start of the current flow signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Erhard Bigalke
  • Patent number: 4233521
    Abstract: The device comprises an electric motor having a planar airgap the rotor of which constitutes a flywheel capable of being coupled frictionally with a plate rigid with the shaft of the heat engine to be started. For this purpose, the motor is axially movably mounted in a case between an uncoupled position to which it is biased by a spring and a position in which it is coupled with the plate. The motor is brought to the latter position by the excitation of a clutch coil carried by the rotor and exerting a force of attraction between the rotor and the plate in opposition to the action of the spring. Owing to its small axial overall size, this device requires only a low electric power and may be adapted to mopeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: Aciers et Outillage Peugeot
    Inventor: Rene Pouget
  • Patent number: 4180743
    Abstract: The starter comprises a flywheel rotated by an electric motor and an electromagnetic clutch for rendering the flywheel rigid with the crankshaft of the engine to be started. The flywheel carries on one side the armature of the motor and on the opposite side the inductor of the clutch. The motor inductor is carried by a flat disc which is parallel to the flywheel and defines a planar airgap of the motor. The flywheel has a part which is common to the magnetic circuits of the motor armature and the clutch inductor and has sufficient section to permit the circulation of the motor or clutch magnetic flux but is saturated by the circulation of the flux of the motor so that a remanent flux of the clutch will be cancelled out as soon as the magnetic flux of the motor is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Cycles Peugeot
    Inventor: Bernard Lacroix