Abstract: In a coaxial engine starter comprising a pinion connected to the output shaft which is driven by an electric motor, via a helical spline, a switch unit for selectively closing a power supply line to the electric motor, and a solenoid device consisting of an annular armature and an annular energization coil surrounding the output shaft to axially drive the pinion and a moveable contact of the switch unit in the axial direction, the energization coil is disposed between the electric motor and the pinion with a commutator of the electric motor facing the energization coil, and a pigtail for one of the brushes is directly connected to the moveable contact. Also, the contacts of the switch unit are placed between a pair of adjacent brushes of the commutator.

Abstract: A starter is provided that includes a starter motor having an armature core with an armature coil wound therearound and an armature shaft for rotatably holding the armature core. A drive shaft is further provided having a pinion that meshes with a ring gear of an engine. A reduction gear mechanism is interposed between the drive shaft and the armature shaft for reducing the rotation relative to the armature shaft to transmit the reduction rotation to the drive shaft. The reduction gear mechanism has a speed reduction ratio of 6:1 to 10:1.

Abstract: A starter for a motor vehicle engine is equipped with a device for cutting off the operation of the starter as soon as the engine is running by itself. The device detects the voltage or current waves in the power supply to the starter, and stops the starter when these waves disappear. At each new wave in the power supply signal, a monitoring period is generated, having a duration which decreases as the frequency of the waves increases, the starter being stopped when no new wave is detected in the last monitoring period.

Abstract: In a starter control system for an engine equipped with a starter motor, starter relay, ignition switch, and electronic control unit (ECU), a circuit and method whereby the ECU will deactivate the starter relay if the operator of a vehicle attempts to re-start the vehicle when the current engine speed is greater than the minimum engine running speed, under both initial starting and engine running conditions. The deactivation of the starter relay will prevent engagement of the pinion gear to the ring gear of the starter motor, potentially reducing wear on the starter motor, grinding of the pinion gear to the ring gear when engaging the gears at a high RPM, and noise to an operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: Around the outer circumference of an armature core 520, there are arranged a stator core 558 and a stator coil 559 wound on the stator core 558, forming a fixed magnetic field device. The stator coil 559 has its one end portion arranged in the space at the outer circumference of a planetary gear speed reduction mechanism 300, i.e., at the outer circumference of a center bracket 360. A motor partition 800 is formed with a stepped portion 810 so as to accommodate the aforementioned one end portion. On the other hand, the other end of the stator coil 559 is arranged in the space at the outer circumference of a brush 910. In short, the planetary gear speed reduction mechanism 300 has its external diameter made smaller than the inner circumferential diameter of the stator coil 559.

Abstract: First and second switches are disposed in a housing which accommodates a magnetic switch of a starter motor. The magnetic switch is composed of a plunger and a exciting coil to drive the plunger. A movable contact of the first switch is mechanically connected to the plunger at such a space from a stationary contact of the first switch that it supplies driving current through a current limiting resistor when a pinion of the starter motor is brought in contact with a ring gear of an engine. A movable contact of the second switch is mechanically connected to to the plunger at such a space that it bypasses the current limiting resistor when the pinion is brought in mesh with the ring gear. A timer composed of a bimetal switch is provided to interrupt the driving current through the current limiting resistor if the resistor is heated at a designated temperature.

Abstract: A vehicle antitheft system includes a housing connectable to the casing of a starter motor and a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) disposed in the housing. The system includes a battery connector which engages the starter motor power line from the battery, and a starter connector which engages the power terminal of the starter motor, with the SCR being in electrical series between the connectors. A control circuit is mounted in the housing, and the control circuit closes the power switch for a predetermined period upon receipt of an enable signal from a hand-held rf generator. Consequently, the vehicle can be started by turning the ignition switch only during the predetermined period.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a hybrid vehicle with an electric motor, which has a rotor with a hub body and a stator, and with two engagable and disengagable dry-disk clutches. Each of the dry-disk clutches has a first functional component as well as a second functional component. The second functional component is frictionally connectable to the first functional component in order to provide a torque transmitting connection.

Abstract: A starter device having a reduced output shaft diameter is provided. A stopper mechanism for impeding the outward movement of the pinion (12) along the output shaft (3a) is implemented by forming the helical splines (31) on the output shaft (3a) as being alternately open (31a, 31b) and closed (32a) helical splines. The thrust washer (21), for bearing the outward axial force of the output shaft (3a), is disposed in the front bracket (5) of the starter in front of the front bearing (16) and opposed to the front end (3d) of the output shaft (3a). Both the stopper mechanism and thrust washer configuration according to the invention allow for a reduced diameter of the output shaft (3a). The reduced diameter of the output shaft, in turn, affords the option of making the pinion (12) smaller in diameter.

Abstract: An engine starting system for a vehicle includes a starter, a lead battery, an electric double layer capacitor which is connected in parallel with the lead battery, a starter switch and a control circuit for controlling current to the starter. The electric double layer capacitor is charged by the lead battery and discharge a large current to the starter when an engine is started. According to the construction of the control circuit, it is possible to control current discharged from the electric double layer capacitor so as to reduce damages on switches in the engine starting system. By using the electric double layer capacitor for the engine starting system, not only the burden on the lead battery at the engine starting can be reduced, but also the startingability of the engine can be improved.

Abstract: A starter comprising: a shift lever for engaging and disengaging a pinion and a ring gear of an engine; a magnetic switch for actuating the shift lever; a motor for driving the pinion; a front case having an open end to which the magnetic switch and the motor are mounted substantially in the same direction, the pinion being enclosed in the front case; a seal portion provided in the vicinity of the open end of the front case so as to seal a gap which communicates between the inside and the outside of the front case; the seal portion including a taper face and an elastic material, the taper face having an axis of taper substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the motor, the elastic material being fitted onto the taper face so as to be disposed between the magnetic switch and the motor and so as to be urged in the direction along which a width of the taper face becomes narrower.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a cranking system for a motor vehicle engine includes a starter motor assembly having a cranking motor and a starter solenoid. An electronic controller independently controls actuation of the starter solenoid and a contactor which provides current to the cranking motor. In this embodiment of the invention, the starter solenoid has a single electrical coil. Further, the contactor is relocated from its typical location within the starter solenoid to within the electronic controller, located remotely from the starter motor assembly.

Abstract: A starter which reduces the number of parts for a pinion rotation regulation and provides an accurate magnet switch operation. A concave portion is formed on the bottom side of a plunger to store a spherical body set on the rear end of a cord-shaped member, e.g., wire. A male screw is formed on the inner wall of the concave portion, and a fixing screw that fixes the spherical body is screwed into this male screw so that the length of the cord-shaped member is adjusted. The length of the string-shaped member is adjusted so that when a plunger shaft moves upward and a lower movable contact contacts a terminal bolt, the claw of the pinion rotation regulating member fits into the notch on the outer circumference of a pinion gear. Furthermore, the claw is is fit into the notch via the wire when the plunger moves.

Abstract: Disclosed is a starter which is simplified in the structure of its pinion rotation regulating mechanism and is down-sized in its entire structure. A pinion regulating member abuts with a pinion and moves the pinion towards a ring gear by the rotation of an output shaft, while preventing rotation of the pinion. When the pinion abuts with the ring gear, the pinion regulating member bends and gradually rotates the pinion to mesh with the ring gear. By this arrangement and operation, generation of abrasion powder is reduced with reduced number of component parts.

Abstract: A starter which optimally maintains the characteristics of a spring which presses a brush and reduces its axial direction length. A compressed coil spring is arranged around an outer circumference of a plunger of a magnet switch and the length of the spring can be set as long as the radial direction length of the magnet switch. The spring effectively uses the space around the outer circumference of the magnet switch, so the axial direction length of the spring need not be added to the axial direction length of the starter.

Abstract: In order to absorb the impact force produced when a pinion meshes a ring gear, a magnet switch is disposed apart from a pinion. The distance between a plunger of the magnet switch and a pinion rotation regulating member is lengthened so that a link mechanism having an elastic member such as a cord-shaped member or a spring is lengthened. As a result, the impact force produced when the pinion meshes the ring gear can be prevented from being directly transmitted to the plunger. Consequently, there is no vibration of the plunger and a movable contact can be reliably prevented from moving away from a fixed contact.

Abstract: A permanent magnet type rotating machine comprises a cylindrical yoke; a plurality of permanent magnets installed on an inner periphery of the cylindrical yoke; a rotor rotatably installed at an inner peripheral portion of the plurality of permanent magnets; and a retaining portion provided at a conventional constituent member of the permanent magnet type rotating machine to elastically retain the plurality of permanent magnets in an axial direction.

Abstract: A permanent magnet type rotating machine comprises a cylindrical yoke; a plurality of permanent magnets installed on an inner periphery of the cylindrical yoke; a rotor rotatably installed at an inner peripheral portion of the plurality of permanent magnets; and a retaining portion provided at a conventional constituent member of the permanent magnet type rotating machine to elastically retain the plurality of permanent magnets in an axial direction.

Abstract: A start circuit including: a current source; a start switch connected to the current source; a starter relay connected to the start switch; an anti-restart module connected to the starter relay, the anti-restart module including: a bi-directional thyristor having a gate, a first terminal connected to the starter relay and a second terminal connected to a ground; and a diode having a cathode and an anode, the anode being connected to the gate so as to allow current flow from the gate through the anode to the cathode; and a normally closed switch connected between the cathode and the ground, the normally closed switch becoming open upon detecting an engine run condition.

Abstract: A starting apparatus which is capable of preventing damages to the starter unit even if a starting current passed to the starter unit fails to be interrupted due to switch troubles, etc. is provided. A main storage device is charged by a power generating device and feeds electricity to electric loads in a vehicle and a subsidiary storage device. A starting switch passes the charging current from the main storage device to the subsidiary storage device during non-starting time, by which the subsidiary storage device specially designed to drive the starter unit stores the power which is smaller than that which may cause damages such as burning to the starter unit even if the current is discharged continuously to the starter unit, but larger than that required for each starting under normal conditions.

Abstract: A starter that can improve heat radiation efficiency and improve the brush life. An upper movable contact is set on the end of a plunger shaft fixed on a plunger. The upper movable contact moves together with the plunger due to the attraction force of an attraction coil and contacts a fixed contact set to face the upper movable contact and which is connected to a terminal bolt. The upper movable contact is directly installed and integrated with a brush, so the heat generated by the bush is efficiently dissipated through the brush, upper movable contact, fixed contact and terminal bolt out the battery cable connected to the terminal bolt.

Abstract: A starter for starting an engine with a ring gear includes a starter motor having a plurality of field poles disposed around an inner periphery thereof, an output shaft for transmitting rotation of the starter motor, a pinion mounted on the output shaft for meshing with the ring gear, and a magnet switch including a fixed contact and a plunger with a movable contact, which abuts the fixed contact. By moving the plunger and causing the movable contact, to abut the fixed contact electrical current is passed to the starter motor. The magnet switch is disposed in an end of the starter opposite an end where the pinion is disposed, with the plunger being disposed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the starter motor. The starter disclosed herein reduces the axial and diametral lengths and overall volume of the starter.

Abstract: An electric starter for an internal combustion engine has a coaxial pinion drive mechanism for urging the pinion gear into a positively fully meshed arrangement with the flywheel of the internal combustion engine prior to full power application to the cranking motor. The pinion drive mechanism is incompressible throughout its motion. The drive solenoid has a solid plunger which is limited in its stroke corresponding to the fully meshed position of the pinion gear by a pair of electrical contacts which are shorted at full stroke by the plunger functioning as a contact therebetween. The cranking motor is operated at a slow rotation at all times prior to full meshing of the pinion gear to aid in meshing thus reducing tooth wear and gear lash.

Abstract: Disclosed is an engine starting apparatus which suppresses engine vibrations and noises during engine cranking and reduces consumption of electric power supplied for engine cranking. When an engine starts to rotate to produce its torque, electric power supplied to a starter motor for engine cranking is reduced gradually so that a sum of torques produced by the starter motor and the engine may be prevented from increasing excessively. In the case a generator/motor is used for engine starting, operation of the generator/motor is switched from motor operation to generator operation for suppressing excessive speed rise when engine starting is completed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a starter which prevent a magnetic flux change of field device in a d.c. motor against a magnetic field produced by a battery cable and also prevents contact between the battery cable and the d.c. motor when a vehicle vibrates. In the periphery of a magnet switch cover, a pair of a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact are disposed opposing to a moving contact. The first fixed contact is conducted to a battery connecting terminal which connects to a battery cable. The switch cover covers a opening of the switch casing. A motor cover covers an opening of a motor casing disposed in parallel with a magnet switch. On a mounting surface of the battery cable connecting terminal in the switch cover, a washer protrudes from the back end portion of the motor cover in the axial direction.

Abstract: A starter is provided with a device for protecting an internal combustion engine against damage resulting from rapid repeated starting. The device holds the starter pinion meshed in the ring gear after an aborted attempt at starting and, after the starter switch is opened and the main current supply to the starter motor is disconnected, for as long as a voltage which is induced by the rotation of the armature shaft of the coasting starter motor flows through the device. The protection device can consist of a winding which is connected to the exciter winding of the starter motor. When current flows through the winding, a stop armature is extended and counteracts an unmeshing movement of the pinion.

Abstract: The system includes a direct-current voltage supply, an electric motor for rotating a movable pinion, and an electromagnetic operating device including a solenoid and an associated movable core. The core moves the pinion towards an operating position in which it can be coupled for rotation with a rotary member of the internal combustion engine. The connection between the electromagnetic operating device and the voltage supply is controlled by an electronic unit which measures the current flowing in the solenoid by means of a portion of the wire forming the solenoid, which portion is bent and preferably twisted, and acts as a resistive shunt.

Abstract: An engine starter has a plunger electromagnetically actuated by holding and attracting coils to move a pinion toward a ring gear on the engine and also to move a first movable contact on the plunger towards first and second stationary contacts to be electrically connected together by the first movable contact to electrically energize a starter motor. Completion of the circuit between the movable contact and the stationary contacts also serves to de-energize the attracting coil which may be damaged if energized for too long. Control means are provided to determine the voltages at each of the fixed contacts. The difference between the monitored voltages is determined and compared to a reference voltage differential. If the difference is not less than or equal to the reference voltage differential, the controller is programmed to know that the circuit has not been completed, and in order to avoid damage to the attracting coil and the starter, power is interrupted to the starter circuit.

Abstract: A guide hole 16b is formed in the insulation cap 16 of a starter motor electromagnetic switch, and a coil terminal 30 inserted through the guide hole has one or more projections 30b formed at a location corresponding to the guide hole so that the projections are wedged against an inner surface of the hole, thus preventing any resonant vibrations of the terminal and the attendant severing of its attached lead wire 1a.

Abstract: The system includes a direct-current voltage supply, an electric starter motor for rotating a movable pinion, and an electromagnetic operating device which, when it receives an excitation current, moves the pinion to couple it for rotation with a rotary member of the internal combustion engine. In operation, an electronic control unit cuts off the current supply to the electromagnetic operating device as soon as the speed of rotation of the engine shaft exceeds a predetermined threshold and the acceleration of the shaft is less than or equal to zero.

Abstract: A covering for electrical machines has at least one film which is placed around a pole housing and around parts attached to the pole housing and which is permanently shrunk onto the pole housing and the parts.

Abstract: An impact start assist device for an electric motor comprises a driven member coupled to a load and a drive member coupled to the motor and to the driven member. The driven member and the drive member are rotatable, relative to each other, through at least a portion of a revolution. The device further comprises an arrangement for providing a substantially instantaneous transfer of angular momentum from the drive member to the driven member after relative rotation of the members through at least the portion of the revolution. A locking arrangement is provided for locking the drive member and the driven member together at high rotational speeds. At least a portion of the locking arrangement is centrifugally actuated, and a spring is provided to disengage the locking mechanism at low speeds, or at rest.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hybrid AC/DC power source for aircraft power generation and aircraft engine starting. The power source employs an induction motor/generator and a converter for converting high frequency AC power into separate DC and low frequency AC power for use by aircraft electrical systems. The subject invention contemplates the provision of a driver for the motor/generator comprising a circuit for providing excitation to the motor/generator when it is operating as a generator, the circuit also converting AC power produced by the generator into the high frequency AC power for use by the converter. The converter comprises a first rectifier which produces the DC power and a second rectifier and an inverter which together produce the low frequency AC power. The generator produces uncontrolled frequency AC power. Bidirectional switches operate within the circuit to invert DC excitation power to produce power for the AC excitation and to rectify output of the generator into DC.

Abstract: A starter protection circuit for a starting device of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle has a thermoswitch assignable to a starter, a relay which is activated by the thermoswitch when the thermoswitch is operative and interrupts a starter operation and a relay operating key which after assumption of a cold switching state of the thermoswitch can operate again the starter.

Abstract: An AC variable speed drive (VSD) system having a brushless doubly-fed motor receives power from an electric power grid at a system frequency of the grid and drives a mechanical load. The motor has a rotor with rotor windings and a stator with stator windings comprising first and second polyphase stator systems. The first stator system receives power from the grid at the system frequency. A sensor senses a parameter of the received power by the drive and produces a corresponding power sensor signal. A VSD controller receives and processes the power sensor signal and a reference signal which has been established according to a desired motor operation strategy, and generates therefrom a controller signal. A converter, such as a power electronic converter, receives and converts power from a converter powThis invention was made with government support under Grant No. 79-85BP24332, awarded by the Bonneville Power Administration. The United States government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine including mechanical components subject to an impact load during operation including a shift lever, internal gear, gear cover formed integrally with the internal gear, front case, center bracket, and brush holder disposed in a rear bracket. At least one of the mechanical components is formed of a synthetic resin having a glass transition temperature greater than 90.degree. C. such as an aromatic copolymer and nylon series, whereby a workability and an impact load absorbing capacity of the mechanical components as well as the bending rupture strength are capable of withstanding an impact load caused by an abnormal operation of the starter at a high environmental temperature greater than 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A coaxial starter comprises an electric motor housed in a cylindrical yoke, a clutch mechanism for transmitting rotational force of the electric motor to an output shaft disposed on the same axis as an armature shaft of the electric motor, and a front bracket for supporting the output shaft. The yoke of the electric motor is formed of a metal sheet integrally with the front bracket through drawing.

Abstract: The system includes a storage battery, and an electric starter motor operable to rotate the internal combustion engine. A capacitor of high-capacitance, arranged immediately adjacent the electric motor, is adapted to store enough electrical energy to supply the electric motor during the starting of the internal combustion engine. A connection control system in a first condition connects the capacitor to the battery to enable the capacitor to be recharged and, in a second condition, connects the capacitor to the electric motor to enable electrical energy to be transferred thereto.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprises an electric motor having an armature winding of a single turn and a hollow armature rotary shaft for generating a rotational force for starting an engine. The starter also comprises an over-running clutch mechanism disposed within the hollow armature rotary shaft for preventing the occurrence of an excessive-speed of the armature and having a pinion having a gear teeth number equal to or less than seven for engaging with a ring gear of an engine upon starting of the electric motor. A solenoid switch is also disposed behind the electric motor for moving a pinion shaft forward and supplying an electric power to the electric motor.

Abstract: A starting system (10) for a gas turbine (24) in accordance with the invention includes an electric motor (14); and a clutch (20) having an input (18) for receiving torque from the electric motor when the electric motor is activated during starting of the turbine and an output (22) for rotating the gas turbine during starting of the turbine, the clutch having a torque transfer characteristic between the input and the output with no torque being transferred when a rotational speed of the input is below a set speed which is a fraction of a speed at which the gas turbine is self-sustaining in producing output torque and transferring torque above the set speed between the input and output with the set speed being chosen with respect to a power output characteristic of the electric motor as a function of speed of the motor which produces acceleration of the motor to self-sustaining speed while minimizing energy required for starting.

Abstract: A cranking device for internal combustion engines includes a permanently excited cranking motor and an electrical run-down brake, having a switching device (25) which, during the run-down phase of the cranking device, connects the connecting leads of the brushes (4, 4') of the cranking motor (1) to one another via a resistor (24). An additional winding of the engaging relay (15) of the cranking device is used as the resistor.

Abstract: An engine starter system for driving an engine starter with electric power from a battery mounted on a motor vehicle has a boost controller for boosting electric power from the battery and a large-capacitance capacitor which is charged by the electric power which is boosted by the boost controller. The engine starter is driven by the electric energy which is stored in the capacitor at a voltage higher than the voltage of the battery.

Abstract: An engine starter system includes a switching-over circuit arrangement for selectively connecting a large-capacity capacitor parallel or in series to a battery. Normally, the capacitor is connected parallel to the battery and charged thereby. When starting an engine with a starter, the charged capacitor is connected in series to the battery, and the voltage of the capacitor and the voltage of the battery are added and applied to the starter to energize a starter motor for starting the engine.

Abstract: An engine starter system for driving an engine starter with electric power from a battery mounted on a motor vehicle has a pair of large-capacitance capacitors which are selectively connected to the battery and the starter. One of the capacitors is connected to the battery and charged thereby when the detected voltage across the one capacitor is lower than a predetermined voltage, and the other capacitor which is charged sufficiently enough is connected to the starter. Electric energy whose voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage is therefore continuously supplied to the starter to start the engine.

Abstract: An engine starter system starts a motor in response to operation of a starter keyswitch. Immediately before the engine is started, a capacitor is manually connected to a power supply such as a storage battery. When the capacitor is charged up to a preset voltage, the electric energy stored in the capacitor is discharged to energize the motor.

Abstract: A novel machine with an internal combustion engine, and practical use-control means to prevent an unauthorized person from starting such engine, and anti-bypass means to prevent a knowledgeable prepared unauthorized person from defeating use-control means within a practical period of time as a feasible means for unauthorized starting of the engine. Use-control means require a proper authorization code be entered into code-input means before enabling engine starting. Anti-bypass means include enclosing parts of the use-control means within a tamper-proof enclosing-component and selecting such parts and components so that use-control means cannot be manipulated to start the engine by an unauthorized user within a practical amount of time. In one embodiment a solenoid component containing a shielded enclosure and two solenoids is attached to the starter-motor of a car or truck using novel one-way fasteners.

Abstract: An engine starter comprises an electric motor for starting an engine when the motor is energized, an electromagnetic switch including a pair of normally-open contacts connected to each other to form an energizing circuit for the motor at the time of energizing a coil of the switch, and a pair of normally-closed contacts connected to each other to form a grounding circuit for the motor at the time of de-energizing of said coil, and a restriction device for restricting a braking electrical current generated due to an inertial rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A three-phase transformer includes six windings, disposed in three pairs, all of which six windings are serially interconnected. A desired turns ratio between the two windings of each pair establishes a desired phase shift between one three-phase output of the connected windings and a second three-phase output of the windings. These two windings can be used in combination to drive a load, such as an induction motor, such as through a twelve pulse rectifier requiring two three-phase outputs out of phase by 30.degree.. Alternately, one of the three-phase outputs can be used to supply the full load of the motor directly. This is particularly useful in a electric submersible pumping system having a three-phase induction motor which is normally operated by a maintenance intensive twelve-pulse rectifier, which motor needs to be directly driven through a by-pass motor controller when the rectifier is in maintenance.

Abstract: In a starter, the pinion, which is rotated by torque of an electric motor, is slid axially by the plunger of an electromagnetic switch and is pushed against the engine ring gear by a conically coiled compression coil, which allows employment of a small electromagnetic switch. Further, in an electromagnetic switch in which the plunger confronted coaxially with the stationary iron core slidably supporting a rod with a movable contact is moved towards the stationary iron core by electromagnetic force, a conically coiled spring is interposed between the plunger and the stationary iron core in such a manner that the spring is substantially coaxial with the plunger and the iron core, so that the playing of the rod is prevented.

Abstract: An electromagnetic push-out unit which controls engagement and disengagement between a pinion gear and a ring gear for an engine in a starter device via a non-magnetic cylindrical member disposed concentrically with a pinion shaft mechanically coupled to an electrical motor.