Electric-starting Motor Patents (Class 290/48)
  • Patent number: 12146542
    Abstract: A torque limiter that enables setting a larger torque capacity although being compact and easy to incorporate into a power transmission mechanism, is provided. A torque limiter is incorporated into a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power from a starter motor to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The torque limiter includes a driven gear for receiving power from the starter motor and a transmission gear for transmitting power. The driven gear and the transmission gear are coaxially disposed in a relatively rotatable manner. The driven gear and the transmission gear are configured to transmit power therebetween via a friction member. The friction member has a circular disc shape with an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the driven gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Kisaichi
  • Patent number: 10371078
    Abstract: A starter controller incorporated in a starter control system for controlling actuation of a first starter and a second starter to start an engine. The second starter is an alternating-current (AC) starter. The starter control system actuates the first starter in response to an engine start-up request, deactivates the first starter before completion of engine start-up, and activates the second starter while the second starter is being rotated by rotation of an engine rotary shaft. In the starter controller, a determination unit is configured to, under a condition where the engine rotary shaft is rotating after deactivation of the first starter, determine whether or not recognition of rotation of the second starter is complete. A fail-safe unit is configured to, if the recognition of rotation of the second starter is complete, perform predefined fail-safe processing responding to an abnormality in the second starter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Fujita
  • Patent number: 9973054
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motor, the motor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure including a housing, a stator mounted on the housing, a rotor rotatably installed at a center of the stator by a rotation shaft, a bearing interposed between the rotation shaft and the housing to rotatably support the rotation shaft, and a damping member interposed between the bearing and a receiving groove portion of the bearing to interrupt penetration of moisture from outside and to apply a preload to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 9683534
    Abstract: An engaging device and a starter comprising the engaging device, the starter comprises an electric motor, a speed reducer connected with the electric motor, an overrunning clutch comprising a driving piece connected with the speed reducer and a driven piece, and an engaging device with a main shaft connected with the driven piece of the overrunning clutch. A quick engagement may be achieved and a certain initial engagement depth is guaranteed. During the engaging process, the pinion may mesh into a ring gear in its own initiative, reducing the effect of teeth milling phenomenon on the ring gear to a maximum extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Products (Changsha) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fangmin Deng
  • Patent number: 9662966
    Abstract: A device for a motor vehicle transmission assembly, comprising:—an electric machine (3) comprising a rotor (9) able to rotate about an axis X and a stator (8), the rotor (9) being arranged inside the stator (8), separated from the stator (8) by an annular air gap space (300),—a clutch (2) coaxial with the electric machine comprising a reaction plate (10), the reaction plate (10) rotating as one with the rotor (9) and being positioned an axial distance from said rotor (9) in order to leave space between the electric machine (3) and the reaction plate (10), the assembly being fitted with a dust ring (301) positioned axially in the space between the electric machine (3) and the reaction plate (10) and extending radially far enough to cover the annular air gap space (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Khadija El Baraka, Svetislav Jugovic
  • Patent number: 9273660
    Abstract: In a starter, an output shaft is coaxially disposed with a rotating shaft of a motor. A pinion tube is helical-spline-fitted on the output shaft and has a pinion mounted on a non-motor-side end portion thereof. A shift lever is driven by an electromagnetic solenoid to shift both the pinion tube and the pinion relative to the output shaft in a direction away from the motor and thereby bring the pinion into mesh with a ring gear of an engine. A one-way clutch includes an outer arranged so as to be rotated by torque generated by the motor, an inner integrally formed with a motor-side end portion of the output shaft, and a plurality of intermediate members that are arranged between the outer and the inner so as to allow torque transmission from the outer to the inner and inhibit torque transmission from the inner to the outer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Koudu, Akina Kuwada
  • Patent number: 9080543
    Abstract: The combustion engine starter with output pinion (18) comprises a front bearing (12) provided with a front face (120) having an opening (312), a drive assembly equipped with a bush (26) passing through the opening (312) and bearing the output pinion (18) outside the front bearing (12), complementary splines (67,167). A groove (64, 164) interrupts the splines (67) of the bush (26) in order to mount a stop (60, 160) for immobilizing the pinion, a play-compensating spring (61) urging the pinion into contact with the stop (60, 160) formed by a spring ring which has a height greater than its thickness and which is housed with radial clearance at least partially in an annular recess (62) made in the front face (183) of the pinion (18); the internal periphery of the spring ring (60, 160) being mounted in the groove (64, 164) in the bush (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Guillaume Seillier, Laurent Boisserenq
  • Patent number: 8872373
    Abstract: A switching device has an electromagnetic switching element and a controller, the switching element including two coils on one core which act on a shared armature. In order to implement an operation of the armature to be activatable as rapidly and simply as possible with low power consumption, the controller is designed to have a switch in the current path of the coil in each case to activate each coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Rentschler, Duraisamy Sakthivadivel, Harald Schueler, Sven Hartmann, Juergen Gross, Stefan Tumback
  • Publication number: 20140265332
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric machine coupled to an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, the electric machine having a stator winding, a rotor winding, a field regulator assigned to the rotor winding and a current converter post-connected to the stator winding having controllable switching elements, in which during a starting process of the internal combustion engine the electric machine is operated as a motor according to a rotational speed specification signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Jaros, Nikolas Poertner, Axel Reuter, Alexander Trofimov
  • Publication number: 20140239641
    Abstract: In a starter for starting an on-vehicle engine, a solenoid is provided to push a pinion gear. The solenoid has an electromagnetic coil composed of a single coil and electrically separated from a motor circuit, a fixed core, and a plunger. Supply of excitation current to the electromagnetic coil allows the fixed core to be magnetized to attract the plunger. Hence, a movement of the plunger results in a push of the movable member toward the ring gear. A switch is provided in the circuit and has a contact, a movable core, and a switch coil functioning as an electromagnet attracting the movable core in response to supply of current to the switch coil. A movement of the movable core results in on/off switching operations of the switch. The switch is allowed to operate independently of the solenoid when both the switch and solenoid are controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyokazu HARUNO, Mitsuhiro MURATA, Mikio SAITO, Masami NIIMI
  • Publication number: 20140191513
    Abstract: A method of starting an engine is disclosed in which two or more starter motors are used to start the engine in an alternating sequence so as to equalize wear and reduce the wear of each starter motor by a factor equal to the number of starter motors provided. The starter motors are preferably positioned so as to minimize overlap between wear patterns produced by the starter motors on a cooperating ring gear 8 thereby extending the life of the ring gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donatus Andreas Josephine Kees, James Andrew Straker, Daniel Benjamin Kok
  • Patent number: 8633727
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a support unit configured to support a power transmission line disposed on a transmission line tower, and a power generation unit. The support unit includes a support line having an end part connected to the power transmission line and a rotary body configured to rotate in a manner cooperating with the support line. The power generation unit is configured to generate electric power in response to rotation of the rotary body caused by movement of the support line resulting from tension of the power transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Kenichi Fuse
  • Patent number: 8624409
    Abstract: The shock absorber electrical generator includes a piston adapted for reciprocating motion within a cylindrical piston chamber as a vehicle's suspension system deflects. A working fluid is contained within the piston chamber. During the compression stroke of the piston, working fluid is forced through a circuit having at least one chamber in the cylinder opposite the piston. The working fluid communicates with at least one fan turbine motor disposed in the chamber, and with the piston chamber, which captures the working fluid on the return stroke. Upon compression of the piston, the working fluid passes through the fan turbine motor, thereby turning a shaft connected to a DC generator. The electric energy generated is routed to vehicle electrical components and/or charges the vehicle battery. Multi-generator systems, fan, and housing units are deployed in a plurality of shock absorber electrical generators that are attached to the vehicle's wheel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: John R. Sainio
  • Publication number: 20130341923
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a rechargeable battery module and a battery management system for controlling charging and/or discharging of the battery module. The battery module may include a substantially linear charging and discharging voltage-time profile within at least part of the charging and discharging cycle of the battery module, and the battery management system may be configured to calculate a state of charge of the battery module by using linear charging and/or discharging characteristics of the battery module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ri-A JU, Hyun KIM, Suk-Kyum KIM, Seung-Min KIM
  • Publication number: 20130270828
    Abstract: A housing for an electrical device includes an interior surface and one or more stress reducing notches. The interior surface is configured to interface with one or more internal components of the motor. The one or more stress reducing notches are located along the interior surface of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Craig R. Legros
  • Publication number: 20130221681
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a starter machine control system including an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit can be in communication with one or more sensors. The control system can include a starter machine that is in communication with the electronic control unit. The starter machine can comprise a solenoid assembly that includes a plurality of biasing members and a motor that is coupled to a pinion. In some embodiments, the motor can be electrically coupled to at least one of the first coil winding and the second coil winding. In some embodiments, the electronic control unit can be capable of being configured and arranged to circulate a priming current from a power source to the motor through at least one of the first coil winding and the second coil winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: Michael D. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 8513827
    Abstract: An electric drive machine having a stator and a rotor, the rotor carrying a rotor winding, in slots, which is able to be supplied with electric current by a power supply system made up of a commutator and sliding contacts, the sliding contacts pressing on the surface of the commutator having at least two pairs each made up of one positive sliding contact and one negative sliding contact, and in the case of at least one first pair of a positive sliding contact and a negative sliding contact, the positive sliding contact and the negative sliding contact being opposed at an angle ?, which deviates from 180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Faber, Michael Bayer, Sven Hartmann, Dirk Buehler
  • Publication number: 20130147207
    Abstract: A starter comprises an electric motor which drives a rotor shaft, a drive shaft that can be rotationally coupled to the rotor shaft, and a pinion mounted on the drive shaft and movable in a translational movement between a rest position and an active position by a movement system. The starter comprises a coupling system that couples a rotary movement in one direction of rotation of the rotor shaft to the pinion. The coupling system moves from an uncoupled state into a coupled state and vice versa. In the coupled state, the rotor shaft is firmly attached to the pinion in the starting direction of rotation. In the uncoupled state, the pinion is disconnected from the rotor shaft in both directions of rotation. The starter further comprises a movement system for moving the pinion from the coupling system into the uncoupled state as it moves the pinion into active position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Jean-Sébastien Metral, Guillaume Seillier, Vincent Villard
  • Publication number: 20130088011
    Abstract: A switching device has an electromagnetic switching element and a controller, the switching element including two coils on one core which act on a shared armature. In order to implement an operation of the armature to be activatable as rapidly and simply as possible with low power consumption, the controller is designed to have a switch in the current path of the coil in each case to activate each coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Simon Rentschler, Duraisamy Sakthivadivel, Harald Schueler, Sven Hartmann, Juergen Cross, Stefan Tumback
  • Patent number: 8258639
    Abstract: A starting device for an internal combustion engine, especially that of a motor vehicle, comprises: a stator, or inductor, comprising an inductor coil (5), said inductor coil comprising at least first (43), second (41) and third (42) windings that are all electrically connected in parallel; a rotor associated with said stator and having a longitudinal axis; a starter element that can be rotated by the rotor; and a contractor designed to supply power, in a prerotation first phase, only to the first winding (43) of the inductor coil and, in a full-speed second phase, following the first phase, to the first, second and third windings (41, 42) of the inductor coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Nicolas Labbe, Stéphane Plaideau, Yannick Parvery
  • Publication number: 20120119497
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switch unit comprises a solenoid device that pushes out a pinion gear to a ring gear side of an engine, and an electromagnetic switch that opens and closes a main point of contact of a motor circuit. The solenoid device and the electromagnetic switch are arranged in series in an axial direction, while a magnetic plate that forms a part of magnetic circuit between a first coil used for the solenoid device and a second coil used for the electromagnetic switch is shared by the solenoid device and the electromagnetic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro MURATA, Masami Niimi
  • Patent number: 8169281
    Abstract: The starter has a system of pushing the pinion gear in the direction of the anti-motor side by using the attracting power of the electromagnetic switch via the shift lever. The switch coil of the electromagnetic switch is constituted of one coil that is electrically separated from the motor circuit. The mass of pinion gear is set to 100 g or less, the switch extrusion power stored in the drive spring is set to 70 N (Newton) or less, and the operation current of the electromagnetic switch is set to 12 amperes or less. With this starter, since the switch coil and the motor circuit can be electrically separated, the terminal for connection for connecting the conventional attracting coil and conventional “M terminal bolt” can be abolished. Further, by setting the operation current of the electromagnetic switch 10 to 12 amperes or less, it is possible to control the operation current directly by the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Andoh
  • Patent number: 8151565
    Abstract: The invention is directed to the use of buoyancy force as a prime mover that converts the potential energy of a compressed gas transmitted to a buoy device within a liquid into rotating mechanical energy which is mechanically connected to a electric generator, wherein said prime mover comprises a shaft and several extended arms with a buoy device at each distal end to generate the rotational motion at the electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventors: Luis Manuel Carrion-Torres, Carlos Alberto Carrion-Torres
  • Publication number: 20110266801
    Abstract: The shock absorber electrical generator includes a piston adapted for reciprocating motion within a cylindrical piston chamber as a vehicle's suspension system deflects. A working fluid is contained within the piston chamber. During the compression stroke of the piston, working fluid is forced through a circuit having at least one chamber in the cylinder opposite the piston. The working fluid communicates with at least one fan turbine motor disposed in the chamber, and with the piston chamber, which captures the working fluid on the return stroke. Upon compression of the piston, the working fluid passes through the fan turbine motor, thereby turning a shaft connected to a DC generator. The electric energy generated is routed to vehicle electrical components and/or charges the vehicle battery. Multi-generator systems, fan, and housing units are deployed in a plurality of shock absorber electrical generators that are attached to the vehicle's wheel system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: JOHN R. SAINIO
  • Patent number: 7996135
    Abstract: The present invention provides a starter capable of keeping a state where a pinion and a ring gear maintain meshing with each other when an engine stops without providing a plunger stopper using a solenoid or the like. The state where the pinion and the ring gear maintain meshing with each other in the engine stop mode continues by movement resistance which occurs when a torque transmission member moves. Concretely, an inclination angle of a helical spline in a helical spline engagement part is set so that the above state continues. The helical spline engagement part is a part where a helical spline on the outer periphery of an output shaft of a starter motor and a helical spline on the inner periphery of the torque transmission member mesh with each. Consequently, the above state continues without a plunger stopper using a solenoid or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Ishii, Tatsumi Nishida
  • Patent number: 7973623
    Abstract: The starter has a system of pushing the pinion gear in the direction of the anti-motor side by using the attracting power of the electromagnetic switch via the shift lever. The switch coil of the electromagnetic switch is constituted of one coil that is electrically separated from the motor circuit. The mass of pinion gear is set to 100 g or less, the switch extrusion power stored in the drive spring is set to 70N (Newton) or less, and the operation current of the electromagnetic switch is set to 12 amperes or less. With this starter, since the switch coil and the motor circuit can be electrically separated, the terminal for connection for connecting the conventional attracting coil and conventional “M terminal bolt” can be abolished. Further, by setting the operation current of the electromagnetic switch 10 to 12 amperes or less, it is possible to control the operation current directly by the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Andoh
  • Publication number: 20110025063
    Abstract: An electric drive machine having a stator and a rotor, the rotor carrying a rotor winding, in slots, which is able to be supplied with electric current by a power supply system made up of a commutator and sliding contacts, the sliding contacts pressing on the surface of the commutator having at least two pairs each made up of one positive sliding contact and one negative sliding contact, and in the case of at least one first pair of a positive sliding contact and a negative sliding contact, the positive sliding contact and the negative sliding contact being opposed at an angle ?, which deviates from 180°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Faber, Michael Bayer, Sven Hartmann, Dirk Buehler
  • Patent number: 7859150
    Abstract: A starter which may employed in starting an engine is provided. The starter includes an electromagnetic actuator and a pinion carrier. The pinion carrier includes a pinion and a holder. The holder retains a shift lever and transmits movement of the shift lever, as achieved by a magnetic attraction produced by the electromagnetic actuator, to the pinion, thereby shifting the pinion into engagement with a ring gear joined to, for example, an engine. The holder is made of material smaller in specific gravity than the pinion. Specifically, the holder is lower in mass or weight than the pinion, thereby permitting the magnetic attraction required to shift the pinion carrier through the shift lever to be decreased. This permits the electromagnetic actuator to be decreased in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yamato Utsunomiya, Kazuhiro Andoh, Tadahiro Kurasawa
  • Publication number: 20100213713
    Abstract: A starter device for cranking internal combustion engines, that has a terminal for starter control, having an electric starter motor, there being an electric supply line from a plus terminal of the starter device to the plus terminal of the starter motor, and the starter motor having an electrical ground return line at a minus terminal of the starter device, in which the ground return line is interrupted by a switch in the case of an electrical potential-free terminal for the starter control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Biessenberger, Hartmut Wanner, Uwe Daurer, Oliver Neumann
  • Publication number: 20100164233
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is an electrical power generation apparatus that produces more power than the apparatus consumes for operation and the excess power can be used for clean environmentally friendly energizing of additional devices of user choice. The overall apparatus is operational due to centrifugal force created within the assembly of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Bobby Lewis Bates, Robert John Bates
  • Patent number: 7710228
    Abstract: An electrical inductor assembly comprises an inductor core having a circular shape, a wire guide that surrounds the inductor core and includes a plurality of slots, at least one of the slots forming a path winding around the inductor core, and at least one wire placed in one of the plurality of slots to form a winding. A method of forming an electrical inductor assembly comprises forming an inductor core having a circular shape, surrounding the inductor core with a wire guide, winding at least one wire around the inductor core along a slot in the wire guide, and applying an insulating material to the slot containing the at least one wire to electrically insulate the at least one wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Z. Feng, Dwight D. Schmitt, Steven Schwitters, Clifford G. Thiel, Debabrata Pal, John Huss, John Horowy, Joseph Sukkar, Dirk Derr, Mark Hamilton Severson
  • Publication number: 20090230683
    Abstract: An engine start-up system is disclosed. The engine start-up system has a 24-volt starter motor configured to crank the engine. The engine start-up system also has an energy source configured to supply electrical power to the starter motor. A 12-volt-operated magnetic switch is integrated with the 24-volt starter motor and is operable to permit the energy source to supply electrical power to the starter motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Edward Albert Bass
  • Publication number: 20090127857
    Abstract: An electrical inductor assembly comprises an inductor core having a circular shape, a wire guide that surrounds the inductor core and includes a plurality of slots, at least one of the slots forming a path winding around the inductor core, and at least one wire placed in one of the plurality of slots to form a winding. A method of forming an electrical inductor assembly comprises forming an inductor core having a circular shape, surrounding the inductor core with a wire guide, winding at least one wire around the inductor core along a slot in the wire guide, and applying an insulating material to the slot containing the at least one wire to electrically insulate the at least one wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Frank Z. Feng, Dwight D. Schmitt, Steven Schwitters, Clifford G. Thiel, Debabrata Pal, John Huss, John Horowy, Joseph Sukkar, Dirk Derr, Mark Hamilton Severson
  • Patent number: 7525404
    Abstract: A vent assembly is provided for allowing internal contaminants to exit a solenoid. The vent assembly includes a vent membrane interposed between a gasket and a support. The support may have a variable diameter. The vent assembly attaches to the solenoid via a mating cover of the solenoid, which includes a vent opening that aligns with an opening in the gasket and includes a counter bore that captures the gasket. The vent assembly allows contaminants to exit the solenoid through a vent membrane. It also prevents contaminants from entering the solenoid around the vent membrane without the use of injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Remy Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Larimore, James Gillett, Dong Ju Park
  • Patent number: 7464546
    Abstract: A water-powered generator having a vessel and a variable density body situated within the vessel. The vessel is partially filled with a fluid, such as water. The variable density body moves between a first position near the bottom of the vessel to a second position between the bottom of the vessel and the top. The variable density body is configured to have a changeable total density such that the total density may be changed from a first density which is greater than the fluid and a second density which is less than the fluid. The movement of the variable density body is converted to a useful form of energy, such as electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: Emory Grant Peacock
  • Patent number: 7464615
    Abstract: The starter includes a housing housing a solenoid and fixed to an engine, a center case held between a motor thereof and the housing, a clutch housed in the center case, and a pinion shaft movable in its axial direction and spline-connected to an inner periphery of an inner tube of the clutch, which is rotatably supported by a bearing. The housing has a tubular wall section through which the pinion shaft extends and to which the center case is coupled in the axial direction. The tubular wall section is formed with a through hole. The center case has a bearing holding section holding the bearing and a cylindrical projecting section projecting in the axial direction towards the housing at a position radially outwardly of the bearing holding section inside the tubular wall section. The outer periphery of the projecting section faces the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Usami, Youichi Hasegawa, Tomoya Imanishi
  • Publication number: 20080174117
    Abstract: A dc motor is provided which is equipped with brushes each of which is urged by a spring pressure into constant abutment with a commutator surface. A plurality of protrusions are arrayed on the commutator surface in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which a commutator is to be rotated and extend over a whole of a circumference of the commutator surface. Each of the protrusions is defined by two side walls arrayed adjacent each other. At least one of the two side walls of each of the protrusions is oriented to be inclined at a preselected angle to the orientation of the spring pressure. The preselected angle lies within a range of 20° to 70°. This ensures the stability of the abutment of the brush with the commutator surface, thus enhancing the startability of the dc motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20080143114
    Abstract: In a reluctance rotary electric machine, a movable part is arranged opposing part of an alignment of a plurality of stator poles to be movable in a predetermined direction. In the movable part, at least one pair of salient poles is configured to magnetically couple to the excited at least one first pair of the plurality of poles so as to form a first magnetic flux in loop thereamong. A segment magnetic-path portion is arranged to be magnetically separated from the at least one pair of salient poles. The segment magnetic-path portion works to magnetically couple therethrough between the at least one second pair of the plurality of stator poles so as to form a second magnetic flux in loop thereamong. The first magnetic flux and second magnetic flux create a reluctance force to move the movable part in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin Kusase, Yuya Mizuma
  • Publication number: 20080106166
    Abstract: A starter which may employed in starting an engine is provided. The starter includes an electromagnetic actuator and a pinion carrier. The pinion carrier includes a pinion and a holder. The holder retains a shift lever and transmits movement of the shift lever, as achieved by a magnetic attraction produced by the electromagnetic actuator, to the pinion, thereby shifting the pinion into engagement with a ring gear joined to, for example, an engine. The holder is made of material smaller in specific gravity than the pinion. Specifically, the holder is lower in mass or weight than the pinion, thereby permitting the magnetic attraction required to shift the pinion carrier through the shift lever to be decreased. This permits the electromagnetic actuator to be decreased in size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yamato Utsunomiya, Kazuhiro Andoh, Tadahiro Kurasawa
  • Publication number: 20080093949
    Abstract: A rotary electric machine and a commutator for the rotary electric machine are disclosed wherein the commutator includes an insulating member carrying thereon a plurality of commutator segments each having a brush contact surface. Each commutator segment has an embedded portion formed with a tab tail, molded to the insulating member, and has a riser portion radially extending outward from the brush contact surface to be electrically connected to armature coils. The insulating member has a large diameter portion and an increased wall thickness portion, axially extending from the large diameter portion in a direction away from the riser portion, with a sum of axial wall thicknesses of the increased wall thickness portion and the large diameter portion lying in a value two times an axial wall thickness of the riser portion. The increased wall thickness portion is formed in a tapered shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Kito
  • Publication number: 20080048454
    Abstract: A starter includes a magnetic switch, a motor, and a terminal. The terminal fixed to both the magnetic switch and the motor and has two end portions in the longitudinal direction of the terminal. An end portion of the terminal confronts a movable contact within the magnetic switch. The other end portion of the terminal is connected to an electric circuitry of the motor therewithin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Kurasawa, Kazuhiro Andoh, Yamato Utsunomiya, Shinji Usami
  • Publication number: 20080004147
    Abstract: The starter includes a motor generating a rotational torque, an output shaft disposed on the same axis with the motor and having a collar section at one end portion thereof on a side of the motor, a planetary gear reduction device operating to reduce the rotation of the motor and transmitting the reduced rotation to the collar section of the output shaft, a center case constituting a part of a housing rotatably supporting the output shaft thereinside, and a cushion member held between an internal gear of the planetary gear reduction device and the center case. The internal gear is formed with a insertion hole through which the output shaft passes, and is shaped to have a planar section axially opposed to the collar section of the output shaft, the planar section being formed with a step-like portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Okada
  • Patent number: 7145259
    Abstract: A power module is connected to the starter, alternator, and battery for an internal combustion engine. The power module includes one or more capacitors and delay timer. When the ignition switch closes, the battery of the starting system provides current to the starter motor, causing the starter solenoid to close the starter contacts, and bring a starter pinion gear into engagement with a flywheel ring gear. The delay timer does not allow the capacitor to immediately deliver current to the starter motor, but implements a short delay before the capacitor's current is released to the starter motor. This short delay increases the chance for full engagement between the starter pinion and the flywheel ring gear, thereby reducing the likelihood of milling when the starter motor provides torque to the starter pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Remy Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Spellman, David A. Fulton, Ralph H. Johnston
  • Patent number: 7018314
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi Hasegawa, Sadayoshi Kajino
  • Patent number: 7004134
    Abstract: A positioning pin is knocked onto a crankshaft of an engine and a key way is formed in a boss of a first flywheel. When an outer rotor type generator is connected with the engine, the boss of the first flywheel is fitted over the crankshaft so as to adjust the positioning pin to the key way. When an inner rotor type generator is connected with the engine, a rotor shaft on which a rotor of a generator is mounted is fitted to a second flywheel so as to adjust the positioning pin to a key way formed in the second flywheel. The ignition angle of the engine is determined by fitting the positioning pin to the key way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6965172
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Shimoyama, Youichi Hasegawa, Sadayoshi Kajino
  • Patent number: 6963144
    Abstract: A pinion gear of a starter is engaged with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine by restricting rotation of the pinion gear while driving a motor at a low speed. After the engagement is established, the motor is driven at a full speed by supplying a full current, thereby cranking up the engine. After the engine is cranked up, the engagement between the pinion gear and the ring gear is released. In order to prevent the motor from being driven at the full speed before the pinion gear fully engages with the ring gear, rigidity of a crank bar for restricting the pinion rotation is made sufficiently high to generate a spring-load that exceeds a force for driving a plunger that closes a switch for supplying the full current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Kurasawa, Tsutomu Shiga, Masami Niimi
  • Patent number: 6932042
    Abstract: A pinion gear of a starter is engaged with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine by restricting rotation of the pinion gear while driving a motor at a low speed. After the engagement is established, the motor is driven at a full speed by supplying a full current, thereby cranking up the engine. A crank bar for transferring movement of a plunger in a magnetic switch to a pinion-rotation-restricting member is divided into two or three portions. After the divided portions are assembled to the starter, they are connected together to form a solid piece. In this manner, a process of assembling the crank bar into the starter is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Murata, Masami Niimi, Tsutomu Shiga, Masanori Ohmi
  • Patent number: 6888329
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric rotating machine for a vehicle includes an electric rotating machine (1) including a rotator having a field winding (5) and a stator having an armature winding (3), a field current controller (9) for controlling a field current supplied from a direct-current power supply to the field winding (5), and a power converter (6) for converting a direct-current power into an alternating-current power and applying the power to the armature winding (3). When the field current controller (9) starts to supply a current to the field winding (5) for starting an internal combustion engine, the power converter (6) supplies a power to the armature winding (3) so that magnetic flux in a direction opposite to that generated by the field winding (5) is generated simultaneously with or immediately before starting the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Inoue, Haruyuki Kometani, Toshiyuki Yoshizawa, Masahiko Fujita, Tsunenobu Yamamoto, Yoshihito Asao, Shinji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6870278
    Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine produces less noise and has a longer life and includes a transmission element for actuating an electric motor. The transmission element has two independently coaxially seated components—a stop pin and an engaging bar. The engaging bar is positioned between a pinion of the motor and the stop pin. The stop pin is seated in an internal shoulder in a cavity of the armature shaft of the electric motor and through the shoulder of a fixed core. A narrow portion of the stop pin is seated in an engaging spring positioned in the cavity of a mobile core of a disengaging electromagnet. The stop pin bears with a second front surface against a washer secured in the mobile core, where the length of the mobile core cavity is greater than the length of the narrow part of the stop pin by a predetermined distance c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Magneton A.S.
    Inventor: Miloslav Hnilica