Abstract: A coaxial type starter used to start an engine of a vehicle is disclosed. The starter includes a d.c. motor having an armature rotary shaft which incorporates an overrunning clutch and six or more magnetic poles which are defined by permanent magnets disposed circumferentially on the inner surface of a tubular yoke for forming a magnetic path. Provision of six or more magnetic poles on the inner surface of the yoke enables a reduction in the thickness of the yoke and the diametrical thickness of the armature core since the required thicknesses of the yoke and the armature core are inversely proportional to the number of field magnetic poles. Accordingly, it is possible to incorporate the overrunning clutch inside the armature rotary shaft without any increase in the overall diameter of the starter. Thus, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the overall size of the starter.

Abstract: An engagement coupling for a starter drive, in which driving and driven jaws (20, 21) engage each other through face gears, is provided with a blocking mechanism (51). The blocking mechanism (51) is located in the driven jaw (21) and consists of flyweights (57) and a blocking rod (55). The flyweights (57) cause the rod (55) to extend into a blocking position against a pinion assembly (11) when a predetermined engine speed has been reached and the jaws (20, 21) have been separated. Once the rod (55) has been extended and the rotational speed of the driven jaw (21)is maintained, the rod (55) blocks the driving jaw (20) from destructively engaging the driven jaw (21). The blocking condition remains effective until such time as the driven (21) jaw has slowed down, e.g. after the engine has been shut down.

Abstract: An engine starter in which a driven gear driven by the rotor of a starter motor and an output shaft driving a pinion meshing with the driven gear of an engine are mutually connected through a unidirectional clutch. The gear driven by the rotor and the clutch member driven by the driven gear are rotatably supported by, but separate from, the output shaft. Connection between the driven gear and the clutch member for torque transmission purposes is effected through a torque damper whereby the transmitted torque will be damped and engine noise reduced.

Abstract: A starter drive for an internal combustion engine in which the starter drive is mounted within the starter housing, and an ignition key activated solenoid for energizing the motor of the starter drive is contained in a solenoid housing that is attached to the starter housing and is integral therewith. The solenoid has a solenoid coil and an annular armature, and upon the energization of the solenoid coil by the connection of such solenoid coil to the battery through the ignition key, the annular armature, which is normally spring biased away from the solenoid coil, is magnetically attracted thereto. This movement of the annular armature establishes an electrical contact between a first terminal, which is connected to the battery, and a second contact which is connected to the starter motor.

Abstract: A hand starter for an internal combustion engine having an axially displaceable clutch member journalled on a clutch shaft, for co-acting with a fixed clutch member on the engine shaft. The axial movement of the displaceable clutch member, caused by pulling a start rope, is guided by a helical spring wound in a helical groove on the clutch shaft. The outer periphery of the spring is resiliently pressed against friction producing threads of a cylindrical bearing surface of the displaceable clutch member, to exert an axial force against the axially displaceable clutch member.

Abstract: The friction disc clutch for a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine comprises a flywheel which is driven through a rotationally elastic element by the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. The mass-spring system of the drive path of the clutch is so dimensioned that natural vibrations occur in or below the idling rotation rate range of the internal combustion engine. The rotationally elastic element can be bridged over for rotation rates in the range of and below the idling rotation rate in order to prevent resonance effects in idling and in the starting of the internal combustion engine. The bridge-over clutch can be formed by a pinion of the starter motor. Alternatively, centrifugal clutches can be used.

Abstract: A two speed drive system for rotatable devices having large moments of inertia. The drive system has two input driving members each of which is adapted to be driven as an input drive member. One of said members being a first speed driving member an the other of said members being a second speed driving member. The two driving members are coaxial with respect to each other and carry inner races for respective one-way over-running input clutches. An output drive member is also disposed coaxially with respect to the input drive members and carries an inner race for a one-way over-running clutch. A cylindrical outer race is disposed about the inner races of the first input drive member, the second input drive member and the output drive member. One-way drive means are disposed between the respective inner and outer races to complete the clutches. The first and second speed drive member drive from the inner to the outer races while the output drive member drives from the outer to the inner race.

Abstract: The starting system for an internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft and a camshaft sprocket which form the carrier for a planet pinion set whose elements are continuously engaged with a sun gear mounted and a ring gear mounted by a one-way brake to the engine block. A starting motor is connected by an endless chain or belt to a sprocket connected by a one-way driving connection to the sun gear. An accessory drive pulley and the rotor of the engine oil pump are continuously and directly connected to the sun gear. A hydraulic piston, actuated by engine oil pressure, selectively breaks the ring gear when engine speed is below a predetermined value provided engine oil pressure is at least equal to a predetermined pressure and releases the ring gear when engine speed exceeds the predetermined speed.

Abstract: An in-line gear reduction starter drive for driving a pinion from the armature of an electric cranking motor. The drive utilizes a single central shaft that is directly connected to the armature core of the cranking motor armature and the pinion is supported by the shaft. The shaft has an integral gear which forms the sun gear of a planetary gear set. The sun gear drives planet gears which in turn drive a driven member that is rotatably supported by the shaft and which drives the pinion.

Abstract: A damping system for a drive train having a cam coupling mechanism which advances an intermediate member axially along a driven shaft under high torque loads. The intermediate member is spring biased and is associated with a variable volume chamber containing fluid. Damping mechanisms are positioned concentrically within the driven shaft and are in communication with the variable chamber. The damping mechanisms include a check valve for one-way communication with the lubricant supply system of the associated engine, and a flow restricter for generating damping energy. An accumulator piston accommodates volume changes resulting from operation of the piston and allows for leakage flow from the system to insure renewal of oil without temperature build-up and oil deterioration.

Abstract: A starter drive for internal combustion engines. The starter drive is mounted within the starter housing and connected to the motor driven shaft. The shaft has a screw thread formed thereon near the armature of the starter and a cylindrical end portion. A screw sleeve member cooperatively engages the screw thread of the motor driven shaft. A ring armature member is centrally mounted to the threaded screw member. A unidirectional clutch member connects the screw sleeve member, the ring armature member and the pinion gear. An engaging member holds the ring armature member to the starter housing when the pinion gear is advanced axially along the motor driven shaft by the rotation of the motor when the motor is activated. Thus, the pinion gear engages the engine ring gear such that the pinion gear is held in mesh with the ring gear and the total motor torque is transmitted to the ring gear until the motor is deactivated.

Abstract: A flywheel clutch mechanism interposed between the internal combustion engine crankshaft and the transmission of a motor vehicle wherein the clutch mechanism includes a flywheel mass, a separating clutch interposed between the crankshaft and the flywheel mass, and a starting and shifting clutch interposed between the flywheel mass and the transmission. In the assembly of the clutch mechanism, the flywheel mass, the separating clutch, and the starting and shifting clutch are all arranged to be initially mounted on the transmission side thereof and operatively supported thereat with the clutch disc of the separating clutch and the crankshaft being joined together so as to be nonrotatable relative to each other by a rotatively interlocking connection formed during the assembly of the combustion engine and the transmission.

Abstract: An assembly for engaging and disengaging the crankshaft of an engine has a flywheel which is rotatably supported by a bearing system and is part of a first clutch. The flywheel has a second clutch for engaging and disengaging the crankshaft from the transmission shaft of a vehicle. A friction disc of the first clutch is non-rotatably connected to the crankshaft and friction linings are disposed at its opposite sides adjacent two pressure plates forming part of the flywheel and having linings cooperating with those of the friction disc. The pressure plates are axially movably but non-rotatably connected to each other and one thereof is secured to the bearing system. An operating means moves the other pressure plate axially, and a hub of the bearing system is rotatable relative to the crankshaft. A first housing part has a radially extending portion fastened to the hub, and a first diaphragm spring bears upon at least one of the pressure plates to disengage the flywheel from the crankshaft.

Abstract: A friction clutch assembly wherein the first of two coaxial friction clutches has a friction disc driven by the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and driving two pressure plates forming part of a flywheel which includes a second friction clutch whose friction disc drives the input shaft of the change-speed transmission in an automotive vehicle. The friction disc of the second clutch is flanked by the pressure plates of the respective clutch, and each clutch has an axially movable pressure plate and an axially fixed pressure plate. The axially fixed pressure plate of one clutch can be integral with the axially fixed pressure plate of the other clutch. The clutches can be engaged or disengaged by a common actuating system having a common dished spring the radially outermost region of which biases the axially movable pressure plate of one of the clutches.

Abstract: An apparatus for stopping and restarting a motor vehicle by means of a flywheel alternately clutched to the engine crankshaft to be driven thereby or declutched to rotate freely for subsequent driving of the engine to restart the engine, the engine being shut off in response to release of the accelerator pedal deactivating switches controlling the clutch mechanism after a predetermined time delay longer than the time normally required for a gear shift change.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for use in a high speed starter motor/turbine assembly wherein the elements thereof must be extremely well balanced. Opposing clutch elements are unitary rigid structures without moving parts. The starter motor rotor and one of the clutch elements are assembled as a unitary balanced structure for high speed rotation and axial movement to engage or disengage the other clutch element and its associated balanced turbine load.

Abstract: A helical sliding drive starter with a freewheel unit having a multiple disc clutch configured to drivingly engage and disengage a starter motor shaft and a pinion shaft. Certain ones of the discs have outer teeth that engage toothed channels in the motor shaft and certain other ones of the discs have inner teeth that engage toothed ribs on the pinion shaft. The discs, toothed channels and toothed ribs cooperate to cause axial engagement and disengagement of the freewheel unit with the motor shaft and pinion shaft.

Abstract: Method of operating an internal-combustion engine which is stoppable in accordance with specific conditions and stratable by a fly wheel disengageable from the internal-combustion engine by a clutch and re-engageable thereby when power is required, which includes bringing a friction wheel of a starter motor into engagement with the flywheel, when the flywheel is uncoupled from the internal-combustion engine, so as to accelerate the flywheel to a predetermined speed for starting up the internal-combustion engine, and thereafter engaging the clutch.

Abstract: An overrunning clutch designed for use with engine starters and the like whereby the starter may apply its output to start the engine without damage due to overspeed of critical starting motor components after the engine has started and obtained running speed.The overrunning clutch of this invention is provided with two splines. The first a straight spline which allows axial translation of the starter output shaft and a second helical spline which assists in engagement and disengagement of interlocking face clutch jaws between the input drive shaft and the output drive shaft. A centrifugally restrained clutch engagement spring in combination with the helical spline permits overrunning with minimum wear of the face clutch jaws.

Abstract: A device for starting a stationary unit, which unit includes a prime mover, e.g. an internal combustion engine, and a machine, e.g. a compressor of a heat pump system, rigidly coupled thereto by a shaft, has a flywheel fitted on the shaft. This flywheel is automatically engaged and disengaged from the shaft, according to the speed of the flywheel, by means of a clutch.