STARTER MOTOR

• US 20140096642A1
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Remy Technologies LLC (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Remy Technologies LLC (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gray, Joel, Fulton, David, Neet, Kirk, Palfai, Balazs
• Application Number:
  US13/646,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20140096642A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/7.C
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/00 Starting of engines by means of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0844 with means for restarting the engine directly after an engine stop request, e.g. caused by change of driver mind
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0855 during engine shutdown or after engine stop before start command, e.g. pre-engagement of pinion
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/023 of the overrunning type
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/046 of the planetary type
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/067 the starter comprising an electro-magnetically actuated lever
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/022 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/048 Information about pinion speed, both translational or rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/134 Clutch connection

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a starter comprising a motor comprising a drive shaft, a pinion, and a clutch. In some embodiments, the starter includes a planetary gear coupled with the clutch. Some embodiments include a pinion speed sensor assembly configured and arranged to provide a signal related to the rotational speed of the pinion based upon a speed of a component of the starter that is coupled to the pinion. Some embodiments of the starter include a pinion rotational speed sensor located within the drive-end region of the starter, and configured and arranged for direct or indirect monitoring of the pinion. Some embodiments include a sensor that is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the clutch assembly, the drive-shaft, the pinion, the output shaft, or a planetary gear. The speed sensor can be a magnetic-field flux sensor assembly or an optical sensor assembly.

Claims

1. A starter comprising:

a motor comprising a drive shaft coupled to;

a pinion;

a clutch; and

a pinion speed sensor assembly including at least one sensor;

wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to directly or indirectly sense the pinion speed and provide a signal related to the rotational speed of the pinion.

2. The starter of claim 1 further comprising a planetary gear coupled with the clutch.

3. The starter of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic flux sensor assembly.

4. The starter of claim 3 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly comprises a Hall Effect sensor.

5. The starter of claim 1 wherein the pinion speed sensor assembly further comprises a sensor target.

6. The starter of claim 5 further comprising an output shaft coupled to the pinion.

7. The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly further comprises a sensor that is configured and arranged to sense the location of one or more teeth of the pinion.

8. The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the clutch assembly.

9. The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the drive-shaft axially.

10. The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the drive-shaft radially.

11. The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the planetary gear teeth axially.

12. The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the planetary gear teeth radially.

13. The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises the pinion.

14. The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises an indentation in one or more components coupled to the pinion.

15. The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises a protrusion in one or more components coupled to the pinion

16. The starter of claim 1 wherein the pinion speed sensor assembly comprises an optical sensor assembly.

17. The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly comprises a photodiode.

18. The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly further comprises a phototransistor.

19. The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly further comprises an optical fiber.

20. The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly further comprises a camera.

21. The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly further comprises an optical emitter

22. The starter of claim 17 wherein the optical emitter comprises at least one of an LED, an optical fiber a semiconductor laser, an IR emitter, a UV emitter or a radiation source, a fluorescent material and a phosphorescent material.

23. The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises a wheel including teeth, the wheel mounted on the clutch.

24. The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises a wheel including teeth, the wheel mounted on the pinion.

25. The starter of claim 6 wherein the sensor target comprises a wheel including teeth, the wheel mounted on the output shaft.