Coaxial engine starter

• US 5,129,271 A
• Filed: 05/14/1991
• Issued: 07/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Konishi, Keiichi, Isozumi, Shuzoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUB, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/699,838
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 74/7 R, 74/7 A, 74/7 C, 74/7 E, 290/38 C, 290/48
• US Class Current: 74/7.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/046 of the planetary type
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/066 the starter being of the coaxial type
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/10 Details of socket shapes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/48 Shrunk fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/13 Machine starters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/131 Automatic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/132 Separate power mesher
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/134 Clutch connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/137 Reduction gearing

Abstract

An engine starter comprising an electric motor having a hollow armature rotary shaft, a solenoid switch for energizing the electric motor and having a push rod extending into the into the hollow armatur rotary shaft, an output rotary shaft having a pinion disposed on a front end thereof, the output rotary shaft being axially slidable relative to the armature rotary shaft to move the pinion into and out of engagement with an engine ring gear. A clutch outer member of an over-running clutch unit is mounted on the output rotary shaft and is connected to the electric motor for being rotated thereby, and a clutch inner member driven by the clutch outer member through a plurality of rollers is provided with helical splines on its inner circumferential surface. In order to transmit a rotational force from the clutch inner member to the output rotary shaft through splines, a ring member having teeth on its outer circumference and in engagement with the helical splines of the clutch inner member, and a stopper for limiting axial movement of the ring member on the output rotary shaft beyond the stopper are disposed. The pinion may be integral with the output rotary shaft, and the output rotary shaft may be axially slidably and relatively rotatably supported within the hollow armature shaft through a bearing. The output rotary shaft may have a large-diameter portion having formed on its outer circumference outer helical splines which are in mesh with inner helical splines in the clutch inner member of the over-running clutch. Alternatively, the pinion may be snuggly fitted and secured to a small-diameter end portion of the output rotary shaft.

Claims

1. An engine starter comprising:

an electric motor having a hollow armature rotary shaft;

a solenoid switch for energizing said electric motor and having a push rod extending into said hollow armature rotary shaft;

an output rotary shaft having a pinion disposed on one end thereof, said output rotary shaft being axially slidable to move said pinion into and out of engagement with an engine ring gear;

an over-running clutch unit mounted on said output rotary shaft and having a clutch outer member connected to an electric motor for being rotated thereby, and a clutch inner member driven by said clutch outer member through a plurality of rollers and including helical splines on its inner circumferential surface;

a splined ring member having teeth on its inner and outer circumference, said splined ring member being mounted on said output rotary shaft with said inner circumference teeth in slidable engagement with splines formed on said output rotary shaft and with said outer circumference teeth in engagement with said helical splines of said clutch inner member; and

stopper means for limiting axial movement of said ring member on said output rotary shaft beyond said stopper means.

2. An engine starter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stopper means is an annular stop ring fitted onto the output rotary shaft.

3. An engine starter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stopper means is an end wall of a closed-end spline of the inner splines on the clutch inner member.

4. An engine starter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stopper means being a large-diameter portion having formed on its outer circumference outer helical splines which are in mesh with inner helical splines in the clutch inner member of said over-running clutch.

5. An engine starter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said splines formed on said output rotary shaft are helical splines.

6. An engine starter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said splines formed on said output rotary shaft are straight splines.