Engine starter

• US 5,720,247 A
• Filed: 02/03/1997
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Moriyama, Noriaki, Suzuki, Satoru, Morishita, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US08/794,024
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.25, 123/179.26, 123/195 A, 123/195 E, 290/38 R, 290/48
• US Class Current: 123/179.25
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/00 Starting of engines by means of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/00 Other power-operated starting apparatus; Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from groups F02N5/00 - F02N13/00

Abstract

In an engine starter, a plurality of mounting seats 12 for mounting an auxiliary switch 8 are provided on a housing 11. Accordingly, the auxiliary switch 8 can be mounted to the same housing 11 without interfering with neighboring equipment or the like with different engine or car body combinations. Standardization of the housing 11 can therefore easily achieved.

Claims

1. An engine starter, comprising:

a starter body including;

a housing provided with a plurality of auxiliary switch mounting seats,

a motor supported by said housing,

a pinion capable of being contacted with and separated from a ring gear of an engine, said pinion being rotated by the drive force of said motor, and

a transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive force of said motor to said pinion, said transmission mechanism being accommodated in said housing;

an electromagnetic switch for bringing said pinion into contact with said ring gear, for separating said pinion from said ring gear, and for turning an electric current to said motor on and off, said electromagnetic switch being mounted to said housing; and

an auxiliary switch for turning an electric current for exciting said electromagnetic switch on and off, said auxiliary switch being mounted to one of said auxiliary switch mounting seats.

2. An engine starter according to claim 1, further comprising a flange member having a plurality of engine mounting holes for mounting to the engine and a plurality of housing mounting holes for mounting to said housing, wherein the mounting angle of said housing to said flange member can be changed.

3. An engine starter according to claim 1, wherein a projecting portion for mounting said electromagnetic switch is provided at the outer periphery of said housing, and said auxiliary switch mounting seats are provided at different positions of said projecting portion.