Magnetic brake system for starter motor
First Claim
1. A starter assembly, comprising:
- a starter motor having a shaft and configured to crank an engine;
a planetary-type reduction gear unit including a starter motor ring gear, the ring gear including a permanent magnet;
a pinion mechanism mounted on the shaft and configured to selectively engage a ring gear of the engine;
a clutch assembly made of a first material and configured to transmit torque between the shaft and the pinion mechanism;
wherein the periphery of the clutch assembly made of the first material is surrounded by a band of current conducting material different from the first material; and
wherein the permanent magnet and the current conducting material are configured such that interaction therebetween reduces the speed of the electric motor upon disengagement of the pinion mechanism from engine cranking.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An engine starter system is disclosed. The starter system includes an electric cranking motor having a shaft and configured to crank the engine. The starter system further includes a planetary-type reduction gear unit that has a starter motor ring gear. The starter system has a pinion mechanism mounted on the shaft and configured to selectively engage a ring gear of the engine. A clutch assembly is configured to transmit torque between the shaft and the pinion mechanism. The clutch assembly includes a current conducting material and the starter motor ring gear includes one or more permanent magnets. The starter system employs the principle of Lenz'"'"'s law to reduce the overrunning rotational speed of the cranking motor upon disengagement of the pinion mechanism from the engine'"'"'s ring gear after the engine has started.
14 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A starter assembly, comprising:
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a starter motor having a shaft and configured to crank an engine; a planetary-type reduction gear unit including a starter motor ring gear, the ring gear including a permanent magnet; a pinion mechanism mounted on the shaft and configured to selectively engage a ring gear of the engine; a clutch assembly made of a first material and configured to transmit torque between the shaft and the pinion mechanism; wherein the periphery of the clutch assembly made of the first material is surrounded by a band of current conducting material different from the first material; and wherein the permanent magnet and the current conducting material are configured such that interaction therebetween reduces the speed of the electric motor upon disengagement of the pinion mechanism from engine cranking. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of slowing down overrunning of a starter system, including:
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mounting a pinion mechanism on a shaft of a starter motor configured to crank an engine; engaging selectively, a ring gear of the starter motor, the ring gear of the starter motor including one or more permanent magnets; transmitting torque between the shaft and the pinion mechanism by a clutch assembly, the clutch assembly including a first material and a second current conducting material, wherein the second current conducting material forms a band around the periphery of the first material; and disengaging the pinion mechanism from engine cranking; wherein said disengaging the pinion mechanism from engine cranking further includes exposing the current conducting material of the clutch assembly to the one or more permanent magnets of the ring gear of the starter motor such that interaction therebetween reduces the speed of the electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A machine, comprising:
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a combustion engine configured to power operations of the machine; an interface configured to receive input from a machine operator to start the engine; a starter motor having a shaft and configured to crank the engine; a planetary-type reduction gear unit including a starter motor ring gear, a sun gear, and at least one planetary gear, wherein the ring gear includes at least one permanent magnet; a pinion mechanism mounted on the shaft and configured to selectively engage a ring gear of the engine; a clutch assembly made of a first material and configured to transmit torque between the shaft and the pinion assembly; and wherein the periphery of the clutch assembly made of the first metal is surrounded by a band of current conducting material different from the first material; and wherein the at least one permanent magnet and the current conducting material are configured such that interaction therebetween reduces the speed of the electric motor upon disengagement of the pinion mechanism from engine cranking. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A starter assembly, comprising:
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a starter motor having a shaft and configured to crank an engine; a planetary-type reduction gear unit including a starter motor ring gear, the starter motor ring gear made of a first material; a pinion mechanism mounted on the shaft and configured to selectively engage a ring gear of the engine; a clutch assembly configured to transmit torque between the shaft and the pinion mechanism; wherein a radial inner surface of the starter motor ring gear made of the first material includes a band of current conducting material different than the first material, and the clutch assembly includes one or more permanent magnets; and wherein the one or more permanent magnets and the current conducting material are configured such that interaction therebetween reduces the speed of the electric motor upon disengagement of the pinion mechanism from engine cranking. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification