Engine starter and resistor short-circuiting device

• US 8,344,530 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Nakayama, Haruki, Odahara, Kazuhiro, Kaneda, Naohito
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VIET P
• Application Number:
  US12/770,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20110095545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 290/38.R, 290/31, 290/36.A
• US Class Current: 290/38.R
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0859 specially adapted to the type of the starter motor or integrated into it
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/10 Safety devices F02N11/08 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/022 the starter comprising an intermediate clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/067 the starter comprising an electro-magnetically actuated lever
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0892 Two coils being used in the starting circuit, e.g. in two windings in the starting relay or two field windings in the starter
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2250/02 Battery voltage drop at start, e.g. drops causing ECU reset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 51/065 Relays having a pair of normally open contacts rigidly fixed to a magnetic core movable along the axis of a solenoid, e.g. relays for starting automobiles details H01H50/20
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/20 by progressive reduction of resistance in series with armature winding

Abstract

Provided is an engine starter having a simple structure and excellent in stability and reliability, which starts an engine while preventing an occurrence of instantaneous interruption in an electrical device mounted in a vehicle. An engine starter for driving a starter motor by closing a starter switch 5 connected in series between a power source 3 and the starter motor 2 for receiving power supply from the power source to start an engine includes: a resistor 7 connected in series to the starter switch between the power source and the starter motor, for limiting a current flowing through the starter motor; and a short-circuiting switch 6 connected in parallel to the resistor, for short-circuiting both ends of the resistor by energization of a driving coil after start of an operation of closing the starter switch, and the resistor is made of a plate-like stainless steel.

Claims

1. An engine starter for driving a starter motor by closing a starter switch connected in series between a power source and said starter motor for receiving power supply from said power source to start an engine, comprising:

a resistor connected in series to said starter switch between said power source and said starter motor, for limiting a current flowing through said starter motor; and

a short-circuiting switch connected in parallel to said resistor, for short-circuiting both ends of said resistor by energization of a driving coil after start of an operation of closing said starter switch,

wherein said resistor is made of a plate-like stainless steel;

wherein said starter switch includes an electromagnetic switch for connecting and disconnecting a first fixed contact connected to said power source and a second fixed contact connected to one end of each of said short-circuiting switch and said resistor by a moving contact driven by a driving coil and a holding coil, the driving coil having one end connected to said power source through an intermediation of a start switch closed at a time of driving of said starter motor and another end connected to a side of the second fixed contact, the holding coil having one end connected to said power source through an intermediation of the starting switch and another end connected to a ground; and

wherein said short-circuiting switch includes an electromagnetic switch for connecting and disconnecting a first fixed contact connected to the second fixed contact of said starter switch, the other end of the driving coil, and the one end of said resistor and a second fixed contact connected to another end of said resistor and said starter motor by a moving contact driven by a driving coil having one end connected to a side of the first fixed contact and another end connected to the ground.

2. The engine starter according to claim 1, wherein:

the electromagnetic switch of said short-circuiting switch is housed in a terminal block, and the first fixed contact of said short-circuiting switch and the second fixed contact of said short-circuiting switch respectively comprise external electrodes exposed externally from the terminal block; and

said resistor is connected between the external electrodes outside the terminal block.

3. The engine starter according to claim 2, wherein a resistance value is set by changing at least one of a length, a width, and a thickness of said resistor.

4. The engine starter according to claim 1, wherein a resistance value is set by changing at least one of a length, a width, and a thickness of said resistor.

5. An engine starter for driving a starter motor by closing a starter switch connected in series between a power source and said starter motor for receiving power supply from said power source to start an engine, comprising:

a resistor connected in series to said starter switch between said power source and said starter motor, for limiting a current flowing through said starter motor; and

a short-circuiting switch connected in parallel to said resistor, for short-circuiting both ends of said resistor by energization of a driving coil after start of an operation of closing said starter switch,

wherein said resistor is made of a plate-like stainless steel;

wherein said starter switch includes an electromagnetic switch for connecting and disconnecting a first fixed contact connected to said power source and a second fixed contact connected to one end of each of said short-circuiting switch and said resistor by a moving contact driven by a driving coil and a holding coil, the driving coil having one end connected to said power source through an intermediation of a starting switch closed at a time of driving of said starter motor and another end connected to a side of the second fixed contact, the holding having one end connected to said power source through an intermediation of the starting switch and another end connected to a ground; and

,

wherein said short-circuiting switch includes an electromagnetic switch for connecting and disconnecting a first fixed contact connected to the second fixed contact of said starter switch, the other end of the driving coil, and the one end of said resistor and a second fixed contact connected to another end of said resistor and said starter motor by a moving contact driven by a driving coil having one end connected to an output terminal of a control section and another end connected to the ground, the control section being connected to said power source and the starting switch so as to supply electric power, which is supplied from said power source, from the output terminal after elapse of a predetermined time period from the closure of the starting switch.

6. The engine starter according to claim 5, wherein:

the electromagnetic switch of said short-circuiting switch is housed in a terminal block, and the first fixed contact of said short-circuiting switch and the second fixed contact of said short-circuiting switch respectively comprise external electrodes exposed externally from the terminal block; and

said resistor is connected between the external electrodes outside the terminal block.

7. The engine starter according to claim 6, wherein a resistance value is set by changing at least one of a length, a width, and a thickness of said resistor.

8. The engine starter according to claim 5, wherein a resistance value is set by changing at least one of a length, a width, and a thickness of said resistor.