An engine starting apparatus is provided which is equipped with a starter, an inrush current reducer, and a starter mode switch. The inrush current reducer works to reduce an inrush current flowing through an electric motor installed in the starter when the electric motor is energized. The starter mode switch works to change a starter characteristic that is an output characteristic of the starter continuously or selectively at least between a low-torque/high-speed mode and a high-torque/low-speed mode. The starter mode switch places the starter in the high-torque/low-speed mode at least at a time when a piston of the engine is passing a top dead center, and the engine friction has been just maximized for the first time after the starter is actuated to crank the engine. This shortens a period of time required to start up the engine without sacrificing beneficial effects offered by the inrush current reducer.

A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a flex plate. The vehicle includes a crankshaft and an engine block. The flex plate extends along and is rotatable about an axis. The flex plate is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the crankshaft. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an outer and inner race. The permanently engaged starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race of the one-way clutch. The permanently engaged starter system further includes a starter support plate, and a pilot support plate coupled to the ring gear. The pilot support plate is fixedly coupled to the starter support plate and is configured to axially and radially align and retain the ring gear and one of the inner race and the outer race with respect to the axis.

An internal combustion engine includes an engine block, a blower housing configured to direct cooling air to the engine block, an electric starting system, and a crankshaft configured to rotate about a crankshaft axis. The electric starting system includes an electric motor and an energy storage device located within the blower housing. The energy storage device is electrically coupled to the electric motor to power the electric motor, and is positioned above the crankshaft. When the starter motor is activated, the electric starting system rotates the crankshaft to rotate the engine for starting.

The invention discloses a lower pair arc stop-block overrunning clutch comprising an outer rotating element, an inner rotating element, a friction block assembly, a wedge assembly, a first propeller assembly, a first elastic element and a synchronized push-block assembly, wherein a plurality of friction blocks of the friction block assembly are connected end to end and arranged between a first rotating ring and a second rotating ring; an drive element drives the first propeller assembly to press the synchronized push-block assembly to achieve synchronization of the friction block assembly; the first propeller assembly strikes the friction block assembly and is relatively stationary to push the friction block assembly for generating reverse rotation relative to a driven element; the wedge assembly is wedged to generate a radial pressure on the friction block assembly so that the friction block assembly can achieve lower pair arc stop, thereby achieving the transfer of torque.

A starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, having a drive pinion for engagement into a ring gear of the internal combustion engine, an electrical rotary actuator and an electrical linear actuator, the rotary actuator to rotate the drive pinion and the linear actuator to slide a pinion, and the electrical linear actuator having a linear-stroke magnet that has a sliding armature is moved by a retraction winding, within the retraction winding, along a sliding armature axis, having a holding winding by which the sliding armature can be held in a retracted state. The linear actuator also actuates a switching apparatus to activate the electrical rotary actuator into a second actuation stage. A second retraction winding is connected in parallel with the first retraction winding, such that the first retraction winding can be shut off by a normally closed switch while a current path through a second retraction winding is closed.

A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a flex plate. The vehicle includes a crankshaft and an engine block. The flex plate extends along and is rotatable about an axis. The flex plate is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the crankshaft. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an outer and inner race. The permanently engaged starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race of the one-way clutch. The permanently engaged starter system further includes a starter support plate, and a pilot support plate coupled to the ring gear. The pilot support plate is fixedly coupled to the starter support plate and is configured to axially and radially align and retain the ring gear and one of the inner race and the outer race with respect to the axis.

A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle, with the vehicle including a crankshaft and an engine block, includes a dual-mass flywheel and a permanently engaged starter assembly. The dual-mass flywheel extends along an axis and has an inner diameter portion disposed about and adjacent the axis and an outer diameter portion disposed about the axis such that the inner diameter portion is disposed between the outer diameter portion and the axis. The permanently engaged starter assembly includes a one-way clutch and a ring gear. The one-way clutch extends along the axis and includes an inner member disposed about the axis and an outer member disposed about the inner member. The ring gear is rotatably coupled to the one-way clutch and is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the outer diameter portion of the dual-mass flywheel through the one-way clutch.

Methods and systems are provided for an isolator. In one example, system may include an isolator comprising a flexible laminated membrane comprising a non-linear torsional stiffness for compensation of axial, lateral, and angular displacements between a drive shaft and a clutch.

A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle, with the vehicle including a crankshaft and an engine block, includes a dual-mass flywheel and a permanently engaged starter assembly. The dual-mass flywheel extends along an axis and has an inner diameter portion disposed about and adjacent the axis and an outer diameter portion disposed about the axis such that the inner diameter portion is disposed between the outer diameter portion and the axis. The permanently engaged starter assembly includes a one-way clutch and a ring gear. The one-way clutch extends along the axis and includes an inner member disposed about the axis and an outer member disposed about the inner member. The ring gear is rotatably coupled to the one-way clutch and is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the outer diameter portion of the dual-mass flywheel through the one-way clutch.

An internal combustion engine includes an engine block, a blower housing configured to direct cooling air to the engine block, an electric starting system, and a crankshaft configured to rotate about a crankshaft axis. The electric starting system includes an electric motor and an energy storage device located within the blower housing. The energy storage device is electrically coupled to the electric motor to power the electric motor. When the starter motor is activated, the electric starting system rotates the crankshaft to rotate the engine for starting.