The invention relates mainly to a starter (10) for a heat engine of a motor vehicle, comprising: a drive pinion (12); a pinion carrier (63) whereon the drive pinion (12) is mounted; a drive shaft (13) whereon the pinion carrier (63) is mounted such that it can slide between an idle position and a final position; and a stop (68) that is constrained to rotate with the drive shaft (13) when the pinion carrier (13) presses against the stop (68) in the final position.

An electric starter system is disclosed for use with an engine having a flywheel. The electric starter system includes a pinion gear and a solenoid device coupled to the pinion gear. The solenoid device is movable between a pre-engaged position when the pinion gear is moved into engagement with the flywheel and a disengaged position when the pinion gear is disengaged from the flywheel. A brushless starter motor is selectively connectable to the flywheel of the engine via the pinion gear during a requested engine start event. A latch mechanism is selectively engageable with the solenoid device. The latch mechanism is moveable between a latched position in which the solenoid device is mechanically held in the pre-engaged position and an unlatched position in which the solenoid device is released for movement to the disengaged position.

A starter for an internal combustion engine includes a rotating shaft formed with a helical spline on an outer periphery thereof and which rotates by a rotation of a motor, a pinion gear helically splined to the rotating shaft and movable in an axial direction of the rotating shaft along a tooth surface of the helical spline, a lever receiving member disposed opposing an end surface in an axial direction of the pinion gear, moved by receiving an axial pushing force by a pushing member, and causing the pinion gear to engage with a ring gear of the internal combustion engine by a movement thereof, and a buffer member for restricting a movement of the pinion gear in a rotational direction when the pinion gear moves along the teeth surface of the helical spline.

An electric starter system is disclosed for use with an engine having a flywheel. The electric starter system includes a pinion gear and a solenoid device coupled to the pinion gear. The solenoid device is movable between a pre-engaged position when the pinion gear is moved into engagement with the flywheel and a disengaged position when the pinion gear is disengaged from the flywheel. A brushless starter motor is selectively connectable to the flywheel of the engine via the pinion gear during a requested engine start event. A latch mechanism is selectively engageable with the solenoid device. The latch mechanism is moveable between a latched position in which the solenoid device is mechanically held in the pre-engaged position and an unlatched position in which the solenoid device is released for movement to the disengaged position.

To suppress generation of noise during cranking, a pinion gear is fixed to a drive shaft of a starter starting an internal combustion engine. The pinion gear rotates a ring gear provided to the internal combustion engine by meshing therewith. The pinion gear includes gear teeth and an annular hollow portion located radially inside of the gear teeth. The annular hollow portion accommodates a vibration absorber to absorb vibration generated in the gear tooth.

To suppress generation of noise during cranking, a pinion gear is fixed to a drive shaft of a starter starting an internal combustion engine. The pinion gear rotates a ring gear provided to the internal combustion engine by meshing therewith. The pinion gear includes gear teeth and an annular hollow portion located radially inside of the gear teeth. The annular hollow portion accommodates a vibration absorber to absorb vibration generated in the gear tooth.

In a starter, current is passed through a solenoid to use the generated electromagnetic force when pushing a pinion gear toward a ring gear, so that the ring gear is engaged with the pinion gear. For this purpose, the starter includes an electromagnetic solenoid, a spring for urging the pinion gear in a direction opposite to that of the electromagnetic solenoid, a connecting member connected to the pinion gear, a stopper for limiting movement of the connecting member to a predetermined position. Being urged by the spring, the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear, and the connecting member is retracted to a predetermined position. The starter includes a control circuit that implements control of passing a predetermined current through the solenoid after the disengagement but before retraction of the connecting member to the predetermined position.

An electromagnetic switch includes a first and a second solenoid arranged in alignment in an axial direction of a housing and brings a pinion into mesh with a ring gear of an engine and close main contacts in a power supply circuit for an electric motor which cranks the engine. A retainer is provided which extends from a first bobbin of the first solenoid at least to a location of an air gap formed in a magnetic circuit of the second solenoid. The retainer holds a portion of a lead wire extending from a bobbin of the first solenoid at least in a range between the bobbin and the air gap, thereby minimizing inclination or deflection of the lead wire when the first and second solenoids are fabricated within the housing, thus facilitating the ease with which the first and second solenoids are mounted in place in the housing.

A starter includes a coil spring disposed between a pinion gear and a motor and a buffer rubber disposed between the pinion gear and the coil spring. When the pinion gear is subjected to a reactive force from an engine, the buffer rubber absorbs the impact. Before the impact acts on the pinion gear, the coil spring is subjected to a given initial load. When the impact acts on the pinion gear, the coil spring absorbs it transmitted through the buffer rubber. The cover in which the coil spring is stored has a flange which is held from moving to the pinion gear in response to expansion of the coil spring, while it is permitted to move to the motor in response to contraction of the coil spring. This eliminates a risk that mechanical noise occurs when the pinion gear is advanced and then brought into mesh with the engine.

In a starter, current is passed through a solenoid to use the generated electromagnetic force when pushing a pinion gear toward a ring gear, so that the ring gear is engaged with the pinion gear. For this purpose, the starter includes an electromagnetic solenoid, a spring for urging the pinion gear in a direction opposite to that of the electromagnetic solenoid, a connecting member connected to the pinion gear, a stopper for limiting movement of the connecting member to a predetermined position. Being urged by the spring, the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear, and the connecting member is retracted to a predetermined position. The starter includes a control circuit that implements control of passing a predetermined current through the solenoid after the disengagement but before retraction of the connecting member to the predetermined position.