A starter device for an internal combustion engine includes a starter housing, an electric motor and an engagement pinion driven in rotation by the motor around the pinion rotation axis, the pinion being movable in a translational motion along its pinion rotation axis between a retracted position and an engaging position for engaging a gear connected to the internal combustion engine, the translational motion being caused by the rotation of the electric motor, the starter device further comprising a non-rotatable element which is blocked in rotation with respect to the starter housing, a rotatable element driven in rotation by the electric motor, a helical linkage between the non rotatable element and the rotatable element for causing the translational motion of the pinion. The non rotatable element is fixed in translation along the pinion rotation axis with respect to the starter housing, the rotatable element can translate with respect to the starter housing, and translation of the rotatable element causes translation of the pinion towards its engaging position. The non-rotatable element includes a retractable clutching member with a pin movable in translational movement, so that the helical linkage can be deactivated.

In a method for actuating a starting device for an internal combustion engine, for the case in which the rotational speed of the toothed ring is below a limit value, first a stroke armature in a starter relay is moved and an electric starter motor is switched on after the starter pinion has engaged. If the rotational speed of the toothed ring exceeds the limit value, the starter motor is switched on before the starter pinion contacts the toothed ring.

An air turbine starter for starting an engine, comprising a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet for communicating a flow of gas there through. A turbine member is journaled within the housing and disposed within the flow path for rotatably extracting mechanical power from the flow of gas. A secondary supply port is fluidly coupled to the flow of the pressurized gas in the housing.

An air turbine starter for starting an engine, comprising a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet for communicating a flow of gas there through. A turbine member is journaled within the housing and disposed within the flow path for rotatably extracting mechanical power from the flow of gas. A secondary supply port is fluidly coupled to the flow of the pressurized gas in the housing.

A starter for an engine is provided which includes an electromagnetic brake device and a pinion thrust mechanism. The electromagnetic brake device holds a planetary carrier from rotating. The pinion thrust mechanism converts rotational motion of an internal gear into linear motion of a pinion when the rotation of the planetary carrier is locked. The pinion thrust mechanism includes a cylindrical cam cylinder, a starter housing, a thrust collar rotatable relative to the pinion, and an engaging pin. The cam cylinder is joined to the internal gear and has a circumferential extending cam groove. The starter housing has a straight groove traversing the cam groove. The engaging pin engages both the cam groove and the straight groove and is moved linearly with rotation of the cam cylinder. This enables the linear movement of the pinion regardless of a helix angle of the spline mounted on the output shaft.