An electromagnetic switch device for a starter includes a pinion-pushing solenoid for pushing out a pinion toward a ring gear of an engine by a plunger thereof, and a motor-energizing solenoid for energizing the motor. The electromagnetic switch device is configured to detect a magnetic flux change in a magnetic circuit of the motor-energizing solenoid due to displacement or deformation of a core of the motor-energizing solenoid caused when the plunger of the pinion-pushing solenoid abuts against a stopper, to determine a timing to start current supply to the motor-energizing solenoid.

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.

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.

A solenoid drive may include a ferromagnetic housing having a coil receiving chamber axially limited by opposing face side walls, a cylindrical coil arrangement having at least one electric coil, the coil arrangement being arranged in the chamber and coaxially surrounding a cylindrical coil interior space, a ferromagnetic plunger stop having a central region projecting axially in the interior space, a ferromagnetic plunger arranged at the housing opposing the plunger stop, and a ferromagnetic bypass device extending in a circumferential direction and arranged coaxially with respect to the coil arrangement and radially within the coil. The plunger may project axially into the coil interior space and may be adjustable axially bi-directionally relative to the housing between active and distal positions, which are proximal and distal, respectively, with respect to the central region. The bypass device may be spaced apart axially from the face side walls. In the passive position, the plunger may project axially into the bypass device such that an axial overlap between the plunger and the bypass device may be defined.

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.

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.

A number of variations may include a solenoid assembly comprising: a shaft; a pinion-plunger operatively attached to the shaft and having a first end comprising a plurality of teeth; a plurality of iron cores surrounding at least a portion of the pinion-plunger and the shaft; at least one solenoid coil winding and at least one spool surrounding each of the plurality of iron cores; a stop adjacent a first end of the plurality of iron cores; a guide adjacent a second end of the plurality of iron cores opposite of the stop; a biasing member in operative communication with the first end the pinion-plunger; and wherein the solenoid assembly is constructed and arranged so that when the solenoid assembly is activated the pinion-plunger is magnetically drawn toward the stop.

A starter for an internal combustion engine may include a support, an electric motor for driving a pinion in rotation, and a solenoid drive configured to axial adjust the pinion between an active position and a passive position. The solenoid drive may include a ferromagnetic plunger stop, a plunger axially adjustable, and a cylindrical coil arrangement surrounding a cylindrical coil interior. The plunger stop may include a cylindrical section projecting into the coil interior. The plunger may be arranged axially opposite the cylindrical section and, when the pinion is in the active position, protruding axially into the coil interior. When the pinion is in the passive position, a face-side plunger end may be arranged axially in a proximal end portion. The cylindrical section may extend into the coil interior such that a face end is closer to the proximal end portion than to a distal end portion.