Electric starter with integrated electronic filter for internal combustion engine

Abstract

Electric starter for internal combustion engine comprising: an electric motor (M) combined with means (R, L) for driving the internal combustion engine and an electronic filter (10) that is arranged on a power circuit (3) of the electric motor (M) that is suitable for at least reducing the electromagnetic disturbance caused by the operation of the electric motor (M). The electronic filter (10) is placed inside a cover (11, 30) of the starter.

Claims

1. An electric starter for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an electric motor (M) operatively connected to a driving device (R, L) for driving the internal combustion engine, comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal; an electronic filter (10) comprising a positive terminal connected electrically to the positive terminal of the electric motor (M), and configured to attenuate electromagnetic disturbances generated by rotation of the electric motor (M); a launcher (L) a drive pinion gear rotatable around a longitudinal axis (X) and moveable in axial translation along the longitudinal axis (X) between a position of rest and a position of driving of the internal combustion engine; a gear speed reducer for rotating the launcher by the electric motor (M); and an electromagnetic switch (C) configured to control the power of the electric motor (M) and to control the displacement of the launcher (L) between the position of rest and the position of driving of the launcher (L), the electromagnetic switch (C) comprising an output terminal connected to the positive terminal of the filter and to the positive terminal of the motor (M); the electronic filter (10) placed inside a cover (11, 30) of the starter; the cover (11, 30) at least partly covering the electromagnetic switch (C); and the electronic filter (10) covered by the cover of the electric switch (C).

2. The starter according to claim 1, wherein the cover covers at least partly one of the electric motor (M) and the electromagnetic switch (C).

3. The starter according to claim 2, wherein the electronic filter (10) comprises connectors (17) which are crimped onto the lugs of the electronic components which constitute the filter.

4. The starter according to claim 2, wherein the cover (11, 30) comprises an immobilizing device for immobilizing the electronic filter (10) inside the cover (11, 30).

5. The starter according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a first cover (11) which covers at least partly the electromagnetic switch (C) and a second cover (30) which covers at least partly the electric motor (M).

6. The starter according to claim 5, wherein the first cover (11) covers the electronic filter (10).

7. The starter according to claim 6, wherein the electronic filter (10) comprises connectors (17) which are crimped onto the lugs of the electronic components which constitute the filter.

8. The starter according to claim 5, wherein the cover (11, 30) comprises an immobilizing device for immobilizing the electronic filter (10) inside the cover (11, 30).

9. The starter according to claim 6, wherein the cover (11, 30) comprises an immobilizing device for immobilizing the electronic filter (10) inside the cover (11, 30).

10. The starter according to claim 5, wherein the second cover (30) covers the electronic filter (10).

11. The starter according to claim 10, wherein the electronic filter (10) comprises connectors (17) which are crimped onto the lugs of the electronic components which constitute the filter.

12. The starter according to claim 10, wherein the cover (11, 30) comprises an immobilizing device for immobilizing the electronic filter (10) inside the cover (11, 30).

13. The starter according to claim 5, wherein the electronic filter (10) comprises connectors (17) which are crimped onto the lugs of the electronic components which constitute the filter.

14. The starter according to claim 1, wherein the cover (11, 30) comprises an immobilizing device for immobilizing the electronic filter (10) inside the cover (11, 30).

15. The starter according to claim 14, wherein the electronic filter (10) is pressed against a resiliently deformable element (20) for elimination of play.

16. The starter according to claim 15, wherein the electronic filter (10) comprises connectors (17) which are crimped onto the lugs of the electronic components which constitute the filter.

17. The starter according to claim 14, wherein the electronic filter (10) comprises connectors (17) which are crimped onto the lugs of the electronic components which constitute the filter.

18. The starter according to claim 14, wherein the immobilizing device comprises a resilient element (20) resiliently pressing against the electronic filter (10).

19. The starter according to claim 1, wherein the electronic filter (10) comprises connectors (17) crimped onto the lugs of the electronic components which constitute the filter.

20. The starter according to claim 1, wherein the electronic filter (10) comprises connectors (17) which are crimped onto the lugs of the electronic components which constitute the filter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In addition, various other characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the description provided with reference to the appended drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of a starter according to the invention, incorporating an electronic filer.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic, partially cut out view of a starter for a thermal engine according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a cover of an electromagnetic switch of the starter illustrated in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section, according to the plane III-III in FIG. 2, showing a possible implementation of an electronic filter of the starter according to the invention.

(5) FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic perspective views showing the electronic filter illustrated in FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale.

(6) FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing another possible implantation of an electronic filter of the starter according to the invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is an electric diagram comprising a starter, an electromagnetic switch, and a filter.

(8) It should be noted that in these figures, the different structural and/or functional elements which are common to the different variants can have the same alphanumerical references.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

(9) As can be seen in FIG. 1, a starter D according to the invention for a thermal engine comprises an output shaft 32 rotatable around a longitudinal axis X, a gear speed reducer (or reduction gearing) R on which there is secured an electric motor M controlled by an electromagnetic switch C which also controls a launcher L incorporated in the gear speed reducer R. The gear speed reducer R is a geared device that changes speed and torque of a drive shaft of the electric motor M. The launcher L is slidably mounted on the output shaft 32 and comprises a drive pinion gear 34, and can have a free-wheel device (or one-way clutch) 36. The drive pinion gear 34 is drivingly connected to the output shaft 32 via the free-wheel device 36. The drive pinion gear 34 with the free-wheel device 36 is rotatable around the longitudinal axis (X) by the electric motor M through the gear speed reducer R and is moveable in axial translation along the longitudinal axis X between a position of rest and a position of driving of the internal combustion engine by the electromagnetic switch C. In other words, the pinion gear is configured to be drivingly coupled to the electric motor M. According to another embodiment, the drive shaft of the electric motor is connected directly to the launcher. The launcher L and the gear speed reducer R form together a driving device for driving the internal combustion engine by the electric motor M. The embodiment of a starter D of this type and its component elements are well known to persons skilled in the art, such that only the characteristics necessary for understanding of the invention will be described. Details of such starters are described in FR 2 934 933, FR 2 843 427, and WO 2005/054664, the contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.

(10) The electromagnetic switch C comprises two outer terminals 1 and 2 for connection to an electric circuit, not represented, of the vehicle equipped with the starter D. The terminals 1 and 2 are connected in particular to a power circuit 3 of the electric motor M. The power circuit 3, schematised in dot-and-dash lines, extends inside the contactor C of the reducer R and of the electric motor M. The electric circuit is represented in a highly simplified manner in FIGS. 1 and 6, and FIG. 7 represents a process diagram of the electric circuit 3. In this FIG. 7, a battery B supplies the motor, the filter and the switch. In this figure, the mechanical part of the switch which makes it possible to advance and withdraw the pinion of the starter is not represented.

(11) In order to combat the electromagnetic disturbances generated by the rotation of the electric motor M when it is functioning, the invention proposes integration in the electric circuit 3 of an electronic filter 10 disposed inside the starter D.

(12) According to the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the electronic filter 10 is placed inside a first cover 11 of the electromagnetic contactor C. The first cover 11 is then formed such as to define a chamber 12 for receipt of the electronic filter 10, as is apparent in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(13) According to the example illustrated, the electronic filter 10 is of the passive type, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it comprises a capacitor 13, the two lugs 14 and 15 of which are each associated with a connector 16, 17. Each connector 16, 17 is then crimped on the corresponding paste.sup.1 14, 15. For this purpose, each connector 16, 17 comprises a slot 18 with a width slightly smaller than the diameter of the corresponding lug, such that, when the lug is engaged by being forced into the slat, or the slot is forced onto the lug, a large contact surface is obtained between the connector and the said lug. The quality of this connection can also be improved by the production of a single welding spot, not represented.

(14) The electronic filter 10 is thus disposed inside the chamber 12, such as to be crimped between an inner plate 19 and the inner surface of the cover 11, such that the electronic filter is perfectly immobilised by the cover 11. In order to take into account the manufacturing tolerances of the cover 11, and of the electronic filter 10 and the other component elements of the electromagnetic contactor C, such as the inner plate 19, in this case a resiliently deformable element 20 is used, against which the filter 10 is pressed. In the present case the resiliently deformable element 20 is interposed between the filter 10 and the inner plate 19. It will be appreciated that the resiliently deformable element 20 could also be interposed between the filter 10 and the cover 12. It could also be envisaged to implement two resiliently deformable elements, one interposed between the electronic filter 10 and the inner plate 19, whereas the other one would be interposed between the electronic filter 10 and the cover 11. The resiliently deformable element 20 can be produced in any appropriate manner, for example in the form of a tongue made of a natural or synthetic elastomer material. It should be noted that the resiliently deformable element 20 also provides a function of damping of the vibrations sustained by the electronic filter 10.

(15) According to the example illustrated, one of the connectors 16 of the filter 10 comprises a connection finger 25 which extends outside the cover 11, such as to be connected by a metal tongue 26 to a terminal 1 of the contactor C. The other connector 17 comprises an opening 27 which is designed to be engaged on a connection pin 28 inside the contactor C. This embodiment of the connectors 16 and 17 makes it possible to facilitate the integration of the electronic filter in the starter B.

(16) According to the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electronic filter 10 is disposed in the first cover 11 of the electromagnetic contactor C. However, an implantation configuration of this type is not strictly necessary for the creation of the invention. Thus, FIG. 6 shows another variant of the invention according to which the starter D comprises the first cover 11 which covers at least partly the electromagnetic contactor C, and a second cover 30 which covers at least partly the electric motor M. According to this variant embodiment, the electronic filter 10 is disposed inside the electric motor, such as to be covered by the second cover 30.

(17) It will be appreciated that other modifications or variants of the invention can be envisaged within the context of the appended claims.