JP2004019601A - Starter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce defective engagement of a pinion with a ring gear, and to reduce starting mistakes of an engine. <P>SOLUTION: In a starter in which a starter motor 11 is driven by a current for auxiliary rotation running via a starter relay 3 and an attraction coil 7 of a starter switch 6, a plunger 12 is attracted by the magnetic field of the attraction coil 7 generated by the current for auxiliary rotation, a pinion 14 is protruded via a shift lever 13 and engaged with a ring gear 15, a movable contact 9 of the plunger 12 is connected to a fixed contact 10 when the pinion 14 is substantially engaged with the ring gear 15, and the starter motor 11 is energized to start an engine, an auxiliary fixing contact 10a to allow the battery current to run in the starter motor 11 by the contact of the movable contact 9 is provided on the middle position before the movable contact 9 is connected to the fixed contact 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure of a starter for starting an engine, and more particularly to an improvement in engagement between a pinion and a ring gear.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing the structure of a conventional starter. In FIG. 5, a starter includes a starter motor 11 that generates a rotational force, a planetary reduction device 20 that reduces and outputs the rotation of the starter motor 11, and an overrunning clutch that is disposed on an output shaft 22 of the planetary reduction device 20. The pinion 14 is provided so as to be slidable on the output shaft 22 integrally with the overrunning clutch 25. The starter is provided with a starter switch 6 that energizes the starter motor 11 and urges the pinion 14 toward the ring gear 15 of the engine integrally with the overrunning clutch 25 via the shift lever 13.
[0003]
The shift lever 13 is mounted rotatably around a middle fulcrum 13a, one end 13b of which is engaged with the overrunning clutch 25, and the other end 13c of the starter switch 6 mounted above the starter motor 11. It is connected to the plunger 12. The shift lever 13 and the overrunning clutch 25 are covered by a front bracket 30.
[0004]
The starter switch 6 is located on the outer periphery of the starter motor 11 and the planetary reduction gear 20, and has its central axis arranged substantially parallel to the output shaft 22. The starter switch 6 includes a suction coil 7 and a holding coil 8 that generate a magnetic force when energized, a frame 32 that covers the outer circumference of the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8 and forms a part of a magnetic circuit, A core 33 disposed on the rear end side of the holding coil 8 and constituting a part of a magnetic circuit; a plunger 12 disposed axially slidably on the inner periphery of the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8; A return spring 34 that constantly urges the starter motor 12 forward; a movable contact 9 that is attached to the rear end of the plunger 12 to open and close an energizing circuit for the starter motor 11; And a pair of fixed contacts 10 for making the connection.
[0005]
FIG. 6 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a conventional starter. In the figure, a key switch 2 is connected to a battery 1, and a relay contact 5 of a starter relay 3 is turned on / off by turning on / off the key switch 2. The starter relay 3 includes a relay coil 4 that is excited when the key switch 2 is turned on, and a relay contact 5 that moves the movable contact 5a and contacts a pair of fixed contacts 5b when the relay coil 4 is excited. One side of the relay fixed contact 5b is connected to the battery 1, and the other side of the relay fixed contact 5b is connected to the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8 of the starter switch 6. The starter switch 6 includes a suction coil 7 and a holding coil 8, a plunger 12 that is sucked when a current flows through the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8, a movable contact 9 provided at a rear end of the plunger 12, A pair of fixed contacts 10 to and from which the contacts 9 come and go are provided. One side of the fixed contact 10 is connected to the battery 1 and the other side is connected to the starter motor 11. One end of the suction coil 7 is connected to the starter motor 11.
[0006]
Next, the operation of the conventional starter will be described with reference to FIGS. When the key switch 2 is turned on, the relay coil 4 in the starter relay 3 is excited, and the relay movable contact 5a is attracted to the relay fixed contact 5b, so that the relay contact 5 is closed. Then, when the relay contact 5 is closed, a current flows through the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8 in the starter switch 6. When a current flows through the attraction coil 7 and the holding coil 8, a magnetic circuit is formed in the attraction coil 7 and the holding coil 8, the frame 32, the core 33, and the plunger 12, and the plunger 12 is attracted toward the core 33. Thus, the plunger 12 moves rearward (to the left in FIG. 5) against the urging force of the return spring 34. With the movement of the plunger 12, the shift lever 13 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5 around the fulcrum 13a. Due to the rotation of the shift lever 13, one end 13b thereof comes into contact with the rear end surface of the overrunning clutch 25, and the overrunning clutch 25 is pressed rightward in FIG. 5, so that the overrunning clutch 25 and the pinion 14 are integrally formed. 5 on the output shaft 22 in the right direction of FIG.
[0007]
When the end face of the pinion 14 comes into contact with the end face of the ring gear 15, the movement of the pinion 14 stops, but on the other hand, the auxiliary rotation current flows to the starter motor 11 via the relay contact 5 and the attraction coil 7, thereby causing the starter motor 11 to start. The motor 11 rotates at a relatively low speed, and the rotation of the starter motor 11 is transmitted to the pinion 14 via the planetary gear reduction device 20 and the overrunning clutch 25, and the pinion 14 rotates. When the pinion 14 rotates, the pinion 14 meshes with the ring gear 15. When the pinion 14 and the ring gear 15 substantially mesh with each other, the movable contact 9 and the fixed contact 10 of the starter switch 6 close, a large current flows from the battery 1 to the starter motor 11, and the high rotation of the starter motor 11 reduces the planetary gear speed. The power is transmitted to the pinion 14 via the device 20 and the overrunning clutch 25. When the pinion 14 rotates at a high speed, the engine is cranked via the ring gear 15.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional starter, as described above, the auxiliary rotation current is supplied to the starter motor 11 via the starter relay 3 and the attraction coil 7, and the pinion 14 and the ring gear 15 are engaged with each other by the auxiliary generated torque of the starter motor 11. However, with the torque generated by the auxiliary rotation current, the pinion 14 may not be able to rotate while sliding on the end face of the ring gear 15.
[0009]
If the ring gear 15 cannot be rotated because the pinion 14 cannot slide due to scratches or the like generated on the end face of the ring gear 15 and the engine starting torque is too large, the pinion 14 and the ring gear 15 are engaged. In some cases, the engine failed to start properly.
[0010]
Conventionally, when the engine cannot be started by the starter, the driver sometimes keeps turning on the key switch 2, the current intermittently flows through the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8 of the starter switch 6, and the starter switch 6 is thermally turned on. In some cases, it was damaged.
[0011]
Further, conventionally, in order to secure a high torque by increasing the auxiliary rotation current via the starter relay 3 and the suction torque 7, an expensive material having a large capacity and difficult to weld is used as the relay contact 5 and a wire diameter is used as the suction coil 7. However, it is necessary to use thick ones, which has caused a cost increase.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to reduce poor engagement between a pinion and a ring gear and reduce engine starting errors.
[0013]
Another object of the present invention is to reduce thermal damage to the starter switch caused by continuous energization of the key switch, which is observed when the pinion and the ring gear are not properly engaged.
[0014]
It is another object of the present invention to reduce the cost by setting the auxiliary rotation torque to be low, eliminating the need to use expensive materials for the relay contacts and the suction coil.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The starter according to the present invention includes a starter motor, an overrunning clutch spline-coupled to the output shaft side of the starter motor, a pinion that slides axially on the output shaft integrally with the overrunning clutch, and a key switch that is turned on. When the relay contact closes, a starter relay that closes the relay contact, when the relay contact closes, a current flows through the suction coil and the plunger is attracted, and the starter switch that moves the movable contact of the plunger to the fixed contact side, and with the movement of the plunger Equipped with a shift lever that engages the overrunning clutch and pushes the pinion toward the engine ring gear.
The starter motor is driven by the auxiliary rotation current flowing through the starter relay and the suction coil, and the plunger is attracted by the magnetic field of the suction coil generated by the auxiliary rotation current, and the pinion is pushed out via the shift lever to mesh with the ring gear. At the time when the pinion and the ring gear are substantially meshed, the movable contact of the plunger is connected to the fixed contact, and a large current is supplied to the starter motor to start the engine.
An auxiliary fixed contact is provided at a halfway position before the movable contact is connected to the fixed contact so that the movable contact comes into contact with the starter motor to supply a large current.
[0016]
Further, the starter of the present invention is characterized in that the auxiliary fixed contact is disposed so as to correspond to a position where the pinion starts to mesh with the ring gear.
[0017]
Further, the starter of the present invention is characterized in that an elastic body is provided at a position where the shift lever is engaged with the overrunning clutch.
[0018]
Further, the starter of the present invention is characterized in that an elastic body is provided at a fulcrum of the shift lever in a direction in which the movable contact bends toward the fixed contact in the process of moving the movable contact to the fixed contact.
[0019]
Further, the starter of the present invention is characterized in that an elastic body is provided in an engagement portion between the shift lever and the plunger, in a direction in which the movable contact bends toward the fixed contact in the process of moving the movable contact to the fixed contact. I do.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing the entire structure of a starter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, a starter includes a starter motor 11 for generating a rotational force, a planetary reduction device 20 for reducing the rotation of the starter motor 11 and outputting the rotation, and an over-shaft spline-coupled to an output shaft 22 of the planetary reduction device 20. A running clutch 25 and a pinion 14 that slides axially on the output shaft 22 integrally with the overrunning clutch 25 are provided. In addition, the starter is provided with a starter switch 6 that energizes the starter motor 11 and urges the pinion 14 toward the ring gear 15 of the engine integrally with the overrunning clutch 25 via the shift lever 13. .
[0022]
The shift lever 13 is rotatably mounted around an intermediate fulcrum 13a, and one end 13b of the shift lever 13 is engaged with the rear end of the overrunning clutch 25. Particularly, in this embodiment, an elastic body 130 is provided at a position where the shift lever 13 is engaged with the rear end of the overrunning clutch 25. The other end 13c of the shift lever 13 is engaged with the front end of the plunger 12 of the starter switch 6. The components such as the shift lever 13 and the overrunning clutch 25 are covered by a front bracket 30.
[0023]
The starter switch 6 is located on the outer periphery of the starter motor 11 and the planetary reduction gear 20, and the center axis thereof is arranged substantially parallel to the output shaft 22. The starter switch 6 includes a suction coil 7 and a holding coil 8 that generate a magnetic force when energized, a frame 32 that covers the outer circumference of the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8 and forms a part of a magnetic circuit, A core 33 installed on the rear end side of the holding coil 8 and constituting a part of a magnetic circuit; a plunger 12 slidably disposed in the inner periphery of the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8 in the axial direction; A return spring 34 that constantly biases the motor 12 rightward in the figure, a movable contact 9 that is attached to the rear end of the plunger 12 and opens and closes an energizing circuit for the starter motor 11, and an external wiring that is disposed opposite the movable contact 9. It is constituted by a pair of fixed contacts 10 for making a connection.
[0024]
Further, auxiliary fixed contacts 10a are connected to the pair of fixed contacts 10, respectively. The auxiliary fixed contact 10a is provided at an intermediate position before the movable contact 9 is connected to the fixed contact 10, and is used for supplying a battery current to the starter motor 11 by the temporary contact of the movable contact 9. . The position of the auxiliary fixed contact 10a is desirably arranged at a position where it comes into contact with the movable contact 7 when the pinion 14 starts to mesh with the ring gear 15.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the starter. In FIG. 2, a key switch 2 is connected to a battery 1, and a relay contact 5 of a starter relay 3 is turned on / off by turning on / off the key switch 2. The starter relay 3 includes a relay coil 4 that is excited when the key switch 2 is turned on, and a relay contact 5 that is moved by the excitation of the relay coil 4 and is connected to the pair of fixed contacts 5b. One side of the relay fixed contact 5b is connected to the battery 1, and the other side of the relay fixed contact 5b is connected to the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8 of the starter switch 6.
[0026]
The starter switch 6 includes a suction coil 7 and a holding coil 8, a plunger 12 that is sucked when a current flows through the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8, a movable contact 9 provided at a rear end of the plunger 12, A pair of fixed contacts 10 to and from which the contacts 9 come and go, and a pair of auxiliary fixed contacts 10a to be contacted while the movable contact 9 contacts the fixed contact 10 are provided. One side of the fixed contact 10 and the auxiliary fixed contact 10 a is connected to the battery 1, and the other side is connected to the starter motor 11. One side of the suction coil 7 is connected to the starter motor 11.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the starter according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0028]
When the key switch 2 is turned on, the relay coil 4 in the starter relay 3 is excited, and the relay movable contact 5a is attracted to the relay fixed contact 5b, so that the relay contact 5 is closed. When the relay contact 5 is closed, a current flows through the suction coil 7 and the holding coil 8 in the starter switch 6. When a current flows through the attraction coil 7 and the holding coil 8, a magnetic circuit is formed in the attraction coil 7 and the holding coil 8, the frame 32, the core 33, and the plunger 12, and the plunger 12 is attracted toward the core 33. As a result, the plunger 12 moves rearward (to the left in the drawing) against the urging force of the return spring 34. With the movement of the plunger 12, the shift lever 13 rotates counterclockwise around the fulcrum 13a. Due to the rotation of the shift lever 13, one end 13b thereof comes into contact with the rear end surface of the overrunning clutch 25, and the overrunning clutch 25 is pressed rightward in the drawing, so that the overrunning clutch 25 and the pinion 14 are integrated. It moves on the output shaft 22 rightward in the figure.
[0029]
When the end face of the pinion 14 comes into contact with the end face of the ring gear 15, the axial movement of the pinion 14 temporarily stops. On the other hand, when the auxiliary rotation current flows through the starter motor 11 via the relay contact 5 and the attraction coil 7, the starter motor 11 rotates at a relatively low speed, and the rotation of the starter motor 11 The power is transmitted to the pinion 14 via the running clutch 25, and the pinion 14 rotates. When the pinion 14 rotates, the front end surface of the pinion 14 slides on the end surface of the ring gear 15, and then the tooth surface of the pinion 14 starts to mesh with the tooth surface of the ring gear 15.
[0030]
Here, when the pinion 14 and the ring gear 15 do not engage with each other with the torque generated by the auxiliary rotation current through the starter relay 3 and the suction coil 7, the movable contact 9 is at the position B, but the overrunning clutch of the shift lever 13 is The movable contact 9 of the starter switch 6 moves when the elastic body 130 in contact with 25 is bent, and comes into contact with the pair of auxiliary fixed contacts 10 a connected to the fixed contact 10. By temporarily closing the pair of auxiliary fixed contacts 10 a for a short time, a large current flows from the battery 1 to the starter motor 11, and the pinion 14 is rotated by obtaining a temporary high torque from the starter motor 11, and the ring gear 15 is rotated. Can be engaged.
[0031]
Thereafter, when the pinion 14 and the ring gear 15 substantially mesh with each other, the movable contact 9 and the fixed contact 10 of the starter switch 6 close, a large current flows from the battery 1 to the starter motor 11, and the high rotation of the starter motor 11 The power is transmitted to the pinion 14 via the gear reduction device 20 and the overrunning clutch 25. When the pinion 14 rotates at a high speed, the engine is cranked via the ring gear 15.
[0032]
In the above, even if the engine cannot be started due to poor meshing, the movable contact 9 closes the auxiliary fixed contact 10a again for a short time before returning to the initial position A from the position C in FIG. The pinion 14 is rotated. As a result, at the next start operation, the pinion 14 and the ring gear 15 come into contact with each other at a position different from that at the time of the previous start, so that the pinion 14 and the ring gear 15 are prevented from sliding on the end faces. The positions can be shifted so that they can be easily engaged.
[0033]
As described above, the first embodiment has the following advantages.
[0034]
(1) With the torque that can be generated by the auxiliary rotation current flowing through the starter motor via the starter relay and the suction coil, the pinion cannot rotate while sliding on the end face of the ring gear, or occurs on the end faces of the pinion and the ring gear. When the ring gear cannot be rotated due to scratches, etc., the auxiliary contact connected to the fixed contact of the starter switch is temporarily closed for a short time, allowing a higher current to flow through the starter motor and obtaining a higher torque. By rotating the pinion and engaging with the ring gear, poor engagement can be reduced, and poor engine starting can be reduced.
[0035]
(2) Even if the engine cannot be started due to poor meshing, the movable contact closes the auxiliary fixed contact again for a short time before the pinion returns from the contact position with the ring gear to its rest position. Then, the starter motor and the pinion are rotated, and at the next operation, the pinion abuts on the ring gear at a position different from the last time where the pinion and the ring gear could not be rotated due to a scratch on the end face, etc., and can easily mesh with each other. Become like
[0036]
(3) Since the auxiliary rotation torque can be set to be low, there is no need to suppress the resistance of the suction coil, and the wire diameter of the suction coil can be reduced. Further, since the auxiliary rotation current can be suppressed low, the capacity of the relay contact can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
[0037]
(4) It is possible to reduce thermal damage to the starter switch 6 caused by continuous energization of the key switch by the driver, which is observed at the time of poor starting of the engine.
[0038]
Other embodiments.
In the above embodiment, the elastic body 130 is disposed at a position where the elastic lever 130 is engaged with the rear end of the overrunning clutch 25 of the shift lever 13, and the elastic body 130 bends in the process of moving the movable contact 9. The movable contact 9 is configured to contact a pair of auxiliary fixed contacts 10a. However, the above-mentioned elastic body is not limited to a position engaged with the rear end of the overrunning clutch 25 of the shift lever 13 but may be disposed at a position described below.
[0039]
That is, in the starter shown in FIG. 3, the elastic body 131 is provided at the fulcrum 13 a of the shift lever 13 in the direction in which the movable contact 9 bends toward the fixed contact 10. In this way, in the process of moving the movable contact 9 to the fixed contact 10, the movable contact 9 comes into contact with the pair of auxiliary fixed contacts 10a by bending the elastic body 131. It has the same effect as. In the starter shown in FIG. 4, an elastic body 132 is provided in an engagement portion between the shift lever 13 and the plunger 12 in a direction in which the movable contact 9 bends toward the fixed contact 10. With this configuration, in the process of moving the movable contact 9 toward the fixed contact 10, the elastic body 132 bends, so that the movable contact 9 comes into contact with the pair of auxiliary fixed contacts 10 a. It has the same effect as 1.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an auxiliary fixed contact is provided at a halfway position before the movable contact of the starter switch is connected to the fixed contact, so that the movable contact comes into contact with the starter motor to supply a large current. Therefore, even if the pinion does not mesh well with the ring gear with the torque that can be generated by the auxiliary rotation current, the auxiliary fixed contact is temporarily closed for a short time, so that a higher current flows through the starter motor, and a higher torque is obtained. It can be rotated to mesh with the ring gear to reduce poor meshing.
[0041]
Also, even if the engine cannot be started due to poor meshing, the movable contact temporarily closes the auxiliary fixed contact again until the pinion returns from the contact position with the ring gear to its rest position. In the next operation, the starter motor and the pinion are rotated, and the pinion abuts on the ring gear at a different position from the previous time where the pinion and the ring gear could not be rotated due to a scratch on the end face, etc., and can easily mesh with each other. Become like
[0042]
Furthermore, since the auxiliary rotation torque can be set to be low, it is not necessary to suppress the resistance of the suction coil to be low, and the wire diameter of the suction coil can be reduced. Further, since the auxiliary rotation current can be suppressed low, the capacity of the relay contact can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
[0043]
Further, it is possible to reduce the thermal damage of the starter switch due to the driver's continuous energization of the key switch, which is observed when the engine is not properly started.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an entire structure of a starter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of a starter according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the entire structure of a starter according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing the entire structure of a starter according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the entire structure of a conventional starter.
FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a conventional starter.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 battery, 2 key switch, 3 starter relay, 4 relay coil, 5 relay contact, 6 starter switch, 7 suction coil, 8 holding coil, 9 movable contact, 10 fixed contact, 10a auxiliary fixed contact, 11 starter motor, 12 plunger , 13 shift lever, 130 elastic body, 14 pinion, 15 ring gear.

Claims (5)

A starter motor, an overrunning clutch spline-coupled to the output shaft side of the starter motor, a pinion sliding in the axial direction on the output shaft integrally with the overrunning clutch, and when a key switch is turned on. A starter relay in which a relay contact is closed, an electric current flows through the suction coil when the relay contact is closed, the plunger is attracted, and a starter switch in which the movable contact of the plunger moves to the fixed contact side. A shift lever that engages the overrunning clutch and pushes the pinion in the direction of the ring gear of the engine,
The starter motor is driven by the auxiliary rotation current flowing through the starter relay and the attraction coil, and the plunger is attracted by the magnetic field of the attraction coil generated by the auxiliary rotation current, via the shift lever. When the pinion is pushed out and meshes with the ring gear, when the pinion and the ring gear are substantially meshed, the movable contact of the plunger is connected to the fixed contact, and a large current is supplied to the starter motor to start the engine. In the starter,
A starter, wherein an auxiliary fixed contact is provided at an intermediate position before the movable contact is connected to the fixed contact so that the movable contact comes into contact with the starter motor to supply a large current. 2. The starter according to claim 1, wherein the position of the auxiliary fixed contact is arranged so as to correspond to a position where the pinion starts to mesh with the ring gear. 3. The starter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an elastic body is provided at a position of the shift lever that engages with the overrunning clutch. The fulcrum of the shift lever, wherein an elastic body is provided in a direction in which the movable contact bends toward the fixed contact in a process of moving the movable contact to the fixed contact. Item 3. The starter according to Item 2. An engaging portion between the shift lever and the plunger, wherein an elastic body is provided in a direction in which the movable contact bends toward the fixed contact in a process of moving the movable contact to the fixed contact. The starter according to claim 1 or 2.

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