JP2010169011A - Starter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a starter achieved in the smooth engagement of a pinion gear with a ring gear and prevented in the occurrence of a failure. <P>SOLUTION: First and second magnet switches include: first and second plungers having first and second movable contacts provided at one end, and slidably arranged in their own axial directions; a pair of first and second fixed contacts arranged facing the first and second movable contacts, and electronically connected to a battery and a motor, respectively; first and second exiting coils arranged around axial peripheral surfaces of the first and second plungers; and a shift lever having one end operably with the other end of the first plunger and the other end operably engaged with the motor, and operated to push out the pinion gear to the side of the ring gear in conjunction with the slide movement of the first plunger. The first and second exiting coils are electrically connected to a control means, and power distribution is performed with a time lag with respect to the first and second magnet switches by the control means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a starter, and is particularly suitable for application to an electromagnetic push-type starter in which a pinion gear and an engine-side ring gear are engaged when an engine is started.

  Conventionally, as a starter motor (generally called a self-starter motor, commonly called a cell motor) which is a starting device of this type, a pinion gear provided on the output shaft of the starter motor is pushed out to a crankshaft on the engine side. A general electromagnetic push-in starter motor that meshes with a large gear called a ring gear provided on an outer peripheral portion of a connected flywheel is widely known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  In such a starter motor, the pinion gear is not meshed with the ring gear except during starting. In this case, the pinion gear moves forward and meshes with the ring gear only at the time of starting, and the driving force generated by the motor is transmitted from the pinion gear to the ring gear to drive the engine. After the engine is started, the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear by returning the ignition switch for starting the engine from the “START” position to the “ON” position.

  That is, when the engine is started, when the excitation coil (also referred to as a solenoid coil) of the magnet switch is energized by the operation of the ignition switch to the “START” position, the plunger disposed at one end of the movable contact of the magnet switch However, when the movable contact is attracted toward the set of fixed contacts, the fixed contact and the movable contact are electrically and physically connected. For this reason, the shift lever engaged with the other end side of the plunger pushes the output shaft provided with the pinion gear to the ring gear side in conjunction with the movement of the plunger.

  When the starter motor is energized simultaneously with the engagement of the pinion gear and the ring gear, the crankshaft in the engine is driven to rotate, so-called cranking, and the rotation generated by the starter motor is transmitted from the pinion gear to the engine through the ring gear. The

  On the other hand, after the engine is started, when the excitation coil is deenergized by operating the ignition switch to the “ON” position, the magnetic force of the excitation coil disappears, so the plunger moves in the direction of the reaction force of the return spring. It is pushed back by the biasing force.

  Then, the energization to the motor is stopped by moving the movable contact of the magnet switch away from the fixed contact. At the same time, the output shaft is also returned via the shift lever in conjunction with the plunger being pushed back, so that the meshing state between the pinion gear and the ring gear is released, and the rotation of the pinion gear is stopped. Thus, the pinion gear expands and contracts by electromagnetic force (in other words, it can be switched between pushing and pulling back), and meshes with the ring gear only when the engine is started.

JP 2004-190500 A JP 2002-54539 A JP-A-10-103199

  By the way, in the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, at the moment when the engine is started, the rotational force of the engine is transmitted to the starter motor. This means that the pinion gear of the starter motor rotates at a high speed, and some starter motors are equipped with a clutch and a reduction gear for protection from this high speed rotation.

  However, in such an electromagnetic push-in type starter motor, even if the engine is stopped before the engine is stopped (when the engine is inertially rotating), the ring gear on the engine side is rotating at a high speed. Since it is difficult to engage the pinion gear with the existing ring gear, it is difficult to restart the engine before it stops.

  For this reason, in order to mesh the pinion gear and the ring gear, it is necessary to completely stop the engine. If the starter motor is operated during engine rotation, the pinion gear and the ring gear may be damaged.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such problems, and it is a main object of the present invention to provide a starter motor that can achieve smooth meshing between a pinion gear and a ring gear and prevent damage. Objective.

  One aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a motor that generates rotational force, an output shaft that outputs the rotation of the motor, a pinion gear provided on the output shaft, and the pinion gear and the engine when the engine is started. A magnet switch that meshes with a ring gear provided on an outer peripheral portion of a flywheel connected to the crankshaft and transmits the rotation of the pinion gear to the crankshaft via the ring gear, The magnet switch has a first movable contact disposed at one end, and is disposed opposite to the first plunger, the first plunger disposed to be slidable in its own axial direction, A pair of first fixed contacts, one of which is electrically connected to the battery and the other of which is electrically connected to the motor, and an axial direction of the first plunger. A first exciting coil disposed on an outer periphery of the first plunger, and one end side is operably engaged with the other end side of the first plunger, and the other end side is operably engaged with the motor. A first magnet switch having a shift lever that operates to push out the pinion gear toward the ring gear side in conjunction with the sliding movement of the plunger of the first plunger, and a second movable contact on one end side are arranged. A pair of plungers slidably disposed in the axial direction of the first and second movable contacts, and one pair electrically connected to the battery and the other electrically connected to the motor. And a second magnet switch having a second fixed contact and a second exciting coil disposed on an outer periphery in the axial direction of the second plunger. 2 excitation co Le is electrically connected to the control means, by said control means to said first and second magnetic switch, and to be energized with a time difference.

  As described above, in one aspect of the present invention, the magnet switch in the starting device is divided into the first magnet switch and the second magnet switch. The control means energizes the first magnet switch and the second magnet switch with a time difference. Thereby, in this invention, a motor can be rotated before meshing | engagement according to the engine speed at the time of starter operation | movement.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, since the motor can be rotated before meshing according to the engine speed during operation of the starter, the difference in speed between the pinion gear and the ring gear can be reduced, and thus smooth. It is possible to provide a starting device that can realize the meshing and can prevent the pinion gear and the ring gear from being damaged.

It is a lineblock diagram showing roughly the starting device in one example of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the starting device of FIG. 1 seeing from a different viewpoint. It is a timing chart which shows the operation | movement of the 1st and 2nd magnet switch in the starting device of this invention, and the meshing state of a pinion gear and a ring gear.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a detailed description of a well-known technique, a well-known procedure, a well-known architecture, a well-known circuit configuration, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “well-known matter”) will be omitted. It is for the sake of brevity and does not intentionally exclude all or part of these known matters. Such known matters are known to those skilled in the art at the time of filing of the present invention, and are naturally included in the following description.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a starter according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the starter of FIG. 1 as seen from another angle.

  1 and 2 generally show a starter motor 1 as a starting device according to the present invention. The motor 2 controls the first magnet switch 3 and the second magnet switch 4 as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). A ring gear provided on the outer periphery of a flywheel connected to an unillustrated engine-side crankshaft by pushing out a pinion gear 22 provided on the output shaft 21 of the motor 2 when energized by the electronic control unit 5) 7 is meshed.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the motor 2 has a well-known structure that generates torque for rotationally driving the pinion gear 22 when energized. The armature includes an armature core, a shaft, an armature coil, a commutator, and the like. An (armature) 23 and a field (field device) composed of a yoke 24, a brush 25, a field coil, a permanent magnet (not shown), or the like are mounted.

  In the electromagnetic push-in starter motor 1, the magnet switch is divided into a first magnet switch 3 and a second magnet switch 4. The first magnet switch 3 has a first movable contact 32 disposed at one end in a case 31, a first plunger 33 disposed slidably in its own axial direction, and a first movable contact. 32 and a pair of first fixed contacts 34, one of which is electrically connected to the battery 6 and the other of which is electrically connected to the brush 25 of the motor 2, and an outer periphery in the axial direction of the first plunger 33. The first exciting coil 35 is provided. In addition to this, one end side is operably engaged with the other end side of the first plunger 33 and the other end side is operably engaged with the motor 2, and in conjunction with the sliding movement of the first plunger 33. A shift lever 36 that operates to push the pinion gear 22 toward the ring gear 7 is provided outward from the case 31.

  The second magnet switch 4 has a second movable contact 42 disposed on one end side in the case 41 and a second plunger 43 slidably disposed in its own axial direction. A pair of second fixed contacts 44 disposed opposite to the movable contact 42 and electrically connected to the battery 6 and the other to the brush 25 of the motor 2, respectively, and the axial direction of the second plunger 43 And a second exciting coil 45 disposed on the outer periphery.

  The first and second exciting coils 35 and 45 are wound around the outer circumferences of the corresponding first and second plungers 33 and 43, respectively, and when the current flows, the first and second plungers 33 are wound. , 43 is a winding for generating a magnetic force for attracting the first and second stationary contacts 34, 44 to the side.

  The first and second plungers 33 and 34 constitute part of the magnetic path, slide (reciprocate) by the magnetic force generated by the first and second exciting coils 35 and 45, and shift for pinion movement. It is a columnar member made of a magnetic body that drives the lever 36 and the first and second movable contacts 32, 42. The first and second plungers 33 and 43 are slidably disposed in the axial direction inside the sleeve, with the outer peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve (not shown). Further, a return spring (not shown) provided in the cases 31 and 41 is biased in a direction away from the first and second fixed contacts 34 and 44.

  The first and second movable contacts 32, 42 are slid integrally with the first and second plungers 33, 43 to connect or disconnect between the first and second fixed contacts 34, 44. It is a plate-shaped member made of a metal.

  The first and second fixed contacts 34 and 44 are members made of a metal that supplies electric power from the battery 6 to the starter motor 2 by being connected by the first and second movable contacts 32 and 42. . The first and second fixed contacts 34 and 44 are fixed at a predetermined interval in a state of facing the first and second movable contacts 32 and 42.

  One end side of the shift lever 36 is engaged with the other end side of the first plunger 33 in the first magnet switch 3 so as to be able to operate in conjunction with the first plunger 33, and the other end side from the case 31. Projecting toward the direction of the motor 2 is provided. The other end of the shift lever 36 is operably engaged with the motor 2. The shift lever 36 moves the pinion gear 22 with the ring gear 7 on the engine side in conjunction with the sliding movement of the first plunger 33 so as to contact the first movable contact 32 and the first fixed contact 34. It can be pushed out to engage.

  Next, the operation of the starter motor 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 which is a timing chart showing the operation of the first and second magnet switches 3 and 4 and the engagement state of the pinion gear 22 and the ring gear 7 in the starter motor 1 of the present invention. Will be described.

  First, when a start request is output from the ECU 5 or another ECU before the engine is completely stopped, the second excitation coil 45 is energized via the ECU 5 (indicated by t1 in the figure). Thereby, the second exciting coil 45 generates a magnetic force. Then, the second plunger 43 is attracted by the generated magnetic force in a direction in which the second movable contact 42 contacts the second fixed contact 44 while extending the return spring. Then, when the second movable contact 42 comes into contact with the second fixed contact 44 by the second plunger 43 being sucked and slid, one set of the two brushes 25, 25 in the motor 2. The brushes 25 and 25 are electrically connected to the battery 6 and start rotating.

  Next, the first exciting coil 35 is energized with a predetermined time under the control of the ECU 5 (indicated by t2 in the figure). Thereby, the first exciting coil 35 generates a magnetic force. Then, the first plunger 33 is attracted by the generated magnetic force in a direction in which the first movable contact 32 contacts the first fixed contact 34 while extending the return spring.

  When the first movable contact 32 comes into contact with the second fixed contact 34 by the first plunger 33 being sucked and slid, the pinion moving shift lever 36 is operated in conjunction with the pinion gear 22. Is engaged with the ring gear 7 of the engine.

  At this time, when power is supplied from the battery 6 to the remaining set of brushes 25, 25 in the motor 2 for the starter by the first movable contact 32 coming into contact with the first fixed contact 34, Rotation driving of the crankshaft in the engine, so-called cranking, is started, and the rotation generated by the starter motor 1 (starter motor 2) is transmitted from the pinion gear 22 to the engine through the ring gear 7 to start the engine.

  As described above, in the starter motor 1, the ECU 5 is energized with a time difference between the first magnet switch 3 and the second magnet switch 4, so that the engine speed during the starter operation is increased. The motor 2 can be rotated before the corresponding engagement. Therefore, the rotational speed difference between the pinion gear 22 and the ring gear 7 can be reduced. Thus, smooth meshing can be realized, and damage to the pinion gear 22 and the ring gear 7 can be prevented.

  Thereafter, when the engine is completely started, the power supply to the first and second exciting coils 35 and 45 is cut off. Then, the magnetic force generated in the first and second exciting coils 35 and 45 disappears. Therefore, the first and second plungers 33 and 43 are pulled back in the direction away from the first and second fixed contacts 34 and 44 by the return spring when the magnetic force disappears.

  At this time, the shift lever 36 is also pulled back in conjunction with the first plunger 33 being pulled back, so that the pinion gear 22 is detached from the ring gear 7 on the engine side. The first and second movable contacts 32 and 42 are also separated from the first and second fixed contacts 34 and 44. Then, when the first and second movable contacts 32, 42 are separated from the first and second fixed contacts 34, 44, the supply of electric power from the battery 6 is cut off, and the starter motor 2 stops.

[Operation and effect of the present invention]
As described above, according to the starter motor 1 of the present invention, the magnet switch is divided into the first magnet switch 3 and the second magnet switch 4. Then, the ECU 5 energizes the first magnet switch 3 and the second magnet switch 4 with a time difference. Therefore, in the starter motor 1, since the motor 2 can be rotated before meshing according to the engine speed during the starter operation, the difference in speed between the pinion gear 22 and the ring gear 7 can be reduced, and thus smooth. Thus, it is possible to provide the starter motor 1 that can achieve a proper meshing and can prevent the pinion gear 22 and the ring gear 7 from being damaged.

[Other Examples]
The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. And substitutions can be added.

  For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In short, as long as the motor can be rotated before meshing according to the engine speed during starter operation, the structure of a magnet switch or other structure that pushes out a pinion gear is used. Various other structures can be widely applied.

  The present invention is particularly applicable to the automobile manufacturing industry, the automobile parts manufacturing industry, and the like. The appearance, weight, size, running performance, etc. of the vehicle to be mounted are not limited.

1 ... Starting device (starter motor)
2 ... motor 21 ... output shaft 22 ... pinion gear 23 ... armature 24 ... yoke 25 ... brush 3 ... first magnet switches 31, 41 ... case 32 ... first movable contact 33 ... first plunger 34 ... first fixed Contact 35 ... 1st excitation coil 36 ... Shift lever 4 ... 2nd magnet switch 42 ... 2nd movable contact 43 ... 2nd plunger 44 ... 2nd fixed contact 45 ... 2nd excitation coil 5 ... ECU ( Control means)
6 ... Battery 7 ... Ring gear

Claims (1)

A motor that generates rotational force, an output shaft that outputs rotation of the motor, a pinion gear provided on the output shaft, and an outer peripheral portion of a flywheel connected to the pinion gear and the crankshaft of the engine when the engine is started A magnet switch that meshes with the ring gear and transmits the rotation of the pinion gear to the crankshaft via the ring gear,
The magnet switch is
A first plunger provided with a first movable contact on one end side and slidably arranged in its axial direction;
A pair of first fixed contacts disposed opposite to the first movable contact, one electrically connected to the battery and the other electrically connected to the motor;
A first exciting coil disposed on an outer periphery in the axial direction of the first plunger;
One end side is operably engaged with the other end side of the first plunger, and the other end side is operably engaged with the motor, and the pinion gear is moved in conjunction with the sliding movement of the first plunger. A first magnet switch comprising a shift lever that operates to push out toward the ring gear;
A second movable contact disposed on one end side and slidably disposed in its own axial direction;
A pair of second fixed contacts disposed opposite to the second movable contact, one electrically connected to the battery and the other electrically connected to the motor;
A second magnet switch provided with a second exciting coil disposed on the outer periphery in the axial direction of the second plunger,
The first and second exciting coils are electrically connected to the control means;
A starter characterized in that the control means energizes the first and second magnet switches with a time difference.