JP4981953B2 - Engine starter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine starter for starting an engine with a starter motor, and more particularly to an engine starter having an starter electromagnetic switch and a short-circuit switch.

  When starting the engine, energize the coil of the starter switch and close the internal contact of the starter switch to supply electric power from the vehicle power source to the starter motor to generate rotational torque in the starter motor, and the meshed pinion gear and ring gear Then, the rotational force of the starter motor is transmitted to the engine crankshaft to start the engine. At this time, when the starter switch is closed, the starter motor is still in a stationary state and no back electromotive force is generated. Therefore, an inrush current of several hundred to several hundreds of amperes flows due to an extremely small starter internal resistance. At that time, the vehicular power supply generates a voltage drop in which the terminal voltage decreases due to the internal specific resistance.

  For this reason, in starting the engine, there has been a problem of causing a momentary interruption when using other electric devices of the vehicle such as a stereo, a navigation system, and an air conditioner due to a voltage drop of the power source for the vehicle due to the current at the start of the starter motor. This momentary interruption is not particularly a problem when starting an ordinary engine, but in vehicles equipped with an idling stop function, an instantaneous interruption occurs when restarting after idling stop. The situation was uncomfortable. Therefore, in order to avoid this instantaneous interruption, a measure is taken to prevent a voltage drop of the vehicle power supply by mounting a short-circuit switch that short-circuits the voltage drop suppression means.

  Here, in the starter shown in Patent Document 1 below, the starter switch is fixed to the housing by a plurality of bolts, the short-circuit switch is fixed to the housing via the bracket, and the bracket has a short-circuit switch on the end surface on one end side. The other end side is sandwiched between the housing and the starter switch, and is fixed to the housing by at least two bolts for fixing the starter switch, and a hole for inserting the bolt is provided on the other end side of the bracket. Is formed. By changing the position of this hole, mass production is easy when mounting the short-circuit switch, and it is possible to respond finely to changes in the mounting angle.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-167967 (FIGS. 1 to 5 and description thereof)

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, although the housing and the short-circuit switch are fixed in advance by welding or the like, the part does not exist in the conventional starter, and the starter is assembled by increasing the number of parts. The process increases and the cost increases. Furthermore, in the use state of the starter in which the battery harness and the starter are connected, the battery voltage is constantly applied to each contact terminal of the short circuit switch and the high potential side contact terminal of the starter switch through the resistor of the short circuit switch. For this reason, it is necessary to take insulation measures (for example, cover with an insulating cover) over a wide range, which causes an increase in cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its main purpose to facilitate mass production and improve reliability, and to reduce the range that requires insulation measures.

An engine starter according to the present invention includes a starter motor that starts power supply from a power source, an electromagnetic switch for starter connected in series between the starter motor and the power source, the starter motor, and an electromagnetic switch for starter And a short-circuit switch for short-circuiting the resistor, and by closing the starter electromagnetic switch, the starter motor is connected from the power source to the starter electromagnetic switch and the resistor. The starter electromagnetic switch and the short-circuit switch are configured to short-circuit the resistor by the short-circuit switch after a predetermined delay time has elapsed since the starter electromagnetic switch is closed. Are connected together through a switch integrated support member. Has been integrated assembly of an electromagnetic switch and the short-circuit switch for the starter is an engine starting device that is connected to the starter motor.

The present invention relates to a starter motor that receives power from a power source to start an engine, a starter electromagnetic switch connected in series between the starter motor and the power source, and a series connection between the starter motor and the starter electromagnetic switch. A connected resistor, and a short-circuit switch for short-circuiting the resistor; energizing the starter motor from the power source via the starter electromagnetic switch and the resistor by closing the starter electromagnetic switch; An engine starter configured to short-circuit the resistor with the short-circuit switch after a lapse of a predetermined delay time after the starter electromagnetic switch is closed , wherein the starter electromagnetic switch and the short-circuit switch are integrated with the switch. It is connected integrally through a member, and for this integrated starter Integrated assembly of the magnetic switch and the short-circuit switch, since it is connected to the starter motor, ease of mass production, improved reliability, has the effect of attained a reduction in the range requiring insulation measures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention, and is a top view of an example of an engine starting device. FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a rear view of the engine starting device in FIG. 1 as viewed from the starter motor side in the axial direction. It is a figure which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention, and is a top view of the electromagnetic switch and short circuit switch which the engine starting apparatus in FIG. 1 has. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a rear view of the electromagnetic switch and the short-circuit switch included in the engine starter in FIG. It is a figure which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention, and is the front view which looked at the electromagnetic switch and short circuit switch which the engine starting apparatus in FIG. 1 has from the bracket side of the axial direction. It is a figure which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention, and is a perspective view of an example of a support member. It is a figure which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention, and is a figure which shows an example of the electric circuit diagram of an engine starting apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention, It is explanatory drawing of an assembly process, (A) is the assembly process of this invention, (B) is the assembly process of patent document 1, (C) is a short circuit switch. The assembly process of the conventional starter which does not have is shown, respectively. It is a figure which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention, and is explanatory drawing of an insulation countermeasure. FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram of insulation measures according to the present invention, in which FIG. 9A is an electric circuit diagram of the engine starting device of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9B is a rear view of the engine starting device of FIG. FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram of insulation countermeasures of Patent Document 1. FIG. 9A is an electric circuit diagram of the engine starting device corresponding to FIG. 7, and FIG. 9B is a rear view of the engine starting device corresponding to FIG.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  1 to 7, an engine starter 1 includes a bracket 2 attached to an engine (not shown), a starter motor 4 fixed by tightening a through bolt 3 to the bracket 2, and energization of the starter motor 4. A power source (hereinafter referred to as “battery”) 5 (see FIG. 7) for supplying power to a circuit (hereinafter referred to as “motor circuit”) and a start switch 6 connected to the battery 5 for starting the starter motor 4. A starter electromagnetic switch 7 for opening and closing fixed contacts 7e and 7f (see FIG. 7) provided in the motor circuit, a resistor 8 (see FIG. 7) connected in series to the motor circuit, and the resistor 8 It is comprised by the short circuit switch 9 etc. for short-circuiting.

  The bracket 2 is integrally provided with a flange portion 2a fixed to a starter mounting surface (not shown) on the engine side and a switch mounting portion 2b for fixing the starter electromagnetic switch 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, the starter electromagnetic switch 7 includes an electromagnetic switch portion 7a connected in series between the starter motor 4 and the battery 5, and a drive coil for driving a movable contact 7i of the electromagnetic switch portion 7a. 7b, a holding coil 7c for holding the movable contact 7i of the electromagnetic switch unit 7a in a position in contact with the fixed contacts 7e and 7f, and a plunger 7d fixed to the movable contact 7i of the electromagnetic switch unit 7a. The holding coil 7c is connected between the start switch 6 and GND.
In the starter electromagnetic switch 7, a surface of the bracket 2 fixed to the switch mounting portion 2 b is formed with one female screw 7 j, and the electromagnetic switch 7 and a switch integrated support member 10 to be described later are provided. They are connected by a connector (hereinafter referred to as “bolt”) 11 such as a single bolt that is screwed into the female screw 7j.
The plunger 7d has a function of connecting the output shaft of the starter motor 4 to the engine (not shown) side via a connecting mechanism (not shown) by a moving operation accompanying the movement of the movable contact 7i in the closing direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, the short-circuit switch 9 includes an electromagnetic switch portion 9a connected between the switch portion 7a of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the starter motor 4, and a movable contact 9i for driving the electromagnetic switch 9a. A resistor which is a voltage drop suppression means connected between the drive coil 9b, the plunger 9d fixed to the movable contact 9i of the electromagnetic switch 9a, and the terminals 9g and 9h of the electromagnetic switch 9a and connected in parallel with the electromagnetic switch 9a. 8. The short-circuit switch drive coil 9b is connected between the control circuit 12 and GND (ground potential part).
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the short-circuit switch 9 is adjacent to the starter electromagnetic switch 7 in the radial direction via a switch integrated support member 10 and connectors 11, 14 such as bolts. By this connection, the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the short-circuit switch 9 are integrated, and this integration forms an integrated assembly 79 of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the short-circuit switch 9.

An integrated assembly 79 of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the short-circuit switch 9 is attached to a bracket 2 to which the starter motor 4 is attached via a switch integrated support member 10 (hereinafter referred to as “bolt”). (Refer to FIG. 1).
The bracket 2 may be attached to the starter motor 4 in advance, or may be attached to the integrated assembly 79 of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the short-circuit switch 9.

As shown in FIG. 6, the switch integrated support member 10 for fixing the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the short-circuit switch 9 together includes one end side leg portion 10a provided in a substantially flat plate shape and a round portion at the center portion. The other end side leg part 10c provided in the ring shape which the hole 10b opens, and the connection part 10d which bends and connects the one end side leg part 10a and the other end side leg part 10c at a right angle.
A reinforcing rib 10e is provided from the one end side leg portion 10a to the other end side leg portion 10c through the connecting portion 10d.
The other end side leg portion 10c is formed with a plurality of holes 10f (two places in the case of FIG. 6) for inserting the bolts 13 apart, and a hole 10g for inserting the bolts 11 at one place. Is formed. Moreover, the hole 10h for inserting the volt | bolt 14 which fixes the short circuit switch 9 in the one end side leg part 10a is formed in two places.

  This switch integrated support member 10 has two bolts in which the short-circuit switch 9 is inserted into the hole 10h on the end face of the one end side leg portion 10a before the starter electromagnetic switch 7 is assembled to the engine starter 1. 14, the starter electromagnetic switch 7 is fixed to the end face of the other end leg 10c by one bolt 11 inserted through the hole 10g.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the starter electromagnetic switch 7 is located in a space surrounded by the one end side leg portion 10 a and the other end side leg portion 10 c of the switch integrated support member 10.
The electromagnetic switch 7 is connected to the starter electromagnetic switch 7 by the electromagnetic switch connector 11 from the second surface 10c2 side opposite to the first surface 10c1 of the other end side leg portion 10c on the starter electromagnetic switch side. 1 surface 10c1 side.
The second surface 10c2 of the other end side leg portion 10c is a surface to be attached to the attachment body (the bracket in this embodiment) 2 to which the integrated assembly 79 of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the short-circuit switch 9 is attached. is there.
The electromagnetic switch connector 11 has a structure that does not protrude from the second surface 10c2 of the other end side leg portion 10c to the attachment body 2 side.

  That is, since the hole 10g has a concave shape 10ga on the second surface 10c2 side by the height of the head 11a of the bolt 11 with respect to the plate thickness of the switch integrated support member 10, the starter electromagnetic switch 7 Even if it is fixed to the switch integrated support member 10, the bolt 11 does not protrude from the second surface 10c2 side of the switch integrated support member 10 to the mounting body 2 side.

  Furthermore, a current lead wire or the like so that the low potential side connection terminal 7 h provided in the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the high potential side connection terminal 9 g provided in the short-circuit switch 9 are electrically and mechanically connected. The switches are connected by an electromechanical connecting conductor 15 between the switches.

  The switch integrated support member 10 of the integrated assembly 79 is sandwiched between the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the switch mounting portion 2b of the bracket 2, and is used for the starter by the two bolts 13 inserted into the hole 10f. It is fixed to the bracket 2 together with the electromagnetic switch 7. In this fixing, the electromagnetic switch connector 11 has a structure that does not protrude from the second surface 10c2 of the other end side leg portion 10c to the attached body (the bracket 2 in the present embodiment). The second surface 10c2 of the switch integrated support member 10 of 79 has a structure in surface contact with the mounted body (the bracket 2 in the present embodiment), so that the fixing is stable even under the vibration of the vehicle and the reliability is improved. .

  Next, the operation of the engine starter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as a first step of engine start, the start switch 6 is closed in response to an engine start request, and the starter 6 passes through the start switch 6 from the battery 5 through the drive coil 7b of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and further through the resistor 8. A current starts to be supplied to the motor 4.

  Subsequently, as a second step, when the drive coil 7b is energized, the plunger 7d of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 is driven, and the movable contact 7i moves to contact the first and second fixed contacts 7e, 7f. The starter electromagnetic switch 7 is closed. Here, the holding coil 7 c is connected to the battery 5 through the start switch 6, and the starter electromagnetic switch 7 is kept closed by being energized by the start switch 6 being closed. As a result, rotational torque is generated in the starter motor 4, and the pinion gear meshed with the drive of the plunger 7d starts to move toward the ring gear provided on the crankshaft of the engine (not shown). When the starter electromagnetic switch 7 is closed, the current flowing through the drive coil 7 b almost disappears, and becomes a current flowing through the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the resistor 8 closed from the battery 5.

  Subsequently, as a third step, the delay circuit in the control circuit 12 operates from the time when the start switch 6 is closed and energization of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 is started, and the contact 12a is connected after a predetermined delay time has elapsed. close. As a result, the drive coil 9b of the short-circuit switch 9 is energized, and the electromagnetic switch unit 9a connected in parallel to the resistor 8 is closed. The resistor 8 is short-circuited by the closing of the electromagnetic switch unit 9a. As a result, a normal starter current is supplied to the starter motor 4, and the rotational force of the starter motor 4 is transmitted to the engine crankshaft to start the engine.

  Since the engine starter 1 of the present embodiment can suppress the inrush current that flows when the starter motor 4 starts to rotate, the engine can be started without causing a momentary interruption to the on-vehicle electric device. Become.

The short-circuit switch 9 of the present invention is described as operating in the normally open type (normally open contact) in the above description, but the same effect can be obtained in the normally closed type (normally closed contact).
In this case, before the starter electromagnetic switch 7 is closed due to the engine start request, the electromagnetic switch portion 9a of the short-circuit switch 9 that receives the energization command from the control circuit 12 is first opened, so that the engine is started. The inrush current is suppressed by the resistor 8. Subsequent operations are the same as in the case of the normal open type (normally open contact) described above, the short-circuit switch 9 after a lapse of a predetermined delay time from when the start switch 6 is closed and the starter electromagnetic switch 7 is energized. The resistor 8 is short-circuited by the closing of the electromagnetic switch portion 9a. When the engine is restarted after idling is stopped, the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the short-circuit switch 9 that have received a start command from the control circuit 12 perform the above-described operation.

(Effect of Embodiment 1)
In the engine starter 1 according to the first embodiment, the short circuit switch 9 fixed in advance by welding or the like to the switch integrated support member 10 as shown in the prior art (Patent Document 1) is used to assemble the engine starter 1. Are not held between the switch mounting portion 2b of the bracket 2 and, as described above, before the assembly process with the starter motor 4, the switch integrated support member 10, the short-circuit switch 9, and the starter electromagnetic switch 7 Are integrated to form an integrated assembly 79.
Thereby, since man-hours are not increased in the final process, which is an assembly process of the engine starter 1 to the starter motor 4, the assembly workability is improved and the mass productivity is improved.

  The reason why the number of man-hours is not increased in the final process, which is the process of assembling the engine starter 1 to the starter motor 4, will improve the assembly workability and the reason why the mass productivity will be improved with reference to FIG.

  8A is an explanatory diagram of the assembly process of the first embodiment, FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram of the assembly process of Patent Document 1, and FIG. 8C is a conventional engine starter 1 that does not have a short-circuit switch. The assembling steps are respectively shown.

  In the conventional assembly process of the engine starter 1 that does not have a short-circuit switch, as shown in FIG. 8C, it is different from the starter final assembly process WP1 (process immediately before the starter electromagnetic switch assembly including the starter motor assembly). The starter electromagnetic switch assembled in the starter electromagnetic switch assembly step SP1 is assembled to the starter motor finally assembled in the starter final assembly step WP1 in step WP2 after the starter final assembly step WP1. Therefore, the time required for assembling the completed engine starter 1 in which the starter electromagnetic switch is assembled to the finally assembled starter motor is WP1 + WP2 in the engine starter 1 having no short-circuit switch.

  In the assembly process of Patent Document 1 of the engine starting device 1 having the short-circuit switch, as shown in FIG. 8B, the starter final assembly process WP1 and the starter electromagnetic switch assembly process SP1 are separate processes of the short-circuit switch assembly process SP2. In step SP3, a bracket (support member) is assembled to the short-circuit switch by welding, the short-circuit switch having the welded bracket (support member) is assembled in step WP2, and the starter electromagnetic switch is installed in the post-process WP3 in step WP2. Assemble with. Accordingly, the time until the completed product of the engine starter 1 in which the starter electromagnetic switch and the short-circuit switch are assembled to the finally assembled starter motor is WP1 + WP2 + WP3.

  On the other hand, in the assembly process of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, the integrated assembly of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the short-circuit switch 9 assembled in SP1 and SP2 in separate processes, respectively. The body 79 is completed as a semi-finished product in a process different from the starter final assembly process WP1, for example, the process SP4 after the assembly process SP1 of the starter electromagnetic switch 7, and the integrated assembly 79 completed in the process SP4 The starter final assembly process WP1 is assembled in a subsequent process WP2. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the process WP3 in FIG. 8B is not necessary even though the engine starting device 1 has the short-circuit switch 9. That is, the time until the finished product of the engine starter 1 in which the starter electromagnetic switch and the short-circuit switch are assembled to the final starter motor is assembled is WP1 + WP2, and the assemblability in the engine starter 1 having the short-circuit switch 9 , Mass productivity is improved.

In addition, since both the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the short-circuit switch 9 are formed into an integrated assembly 79 by the connectors 11 and 14 via the switch integrated support member 10, such as welding and brazing in the furnace. Since it is not necessary to use the whole heating and melting joining means, the strength of the short-circuit switch and the support member is not impaired. Therefore, the vibration resistance can be ensured without increasing the plate thickness of the support member more than necessary, and therefore the reliability is high improves.

Further, in the first embodiment, a starter motor that is supplied with electric power from a power source to start the engine, an electromagnetic switch for starter connected in series between the starter motor and the power source, the starter motor and the electromagnetic switch for starter And a short-circuit switch for short-circuiting the resistor, and by closing the starter electromagnetic switch, the starter motor is connected from the power source to the starter electromagnetic switch and the resistor. The engine starter is configured to short-circuit the resistor by the short-circuit switch after a predetermined delay time has elapsed since the starter electromagnetic switch is closed. The regions 7g5 and a7g-7g5 that need to be applied are the regions a30-3011 and a From 29-31-15, it is reduced as shown in the figure. In other words, the battery voltage is not always applied to the resistor (voltage drop suppression means) 8 connected to the short-circuit switch, and a special insulation measure is applied to the resistor (voltage drop suppression means) 8. There is no need, and, in addition to the resistor (voltage drop suppression means) 8, the area where it is necessary to take insulation measures can be reduced.

  Further, by changing the position of each hole 10 f formed in the switch integrated support member 10, the mounting position angle of the short-circuit switch 9 with respect to the axis of the starter electromagnetic switch 7 can be finely changed.

  Further, in the engine starting device 1 of this embodiment, the low potential side connection terminal 7 h provided in the starter electromagnetic switch 7 and the high potential side connection terminal 9 g provided in the short-circuit switch 9 are connected. By being configured, the place where the battery voltage is constantly applied is only the high potential side terminal 7g of the starter electromagnetic switch 7, and this place is also provided with insulation measures in the conventional engine starting device. The cost increase can be suppressed without taking additional insulation measures, and the engine starter 1 can be manufactured at a low cost.

  In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol shows the same part.

1 engine starter,
2 Mounting body (bracket),
4 Starter motor,
5 Power supply (battery),
7 Starter electromagnetic switch,
7g connection terminal,
7h connection terminal,
7j female thread,
8 resistors,
9 Short-circuit switch,
9a, 9b arms,
9g connection terminal,
9h Terminal for connection,
10 Switch integrated support member,
10a One end side leg,
10c The other end side leg,
10c1 first surface,
10c2 second surface,
10g hole,
10ga concave shape,
11 bolts (connectors),
11a head,
13 Electromagnetic switch mounting bolt (connector),
14 Short-circuit switch mounting bolt (connector)
79 An integrated assembly of a starter electromagnetic switch and a short-circuit switch.

Claims (8)

A starter motor that receives power from a power supply to start the engine, a starter electromagnetic switch connected in series between the starter motor and the power supply, and a resistor connected in series between the starter motor and the starter electromagnetic switch And a shorting switch for short-circuiting the resistor, and by operating the starter electromagnetic switch, the starter motor is energized from the power source via the starter electromagnetic switch and the resistor, and the starter electromagnetic An engine starter configured to short-circuit the resistor by the short-circuit switch after a predetermined delay time has elapsed since the switch was closed,
The starter electromagnetic switch and the short-circuit switch are integrally connected via a switch integrated support member,
An engine starter in which the integrated assembly of the integrated starter electromagnetic switch and the short-circuit switch is coupled to the starter motor. The engine starter according to claim 1 ,
The switch integrated support member is composed of one end-side leg portion and the other end-side leg portion that are L-shaped,
The short-circuit switch is connected to the one end side leg through a short-circuit switch connector,
The engine starter characterized in that the starter electromagnetic switch is connected to the other end side leg through an electromagnetic switch connector. The engine starting device according to claim 2 ,
The shorting switch has a pair of arms spaced apart from each other;
The engine starter characterized in that the short-circuit switch is connected to the one end side leg portion via the short-circuit switch connector in each of the pair of arms. The engine starter according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the starter electromagnetic switch is located in a space surrounded by the one end side leg portion and the other end side leg portion of the switch integrated support member,
From the second surface side opposite to the first surface of the other end side leg portion on the starter electromagnetic switch side, the starter electromagnetic switch is connected to the second end leg portion by the electromagnetic switch connector. 1 is connected to the surface side of
The second surface of the other end side leg is a surface to be attached to a mounting body to which the integrated assembly of the starter electromagnetic switch and the shorting switch is mounted,
The engine starter characterized in that the electromagnetic switch connector does not protrude from the second surface of the other end side leg to the attachment body side. The engine starting device according to any one of claims 2 to 4 ,
An engine starter characterized in that the integrated assembly of the integrated electromagnetic switch for starter and short circuit switch and the starter motor are attached to a common bracket. The engine starting device according to claim 5 ,
A plurality of bolt insertion holes spaced apart from each other on the other end side leg is formed at an arbitrary position,
The integrated assembly of the integrated electromagnetic switch for starter and the short-circuit switch is attached to the bracket by bolts through bolt insertion holes selected at the plurality of arbitrary positions, The engine starter characterized in that the short-circuit switch is disposed on the bracket at an arbitrary angle with respect to the axis of the integrated electromagnetic switch for starter. The engine starting device according to claim 5 or 6 ,
An engine starter characterized in that the bracket is attached to an engine starter attachment part on the engine side. In the engine starting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A low potential side connection terminal of the starter switch and a high potential side connection terminal of the short circuit switch in an integrated assembly of the integrated starter electromagnetic switch and the short circuit switch are electrically and An engine starter characterized by being mechanically connected.

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