JPH03189366A - Starter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform excellent slide of a cylinder body with a pinion and to ensure reliability of the starting of an engine by incorporating an impregnating member to feed a lubricant in the slide outer peripheral surface of a cylinder body with a pinion and mounting a lubricant filling part to a front bracket. CONSTITUTION:An annular plateform impregnating member 10 is arranged to the tip part of an pinion insertion part 1A of a front bracket 1 in a manner to be positioned adjacently to the end surface of ball bearing 9, and secured thereto by means of a support metal 11. The impregnating member 10 is situated between the ball bearing 9 and a pinion 4a. A groove part 12 is formed in the tip surface of the pinion insertion part 1A and the groove part 12 is filled with a lubricant 13. The lubricant 13 in the groove part 12 formed in the front bracket 1 is fed to the slide part of the outer periphery of a cylinder body 4 with a pinion along the impregnating member 10. This constitution performs excellent slide of the cylinder body with a pinion and ensures reliability of the starting of an engine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a starter for starting an engine, and more particularly to a lubricant supply mechanism in a pinion support structure.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in a starter, a cylinder with a pinion (sleeve) is fitted onto the starter rotation shaft so that it can slide in the axial direction, and when the key switch is turned on, the pinion shift mechanism is activated, and the cylinder with the pinion is moved to the ring gear side of the engine. It's like pushing it out.

In order to prevent dust and water from entering from the outside, this type of starter is equipped with a pinion cylinder at the pinion insertion position of the front bracket, which is the starter body, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-36778. A bearing member (such as a ball bearing) is provided to support sliding (reciprocating) rotation, and the presence of this bearing provides dustproof and waterproof properties.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The method of achieving waterproofing and dustproofing using the bearing member can be said to be an effective means. However, in recent years, the usage environment has deteriorated due to the fact that salt is sprayed as a snow-melting agent on roads in the winter, and the lubricant has deteriorated over time and the oil film has run out, causing rust to form on the sliding part of the pinion cylinder. The sliding movement deteriorates, and in the worst case scenario, the pinion may not mesh with the ring gear, leading to a risk of engine starting failure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to prevent the sliding of the pinion-equipped cylinder at all times in a starter in which the pinion-equipped cylinder is supported via a bearing at the position of the front bracket. To provide a starter that can ensure reliable engine starting by improving the engine speed.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention takes the following measures to achieve the above object.

The first lIN solving means has a lubricant impregnating property near the mounting position of the bearing member (the bearing member is attached to the front bracket) that slidably supports the cylinder body with the pinion. An impregnated member for supplying lubricant to the sliding surface of the pinion-equipped cylinder is incorporated, and the front bracket is provided with a lubricant filling portion for replenishing the impregnated member with lubricant.

A second problem-solving means is to provide at least two bearing members, these bearing members are arranged side by side with a small gap maintained in the axial direction, and a lubricant is accommodated in the small gap to seal the lubricant. form a section.

[Effect]

In order to solve the first problem, lubricant from a lubricant filling section provided in the front bracket is constantly supplied between the bearing member and the pinion-equipped cylinder via the impregnated member.

Further, according to the second problem solving means, the lubricant is accommodated in the lubricant sealing portion secured between the plurality of bearing members,
Lubricant is constantly supplied between the bearing member and the cylinder with the pinion.

Therefore, in any of the problem solving methods, it is possible to eliminate the cracking of the surface over time, and to avoid corrosion on the sliding surface of the outer circumferential part of the pinion cylinder supported by the bearing member, even under severe operating conditions, especially when snow melting agents are sprinkled. This prevents this from occurring and ensures smooth sliding movement of the pinion.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a front bracket of a starter, and a motor section 2 is connected to the rear side of the front bracket 1. A cylindrical body 4 with a pinion 4 a is connected to the motor output shaft (starter rotating shaft) 3 via a one-sided clutch 5 .

The pinion-equipped cylinder 4 rotates in the driving direction together with the output shaft 3, can rotate relative to the output shaft 3 in the counter-driving direction, and can reciprocate (slide) in the axial direction. .

An electromagnetic solenoid 6 is attached to the front bracket 1, and when the electromagnetic solenoid 6 is activated, the pinion-equipped cylinder 4 is pushed out toward a ring gear (not shown) of the engine via a shift lever 8.

A ball bearing 9 is mounted inside the pinion insertion portion IA of the front bracket 1, and the pinion-equipped cylinder 4 is supported by the bearing 9 so as to be slidable in the axial direction.

Furthermore, an impregnated member 10 in the form of an original plate is disposed adjacent to the end surface of the ball bearing 9 on the front end surface of the binion insertion portion IA of the front bracket, and is fixed with a support fitting 11.

The impregnated member 1o is made of a material such as felt material that has good impregnating properties with lubricant and can supply an appropriate amount of oil to the shaft, and by adopting the above arrangement structure, the ball bearing 9 and pinion 4a are
located between.

Further, a groove 12 is provided on the tip end surface of the pinion insertion portion IA, and the groove 12 is filled with a lubricant 131, for example, grease, and a part of the impregnated member 10 comes into contact with this lubricant filled portion 12.

In the pinion support structure configured as described above, the lubricant 13 in the groove 12 provided in the front bracket 1 is transmitted through the impregnated member 10 and is supplied to the sliding portion on the outer periphery of the pinion-equipped cylinder 4.

In this way, boundary friction between the inner circumference of the bearing 9 and the sliding outer circumferential surface of the pinion-equipped cylinder 4 is less likely to occur, improving sliding of the pinion-equipped cylinder 4 and constantly preventing oil film from running out.

As a result, even if salt water or dust is scattered from the engine's ring gear, the outer periphery of the pinion-equipped cylinder 4 located inside the impregnated member 10 is not exposed to a bad operating environment, effectively preventing rust from occurring and allowing the starter to operate. It is possible to maintain good properties over time, and to significantly improve waterproof and dustproof properties.

Note that when the pinion 4a meshes with a ring gear (not shown), an excessive load acts on the ball bearing 9 due to a pseudo-cantilever state.

For this reason, it is desirable that the distance between the pinion tip and the bearing be short, but in the present invention, by making the impregnated member 10 thinner, high strength can be obtained.

Furthermore, since water and dust containing salt do not directly enter the starter body and are purified by the impregnating member, the interior can always be kept in a normal state.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway sectional view of the second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the main part.

In the figures, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 indicate the same or common elements.

In this embodiment, two ball bearings 9a are used as bearing members that support the pinion-equipped cylinder 4.

Use 9b.

That is, the ball bearings 9a, 9b are mounted on the inner periphery of the pinion insertion portion IA of the front bracket 1, and the pinion-equipped cylinder 4 is slidably inserted into the inner ring of the ball bearings 9a, 9b.

The ball bearings 9a, 9b are arranged side by side in the axial direction, and a small gap 12' is formed between the bearings 9a, 9b. A ring 14 having a U-shaped cross section is interposed on the outer circumferential side of the gap 12', and the ball bearings 9a and 9b are positioned between the retaining ring 15 and the inner side of the tip of the front bracket while sandwiching the ring 14. The retaining ring 15 and the ring 14 serve to prevent the ball bearings 9a, 9b from moving in the axial direction when the cylinder body 4 slides, and the ring 14 serves as a clearance fit to maintain a small gap 12'. functions.

For example, an oil-based lubricant (e.g. grease) is applied to the gap 12'.
13 is enclosed.

If the lubricant sealing mechanism configured as described above is provided in contact with the outer circumferential sliding surface of the cylinder 4 with a pinion, the oil content of the lubricant will be deposited on the sliding surface of the cylinder 4 with a pinion, as in the first embodiment. is secured, bearing 9a.

Boundary friction between the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring 9b and the sliding outer circumferential surface of the cylinder body 4 with pinion is less likely to occur, and the cylinder body 4 and pinion 4
This improves the sliding of a and prevents the oil film from running out at all times. As a result, usage environmental conditions (
For example, mixed salt water) can also prevent rust from forming on the sliding surface of the pinion-equipped cylindrical body 4, and in turn can prevent pinion malfunctions due to rust.

Furthermore, the ring 14 ensures the axial dimension of the gap 12' with high accuracy, but if the ring 14 is slightly bent when the bearings 9a and 9b are press-fitted, the bearings 9a and 9b will be able to absorb the press-fitting force and the spring in the thrust direction. As the force is applied, the fixed load on the outer rings of the bearings 9a and 9b increases, and the bearing 9a
, 9b even if excessive force is applied to the bearings 9a, 9b.
Rotation of the fixed outer periphery side can be prevented.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, two bearings are used to support the outer periphery of the pinion-equipped cylinder 4, one of which is a ball bearing 9a, and the other is a metal bearing 9c instead of the ball bearing 9b. .

A lubricant filling gap 12' is formed between the ball bearing 9b and the bearing metal 90. Here, too, a ring 14 is disposed on the outer periphery of the gap 12' to prevent the bearing members 9a, 9b from moving in the axial direction due to the sliding of the pinion-equipped cylinder 4, and to maintain the gap. A lubricant 13 is sealed in the gap 12'.

A groove 16 is formed on the inner circumference of the bearing metal 9C, and serves as a simple lubrication sealing part.
Forms a heavy lubricant enclosure.

In this way, the formation of an oil film between the inner circumferential surfaces of the -layer bearings 9a and 9b and the sliding surface of the pinion-equipped cylinder 4 is sufficient, reducing and eliminating boundary friction and preventing rust from occurring under adverse usage environments. prevention is further improved.

In addition, when the sliding part of the cylinder 4 with a pinion is supported by one ball bearing, when the cylinder 4 engages with the ring gear at startup, the pinion becomes a pseudo-cantilever state, and when the gear engages, it cannot move in one direction. In order to receive the force, the gap between the bearing metal 9c and the sliding surface of the pinion cylinder 4 is the ball bearing 9a.
It is necessary to make the gap larger than that between the Therefore, at first glance, it seems possible to use an oil seal as a substitute for the bearing metal 9c, but this is not an effective method because a displacement or force beyond the allowable level may be applied to the seal lip, causing uneven wear or damage to the lip. I can't say that.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, by providing a means for replenishing lubricant to the sliding outer circumferential surface of the cylinder with a pinion, it is possible to prevent the oil film from running out between the bearing member and the sliding outer circumferential surface of the cylinder with a pinion, and It is possible to provide a long-life starter that maintains good sliding movement, prevents rust between the sliding surface of the pinion-equipped cylinder and the bearing member even under adverse usage environments, and prevents the pinion from sticking due to rust. can.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical body with a pinion is fitted to the rotating shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and a bearing member supporting the cylindrical body with a pinion is attached to the front bracket. In a starter in which the cylinder body with a pinion protrudes from the front bracket and the pinion and the engine-side ring gear mesh with each other, the cylinder body with a lubricant impregnated with the lubricant is provided near the mounting position of the bearing member in the front bracket. An impregnated member for supplying lubricant to the sliding surface of the pinion-equipped cylinder is incorporated, and the front bracket is provided with a lubricant filling part for replenishing the impregnated member with lubricant. Starter. 2. A cylindrical body with a pinion is fitted to the rotating shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction, a bearing member supporting the cylindrical body with a pinion is attached to the front bracket, and when the key switch is turned on, the cylindrical body with a pinion is fitted. In the starter that protrudes from the front bracket and engages the pinion and the engine-side ring gear, the bearing member is a plurality of at least two, these bearing members are arranged side by side with a small gap in the axial direction, and the small A starter characterized in that a lubricant is accommodated in the gap to form a lubricant sealing part. 3. The starter according to claim 2, wherein a gap-maintaining ring is interposed between the bearing members so as to cover the outer periphery of the gap. 4. The starter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bearing member is made of a ball bearing or a bearing metal. 5. The starter according to claim 4, wherein a groove portion for sealing a lubricant is additionally provided on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing metal.