JPH1026064A - Starter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the increase in the weight and the scale of a a rotation power transmission part by suppressing an impact force generated during engagement between a pinion gear and a ring gear. SOLUTION: A pinion moving body 4 having a pinion gear 32 is fitted by helical spline into the outer periphery of an output shaft 3 and axially movably arranged, and always energized to the ring gear 31 side through the force of a spring 36. However, movement of pinion movement body 4 is regulated through engagement of a hook part 6c, formed at the lower protrusion part 6a of a coil-form elastic member, with the flange part 33 of the pinion movement body 4. The coil-form elastic member is moved by an electromagnetic switch 5 through a string-form member 45. At a point of time when the hook part 6c releases regulation of movement of the pinion movement body 4 and the pinion movement body 4 is moved to the ring gear 31 side by a given distance, rotation of the pinion movement body 4 is regulated. The electromagnetic switch 5 closes a motor contact located at an energization circuit to an armature 13 after rotation of the pinion movement body 4 is regulated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a starter for starting an engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior art, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
No. 807 discloses a starter. This starter adopts a method in which the rotation of the pinion gear is restricted when the armature is energized and rotated, and the pinion gear is moved to the ring gear side of the engine by the action of the helical spline provided on the output shaft and meshes with the ring gear. ing. According to this meshing method, as compared with a method in which the pinion gear is pushed to the ring gear side by the operating force of the electromagnetic switch and meshes with the ring gear, a large electromagnetic switch is not required, and the size and weight are reduced.

[0003]

However, in the above-described starter which restricts the rotation of the pinion gear during the rotation of the armature and moves the pinion gear toward the ring gear by the action of the helical spline, first, after the armature rotates, the pinion gear moves. Therefore, the rotational speed of the armature increases while the pinion gear is moving, and a large impact is generated due to rotational energy when the pinion gear and the ring gear mesh with each other. For this reason, the rotational force transmitting portion of the starter including the pinion gear needs to have rigidity enough to withstand an impact, causing a problem of an increase in weight and an increase in size. The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to suppress an impact force generated when a pinion gear and a ring gear mesh with each other, thereby avoiding an increase in weight and an increase in size of a torque transmitting unit. To provide an improved starter.

[0004]

According to the present invention, the urging means for urging the pinion moving body toward the ring gear and the urging means move the pinion moving body toward the ring gear side. And the restriction release means for releasing the movement restriction of the pinion moving body by the movement restriction means. When the movement restriction of the pinion moving body is released by the restriction release means, the pinion The moving body can move toward the ring gear by receiving the urging force of the urging means.

After that, when the rotation of the pinion moving body is regulated by the rotation restricting means at the time when the pinion moving body has moved to a predetermined position on the ring gear side, the starting motor is energized by the electromagnetic switch and a rotating force is generated in the starting motor. I do.
That is, when the start motor starts to rotate, the pinion moving body has already moved to the predetermined position on the ring gear side, so that the time from when the start motor starts to rotate until the pinion gear meshes with the ring gear is greatly reduced. Thus, the pinion gear and the ring gear mesh with each other at a low rotational speed, so that an impact value generated at the time of meshing can be significantly suppressed. As a result, since it is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the rotational force transmitting portion of the starter including the pinion gear, an increase in weight and an increase in size can be avoided.

[0006]

Next, a starter according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a starter. The starter 1 according to the present embodiment receives a start motor 2 that generates a rotational force, a planetary gear speed reducer (which will be described later / hereinafter abbreviated as a speed reducer) that reduces the rotation of the start motor 2, and receives a rotation output of the speed reducer. A rotating output shaft 3, a pinion moving body 4 fitted to the output shaft 3, an electromagnetic switch 5 for controlling the energization of the starting motor 2, and a coiled elastic member 6 engaged with the pinion moving body 4 (see FIG. 2). And is covered by an outer frame member having an approximately cylindrical outer shape. The outer frame member includes a front case 7, a center case 8, a yoke 9, a brush holder 10, and a rear case 11, and is entirely fixed by fastening a plurality of through bolts (not shown).

The starting motor 2 has a fixed magnetic pole 12 (for example, a plurality of permanent magnets) fixed to an inner peripheral surface of a yoke 9 which also serves as a magnetic frame and an outer frame member. Are rotatably arranged, and a brush 15 is arranged on a commutator 14 provided at an end of the armature 13. One end of the yoke 9 having a cylindrical shape is spigot-fitted with the opening end of the center case 8, and the other end is a brush holder 10.
And the spigot fitting with the opening end. The armature 13 has one end of the rotating shaft 16 inserted into a recess 3a formed at the rear end of the output shaft 3, and is rotatably supported via a bearing 17 fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the recess 3a. And
The other end is rotatably supported via a bearing 18 held by a bearing portion 10a of the brush holder 10. Commutator 14
Is formed by combining a plurality of commutator pieces into a cylindrical shape on the outer periphery on the other end side of the rotating shaft 16. The brush 15 is disposed in a brush storage chamber 20 formed by the brush holder 10 and the plate 19, and the commutator 1 is
4 is urged to the outer peripheral surface. However, the brush 15 is slidable in the brush storage chamber 20 in the radial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) and is restricted from moving in the rotational direction.

The reduction gear includes a sun gear 22 (external teeth) formed on the outer periphery of one end of the rotating shaft 16, an internal gear 23 (internal teeth) located on a radially outer periphery of the sun gear 22, and the sun gear 22 and the internal gear 23. And a plurality of planetary gears 24 arranged between the two gears 22 and 23 to mesh with each other. The internal gear 23 is formed on an inner peripheral surface of a gear component 25 disposed on the inner periphery of the center case 8. A roller 26 is interposed between the gear component member 25 and the inner cylinder portion 8a of the center case 8 to form a one-way clutch together with the inner cylinder portion 8a and the roller 26. The armature 13 cannot rotate in the rotation direction of the armature 13 and can rotate in the counter rotation direction of the armature 13. The planet gear 24 has a pin 27 press-fitted into a large-diameter portion 3A provided on the outer periphery of the rear end of the output shaft 3, and is rotatably supported via a bearing 28 fitted on the outer periphery of the pin 27.

The output shaft 3 is arranged coaxially with the rotary shaft 16, and has one end rotatably supported via a bearing 29 held by the front case 7, and the other end mounted on the inner cylindrical portion 8 a of the center case 8. It is rotatably supported via a held bearing 30 and is restricted from moving axially with respect to the center case 8. A helical spline 3b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the output shaft 3 projecting forward (leftward in FIG. 1) from the center case 8, and a helical spline 4a formed on the inner periphery of the pinion moving body 4 on the helical spline 3b. Are fitted.

The pinion moving body 4 is integrally formed with a pinion gear 32 for meshing with a ring gear 31 provided on the drive shaft of the engine. The pinion gear 32 has a rear end side (right end side in FIG. 1) of the pinion gear 32. A flange 33 larger than the outer diameter and having a large number of concave portions 33a on the outer periphery is integrally formed. A washer 3 rotatably supported via a roller 34 is provided on the rear end surface of the pinion moving body 4.
5 are provided. The pinion moving body 4 is constantly urged toward the ring gear 31 by a spring 36 (urging means of the present invention) interposed between the washer 35 and the center case 8.

The electromagnetic switch 5 is housed inside the rear case 11 behind the brush holder 10. The electromagnetic switch 5 includes a suction coil 37 that generates a magnetic force when energized, a plunger 38 movably arranged on the inner circumference of the suction coil 37, an external terminal (described below) for connecting to an external wiring, And a motor contact (described below) interposed in an energizing circuit for the armature 13 and the like. The moving direction of the plunger 38 is arranged in the radial direction of the starter 1 (vertical direction in FIG. 1). . The external terminals are a battery terminal 39 to which a battery cable is connected, and a switch terminal (not shown) to which wiring from a battery (not shown) via a key switch (not shown) is connected. The motor contact is connected to a movable contact 42 attached to the end of a rod 40 connected to the plunger 38 via an insulating member 41, a battery-side fixed contact 43 provided integrally with the battery terminal 39, and to the brush 15. The motor-side fixed contact (not shown) is formed, and the movable contact 42 comes into contact with the fixed contacts 43 as the plunger 38 moves, so that the fixed contacts 43 are conducted.

[0012] As shown in FIG.
For example, it is formed by winding a metal rod into a coil shape, and both end portions 6a and 6b are bent at substantially right angles in the same direction. The coil-shaped elastic member 6 is disposed in a vertically movable manner in a space formed between the center case 8 and the plate 44 disposed on the front side of the center case 8 in a portion wound in a coil shape. And both ends 6 bent at right angles
a and 6b are openings 44a, 4
4b (see FIG. 3) and is taken out to the front side of the plate 44. However, one end 6a (hereinafter, referred to as a lower protruding portion 6a) is located radially below the pinion moving body 4, and has a hook-shaped tip 6c (hereinafter, referred to as a hook 6c). Engages with the front end surface of the flange portion 33 to restrict the pinion moving body 4 from being pushed out by being urged by the spring 36. The other end 6 b (hereinafter, referred to as an upper projecting portion 6 b) is located at a predetermined distance from the outer peripheral surface of the flange 33 on the radially upper side of the pinion moving body 4. One end of a string-like member 45 (the connecting member of the present invention) is connected to the lower projecting portion 6a, and a spring 46 (see FIG. 3) fixed to the plate 44 is engaged with the lower projecting portion 6a. Under the reaction force of 46, it is constantly urged upward in FIG. The other end of the string-like member 45 is connected to the bottom of the plunger 38.

Here, when the starter 1 is in a stationary state (non-operating state), a hook margin between the hook portion 6c of the lower projecting portion 6a of the coiled elastic member 6 and the flange portion 33 of the pinion moving body 4 is represented by L1. , Upper projecting portion 6b of coiled elastic member 6
And the distance from the outer peripheral surface of the collar portion 33 of the pinion moving body 4 to L2
Assuming that the distance between the movable contact 42 of the electromagnetic switch 5 and the fixed contacts 43 is L3, L1, L2, L3 are set such that the following relationship is established. L1 ≦ L2 ≦ L3 The upper protruding portion 6b receives the urging force of the spring 36 and moves the pinion moving body 4 forward a predetermined distance (for example,
Even when the end face of the pinion gear 32 moves to a position where it comes into contact with the end face of the ring gear 31 or when it moves to near the end face of the ring gear 31), when the coil-shaped elastic member 6 moves downward, The length is set so that it can fit.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the key switch is closed, a current flows from the battery to the attraction coil 37 of the electromagnetic switch 5 to generate a magnetic force, and the plunger 38 is attracted upward in FIG. 1 by the magnetic force. Due to the movement of the plunger 38, the coil-shaped elastic member 6 pulled through the string-shaped member 45 moves downward in FIG. When the coiled elastic member 6 moves a predetermined distance L1, the hook 6c of the lower protruding portion 6a comes off the flange 33 of the pinion moving body 4, and the movement of the pinion moving body 4 is released. Thereby, the pinion moving body 4
Moves forward by a predetermined distance toward the ring gear 31 under the urging force of the spring 36.

Further, the plunger 38 moves to move the string-shaped member 4.
When the coil-shaped elastic member 6 moves downward through the pinion moving member 5, the upper protrusion 6b of the coil-shaped elastic member 6
The rotation of the pinion moving body 4 is restricted by fitting into the concave portion 33 a provided on the outer periphery of the flange portion 33. on the other hand,
In the electromagnetic switch 5, when the plunger 38 moves, the movable contact 42 abuts on both fixed contacts 43 and the motor contact closes, so that a current flows through the armature 13 and the armature 13 starts rotating. The rotation of the armature 13 is transmitted to the output shaft 3 after being decelerated by the reduction gear, and is transmitted to the output shaft 3.
Rotates. The rotation of the output shaft 3 also causes the pinion moving body 4 to rotate. However, since the rotation of the pinion moving body 4 is restricted as described above, the rotational force of the output shaft 3 is transmitted through the helical spline 3b. Acts as thrust. Thus, the pinion gear 32 meshes with the ring gear 31 (see FIG. 4), and the torque of the starting motor 2 (the rotation of the output shaft 3) is transmitted to the ring gear 31 to drive the engine.

When the pinion gear 32 meshes with the ring gear 31, the upper projecting portion 6b of the coiled elastic member 6 enters behind the rotatable washer 35 provided on the rear end face of the pinion moving body 4, as shown in FIG. , Restricting the retraction of the pinion moving body 4. The flange 3 of the pinion moving body 4
The distance from the outer peripheral surface of No. 3 to the upper protruding portion 6b of the coiled elastic member 6 was L5, and the distance from the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 33 to the hook 6c of the lower protruding portion 6a of the coiled elastic member 6 was L4. In this case, L4 and L5 are set so that the following relationship is established. L5 ≤ L4

When the key switch is opened after starting the engine,
Since the current to the attraction coil 37 of the electromagnetic switch 5 is cut off and the plunger attraction force disappears, the coiled elastic member 6 is pushed back upward in FIG. As a result, the upper protruding portion 6b is disengaged from the washer 35 of the pinion moving body 4, and the retraction control of the pinion moving body 4 is released. After the engine is started, the rotation speed of the ring gear 31 (the rotation speed of the engine) exceeds the rotation speed of the pinion gear 32 (the rotation speed of the output shaft 3), so that the helical spline 3b of the output shaft 3 and the helical spline 4a of the pinion moving body 4 A reverse force acts in the opposite direction from the time of meshing. Due to this retreating force, the pinion moving body 4 retreats on the output shaft 3 at the same time when the retraction regulation by the upper projecting portion 6b of the coiled elastic member 6 is released, and the engagement between the ring gear 31 and the pinion gear 32 is released.

When the coil-shaped elastic member 6 moves upward by the reaction force of the spring 46, the plunger 38 is pulled downward in FIG. 1 through the string-like member 45 and moves. When the contact 42 separates from both fixed contacts 43 and the motor contact opens,
The energization of the armature 13 is stopped, and the rotation of the armature 13 stops. Further, when the pinion moving body 4 retreats and returns to the rest position (the position shown in FIG. 1), the hook 6c of the lower protruding portion 6a of the coiled elastic member 6 that moves upward moves to the flange 33 of the pinion moving body 4. The forward movement of the pinion moving body 4 is again regulated by engaging with the front end surface of the pinion moving body 4.

(Effects of the present embodiment) According to the present embodiment, since the pinion moving body 4 is constantly urged toward the ring gear 31 by the reaction force of the spring 36, the lower projecting portion 6a of the coil-shaped elastic member 6 is provided. Moving body 4 by hook 6c
When the movement restriction is released, the pinion moving body 4 can be moved by the spring 36 toward the ring gear 31. Thus, the rotation of the pinion moving body 4 can be restricted in a state where the end face of the pinion gear 32 is in contact with the end face of the ring gear 31 or in a state where the pinion gear 32 is located near the ring gear 31. As soon as it is energized and starts to rotate, the pinion gear 32 can mesh with the ring gear 31. As a result, the time from when the armature 13 starts to rotate until the pinion gear 32 meshes with the ring gear 31 is greatly reduced, so that the pinion gear 32 and the ring gear 31 can mesh with each other at a low rotation speed, and the impact generated when meshing occurs. The value can be suppressed significantly. As a result, it is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the rotational force transmitting portion of the starter 1 including the pinion gear 32 (each of the gears 22, 23, 24 of the reduction gear, the output shaft 3, etc.) (of course, it is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the ring gear 31). ) Therefore, there is no increase in weight or increase in physique, and a great effect can be obtained in terms of reduction in size and weight.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the starter 1. The starter 1 according to the present embodiment includes a lever 4 that pushes the pinion moving body 4 forward by receiving a reaction force of the spring 47.
8 and a regulating member 49 for regulating the pinion moving body 4 from being pushed forward through the lever 48 (see FIG. 6).
And The lever 48 is disposed on the rear side of the washer 35 of the pinion moving body 4, and both ends are rotatably supported by a fulcrum 50 provided on the plate 44. 4 is constantly urged forward. As shown in FIG. 6, the restricting member 49 is provided near the upper protruding portion 6b of the coiled elastic member 6.
b is rotatably supported by a support shaft 51 disposed substantially in parallel with b. One end is provided with a hook 49a that engages with the front end face of the flange 33 of the pinion moving body 4, and the other end is provided. The portion is divided into two branches 49b and 49c, and is assembled with the upper projecting portion 6b of the coiled elastic member 6 sandwiched therebetween.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the attraction coil 37 of the electromagnetic switch 5 is energized, the plunger 38
5 is sucked upward in FIG. 5, the coiled elastic member 6 connected to the plunger 38 through the string-shaped member 45 moves downward against the reaction force of the spring 46. Then, since the fork 49b, 49c of the regulating member 49 moves following the movement of the upper protruding portion 6b of the coiled elastic member 6, the regulating member 49 rotates about the support shaft 51 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. . As a result, the hook portion 49a which has been engaged with the front end surface of the flange portion 33 is released from the flange portion 33 and the movement of the pinion moving body 4 is released, so that the pinion moving body 4 receives the reaction force of the spring 47. Is pushed forward through the lever 48 to move forward by a predetermined distance.

Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, the armature 13 starts rotating with the rotation of the pinion moving body 4 restricted by the upper protruding portion 6b of the coiled elastic member 6, whereby the pinion gear 32 is turned into the ring gear 31. And the torque of the starting motor 2 (the rotation of the output shaft 3) is transmitted to the ring gear 31 to drive the engine. When the pinion gear 32 meshes with the ring gear 31, the upper protrusion 6b of the coiled elastic member 6 enters behind the washer 35 provided on the rear end face of the pinion moving body 4, thereby restricting the retreat of the pinion moving body 4.

When the key switch is opened after starting the engine,
Since the current to the attraction coil 37 of the electromagnetic switch 5 is cut off and the plunger attraction force disappears, the coiled elastic member 6 is pushed back upward in FIG. As a result, the upper protruding portion 6b is disengaged from the washer 35 of the pinion moving body 4 and the retraction restriction of the pinion moving body 4 is released, so that the pinion moving body 4 retreats on the output shaft 3 and the ring gear 31 and the pinion gear 32 Is disengaged. The restricting member 49 that follows the movement of the upper protruding portion 6b rotates around the support shaft 51 in the opposite direction to that at the time of engagement, so that the hook portion 49a engages with the front end face of the flange portion 33 of the pinion moving body 4. Then, the forward movement of the pinion moving body 4 is restricted again.

In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the pinion moving body 4 is in a state where the end face of the pinion gear 32 is in contact with the end face of the ring gear 31 or the pinion gear 32 is located near the ring gear 31. As soon as the armature 13 starts to rotate, the pinion gear 32 can mesh with the ring gear 31,
The impact value generated at the time of meshing can be greatly suppressed. As a result, it is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the rotational force transmitting portion of the starter 1 including the pinion gear 32 (naturally, it is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the ring gear 31). A great effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a starter (first embodiment).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a coiled elastic member.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pinion moving body as viewed from the front side.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a pinion gear meshes with a ring gear.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a starter (second embodiment).

FIG. 6 is a plan view seen from the front side of the pinion moving body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Starter 2 Starter motor 3 Output shaft 3b Helical spline of output shaft 4 Pinion moving body 4a Helical spline of pinion moving body 5 Electromagnetic switch (restriction release means) 6 Coiled elastic member (connecting member of second embodiment) 6b Projecting upward Part (rotation restricting means) 6c Hook (movement restricting means / first embodiment) 31 Ring gear 32 Pinion gear 36 Spring (biasing means / first embodiment) 45 String member (connecting member / restriction releasing means) 47 Spring ( 48 Lever (urging means / second embodiment) 49a Hook (movement regulating means / second embodiment)

Claims (4)

[Claims] A starting motor for generating a rotating force, an output shaft that rotates by transmitting the rotating force of the starting motor, and a pinion gear that meshes with a ring gear of the engine;
A pinion moving body fitted to the outer periphery of the output shaft via a helical spline; a biasing means for biasing the pinion moving body toward the ring gear side; and the biasing means moving the pinion moving body toward the ring gear side. Movement restriction means for restricting movement, restriction release means for releasing the movement restriction of the pinion moving body by the movement restriction means at the time of activation, movement restriction of the pinion moving body is released by the restriction release means, Rotation restricting means for restricting rotation of the pinion moving body when the pinion moving body moves to a predetermined position on the ring gear side by the urging means; rotation of the pinion moving body is regulated by the rotation restricting means; And an electromagnetic switch for energizing the starting motor. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said restriction releasing means comprises a connecting member connected to said movement restricting means, and said electromagnetic switch for moving said movement restricting means via said connecting member. Starter. 3. The starter according to claim 1, wherein said rotation restricting means is interlocked with said movement restricting means. 4. The starter according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic switch is disposed on a side of the starting motor opposite to the pinion moving body.