JPH11230014A - Engine starter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an engine starter excellent in its safety without greatly correcting an existing device by interrupting the energization to the starter before the thermal deterioration of external parts such as insulating members and informing a user of the interruption of energization to a motor by an alarm device when the motor of the starter is continuously energized due to the failure of a key switch or the like. SOLUTION: A constantly closed bimetal 20 is arranged in close contact with the motor lead wire 1a. The bimetal 20, a resistance 41 and an alarm lamp 40 are connected together in parallel. The bimetal 20, the resistance 41 and the alarm lamp 40 connected in parallel are connected to the exciting coil of a starter relay 30. When the temperature of the motor lead wire 1a exceeds a prescribed temperature, the bimetal 20 is opened to cut off the current carrying to a motor 1 and turn on the alarm lamp 40. When a key switch 60 is returned to an initial position, the alarm lamp 40 is turned off. When the temperature of the motor lead wire 1a is not higher than the prescribed temperature, the bimetal 20 is closed to start an engine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an engine starting device, and more particularly to an engine starting device having a function of protecting a motor that rotates an engine at the time of starting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a starter for rotating an engine, when a key switch of a vehicle is turned on, power is supplied to a magnetic switch from a battery, a plunger is attracted, and an internal contact of the magnetic switch is closed.
When the internal contact of the magnetic switch is closed, the motor is energized and its rotational power is transmitted to the engine via a roller clutch, a pinion and a ring gear, and starts the engine.

[0003] As a conventional technique of the starter, for example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-243364 is known.

[0004] The starter described in the above-mentioned publication is designed to be used in a case where a key switch of a vehicle fails to return or the engine does not start and the driver keeps the key switch in the engine start position. When the exciting coil of the magnetic switch generates heat, the starter is de-energized to prevent the starter from deteriorating.

[0005] To achieve the above object, a normally-closed bimetal is arranged near the exciting coil of the magnetic switch. In the starter described in the above publication, when a key switch of the vehicle is turned on, current flows from a battery to a circuit including a key switch, an excitation coil of a starter relay, a transistor, a resistor, and a capacitor, and from the circuit, , A normally closed bimetal disposed near the exciting coil of the magnetic switch is energized.

When the exciting coil of the starter relay is energized, the starter relay is turned on, and the battery is energized through the starter relay to the exciting coil of the magnetic switch. When the excitation coil of the magnetic switch is energized, the magnetic switch is turned on, and the motor is energized from the battery via the magnetic switch.

When the key switch of the vehicle fails, the starter motor is continuously energized, heat is generated in the exciting coil of the magnetic switch, and when the normally closed bimetal reaches a predetermined temperature, the normally closed bimetal is opened.

When the normally closed bimetal is opened, the current flowing through the exciting coil of the starter relay becomes small, and the starter relay is turned off. When the starter relay is turned off, the power supply to the exciting coil of the magnetic switch is stopped, so that the magnetic switch is turned off. When the magnetic switch is turned off, the power supply to the motor is stopped.

[0009]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, although the temperature rise of the exciting coil of the magnetic switch is taken into consideration, the heat generation of the lead wire for supplying power to the motor from the magnetic switch is considered. No consideration was given, and it was not possible to prevent thermal degradation of external components such as insulating members due to the heat generation of the lead wires.

In other words, if the key switch of the vehicle is returned poorly or if the engine does not start and the driver keeps the key switch in the position where the engine is started, the excitation coil of the magnetic switch becomes smaller than the excitation coil of the magnetic switch. Since the temperature rise of the lead wire is faster, thermal degradation of external parts such as an insulating member of the lead wire has occurred.

Further, in the above-mentioned prior art, no consideration is given to notifying, by a warning device or the like, that the power supply to the motor has been interrupted in the case where a key switch of the vehicle has returned poorly.

For this reason, it has been difficult for the driver to quickly determine the cause of the stoppage of the operation of the engine starting device.

Further, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the normally-closed bimetal must be arranged near the exciting coil of the magnetic switch, when the above-mentioned prior art is applied to an existing engine starting device, the inside of the engine starting device is not provided. In this case, the normally-closed bimetal must be arranged near the exciting coil, and the operation is very complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of these points. An object of the present invention is to provide an external member such as an insulating member when a motor of a starter is continuously energized due to a defective key switch or the like. Before the heat deterioration occurs, the power supply to the starter is cut off, and the fact that the power supply to the motor is cut off is notified by an alarm means.
That is, the present invention can be realized without significantly modifying an existing device.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. (1) A motor for generating a rotational force for starting an engine, a pinion slidably supported on an output rotary shaft of the motor, and a key switch for instructing a current supply to the motor. In the starting apparatus for the engine, a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a line for supplying a current to the armature of the motor, and a current flowing to the motor according to a temperature equal to or higher than a specified value detected by the temperature detecting means. Means for interrupting the supply.

When the motor is continuously energized due to a defective key switch or the like, the temperature of each part rises. Along with this, the temperature of the line (motor lead wire) that supplies current to the armature of the motor also rises. When the temperature of the motor lead wire exceeds a predetermined temperature, when the temperature is detected by the temperature detecting means, the current supply to the motor is cut off. The motor lead wire is an external component exposed to the outside of the motor.
Can be easily implemented.

(2) Preferably, in the above (1),
The temperature detecting means is a normally-closed bimetal, and the normally-closed bimetal is mounted on an outer periphery of a line for supplying a current to the armature.

(3) Preferably, in (2), the means for interrupting the current supply to the motor is a starter for opening and closing a line for supplying current to the motor in accordance with a current supply instruction from the key switch. Has a relay,
The normally closed bimetal, which is the temperature detecting means, is connected to the starter relay, and the starter relay opens a line for supplying current to the motor in response to the normally closed bimetal detecting a temperature equal to or higher than a specified value. And cut off the current supply to the motor.

(4) Preferably, in the above (3), further comprising a resistor and a warning means connected in series to each other, wherein the resistance and the warning means are connected in parallel to the normally closed bimetal, Connected to the starter relay, the normally-closed bimetal opens when the temperature becomes equal to or higher than a specified value, and accordingly, the starter relay opens a line for supplying current to the motor, and the current to the motor is opened. While shutting off the supply, the alarm means:
It warns that the current supply to the motor has been cut off.

When the motor is continuously energized due to a defective key switch or the like, the energization of the motor is interrupted, and an alarm is issued by the alarm means that the energization of the motor is interrupted.

(5) Preferably, in the above (3), further comprising a resistor and a warning means connected in series to each other, wherein the resistance and the warning means supply a current to the armature of the motor. The alarm means is alarmed when the motor is in a continuous energized state, and the normally closed bimetal is opened when the temperature is equal to or higher than a specified value, and accordingly, the starter relay is The line for supplying current to the motor is opened, and the supply of current to the motor is cut off.

(6) Preferably, in the above (2), further comprising a resistor and an alarm means connected in series with each other and connected to the key switch, wherein the normally-closed bimetal is connected to the key switch. And means for interrupting the supply of current to the motor, the alarm means issues an alarm when the motor is in a continuous energized state, and the normally closed bimetal has a temperature equal to or higher than a specified value. In response to this, the opening means opens the line for supplying current to the motor, and cuts off the current supply to the motor.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an engine starting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an output shaft 2 of a starter motor 1 is supported by a bearing 4b provided on a nose 4a of a front bracket 4 and a bearing 5a of a rear bracket 5, and a roller clutch 6 The pinion 7 is slidably supported via the shift lever 8 by the power of the magnetic switch 3.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a starter mounting portion of the engine. The starter mounting portion 9 is fitted with the spigot portion 4c of the front bracket 4, and the flange portion 4d of the front bracket 4.
Is fixed by bolts 10. Thereby, the starter is mounted on the engine.

Normally closed bimetal 20 as temperature detecting means
Is the motor-side fixed contact 3d of the magnetic switch 3
Is mounted in close contact with a motor lead wire 1a for supplying power to the motor 1 through a contraction tube 21 (mounted on the outer periphery of the motor lead wire 1a). One of the circuits of the normally closed bimetal 20 is connected to the exciting coil of the starter relay 30, and the other is grounded to the vehicle. The motor lead 1a is an external component exposed to the outside of the motor 1 and the rear bracket 5, and the work of attaching the normally closed bimetal 20 to the motor lead 1a can be easily performed.

An alarm lamp 40 of the starter is mounted at a position such as a meter panel of the vehicle which can be confirmed by a driver. One end of the alarm lamp 40 is connected via a resistor 41, an exciting coil of the starter relay 30 and a key switch 60. Connected to the battery 50. And the alarm lamp 40
Is grounded to the vehicle.

A connection point between the resistor 41 and the exciting coil of the starter relay 30 is connected to one of the circuits of the normally closed bimetal 20. That is, normally closed bimetal 20
And the resistor 41 and the alarm lamp 40 connected in series,
They are connected in parallel.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the starter relay 30
The first fixed contact is connected to the battery 50, and the second fixed contact of the starter relay 30 is connected to the attracting coil 3f and the holding coil 3g which constitute the exciting coil of the magnetic switch 3. Magnetic switch 3
Of the holding coil 3g is grounded, and the suction coil 3f
Is connected to the motor-side fixed contact 3d and the motor lead wire 1.
a is connected to the motor 1 via a. The battery-side fixed contact 3c is connected to the battery 50.

Next, the operation of the engine starting device configured as described above will be described. 1 and 2, when the key switch 60 is turned on and the excitation coil of the starter relay 30 is energized from the battery 50, the starter relay 30 is closed and the suction coil 3f and the holding coil 3g of the magnetic switch 3 are closed from the battery 50. Is energized.

At this time, the alarm lamp 4 is connected via the resistor 41.
Although the current is also supplied to 0, the current flowing to the alarm lamp 40 via the resistor 41 is small, and the alarm lamp 40 is not turned on because it is in parallel with the normally closed bimetal 20.

Attraction coil 3 of magnetic switch 3
f, When the holding coil 3g is energized and the plunger 3a is attracted to the magnetic switch 3, the roller clutch 6 and the pinion 7 are transferred to the ring gear 11 via the shift lever 8.

The pinion 7 meshes with the ring gear 11,
When the movable contact 3b of the magnetic switch 3 comes into contact with the battery-side fixed contact 3c and the motor-side fixed contact 3d, the motor 1 is energized from the motor-side fixed contact 3d via the motor lead wire 1a. When the motor 1 is energized,
The motor 1 rotates, and its rotational power is transmitted to the engine via the roller clutch 6, the pinion 7, and the ring gear 11, and the engine is started.

When the key switch 60 is returned after the start of the engine, the starter relay 30 is opened and the power supply to the magnetic switch 3 is cut off. As a result, the plunger 3a returns to the original position by the spring reaction force of the return spring 3e, the movable contact 3b, the battery-side fixed contact 3c, and the motor-side fixed contact 3d are opened, and the power supply to the motor 1 is cut off. Then, the operation of the starter stops.

During the operation of the starter, if the key switch 60 of the vehicle fails to return, or if the engine does not start and the driver keeps the key switch 60 in the engine start position, the motor 1 is continuously operated. The power is turned on. When the motor 1 is in the continuous energized state, the temperature of each part of the starter increases. Accordingly, the motor lead wire 1 of the motor 1
Although the temperature of “a” also increases, this temperature increase is faster than the temperature increase of the suction coil 3 f and the holding coil 3 g of the magnetic switch 3, and the motor lead wire 1 a often deteriorates first. Therefore, when the motor lead wire 1a exceeds a predetermined temperature (specified value), the normally closed bimetal 20 is opened.

Here, since the starter relay 30 and the resistor 41 are connected in series, the voltage applied to the starter relay 30 is lower than the voltage of the starter relay 30 before the normally closed bimetal 20 is opened. . For this reason, the starter relay 30 is opened, the power supply to the magnetic switch 3 is cut off, and the plunger 3a is returned to the return spring 3e.
Return to the original position by the spring reaction force.

When the plunger 3a returns to its original position by the spring reaction force of the return spring 3e, the movable contact 3b, the battery-side fixed contact 3c and the motor-side fixed contact 3d are opened, and the power supply to the motor 1 is cut off. Thus, the starter is stopped before thermal degradation of the external components of the starter occurs. In addition, by the starter relay 30 and the magnetic switch 3,
Means for interrupting the current supply to the motor 1 is configured.

At this time, the current from the battery 50 is supplied to the alarm lamp 40 via the resistor 41, and the alarm lamp 40 is turned on to notify the driver that the supply of power to the motor 1 has been interrupted. .

When the return of the key switch 60 occurs and the temperature of the motor lead wire 1a exceeds a predetermined temperature, the normally-closed bimetal 20 opens and the motor 1
Is turned off, and the alarm lamp 40 is turned on. In this case, since the alarm lamp 40 is still energized after the starter is de-energized, the driver can be informed that the energization of the motor 1 has been interrupted.

Even when the engine does not start and the driver keeps the key switch 60 in the position for starting the engine, if the temperature of the motor lead wire 1a exceeds a predetermined temperature, the normally closed bimetal 20 is turned off. When opened, the power to the motor 1 is cut off and the alarm lamp 40 is turned on. Then, when the driver returns the key switch 60, the alarm lamp 40 turns off. Thereafter, when the temperature of the motor lead wire 1a becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the normally-closed bimetal 20 closes and returns to a state where the engine can be started again.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the normally-closed bimetal 20 is disposed in close contact with the motor lead wire 1a, and the normally-closed bimetal 20 is connected to the resistor 41 and the alarm lamp 40. Are connected in parallel, the normally-connected bimetal 20 connected in parallel, the resistor 41 and the alarm lamp 4
0 is connected to the excitation coil of the starter relay 30.
The motor lead wire 1a is an external component exposed to the outside of the motor 1 and the rear bracket 5, and is a normally closed bimetal 20.
Can be easily executed on the motor lead wire 1a. Therefore, when the starter motor is continuously energized due to a defective key switch or the like, the energization of the starter is cut off and the energization of the motor is shut off before thermal deterioration of external components such as insulating members occurs. It is possible to realize an engine starter excellent in safety by notifying the shutoff by an alarm means without largely modifying an existing device.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of an engine starting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the normally-closed bimetal 20 is attached to the motor lead wire 1a in close contact with a contraction tube 21, and the normally-closed bimetal 20 is inserted into a circuit for supplying electricity to the starter.

The resistor 41 and the alarm lamp 40 are connected to the battery 50 via the key switch 60. Also,
The connection point between the key switch 60 and the resistor 41 is connected to the suction coil 3f and the holding coil 3g of the magnetic switch 3 via the normally closed bimetal 20. One end of the holding coil 3g of the magnetic switch 3 is grounded, and one end of the attraction coil 3f is connected to the motor 1 via the motor-side fixed contact 3d and the motor lead 1a.
The battery-side fixed contact 3c is connected to the battery 50.

In this case, the magnetic switch 3 constitutes a current supply cutoff means. The normally closed bimetal 20 is connected between the key switch 60 and the means for interrupting the current supply to the motor, that is, the magnetic switch 3.

With the above-described configuration, when the key switch 60 is turned on, the alarm lamp 40 is turned on. When the key switch 60 is returned after the engine is started, the alarm lamp 40 is turned off and the starter is started. It can be confirmed that the energization was interrupted.

Further, if the key switch 60 of the vehicle is returned poorly or the engine does not start, and the driver keeps the key switch 60 at the engine start position,
When the motor 1 is in the continuous energizing state, the alarm lamp 40
Remains lit to warn of the continuous energization state, and when the motor lead wire 1a exceeds a predetermined temperature, the normally-closed bimetal 20 is opened, and the energization to the magnetic switch 3 is cut off. Before thermal degradation of the starter occurs, the starter stops. As described above, also in the second embodiment of the present invention, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of an engine starting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the normally closed bimetal 20 is attached to the motor lead wire 1a in close contact with the shrinkable tube 21.

The normally closed bimetal 20 is a starter relay 30
Of the battery 50 via the excitation coil and the key switch 60
Connected to. The key switch 60 is connected to the suction coil 3f and the holding coil 3g of the magnetic switch 3 via the starter relay 30.

One end of the holding coil 3g of the magnetic switch 3 is grounded, and one end of the suction coil 3f is connected to the motor 1 via the motor-side fixed contact 3d and the motor lead wire 1a. The motor-side fixed contact 3
d is grounded via a resistor 41 and an alarm lamp 40. The battery-side fixed contact 3c is connected to the battery 50.

With the above configuration, when the key switch 60 is turned on, the magnetic switch 3 is energized. When the magnetic switch 3 is energized, the plunger 3a is sucked and the magnetic switch 3
The movable contact 3b contacts the battery-side fixed contact 3c and the motor-side fixed contact 3d. Thus, the motor 1 is energized from the motor-side fixed contact 3d via the motor lead wire 1a, and the alarm lamp 40 is turned on. When the key switch 60 is returned after the engine is started,
The alarm lamp 40 is turned off, and it can be confirmed that the power supply to the starter has been cut off.

When the motor 1 is continuously energized, the alarm lamp 40 remains lit to warn of the continuous energization, and when the motor lead wire 1a exceeds a predetermined temperature, the normally closed bimetal 20 is opened, the starter relay 30 is opened, the energization of the exciting coil of the magnetic switch 3 is cut off, and before the external parts of the starter are thermally degraded, the starter is stopped and the alarm lamp 40 is turned off. Turns off.

As described above, also in the third embodiment of the present invention, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In the third embodiment, when the movable contact 3b of the magnetic switch 3 is welded to the battery-side fixed contact 3c and the motor-side fixed contact 3d, and the motor 1 is continuously energized. Has the effect that the alarm lamp 40 remains lit even when the key switch 60 is returned, so that it can be notified that the motor 1 is in the continuous energizing state.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the alarm lamp 40 is provided as the alarm means has been described. However, a similar effect can be obtained by providing an alarm buzzer. In the example described above, the alarm lamp 40
Although it is configured to simply light, it may be configured to blink.

Further, in the above-described example, the normally closed bimetal 20 is used for detecting the temperature of the motor lead 1a. However, the temperature of the motor lead 1a is detected by other temperature detecting means, and the motor lead 1a is detected. A switch that opens when 1a becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature can be arranged in place of the normally closed bimetal 20.

[0054]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. When the motor of the starter was continuously energized due to a defective key switch, etc., the energization of the starter and the energization of the motor were interrupted before thermal deterioration of external components such as insulating members occurred. This is notified by alarm means, and an engine starter with excellent safety can be realized without significantly modifying the existing system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an engine starting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of an engine starting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of an engine starting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 motor 1a motor lead wire 2 output shaft 3 magnetic switch 3a plunger 3b movable contact 3c battery-side fixed contact 3d motor-side fixed contact 3f suction coil 3g holding coil 6 roller clutch 7 pinion 8 shift lever 11 ring gear 20 normally closed bimetallic 30 starter relay 40 alarm lamp 41 resistance 50 battery 60 key switch

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Sagaga 2520 Oji Takaba, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture Inside the Automotive Equipment Division of Hitachi, Ltd. In the Automotive Equipment Division of the Works (72) Inventor Rikio Goto 2520, Ojitakaba, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture In the Automotive Equipment Division of Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Takayuki Hatsuoka 2477 Takaba, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Hitachi, Ltd. In car engineering

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A motor for generating a rotational force for starting an engine, a pinion slidably supported on an output rotary shaft of the motor, and a key switch for instructing a current supply to the motor. A starting device for detecting the temperature of a line for supplying current to the armature of the motor; and detecting a temperature equal to or higher than a specified value by the temperature detecting device. Means for interrupting the supply of current to the engine. 2. The engine starter according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting means is a normally closed bimetal, and said normally closed bimetal is mounted on an outer periphery of a line for supplying a current to said armature. An engine starting device characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The engine starting device according to claim 2, wherein the means for interrupting the current supply to the motor includes a starter relay for opening and closing a line for supplying current to the motor in accordance with a current supply instruction from the key switch. The normally closed bimetal, which is the temperature detecting means, is connected to the starter relay, and the normally closed bimetal is opened when a temperature equal to or higher than a specified value, and accordingly, the starter relay is connected to the motor. An engine starting device characterized in that a line for supplying current to the motor is opened to cut off current supply to the motor. 4. The engine starter according to claim 3, further comprising a resistor and an alarm connected in series with each other, wherein said resistor and the alarm are connected in parallel with said normally closed bimetal, and said starter is connected to said normally closed bimetal. Connected to a relay, the normally-closed bimetal opens when the temperature becomes equal to or higher than a specified value.Accordingly, the starter relay opens a line for supplying current to the motor and supplies current to the motor. In addition to shutting off, the alarm means
An engine starting device for alarming that a current supply to a motor has been cut off. 5. The engine starter according to claim 3, further comprising a resistor and an alarm connected in series with each other, wherein the resistor and the alarm are connected to a line for supplying a current to the armature of the motor. The alarm means issues an alarm when the motor is in a continuous energized state, and the normally closed bimetal is opened when the temperature exceeds a specified value.Accordingly, the starter relay supplies an electric current to the motor. An engine starting device, characterized in that a line for supplying the motor is opened to cut off current supply to the motor. 6. The engine starter according to claim 2, further comprising a resistor and an alarm connected in series with each other and connected to said key switch, wherein said normally closed bimetal is connected to said key switch and said key switch. The alarm means is connected between the motor and the means for interrupting the current supply to the motor, and the alarm means issues an alarm when the motor is in a continuous energized state, and the normally closed bimetal has a temperature equal to or higher than a specified value. The engine starting device is characterized in that, in response to this, the means for shutting off opens a line for supplying current to the motor, and cuts off current supply to the motor.