Patent US3851532A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3851532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Starter for internal combustion engines
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1973-06-19
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A starter for internal combustion engines wherein the armature shaft of the starter motor rotates an axially movable transmission shaft by way of a friction clutch which is driven by the armature shaft and an overrunning claw clutch which is driven by the friction clutch and drives the transmission shaft. The transmission shaft carries a pinion which is movable into mesh with a gear of the engine by a solenoid-operated shifter assembly. The overrunning clutch is disengaged when the gear begins to drive the pinion, and such disengagement is assisted by one or more balls which are movable by centrifugal force radially of the transmission shaft to thereby move an axially reciprocable element of the overrunning clutch away from a second clutch element which is driven by the friction clutch.
Inventors
- 👤 G Pfluger
- 👤 L Bolz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:01
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02N; F02N15/00; F02N15/02; F02N15/022; F02N15/025; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/13; Y10T74/131; Y10T74/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
In a starter for an internal combustion of the type having a torque receiving gear, a combination comprising an electric motor having a rotary armature shaft; a second shaft coaxial with and movable axially of said armature shaft; a pinion secured to said second shaft; shifter means actuatable to move said second shaft axially and to thereby place said pinion into mesh with said gear; and a torque transmitting unit interposed between said shafts and including a friction clutch and an overrunning clutch, said friction clutch being driven by said armature shaft and said overrunning clutch being driven by said friction clutch and arranged to rotate said second shaft, said overrunning clutch comprising a first clutch element movable lengthwise of and arranged to rotate with said second shaft and a second clutch element rotatable on said second shaft and receiving torque from said friction clutch, said clutch elements having mating claws which transmit torque from said second clutch element to said first clutch element when said second clutch element receives torque from said friction clutch and said pinion drives said gear.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a starter for an internal combustion of the type having a torque receiving gear, a combination comprising an electric motor having a rotary armature shaft; a second shaft coaxial with and movable axially of said armature shaft; a pinion secured to said second shaft; shifter means actuatable to move said second shaft axially and to thereby place said pinion into mesh with said gear; and a torque transmitting unit interposed between said shafts and including a friction clutch and an overrunning clutch, said friction clutch being driven by said armature shaft and said overrunning clutch being driven by said friction clutch and arranged to rotate said second shaft, said overrunning clutch comprising a first clutch element movable lengthwise of and arranged to rotate with said second shaft and a second clutch element rotatable on said second shaft and receiving torque from said friction clutch, said clutch elements having mating claws which transmit torque from said second clutch element to said first clutch element when said second clutch element receives torque from said friction clutch and said pinion drives said gear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said friction clutch is driven by said armature shaft and said overrunning clutch is disengaged when the speed of said pinion exceeds the speed of said armature shaft in response to firing of the engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said friction clutch is disengaged in response to a predetermined resistance which said second shaft offers to rotation with said armature shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said second shaft has axially parallel external teeth and said first clutch element of said overrunning clutch has axially parallel internal teeth meshing with said external teeth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a combined radial and thrust bearing interposed between said second shaft and said second clutch element and arranged to move said second clutch element axially in response to actuation of said shifter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said first clutch element is located between said pinion and said second clutch element and is movable away from said second clutch element by said claws when the speed of said pinion exceeds the speed of said armature shaft, said overrunning clutch further comprising stop means provided on said second shaft and arranged to limit the extent of movement of said first clutch element away from said second clutch element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said overrunning clutch further comprises resilient means for biasing said first clutch element away from said stop means and thrust bearing means for holding said second clutch element against axial movement away from said stop means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising centrifugal disengaging means provided on said second shaft and arranged to move said first clutch eLement away from said second clutch element in response to acceleration of said second shaft to a predetermined speed exceeding the speed of said armature shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said centrifugal disengaging means comprises a pair of guide means rotatable with said second shaft and at least one weight interposed between said guide means and arranged to move radially outwardly in response to said acceleration of said second shaft to thereby move said first clutch element away from said second clutch element by way of one of said guide means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said one guide means is rigid with said first clutch element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said one guide means has a socket which receives said weight while said second shaft receives torque from said armature shaft and from which said weight moves radially outwardly in response to said acceleration of said second shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said weight is a ball.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said friction clutch comprises at least one first disk rotatable with said armature shaft and at least one second disk frictionally engaging said first disk and rotatable with said second clutch element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as defined in claim 13, wherein said friction clutch further comprises resilient means reacting against said second clutch element and arranged to bias said disks against each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a friction bearing interposed between said second clutch element and said second shaft and a thrust bearing interposed between said second shaft and said second clutch element and arranged to move said second clutch element axially with said second shaft in response to actuation of said shifter means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said torque transmitting unit further comprises a torque transmitting member rigid with said armature shaft, said friction clutch comprising at least one first disk axially movably mounted in said torque transmitting member, at least one second disk axially movably mounted in said second clutch element, and means for biasing said disks against each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said torque transmitting member is a cup having a cylindrical portion provided with at least one axially parallel slot and said first disk is received in said cylindrical portion and comprises a projection extending into said slot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A combination as defined in claim 17, further comprising a casing surrounding said torque transmitting unit, and a lid rotatably mounted in said casing, said torque transmitting member having an open end which is closed by said lid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said shafts are hollow and said second shaft is rotatably journalled in said armature shaft, said shifter means comprising an elongated rod extending into said second shaft, said rod and said second shaft respectively having mating external and internal threads.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said second shaft comprises an end portion extending beyond said armature shaft and said pinion comprises a hub extending into said end portion of said second shaft.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |