Starters for internal combustion engine

Claim 1

A starter gearing adapted to be mounted on the end of the shaft of an electric motor to cooperate with a toothed ring carried by the flywheel of an internal combustion engine, the said shaft having a splined portion followed by a smooth portion, said gearing comprising: a pinion having a smooth axial bore, said pinion carrying a co-axial lateral outwardly cup-shaped member formed with inwardly opening chambers each having an outer wall at a small angle with respect to the corresponding radii, with said member thus constituting the outer casing of an overrunning clutch of the spring-pressed roller type; a sleeve having inner ribs, one end of said sleeve being disposed in said cup-shaped member with the periphery of said one end forming the inner race of said clutch; means to axially retain said sleeve and said pinion with respect to each other; rollers each disposed within each one of said chambers; and springs each disposed in one of said chambers to urge the corresponding roller towards a position at which it simultaneously engages said inner race and the outer wall of said one of said chambers; said sleeve having a smooth axial bore portion at said one end and said pinion being formed with a tubular extension which is rotatably received within said smooth axial bore portion to center said outer casing with respect to said inner race.