초록 ▼

An engine starter has a plunger electromagnetically actuated by holding and attracting coils to move a pinion toward a ring gear on the engine and also to move a first movable contact on the plunger towards first and second stationary contacts to be electrically connected together by the first movab

An engine starter has a plunger electromagnetically actuated by holding and attracting coils to move a pinion toward a ring gear on the engine and also to move a first movable contact on the plunger towards first and second stationary contacts to be electrically connected together by the first movable contact to electrically energize a starter motor. A relay is provided and has normally open contacts electrically connected in series to a power source and the connection between the holding and attracting coils. The relay coil is connected in series to a starter switch and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is formed by a normally closed switch having a third stationary contact connected to the relay coil, and a bimetallic element carrying a second movable contact grounded through the bimetallic element. The temperature sensor is disposed to detect the temperature of one of the holding and attracting coils and arranged such that, when the temperature is raised to a predetermined level, the bimetallic element snaps to separate the second movable contact from the third stationary contact whereby the electrical supply to the holding and attracting coils is interrupted to interrupt the electrical supply to the starter motor. Thus, the starter will not burn up if the starter switch remains closed.

대표청구항 ▼

A starter for an internal combustion engine having a ring gear, said starter including: a starter switch adapted to be electrically connected to an electrical power source; a pinion adapted to be axially movable into and out of a meshing engagement with said ring gear; a plunger for moving said pini

A starter for an internal combustion engine having a ring gear, said starter including: a starter switch adapted to be electrically connected to an electrical power source; a pinion adapted to be axially movable into and out of a meshing engagement with said ring gear; a plunger for moving said pinion towards said ring gear and having a first movable contact at one end; first and second stationary contacts both so positioned as to be contacted by said first movable contact; exciting coil means for moving said plunger towards said first and second stationary contacts, said exciting coil means comprising a holding coil and an attracting coil; a starter motor adapted to be energized when said first movable contact is moved into contact with said first and second stationary contacts to electrically connect them together, said starter motor being drivingly connected to said pinion; a temperature sensor disposed in heat conductive relationship with one of said holding and attracting coils; said holding and attracting coils having windings electrically connected in series with a connection coupled at respective one ends of said holding and attracting coils; a relay including (a) normally open contacts electrically connected in series to said electrical power and said connection between said windings of said holding and attracting coils, and (b) a third coil electrically connected in series to said starter switch and temperature sensor and energized when said starter switch is turned on to close said normally open contacts; said temperature sensor being electrically connected in series to said third coil and a ground and comprising a third stationary contact, a bimetallic element having a second movable contact electrically connected to said bimetallic element and so positioned as to be moved by said bimetallic element into and out of contact with said third stationary contact, and an electrically energizable heater disposed in heat conductive relationship with said bimetallic element, said bimetallic element being disposed adjacent to said one of said holding and attracting coils and operative to move said second movable contact away from said third stationary contact when said one of said holding and attracting coils is heated to a first predetermined temperature level, to deenergize said third coil whereby said normally open contacts of said relay are open to interrupt an electrical supply from said power source to said starter motor.