IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0455133
(2003-06-05)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
An electric starter apparatus and method with three-stage gearing and method for starting an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a starter assembly, a first gear, a second gear, a third gear, a fourth gear and an engine shaft. The starter assembly includes an electric starter motor an
An electric starter apparatus and method with three-stage gearing and method for starting an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a starter assembly, a first gear, a second gear, a third gear, a fourth gear and an engine shaft. The starter assembly includes an electric starter motor and a starter motor shaft communicating with the starter motor. The starter motor shaft is rotatable in response to energizing of the starter motor. The first gear is attached to the starter motor shaft for rotation therewith. The second gear engages the first gear, the third gear engages the second gear, and the fourth gear engages the third gear. The fourth gear is attached to the engine shaft for communicating with an internal combustion engine. The engine is started by energizing the starter motor to rotate the starter motor shaft, the gears, and the engine shaft. The arrangement of gears enables the use of a low-torque/high-rpm electric starter motor in combination with a nickel-cadmium battery.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A lawnmower having an internal combustion engine, the lawnmower comprising: (a) a starter assembly comprising a low-torque electric starter motor for providing low-torque and a high rotational speed to a starter motor shaft, the starter motor shaft communicating with the star
What is claimed is: 1. A lawnmower having an internal combustion engine, the lawnmower comprising: (a) a starter assembly comprising a low-torque electric starter motor for providing low-torque and a high rotational speed to a starter motor shaft, the starter motor shaft communicating with the starter motor and rotatable in response to energizing of the starter motor, and a first gear attached to the starter motor shaft for rotation therewith; (b) a second gear in contact with and engaging the first gear and rotatable therewith; (c) a third gear in contact with and engaging the second gear and rotatable therewith; (d) a fourth gear in contact with and engaging the third gear and rotatable therewith; and (e) an engine shaft for communicating with the internal combustion engine, wherein the fourth gear is attached to the engine shaft and is rotatable therewith. 2. The lawnmower according to claim 1 comprising an electrical conduit communicating with the starter motor for transmitting electrical energy thereto. 3. The lawnmower according to claim 1 comprising a battery communicating with the starter motor for transmitting electrical energy thereto. 4. The lawnmower according to claim 3 wherein the battery comprises a lead acid battery. 5. The lawnmower according to claim 3 wherein the battery comprises a nickel-cadmium battery. 6. The lawnmower according to claim 1 wherein the starter motor is operable at a rotational speed ranging from approximately 15,000 to approximately 30,000 rpm. 7. The lawnmower according to claim 1 wherein two or more of the first, second, third, and fourth gears form a planetary gear set. 8. The lawnmower according to claim 1 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth gears cooperatively produce a gear ratio ranging from approximately 25:1 to 100:1. 9. The lawnmower according to claim 8 wherein the gear ratio is approximately 39.2:1. 10. The lawnmower according to claim 1 comprising a mower deck defining an interior and a cutting blade disposed in the interior and attached to the engine shaft. 11. The lawnmower according to claim 10 wherein the mower deck supports the engine and the starter motor. 12. The lawnmower according to claim 10 wherein the mower deck is attached to a frame and the frame supports the engine and the starter motor. 13. The lawnmower according to claim 1 wherein the lawnmower is a walk-behind lawnmower. 14. The lawnmower according to claim 10 wherein the mower deck supports the engine and the starter motor. 15. A method for starting a lawnmower engine, comprising the steps of: (a) energizing a low-torque electric starter motor operatively connected to a lawnmower engine to rotate an output shaft communicating with the starter motor wherein the electric starter motor provides low-torque and a high rotational speed to the output shaft; and (b) transferring energy from the output shaft to an engine shaft communicating with the lawnmower engine by coupling the output shaft to the engine shaft through a gear train comprising a first gear attached to the output shaft, a second gear in contact and engaged with the first gear, a third gear in contact and engaged with the second gear, and a fourth gear in contact and engaged with the third gear and attached to the engine shaft, whereby rotation of the output shaft causes the first gear, second gear, third gear, fourth gear, and engine shaft to rotate, and the engine shaft rotates at a torque and angular velocity sufficient to start the lawnmower engine. 16. The method according to claim 15 wherein energizing the starter motor comprises supplying energy from an electrical energy source through an electrical conduit communicating with the starter motor. 17. The method according to claim 15 wherein energizing the starter motor comprises supplying energy from a battery. 18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the battery comprises a lead acid battery. 19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the battery comprises a nickel-cadmium battery. 20. The method according to claim 15 wherein the starter motor operates at a rotational speed ranging from approximately 15,000 to approximately 30,000 rpm. 21. The method according to claim 15 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth gears cooperatively produce a gear ratio ranging from approximately 25:1 to 100:1. 22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the gear ratio is approximately 39.2:1. 23. An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, comprising: (a) a starter assembly comprising an electric starter motor, a starter motor shaft communicating with the starter motor and rotatable in response to energizing of the starter motor, and a first gear attached to the starter motor shaft for rotation therewith; (b) a second gear engaging the first gear and rotatable therewith; (c) a third gear engaging the second gear and rotatable therewith; (d) a fourth gear engaging the third gear and rotatable therewith; (e) an engine shaft for communicating with an internal combustion engine, wherein the fourth gear is attached to the engine shaft and is rotatable therewith; (f) wherein two or more of the first, second, third, and fourth gears form a planetary gear set; and (g) further wherein the third gear is rotatable around the fourth gear. 24. An engine-powered apparatus comprising: (a) an internal combustion engine; (b) a rotatable engine shaft communicating with the engine; (c) a starter assembly comprising an electric starter motor and a starter motor shaft communicating with the starter motor and rotatable in response to energizing of the starter motor; (d) a gear train comprising a first gear attached to the starter motor shaft and rotatable therewith, a second gear engaging the first gear and rotatable therewith, a third gear engaging the second gear and rotatable therewith, and a fourth gear engaging the third gear and rotatable therewith, the fourth gear being attached to the engine shaft; (e) wherein two or more of the gears of the gear train form a planetary gear set; and (f) further wherein the third gear is rotatable around the fourth gear. 25. A method for starting an engine of an engine-powered apparatus, comprising the steps of: (a) energizing an electric starter motor to rotate an output shaft communicating with the starter motor; and (b) transferring energy from the output shaft to an engine shaft communicating with an internal combustion engine by coupling the output shaft to the engine shaft through a gear train comprising a first gear attached to the output shaft, a second gear engaged with the first gear, a third gear engaged with the second gear, and a fourth gear engaged with the third gear and attached to the engine shaft, whereby rotation of the output shaft causes the first gear, second gear, third gear, fourth gear, and engine shaft to rotate, wherein rotation of the output shaft also causes the third gear to rotate around the fourth gear, and wherein the engine shaft rotates at a torque and angular velocity sufficient to start the engine. 26. A lawnmower having an internal combustion engine, the lawnmower comprising: (a) a starter assembly comprising an electric starter motor for providing a high rotational speed to a starter motor shaft, the starter motor shaft communicating with the starter motor and rotatable in response to energizing of the starter motor, and a first gear attached to the starter motor shaft for rotation therewith; (b) a second gear engaging the first gear and rotatable therewith; (c) a third gear engaging the second gear and rotatable therewith; (d) a fourth gear engaging the third gear and rotatable therewith; (e) an engine shaft for communicating with the internal combustion engine, wherein the fourth gear is attached to the engine shaft and is rotatable therewith; and (f) wherein two or more of the first, second, third, and fourth gears form a planetary gear set, and wherein the third gear is rotatable around the fourth gear. 27. A method for starting a lawnmower engine, comprising the steps of: (a) energizing an electric starter motor operatively connected to a lawnmower engine to rotate an output shaft communicating with the starter motor wherein the electric starter motor provides a high rotational speed to the output shaft; (b) transferring energy from the output shaft to an engine shaft communicating with the lawnmower engine by coupling the output shaft to the engine shaft through a gear train comprising a first gear attached to the output shaft, a second gear engaged with the first gear, a third gear engaged with the second gear, and a fourth gear engaged with the third gear and attached to the engine shaft, whereby rotation of the output shaft causes the first gear, second gear, third gear, fourth gear, and engine shaft to rotate, and the engine shaft rotates at a torque and angular velocity sufficient to start the lawnmower engine; and (c) wherein rotation of the output shaft causes the third gear to rotate around the fourth gear. 28. A lawnmower having an internal combustion engine, the lawnmower comprising: (a) a starter assembly comprising a low-torque electric starter motor for providing low-torque and a high rotational speed to a starter motor shaft, the starter motor shaft communicating with the starter motor and rotatable in response to energizing of the starter motor, and a first gear attached to the starter motor shaft for rotation therewith; (b) a second gear engaging the first gear and rotatable therewith; (c) a third gear engaging the second gear and rotatable therewith; (d) a fourth gear engaging the third gear and rotatable therewith, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth gears respectively rotate about separate axes; and (e) an engine shaft for communicating with the internal combustion engine, wherein the fourth gear is attached to the engine shaft and is rotatable therewith. 29. A method for starting a lawnmower engine, comprising the steps of: (a) energizing a low-torque electric starter motor operatively connected to a lawnmower engine to rotate an output shaft communicating with the starter motor wherein the electric starter motor provides low-torque and a high rotational speed to the output shaft; and (b) transferring energy from the output shaft to an engine shaft communicating with the lawnmower engine by coupling the output shaft to the engine shaft through a gear train comprising a first gear attached to the output shaft, a second gear engaged with the first gear, a third gear engaged with the second gear, and a fourth gear engaged with the third gear and attached to the engine shaft, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth gears respectively rotate about separate axes, and whereby rotation of the output shaft causes the first gear, second gear, third gear, fourth gear, and engine shaft to rotate, and the engine shaft rotates at a torque and angular velocity sufficient to start the lawnmower engine.
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