JPH021495Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to an engine starting device (starter) for starting an internal combustion engine, for example, and more specifically, when starting an engine, the invention engages a ring gear that is integral with the flywheel of the engine. The present invention relates to an improvement in a locking means for a pinion gear that transmits the rotation of a starter motor.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 both show the main parts of a conventional engine starting device.

In the figure, a spline 2 extending in the axial direction is formed on the outer periphery of the free end of a rotating shaft 1 of a starter motor (not shown). A pinion gear 3, which removably engages with a ring gear (not shown) that is integral with the flywheel of the engine, is movably fitted around each tooth tip of the spline 2 through a relatively large gap G. are combined.

On the other hand, a locking ring 5 having a circular cross section is removably fitted into an annular groove 6 formed at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 1 forming the spline 2, and has a C-shape that is flexible in the radial direction. has been achieved. A locking portion 4a of an annular stopper 4 fitted to the shaft end of the rotating shaft 1 is engaged with the locking ring 5 to prevent the pinion gear 3 from coming off the rotating shaft 1. It is configured. Moreover, the compression spring 7 is
The pinion gear 3 is stretched between a cutout step 3a formed on the inner peripheral surface of the pinion gear 3 and a step 1a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 1, and as shown in FIG. is always pressed against the end face of the stopper 4 with a predetermined pressure. This compression spring 7 causes the pinion gear 3 to move to the stopper 4.
It moves together with the movement of the rotating shaft 1.

Next, the operation of the conventional engine starting device configured as described above will be explained.

Now, when the starter switch (not shown) of the engine is turned ON, the rotating shaft 1 moves in the direction of arrow A due to the biasing force of the shift lever (not shown) of the engine starting device.
move in the direction. Then, the pinion gear 3, which is rotationally driven by the starter motor, moves together with the rotating shaft 1 and meshes with a ring gear (not shown) that is integral with the flywheel of the engine, thereby starting the engine. At this time, when the pinion gear 3 engages only the edge of the ring gear of the engine and does not bite into the gear, only the rotating shaft 1 moves in the direction of arrow A, and the pinion gear 3 compresses the compression spring 7. . Therefore, the elastic force of the compression spring 7 biases the pinion gear 3 in the direction of arrow B so that it can easily engage the ring gear. It goes without saying that the compression spring 7 is designed to absorb the impact when the ring gear and pinion gear are fitted together.

As mentioned above, according to the conventional engine starting device,
When the pinion gear 3 bites into the ring gear of the engine when the engine is started, the contact resistance causes the pinion gear 3 to retreat and compress the compression spring 7, and the elastic force of the compression spring 7 causes the pinion gear 3 to suddenly move in the direction of arrow B. Move to return. However, the cylindrical stopper 4 that receives this pinion gear 3 is
As shown in the figure, since the stopper 4 is fitted around the tip of each tooth of the spline 2 of the rotating shaft 1 through a relatively large gap G, the stopper 4 becomes loose and the pinion gear 3 collides with it. Therefore, there is a drawback that the locking ring 5 tends to wear unevenly. Furthermore, when the pinion gear 3 vibrates due to engine vibrations, the stopper 4 rattles for a long time together with the tip of the pinion gear 3, resulting in the disadvantage that the locking ring 5 wears unevenly.

This invention was made to solve such problems, and its purpose is to eliminate looseness of the stopper 4 that engages with the spline 2 of the rotating shaft 1, and to reduce uneven wear of the locking ring 5. An object of the present invention is to provide an engine starting device capable of preventing the above.

In order to further clarify the features and advantages of this invention,
A preferred embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 to 5 show the main parts of an engine starting device according to an embodiment of this invention,
The same reference numerals as in the above-mentioned conventional device (FIGS. 1 and 2) indicate the same constituent members, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, a spline 4c is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the stopper 4, and is slidably fitted onto the spline 2 of the rotating shaft 1. This spline 4c is connected to the spline 2 of the rotating shaft 1 by a stopper 4c.
This is provided to prevent the stopper 4 from wobbling when spline-fitted.

Therefore, according to this invention, by spline-fitting the stopper 4 to the spline of the rotating shaft 1, even if the pinion gear 3, which rapidly moves back in the direction of arrow B due to the elastic force of the compression spring 7, collides with the stopper 4, the stopper 4 will not stop. 4 does not wobble. Therefore, the locking ring 5 is not worn unevenly due to the backlash of the stopper 4 as in the conventional case, and this has an excellent practical effect of significantly improving durability and reliability.

In addition, in FIG. 6, precision machining X, Y is applied to the sliding contact surfaces between the tooth tips 2a of the spline 2 of the rotating shaft 1 and the inner circumferential surface 4d of the stopper 4 that engages around each tooth tip 2a. Indicates the case where Needless to say, even with this configuration, it is possible to further prevent the stopper 4 from wobbling.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Both FIGS. 1 and 2 show the main parts of a conventional engine starting device, with FIG. 1 being a sectional view showing one half of a rotating shaft and a pinion gear, and FIG. 2 being a partial side view. Figures 3 to 5 all show one embodiment of this invention, with Figure 3 being a sectional view showing one half of the rotating shaft and pinion gear, Figure 4 being a partial side view, and Figure 5 being a partial side view.
The figure is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of this invention. In the drawings, 1 is a rotating shaft, 2 is a spline of the rotating shaft, 3 is a pinion gear, 4 is a stopper, 4c is a spline of the stopper, 5 is a locking ring, 6 is an annular groove, and 7 is a compression spring. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A spline is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft that moves in the axial direction as the starter motor starts, and the spline engages with the ring gear that is integrated with the flywheel of the engine in a freely engageable and detachable manner. A pinion gear is movably fitted, and a compression spring that biases the pinion gear forward is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft between the stepped portion of the rotating shaft and the pinion gear, and this biasing force is applied to the rotating shaft. In a device configured to receive pressure on a rear surface of a stopper that engages with a locking ring fitted in an annular groove provided in the front part of the rotating shaft, the stopper is connected to a spline provided on the rotating shaft and a spline. An engine starting device characterized by being fitted together. (2) The engine starting device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is spline-fitted to the spline of the rotating shaft and is precisely fitted to the spline of the rotating shaft.