EP2795650B1 - Multi-contactor device, in particular for controlling an electric starter - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a multicontactor device, in particular for controlling an electric starter. The invention is more particularly but not exclusively adapted to the control of the electric starter of an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising a restart device, commonly known as " restarter ", which device makes it possible to stop the operation of the heat engine, by cutting off its fuel supply, when said engine no longer participates in the propulsion of the vehicle and quickly restart said engine.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the prior art, a starter comprises a launcher, mobile in translation, and rotated by an electric motor. Said launcher has at its end a pinion adapted to engage a ring gear integral in rotation with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. To start an internal combustion engine, it is necessary to increase its rotation speed to about 200 revolutions / minute. According to the known mode of use of the prior art, the starter is used when the engine is stopped.

The figure 1 , relative to the prior art schematically illustrates such an electric starter, in its rest position with the engine stopped. When the contact (110) is closed, a solenoid (120) is energized. This solenoid comprises a so-called call coil (121) and a so-called holding coil (122). The supply of said solenoid (120) causes the translation of a plunger (130). During this translation, said plunger (130) drives in translation, via a fork also called lever (161), the pinion (160) of the launcher, which pinion (160) then meshes with the crown (190) rotatably connected to the crankshaft of the engine. Thus, the plunger (130) and the pinion (160) are integral in translation according to this embodiment of the prior art. At the end of the stroke of the plunger (130), the latter establishes, by means of a plate (131) of contact, the electrical contact between the armature (151) of an electric motor (150) and the terminal (101) positive of the vehicle battery. Said electric motor (150) then drives in rotation the pinion (160) of the launcher, which drives the ring gear (190) and launches the internal combustion engine. rotation. In this position, the contact plate (131) establishing the power circuit between the battery (100) of the vehicle and the armature of the electric motor, the call coil (121) is short-circuited and the plunger is held in position. position by the effect of the holding coil (122). When the contact (110) is open, the magnetic forces generated by the coil (122) holding and the call coil (121). This is due to the fact that the direction of current in the call coil is reversed. In addition, when the contact (110) is open, a compression spring (132) pushes the plunger (130), opening the contact previously established by the contact plate (131) and disconnecting the pinion (160) from the crown ( 190). The rotational connection of the pinion (160) with the electric motor (150) is achieved by means of a mechanism (165) of freewheel, so that said pinion and disengaged from the engine (150) when it is driven by the crown (190). This device of the prior art gives satisfaction for the first start of the engine, when said engine is started by operating the ignition key or by pressing a start button.

The lever presses against a housing of the starter, has a game, called cutoff game 161 to allow the plate 131 to move away from the terminals in the case of an anomaly of the pinion locked in the crown. The lever against the housing has a pivot connection and a translation perpendicular to the pivot.

Many vehicles are equipped with an automatic stop-restart device called "stop and go". According to this device, the internal combustion engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, that is to say that the operation of the engine at idle is not maintained during the stop of the vehicle. When the driver is about to start again, for example when he presses on the clutch, the engine is automatically restarted. This mode of operation saves fuel in phases where it is not necessary to run the engine. This restart, although fast, is not instantaneous. Furthermore, according to the prior art, the fuel supply of the engine is also cut off when the vehicle is in the engine brake situation, that is to say when the driver does not press the accelerator of the vehicle. According to the prior art, the supply interruption of the heat engine is continued until that the engine reaches a predetermined speed corresponding to for example 1500 revolutions / minute to maintain the engine power to keep it at least in an idle speed, even if said engine is not involved in the propulsion of the vehicle. Indeed, it is considered that the internal combustion engine can not start in all situations, autonomously when its speed drops below a certain threshold, about 300 revolutions / minute. However, the starter of the prior art whose operation is described above requires that the engine is stopped to be able to come into operation because of the swinging phase during which the starter can not enter its pinion in the crowned. Thus, when a vehicle is equipped with a restart device it is necessary to detect the effective shutdown of the engine. The solutions of the prior art thus lead to complex management of the system for stopping and restarting the engine.

For example, the engine is not stopped but kept idling as long as the driver is pressing the clutch, even if the gearbox is in neutral and the vehicle is stopped. Since the restart is not instantaneous, the driver tends to maintain pressure on the clutch when he anticipates a short-term stop thus depriving himself of fuel savings.

The document FR2940719 describes a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

1. a. un moteur électrique;
2. b. un lanceur comprenant un pignon mobile entre une position, dite libre, dans laquelle ce pignon est lié en rotation avec ledit moteur électrique seul et une position, dite engrenée, où ledit pignon est lié en rotation avec le moteur électrique et le moteur à combustion interne ;
3. c. un commutateur électrique comprenant un actionneur principal apte, lorsqu'il est enclenché, à déplacer et à maintenir dans une position un moyen, dit plongeur, ledit plongeur étant lié au déplacement du pignon, entre la position libre et la position engrenée, par un moyen de liaison, dit levier ;
4. d. des moyens liés au plongeur, dits plaque de contact, aptes à établir un contact électrique de puissance entre le moteur électrique et une source de puissance lorsque le pignon se trouve en position engrenée ;
5. e. un actionneur auxiliaire apte, lorsqu'il est enclenché, à ouvrir le contact de puissance ou empêcher la fermeture le contact de puissance et des moyens pour commander séparément l'actionneur principal et l'actionneur auxiliaire.

The invention aims to solve the disadvantages of the prior art and for this purpose concerns a starter for an internal combustion engine, which starter comprises:

1. at. an electric motor;
2. b. a launcher comprising a movable pinion between a position, said free, in which this pinion is connected in rotation with said electric motor alone and a position, said geared, where said pinion is connected in rotation with the electric motor and the internal combustion engine ;
3. vs. an electrical switch comprising a main actuator adapted, when it is engaged, to move and hold in one position a so-called plunger means, said plunger being connected to the movement of the pinion, between the free position and the engaged position, by a means liaison, said lever;
4. d. means associated with the plunger, said contact plate, adapted to establish an electrical power contact between the electric motor and a power source when the pinion is in the engaged position;
5. e. an auxiliary actuator adapted, when engaged, to open the power contact or prevent closing the power contact and means for separately controlling the main actuator and the auxiliary actuator.

Thus, the starter object of the invention can be used in a mode of operation corresponding to that of a starter of the prior art when the auxiliary actuator is not actuated and offers, in addition, a specific operating mode in which the starter gear is engaged, for example with a ring connected to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, without being driven by the electric motor and without said electric motor opposes a resisting torque to said pinion.

Thus, the pinion can be engaged with said ring while the internal combustion engine runs at a reduced speed, especially in the deceleration phase of the engine.

Thus, the restart time of the internal combustion engine is reduced, the pinion already being engaged, connected in rotation with the crown.

In addition, in the case of a start of the requested engine while the engine is in the swinging phase, the pinion is already in the ring, it is no longer necessary to wait for the end of the engine stop for start the engine since the pinion is already inserted in the crown.

The invention can be implemented according to the advantageous embodiments described below, which can be considered individually or in any technically operative combination.

Advantageously, the main actuator and the auxiliary actuator are solenoids.

• f. un sectionneur, actionné par l'actionneur auxiliaire, établissant un contact électrique supplémentaire entre la plaque et la borne positive du moteur électrique.

Advantageously, the switch comprises an input terminal connected to the power source and an output terminal connected to the electric motor, in particular to the armature, the contact plate establishing an electrical connection between the input terminal and the output terminal and includes:

• f. a disconnector, actuated by the auxiliary actuator, establishing an additional electrical contact between the plate and the positive terminal of the electric motor.

This embodiment requires little modification of the device of the prior art which shares many parts with the starter object of the invention, so this embodiment is more particularly advantageous in terms of production cost.

According to a variant of these embodiments, the output terminal is electrically connected to the brushes of the electric motor and not to the armature.

• g. une plaque de contact mobile relativement au plongeur selon un degré de liberté arrêté au contact desdites bornes ;
• h. des moyens, actionnés par l'actionneur auxiliaire, aptes à retenir ladite plaque du contact de l'une des bornes par un mouvement selon ledit degré de liberté.

According to a second embodiment of the starter object of the invention, the switch comprises an input terminal, connected to the power source and an output terminal, connected to the electric motor, said starter comprises:

• boy Wut. a movable contact plate relative to the plunger according to a degree of freedom stopped in contact with said terminals;
• h. means, actuated by the auxiliary actuator, adapted to retain said plate of the contact of one of the terminals by a movement according to said degree of freedom.

According to this embodiment, the auxiliary device, which acts essentially mechanically, is less subject to arc phenomena or sticking contacts. Thus this embodiment is more advantageous in terms of reliability.

According to an embodiment of this second variant of the starter object of the invention, the plunger is moved by the main actuator in a translation axial stroke and the degree of freedom of the contact plate is a translation parallel to said stroke. This embodiment to manufacture and requires little modification with respect to a device of the prior art.

According to another embodiment of the second variant of the starter object of the invention, the plunger is displaced by the main actuator in a translationally axial displacement and that the degree of freedom of the contact plate is a rotation axis perpendicular to the axis of the race. This embodiment improves the reliability because the opening and closing of the contact takes place only on a terminal and also allows the realization of a more compact device.

Advantageously, the lever comprises means allowing the pinion to remain in the ring when the latter is at a standstill while the call and hold coil are no longer powered. Thus, the starter pinion is held in the ring gear. of the internal combustion engine when said engine is stopped in order to reduce the restart time.

Advantageously, elastic means act on the means actuated by the auxiliary actuator, adding their action to that of said actuator, in the same direction as that of the actuator when it is engaged. Thus, when the device according to the invention is at rest according to this embodiment, the auxiliary actuator is in a configuration corresponding to that of the first stages of starting the internal combustion engine, so that the start time is reduced.

• i obtenir un seuil de vitesse de rotation du moteur à combustion interne dit seuil d'enclenchement,ii. obtenir la vitesse de rotation dudit moteur; iii si la vitesse de rotation descend sous le seuil d'enclenchement actionner l'actionneur principal et l'actionneur auxiliaire de sorte à lier en rotation le pignon du lanceur avec le vilebrequin du moteur à combustion interne ;
• iv déclencher l'actionneur auxiliaire et l'actionneur principal ;
• v recevoir une demande de démarrage du moteur thermique
• vi enclencher l'actionneur principal de sorte à alimenter le moteur (150) électrique et entraîner le pignon (160) du lanceur en rotation ; puis
• vii. déclencher l'actionneur principal lorsque le moteur à combustion interne atteint une vitesse de rotation définie.

The invention also relates to a method of operating a starter according to one of the embodiments of the invention, which method comprises the steps of:

• i obtain a threshold speed of rotation of the internal combustion engine said threshold of engagement, ii. obtain the rotational speed of said engine; iii if the speed of rotation falls below the engagement threshold actuate the main actuator and the auxiliary actuator so as to link in rotation the starter gear with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine;
• iv trip the auxiliary actuator and the main actuator;
• v receive a request to start the heat engine
• vi engage the main actuator to energize the electric motor (150) and drive the starter gear (160) in rotation; then
• vii. trigger the main actuator when the internal combustion engine reaches a defined rotational speed.

Thus we gain some milli seconds in the case of a conventional start because the pinion is already in the ring and moreover we can reduce the time by 1 s when the start request of the engine is engaged while the engine and in swing phase.

Thus, the launcher pinion is pre-engaged in rotation with the internal combustion engine while the latter is running and the electric motor does not exert a resisting torque on said pinion, so that the restart time of the engine is reduced.

According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention in which a stop command is given to the heat engine before step iii), the switching threshold is set at 50 rpm. Thus, in the case of stopping a motor, the pinion is engaged at a reduced speed of rotation so as to limit its wear.

• vii. déclencher l'actionneur auxiliaire de sorte à alimenter le moteur (150) électrique et entraîner le pignon (160) du lanceur en rotation après l'arrêt du moteur à combustion interne, déclencher l'actionneur auxiliaire, le pignon étant en position engrenée ;

Advantageously, according to this embodiment of the method which is the subject of the invention, when a start request is requested before step iv, said method replaces steps iv, v and vi by a step consisting of:

• vii. triggering the auxiliary actuator to energize the electric motor (150) and drive the rotational launcher gear (160) after stopping the internal combustion engine, tripping the auxiliary actuator, the gear being in the engaged position;

Thus the time perceived by the user for restarting the engine of the internal combustion engine is reduced to the reversion time of said engine.

According to another embodiment of the method which is the subject of the invention, the switching threshold is between 500 rpm and 300 rpm. Thus, the sprocket of the launcher is systematically engaged and the restart is carried out as soon as the fuel supply of the engine is resumed, in particular by the control of the accelerator. This mode of operation saves fuel

• la figure 1 relative à l'art antérieur représente selon une vue en coupe un exemple de réalisation courant d'un démarreur électrique pour moteur à combustion interne ;
• la figure 2 représente selon une vue shématique correspondant à la même coupe que la figure 1 un exemple de réalisation du démarreur objet de l'invention entièrement au repos ;
• la figure 3 est un schéma de principe d'un exemple de réalisation d'un démarreur électrique selon l'invention comportant une borne intermédiaire entre la borne d'entrée et la borne de sortie ;
• la figure 4 montre selon la même vue que la figure 2 un exemple de réalisation du démarreur objet de l'invention dans une configuration ou l'actionneur auxiliaire et l'actionneur principal sont enclenchés :
• la figure 5 représente selon la même vue que la figure 4, le démarreur objet de l'invention dans une configuration particulière où les actionneurs sont déclenchés mais où le pignon du lanceur reste en prise avec la couronne du vilebrequin du moteur à combustion interne ;
• la figure 6 est un diagramme montrant en fonction du temps des scénarios décélération du moteur à combustion interne avec une relance de celui-ci par le moteur électrique du démarreur objet de l'invention ;
• la figure 7 montre selon une vue partielle de face un exemple de réalisation de l'actionneur auxiliaire selon le mode de réalisation correspondant à la figure 3 du démarreur objet de l'invention ;
• la figure 8 montre schématique selon la même vue que la figure 7 un exemple de réalisation de l'actionneur auxiliaire d'un démarreur correspondant au mode de réalisation de l'invention selon la figure 2 ;
• la figure 9 représente selon la même vue que la figure 8 un mode de réalisation alternatif de l'actionneur auxiliaire.
• la figure 10 représente selon la même vue que la figure 8 un mode de réalisation alternatif de l'actionneur auxiliaire.
• la figure 11 représente selon la même vue que la figure 8 un mode de réalisation alternatif de l'actionneur auxiliaire.

The invention is explained below according to its preferred embodiments, which are in no way limiting, and with reference to Figures 1 to 9 , in which :

• the figure 1 the prior art is a sectional view of a typical embodiment of an electric starter for an internal combustion engine;
• the figure 2 represents according to a shematic view corresponding to the same section as the figure 1 an embodiment of the starter object of the invention fully at rest;
• the figure 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an electric starter according to the invention comprising an intermediate terminal between the input terminal and the output terminal;
• the figure 4 shows in the same view as the figure 2 an exemplary embodiment of the starter object of the invention in a configuration where the auxiliary actuator and the main actuator are engaged:
• the figure 5 represents according to the same view that the figure 4 , the starter object of the invention in a particular configuration where the actuators are triggered but where the starter gear remains in engagement with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine;
• the figure 6 is a diagram showing as a function of time the deceleration scenarios of the internal combustion engine with a restart of it by the electric motor of the starter object of the invention;
• the figure 7 shows in a partial front view an embodiment of the auxiliary actuator according to the embodiment corresponding to the figure 3 starter object of the invention;
• the figure 8 schematic watch according to the same view as the figure 7 an embodiment of the auxiliary actuator of a starter corresponding to the embodiment of the invention according to the figure 2 ;
• the figure 9 represents according to the same view that the figure 8 an alternative embodiment of the auxiliary actuator.
• the figure 10 represents according to the same view that the figure 8 an alternative embodiment of the auxiliary actuator.
• the figure 11 represents according to the same view that the figure 8 an alternative embodiment of the auxiliary actuator.

Figure 2 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the starter for internal combustion engine object of the invention, said starter comprises a control module 210 having two contacts 211, 212, the closure electrically feeds the actuators 220, 240 of a contactor 230. Said contactor 230 comprises a plunger 130 whose displacement is controlled by an actuator 220, said main actuator. According to this exemplary embodiment, the plunger 130 is linked in translation to the pinion 160 of the launcher via a lever 260 and a pivot connection. The lever is pressed against the starter housing in a pivot connection and a translation link perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the pivot link called sliding pivot connection 261. Said pinion is adapted to engage the ring gear 190 of the engine. internal combustion. According to this exemplary embodiment, when the main actuator 220 is energized by closing the corresponding contact 211 of the control module, said actuator causes the plunger 130 to move, which plunger moves a contact plate 231, which plate contact is able to put in electrical communication a power supply terminal 251 of an electric motor 150, or output terminal, with a terminal 250 called power or input, connected to a source of electrical energy, for example a battery 100. When powered electrically, the electric motor 150 of the starter drives the pinion 160 of the launcher in rotation. The contactor 230 also comprises an auxiliary actuator 240 which, when electrically powered, is able to isolate the power supply terminal 251 of the electric motor 150 from the input terminal 250. The power supply of this auxiliary actuator 240 is controlled by a second contact 212 of the control unit 210 of the starter. Thus, according to this exemplary embodiment, when the first 211 and the second 212 contacts of the starter control unit 210 are closed, the main actuator 220 and the auxiliary actuator 240 are powered. The engagement of the main actuator 220 has the effect of causing the displacement of the plunger 130 which in this movement drives the pinion 160 in the engaged position while the engagement of the auxiliary actuator 240 isolates the electric motor 150 from the power supply. 250 power so that the pinion 160 is not rotated and does not drive the engine 290 internal combustion. Starting from this situation, the opening of the second 212 contact of the control unit, makes it possible to put the electric motor 150 in communication with the power source 100, in this case a battery 100 of accumulators and causes the rotation 160 of the starter gear, which drives the ring 190 of the internal combustion engine 290.

Figure 3 , according to an exemplary embodiment, the plate 331 of contact, moved by the plunger under the effect of the supply of the main actuator 220, makes contact between the input terminal 250 connected to the accumulator battery and an intermediate terminal 352. According to this embodiment, the main actuator comprises a call solenoid 321 and a holding solenoid 322. Powering the auxiliary actuator 240 by closing the second 212 contact of the control unit 210 moves means 341, which means, when the auxiliary actuator 240 is not energized, establish an electrical contact between the terminal 352 intermediate and output terminal 251. Thus, according to this exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary actuator 240 moves means 341 under tension.

Figure 4 , according to another embodiment, corresponding to that of the figure 2 the contact plate 231 displaced by the plunger 130 makes contact between the input terminal 250 and the output terminal 251 and the device controlled by the auxiliary actuator 240 moves said plate 231 away from the contact of one of these terminals. here, the input terminal 250 or prevents the electrical contact between said plate 231 of the contact and one of these terminals, here the input terminal 250. Thus the means 241 prevents the contact between the plate 231 and one of the two terminals, in this case 250 preventing the supply of the engine. When the second 212 contact of the control unit is open, the auxiliary actuator 240 is no longer powered and return means (not shown) for example in the form of a spring, or the force of the actuator main, move (s) in the opposite direction the means 241 driven by the auxiliary actuator 240, thereby closing the contact between the input terminal 250 and the output terminal 251. The electric motor 150 is then powered and drives the pinion 160 of the launcher in rotation. Advantageously, a sensor 410 measures the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine 290. Thus, when said motor reaches a rotation speed sufficient to ensure that it is started, for example 1500 rpm, the first contact of the control unit is open. The actuator 220 is no longer powered and return means (not shown) push the plunger 130 so that the contact plate 231 deviates from the terminals 250, 251. The electric motor 150 is no longer powered and s stops, the plunger 130, resuming its rest position ( figure 2 ) discards the pinion 160 of the crown 190.

• la vitesse de rotation du moteur à combustion interne ;
• l'état de la commande d'alimentation en carburant dudit moteur à combustion interne ;
• l'état d'un contact de marche / arrêt dudit moteur.

Figure 5 , if starting from the situation of the figure 4 , the two contacts 211, 212 of the control unit are open simultaneously, then the contact plate 231 deviates from the input terminals 250 and 251 output and the plunger 130 and the means 241 of movement of the actuator 240 help return to their rest position ( figure 2 ) under the effect of their respective return means (not shown) and because of the rotation of the heat engine ring. If at this moment the internal combustion engine 290 is stopped, the resistive torque of this motor prevents the extraction of the helical pinion gear 160 from the gear with the ring gear 190. The pivot-sliding link 261 of the lever 260 then allows the pinion to stay in mesh with the crown while the plunger is no longer retained in its active position through the forces generated by solenoids also called coil, call or hold. This thus makes it possible to leave the pinion in the ring when the starter is no longer electrically powered, that is to say the contacts 211 and 212 open. Thus, the subsequent closing of the first contact 211 of the control unit allows to directly launch the internal combustion engine. According to this exemplary embodiment, the control unit 210 comprises memory means 511 in which different threshold values of the rotation speed of the motor are recorded. Said control unit also comprises a computer 512 comprising an input port for acquiring information such as:

• the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine;
• the state of the fuel supply control of said internal combustion engine;
• the state of an on / off contact of said engine.

Said computer 512 also comprises an output port for separately controlling the two contacts 211, 212 of the control unit.

Figure 6 as a function of time 600, as soon as the speed of rotation of the engine approaches a first threshold speed, called vigilance speed, 611, corresponding substantially to the idling speed of said engine, for example 800 revolutions / minute, the computer of the The control unit is in standby and scrutinizes the successive events in order to optimize the speed of restarting the vehicle, according to scenarios recorded in the memory means.

Thus, for example, when the starter object of the invention is installed on a motor vehicle, in the case where the driver of said vehicle releases the accelerator pedal. If the rotation speed 620 of the internal combustion engine goes below a threshold, said first threshold 612, for example 500 revolutions / minute, the internal combustion engine can not leave alone. On the other hand, if the rotational speed of said engine remains above this threshold, the resumption of the engine fuel supply makes it possible to restart the engine. Thus, by following a first sequence 620 of evolution of the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine, the driver having released the accelerator pedal, the fuel supply is cut, the engine speed 620 of rotation drops, after a first time 601, the vigilance speed 611 is reached. The driver does not restart the acceleration and after a second time 602, the rotation speed of the engine reaches the first threshold 612. If, in a third time 603, the driver restarts the acceleration, the the control unit having received the information of the passage of the first threshold 612 closes the contact 211 at this third time, that is, closes the contact between the plate and the terminal 250 for the embodiment of the figure 4 and closes the contacts between terminals 250 and 251 of the embodiment of the figure 3 . Thus, the starter pinion is engaged with the crown. When the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine reaches a safety threshold 611, the first contact 211 of the control unit is open which reminds the plunger, disengages the starter gear and stops the rotation of the electric motor.

According to another evolution scenario 621 of the rotational speed of the engine, the driver does not re-accelerate, and the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine passes under a third threshold 613 said engagement threshold, for example 50 turns / minutes. Under these conditions, upon crossing 605 of this threshold, the computer closes the two contacts 211 and 212 of the control unit, which has the effect of engaging the pinion with the crown. The introduction of said pinion at this lower speed of rotation, limits the wear of said pinion. As soon as there is a start request, for example the driver who re-accelerates or engages the contact 210, the process opens the contact 212 which allows a very fast restart during the swinging phase. According to a preferred embodiment, during the balancing phase, that is to say when the trigger threshold is exceeded, after a delay Δt required to ensure that the pinion is engaged in the ring, the computer opens the second contact which has the effect of causing the electric motor of the starter rotating and reviving the internal combustion engine

When the engine is stopped, that is to say that the crankshaft of the engine is stopped, then the two contacts of the control unit are open and the pinion remains in engagement with the crown when the vehicle stops.

Figure 7 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the auxiliary actuator corresponding to the embodiment shown figure 3 starter object of the invention, the means 341 is moved by a micro-solenoid 740 and recalled in position by a helical spring 741 forming a return means.

Figure 8 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the auxiliary actuator corresponding to the embodiment of the figure 2 of the starter object of the invention, a micro-solenoid 240 controls the displacement of a ring 841 substantially concentric with the output terminal 251. The contact plate 831 is displaced in translation towards the terminals 251, 250 by the plunger 130 and is articulated according to a pivot connection 832 of axis substantially perpendicular to said translation displacement direction, for example by means of a set between a hole of the plate 831 and a control rod moving the plate passing through this hole. When the micro-solenoid 240 is energized, the ring 841 prevents said contact plate 831 from contacting the output terminal 251 or discards the plate 831 from the terminal 251. When the auxiliary actuator micro-solenoid 240 is no longer supplied, 842 return means pushes the ring 841 which then allows the contact of the plate 831 with the output terminal 251. According to this embodiment, the ring comprises a portion preferably metal to be movable by the micro-solenoid but the end of the ring 841 in contact with the contact plate 831 is electrically insulated.

According to another embodiment shown on the figure 10 when the micro-solenoid 240 is energized, the ring 1041 in the activated position prevents said plate 831 contact to be in contact with the output terminal 251. When the micro-solenoid 240 of the auxiliary actuator is no longer powered, the main actuator pushes, through the plunger 130 and the plate 831, the ring 1041 in the deactivated position which then allows the contact of the plate 831 with output terminal 251. According to this embodiment, the micro solenoid 240 preferably comprises a return spring 1042 of the ring 1041 to the activated position to ensure that it prevents the contact between the plate 831 with the output terminal 251 and on the other hand to attenuate the vibrations at rest. Similarly, the ring comprises a portion that is preferably metallic so that it can be displaced by the micro-solenoid but the end of the ring 1041 in contact with the contact plate 831 is electrically isolated.

On the figure 10A the ring 1041 is pushed towards the contact plate 831 by a spring 1042 and the action of the micro-solenoid 240, moving said contact plate 831 away from the output terminal 251. Figure 10B , the micro-solenoid 240 is no longer powered, the action of the plunger 130 pushes the ring 1041 by compressing the spring 1042, thereby allowing the closure of the contact between the input terminals 250 and 251 output.

According to another example of the two embodiments described above, the auxiliary actuator does not include its ring around the input terminal, but around the output position. In this embodiment, the ring prevents contact between the plate and the input terminal.

Figure 9 , according to another embodiment of the auxiliary actuator corresponding to the embodiment of the figure 2 of the starter object of the invention, a micro-solenoid 240 controls the displacement of a ring 941 which is placed between the input terminal 250 and the output terminal 251. Under the action of the solenoid 220 of the main actuator, the plunger moves the contact plate 931 in translation towards said terminals 250, 251. Said contact plate 931 comprises a degree of freedom in translation parallel to the direction of movement of the plunger , and return means 932 tending to push the contact plate towards the terminals 251, 252. The supply of the mircro-solenoid 240 of the auxiliary actuator prevents the contact plate 931 from being in contact with the 250 and 251 terminals through the ring 941. When the supply of said micro-solenoid is cut, return means 942 causes the withdrawal of the ring 941 and the contact plate 931 reminder means 932 push said plate to terminal contact. Thus, according to this embodiment, the ring 941 is not in contact with the plate 931 when it is in contact with the input terminal.

According to another embodiment shown on the figure 11 when the micro-solenoid 240 is energized, the ring 1141 in the activated position prevents said contact plate 831 from being in contact with the terminals 251 and 250. When the auxiliary solenoid micro-solenoid 240 is no longer energized , the main actuator pushes, through the plunger 130 and the plate 931, the ring 1141 in the deactivated position which then allows the contact of the plate 931 with the two terminals 251 and 250. According to this embodiment, the microphone solenoid 240 preferably comprises a return spring 1142 of the ring 1141 to the activated position to ensure that it prevents contact between the plate 931 with one or both terminals 250, 251 and secondly to reduce the vibrations at rest. In this embodiment, in the deactivated position, the ring is in contact with the plate. The ring comprises a portion preferably metal to be movable by the micro-solenoid but the end of the ring 841 in contact with the contact plate 831 is electrically insulated.

In the same way, figure 11A when the micro-solenoid 240 is energized, its action is added to that of the spring 1142 and pushes the ring 1141 away from the contact plate 931 of the terminals. Figure 11B, when the micro-solenoid 240 is no longer powered, the action of the plunger 130 pushes the ring 1141 by compressing the spring 1142.

The embodiments shown figure 10 and figure 11 , has the advantage that in the absence of power supply the action of the springs 1042, 1142 acting on the actuator 1041, 1042 auxiliary tends to open the contact between the terminals. Thus, in the engine start sequence, the auxiliary actuator is, by default, in the configuration adapted to the sequence of steps, so as to further reduce the restart time.

The description above and the exemplary embodiments show that the invention Achieves the objectives in particular, it reduces the restart time of an internal combustion engine by pre-engaging the starter gear while said combustion engine is still rotating.

Claims (11)

1. Starter for internal combustion engine (290), said starter comprising:

   a. an electric motor (150);

   b. a starter drive assembly comprising a pinion (160) that is mobile between a so-called free position in which this pinion is linked in rotation with said electric motor (150) alone and a so-called meshed position in which said pinion (160) is linked in rotation with the electric motor (150) and the internal combustion engine (290);

   c. an electrical switch (230) comprising a main actuator (220) suitable, when engaged, for displacing and holding in position a means, called plunger (130), said plunger being linked to the displacement of the pinion (160), between the free position and the meshed position, by a link means, called lever (260);

   d. means linked to the plunger, called contact plate (231, 331, 831, 931), suitable for establishing an electrical power contact between the electric motor (150) and a power source (100) when the pinion (160) is in the meshed position;

   e. characterized in that it comprises an auxiliary actuator (240) suitable, when engaged, for opening the power contact or preventing the closure of the power contact and means (211, 212, 512) for separately controlling the main actuator (220) and the auxiliary actuator (240).
2. Starter according to Claim 1, in which the main actuator (240) and the auxiliary actuator (220) are solenoids.
3. Starter according to Claim 1, in which the switch comprises an input terminal (250) connected to the power source (100) and an output terminal (251) connected to the electric motor (150), the contact plate (331) establishing an electrical connection between the input terminal and the output terminal and it comprises:

   f. an isolating switch (341), actuated by the auxiliary actuator (240), establishing an additional electrical contact between the plate (331) and the positive terminal (251) of the electric motor.
4. Starter according to Claim 1, in which the switch comprises an input terminal (250), connected to the power source (100), and an output terminal (251), connected to the electric motor (150), said starter comprising:

   g. a contact plate (231, 831, 931) that is mobile relative to the plunger (130) according to a degree of freedom stopped on contact with said terminals (250, 251);

   h. means (241, 841, 941), actuated by the auxiliary actuator (240), suitable for keeping said plate (231, 831, 931) from the contact with one of the terminals (250, 251) by a movement according to said degree of freedom.
5. Starter according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the plunger (130) is displaced by the main actuator (220) according to an axial translational travel and the degree of freedom of the contact plate (931) is a translation parallel to said travel.
6. Starter according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plunger (130) is displaced by the main actuator according to an axial translational travel and the degree of freedom of the contact plate (831) is a rotation of axis at right angles to the axis of the travel.
7. Starter according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lever (260) comprises means (261) enabling the pinion to remain in the crown ring when the latter is stopped while the pull-in and holding coils are no longer powered.
8. Method for stopping the operation of a starter according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in:

   i. obtaining a threshold (612, 613) of speed of rotation of the internal combustion engine, called engaging threshold;

   ii. obtaining the speed of rotation of said engine;

   iii. if the speed of rotation drops below the engaging threshold (612, 613), actuating the main actuator (220) and the auxiliary actuator so as to link the pinion (160) of the starter drive assembly in rotation with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine (290);

   iv. deactivating the main actuator and the auxiliary actuator when the heat engine is stopped,

   v. receiving a heat engine start request,

   vi. engaging the main actuator so as to power the electric motor (150) driving the pinion (160) of the starter drive assembly in rotation; then

   vii. disengaging (604) the main actuator when the internal combustion engine reaches a determined speed of rotation (611).
9. Method according to Claim 8, in which a stop command is given to the heat engine before the step iii, the engaging threshold (613) is set at 50 revolutions/minute.
10. Method according to Claim 9 or 8, implementing a starter according to Claim 7, when a start demand is demanded before the step iv, said method replaces the steps iii, iv, v and vi with the steps consisting in:

    if the speed of rotation is below the engaging threshold (612, 613), actuating the main actuator (220) and the auxiliary actuator (240) so as to link the pinion (160) of the starter drive assembly in rotation with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine (290); then disengaging the auxiliary actuator so as to power the electric motor (150) and drive the pinion (160) of the starter drive assembly in rotation, the pinion (160) remaining in the meshed position;

    if the speed of rotation is above the engaging threshold, actuating the main actuator (220) so as to link the pinion (160) of the starter drive assembly in rotation with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine (290).
11. Method according to Claim 10, in which, when the start demand step is demanded before 300 revolutions/minute, waiting for the heat engine to reach the 300 revolutions/minute before actuating the main actuator (220).

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