JPH11182390A - Start switch for starter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the wear of a cover as much as possible to improve the durability by preventing a lock ring mounted in a shaft part so as to prevent leaving of a movable contact from the shaft part from coming off by the cover in a start switch for starter which performs switching operation in accordance with the operation of an electromagnetic drive unit which can give an electromagnetic force by which a pinion is driven in the direction in which it meshes with a ring gear for start. SOLUTION: A cover 89 having a ring plate part 89a like flat plate in which a shaft part 39b is inserted and a cylindrical part 89b which surrounds a lock ring 81 and is continuous with outer periphery of the ring plate part 89a is mounted on the shaft part 39b between the lock ring 81 and a movable contact AS so as to travel relatively in the axial direction, and a plurality of sections in peripheral direction of the cylindrical part 89b are caulked and engaged with the lock ring 81 so as to prevent its relative travel in the axial direction and peripheral direction together with the lock ring 81.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a starting motor for performing switching operation in accordance with the operation of an electromagnetic drive unit capable of exerting an electromagnetic force for driving a pinion into engagement with a starting ring gear, and transmitting power to the pinion. And a starter switch for starting the starter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, such a starter start switch is already known, for example, from Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. Sho 61-556. In this switch, a starter switch is provided on a shaft coaxially connected to a movable core of an electromagnetic drive unit. A movable contact is mounted to enable relative movement in the axial direction, and a substantially C-shaped retaining ring made of metal is mounted to prevent the movable contact from being detached from the shaft portion. And a pair of fixed contacts opposed to the movable contact are disposed at fixed positions so as to resiliently contact the fixed contacts as the shaft moves in accordance with the operation of the electromagnetic drive unit. ing.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional start switch, a substantially C-shaped retaining ring that functions to prevent the movable contact point, which is biased by the spring, from coming off the shaft portion, is provided.
No means is provided for preventing the retaining ring from coming off the shaft, and the retaining ring may come off from the shaft. Therefore, a press formed into a shape having a flat ring plate portion facing the retaining ring and a cylindrical cylindrical portion surrounding the retaining ring and continuing to the outer periphery of the ring plate portion is provided on a shaft portion between the retaining ring and the movable contact. There has already been proposed a structure in which a worked metal cover is mounted so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, and the cover prevents the retaining ring from coming off the shaft portion.

[0004] However, the cover is relatively soft because it is formed by pressing a ferrous material, whereas the retaining ring is hardened by quenching or the like, and the contact between the cover and the retaining ring is reduced. The portion, that is, the ring plate portion of the cover, and the retaining ring are mutually different in hardness. However, when the movable contact comes into contact with both fixed contacts, the ring plate separates from the retaining ring, and when the movable contact separates from both fixed contacts, the spring force of the spring biasing the movable contact. As a result, the ring plate portion impacts against the retaining ring, and the relative movement of the retaining ring and the cover in the circumferential direction is allowed. In addition, since the retaining ring is substantially C-shaped, the contact area between the retaining ring and the ring plate portion is relatively small. There is a possibility that the cover may be worn away from the shaft portion due to abrasion of the cover.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a cover prevents a retaining ring attached to a shaft from coming off the shaft in order to prevent the movable contact from coming off the shaft. It is another object of the present invention to provide a starter start switch in which wear of the cover is reduced as much as possible to improve durability.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a movable core provided in an electromagnetic drive unit capable of exerting an electromagnetic force for driving a pinion in a direction meshing with a starting ring gear. A shaft portion coaxially connected to the shaft portion; a movable contact mounted on the shaft portion so as to allow relative movement in the axial direction; and the electromagnetic drive of the shaft portion to prevent the movable contact from being detached from the shaft portion. A metal substantially C-shaped retaining ring mounted on the end opposite to the unit, and a spring provided between the movable contact and the shaft portion by exerting a spring force for urging the movable contact toward the retaining ring. And a pair of fixed contacts that are fixedly arranged opposite to the movable contact on the side opposite to the electromagnetic drive unit, and a starting motor that transmits power to the pinion is movable according to the operation of the electromagnetic drive unit. To both fixed contacts In a starter start switch that starts in response to resilient contact, the shaft portion between the retaining ring and the movable contact includes a flat ring-shaped plate portion through which the shaft portion is inserted and the retaining ring. A cover made of a metal material softer than the retaining ring having a cylindrical portion connected to the outer periphery of the ring plate portion is attached, and a plurality of circumferential portions of the cylindrical portion are axially and circumferentially relative to the retaining ring. It is characterized in that it is swaged and engaged with the retaining ring to prevent movement.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the retaining ring is surrounded by the cylindrical portion of the cover, the retaining ring is prevented from being detached from the shaft portion. Moreover, since a plurality of circumferential portions of the cylindrical portion are swaged and engaged with the retaining ring, the relative movement of the retaining ring and the cover in the axial and circumferential directions is prevented. Abrasion of the cover due to the movement is prevented as much as possible, and the durability of the cover can be improved. When the cover is swaged to the retaining ring, the movable contact moves relative to the cover in the axial direction, but the contact area between the cover and the member on the movable contact side should be set relatively large. Thereby, impact of the movable contact side member against the cover and wear of the cover due to relative movement in the circumferential direction are prevented.

[0008] The invention according to claim 2 provides the above-mentioned claim 1.
In addition to the configuration of the invention described, between the ring plate portion of the cover and the retaining ring, a shim washer formed in a flat ring shape by a metal having the same hardness as the retaining ring,
It is characterized in that the contact area with the ring plate is larger than the contact area with the retaining ring.

According to the construction of the second aspect of the present invention, since the hardness of the retaining ring and the shim washer is substantially equal, the abrasion due to mutual contact between the retaining ring and the shim washer can be prevented, and the cover can be protected. Although there is a difference in hardness between the ring plate and the shim washer, the contact surface pressure is reduced by making the contact area relatively large, and in particular, the wear of the ring plate due to impact can be prevented as much as possible.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on one embodiment of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a starter, FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a start switch, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

First, in FIG. 1, a rotation shaft 11 of a starting motor 10 is connected to a pinion drive shaft 1 via a gear reduction mechanism 12.
3 The pinion drive shaft 13 is connected to the clutch outer 14 a of the overrunning clutch 14 so as to allow relative movement in the axial direction.
3 and a sleeve 15 fixedly connected to the clutch inner 14b of the overrunning clutch 14
In addition, a pinion 16 that can mesh with a starting ring gear 17 for starting the engine is fixedly provided.

On the side adjacent to the starting motor 10, the overrunning clutch 1 is connected to the pinion drive shaft 13.
An electromagnetic drive unit 18 for relatively moving the sleeve 4 and the sleeve 15 in the axial direction is disposed, and the pinion 16 is started by driving the overrunning clutch 14 and the sleeve 15 in the axial direction by the electromagnetic drive unit 18. It moves between a retracted position (position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1) in which engagement with the ring gear 17 is released and a forward position (position indicated by a chain line in FIG. 1) in mesh with the ring gear 17 for starting. . The electromagnetic drive unit 18 is provided with a start switch 19 for controlling the operation of the starter motor 10 according to the operation of the electromagnetic drive unit 18.

The casing 20 of the starter motor 10 comprises a cylindrical yoke 21 sandwiched between a front bracket 22 and a rear bracket 23. The two brackets 22, 23 are mutually fastened by a plurality of through bolts 24. Is done. A stator 25 is fixed to the inner surface of the yoke 22 and a rotor 26 coaxially surrounded by the stator 25.
Is rotatably supported by a front bracket 22 and a rear bracket 23, respectively.

A commutator 27 is provided at a portion of the rotor 26 on the side of the rear bracket 23, and a plurality of brush holders 28 fixedly supported on the inner surface of the rear bracket 23 are elastically moved in a direction in which the brush holders 28 come into sliding contact with the commutator 27. The brushes 29 to be urged are respectively held.

The front bracket 22 of the starting motor 10
A partly open end face of the protective case 30 opened to the starting motor 10 and the electromagnetic drive unit 18 is fastened by bolts 31. Between the protective case 30 and the front bracket 22, an outer surface of the front bracket 22 is provided. A flat cover member 34 forming a gear chamber 33 in cooperation with the provided recess 32 is sandwiched.

A solenoid case 35 of the electromagnetic drive unit 18 located on the side of the starting motor 10 is fastened to the opening end surface of the protection case 30.
Of the openings, portions other than the portion closed by the front bracket 22 and the solenoid case 35 are closed by a seal member 36. In this way, the opening of the protective case 30 is completely closed, and a sealed working chamber 38 is formed in the protective case 30.

The electromagnetic drive unit 18 has one end of the working chamber 3.
8, and a coil 40 that exerts an electromagnetic force for operating the movable core 39. The shaft 3 is coaxially connected to one end of the movable core 39.
9a, a spring receiving member 41 attached to the intermediate portion, and a solenoid case 35 covering one end of the movable core 39.
Between the spring receiving member 42 and the spring 43
The movable core 39 is urged by the spring 43 in a direction in which one end of the movable core 39 protrudes into the working chamber 38 side. When the coil 40 is excited, the movable core 39 moves against the spring force of the spring 43 to the position shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1 due to the electromagnetic force acting on the movable core 39.

A gear reduction mechanism 12 provided between the rotation shaft 11 of the starting motor 10 and the pinion drive shaft 13 includes a front bracket 22 of the starting motor 10 and a cover member 3.
4 is housed in a gear chamber 33 formed between the rotating shaft 11 and the outer peripheral gear 48 formed integrally with the rotating shaft 11.
The outer peripheral gear 4 is provided integrally with the pinion drive shaft 13 and
8 and an inner peripheral gear 49 meshing with the inner gear 8.

The rear end of the pinion drive shaft 13 having an axis parallel to the rotation shaft 11 is rotatably supported by the front bracket 22 at the center of the gear chamber 33. Inner peripheral gear 49
Is formed integrally with the rear end of the pinion drive shaft 13 so as to cover the outer peripheral gear 48, and the axial movement of the pinion drive shaft 13 is prevented by the front bracket 22 and the cover member 34. .

The overrunning clutch 14 is housed in the working chamber 38, and the clutch outer 14a and the clutch inner 1 are prevented from moving in the axial direction.
4b, a plurality of rollers 52 and a plurality of springs 53 are interposed. This overrunning clutch 14
Transmits power from the clutch outer 14a to the clutch inner 14b, but allows the clutch inner 14b to idle when the rotation speed of the clutch inner 14b becomes higher than the rotation speed of the clutch outer 14a.

A tubular portion 54 coaxially surrounding the pinion drive shaft 13 is coaxially and integrally connected to the clutch outer 14a. The tubular portion 54 is connected to the pinion drive shaft 13 via, for example, a helical spline. Be linked. That is, the cylindrical portion 54, which is integral with the clutch outer 14a, allows the relative movement in the axial direction so that the pinion drive shaft 1
3 Moreover, an annular groove 54a is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 54.

The movable core 3 in the electromagnetic drive unit 18
One end of a shift lever 56 is connected to the front end of the shaft portion 39a integrally connected to the shaft 9. This shift lever 56
The other end of the shift lever 56 is bifurcated so as to sandwich the tubular portion 54 from both sides.
The rollers 57 are pivotally supported so as to be disposed in the annular groove 54a of the cylindrical portion 54. A holder 58 is supported on the protective case 30 so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the pinion drive shaft 13, and an intermediate portion of the shift lever 56 is rotatable on the holder 58 via a pin 59. And a spring 6 is provided between the seal member 36 and the holder 58.
0 is provided. Accordingly, in response to the operation of the electromagnetic drive unit 18, the cylinder portion 54, that is, the overrunning clutch 14 is pushed out in the forward direction (the right direction in FIGS. 1 and 2). The movement prevents an excessive reaction force from acting on the electromagnetic drive unit 18 side from the cylinder portion 54, that is, the overrunning clutch 14 side.

The rear end of the sleeve 15 arranged coaxially with the pinion drive shaft 13 is integrally connected to the clutch inner 14b. The sleeve 15 has an inner end, that is, a rear end. Opened bottomed storage hole 62
The bearing metal 63 is press-fitted into the storage hole 62, and the front end of the pinion drive shaft 13 is
3 is inserted.

A stopper 65 is mounted on the pinion drive shaft 13 near the opening end of the storage hole 62, and the cylindrical portion 5
A regulating step (not shown) for regulating the forward movement of the overrunning clutch 14 and the sleeve 15 by contacting the stopper 65 is provided on the inner surface of 4.

The protective case 30 is provided with a shaft hole 67 which is coaxial with the sleeve 15, and the sleeve 15 penetrates the shaft hole 67 so as to be able to move in the axial direction and rotate around the axis. Sleeve 1 outside protective case 30
A pinion 16 is fixedly provided at an outer end, that is, a front end of the pin 5.

A bearing metal 70 is provided between the inner surface of the shaft hole 67 and the outer surface of the sleeve 15 to support the axial movement of the sleeve 15 and the rotation around the axis. A dust seal 74 for preventing foreign matter from entering the bearing metal 70 is provided between the sleeve 30 and the sleeve 15.

2 and 3, a switch case 44 is fastened to the solenoid case 35 on the side opposite to the protective case 30.
Are stored in the switch case 44.

The start switch 19 includes a shaft 39b coaxially and integrally connected to a movable core 39 of the electromagnetic drive unit 18, and a movable contact mounted on the shaft 39b so as to be capable of relative movement in the axial direction. 45, a substantially C-shaped retaining ring 81 mounted on the end of the shaft 39b opposite to the electromagnetic drive unit 18 so as to prevent the movable contact 45 from coming off the shaft 39b, The movable contact 45 and the shaft 39b exert a spring force for urging the shaft 45 toward the retaining ring 81.
There is provided a spring 82 provided therebetween, and a pair of fixed contacts 46 and 47 fixed to the switch case 44 so as to face the movable contact 45 on the side opposite to the electromagnetic drive unit 18.

The shaft portion 39b is provided with the large diameter portion 3 on the movable core 39 side.
9b ₁ and an annular step 39b between the large diameter portion 39b _1
3 is intended and a small diameter portion 39b ₂ of the switch case 44 side to form a movable contact 45 formed in a long flat plate shape along one diameter line of the shaft portion 39b is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin It is axially movably mounted on the small diameter portion 39b ₂ of the shaft portion 39b via a support member 83. The support member 83 is configured such that a flange portion 83b projecting outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 83a is integrally connected to one end of a cylindrical portion 83a in which the small-diameter portion 39b ₂ is slidably fitted. The cylindrical portion 83a is fitted in a support hole 84 provided at the center of the movable contact 45, and the flange 83b is brought into contact with the end surface of the movable contact 45 on the movable core 39 side.

[0031] In the periphery of the small diameter portion 39 b ₂ supporting member 83
Of the flange portion 83b abuts against a ring-shaped washer 85 is also ring-shaped washer 86 to the stepped portion 39b ₃ of the shaft portion 39b is brought into contact. Thus, both washers 85, 86
A coil-shaped spring 82 surrounding the shaft portion 39b is contracted and provided between the support members 8 by the spring force of the spring 82.
The movable contact 45 is biased in a direction away from the movable core 39.

[0032] On the end face opposite to the movable core 39 of the movable contact point 45, a support plate 87 made of insulating material, is formed in a ring shape allowed to inserting the small diameter portion 39 b ₂ of the shaft portion 39 are abutment The movable contact 45 is connected to the flange 8 of the support member 83.
3b and the support plate 87.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the small diameter portion 39b
The outer circumference of the end portion of the switch case 44 side in _2, is provided with an annular mounting groove 88, the retaining ring 81 is made of hardened metal, which by quenching or the like, perpendicular to the axis of the small diameter portion 39 b ₂ plane The mounting groove 88
Attached to. Also the small diameter portion 39 b ₂ between the retaining ring 81 and the support plate 87, in order from the retaining ring 81 side, shimwasher 91, cover 89 and the washer 90 is mounted.

The cover 89 has a ring plate portion 89a formed in a flat plate shape perpendicular to the axis of the shaft portion 39b and through which the small-diameter portion 39b ₂ is inserted, and a cylindrical portion 89b surrounding the retaining ring 81 and connected to the outer periphery of the ring plate portion 89a. And This cover 89
Is formed by press working, and is made of a metal material softer than the retaining ring 81 hardened by quenching or the like.

The shim washer 91 is provided on the cover 89.
The contact area between the ring plate 89a and the retaining ring 81 is larger than the contact area with the retaining ring 81, that is, the retaining ring 81 The diameter of the shaft portion 3 is set to be larger than the diameter of the
It is formed 9b flat ring shape allowed to inserting the small diameter portion 39 b ₂ of. Moreover, the shim washer 91 is
It is formed of a metal having the same hardness as.

Further, the cylindrical portion 89 of the cover 89
A plurality of, e.g., four, locations in the circumferential direction of b are swaged toward the retaining ring 81 and engaged with the retaining ring 81, thereby preventing relative movement of the cover 89 and the retaining ring 81 in the axial and circumferential directions. Will be done.

The washer 90 is formed in a flat ring shape from a metal material having the same hardness as the retaining ring 81, and has a relatively large contact area with the ring plate portion 89a and the support plate 87 in the cover 89. It is formed so that.

In such a start switch 19, when the electromagnetic drive unit 18 in which the coil 40 is demagnetized is not operated, the movable contact 45 is in a cut-off state separated from both the individual contacts 46 and 47, and the electromagnetic drive unit in which the coil 40 is excited is excited. 18
, Ie, when the pinion 16 is moved to the starting ring gear 1
When the electromagnetic drive unit 18 exerts an electromagnetic force for meshing with the movable contact 7, the movable contact 45 moves to a position where the movable contact 45 resiliently contacts the two individual contacts 46 and 47, and becomes conductive. The starting motor 10 starts.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The pinion 16 which can be engaged with the starting ring gear 17 for starting the engine is fixed to the sleeve 15 outside the protective case 30. Since the bearing metal 70 is provided between the shaft hole 67 provided in the protective case 30 and the sleeve 15 so as to be penetrated,
There is no need to provide an opening in the protective case 30 for meshing the pinion 16 with the starting ring gear 17. Therefore, the working chamber 38 in the protection case 30 can be formed as a closed space, and the intrusion of foreign matter into the protection case 30 is reliably prevented. The operation does not become smooth due to the influence of the invading foreign matter.

[0040] In the activation switch 19, since the retaining ring 81 by the cylindrical portion 89b of the cover 89 are enclosed, it is prevented that the retaining ring 81 will be disengaged from the small diameter portion 39 b ₂ of the shaft portion 39 b.

Further, a plurality of circumferential portions of the cylindrical portion 89b are swaged and engaged with the retaining ring 81, and the retaining ring 81 and the cover 8
Since the relative movement of the cover 9 in the axial and circumferential directions is prevented, even if the hardness of the cover 89 is smaller than that of the retaining ring 81, wear of the cover 89 is prevented as much as possible, and the durability of the cover 89 can be improved. .

Furthermore, a shim washer 91 having a hardness substantially equal to that of the retaining ring 81 is interposed between the retaining ring 81 and the ring plate portion 89a of the cover 81.
In addition, since the abrasion due to mutual contact between the shim washer 91 and the shim washer 91 can be prevented, and since the shim washer 91 contacts the ring plate portion 89a with a relatively large contact area, there is a difference in hardness between the ring plate portion 89a and the shim washer 91. By making the contact area relatively large, the contact surface pressure between the ring plate portion 89a and the shim washer 91 can be reduced, and abrasion of the ring plate portion 89a can be prevented as much as possible. Can be prevented.

When the cover 89 is swaged to the retaining ring 81, the movable contact 45
Move relative to each other in the axial direction, and the washer 90 having high hardness hits the ring plate portion 89a of the cover 89, or the washer 90 slides due to relative movement in the circumferential direction. Since the contact surface pressure of the contact 89 can be reduced by setting the contact area of the contact 89 relatively large, the cover 89 does not wear.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the present invention described in the appended claims. It is possible to do.

[0045]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the retaining ring is prevented from coming off from the shaft portion by the cylindrical portion of the cover. The relative movement in the direction can be prevented, and the wear of the cover accompanying the relative movement can be prevented as much as possible, and the durability of the cover can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a shim washer having the same hardness as that of the retaining ring is interposed between the ring plate portion of the cover and the retaining ring, and the shim washer is provided depending on the contact area with the retaining ring. Since it contacts the ring plate portion with a large contact area, it is possible to prevent wear due to mutual contact between the retaining ring and the shim washer, and also to reduce the contact surface pressure between the ring plate portion and the shim washer where the difference in hardness occurs east. Wear of the ring plate can be prevented as much as possible,
In particular, wear of the cover due to impact can be more effectively prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a starter.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a start switch.

FIG. 3 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Starting motor 16 ... Pinion 17 ... Ring gear for starting 18 ... Electromagnetic drive unit 19 ... Starting switch 39 ... Movable core 39b ... Shaft part 45 ... Movable contact 46 , 47: fixed contact 81: retaining ring 82: spring 89: cover 89a: ring plate portion 89b: cylindrical portion 91: shim washer

Claims (2)

[Claims] A movable core (3) provided in an electromagnetic drive unit (18) capable of exerting an electromagnetic force for driving a pinion (16) in a direction meshing with a starting ring gear (17).
9) and a shaft (39b) coaxially connected to the shaft (3).
9b) a movable contact (45) mounted so as to allow relative movement in the axial direction, and a shaft (39) of the movable contact (45).
b) a metal substantially C-shaped retaining ring (81) mounted on an end of the shaft (39b) on the opposite side to the electromagnetic drive unit (18) so as to prevent detachment from the movable contact; (4
The electromagnetic drive unit (18) and the spring (82) provided between the movable contact (45) and the shaft (39b) by exerting a spring force to urge the 5) toward the retaining ring (81). A starting motor (10) for transmitting power to the pinion (16), including a pair of fixed contacts (46, 47) fixedly arranged opposite to the movable contact (45) on the opposite side; The movable contact (4) according to the operation of (18)
5) In the starter start switch which is started in response to resilient contact with both fixed contacts (46, 47), the shaft (39b) is connected between the retaining ring (81) and the movable contact (45). Is a flat ring-shaped plate portion (89a) through which the shaft portion (39b) is inserted, and the retaining ring (81).
And a cover (89) made of a metal material that is softer than the retaining ring (81) and has a cylindrical portion (89b) connected to the outer periphery of the ring plate portion (89a). The start switch for a starter characterized in that a plurality of circumferential positions of (1) are swaged and engaged with the retaining ring (81) so as to prevent relative movement in the axial and circumferential directions with the retaining ring (81). 2. A ring plate (89) of said cover (89).
a) and the retaining ring (81), the retaining ring (81)
A shim washer (91) formed into a flat ring shape by a metal having the same hardness as that of the ring plate portion (89a) is larger than the contact area with the retaining ring (81). The starter switch according to claim 1, wherein the starter switch is operated.