Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha

Kazuo Takami

Kyoichi Okamoto

A device for supporting an overhang type slidable pinion shaft of an electric motor for starting an engine comprises a bearing for supporting the pinion shaft, the bearing including an inner ring having a groove provided in its inner peripheral surface. Accordingly, it is possible to secure grease or oil in the groove provided in the inner peripheral surface of the inner ring of the bearing and it is therefore possible to minimize the boundary friction occurring between the inner peripheral surface of the inner ring of the bearing and the sliding surface of the pinion shaft and, at the same time, enable the pinion shaft to slide even more smoothly.

Device for supporting pinion shaft of electric motor for starting engine

At least one axial groove is formed on an output shaft which extends from an end of the output shaft to a stop ring groove and has a depth substantially equal to that of the stop ring groove to allow a stop ring fitted therein to be pushed up by a pin or the like inserted along the axial groove into the stop ring groove. A stop ring groove may be formed in a position on the output drive shaft adjacent to an end thereof, and an extension of a pinion drive shaft is provided which extends from an end face of the pinion drive shaft to form a cylindrical protective cover for a stopper fitted by the stop ring received in the groove and protruding from the end surface of the pinion drive shaft when the latter is retracted fully.

Pinion stopper of engine starter

An overhang type starter is arranged such that a pinion provided at the front end of a driving shaft is provided in a position ahead of a bearing which supports the shaft rotatably. The driving shaft has an annular projection formed thereon at a position close to the pinion, the annular projection being slidably supported by a bearing. Since the driving shaft is supported by the annular projection thereof, when the shaft is advanced to its operative position, it is supported at the same point as in the case when the shaft is in a retracted position, and therefore no change occurs in the amount of overhang of the pinion. Accordingly, deflection of the driving shaft and the rotary output shaft is minimized.

Growing community of inventors

Hyogo, Japan

Kazuo Takami