Patent ID: 9267479
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: F02N

Claim Text:
1. An engine starting device for an automatic idle-stop system for carrying out an idle-stop of an engine when a predetermined idle-stop condition is established, and then restarting the engine when a restart condition is established, the engine starting device comprising: a starter; a ring gear to be coupled to a crankshaft of the engine; a starter motor for starting the engine; a pinion gear for transmitting a rotation of the starter motor to the ring gear; and starter control means for causing, when the restart condition for the engine is established during a period in which a meshing permission condition for the ring gear and the pinion gear is established, the pinion gear and the ring gear to mesh with each other, thereby restarting the engine, and for inhibiting, when the restart condition is established during a period in which a meshing inhibition condition for the ring gear and the pinion gear is established, the meshing of the pinion gear and the ring gear so that the meshing of the pinion gear and the ring gear is prevented from occurring outside a meshing permissible range, and after the meshing inhibition condition is released, causing the pinion gear and the ring gear to mesh with each other, thereby restarting the engine, wherein the starter control means determines the meshing permission condition and the meshing inhibition condition based on at least an engine rotation speed, and determines the release of the meshing inhibition condition before the engine completely stops based on an elapsed time after the establishment of the meshing inhibition condition.