Patent ID: 7360464
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: F02N,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A starter motor comprising: a starter motor housing; an electric motor mounted within said starter motor housing; a stationary gear base mounted onto said starter housing, said stationary gear base including portions defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets having inner walls therein; a stationary gear rotatably mounted within said stationary gear base, said stationary gear including a plurality of legs radially extending into said pockets; a plurality of dampening members disposed within the plurality of pockets for providing dampening, wherein two respective dampening members are disposed in each respective pocket on each side of said respective leg, and at least one of said dampening members disposed within each respective pocket on either side of each respective leg is a variable rate dampening member; said variable rate dampening members providing variable rate dampening such that when the starter motor experiences high frequency, low amplitude oscillations said dampening members provide a first spring rate and when the starter motor experiences a high amplitude impact for a short duration of time, said dampening members provide a second spring rate that is stronger than the first spring rate.