Patent ID: 9057350
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: F02N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A starter for starting an engine, the starter comprising: a motor having a rotating shaft; an output shaft coaxially disposed with the rotating shaft of the motor, the output shaft having male helical splines formed on an outer surface thereof; a one-way clutch configured to allow torque transmission from the motor to the output shaft and inhibit torque transmission from the output shaft to the motor, the one-way clutch being provided at a motor-side end of the output shaft; a pinion tube having female helical splines formed on an inner surface thereof, the pinion tube being fitted on the output shaft with the female helical splines in mesh with the male helical splines of the output shaft; a pinion provided on a non-motor-side end portion of the pinion tube so as to rotate with the pinion tube; a shift lever that is configured to shift both the pinion tube and the pinion relative to the output shaft in a direction away from the motor and thereby bring the pinion into mesh with a ring gear of the engine; and means for restricting relative rotation between the pinion tube and the output shaft when the one-way clutch is in an overrun state where the clutch inhibits torque transmission from the output shaft to the motor; means for transmitting a shifting force of the shift lever to the pinion tube, the shifting force transmitting means being provided at the pinion tube and being provided on an outer periphery of the pinion tube so as to be interposed between the one-way clutch and the pinion in an axial direction of the output shaft; and wherein the means for transmitting a shifting force includes an annular collar fitted on an outer periphery of the motor-side end portion of the pinion tube so as to be rotatable relative to the pinion tube; an electromagnetic switch configured to create the shifting force of the shift lever, the electromagnetic switch being arranged outside the motor and non-coaxial with the pinion tube, wherein: