Patent CA-1186190-B (CA)
Inventor: MORTENSEN HAROLD R
IPC: F02N15/06
Filed: 1983-12-12
Granted: 1985-04-30
Abstract: ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE         The present invention provides a dual mode electri-cal starter drive system for cranking an internal combustion engine having a cranking gear,  a source of electrical power and a  starter  switch  connected  thereto,  the  starter drive system comprising:   a cranking motor having an output shaft rotatable  in  response  to  receiving  electrical  power at an input terminal; a pinion gear attached to said output shaft and rotatable therewith, said pinion gear being axially trans-latable  along  said  output  shaft,  solenoid  actuator  means having  a  resiliently biased  armature  movable  therein  from a first to a second position,  a pull-in coil and a hold-in coil for receiving electrical power from said source of elec-trical power through said starter switch, said armature being movable from said first position against the force of said resilient bias  to said second position in response to said pull-in  and  hold-in  coils  receiving  electrical  power  and operative to remain in said second position as long as said hold-in  coil  receives  electrical  power,  said  pull-in  and hold-in  coils  each  having an input lead for connection to the starter switch and an output lead,  the output lead of said  hold-in  coil  being  connected to  a  common  electrical ground and the output lead of said pull-in coil being connect-ed to  the  input terminal of  said cranking motor;  shifting means,  mechanically  linking  said armature with  said pinion gear, for axially displacing said pinion gear into engagement with  the  engine's  cranking gear as said armature moves to said second position and for axially displacing said pinion gear  to disengage  from the engine's cranking gear as said armature moves to said second position and for axially dis-placing said pinion gear to disengage from the engine's crank-ing gear when said armature is in said first position;  and switch means,  attached to said solenoid actuator means and receiving electrical power directly from said source of elec-trical power,  for controlling the electrical power received by the cranking motor and the pull-in coil from said starter switch as a function of the position of the solenoid actuator means armature,  the arrangement being such that in use said switch means  applies  full  electrical  power  to the hold-in coil and to the serially connected pull-in coil and  cranking motor  with  the  armature in said first position  and during movement  towards  a predetermined  intermediate  position be-tween said first and second position, said switch means simul-taneously reducing the electrical power applied across said pull-in coil  and  increasing  the  electrical  power  applied across  said cranking motor to an intermediate value greater than the value with said switch means in said first position but less than full electrical power after said armature has moved to said predetermined intermediate position, and apply-ing a full electrical  power across the cranking motor with no electrical power across the pull-in coil when said arma-ture is in said second position.