Permanently engaged starter assembly

A permanently engaged starter assembly for use in a permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle, with the vehicle including a crankshaft and an engine block, and with the permanently engaged starter system including,

• a dual-mass flywheel extending along an axis and having an inner diameter portion disposed about and adjacent the axis and an outer diameter portion disposed about the axis such that the inner diameter portion is disposed between the outer diameter portion and the axis, or
• a torque converter including a flexplate having an inner flex diameter portion disposed about and adjacent the axis and an outer flex diameter portion disposed about the axis such that the inner flex diameter portion is disposed between the outer flex diameter portion and the axis,
• said permanently engaged starter assembly comprising:
• a one-way clutch comprising an inner member adapted to be disposed about the axis and an outer member disposed about said inner member;
• and
• a ring gear rotatably coupled to said one-way clutch;
• wherein said ring gear is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the outer diameter portion of the dual-mass flywheel through said one-way clutch or adapted to be rotatably coupled to the outer flex diameter portion of the flexplate through said one-way clutch.

A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle including a crankshaft and an engine block, said permanently engaged starter system comprising:

• a torque converter including a flexplate extending along an axis, with said flex plate having an inner flex diameter portion disposed about and adjacent said axis and an outer flex diameter portion disposed about said axis such that said inner flex diameter portion is disposed between said outer flex diameter portion and said axis;
• and
• a permanently engaged starter assembly comprising,
• a one-way clutch extending along said axis and comprising an inner member disposed about said axis and an outer member disposed about said inner member, and
• a ring gear rotatably coupled to said one-way clutch;
• wherein said ring gear is adapted to be rotatably coupled to said outer flex diameter portion of said flexplate through said one-way clutch.