Loading patent…
AssigneeCo-Tech Development Corp.
InventorsDavid W. Eckard, John M. Birkhimer
Estimating the term…
An engine starter inertia drive that includes a torque transmission level control mechanism is presented. Such torque transmission level control is provided by removing the variations in clutch plate compression force conventionally introduced by the shock absorbing meshing spring of the engine starter inertia drive. This is accomplished by repositioning the compression forces such that they are contradicted by a combination of the meshing spring force and the frame reaction of the engine starter. In this way, variations in the meshing spring force are compensated by equal and opposite variations in the frame reaction force to maintain the clutch plates in position. Preferably, a single wave spring is used to provide the pressure spring force on the clutch plates.
A torque transmission control mechanism for an engine starter inertia drive, the inertia drive including a head adapted to be driven by a shaft from a source of rotational energy, a screw shaft having a pinion thereon adapted to engage an engine starting gear, a meshing spring adapted to be positioned between the shaft of the source of rotational energy and the screw shaft to supply a first spring force to absorb axial shock loads, comprising:
An engine starter inertia drive, comprising:
A method of controlling a value of torque transmission in an engine starter inertia drive having a head adapted to be driven by a source of rotational energy, a screw shaft having a pinion thereon adapted to engage an engine starting gear, a clutch assembly including a clutch plate stack accommodated on the head and contained within a clutch body, the clutch body drivably coupled to the screw shaft, and a meshing spring adapted to be positioned between the source of rotational energy and the screw shaft to supply a first force to the clutch stack in a first axial direction, the method comprising the step of applying a second force to the clutch plate stack in a direction opposite to the first axial direction, the second force controlling the value of torque transmission in the engine starter inertia drive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.