Starter motor assembly with soft start solenoid
AssigneeRemy International, Inc.
InventorMichael D. Bradfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solenoid for a vehicle starter comprises a pull-in coil and a hold-in coil positioned axially adjacent to the pull-in coil. A plunger is positioned within the pull-in coil and configured to move in an axial direction when the pull-in coil is energized. The plunger is separated from a plunger stop in the axial direction by an air gap when the pull-in coil and the hold-in coil are not energized. When the pull-in coil and hold-in coil are energized, a shoulder of the plunger moves in an axial direction toward the plunger stop. The pull-in coil is positioned in the solenoid such that it is removed from the plunger stop in the axial direction. In contrast, the hold-in coil encircles the plunger stop.
Claims20
A solenoid for a vehicle starter, the solenoid comprising:
- a pull-in coil;
- a hold-in coil positioned axially adjacent to the pull-in coil;
- and
- a plunger positioned within the pull-in coil and configured to move in an axial direction when the pull-in coil is energized.
A solenoid for a vehicle starter, the solenoid comprising:
- a plunger;
- a plunger stop;
- an air gap between the plunger and the plunger stop;
- a first coil removed from the plunger stop by a distance in an axial direction, the first coil encircling the plunger;
- and
- a second coil encircling the plunger stop.
A vehicle starter comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a motor circuit configured to deliver electrical power to the electric motor, the motor circuit including a first current path and a second current path to the electric motor;
- and
- a solenoid comprising:
- a plunger;
- a pull-in coil positioned in the first current path, the pull-in coil configured to move the plunger in an axial direction to a plunger stop position when the pull-in coil is energized;
- a contact configured to short the first current path and close the second current path when the plunger is moved to the plunger stop position;
- and
- a hold-in coil positioned axially adjacent to the pull-in coil, the hold-in coil configured to retain the plunger at the plunger stop position after the first current path is shorted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.