Starter
AssigneeRemy Technologies, L.L.C.
InventorMICHAEL D. BRADFIELD
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A number of variations may include a solenoid assembly comprising: a shaft; a pinion-plunger operatively attached to the shaft and having a first end comprising a plurality of teeth; a plurality of iron cores surrounding at least a portion of the pinion-plunger and the shaft; at least one solenoid coil winding and at least one spool surrounding each of the plurality of iron cores; a stop adjacent a first end of the plurality of iron cores; a guide adjacent a second end of the plurality of iron cores opposite of the stop; a biasing member in operative communication with the first end the pinion-plunger; and wherein the solenoid assembly is constructed and arranged so that when the solenoid assembly is activated the pinion-plunger is magnetically drawn toward the stop.
Claims20
A product comprising:
- a solenoid assembly comprising:
- a shaft;
- a pinion-plunger operatively attached to the shaft and having a first end comprising a plurality of teeth;
- a plurality of iron cores surrounding at least a portion of the pinion-plunger and the shaft;
- at least one solenoid coil winding and at least one spool surrounding each of the plurality of iron cores;
- a stop adjacent a first end of the plurality of iron cores;
- a guide adjacent a second end of the plurality of iron cores opposite of the stop;
- a biasing member in operative communication with the first end the pinion-plunger;
- and
- wherein the solenoid assembly is constructed and arranged so that when the solenoid assembly is activated the pinion-plunger is magnetically drawn toward the stop.
A starter assembly comprising:
- a shaft;
- a solenoid assembly surrounding the shaft, wherein the solenoid assembly comprises a pinion-plunger operatively attached to the shaft so that the pinion-plunger rotates with the shaft and moves axially along a portion of the shaft and wherein a first end of the pinion-plunger comprising a plurality of teeth, a plurality of iron cores surrounding at least a portion of the pinion-plunger and the shaft, at least one solenoid coil winding and at least one spool surrounding each of the plurality of iron cores, a stop adjacent a first end of the plurality of iron cores, a guide adjacent a second end of the plurality of iron cores, and a biasing member in operative communication with the first end of the pinion-plunger;
- a clutch assembly operatively attached to the shaft, wherein the clutch assembly is coaxial with the shaft;
- a planetary gear set operatively attached to the clutch assembly, wherein the planetary gear set is coaxial with the shaft;
- an electric motor operatively attached to the planetary gear set, wherein the electric motor is coaxial with the shaft;
- and
- wherein the solenoid assembly is constructed and arranged so that when the solenoid assembly is activated the pinion-plunger is magnetically drawn toward the stop.
A method for restarting an engine comprising:
- providing a starter assembly comprising:
- an integrated pinion-plunger solenoid assembly;
- a clutch assembly operatively attached to the integrated solenoid assembly;
- a planetary gear set operatively attached to the clutch assembly;
- and an electric motor operatively attached to the clutch assembly;
- a first switch in operative communication with the integrated solenoid assembly;
- a second switch in operative communication with the electric motor;
- a power source in operative communication with the first switch and the second switch;
- and an electronic control unit in operative communication with the first switch, the second switch, and the power source;
- and
- regulating power to the solenoid assembly and the electric motor independently with the electronic control unit based on a starting condition of the engine during a restart.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.