Starter motor pinion assembly
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorsJohn H. Weber, Larry W. Schmidt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pinion assembly (30) for an electrical starter motor (20) includes a metallic pinion nut (4) threadedly received on an output shaft (22) of motor (20). A first bushing (36) includes a radially extending annular flange (40) which is fixed to and covers nut (4) and a cylindrical axially extending shell (42). A metallic drive pinion (32) is supported on shell (42) and is electrically insulated from shaft (20) by shell (42) and from nut (4) by annular flange (40). However, slip clutch (14) is located between first bushing (36) and drive pinion (32) to transmit torque therebetween. Finally, cylindrical member (62) retains drive pinion (32) on bushing (36).
Claims8
An improved pinion assembly suitable for use on electrical starter motors having an axially extending metallic output shaft, which comprises:
- (a) a metallic pinion nut threadedly received on a portion of the output shaft for axial movement along the output shaft;
- (b) a first plastic bushing fixed to the nut for movement therewith, wherein the bushing comprises:
- (i) a cylindrical shell which is positioned around and extends axially along the output shaft;
- and
- (ii) an annular flange which extends radially outwardly from the shell a sufficient distance to completely cover the pinion nut;
- (c) a metallic drive pinion supported on an outside diameter of the shell to one side of the annular flange so that the drive pinion is separated from the output shaft by the shell and from the nut by the annular flange to electrically insulate the drive pinion from the metallic output shaft and pinion nut;
- (d) a rubber clutch ring received between one face of the annular flange and an annular face of the drive pinion to transmit torque therebetween;
- and
- (e) means for retaining the drive pinion on the cylindrical shell during operation of the pinion assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.