US 5,132,604 AGranted

Engine starter and electric generator system

AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsIwao Shimane, Yoshio Kojima, Toshio Yokoyama, Sadao Shinohara

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Abstract

An engine starter and electric generator system transmits rotative power to a crankshaft to start an engine and generates electric power based on rotative power from the crankshaft after the engine has started. The engine starter and electric generator system includes a starter/generator operable selectively as a starter motor to produce the rotative power and a generator for generating the electric power, and an electric power supply device for supplying electric power to the starter motor. A power transmitting mechanism operatively interconnects the crankshaft and the starter/generator, for bidirectionally transmitting the rotative power between the crankshaft and the starter/generator. A transmission mechanism is disposed in the power transmitting mechanism, for changing the speed of rotation transmitted between the crankshaft and the starter/generator. The system also has a control device for controlling operation of the starter/generator and establishing different speed-reduction ratios for the transmission mechanism when the starter/generator operates as the generator and when the starter/generator operates as the starter motor.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An engine starter and electric generator system for transmitting rotative power to a crankshaft to start an engine and generating electric power based on rotative power from the crankshaft, comprising:

a starter/generator operable selectively as a starter motor to produce the rotative power and a generator for generating the electric power;
electric power supply means for supplying electric power to said starter motor;
power transmitting means operatively interconnecting the crankshaft and said starter/generator, for bidirectionally transmitting the rotative power between the crankshaft and said starter/generator;
a transmission mechanism disposed in said power transmitting mechanism, for changing the speed of rotation transmitted between the crankshaft and the starter/generator;
said transmission mechanism including, a planetary gear mechanism composed of a sun gear, a carrier, a plurality of planet gears rotatably supported on said carrier and meshing with said sun gear, and a ring gear meshing with said planet gears, one of said sun gear, said carrier, and said ring gear serving as a control element, the speed-reduction ratio of said transmission mechanism being variable when said control element is locked and released;
a ratchet mechanism comprising an engageable portion on said control element, and a locking pawl supported for engagement with said engageable portion for preventing rotation of said control element only in one direction;
an electrical actuator operated by said control means for moving said locking pawl into engagement with said engageable portion;
and
electrical control means for electrically controlling operation of said starter/generator and establishing different speed-reduction ratios for said transmission mechanism when said starter/generator operates as the generator and when said starter/generator operates as the starter motor.

6 more elements

a starter/generator operable selectively as a starter motor to produce the rotative power and a generator for generating the electric power;
electric power supply means for supplying electric power to said starter motor;
said electric power supply means including, a DC power supply, an inverter device having power switching elements, and a cable interconnecting said DC power supply and said inverter circuit, said inverter device comprising:
current detecting means for detecting a current flowing through one of either said interconnecting cable or a cable in said inverter device;
and
current cut-of means for comparing the value of the current detected by said current detecting means with a predetermined current value and cutting of the supply of electric power to said power switching elements if the value of the current detected by said current detecting means exceeds said predetermined current value;
power transmitting means operatively interconnecting the crankshaft and said starter/generator, for bidirectionally transmitting the rotative power between the crankshaft and said starter/generator;
a transmission mechanism disposed in said power transmitting mechanism, for changing the speed of rotation transmitted between the crankshaft and the starter/generator;
and
electrical control means for electrically controlling operation of said starter/generator and establishing different speed-reduction ratios for said transmission mechanism when said starter/generator operates as the generator and when said starter/generator operates as the starter motor.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.