Magnet switch and a starter using same

A starter comprising:

• a switch casing including therein an excitation coil and a plunger;
• a motor casing disposed in parallel with said switch casing in direct contact with said switch casing and including therein a field device and an armature;
• a cover closing axial ends of said switch casing and said motor casing and including therein a fixed contact which contacts with a movable contact coupled with said plunger;
• and
• a battery connecting terminal secured to said cover and connected to said fixed contact, said terminal having a battery cable connecting surface at a position displaced axially outside from an axial end of said cover so that said battery cable may be connected without touching said cover for said motor casing.

A starter for an internal combustion engine, said starter being connectable to a battery, said starter comprising:

• a starter housing;
• a starter motor disposed in said housing and having a rotary shaft;
• and
• a magnet switch for transmitting electrical power from said battery to said starter motor so as to start said engine,
• wherein said magnet switch is mounted in parallel with said motor,
• wherein said magnet switch includes a battery connecting terminal having a cable connecting seat surface to which a battery cable connects electrically, and
• wherein said seat surface of said battery connecting terminal is disposed entirely axially beyond and protrudes by a predetermined distance from an axial end of said starter housing at which said rotary shaft of said starter motor is supported.

A starter for starting an engine with electric power from a battery through a battery cable, said starter comprising:

• a motor casing of generally cylindrical shape;
• a motor housed in said motor casing and having a field device and an armature for rotating a rotary shaft, said rotary shaft having two axial ends one of which is positioned close to a ring gear of said engine;
• a motor cover closing an axial end of said motor housing and rotatably supporting the other of said two axial ends of said rotary shaft;
• a switch casing of generally cylindrical shape and mounted directly on and parallel with said motor casing;
• a magnet switch housed in said switch casing and having a movable contact which is moved axially in parallel with said rotary shaft;
• a switch cover closing an axial end of said switch at a position adjacent to said motor cover;
• a first and second fixed contacts fixed to said switch cover at an inside of said switch cover to be contacted by said movable contact, said second fixed contact being connected electrically to said motor;
• and
• a battery connecting terminal fixed to said switch cover and electrically connected to said first fixed contact and extending axially outwardly from said switch cover for electrically connecting with said battery cable, said battery connecting terminal having a seat surface formed at a position disposed entirely axially beyond and axially displaced outwardly by a predetermined distance from an axial endmost surface of said motor cover for receiving said battery cable thereon so that said battery cable may be connected at said seat surface in any angular direction without contacting said motor casing and said motor cover.