Engine-starting apparatus having overrunning clutch

An engine-starting apparatus comprising:

• an electric motor;
• and
• an overrunning clutch having a driving member connected to the electric motor and a driven member connected to an internal combustion engine, the driving member and the driven member being adapted to be coupled to transmit a rotational torque of the electric motor to the internal combustion engine and to be separated to intercept torque transmission from the internal combustion engine to the electric motor, both members being adapted to be switched from a separated state to a coupled state at a coupling speed and from the coupled state to the separated state at a separating speed, wherein:
• the coupling speed is set to a speed equal to or higher than a no-load maximum speed of the driving member which can be attained after the internal combustion engine has been started.

An engine-starting apparatus comprising:

• an electric motor;
• and
• an overrunning clutch having a driving member connected to the electric motor and a driven member connected to an internal combustion engine, the driving member and the driven member being adapted to be coupled to transmit a rotational torque of the electric motor to the internal combustion engine and to be separated to intercept torque transmission from the internal combustion engine to the electric motor, both members being adapted to be switched from a separated state to a coupled state at a coupling speed and from the coupled state to the separated state at a separating speed, wherein:
• either one of the coupling speed or the separating speed, or both are set to a speed lower than a level at which a lubricating film of lubricant contained in the overrunning clutch becomes disconnected.