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AssigneeCo-Tech Development Corp.
InventorsDavid W. Eckard, John M. Birkhimer
Estimating the term…
An engine starter inertia drive that includes a torque transmission level control mechanism is presented. Such torque transmission level control is provided by removing the variations in clutch plate compression force conventionally introduced by the shock absorbing meshing spring of the engine starter inertia drive. This is accomplished by repositioning the compression forces such that they are contradicted by a combination of the meshing spring force and the frame reaction of the engine starter. In this way, variations in the meshing spring force are compensated by equal and opposite variations in the frame reaction force to maintain the clutch plates in position. Preferably, a single wave spring is used to provide the pressure spring force on the clutch plates.
A torque transmission control mechanism for an engine starter inertia drive, the inertia drive including a head, a screw shaft having a pinion thereon, a meshing spring to supply a first spring force to absorb axial shock loads, comprising:
An engine starter inertia drive, comprising:
A method of controlling a value of torque transmission in an engine starter inertia drive having a head, a screw shaft having a pinion thereon, a clutch assembly including a clutch plate stack accommodated on the head and contained within a clutch body, the clutch body drivably coupled to the screw shaft, and a meshing spring supplying a first force to the clutch stack in a first axial direction, the method comprising the step of applying a second force to the clutch plate stack in a direction opposite to the first axial direction, the second force controlling the value of torque transmission in the engine starter inertia drive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.