# US 8,770,163 B2 · Starter device for combustion engine, particularly of motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,163 B2 - Document ID: US8770163B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/663,618 - Filed: 2008-06-16 - Published: 2010-10-14 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-29 - Assignees: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur - Applicants: Julien Quincerot; Karine Stofleth; Jean-Marc Dubus; Arnaud Devries; Michaël Chemin - Inventors: Julien Quincerot; Karine Stofleth; Jean-Marc Dubus; Arnaud Devries; Michaël Chemin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770163B2 ## CPC - F16H 7/1281: {where the axis of the pulley moves along a substantially circular path} - F02N 11/0814: {comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop} - F02N 11/10: Safety devices (F02N11/08 takes precedence) - F02N 2019/007: {using inertial reverse rotation} - F16H 2007/0806: {Compression coil springs} - F16H 2007/081: {Torsion springs} - F16H 2007/0812: {Fluid pressure} - F16H 2007/0823: {Electric actuators} - F16H 2007/0885: {the tension being a function of engine running condition} - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - Y10T 74/13: Machine starters - F16H: GEARING - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A starter device (10) for a combustion engine (1), particularly of a motor vehicle. The device includes a rotary electrical machine (11) comprising a drive member (12) and a tensioner. A belt (13) collaborates with the drive member of the rotary electrical machine and with the combustion engine in order that the latter can be started using the belt rotationally driven by the electrical machine in a first direction (A). A tensioner (15) presses against a length (16) of the belt that runs between the electrical machine and the combustion engine. As the rotary electrical machine rotates in a second direction (B) the opposite of the first, it is possible for the tensioner to be brought from a stopped position into a position for beginning to start the combustion engine. The movement from the stopped position to the position for beginning to start being accompanied by a lengthening of said length of belt and/or by an increase in the tension in this length of belt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A starter device (10) for a combustion engine 1 of a motor vehicle, comprising: a rotary electrical machine (11) comprising a drive member (12); an endless transmission member comprising a belt (13) or a chain, drivingly coupling the drive member of the rotary electrical machine with the combustion engine in order to start the combustion engine using the endless transmission member rotationally driven by the rotary electrical machine in a first direction (A) during a starting stage in order to start the combustion engine; a control system for operating the rotation of the rotary electrical machine in the first direction (A) during the starting stage and in a second direction (B) opposite of the first direction (A) during a preparation stage executed prior to the starting stage; and a tensioner (15) pressing against a length (16) of the endless transmission member running between the rotary electrical machine and the combustion engine; the rotary electrical machine rotatable in the second direction (B) opposite of the first direction in order to transition the tensioner from a stopped position into a position for beginning to start the combustion engine; the transition from the stopped position to the position for beginning to start being accompanied by lengthening of the length of the endless transmission member and/or by increasing the tension in the length of the endless transmission member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioner (15) is arranged such that, once the combustion engine has started, the length (16) of the endless transmission member returns to a lesser length than in the position for beginning to start. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising a roller (18) in contact with the length of the transmission member, wherein the roller is arranged so as to be moved when the tensioner is brought from the stopped position into the position for beginning to start. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioner (15) is arranged such that the length of the length of the endless transmission member gradually reduces between the beginning to start and the actual starting of the combustion engine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the tensioner (15) is arranged so as to be able to be released when moving from the stopped position into the position for beginning to start, and to be retracted between the position for beginning to start and the actual starting of the combustion engine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the tensioner comprises a hydraulic damping member (21) having a differential hydraulic leak, the hydraulic leak being quicker when the tensioner is released than when it is retracted. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the control system (28) is provided to operate a reverse rotation of the electrical machine, in the second direction, in order to move a crankshaft pulley of the combustion engine into a position limiting the resisting torque of the combustion engine during the movement of a first compression. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein the control system comprises at least a microcontroller (38) or an ASIC. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the control system (28) for controlling the rotary electrical machine (11) is arranged to selectively operate the rotation of the rotary electrical machine in the first and second directions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device according claim 9, wherein the control system comprises an inverter and at least one switch (34; 35; 36) provided to selectively connect position sensors (31; 32; 33) of a rotor of the rotary electrical machine to arms of the inverter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary electrical machine (11) is a synchronous machine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary electrical machine (11) is a starter-alternator. ### Claim 13 A starter device for a combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising: a rotary electrical machine comprising a drive member; a transmission member comprising a belt drivingly coupling the drive member of the rotary electrical machine with the combustion engine in order to start the combustion engine using the transmission member rotationally driven by the rotary electrical machine in a first direction; and a tensioner pressing against a length of the transmission member running between the rotary electrical machine and the combustion engine; the rotary electrical machine rotatable in a second direction opposite of the first direction in order to transition the tensioner from a stopped position into a position for beginning to start the combustion engine; the transition of the tensioner from the stopped position to the position for beginning to start being accompanied by lengthening of the length of transmission member and/or by increasing the tension in the length of transmission member. ### Claim 14 A rotary electrical machine (11) forming a starter-alternator for a motor vehicle and arranged to start a combustion engine, the rotary electrical machine being linked with a control system for operating the rotation of the rotary electrical machine in a first direction during a starting stage in order to start the combustion engine and in a second direction opposite of the first direction during a preparation stage executed prior to the starting stage; the control system comprising an inverter and at least one switch (34; 35; 36) provided to selectively connect position sensors (31; 32; 33) of a rotor of the rotary electrical machine to arms (U; V; W) of the inverter. ### Claim 15 A method for starting a combustion engine of a motor vehicle using a starter device (10) comprising a rotary electrical machine (11), an endless transmission member (13) connecting the rotary electrical machine to the combustion engine and a tensioner (15), the rotary electrical machine (11) provided to start the combustion engine via the rotation in a first direction of the endless transmission member during a starting stage, the tensioner (15) being provided to press on a length of the endless transmission member running between the rotary electrical machine and the combustion engine, the method comprising the following steps: rotating the endless transmission member in a second direction opposite of the first direction during a preparation stage executed prior to the starting stage so as to move the tensioner from a stopped position into a position for beginning to start; rotating the endless transmission member in the first direction during a starting stage, executed subsequent to the preparation stage, in order to start the combustion engine.