US3915020A

US3915020A - Engine starter gearing

Info

Publication number: US3915020A
Application number: US476175A
Authority: US
Inventors: Irving F Johnson
Original assignee: Bendix Corp
Current assignee: Bendix Corp
Priority date: 1974-06-04
Filing date: 1974-06-04
Publication date: 1975-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-28
Also published as: JPS5523347B2; GB1494008A; JPS517347A

Abstract

Engine starter gearing of the positive shift type, having a clutch to provide driving, indexing and overrunning means, means for keeping the clutch teeth in engagement during the indexing function and means for automatically separating the clutch teeth above a predetermined speed which includes an improved centrifugal separator, utilizing spherical weight members biased radially.

Description

United States Patent [191 Johnson 1 Oct. 28, 1975 ENGINE STARTER GEARING I [75] Inventor: Irving F. Johnson, Findlay, Ohio [73] Assignee: The Bendix Corporation, Southfield,

Mich.

[22] Filed: June 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 476,175

[52] US. Cl 74/6; 192/103 A; 192/104 R;

192/114 R [51] Int. Cl. F02N 11/00; F16D 43/06 [58] Field of Search; 74/6, 7 R, 7 A; 192/42,

192/103 A, 104 R, 114 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Digby 74/6 3,306,409 2/1967 Giometti 192/114 R Primary ExaminerAllan D. Herrmann Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Remy J. VanOphem [57] ABSTRACT Engine starter gearing of the positive shift type, having a clutch to provide driving, indexing and overrunning means, means for keeping the clutch teeth in engagement during the indexing function and means for auto matically separating the clutch teeth above a predetermined speed which includes an improved centrifugal separator, utilizing spherical weight members biased radially.

13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 3,915,020

FIG. I

FIGZ

ENGINE STARTER GEARING CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present invention relates in general to an internal combustion engine starter. The present invention is an improvement to engine starter gearing described in copending commonly assigned Patent application Ser. No. 423,635, entitled Engine Starter Gearing, filed Dec. 10, 1973, having an inventor Harold R. Mortensen and commonly assigned US. Pat. No. 3,263,509, entitled Engine Starter Gearing, issued Aug. 2, 1966, having as an inventor James. J. Digby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to engine starter gearing for an internal combustion engine and more particularly, starter gearing of the positive shift type, including a dental clutch to provide driving and overrunning and further including means for effecting the automatic separation of the dental clutch teeth after the engine becomes self-running.

Starters of this type necessarily embody some form of overrunning feature to permit the engine to start and accelerate under its own power without rotating the starting motor at excessive speeds, and this feature is often subjected to abuse by extended periods of overrun at high speeds when the attendant neglects to disengage the starter after the engine has become selfrunning thereby causing the pinion gear of the starter to rotate at a faster speed than the starter motor shaft.

In prior art starters, e.g. US. Pat. No. 3,263,509, and related copending commonly assigned patent application Ser. No. 423,635, centrifugal separators of the type using arcuate fly-weight members annularly arranged have been used to effectuate separation of the dental teeth upon occurrence of an overruning condition. The use of this type of centrifugal separator has resulted in manufacturing problems during assembly due to the fact that the arcuate elements inust be held in position through the use of grease lubricant while the various other details of the starter are assembled. This has resulted in a time consuming process to assemble the arcuate elements within the starter mechanism. In addition, in operation, the concentrated frictional forces between the inclined surfaces of the arcuate elements and the inner inclined surface that these elements come into contact with generate excessive localized heat upon long periods of overrunning of the clutch resulting in the lubricant to be dissipated out of the area where it is effective and causing a lubrication problem of the centrifugal separator. The lack of lubrication causes excessive wear of the separator surfaces over long periods of time thereby reducing the usable life of the starter gearing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides engine starter gearing of the positive shift type that permits the starter gearing to centrifugally separate the dental teeth when the pinion separator has eliminated difficult assembly techniques thereby reducing significantly the cost of assembly of the separator means.

The invention is an engine starter assembly with improved centfiugal separator characterized by a plurality of spherical weight members held by a biasing retainer whereby the centrifugal separator is preloaded at assembly to assist in separating the clutch teeth when the starter overruns. use of spherical members reduces the frictional force at the separating surfaces thereby resulting in longer more reliable life of the engine starter gearing.

In one embodiment of the invention, the starter gearing comprises: an intermediate member 50 having a forward end, a rearward end, and means for mounting the member on a power shaft, the mounting means providing axial and rotatable movement of the member 50 with respect to the shaft; means for biasing said member 50 in a forward direction so that when an axial force is applied in a rearward direction, the member 50 moves axially and rotatably in a rearward direction and when the force is removed, the member returns to its original position; a driving clutch sleeve member 30 having a forward and rearward end, the forward end having axially extending clutch teeth 32; means for mounting the driving member 30 on the intermediate member 50, said means including a straight spline 31 for providing axial movement of the driving member 30 with respect to the intermediate member 50; and means for biasing 80, 81 the driving clutch member in the forward direction so that when a force is applied in a rearward direction the driving member moves axially in a rearward direction with respect to the intermediate member and when said force is removed, the driving membmer returns to its original position; a driven clutch-sleeve member 40 having radially extending gear teeth 41 on one end portion and axially extending clutch teeth 42 on the opposite end portion; means for mounting 100, the driven member on the power shaft for rotational and axial movement with respect to the shaft, said driven member 40 disposed so that the clutch teeth 42 of the driven member engage the driving members clutch teeth 32 to transmit torque between the driving member and the driven member to rotate the driven member; whereby when a rearward force is applied to the driven member, the driven member 40 and the driving member 30 move axially rearward with respect to the intermediate member 50 and the intermediate member 50 moves rotatably and axially rearward with respect to the power shaft; and means for centrifugally separating 60, 67, 69 the clutch teeth 32 of the driving member 30 in a direction away from the driving member 40 when the driving member 40 rotates above a predetermined speed, said centrifugal separating means including: an annular ring 62 having an inner inclined surface 66, said ring abutting one end of the. driving member a plurality of spherical weight members 67 annularly disposed adjacent the inner inclined surface; and means for biasing radially inwardly 60, 69 the spherical weight members, said means operative to maintain the weight members in contact with the inner inclined surface during centrifugal separation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an engine starter that keeps the clutch teeth of the starter in engagement during indexing of the pinion gear with the engines ring gear.

It is another object of the present invention to provide starter gearing for internal combustion engines which is efficient, reliable and economical to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide starter gearing that prevents adverse damage to the clutch teeth of the starter and/or starter motor shaft.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved starter drive having centrifugal separating means for separating the dentil clutch teeth after engine start-up to prevent long periods of clutch overrunning and accompanying deleterious wear.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved starter drive with a centrifugal separator with centrifugal separator means for mounting the centrifugal weight elements to avoid erratic action, to guard against dislodging of the spherical weight members due to impact, and to avoid inadvertent movement of the weights while utilizing a form of construction adaptable to low cost manufacturing techniques.

It is still a further object to provide engine starter gearing which includes a positive type of overrunning clutch, with centrifugal means for holding the clutch completely disengaged during overrunning the engine above a predetermined speed.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved starter drive with centrifugal separating means, said means reducing the frictional heat characteristics of the separating surfaces thereby avoiding overheating of the separating surfaces resulting in maintaining lubrication and increasing starter life.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken from the accompanying drawings and claims which form a part of the specification. Further, use of reference characters is for the purpose of clarification and is not intended to limit the specific embodiment reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the Starter Gearing embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2, shows a sectional view of the Starter Gearing, when the Starter Gearing engages the ring gear and the engine overruns the Starter Gearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a starter drive 2, for an engine, mounted on a power shaft 5 of a starting motor (not shown). The drive includes an axially extending first sleeve connected to power shaft 5 by straight splines 23 on the inside surface of the first sleeve, so as to be axially, but nonrotatably moveable relative to the power shaft. The outside surface of the forward extremity of the first sleeve 20 has helical splines 22 formed thereon to which an intermediate member 50 is slideably mounted. The intermediate member 50 has a central passage with a first end portion which includes helical splines 53 mutually engageable with helical spline 22 of the first sleeve so that the member 50 is rotatably and slideably mounted with respect to the first sleeve 20. The opposite end portion of the passage of the member 50 has straight splines 51.

A second sleeve is coaxially mounted to the power shaft adjacent to the first sleeve 20. The second sleeve 100 is connected at one end 102 to the forward end of the first sleeve for movement therewith.

A driving clutch sleeve member 30 having straight splines 31 on one end portion of the outside surface and axially extending clutch teeth 32 on the opposite end is coaxially disposed with respect to the first sleeve 20 and second sleeve 100. The straight splines 31 on the outside surface are mutually engageable with the straight spline 51 on the intermediate member 50 so that the driving clutch sleeve member 30 is mounted for only axially movement with respect to the intermediate member 50 and mounted for axially and rotatable movement with respect to the first 20 and second 100 sleeves. In its engaged position, a portion of the driving clutch member 30 projects past the forward end of sleeve 20 and the forward inside surface of driving clutch sleeve 30 includes a shoulder 34.

A barrel shaped housing 10 has a first portion 11 and a second portion 12 axially aligned with respect to said first portion. The first portion 11 of housing 10 has a first end 14 and an opposite end with a narrowed portion 13 which is mounted to the outside end portion 21 of the first sleeve 20. The second portion 12 of housing 10 has a first annular groove 96 adjacent to the first end 17 and a second annular groove 97 adjacent to opposite end 18 of the second portion 12 of housing 10. The second portion 12 of the housing is provided with an internal shoulder 19 intermediate its extremities to provide abutment for the first end 14 of first portion 11 of the housing.

A driven clutch sleeve member 40 is coaxially disposed and rotatably mounted with respect, to second sleeve 100 adjacent to driving clutch member 30. Driven clutch 40 has radially extending gear teeth 41 on one end which forms a pinion gear, and axially extending clutch teeth 42 on the other end which engages the driving clutch teeth 32 for transmitting torque so that driving clutch member 30 may rotate the, driven clutch member 40. The driven clutch member 40 has an internal circular recess 44. The opposing or adjacent faces of

clutch teeth

32 and 42 are provided with mutually engageable inclined torque transmitting surfaces 43. The clutch teeth are of the saw-tooth variety to provide an unidirectional overrunning clutch connection.

A means (not shown) for moving the starter gearing assembly toward and away from engine ring gear 200 may be comprised of a conventional solenoid, air or hydraulic cylinder actuated lever connected to the narrowed portion 13 of the first portion of the housing.

The overrunning clutch feature as illustrated in FIG. 2 operates to separate the clutch teeth 32 of the driving clutch member from the clutch teeth 42 of the driven clutch member when the driven clutch member 40 rotates faster than the driving clutch member 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, there is mounted within the annular recess 44 of driven clutch 40 a biasing retainer 60, a plurality of spherical weight members 67 and an annular ring 62 backed by a thrust washer 63. Thrust water 63 abuts at its outer edge, the shoulder 34 of driving clutch member 30. Annular ring 62 backed by thrust washer 63 has an inner inclined surface 66 which is conically formed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the starter power shaft 5. A plurality of holes 61 are formed in the forward wall 45 of annular recess 44. The biasing retainer 60 is mounted in teh annular recess 44 with one end against wall 45. Retainer 60 is restricted from circumferential movement by mounting means 69 which consist of a plurality of depressions 69 in one end of retainer 60 that mount into holes 61 and from axial movement by the forward shoulder 122 of sleeve 120, and the forward wall 45 of recess 44. The other end of biasing retainer 60 holds the spherical weight members 67 against inner inclined surface 66 so that the inclined surface 66 of annular ring 62 abuts weight member 67 sufficiently to cause a radial biasing force against inner inclined surface 66 when the starter gearing is at rest. This biasing force is in a direction normal to inner inclined surface 66 so as to assist in the separation of

dentil teeth

32, 42 and when the driven clutch member 40 rotates above a predetermined speed. The assembled unit provides for a clearance to exist between spherical weight members 67 and sleeve 100 to avoid excessive wear of the spherical weight members when the starter is actuated. The assembly for separating the clutch teeth when the driven clutch rotates faster than the driving clutch also includes elements for axially biasing the driven 40 and driving 30 sleeves so that their mutually engaged

clutch teeth

32, 42 remain in an engaged position until the driven sleeve 40 reaches the predetermined speed required to separate or overrun the clutch teeth. The biasing elements include a lock ring which is located in the annular groove 97 adjacent the opposite end 18 of the second portion of housing 10. A look ring 93 has sufficient radial length to engage driven clutch sleeve 40 and thereby confine the driven clutch sleeve within the opposite end 18 of the second portion of the housing. An annular (shock absorbing) resiliently deformable biasing element 90, such asrubber, is located between the first end 12 of the second portion of housing and the first end of the first portion of housing 10. A washer 91 is located adjacent to biasing element 90 and abuts a second lock ring 92 which is disposed in annular recess 96 adjacent to the first end 17 of the second portion of the housing. Axial movement in one direction of either portion 11 or 12 of the housing with respect to the other will increase the biasing force developed by the resiliently deformable element 90.

exerts a force upon driving clutch sleeve in the direction of driven clutch sleeve 40. A second spring 70 is located between shoulder 16 on the first end portion of the housing 10 and intermediate member 50. Spring 70 acts upon intermediate member 50 to exert a force in the direction of driving clutch sleeve 30, thereby keeping intermediate member 50 in engagement with driving clutch member 30. The spring constant, K-2,

- of spring 80 is greater than the spring constant, Kl

of spring 70. It is desirable that K-2 be at least l.4 times greater than Kl and preferably K2 to be approximately two times greater than Kl. In actual practice, it has been found that the force exerted by spring 80 acting between the driving clutch sleeve and the housing 10 is about 1 l pounds, and the force exerted by spring 70 acting between the intermediate member 50 and the housing 10 is about 5 pounds, 2

ounces.

OP ERATION When it is desired to start the engine, the starter gearing assembly 2 is shifted toward the engine ring gear 200 by a positioning mechanism (not shown) connected to the narrowed portion 13 of the first portion of housing 10. The starter gearing assembly is moved along power shaft 5 so that pinion gear 41 engages the engines ring gear 200 as shown in FIG. 2. The power shaft 5 is rotated by a starting motor (not shown) to transmit torque through straight splines 23 to sleeve 20, through

helical splines

22 and 53 to the intermediate member 50, from the straight splines 51 of intermediate member 50 to the straight spline 31 of driving clutch sleeve member 30, through the mutually engageable

clutch teeth

32, 42, driven clutch sleeve member 40, pinion gear 41 and to the engine ring gear 200. After the engine starts and becomes self-operative, engine ring gear 200 will now drive the driven clutch sleeve 40 at a speed greater than that of the power shaft 5. At a predetermined speed, the spherical weight members 67 will start to move radially outward along inner inclined surface 66. This radial movement causes an axial thrust on annular ring 62 through inner inclined surface 66. The movement of spherical weight members 67 in a radial direction creates a centrifugal force acting on surface 66 which is sufficient to generate an axial force on annular ring 62 to cause annular ring 62 to move in a direction away from driven clutch sleeve 40. Thrust washer 63 is thereby caused to move away from driven clutch sleeve 40 and through its abutting connection at shoulder 34 causes the driving clutch sleeve 30 to become disengaged from the driven clutch sleeve. The axial force generated is sufficient to overcome the biasing forces of springs 70 and resulting in separation of

clutch teeth

32 and 42 at the predetermined engine self-operating speed. This separating action prevents the clutch teeth from being subject to periods of prolonged contact while the pinion is rotating at a speed greater than that of the power shaft.

The starter gearing is further designed to provide an indexing function when the pinion gear 41 is moved to the right but abuts one of the teeth of the starter gear 200 thereby preventing engagement of the pinion gear teeth 41 with the ring gear 200. When abutment occurs, axial movement by the driven sleeve is obstructed by the ring gear, but the shifting mechanism attached at the housings narrrow portion 13, will continue to shift housing 10 toward ring gear 200. In this abutment condition, driven clutch sleeve 40, driving clutch sleeve 30 and intermediate member 50 stand still against ring gear 200 while the first sleeve 20, the second sleeve and the housing first and second portion 11 and 12 continue to shift toward the engines ring gear. The continued axial movement of sleeve 20 forces intermediate member 50 to rotate through the interaction of helical splines 22 on sleeve 20 and the intermediate members helical splines 53. The rotation of the intermediate member 50 causes driving sleeve 30 also to rotate and since

clutch teeth

32 and 42 are in engagement, driven clutch member 40 is also forced to rotate. This rotation during abutment is known as indexing. lndexing will continue until pinion gear teeth 41 of driven clutch sleeve 40 rotate sufficiently to clear the engine ring or gear teeth. Upon clearing the teeth of the engine ring gear, the pinion gear teeth 41 of the driven clutch member 40 enter into engagement with the teeth on the engine ring gear. At the point of engagement the driving 30 and driven 40 clutch members will be moved axially forward into full engagement with the engines ring gear. Full engagement of the driven clutch 40 gear teeth with the engines ring gear 200 is attained by the axial force of spring 80 acting upon driving and driven clutch sleeves through cup shaped member 81. The spring force of spring 80 acting along straight splines 31, 51 causes the

clutch sleeves

30 and 40 to move axially but not rotatably in the direction of the ring gear 200. The reason that full engagement of the driven sleeve gear teeth with the engines ring gear can be accomplished without separating the clutch teeth is because spring constant K-2 of spring 80 is larger than spring constant K-l of spring 70. Therefore, the spring force of spring 80 acts before the spring force of spring 70 and fully engages the pinion gear into the engines ring gear before the starter motor is activated. When the starter motor is activated the helical splines 22 on the first sleeve in conjunction with the axial force generated by spring 70 now causes intermediate member 50, through helical splines 53, to thread itself forward until it stops against driving clutch sleeve 30. Intermediate member 50 maintains this position until the engine has started.

The starter gearing mechanism accomplishes all of the normal functions of impact cushioning, indexing, overrunning, automatic clutch teeth separation, and in addition, centrifugally separates clutch teeth 32 and 34 during overunning with a reduction in separating force and the heat generated thereby resulting in greatly increasing the life of the starter gearing.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made to the invention as set forth in the independent claims and, in some instances, certain features of the invention may be used to advantage without corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is intended that the illustrated and descriptive materials herein be used to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the scope thereof.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is: 1. Starter gearing comprising: a shaft; an intermediate member having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, said member having a straight spline on the forward end portion of the inside diameter; means for mounting said intermediate member on said shaft, said means including: means for providing axial and rotational movement of said member mounted on said shaft; and

means for biasing said member in the forward direction so that when a force is applied in the rearward direction, said member moves axially and rotatably in a rearward direction and when said force is removed, said member returns to its original position;

a driving clutch sleeve member having a forward and rearward end, said forward end having axially extending clutch teeth;

means for mounting said driving member on said intermediate member said means including: means for providing axial movement of said driving member with respect to said intermediate member; and

means for biasing said driving member in the forward direction so that when a force is applied in the rearward direction, said driving member moves axially in a rearward direction and when said force is removed, said driving member returns to its original position; U

a driven clutch sleeve member having radially extending gear teeth on one end portion and axially extending clutch teeth on the opposite end; means for mounting said driven member on said shaft for'rotational and axial movement with respect to said shaft, said driven member disposed so that the clutch teeth of said driven member engage said driving members sleeve clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said driving member and said driven member to rotate said driven member; whereby when a rearward force is applied to said driven member, said driven member and said driving member move axially rearward with respect to said intermediate member moves radially and axially rearward with respect to said shaft; and means for centrifugally separating the clutch teeth of said driving member in a direction awayfrom said driven member when said driven member rotates above a predetermined speed, said centrifugal separating means comprising: I i

an annular ring having an inner inclined surface,

said ring abutting one end of said driving member;

a plurality of spherical flyweight members annularly disposed adjacent said inner inclined surface; and

means for biasing radially inwardly said flyweight members, said means operative to maintain said flyweight members in contact with said inner inclined surface during centrifugal separation, said biasing means further including means for retaining said flyweight members, said retaining means having one end mounted tosaid driven member and the other end holding said flyweight members, whereby when said driven member is caused to rotate above said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to move radially outwardly against said inner inclined surface of said annular ring thereby moving said annular ring and said driving member in a direction away from said driven member and when said driven member resumes rotation at a speed below said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to return to the position attained prior to centrifugal separation of said driven and driving members.

2. The starter gearing as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for providing axial and rotational movement of said intermediate member includes a helical spline on one portion 'of said member.

3. The starter gearing as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for providing axial movement of said driving member includes a straight spline on said member that mates with a straight spline on the forward portion of said intermediate member.

4. The starter gearing as recited in claim 1. wherein the means for biasing, said intermediate member includes a spring having a spring constant K-l.

5. The starter gearing recited in claim 1 wherein the 6. The starter gearing recited in claim 5 wherein the flyweight members in contact with said inner inclined surface during centrifugal separation, said biasing means further including means for retaining means causes said flyweight members to move radially outwardly against said inner inclined surface of said annular ring thereby moving said annular ring and said driving sleeve in a direction away from magnitude of K-2 is greater than the magnitude of K-1. 5 said driven sleeve and when said driven sleeve re- 7. Starter gearing comprising: sumes rotation at a speed below said predetera barrel shaped housing having a central axis and a mined speed said retaining means causes said flypassage therethrough, said housing having a first weight members to return to the position attained portion and a second portion axially aligned with prior to centrifugal separation of said driven and said first portion; said second portion having a first to driving sleeves; end and an opposite end; said first portion having means for axially biasing said driven and driving a first end and an opposite end having a narrowed sleeve so that their teeth are in an engaged position portion; and until said driven sleeve reaches said predetermined a first sleeve having an outside end portion mounted speed, said biasing means including:

to the narrowed portion of said housing, said first l5 means for connecting the first and said housing first sleeve having a helical spline on the other outside portion to the first end of said housing second porend portion, and a straight spline on the inside surtion, said connecting means including: face of said sleeve; a biasing element disposed between the first end of a second sleeve axially aligned with and adjacent to said housing second portion and the first end of said first sleeve; said second sleeve connected at said housing first portion; and one end to one end of said first sleeve; means for retaining said biasing element between a driving sleeve coaxially disposed with respect to said first and second housing portion so that axial said first and second sleeve, said driving sleeve havmovement one direction of either portion of the ing a straight spline on one portion of the outside housing with respect to the other will increase the surface and axially extending clutch teeth on one biasing force; end; means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driving a driven sleeve coaxially disposed and mounted to sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said said second sleeve adjacent to said driving sleeve, driven sleeve when said driving sleeve moves in the said dirven sleeve having radially extending gear direction of said driven sleeve, said means includteeth on one end and axially extending clutch teeth ing: on the other end which engage said driving sleeve a first means for biasing said member in the direction clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said of said driving sleeve, said biasing means including driving and driven sleeves to rotate said driven a first spring axially disposed between said housing sleeve, said driven sleeve having an annular recess and said member, said spring having a spring conformed on the inside surface of said other end; stant K-l; and a member moveably mounted on said first sleeve, a second means for biasing said driving sleeve in the said member having a first end portion, a second direction of said driven sleeve, said second biasing opposite end portion, a passage therethrough, a hemeans including a second spring axially disposed lical spline at said first end portion of said passage between said housing and said driving sleeve, said and a straight spline at the other opposite end porspring having a spring constant K-Z which is tion of said passage, the helical spline of said memgreater than Kl; ber engaging the helical spline of said first sleeve so whereby when an axial force is applied to the driven that said member is rotatably and slideably sleeve gear teeth, in a first direction of the narmounted to said sleeve, said straight spline of said rowed portion of said housing, said driven sleeve, member engaging the straight spline of said driving said driving sleeve and said member move axially sleeve, so that said driving sleeve is slideably but and rotatably in said first direction, said driving nonrotatably mounted to said member; sleeve moving axially along the straight spline on means for separating the clutch teeth of said driving said member and also following the movement of sleeve from the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve by said member which follows the helical spline of moving said driving sleeve in a first direction away said first sleeve causing said first spring and said from said driven sleeve when said driven sleeve rosecond spring to compress so that when said axial tates above a predetermined speed, said separating force is removed, said second spring, having the means including; greater spring constant K-2 will force said driving an annular ring having an inner inclined surface, said sleeve to move axially but nonrotatably in a second ring abutting one end of said driving sleeve; vopposite direction along said straight spline on said a plurality of spherical flyweight members annularly member thereby allowing the driving and driven disposed adjacent said inner inclined surface; and sleeves to keep the clutch teeth in engagement bemeans for biasing radially inwardly said flyweight fore the first spring, with the lower spring constant, members, said means operative to maintain said forces said members to move axially and rotatably in said second direction along the helical spline on said first sleeve. 8. In combination with an internal combustion engine of the type having a gear for starting rotation of the en- 5 gine crankshaft and a starter for rotating said engine gear, said starter including: a rotatable power shaft; an elongated member (20, coaxially, slideably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, said member adapted said flyweight members, said retaining means having one end mounted to said driven sleeve and the other end holding said flyweight members, whereby when said driven sleeve is caused to rotate above said predetermined speed said retaining to operatively engage said power shaft and rotate therewith; a driven member coaxially, slideably and rotatably mounted on said member, said driven member having radially extending gear teeth on one end and axially extending clutch teeth on the other end; a driving member coaxially, slideably and rotatably mounted on said first sleeve adjacent said driven member, said driving member having axially extending clutch teeth on one end which includes surfaces engageable with said driven member clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said driven and driving members; means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven member in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving member when said driving member moves in a direction of said driven member; and means for separating the clutch teeth of said driven member from the clutch teeth of said driving member by moving said driven member in a direcction away from said driving member when said driven member rotates above a predetermined speed; the improvement wherein the means for separating the clutch teeth further comprises:

an annular ring having an inner inclined surface, said ring abutting one end of said driving member; a plurality of spherical flyweight members annularly disposed adjacent said inner inclined surface; and

means for biasing radially inwardly said flyweight members, said means operative to maintain said flyweight members in contact with said inner inclined surface during centrifugal separation, said means further including means for retaining said flyweight members, said retaining means having one end mounted to said driven member and the other end holding said centrifugal fiyweight members, whereby when said driven member is caused to rotate above said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to move radially outward against said inner inclined surface of said annular ring moving said annular ring and said driving member in a direction away from said driven member and when said driven member resumes rotation at a speed below said predetermined speed, said retaining means causes said flyweight member to return to the position attained prior to centrifugal separation of said driven and driving members.

9. The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein the means for separating the clutch teeth of said driven member from the clutch teeth of said driving member includes: first means for axially and rotatably biasing said driving member in the direction of said driven member so that when a force applied to said driving member, moves said driving member in a direction away from said driven member, said driving member returns to its original position when said force is removed; and wherein said means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven member in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving member includes: second means for axially but nonrotatably biasing said driving member in the direction of said driven member so that an application of a force on said driving member in a direction opposite of said driven member, will cause said driving member to move axially in said opposite direction, said second biasing means exerting a greater biasing force on said driving member than said first biasing means exerts on said driving member so that when said driving member moves said opposite direction, said driving member will move rotatably and axially; and when said driving member returns to its original position, when the force is removed, said driving member moves axially by action of the second biasing means before moving rotationally by action of said first biasing means.

10. Starter gearing comprising:

an elongated member (20, having a central axis, an outside surface and means for driving on one portion of said outside surface;

driven sleeve member coaxially, slideably and roatatably mounted on said elongated member, said driven sleeve having radially extending gear teeth on one end and axially extending clutch teeth v on the other end;

driving sleeve member coaxially disposed with respect to said elongated member adjacent said driven sleeve member, said driving sleeve having axially extending clutch teeth on one end which include surfaces engaged with said driven sleeve clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said driven and driving sleeve;

means for mounting said driving sleeve for biased axial and rotational movement with respect to said elongated member; and

means for separating the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve from the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve by moving said driving sleeve in a first direction away from said driven sleeve when said driven sleeve rotates above a predetermined speed, said separating means comprising:

means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve when said driven sleeve and said driving sleeve, which have been axially disposed in said first direction, move in a direction opposite said first direction.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve when said driving sleeve moves in a direction of said driven sleeve includes:

a housing having a passage therethrough, said passage having a narrow portion at one end, said narrow portion coaxially mounted to one end of said elongated member;

a cup shaped member having a central axis and an inside surface, said inside surface having a first portion coaxially disposed with said central axis and a second position transverse to said central axis, said second portion having a first means for receiving the driving means on one portion of the outside surface of said elongated member, said first receiving means coaxially disposed with the driving means on one portion of the outside surface of said elongated member for communication therewith, said first portion having second means for receiving the mounting means on one portion of the outside surface of said driving sleeve, said second receiving means coaxially disposed with the mounting means on one portion of the outside surface of said driving sleeve for communicating therewith;

a first means for biasing said cup shaped member into engagement with said driving sleeve member; and

a second means for biasing said driving sleeve member into engagement with said driven sleeve member.

12. Starter gearing comprising:

an elongated member having a central axis;

a driven sleeve member coaxially, slideably and rotatably mounted on said elongated member, said driven sleeve having radially extending gear teeth on one end and axially extending clutch teeth on the other end;

a driving sleeve member coaxially and slideably mounted on said elongated member for limited and biased rotational movement therewith, said driving sleeve disposed adjacent said driven sleeve and said driving sleeve having axially extending clutch teeth on one end which include surfaces engaged with said driven sleeve clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said driven and driving sleeves;

means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve when said driving sleeve moves in a direction of said driven sleeve; and

means for separating the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve from the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve by moving said driving sleeve in a direction away from said driven sleeve when said driven sleeve totates above a predetermined speed, said separating means further comprising:

an annular ring having an inner inclined surface, said ring abutting one end of said driving sleeve;

means for biasing radially inwardly said flyweight members, said means operative to maintain said flyweight members in contact with said inner inclined surface during centrifugal separation, said biasing means further including means for retaining said flyweight members, said retaining means having one end mounted to said driven sleeve and the other end holding said flyweight members, whereby when said driven sleeve is caused to rotate above said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to move radially outwardly against said inner inclined surface of said annular ring thereby moving said annular ring and said driving sleeve in a direction away from said driven sleeve and when said driven sleeve resumes rotation at a speed below said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to return to the position attained prior to centrifugal separation of said driven and driving sleeves.

13. Engine starter gearing as recited in claim 12 wherein the means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve includes:

means for biasing said driving sleeve in the direction of said driven sleeve, said biasing means including a first spring having a spring constant K-l and a second spring having a spring constant K-2 which is at least 1.5 times greater than K-l.

Claims

1. Starter gearing comprising: a shaft; an intermediate member having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, said member having a straight spline on the forward end portion of the inside diameter; means for mounting said intermediaTe member on said shaft, said means including: means for providing axial and rotational movement of said member mounted on said shaft; and means for biasing said member in the forward direction so that when a force is applied in the rearward direction, said member moves axially and rotatably in a rearward direction and when said force is removed, said member returns to its original position; a driving clutch sleeve member having a forward and rearward end, said forward end having axially extending clutch teeth; means for mounting said driving member on said intermediate member said means including: means for providing axial movement of said driving member with respect to said intermediate member; and means for biasing said driving member in the forward direction so that when a force is applied in the rearward direction, said driving member moves axially in a rearward direction and when said force is removed, said driving member returns to its original position; a driven clutch sleeve member having radially extending gear teeth on one end portion and axially extending clutch teeth on the opposite end; means for mounting said driven member on said shaft for rotational and axial movement with respect to said shaft, said driven member disposed so that the clutch teeth of said driven member engage said driving members sleeve clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said driving member and said driven member to rotate said driven member; whereby when a rearward force is applied to said driven member, said driven member and said driving member move axially rearward with respect to said intermediate member moves radially and axially rearward with respect to said shaft; and means for centrifugally separating the clutch teeth of said driving member in a direction away from said driven member when said driven member rotates above a predetermined speed, said centrifugal separating means comprising: an annular ring having an inner inclined surface, said ring abutting one end of said driving member; a plurality of spherical flyweight members annularly disposed adjacent said inner inclined surface; and means for biasing radially inwardly said flyweight members, said means operative to maintain said flyweight members in contact with said inner inclined surface during centrifugal separation, said biasing means further including means for retaining said flyweight members, said retaining means having one end mounted to said driven member and the other end holding said flyweight members, whereby when said driven member is caused to rotate above said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to move radially outwardly against said inner inclined surface of said annular ring thereby moving said annular ring and said driving member in a direction away from said driven member and when said driven member resumes rotation at a speed below said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to return to the position attained prior to centrifugal separation of said driven and driving members.

2. The starter gearing as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for providing axial and rotational movement of said intermediate member includes a helical spline on one portion of said member.

4. The starter gearing as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for biasing said intermediate member includes a spring having a spring constant K-1.

5. The starter gearing recited in claim 1 wherein the means for biasing said driving member includes a spring having a spring constant K-2.

6. The starter gearing recited in claim 5 wherein the magnitude of K-2 is greater than the magnitude of K-1.

7. Starter gearing comprising: a barrel shaped housing having A central axis and a passage therethrough, said housing having a first portion and a second portion axially aligned with said first portion; said second portion having a first end and an opposite end; said first portion having a first end and an opposite end having a narrowed portion; and a first sleeve having an outside end portion mounted to the narrowed portion of said housing, said first sleeve having a helical spline on the other outside end portion, and a straight spline on the inside surface of said sleeve; a second sleeve axially aligned with and adjacent to said first sleeve; said second sleeve connected at one end to one end of said first sleeve; a driving sleeve coaxially disposed with respect to said first and second sleeve, said driving sleeve having a straight spline on one portion of the outside surface and axially extending clutch teeth on one end; a driven sleeve coaxially disposed and mounted to said second sleeve adjacent to said driving sleeve, said driven sleeve having radially extending gear teeth on one end and axially extending clutch teeth on the other end which engage said driving sleeve clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said driving and driven sleeves to rotate said driven sleeve, said driven sleeve having an annular recess formed on the inside surface of said other end; a member moveably mounted on said first sleeve, said member having a first end portion, a second opposite end portion, a passage therethrough, a helical spline at said first end portion of said passage and a straight spline at the other opposite end portion of said passage, the helical spline of said member engaging the helical spline of said first sleeve so that said member is rotatably and slideably mounted to said sleeve, said straight spline of said member engaging the straight spline of said driving sleeve, so that said driving sleeve is slideably but nonrotatably mounted to said member; means for separating the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve from the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve by moving said driving sleeve in a first direction away from said driven sleeve when said driven sleeve rotates above a predetermined speed, said separating means including; an annular ring having an inner inclined surface, said ring abutting one end of said driving sleeve; a plurality of spherical flyweight members annularly disposed adjacent said inner inclined surface; and means for biasing radially inwardly said flyweight members, said means operative to maintain said flyweight members in contact with said inner inclined surface during centrifugal separation, said biasing means further including means for retaining said flyweight members, said retaining means having one end mounted to said driven sleeve and the other end holding said flyweight members, whereby when said driven sleeve is caused to rotate above said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to move radially outwardly against said inner inclined surface of said annular ring thereby moving said annular ring and said driving sleeve in a direction away from said driven sleeve and when said driven sleeve resumes rotation at a speed below said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to return to the position attained prior to centrifugal separation of said driven and driving sleeves; means for axially biasing said driven and driving sleeve so that their teeth are in an engaged position until said driven sleeve reaches said predetermined speed, said biasing means including: means for connecting the first end of said housing first portion to the first end of said housing second portion, said connecting means including: a biasing element disposed between the first end of said housing second portion and the first end of said housing first portion; and means for retaining said biasing element between said first and second housing portion so that axial movement one direction of either portion of the housing with respect to the other will increase the biasing force; means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve when said driving sleeve moves in the direction of said driven sleeve, said means including: a first means for biasing said member in the direction of said driving sleeve, said biasing means including a first spring axially disposed between said housing and said member, said spring having a spring constant K-1; and a second means for biasing said driving sleeve in the direction of said driven sleeve, said second biasing means including a second spring axially disposed between said housing and said driving sleeve, said spring having a spring constant K-2 which is greater than K-1; whereby when an axial force is applied to the driven sleeve gear teeth, in a first direction of the narrowed portion of said housing, said driven sleeve, said driving sleeve and said member move axially and rotatably in said first direction, said driving sleeve moving axially along the straight spline on said member and also following the movement of said member which follows the helical spline of said first sleeve causing said first spring and said second spring to compress so that when said axial force is removed, said second spring, having the greater spring constant K-2 will force said driving sleeve to move axially but nonrotatably in a second opposite direction along said straight spline on said member thereby allowing the driving and driven sleeves to keep the clutch teeth in engagement before the first spring, with the lower spring constant, forces said members to move axially and rotatably in said second direction along the helical spline on said first sleeve.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine of the type having a gear for starting rotation of the engine crankshaft and a starter for rotating said engine gear, said starter including: a rotatable power shaft; an elongated member (20, 100) coaxially, slideably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, said member adapted to operatively engage said power shaft and rotate therewith; a driven member coaxially, slideably and rotatably mounted on said member, said driven member having radially extending gear teeth on one end and axially extending clutch teeth on the other end; a driving member coaxially, slideably and rotatably mounted on said first sleeve adjacent said driven member, said driving member having axially extending clutch teeth on one end which includes surfaces engageable with said driven member clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said driven and driving members; means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven member in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving member when said driving member moves in a direction of said driven member; and means for separating the clutch teeth of said driven member from the clutch teeth of said driving member by moving said driven member in a direction away from said driving member when said driven member rotates above a predetermined speed; the improvement wherein the means for separating the clutch teeth further comprises: an annular ring having an inner inclined surface, said ring abutting one end of said driving member; a plurality of spherical flyweight members annularly disposed adjacent said inner inclined surface; and means for biasing radially inwardly said flyweight members, said means operative to maintain said flyweight members in contact with said inner inclined surface during centrifugal separation, said means further including means for retaining said flyweight members, said retaining means having one end mounted to said driven member and the other end holding said centrifugal flyweight members, whereby when said driven member is caused to rotate above said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to move radially outward against said inner inclined surface of said annular ring movIng said annular ring and said driving member in a direction away from said driven member and when said driven member resumes rotation at a speed below said predetermined speed, said retaining means causes said flyweight member to return to the position attained prior to centrifugal separation of said driven and driving members.

9. The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein the means for separating the clutch teeth of said driven member from the clutch teeth of said driving member includes: first means for axially and rotatably biasing said driving member in the direction of said driven member so that when a force applied to said driving member, moves said driving member in a direction away from said driven member, said driving member returns to its original position when said force is removed; and wherein said means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven member in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving member includes: second means for axially but nonrotatably biasing said driving member in the direction of said driven member so that an application of a force on said driving member in a direction opposite of said driven member, will cause said driving member to move axially in said opposite direction, said second biasing means exerting a greater biasing force on said driving member than said first biasing means exerts on said driving member so that when said driving member moves in said opposite direction, said driving member will move rotatably and axially; and when said driving member returns to its original position, when the force is removed, said driving member moves axially by action of the second biasing means before moving rotationally by action of said first biasing means.

10. Starter gearing comprising: an elongated member (20, 100) having a central axis, an outside surface and means for driving on one portion of said outside surface; a driven sleeve member coaxially, slideably and rotatably mounted on said elongated member, said driven sleeve having radially extending gear teeth on one end and axially extending clutch teeth on the other end; a driving sleeve member coaxially disposed with respect to said elongated member adjacent said driven sleeve member, said driving sleeve having axially extending clutch teeth on one end which include surfaces engaged with said driven sleeve clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said driven and driving sleeve; means for mounting said driving sleeve for biased axial and rotational movement with respect to said elongated member; and means for separating the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve from the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve by moving said driving sleeve in a first direction away from said driven sleeve when said driven sleeve rotates above a predetermined speed, said separating means comprising: means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve when said driven sleeve and said driving sleeve, which have been axially disposed in said first direction, move in a direction opposite said first direction.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve when said driving sleeve moves in a direction of said driven sleeve includes: a housing having a passage therethrough, said passage having a narrow portion at one end, said narrow portion coaxially mounted to one end of said elongated member; a cup shaped member having a central axis and an inside surface, said inside surface having a first portion coaxially disposed with said central axis and a second position transverse to said central axis, said second portion having a first means for receiving the driving means on one portion of the outside surface of said elongated member, said first receiving means coaxially disposed with the driving means on one portion of the outside surface of said elongated member for communicatiOn therewith, said first portion having second means for receiving the mounting means on one portion of the outside surface of said driving sleeve, said second receiving means coaxially disposed with the mounting means on one portion of the outside surface of said driving sleeve for communicating therewith; a first means for biasing said cup shaped member into engagement with said driving sleeve member; and a second means for biasing said driving sleeve member into engagement with said driven sleeve member.

12. Starter gearing comprising: an elongated member having a central axis; a driven sleeve member coaxially, slideably and rotatably mounted on said elongated member, said driven sleeve having radially extending gear teeth on one end and axially extending clutch teeth on the other end; a driving sleeve member coaxially and slideably mounted on said elongated member for limited and biased rotational movement therewith, said driving sleeve disposed adjacent said driven sleeve and said driving sleeve having axially extending clutch teeth on one end which include surfaces engaged with said driven sleeve clutch teeth for transmitting torque between said driven and driving sleeves; means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve when said driving sleeve moves in a direction of said driven sleeve; and means for separating the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve from the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve by moving said driving sleeve in a direction away from said driven sleeve when said driven sleeve rotates above a predetermined speed, said separating means further comprising: an annular ring having an inner inclined surface, said ring abutting one end of said driving sleeve; a plurality of spherical flyweight members annularly disposed adjacent said inner inclined surface; and means for biasing radially inwardly said flyweight members, said means operative to maintain said flyweight members in contact with said inner inclined surface during centrifugal separation, said biasing means further including means for retaining said flyweight members, said retaining means having one end mounted to said driven sleeve and the other end holding said flyweight members, whereby when said driven sleeve is caused to rotate above said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to move radially outwardly against said inner inclined surface of said annular ring thereby moving said annular ring and said driving sleeve in a direction away from said driven sleeve and when said driven sleeve resumes rotation at a speed below said predetermined speed said retaining means causes said flyweight members to return to the position attained prior to centrifugal separation of said driven and driving sleeves.

13. Engine starter gearing as recited in claim 12 wherein the means for keeping the clutch teeth of said driven sleeve in engagement with the clutch teeth of said driving sleeve includes: means for biasing said driving sleeve in the direction of said driven sleeve, said biasing means including a first spring having a spring constant K-1 and a second spring having a spring constant K-2 which is at least 1.5 times greater than K-1.