(19)
(11) EP 1 491 764 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
06.08.2008 Bulletin 2008/32

(43) Date of publication A2:
29.12.2004 Bulletin 2004/53

(21) Application number: 04012462.0

(22) Date of filing: 26.05.2004
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F02N 15/04(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL HR LT LV MK

(30) Priority: 24.06.2003 JP 2003179420
29.01.2004 JP 2004021252

(71) Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
Aki-gun Hiroshima-ken (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Aoki, Akinobu
    Fuchu-cho Aki-gun Hiroshima-ken (JP)
  • Kawasaki, Makoto
    Fuchu-cho Aki-gun Hiroshima-ken (JP)
  • Uchida, Munehiko
    Fuchu-cho Aki-gun Hiroshima-ken (JP)

(74) Representative: Herrmann, Uwe et al
Lorenz - Seidler - Gossel, Widenmayerstrasse 23
80538 München
80538 München (DE)

   


(54) Engine starting system


(57) A silent start that does not require complicated electrical control and does not hinder downsizing of an engine, and a quick start that does not increase energy consumption can be realized. To accomplish this, in an engine starting system for rotating a crankshaft by meshing an idle gear (17) driven by a pinion (16) of a starter motor with a ring gear (5) of the crankshaft, the idle gear (17) is provided to be movable with respect to the ring gear (5) in a radial direction (V, W) of the ring gear (5). The idle gear (17) is moved by an actuator from outside the ring gear (5) in the radial direction (V), so that the idle gear (17) meshes with the ring gear (5). Tooth collision occurs at a lower probability than in a conventional case wherein the pinion is moved in the axial direction and is meshed with the ring gear. The impact of collision decreases, so that collision noise decreases. Complicated electrical control of the starter motor (11) is not needed.







Search report