Starter having two planetary speed reducers with different speed reduction ratios

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(11)

EP 2 067 984 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	19.05.2010 Bulletin 2010/20

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	10.06.2009 Bulletin 2009/24

(21)	Application number: 08020899.4

(22)	Date of filing: 02.12.2008

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International Patent Classification (IPC):

F02N 15/06^(2006.01)

F02N 11/00^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL BA MK RS

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Priority:

05.12.2007 JP 2007314786

(71)	Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
	Kariya-city, Aichi-pref. 448-8661 (JP)

(72)	Inventor:
	Niimi, Masami Kariya-city Aichi-pref. 448-8661 (JP)

(74)	Representative: Kuhnen, Rainer K.
	Kuhnen & Wacker Patent- und Rechtsanwaltsbüro Prinz-Ludwig-Strasse 40A 85354 Freising 85354 Freising (DE)

(54)	Starter having two planetary speed reducers with different speed reduction ratios

(57) A starter (1) is disclosed which includes a speed reducer assembly and a speed reduction ratio shifter (34, 36, 37). The speed reducer assembly includes first and second planetary speed reducers respectively having first and second speed reduction ratios. The speed reduction ratio shifter shifts the speed reduction ratio of the speed reducer assembly between the first and second speed reduction ratios. The speed reduction ratio shifter includes a gear engaging member (34) and a driver. The driver includes a first spring (36) made of a shape memory alloy and a second spring (37) made of an ordinary spring material, which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the gear engaging member in the axial direction of an armature shaft (2b). The driver drives the gear engaging member to move in the axial direction by using the difference between restoring forces of the first and second springs.

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