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A starter (also self-starter, cranking motor, or starter motor) is a device used to rotate (crank) an
internal-combustion engine An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal combust ...
so as to initiate the engine's operation under its own power. Starters can be
electric Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by ...
,
pneumatic Pneumatics (from Greek ‘wind, breath’) is a branch of engineering that makes use of gas or pressurized air. Pneumatic systems used in Industrial sector, industry are commonly powered by compressed air or compressed inert gases. A central ...
, or
hydraulic Hydraulics (from Greek: Υδραυλική) is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counter ...
. The starter can also be another internal-combustion engine in the case, for instance, of very large engines, or
diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-call ...
s in agricultural or excavation applications. Internal combustion engines are feedback systems, which, once started, rely on the inertia from each cycle to initiate the next cycle. In a
four-stroke engine A four-stroke (also four-cycle) engine is an internal combustion (IC) engine in which the piston completes four separate strokes while turning the crankshaft. A stroke refers to the full travel of the piston along the cylinder, in either directio ...
, the third stroke releases energy from the fuel, powering the fourth (exhaust) stroke and also the first two (intake, compression) strokes of the next cycle, as well as powering the engine's external load. To start the first cycle at the beginning of any particular session, the first two strokes must be powered in some other way than from the engine itself. The starter motor is used for this purpose and it is not required once the engine starts running and its feedback loop becomes self-sustaining. Starter_ring_gear_on_its_ Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_">flywheel.html"_;"title="Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel">Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_


__History_

Before_the_advent_of_the_starter_motor,_engines_were_started_by_various_methods_including_wind-up_springs,_Coffman_engine_starter.html" ;"title="flywheel_.html" ;"title="flywheel.html" ;"title="Starter ring gear on its Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_">flywheel.html"_;"title="Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel">Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_


__History_

Before_the_advent_of_the_starter_motor,_engines_were_started_by_various_methods_including_wind-up_springs,_Coffman_engine_starter">gunpowder_cylinders,_and_human-powered_techniques_such_as_a_removable_ Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_">flywheel.html"_;"title="Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel">Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_


__History_

Before_the_advent_of_the_starter_motor,_engines_were_started_by_various_methods_including_wind-up_springs,_Coffman_engine_starter">gunpowder_cylinders,_and_human-powered_techniques_such_as_a_removable_Crank_(mechanism)">crank_handle_which_engaged_the_front_of_the_crankshaft,_pulling_on_an_airplane_propeller,_or_pulling_a_cord_that_was_wound_around_an_open-face_pulley. The_hand-crank_method_was_commonly_used_to_start_engines,_but_it_was_inconvenient,_difficult,_and_dangerous._The_behavior_of_an_engine_during_starting_is_not_always_predictable._The_engine_can_kick_back,_causing_sudden_reverse_rotation._Many_manual_starters_included_a_Freewheel.html" ;"title="Crank_(mechanism).html" ;"title="flywheel">Starter ring gear on its flywheel.html"_;"title="Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel">Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_


__History_

Before_the_advent_of_the_starter_motor,_engines_were_started_by_various_methods_including_wind-up_springs,_Coffman_engine_starter">gunpowder_cylinders,_and_human-powered_techniques_such_as_a_removable_Crank_(mechanism)">crank_handle_which_engaged_the_front_of_the_crankshaft,_pulling_on_an_airplane_propeller,_or_pulling_a_cord_that_was_wound_around_an_open-face_pulley. The_hand-crank_method_was_commonly_used_to_start_engines,_but_it_was_inconvenient,_difficult,_and_dangerous._The_behavior_of_an_engine_during_starting_is_not_always_predictable._The_engine_can_kick_back,_causing_sudden_reverse_rotation._Many_manual_starters_included_a_Freewheel">one-directional_slip_or_release_provision_so_that_once_engine_rotation_began,_the_starter_would_disengage_from_the_engine._In_the_event_of_a_kickback,_the_reverse_rotation_of_the_engine_could_suddenly_engage_the_starter,_causing_the_crank_to_unexpectedly_and_violently_jerk,_possibly_injuring_the_operator._For_cord-wound_starters,_a_kickback_could_pull_the_operator_towards_the_engine_or_machine,_or_swing_the_starter_cord_and_handle_at_high_speed_around_the_starter_pulley._Even_though_cranks_had_an_ flywheel.html"_;"title="Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel">Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_


__History_

Before_the_advent_of_the_starter_motor,_engines_were_started_by_various_methods_including_wind-up_springs,_Coffman_engine_starter">gunpowder_cylinders,_and_human-powered_techniques_such_as_a_removable_Crank_(mechanism)">crank_handle_which_engaged_the_front_of_the_crankshaft,_pulling_on_an_airplane_propeller,_or_pulling_a_cord_that_was_wound_around_an_open-face_pulley. The_hand-crank_method_was_commonly_used_to_start_engines,_but_it_was_inconvenient,_difficult,_and_dangerous._The_behavior_of_an_engine_during_starting_is_not_always_predictable._The_engine_can_kick_back,_causing_sudden_reverse_rotation._Many_manual_starters_included_a_Freewheel">one-directional_slip_or_release_provision_so_that_once_engine_rotation_began,_the_starter_would_disengage_from_the_engine._In_the_event_of_a_kickback,_the_reverse_rotation_of_the_engine_could_suddenly_engage_the_starter,_causing_the_crank_to_unexpectedly_and_violently_jerk,_possibly_injuring_the_operator._For_cord-wound_starters,_a_kickback_could_pull_the_operator_towards_the_engine_or_machine,_or_swing_the_starter_cord_and_handle_at_high_speed_around_the_starter_pulley._Even_though_cranks_had_an_Freewheel#Uses">overrun_mechanism,_when_the_engine_started,_the_crank_could_begin_to_spin_along_with_the_crankshaft_and_potentially_strike_the_person_cranking_the_engine._Additionally,_care_had_to_be_taken_to_
flywheel.html"_;"title="Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel">Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_


__History_

Before_the_advent_of_the_starter_motor,_engines_were_started_by_various_methods_including_wind-up_springs,_Coffman_engine_starter">gunpowder_cylinders,_and_human-powered_techniques_such_as_a_removable_Crank_(mechanism)">crank_handle_which_engaged_the_front_of_the_crankshaft,_pulling_on_an_airplane_propeller,_or_pulling_a_cord_that_was_wound_around_an_open-face_pulley. The_hand-crank_method_was_commonly_used_to_start_engines,_but_it_was_inconvenient,_difficult,_and_dangerous._The_behavior_of_an_engine_during_starting_is_not_always_predictable._The_engine_can_kick_back,_causing_sudden_reverse_rotation._Many_manual_starters_included_a_Freewheel">one-directional_slip_or_release_provision_so_that_once_engine_rotation_began,_the_starter_would_disengage_from_the_engine._In_the_event_of_a_kickback,_the_reverse_rotation_of_the_engine_could_suddenly_engage_the_starter,_causing_the_crank_to_unexpectedly_and_violently_jerk,_possibly_injuring_the_operator._For_cord-wound_starters,_a_kickback_could_pull_the_operator_towards_the_engine_or_machine,_or_swing_the_starter_cord_and_handle_at_high_speed_around_the_starter_pulley._Even_though_cranks_had_an_Freewheel#Uses">overrun_mechanism,_when_the_engine_started,_the_crank_could_begin_to_spin_along_with_the_crankshaft_and_potentially_strike_the_person_cranking_the_engine._Additionally,_care_had_to_be_taken_to_Ignition_timing">retard_the_spark_in_order_to_prevent_ flywheel.html"_;"title="Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel">Starter_ring_gear_on_its_flywheel_


__History_

Before_the_advent_of_the_starter_motor,_engines_were_started_by_various_methods_including_wind-up_springs,_Coffman_engine_starter">gunpowder_cylinders,_and_human-powered_techniques_such_as_a_removable_Crank_(mechanism)">crank_handle_which_engaged_the_front_of_the_crankshaft,_pulling_on_an_airplane_propeller,_or_pulling_a_cord_that_was_wound_around_an_open-face_pulley. The_hand-crank_method_was_commonly_used_to_start_engines,_but_it_was_inconvenient,_difficult,_and_dangerous._The_behavior_of_an_engine_during_starting_is_not_always_predictable._The_engine_can_kick_back,_causing_sudden_reverse_rotation._Many_manual_starters_included_a_Freewheel">one-directional_slip_or_release_provision_so_that_once_engine_rotation_began,_the_starter_would_disengage_from_the_engine._In_the_event_of_a_kickback,_the_reverse_rotation_of_the_engine_could_suddenly_engage_the_starter,_causing_the_crank_to_unexpectedly_and_violently_jerk,_possibly_injuring_the_operator._For_cord-wound_starters,_a_kickback_could_pull_the_operator_towards_the_engine_or_machine,_or_swing_the_starter_cord_and_handle_at_high_speed_around_the_starter_pulley._Even_though_cranks_had_an_Freewheel#Uses">overrun_mechanism,_when_the_engine_started,_the_crank_could_begin_to_spin_along_with_the_crankshaft_and_potentially_strike_the_person_cranking_the_engine._Additionally,_care_had_to_be_taken_to_Ignition_timing">retard_the_spark_in_order_to_prevent_Back-fire">backfiring_ A_backfire_or_afterburn_is_combustion_or_an_explosion_produced_by_a_running_internal_combustion_engine_that_occurs_in_the_exhaust_system,_rather_than_inside_the_combustion_chamber._It_is_also_sometimes_referred_to_as_an_afterfire,_especially_i_...
;_with_an_advanced_spark_setting,_the_engine_could_''kick_back''_(run_in_reverse),_pulling_the_crank_with_it,_because_the_overrun_safety_mechanism_works_in_one_direction_only. Although_users_were_advised_to_cup_their_fingers_and_thumb_under_the_crank_and_pull_up,_it_felt_natural_for_operators_to_grasp_the_handle_with_the_fingers_on_one_side,_the_thumb_on_the_other._Even_a_simple_backfire_could_result_in_a_broken_thumb;_it_was_possible_to_end_up_with_a_wrist_fracture.html" ;"title="Back-fire.html" "title="Ignition_timing.html" ;"title="Freewheel#Uses.html" ;"title="flywheel ">flywheel.html" ;"title="Starter ring gear on its flywheel">Starter ring gear on its flywheel


History

Before the advent of the starter motor, engines were started by various methods including wind-up springs, Coffman engine starter">gunpowder cylinders, and human-powered techniques such as a removable Crank (mechanism)">crank handle which engaged the front of the crankshaft, pulling on an airplane propeller, or pulling a cord that was wound around an open-face pulley. The hand-crank method was commonly used to start engines, but it was inconvenient, difficult, and dangerous. The behavior of an engine during starting is not always predictable. The engine can kick back, causing sudden reverse rotation. Many manual starters included a Freewheel">one-directional slip or release provision so that once engine rotation began, the starter would disengage from the engine. In the event of a kickback, the reverse rotation of the engine could suddenly engage the starter, causing the crank to unexpectedly and violently jerk, possibly injuring the operator. For cord-wound starters, a kickback could pull the operator towards the engine or machine, or swing the starter cord and handle at high speed around the starter pulley. Even though cranks had an Freewheel#Uses">overrun mechanism, when the engine started, the crank could begin to spin along with the crankshaft and potentially strike the person cranking the engine. Additionally, care had to be taken to Ignition timing">retard the spark in order to prevent Back-fire">backfiring A backfire or afterburn is combustion or an explosion produced by a running internal combustion engine that occurs in the exhaust system, rather than inside the combustion chamber. It is also sometimes referred to as an afterfire, especially i ...
; with an advanced spark setting, the engine could ''kick back'' (run in reverse), pulling the crank with it, because the overrun safety mechanism works in one direction only. Although users were advised to cup their fingers and thumb under the crank and pull up, it felt natural for operators to grasp the handle with the fingers on one side, the thumb on the other. Even a simple backfire could result in a broken thumb; it was possible to end up with a wrist fracture">broken wrist, a dislocated shoulder or worse. Moreover, increasingly larger engines with higher compression ratios made hand cranking a more physically demanding endeavour. The first electric starter was installed on an Arnold (automobile), Arnold, an adaptation of the Benz Velo, built in 1896 in
East Peckham East Peckham is a village and civil parish in Kent, England on the River Medway. The parish covers the main village as well as Hale Street and Beltring. History The Domesday entry for East and West Peckham reads:- :'' The Archbishop himself ...
,
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, by electrical engineer H. J. Dowsing. In 1903,
Clyde J. Coleman Clyde may refer to: People * Clyde (given name) * Clyde (surname) Places For townships see also Clyde Township Australia * Clyde, New South Wales * Clyde, Victoria * Clyde River, New South Wales Canada * Clyde, Alberta * Clyde, Ontario, a to ...
invented and patented the first electric starter in America . In 1911,
Charles F. Kettering Charles Franklin Kettering (August 29, 1876 – November 25, 1958) sometimes known as Charles Fredrick Kettering was an American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents. For the list of patents issued to Kettering, see, Le ...
, with
Henry M. Leland Henry Martyn Leland (February 16, 1843 – March 26, 1932) was an American machinist, inventor, engineer and automotive entrepreneur. He founded the two premier American luxury automotive marques, Cadillac and Lincoln. Early years Henry M. Lela ...
, of Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company ( DELCO), invented and filed for an electric starter in America. (Kettering had replaced the hand crank on NCR's
cash register A cash register, sometimes called a till or automated money handling system, is a mechanical or electronic device for registering and calculating transactions at a point of sale. It is usually attached to a drawer for storing cash and other v ...
s with an electric motor five years earlier.) One aspect of the invention lay in the realization that a relatively small motor, driven with higher voltage and current than would be feasible for continuous operation, could deliver enough power to crank the engine for starting. At the voltage and current levels required, such a motor would burn out in a few minutes of continuous operation, but not during the few seconds needed to start the engine. The starters were first installed on the
Cadillac Model Thirty The Cadillac Model Thirty is an automobile that was introduced in December 1909 by the Cadillac Division of General Motors, and sold through 1911. It was the company's only model for those years and was based on the 1907 Model G. The 1912 Model ...
in 1912, with the same system being adopted by Lanchester later that year. These starters also worked as
generator Generator may refer to: * Signal generator, electronic devices that generate repeating or non-repeating electronic signals * Electric generator, a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. * Generator (circuit theory), an eleme ...
s once the engine was running, a concept that is now being revived in
hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle is one that uses two or more distinct types of power, such as submarines that use diesel when surfaced and batteries when submerged. Other means to store energy include pressurized fluid in hydraulic hybrids. The basic princip ...
s. Although the electric starter motor was to come to dominate the car market, in 1912, there were several competing types of starter, with the Adams, S.C.A.T. and Wolseley cars having direct air starters, and
Sunbeam A sunbeam, in meteorological optics, is a beam of sunlight that appears to radiate from the position of the Sun. Shining through openings in clouds or between other objects such as mountains and buildings, these beams of particle-scattered sunl ...
introducing an air starter motor with similar approach to that used for the Delco and Scott-Crossley electrical starter motors (i.e. engaging with a toothed ring on the flywheel). The
Star A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by its gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked ...
and Adler cars had spring motors (sometimes referred to as clockwork motors), which used the energy stored in a spring driving through a reduction gear. If the car failed to start, the starter handle could be used to wind up the spring for a further attempt. One of the innovations on the first
Dodge Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...
car, the Model 30-35 at its introduction in 1914 was an electric starter and electric lighting with a 12-volt system (against the six volts that was usual at the time) as a standard fitment on what was a relatively low-priced car. The Dodge used a combined starter-generator unit, with a
direct current Direct current (DC) is one-directional flow of electric charge. An electrochemical cell is a prime example of DC power. Direct current may flow through a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through semiconductors, insulators, or even ...
dynamo file:DynamoElectricMachinesEndViewPartlySection USP284110.png, "Dynamo Electric Machine" (end view, partly section, ) A dynamo is an electrical generator that creates direct current using a commutator (electric), commutator. Dynamos were the f ...
permanently coupled by gears to the engine's crankshaft. A system of electrical relays allowed this to be driven as a motor to rotate the engine for starting, and once the starter button was released the controlling switchgear returned the unit to operation as a generator. Because the starter-generator was directly coupled to the engine it did not need a method of engaging and disengaging the motor drive. It thus suffered negligible mechanical wear and was virtually silent in operation. The starter-generator remained a feature of Dodge cars until 1929. The disadvantage of the design was that, as a dual-purpose device, the unit was limited in both its power as a motor and its output as a generator, which became a problem as engine size and electrical demands on cars increased. Controlling the switch between motor and generator modes required dedicated and relatively complex switchgear which was more prone to failure than the heavy-duty contacts of a dedicated starter motor. While the starter-generator dropped out of favour for cars by the 1930s, the concept was still useful for smaller vehicles and was taken up by the German firm SIBA Elektrik which built similar system intended mostly for use on motorcycles, scooters, economy cars (especially those will small-capacity
two-stroke engine A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being completed in one revolution of t ...
s), and marine engines. These were marketed under the 'Dynastart' name. Since motorcycles usually had small engines and limited electrical equipment, as well as restricted space and weight, the Dynastart was a useful feature. The windings for the starter-generator were usually incorporated into the engine's flywheel, thus not requiring a separate unit at all. The
Ford Model T The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. The relati ...
relied on hand cranks until 1919; during the 1920s, electric starters became near-universal on most new cars, making it easier for women and elderly people to drive. It was still common for cars to be supplied with starter handles into the 1960s, and this continued much later for some makes (e.g.
Citroën 2CV The Citroën 2CV (french: link=no, deux chevaux(-vapeur), , lit. "two steam horse(power)s", meaning "two ''taxable'' horsepower") is an air-cooled front-engine, front-wheel-drive, economy family car, introduced at the 1948 Paris Mondial de l ...
until end of production in 1990). In many cases, cranks were used for setting timing rather than starting the engine as growing displacements and compression ratios made this impractical. Communist bloc cars such as Ladas often still sported crank-starting as late as the 1980s. For the first examples of production German turbojet engines later in World War II,
Norbert Riedel Norbert Riedel (* 1 April 1912 in Jägerndorf, Sudetenland, then Austria-Hungary; † 24 February 1963 in Zürs am Arlberg, Austria) was an engineer and entrepreneur. Life Riedel studied mechanical engineering and worked in the 1930s, first with ...
designed a small two-stroke, opposed-twin gasoline engine to start both the
Junkers Jumo 004 The Junkers Jumo 004 was the world's first production turbojet engine in operational use, and the first successful axial compressor turbojet engine. Some 8,000 units were manufactured by Junkers in Germany late in World War II, powering the Mess ...
and
BMW 003 The BMW 003 (full RLM designation 109-003) is an early axial turbojet engine produced by BMW AG in Germany during World War II. The 003 and the Junkers Jumo 004 were the only German turbojet engines to reach production during World War II. ...
aircraft gas turbines as a form of
auxiliary power unit An auxiliary power unit (APU) is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft and naval ships as well as some large land vehicles. Aircraft APUs generally produce 115&n ...
to get the central spindle of each engine design rotating — these were usually installed at the very front of the turbojet, and were themselves started by a pull-rope to get them running during the startup procedure for the jet engines they were fitted to. Before
Chrysler Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...
's 1949 innovation of the key-operated combination ignition-starter switch, the starter was often operated by the driver pressing a button mounted on the floor or dashboard. Some vehicles had a pedal in the floor that manually engaged the starter drive pinion with the flywheel ring gear, then completed the electrical circuit to the starter motor once the pedal reached the end of its travel. Ferguson tractors from the 1940s, including the
Ferguson TE20 The Ferguson TE20 is an agricultural tractor designed by Harry Ferguson. By far his most successful design, it was manufactured from 1946 until 1956, and was commonly known as the ''Little Grey Fergie''. It marked a major advance in tractor d ...
, had an extra position on the gear lever that engaged the starter switch, ensuring safety by preventing the tractors from being started in gear.


Electric

The electric starter motor or cranking motor is the most common type used on gasoline engines and small diesel engines. The modern starter motor is either a permanent-magnet or a
series Series may refer to: People with the name * Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series * George Series (1920–1995), English physicist Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Series, the ordered sets used in ...
-parallel wound
direct current Direct current (DC) is one-directional flow of electric charge. An electrochemical cell is a prime example of DC power. Direct current may flow through a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through semiconductors, insulators, or even ...
electric motor An electric motor is an Electric machine, electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a Electromagneti ...
with a
starter solenoid A starter solenoid is an electromagnet which is actuated to engage the starter motor of an internal combustion engine. It is normally attached directly to the starter motor which it controls. Its primary function is as the actuating coil of a co ...
(similar to a
relay A relay Electromechanical relay schematic showing a control coil, four pairs of normally open and one pair of normally closed contacts An automotive-style miniature relay with the dust cover taken off A relay is an electrically operated switch ...
) mounted on it. When DC power from the starting battery is applied to the solenoid, usually through a
key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...
-operated switch (the "ignition switch"), the solenoid engages a lever that pushes out the drive
pinion A pinion is a round gear—usually the smaller of two meshed gears—used in several applications, including drivetrain and rack and pinion systems. Applications Drivetrain Drivetrains usually feature a gear known as the pinion, which may ...
on the starter driveshaft and meshes the pinion with the
starter ring gear 270px, Typical starter ring gear A starter ring gear is a part attached to an internal combustion engine that is part of the assembly which transfers the torque from the starter motor to the engine's crankshaft, in order to start the engine. Th ...
on the
flywheel A flywheel is a mechanical device which uses the conservation of angular momentum to store rotational energy; a form of kinetic energy proportional to the product of its moment of inertia and the square of its rotational speed. In particular, ass ...
of the engine. The solenoid also closes high-current contacts for the starter motor, which begins to turn. Once the engine starts, the key-operated switch is opened, a spring in the solenoid assembly pulls the pinion gear away from the ring gear, and the starter motor stops. The starter's pinion is clutched to its drive shaft through an overrunning
sprag clutch A sprag clutch is a one-way freewheel clutch. It resembles a roller bearing but, instead of cylindrical rollers, non-revolving asymmetric figure-eight shaped sprags, or other elements allowing single direction rotation, are used. When the unit ...
which permits the pinion to transmit drive in only one direction. In this manner, drive is transmitted through the pinion to the flywheel ring gear, but if the pinion remains engaged (as for example because the operator fails to release the key as soon as the engine starts, or if there is a short and the solenoid remains engaged), the pinion will spin independently of its drive shaft. This prevents the engine driving the starter, for such
backdrive A backdrive is a component used in reverse to obtain its input from its output. This extends to many concepts and systems from thought based to practical mechanical applications. Not every system can be backdriven. A DC electrical generator can be ...
would cause the starter to spin so fast as to fly apart. The sprag clutch arrangement would preclude the use of the starter as a generator if employed in the hybrid scheme mentioned above, unless modifications were made. The standard starter motor is typically designed for intermittent use, which would preclude its use as a generator. The starter's electrical components are designed only to operate for typically under 30 seconds before overheating (by too-slow dissipation of heat from ohmic losses), to save weight and cost. Most automobile owner manuals instruct the operator to pause for at least ten seconds after each ten or fifteen seconds of cranking the engine, when trying to start an engine that does not start immediately. This overrunning-clutch pinion arrangement was phased into use beginning in the early 1960s; before that time, a
Bendix drive A Bendix drive is a type of engagement mechanism used in starter motors of internal combustion engines. The device allows the pinion gear of the starter motor to engage or disengage the ring gear (which is attached to the flywheel or flexplate ...
was used. The Bendix system places the starter drive pinion on a helically cut drive shaft. When the starter motor begins turning, the inertia of the drive pinion assembly causes it to ride forward on the helix and thus engage with the ring gear. When the engine starts, backdrive from the ring gear causes the drive pinion to exceed the rotative speed of the starter, at which point the drive pinion is forced back down the helical shaft and thus out of mesh with the ring gear. This has the disadvantage that the gears will disengage if the engine fires briefly but does not continue to run.


Folo-Thru drive

An intermediate development between the Bendix drive developed in the 1930s and the overrunning-clutch designs introduced in the 1960s was the Bendix Folo-Thru drive. The standard Bendix drive would disengage from the ring gear as soon as the engine fired, even if it did not continue to run. The Folo-Thru drive contains a latching mechanism and a set of flyweights in the body of the drive unit. When the starter motor begins turning and the drive unit is forced forward on the helical shaft by inertia, it is latched into the engaged position. Only once the drive unit is spun at a speed higher than that attained by the starter motor itself (i.e., it is backdriven by the running engine) will the flyweights pull radially outward, releasing the latch and permitting the overdriven drive unit to be spun out of engagement. In this manner, unwanted starter disengagement is avoided before a successful engine start.


Gear reduction

In 1962,
Chrysler Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...
introduced a starter incorporating a
gear A gear is a rotating circular machine part having cut teeth or, in the case of a cogwheel or gearwheel, inserted teeth (called ''cogs''), which mesh with another (compatible) toothed part to transmit (convert) torque and speed. The basic pr ...
train between the motor and the drive shaft. The motor shaft included integrally cut gear teeth forming a pinion that meshes with a larger adjacent driven gear to provide a
gear reduction Propulsion transmission is the mode of transmitting and controlling propulsion power of a machine. The term ''transmission'' properly refers to the whole drivetrain, including clutch, gearbox, prop shaft (for rear-wheel drive vehicles), differ ...
ratio of 3.75:1. This permitted the use of a higher-speed, lower-current, lighter and more compact motor assembly while increasing cranking torque. Variants of this starter design were used on most rear- and four-wheel-drive vehicles produced by Chrysler Corporation from 1962 through 1987. It makes a unique, distinct sound when cranking the engine, which led to it being nicknamed the "Highland Park Hummingbird"—a reference to Chrysler's headquarters in
Highland Park, Michigan Highland Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,977 at the 2020 census. Along with its neighbor of Hamtramck, Highland Park is an enclave city surrounded by the city of Detroit. History The area tha ...
. The Chrysler gear-reduction starter formed the conceptual basis for the gear-reduction starters that now predominate in vehicles on the road. Many Japanese automakers phased in gear reduction starters in the 1970s and 1980s. Light aircraft engines also made extensive use of this kind of starter, because its light weight offered an advantage. Those starters not employing offset gear trains like the Chrysler unit generally employ planetary epicyclic gear trains instead. Direct-drive starters are almost entirely obsolete owing to their larger size, heavier weight and higher current requirements.


Movable pole shoe

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...
issued a nonstandard starter, a direct-drive "movable pole shoe" design that provided cost reduction rather than electrical or mechanical benefits. This type of starter eliminated the solenoid, replacing it with a movable pole shoe and a separate starter relay. This starter operates as follows: The driver turns the key, activating the starter switch. A small electric current flows through the solenoid actuated starter
relay A relay Electromechanical relay schematic showing a control coil, four pairs of normally open and one pair of normally closed contacts An automotive-style miniature relay with the dust cover taken off A relay is an electrically operated switch ...
, closing the contacts and sending large battery current to the starter motor. One of the pole shoes, hinged at the front, linked to the starter drive, and spring-loaded away from its normal operating position, is swung into position by the magnetic field created by electricity flowing through its field coil. This moves the starter drive forward to engage the flywheel ring gear, and simultaneously closes a pair of contacts supplying current to the rest of the starter motor winding. Once the engine starts and the driver releases the starter switch, a spring retracts the pole shoe, which pulls the starter drive out of engagement with the ring gear. This starter was used on Ford vehicles from 1973 through 1990, when a gear-reduction unit conceptually similar to the Chrysler unit replaced it.


Inertia starter

A variant on the electric starter motor is the inertia starter (not to be confused with the Bendix-type starter described above). Here the starter motor does not turn the engine directly. Instead, when energized, the motor turns a heavy
flywheel A flywheel is a mechanical device which uses the conservation of angular momentum to store rotational energy; a form of kinetic energy proportional to the product of its moment of inertia and the square of its rotational speed. In particular, ass ...
built into its casing (not the main flywheel of the engine). Once the flywheel/motor unit has reached a constant speed the current to the motor is turned off and the drive between the motor and flywheel is disengaged by a freewheel mechanism. The spinning flywheel is then connected to the main engine and its inertia turns it over to start it. These stages are commonly automated by
solenoid upright=1.20, An illustration of a solenoid upright=1.20, Magnetic field created by a seven-loop solenoid (cross-sectional view) described using field lines A solenoid () is a type of electromagnet formed by a helix, helical coil of wire whose ...
switches, with the machine operator using a two-position control switch, which is held in one position to spin the motor and then moved to the other to cut the current to the motor and engage the flywheel to the engine. The advantage of the inertia starter is that, because the motor is not driving the engine directly, it can be of much lower power than the standard starter for an engine of the same size. This allows for a motor of much lower weight and smaller size, as well as lighter cables and smaller batteries to power the motor. This made the inertia starter a common choice for aircraft with large
radial Radial is a geometric term of location which may refer to: Mathematics and Direction * Vector (geometric) In mathematics, physics, and engineering, a Euclidean vector or simply a vector (sometimes called a geometric vector or spatial vector) ...
piston engines. The disadvantage is the increased time required to start the engine - spinning up the flywheel to the required speed can take between 10 and 20 seconds. If the engine does not start by the time the flywheel has lost its inertia then the process must be repeated for the next attempt.


Pneumatic

Some
gas turbine A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of continuous flow internal combustion engine. The main parts common to all gas turbine engines form the power-producing part (known as the gas generator or core) and are, in the directi ...
engines and
diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-call ...
s, particularly on
truck A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construction ...
s, use a
pneumatic Pneumatics (from Greek ‘wind, breath’) is a branch of engineering that makes use of gas or pressurized air. Pneumatic systems used in Industrial sector, industry are commonly powered by compressed air or compressed inert gases. A central ...
self-starter. In ground vehicles the system consists of a geared turbine, an
air compressor An air compressor is a pneumatic device that converts power (using an electric motor, diesel or gasoline engine, etc.) into potential energy stored in pressurized air (i.e., compressed air). By one of several methods, an air compressor forces ...
and a pressure tank. Compressed air released from the tank is used to spin the turbine, and through a set of reduction
gear A gear is a rotating circular machine part having cut teeth or, in the case of a cogwheel or gearwheel, inserted teeth (called ''cogs''), which mesh with another (compatible) toothed part to transmit (convert) torque and speed. The basic pr ...
s, engages the ring gear on the flywheel, much like an electric starter. The engine, once running, drives the compressor to recharge the tank. Aircraft with large gas turbine engines are typically started using a large volume of low-pressure compressed air, supplied from a very small engine referred to as an
auxiliary power unit An auxiliary power unit (APU) is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft and naval ships as well as some large land vehicles. Aircraft APUs generally produce 115&n ...
, located elsewhere in the aircraft. Alternatively, aircraft gas turbine engines can be rapidly started using a mobile ground-based pneumatic starting engine, referred to as a ''start cart'' or ''air start cart''. On larger diesel generators found in large shore installations and especially on ships, a pneumatic starting gear is used. The air motor is normally powered by compressed air at pressures of 10–30
bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (u ...
. The
air motor A pneumatic motor (air motor), or compressed air engine, is a type of motor which does mechanical work by expanding compressed air. Pneumatic motors generally convert the compressed air energy to mechanical work through either linear or rotary m ...
is made up of a center drum about the size of a soup can with four or more slots cut into it to allow for the vanes to be placed radially on the drum to form chambers around the drum. The drum is offset inside a round casing so that the inlet air for starting is admitted at the area where the drum and vanes form a small chamber compared to the others. The compressed air can only expand by rotating the drum, which allows the small chamber to become larger and puts another one of the cambers in the air inlet. The air motor spins much too fast to be used directly on the flywheel of the engine; instead a large gearing reduction, such as a planetary gear, is used to lower the output speed. A Bendix gear is used to engage the flywheel. Since large trucks typically use air brakes, the system does double duty, supplying compressed air to the brake system. Pneumatic starters have the advantages of delivering high torque, mechanical simplicity and reliability. They eliminate the need for oversized, heavy storage batteries in
prime mover Prime mover may refer to: Philosophy *Unmoved mover, a concept in Aristotle's writings Engineering * Prime mover (engine), motor, a machine that converts various other forms of energy (chemical, electrical, fluid pressure/flow, etc) into energy o ...
electrical systems. Large Diesel generators and almost all Diesel engines used as the prime mover of ships use compressed air acting directly on the cylinder head. This is not ideal for smaller Diesels, as it provides too much cooling on starting. Also, the cylinder head needs to have enough space to support an extra valve for the air start system. The air start system is conceptually very similar to a
distributor A distributor is an enclosed rotating switch used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines that have mechanically timed ignition. The distributor's main function is to route high voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs ...
in a car. There is an air distributor that is geared to the camshaft of the Diesel engine; on the top of the air distributor is a single lobe similar to what is found on a camshaft. Arranged radially around this lobe are roller tip followers for every cylinder. When the lobe of the air distributor hits one of the followers it will send an air signal that acts upon the back of the air start valve located in the cylinder head, causing it to open. Compressed air is provided from a large reservoir that feeds into a header located along the engine. As soon as the air start valve is opened, the compressed air is admitted and the engine will begin turning. It can be used on two-cycle and four-cycle engines and on reversing engines. On large two-stroke engines less than one revolution of the crankshaft is needed for starting.


Hydraulic

Some
Diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-call ...
s from six to 16 cylinders are started by means of a
hydraulic motor A hydraulic motor is a mechanical actuator that converts hydraulics, hydraulic pressure and flow into torque and angular displacement (rotation). The hydraulic motor is the rotary counterpart of the hydraulic cylinder as a linear actuator. Mo ...
. Hydraulic starters and the associated systems provide a sparkless, reliable method of engine starting over a wide temperature range. Typically hydraulic starters are found in applications such as remote generators, lifeboat propulsion engines, offshore fire pumping engines, and
hydraulic fracturing Fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracturing, or hydrofracking) is a well stimulation technique involving the fracturing of bedrock formations by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure injection of "frack ...
rigs. The system used to support the hydraulic starter includes valves, pumps, filters, a reservoir, and piston accumulators. The operator can manually recharge the hydraulic system; this cannot readily be done with electric starting systems, so hydraulic starting systems are favored in applications wherein emergency starting is a requirement. With various configurations, Hydraulic starters can be fitted on any engine. Hydraulic starters employ the high efficiency of the axial piston motor concept, which provides high torque at any temperature or environment, and guarantees minimal wear of the engine ring gear and the pinion.


Non-motor


Spring starter

A spring starter uses
potential energy In physics, potential energy is the energy held by an object because of its position relative to other objects, stresses within itself, its electric charge, or other factors. Common types of potential energy include the gravitational potentia ...
stored in a
spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a ...
wound up with a crank to start an engine without a battery or alternator. Turning the crank moves the pinion into mesh with the engine's
ring gear An epicyclic gear train (also known as a planetary gearset) consists of two gears mounted so that the center of one gear revolves around the center of the other. A carrier connects the centers of the two gears and rotates the planet and sun gea ...
, then winds up the spring. Pulling the release lever then applies the spring tension to the pinion, turning the ring gear to start the engine. The pinion automatically disengages from the flywheel after operation. Provision is also made to allow the engine to be slowly turned over by hand for engine maintenance. This is achieved by operating the trip lever just after the pinion has engaged with the flywheel. Subsequent turning of the winding handle during this operation will not load the starter. Spring starters can be found in
engine-generator An engine–generator is the combination of an electrical generator and an engine (prime mover) mounted together to form a single piece of equipment. This combination is also called an ''engine–generator set'' or a ''gen-set''. In many contexts ...
s,
hydraulic power pack Hydraulics (from Greek: Υδραυλική) is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counter ...
s, and on lifeboat engines, with the most common application being backup starting system on seagoing vessels.


Fuel-starting

Some modern gasoline engines with twelve or more cylinders always have at least one or more pistons at the beginning of its power stroke and are able to start by injecting fuel into that cylinder and igniting it. The same procedure can be applied to engines with fewer cylinders, if the engine happens to be stopped at the correct position. This is one way of starting an engine of a car with stop-start system.


See also

* Aircraft engine starter *
Coffman starter The Coffman engine starter (also known as a "shotgun starter") was a starting system used on many piston engines in aircraft and armored vehicles of the 1930s and 1940s. It used a cordite cartridge to move a piston, which cranked the engine. The C ...
*
Flame-start system The flame-start system is a cold start aid for starting diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the ...
*
Hucks starter A Hucks starter is an auxiliary power unit, almost always a lorry or truck, that provides initial power to start up piston aircraft engines. Invented by Royal Flying Corps Captain Bentfield Hucks, for whom it is named, the device served as a me ...
*
Hybrid Synergy Drive Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD), also known as Toyota Hybrid System II, is the brand name of Toyota Motor Corporation for the hybrid car drive train technology used in vehicles with the Toyota and Lexus marques. First introduced on the Prius, the tec ...
*
Vincent Hugo Bendix Vincent Hugo Bendix (August 12, 1881 – March 27, 1945) was an American inventor and industrialist. Vincent Bendix was a pioneer and leader in both the automotive and aviation industries during the 1920s and 1930s.''Vincent Bendix. Enshrine ...


References


External links


Patents

* , Clyde J. Coleman * , R. C. Hull * ,
Arthur Atwater Kent Arthur Atwater Kent Sr. (December 3, 1873 – March 4, 1949) was an American inventor and prominent radio manufacturer based in Philadelphia. In 1921, he patented the modern form of the automobile ignition coil. Biography Arthur Kent was born ...
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