A starting device with a spring element for clamping.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a starting device (10) for starting an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, the starting device comprising: a starting element (16) for introducing torque into a rotating member (12) of the internal combustion engine rotatable about a rotation axis (A) for its starting process; a rotatable first toothed member (20) connected to the starting element (16); and a second toothed member (26) connected to the first toothed member (20) via a toothed engagement (24) for transmitting torque, wherein a spring element (56) for providing spring force is coupled to at least one of the toothed members (20, 26), and a clamping force related to the spring force for clamping the toothed engagement (24) is applied to the toothed members (20, 26).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a starting device. BACKGROUND

[0002] A starting device is known, for example, from DE 10 2010 033 072 A1. Therein, a starting device is described which is configured as a permanently engaged starter, which is connected to a rotary member of an internal combustion engine and has a start gear, which is arranged on a gear carrier. The gear carrier is centered here at the housing of the internal combustion engine via a rolling bearing and accommodates rotatably and is connected with a freewheel. The internal combustion engine is started via a starter, which has a start pinion, which is connected in meshing engagement with the start gear. For this, the start pinion is permanently meshed with the start gear.

[0003] In a permanently engaged starter, the gear carrier is decoupled from the rotary member of the internal combustion engine by the freewheel when the internal combustion engine is running. The gear carrier is fixed here in the circumferential direction only via the tooth meshing between the start pinion and the start gear. Tooth noise can occur due to the circumferential engagement gap present in the tooth meshing, which is disadvantageous for driving comfort and component reliability. Furthermore, tooth noise can occur during the starting process of the internal combustion engine due to a temporary lifting of the tooth face of the tooth meshing. SUMMARY

[0004] It is an object of the invention to reduce the tooth noise of a starting device.

[0005] The object is achieved by a starting device. Thereby, a reduction of the tooth noise in the tooth meshing can be achieved not only in the driving operation of the vehicle but also during the starting process of the internal combustion engine.

[0006] The starting device can be incorporated into a vehicle. The vehicle can be configured as a hybrid vehicle. In addition to the internal combustion engine, an electric motor can cause further drive torque for the forward movement of the vehicle.

[0007] The starting element can be permanently engaged with respect to the rotary member of the internal combustion engine. The starting device can be configured as a permanently engaged starter (PES).

[0008] The rotary member can be configured as a crankshaft, a flywheel and / or a damper input of a torsional vibration damper, for example a dual-mass flywheel.

[0009] The first tooth member can be configured as a start pinion. The first tooth member can be fixedly connected with the shaft of the starting element, in particular with a start shaft.

[0010] The second toothed member can have a toothed element forming a toothed engagement with the toothed member of the first toothed member and a toothed carrier connected to the toothed element in a torque-proof manner and accommodating the toothed element. The toothed element can be connected to the toothed carrier in a force-fit, form-fit and / or friction-fit manner. The toothed element can be connected to the toothed carrier via a press fit. The toothed element can be welded to the toothed carrier. The toothed element can be configured as a toothed ring. The toothed carrier can be a toothed ring carrier.

[0011] The second toothed member, in particular the toothed carrier, can be accommodated in a manner supported on a housing. The housing can be a motor housing or be fixedly associated therewith.

[0012] A freewheel can be provided between the second toothed member and the rotary member. The torque starting from the starting element can be conducted via the freewheel to the rotary member. The freewheel can have a clamping body and / or a clamping roller. By means of the freewheel, torque transmission from the starting element to the rotary member can be induced and inhibited in the opposite direction.

[0013] The spring element can be configured in a disc-like manner. The spring element can be configured as a disc spring. The spring element can be arranged coaxially or axially parallel to the rotary axis.

[0014] The spring force can occur when the starting device is assembled and / or when the spring element is inserted. The spring force can be set by the material, in particular by the modulus of elasticity, but also by the shape, for example flat, conical and / or getopft, by recesses, in particular recesses or through openings, and / or by the material thickness, wherein the material is preferably steel, aluminum and / or plastic.

[0015] The spring element can be coupled to the corresponding toothed member via a friction mechanism, for example a friction lining. The friction lining can be non-metallic, in particular organic or composed of plastic.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the application, the compression force induces a friction force in the toothed engagement. Thereby, toothed noise can be effectively damped.

[0017] In a particular embodiment of the application, the spring element is coupled to at least one toothed member in a pre-tensioned manner. The spring force can be present as a pre-tensioning force.

[0018] In another particular embodiment of the application, the spring element is arranged axially pre-tensioned and induces a spring force in the axial direction. The spring element can be arranged axially adjacent to the toothed member, the spring element being coupled to the toothed member.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the application, the spring element is fastened in a fastening region at one of the toothed members and bears in a force-loading manner in a bearing region at the other of the toothed members in order to introduce the compression force. The spring element can bear on the axial side of the corresponding toothed member. The spring element can be fastened on the axial side to the corresponding toothed member. The spring element can be fastened on the second toothed member and bear in a force-loading manner on the first toothed member in order to introduce the compression force. The spring element can be fastened on the first toothed element and bear in a force-loading manner on the second toothed member in order to introduce the compression force.

[0020] In a particular embodiment of the application, the fastening region is radially spaced apart from the bearing region.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the application, the spring element is arranged parallel to a torque path, which describes the torque transmission between the starting element and the rotary member.

[0022] In a particular embodiment of the application, a further spring element for increasing the compression force is coupled to the spring element. The further spring element can be designed as a compression spring. The compression spring can be arranged coaxially to the starting shaft. The further spring element can load the spring element with a further compression force.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment of the application, the spring element has a recess for influencing the spring force. The recess can be designed as a recess and / or a through-opening.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the application, the spring element is designed as a spring plate with a substantially constant material thickness. The spring element can have a centering section. The spring element can be accommodated on a member, for example the starting shaft, via the centering section. The centering section can be designed as a centering flange.

[0025] Further advantages and advantageous design of the application result from the description and the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] The application is described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Shown in detail are:

[0027] Figure 1 A half-section of a starting device in a particular embodiment of the application is shown.

[0028] Figure 2 A partial side view of a spring element of a starting device in a particular embodiment of the application is shown.

[0029] Figure 3shows a partial enlargement of a spring element in an alternative embodiment of the application.

[0030] Figure 4a shows a partial enlargement of a spring element in an alternative embodiment of the application. Figure 3

[0031] Figure 4b shows a partial enlargement of a spring element in an alternative embodiment of the application. Figure 4a

[0032] Figure 5 shows a partial enlargement of a spring element in an alternative embodiment of the application.

[0033] Figure 6 shows a partial enlargement of a spring element in an alternative embodiment of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Figure 1 shows a partial enlargement of a spring element in an alternative embodiment of the application.

[0035] The torque is provided by a starting element 16 accommodated on the housing 14, i.e. on the motor housing of the internal combustion engine, which is designed to convert electrical energy into movement energy of a starting shaft 18. A first toothed member 20 is connected to the starting shaft 18 in a torque-proof manner. The first toothed member 20 is designed, for example, as a gear wheel 22, in particular a starting pinion, and is connected to a second toothed member 26 via a toothed engagement 24 for the transmission of the torque provided by the starting element 16.

[0036] The second toothed member 26 comprises a toothed element 28, for example a starting pinion, and a toothed carrier 30 which accommodates the toothed element and is connected to it in a torque-proof manner. The toothed carrier 30 is accommodated on the housing 14 via a bearing element 32. For this purpose, the housing 14 has an axial section 34 on which the bearing element 32 is arranged and is axially fixed by a fixing ring 36. Correspondingly, the toothed carrier 30 has an axial section 38 on which the bearing element 32 is arranged and is axially fixed by a further fixing ring 40.

[0037] A sealing element 42 is arranged radially between the rotating member 12 and the housing 14 within the axial section 34 of the housing 14. The sealing element 42 can be designed as a radial shaft seal ring.​​

[0038] The tooth carrier 30 is coupled to the rotary member 12 via a freewheel 43. Here, the torque provided by the starting element 16 can be transmitted to the rotary member 12 along a torque path 44 via the first tooth member 20, the tooth engagement 24, the second tooth member 26 and the freewheel 43.

[0039] The freewheel 43 comprises a clamping body 46 which is arranged radially within the tooth carrier 30 and which can be moved in a clamping body housing 48 which is accommodated on a transmission flange 50. The transmission flange 50 is arranged radially within the clamping body 46 and is screwed to the rotary member 12. The freewheel 43 can achieve, on the one hand, the torque transmission from the starting element 16 to the rotary member 12 and, on the other hand, the interruption of the torque transmission in the opposite direction.

[0040] Furthermore, a vibration damper input 52 of a torsional vibration damper 54, in particular a dual-mass flywheel, is fixedly connected to the rotary member 12. The torsional vibration damper 54 is here arranged axially next to the freewheel 43 and radially within the starting element 16.

[0041] A spring element 56 is fastened at the second tooth member 26, which spring element causes a spring force, which spring element is pre-tensioned against the first tooth member 20 and here exerts a pressing force associated with the spring force onto the first tooth member 20. By this, the tooth engagement 24 is loaded by the pressing force and tooth noise occurring in the tooth engagement 24 is reduced.

[0042] The spring element 56 is disc-shaped and can be a spring plate. The spring element 56 is arranged outside the torque path 44 and radially outside the bearing element 32 and is fastened to the tooth carrier 30 in a fastening region 58. The spring element 56 is arranged against the first tooth member 20 in an abutment region 60, here against the gearwheel 22. The abutment region 60 is radially spaced apart from the fastening region 58. The axial pressing force caused by the spring element 56 acts as a friction force on the tooth engagement 24, thereby effectively damping the tooth noise.

[0043] In Figure 2 A partial side view of the spring element 56 of the starting device of one specific embodiment of the application is shown in Fig. 6. The disc-shaped spring element 56 has recesses 62, in particular through-openings, which are arranged distributed over the circumference. The recesses 62 enable a desired setting of the spring force, for example in such a way that they influence the axial strength. Furthermore, the spring force can be set by other parameters, for example the material, the shape and / or the posture of the spring element 56.

[0044] The fastening region 58 extends along a constant action radius 64. The abutment region 60 is located radially outside the fastening region 58 and likewise extends along a constant action radius 66.

[0045] Figure 3 A partial cross section of the starting device 10 is shown, which is representative of another specific embodiment of the invention. The starting device 10 is here in an uninstalled state, in which the spring element 56 does not abut on the first tooth element, which is here concealed.

[0046] In Figure 4a An enlarged view of a partial section of the spring element 56 in Figure 3 The spring element 56 is here configured in a curved manner in the region of the abutment region 60 in order to form a predefined abutment face 68 to the first tooth member.

[0047] In Figure 4b A partial section of the spring element 56 in an alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted in Figure 4a The spring element 56 can be coupled to the corresponding tooth member via a friction mechanism 70, for example a friction lining, which is fastened thereon. The friction lining can be non-metallic, in particular organic, or composed of plastic.

[0048] Figure 5 A partial cross section of the starting device 10 is shown, which is representative of another specific embodiment of the invention. The spring element 56 is connected torsionally to the starting shaft 18 of the starting element 16 and abuts on the second tooth member 26, here the tooth element 28, for introduction of a pressing force between the first tooth member 20 and the second tooth member 26. The abutment region 60 is located directly radially inside the tooth engagement 24. The first tooth member 20 is movable about a rotational axis 72, on which the spring element 56 is arranged coaxially.

[0049] In Figure 6 A partial cross section of the starting device 10 is shown, which is representative of another specific embodiment of the invention. The spring element 56 is arranged coaxially to the rotational axis 72 and has a centering flange 74 via which the spring element 56 is centered on the starting shaft 18.

[0050] A further spring element 76, here for example a coil spring, is connected to the spring element 56 and causes a further spring force acting on the spring element 56 for increasing the pressing force acting on the second tooth member 26, here the tooth element 28.

[0051] List of reference signs:

[0052] 10 starting device

[0053] 12 rotational member

[0054] 14 housing

[0055] 16 activation element

[0056] 18 starting shaft

[0057] 20 first toothed component

[0058] 22 gearwheel

[0059] 24 toothed engagement

[0060] 26 second toothed component

[0061] 28 toothed element

[0062] 30 toothed carrier

[0063] 32 support element

[0064] 34 axial section

[0065] 36 fixing ring

[0066] 38 axial section

[0067] 40 fixing ring

[0068] 42 sealing element

[0069] 43 freewheel

[0070] 44 torque path

[0071] 46 clamping body

[0072] 48 clamping body cover

[0073] 50 transmission flange

[0074] 52 damper input

[0075] 54 torsional vibration damper

[0076] 56 spring element

[0077] 58 fastening region

[0078] 60 abutment region

[0079] 62 recess

[0080] 64 action radius

[0081] 66 action radius

[0082] 68 abutment face

[0083] 70 friction mechanism

[0084] 72 axis of rotation

[0085] 74 centering flange

[0086] 76 spring element

[0087] A axis of rotation

Claims

1. A starter device (10) for starting an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, the starter device having: a starter element (16) for introducing a torque into a rotary member (12) of the internal combustion engine, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (A), for the purpose of starting the internal combustion engine; a first toothed member (20) which is rotatable and which is connected to the starter element (16); a second toothed member (26) which is connected to the first toothed member (20) via a torque-transmitting toothing (24), characterized in that a spring element (56) for providing a spring force is coupled to at least one of the toothed members (20, 26) and exerts, in this case, a clamping force for clamping the toothing (24) and associated with the spring force onto this toothed member (20, 26), the spring element (56) is fastened in a fastening region (58) on one of the toothed members (20, 26) and bears in a force-loading manner in a bearing region (60) on the other toothed member (26, 20) in order to introduce the clamping force.

2. The starter device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping force causes a friction force in the toothing (24).

3. The starter device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (56) is coupled to the at least one toothed member (20, 26) in a pretensioned manner.

4. The starter device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring element (56) is provided in an axial pretension and the spring force acts in an axial direction.

5. The starter device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening region (58) is radially spaced apart from the bearing region (60).

6. The starter device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (56) is provided parallel to a torque path (44) which describes the torque transmission between the starter element (16) and the rotary member (12).

7. The starter device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a further spring element (76) for increasing the clamping force is coupled to the spring element (56) when the spring element (56) is fastened on the first toothed member (20) and bears on the second toothed member (26).

8. The starter device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (56) has a recess (62) for influencing the spring force.

9. The starter device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the spring element (56) is embodied as a spring plate having a substantially constant material thickness. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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