Starter Assembly Holder Layout for Accessible Crankcase Fastening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing starter attachment methods for internal combustion engines require additional components like slugs and screws, complicating assembly and increasing material accumulation, which is inefficient and unnecessary.

Innovation Solution

A starter assembly with a holder attached to guide rods and a locking pin, allowing the starter to be inserted into a receiving bore in the crankcase, simplifying attachment and reducing material accumulation while improving accessibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the starter is bolted to a flange surface perpendicular to the starter axis with fastening screws screwed axially, then the starter can be securely attached to the crankcase, but the accessibility of the fastening screws is poor and additional slugs are required on the crankcase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of fastening screwsVSAvoidadditional slugs and holders on crankcase
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of attaching the holder to the crankcase and inserting the starter through it (conventional approach), the invention inverts the sequence by first attaching the holder to the starter assembly, then mounting the entire starter assembly to the crankcase. This inversion makes the fastening screws accessible from the outside while eliminating the need for additional slugs on the crankcase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The holder and starter assembly are merged into a single integrated unit, where the holder is permanently attached to the starter. This combination eliminates the need for separate crankcase modifications (slugs) and simplifies the overall attachment process while improving screw accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If additional slugs and sheet metal holders are used on the crankcase for wiring harness attachments, then the wiring harness can be secured, but unnecessary material accumulation occurs on the crankcase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring harness attachment capabilityVSAvoidmaterial accumulation on crankcase
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The holder that provides wiring harness attachment capability is merged with the starter assembly rather than being separately installed on the crankcase. This eliminates unnecessary material accumulation on the crankcase while maintaining the wiring harness attachment function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The holder function is extracted from the crankcase structure and relocated to the starter assembly. This extraction eliminates the need for additional material on the crankcase while preserving the wiring harness attachment capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3971411B1Starter assembly
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 DEUTZ AG
  • EP3971411B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3971411B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3971411B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

1. Starter attachment 2. An internal combustion engine is described, comprising at least one starter (1) with a starter gear arranged at the opposite end of the crankshaft or at the same end to transmit the rotation of the starter (1) to the crankshaft, wherein the starter (1) is attached to the crankcase (4) of the internal combustion engine and wherein the starter (1) is inserted into a receiving bore (7) and is arranged to be fastened to the crankcase (4) with at least one screw (2) and wherein a holder (5) is arranged on the starter (1).