PERMANENTLY ENGAGED STARTER SYSTEM

• Main Authors: Campton, Calahan B, Campbell, Michael W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.12.2021
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; WEAPONS

A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a flex plate. The vehicle includes a crankshaft and an engine block. The flex plate extends along and is rotatable about an axis. The flex plate is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the crankshaft. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an outer and inner race. The permanently engaged starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race of the one-way clutch. The permanently engaged starter system further includes a starter support plate, and a pilot support plate coupled to the ring gear. The pilot support plate is fixedly coupled to the starter support plate and is configured to axially and radially align and retain the ring gear and one of the inner race and the outer race with respect to the axis.