STARTER MOTOR
Embodiments of the invention provide a starter comprising a motor comprising a drive shaft, a pinion, and a clutch. In some embodiments, the starter includes a planetary gear coupled with the clutch. Some embodiments include a pinion speed sensor assembly configured and arranged to provide a signal related to the rotational speed of the pinion based upon a speed of a component of the starter that is coupled to the pinion. Some embodiments of the starter include a pinion rotational speed sensor located within the drive-end region of the starter, and configured and arranged for direct or indirect monitoring of the pinion. Some embodiments include a sensor that is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the clutch assembly, the drive-shaft, the pinion, the output shaft, or a planetary gear. The speed sensor can be a magnetic-field flux sensor assembly or an optical sensor assembly.
1 . A starter comprising:
a motor comprising a drive shaft coupled to;
a pinion;
a clutch; and
a pinion speed sensor assembly including at least one sensor; wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to directly or indirectly sense the pinion speed and provide a signal related to the rotational speed of the pinion.
2 . The starter of claim 1 further comprising a planetary gear coupled with the clutch.
3 . The starter of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic flux sensor assembly.
4 . The starter of claim 3 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly comprises a Hall Effect sensor.
5 . The starter of claim 1 wherein the pinion speed sensor assembly further comprises a sensor target.
6 . The starter of claim 5 further comprising an output shaft coupled to the pinion.
7 . The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly further comprises a sensor that is configured and arranged to sense the location of one or more teeth of the pinion.
8 . The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the clutch assembly.
9 . The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the drive-shaft axially.
10 . The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the drive-shaft radially.
11 . The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the planetary gear teeth axially.
12 . The starter of claim 4 wherein the magnetic flux sensor assembly is configured and arranged to monitor one or more components of the planetary gear teeth radially.
13 . The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises the pinion.
14 . The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises an indentation in one or more components coupled to the pinion.
15 . The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises a protrusion in one or more components coupled to the pinion
16 . The starter of claim 1 wherein the pinion speed sensor assembly comprises an optical sensor assembly.
17 . The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly comprises a photodiode.
18 . The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly further comprises a phototransistor.
19 . The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly further comprises an optical fiber.
20 . The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly further comprises a camera.
21 . The starter of claim 16 wherein the optical sensor assembly further comprises an optical emitter
22 . The starter of claim 17 wherein the optical emitter comprises at least one of an LED, an optical fiber a semiconductor laser, an IR emitter, a UV emitter or a radiation source, a fluorescent material and a phosphorescent material.
23 . The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises a wheel including teeth, the wheel mounted on the clutch.
24 . The starter of claim 5 wherein the sensor target comprises a wheel including teeth, the wheel mounted on the pinion.
25 . The starter of claim 6 wherein the sensor target comprises a wheel including teeth, the wheel mounted on the output shaft.