Variable rate impact and oscillation absorber in starter motors

摘要

A starter motor is provided having a starter motor housing with an electric motor mounted therein. A stationary gear base mounted onto the starter motor housing and includes a plurality of pockets formed therein and spaced thereabout. A stationary gear is rotatably mounted within the stationary gear base for limited rotational movement and includes a plurality of legs that extend into the pockets. One or more variable rate dampening members are positioned within the pockets, circumferentially between the legs of the stationary gear and inner walls of the pockets. The variable rate dampening members provide variable rate dampening such that when the starter motor experiences high frequency, low amplitude oscillations the dampening members provide a first spring rate and when the starter motor experiences a high amplitude impact for a short duration of time, the dampening members provide a second spring rate that is stronger than the first spring rate.