| 摘要 |
Starter motor (11) drives pinion shah (14) which carries movable cylindrical member (15), coupled thereto by a helical spine coupling (14a/15a), pinion gear (16) fitted for free rotation on the pinion shaft, and unidirectional clutch (19) provided between the pinion gear and the movable cylindrical member which are coupled together for axial movement in unison. To prevent pinion gear (16) from premature detachment from a ring gear (23) of the internal combustion engine before the stable running condition of the internal combustion engine is reached, the device further includes: a pinion gear retreat- prevention member (27) provided on the outer periphery of the movable cylindrical member (15) and axially fixed in position but radially movable relative to the movable cylindrical member; and a lock member (29) provided at a position in the vicinity of the pinion gear retreat-prevention member so as to be engageable, when it is radially displaced by centrifugal forces, with the pinion gear retreat- prevention member. <IMAGE> |
