UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

STARTING SYSTEM
Introduction

The IC engines are not capable of starting by itself, but they requires external power to crank it and help it to
start
Among the various means available, automobile now use
I Electrical cranking system
II Manual cranking system
III Air cranking system
IV Hydraulic cranking system

The purpose of the cranking system

The automotive cranking motor circuit includes the storage battery, the starter switch, the cables to connect
the motors and switch, to the battery, and the ground return circuit. The starter motor is a low voltage direct
current motor, which converts electrical energy from the storage battery in to mechanical energy. When
circuit between the starting motor and the battery is completed by the cranking switch it cranks the engine at
speed sufficient to cause the starting of the engine at speeds sufficient to cause starting of the engine. The
starter motor used in automobiles is incorporates a magnetic switch that shifts a rotating gear in to and out of
mesh with the ring gear around the circumference of the flywheel. There are two major types of starter motor
used on cars and smaller trucks nowadays which are the conventional and reduction type starter motors and
they are now coming use preferable even in a warmer regions.

Motor Principles

When current flows through a conductor a magnetic field is generated around the conductor. The strength of
the field depends on the amount of current flowing. The direction in which the field moves depends on the
direction of current. If the conductor is placed between the north and south poles of the permanent magnet the
lines of magnetic forces from the permanent magnet interfere with each other causing the magnetic field to
increase on one side and the conductor rotates to the weaker side.

The strength of the electromagnetic force is given by the relation.

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 F = BIL
Where F = Force in Newton
B = Magnetic flux
L = Length of the conductor
I = Current flow through the conductor
Types of direct current motors

There are several types of direct current motors which differ in the method used to connect the field coil and
armature coil.

Series Wound motors

In series wound motors the excitation and armature windings are connected in
series. The excitation current is not tapped off, rather the armature current also
passes through the excitation winding. The armature current in this type of motor
generates a strong magnetic field because it is usually high when the motor starts
under load.

The motors therefore develop high initial torque, which develops sharply as motor speed increases these
characteristics make the motor a particular good starter motor. When used in small starters, the motor is
switched on as the starter engages the engine so that its full torque in immediately available.
Shunt wound motors
In shunt wound motors the excitation winding is connected in parallel with the
armature. When energised with constant voltage, excitation and speed are
therefore practically independent of torque this would not be desirable for starter
operation. However the drop in battery voltage caused by the starter current yield a
beneficially characteristics similar to that of series wound motors.
Compound wound motors
Large starters used compound wound motor which have a shunt winding and a
series winding which act in to two stages. In the first stage, the armature current is
limited because the shunt winding connected in series with the armature and acts
as a dropping resistance. This keeps the meshing torque of the armature low. In
the second stage the full current is applied to the starter motor which then
develops its full torque. The shunt winding is now connected in parallel with the
armature and the series winding is connected is additionally connected is series
with the armature when the pinion returns to its initial position the shunt windings stops the armature quickly.

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The component parts of the starter motor and their function
The magnetic switch:- It consists of a hold in and pull in coil, a return spring a plunger and other
components. It is activated by the magnetic forces generated in the coil and carries the following functions:
a) It pushes the pinion gear to mesh with the ring gear
b) It serves as a relay allowing heavy current to pass from the battery to the starter motor
Starter Housing

It is a heavy cylinder machined case that holds the starting motor

assembly. Steel pole shoes are securely attached to the inner surface by
screws the pole shoes hold the field coils in place inside the housing. The
field coils are connected to a terminal and are insulated from the housing.

Field Coils
The electrical current from the magnetic switch flows thoroughly the field coils which generates the magnetic
field required to rotate the armature.
Brushes

The brushes are pressed against the segments of the armature

commentator by the brush springs and allow the current to pass
from the field coils to the armature.

Armature:
The armature which is the
revolving component of the
motor, consists of armature
core armature coils,
commutator, etc. It revolves as
a result of the interaction
between the magnetic fields
generated by the armature coils
and field coils.
Commentator end frame
The commentator end frame consists of metal plate that bolts to the commentator end of the housing and
supports the commentator end of the armature in a bushing. In many starter motors the commentator end

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frame also supports the brushes. The end frame is positioned on the starter housing by a dowel pin to insure
proper alignment.
Drive Housing:-
The drive housing supports the driving end of the armature shaft and also contains the mounting flange by
which the starting motor is attached to the engine. It is also positioned on the starter housing by a dowel to
ensure correct alignment.
Operation of the starter clutch

The starter motor must crank the engine until the engine fires and runs on its own. Once the engine has
started, it would rotate at higher speed which could damage the starter motor. The starter clutch is a protective
device for the starter motor.
a. Starter clutch during cranking
The rotating armature tires to force the clutch
housing to which it is splined to rotate faster than
the inner race which is combined with the pinion
gear. The clutch rollers are forced to roll towards
the narrow section between the clutch housing and
the inner race until they jam as a result the rollers
transfer the rotational moment of the clutch
housing to the inner race and to the pinion gear.

b. Starter clutch after the engine is started

Once 'the engine has started, its torque tires to force the inner race to rotate
faster than the clutch housing. The rollers move against the spring towards
the wider section inside the housing. As a result the clutch housing and the
inner race disengages to prevent the starter clutch from transmitting the
engine torque from the pinion gear to the starter motor.

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Operation of the conventional type starter motor
1. Ignition switch in start position
When the ignition switch is turned to the start position, terminal 50 passes electrical current to the hold in and
pull in coil. Then current passes from the pull in coil to the armature by terminal "C" The voltage drop across
the pull in keeps the amount of electrical current flow through the armature coil becomes small and the motor
rotates at lower speed. The magnetic field generated by the hold in and pull in coils pull the plunger against
the return spring by the drive to mesh with the ring gear. The low starter speed 'meshes the pinion and the ring
gear smoothly.

2. Pinion and ring gear engaged

When the magnetic switch and screw splines have pushed the pinion gear to mesh with the ring gear, the
contact plate attached to the plunger turns the main switch on by short circuiting the connection between
terminal 30 and terminal 'C'. As a result a larger electrical current passes through the starter
motor to rotate with a greater torque the screw splines helps the pinion gear mesh more securely with the ring
gear. At the same time, the voltage levels at both ends of the pull in coil becomes equal so that no current
flows through this coil the plunger is therefore held in position only by the magnetic force exerted by the hold
in coil.

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.

Ignition switch in on position

When the ignition switch is returned to on position from start, the voltage applied to terminal 50 is cut off.
The main switch remains closed, however, the current that flows from terminal" C" to the hold in coil via the
pull in coil since current flow through the hold in coil in the same direction as when the ignition switch is in
start position in generates a magnetic force which pulls the plunger. In the pull in coil; on the other hand,
current flows in the opposite direction generating a magnetic force, which tires to return the plunger to its

original position. The magnetic fields set up these two-coil cancel each other. so the plunger is pulled back by
the return spring. Therefore the heavy current which has been applied the motor is cut off and the plunger
disengages the pinion gear from the ring gear at about the same time.

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Armature Brake
A second attempt at starting the engine while the pinion gear is still
rotating due to inertia could lead to faulty meshing of the pinion
gear with the ring gear. To prevent this a brake mechanism is
incorporated. When the return spring inside the magnetic switch
retracts the pinion gear, the braking spring pulls the armature
against the brush holder. Since the brush holder is fixed to the
commentator end frame, the armature immediately stop turning.
REDUCTION TYPE
This type of starter motor contains a magnetic switch, a compact high-speed motor, several reduction gears, a
pinion gear, a starter clutch, ect.
The extra gears reduce the motor speed by the factor of one to three or four and transmit it to the pinion gear.
The plunger of the magnetic switch directly pushes the pinion gear, which is located on the same axis, causing
it to mesh with the ring gear.
This type of starter motor generates much greater torque, in proportion to size and weight, than the
conventional type.
Operation of the reduction type starter motor
1. Ignition switch in start position
When the ignition switch is turned to start terminal 50 passes electrical current to the hold in and pull in coil,
from the pull in coil the current flows to the field coils and armature coils via terminal 'C'. The motor rotates
at lower speed at this point, since the energised pull in coil causes a voltage drop which limits the supply of
current to the field coil and the armature coil the hold in & pull in coils at the same time set up a magnetic
field which pushes the plunger against the return spring. The pinion gear there fore shifts to engage with the
ring gear. The low speed at this stage helps the gear to mesh smoothly.

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2 Pinion and ring gear engaged

When the magnetic switch and screw splines have pushed the pinion gear to mesh with the ring gear, the
contact plate attached to the plunger turns the main switch on by short circuiting the connection between
terminal 30 and terminal 'C'. As a result a larger electrical current passes through the starter
motor to rotate with a greater torque the screw splines helps the pinion gear mesh more securely with the ring
gear. At the same time, the voltage levels at both ends of the pull in coil becomes equal so that no current
flows through this coil the plunger is therefore held in position only by the magnetic force exerted by the hold
in coil.

3. Ignition switch in on position

Turning the ignition switch back to "on" from the START cuts off the voltage to terminal 50 the main switch
remains closed, however some current flows from terminal 'C' to the hold in coil via the pull in coil. Since
current flows through the hold in coil in the same direction as when the ignition switch is in the start position.
It generates a magnetic force which pulls the plunger in the pull in coil, on the other hand, current flows in the
opposite direction generating a magnetic force which attempts to return the plunger to its original position.
The magnetic fields set up by these coils cancel each other so that the plunger back to its original position by
the return springs which in turn disengages the pinion gear from the ring gear therefore the heavy current
which has been supplied to the motor is cut off. The armature used in the reduction type starter motor has less
inertia because of the friction of the gears. Hence this type of starter motor does not need brake mechanism.
Current path:-it is the same as the conventional type on page 15

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BONus