Starting and Charging systems

Starting Systems

Inertia Starter: An Inertia starter is a starter motor that uses the momentum of the armeture turning to throw the pinion gear out toward the flywheel. As power is channeled to the starter the armeture starts to rotate. A worm gear within the pinion, mounted to the armeture shaft, moves the pinion outward engaging it with the flywheel as it turns. Once the pinion reaches the end of the shaft and is engaged the torque from the armeture turns the engine over.

Pre-Engage Starter: A Pre-engage starter motor is very similar to an inertia starter however instead of using inertia to throw the pinion out a small solenoid is used to engage the pinion before the armeture turns the engine over. A primary circut throws the pinion out, once the pinion has been thrown out power is feed to a second circut to hold the pinionn in place as the armeture turns.

Reduction Gear Starter: A reduction gear starter was designed to reduce size and power consumption of the starter motor. This unit incorporates a geartrain between the armeture and the driveshaft. This system permits higher speed, lower current, lighter more compact motor assembly and allows for increased torque.

Charging Systems

Alternator:

A alternator is an electromagnetic device that is driven via a belt or chain from the engine. This device is an auxillary device and will not run under its own power. Tipicaly this is a rotating magnet feild(Rotor) that turns within a stationary set of conductors(Stator).  As the rotor is driven the magnet acts on the stator producing an alternating(AC) current. This current changes due to the different polarity of each side of the magnet. This current is then feed through a rectifier which stabilises the voltage to a direct(DC) current. The alternator is used to power the electrical systems of the engine once started and charge the battery.


References
Ed May Vol 1
Ed May Vol 2
http://www.wikipedia.com/