1、 Early manual start period (early days of automobile birth - early 20th century)
In the early stages of the birth of automobiles, the starting method of engines was extremely primitive. At that time, people mainly relied on hand cranking to start the engine. This type of hand crank is usually installed at the front end of the engine, and the operator needs to use a large amount of force to rotate the crankshaft of the engine, thereby completing the cycle of intake, compression, work, and exhaust, and finally starting the engine.
This manual start method has many drawbacks. Firstly, it requires high physical strength from the operator, especially for large engines or in cold weather where the engine oil thickens and friction increases, making manual starting more difficult. Secondly, this method carries certain risks. At the moment of engine start-up, if the operator fails to release the crankshaft in time, the recoil generated by the engine may cause the crankshaft to reverse, thereby injuring the operator's arm. Such accidents were not uncommon at that time.
In addition to hand cranking, there is also a rope pull starting method. This method may be slightly more convenient than hand cranking in some situations, but it also faces issues such as high physical exertion, low efficiency, and safety hazards. For example, rope pull start requires finding the appropriate angle of force during operation, and the rope is prone to wear and breakage, further increasing the uncertainty of the start.
2、 The Sprout and Early Exploration of Electric Starters (Early 20th Century -1912)
With the development of the automotive industry, there is an urgent need for a safer and more efficient way to start engines. At the beginning of the 20th century, some inventors began to try using electricity to start engines.
In 1910, Carton had already begun researching starter related technologies. However, at that time, due to technological limitations, the starter he studied could not meet the requirements of practical applications in multiple key aspects such as reliability, effectiveness, and compactness. Nevertheless, these early explorations laid a certain theoretical and practical foundation for the subsequent invention of truly practical electric starters.
3、 The birth and initial application of electric starter motors (1912-20th century)
In 1912, General Motors' Cadillac sedan made a major breakthrough by being equipped with an electric starter invented by Charles Kettering for the first time. This invention can be regarded as a milestone in the history of automobile development, completely changing the way car engines start.
The basic principle of this electric starter is to use the electrical energy provided by the battery, drive the gear to mesh with the flywheel ring gear of the engine through the motor, and then drive the flywheel to rotate, thereby starting the engine. Compared to manual starting methods, electric starter motors have significant advantages. It not only greatly reduces the physical burden on drivers, but also makes the starting process faster and more reliable, effectively improving the convenience and safety of car use.
Afterwards, car manufacturers gradually realized the enormous potential of electric starters and began to adopt this new technology one after another. However, in the early application process, electric starters also faced some problems. For example, at that time, battery technology was not yet mature enough, battery storage was limited, and the power of the starter was relatively small, which may be slightly difficult to start for some large engines. In addition, the durability and stability of the starter motor also need to be improved. Frequent starting operations may cause problems such as motor overheating and gear wear.
4、 The period of technological improvement and development (mid-20th century to late 20th century)
In 1949, Chrysler made new innovations in starter technology by being the first to use a combination button to operate the ignition start switch. This design integrates ignition and start functions on one button, further simplifying the operation process of the car and improving the user experience.
During this period, technological improvements in starter motors mainly focused on electromagnetic switches, motor performance, and transmission mechanisms. The improvement of electromagnetic switches makes the control of the starter more precise and reliable. By optimizing the design and materials of the electromagnetic coil, the electromagnetic attraction has been improved, ensuring that the starter can quickly and stably mesh and detach with the engine flywheel ring gear.
In terms of motor performance, the starter adopts a more efficient motor design and better insulation materials. For example, from traditional series excited DC motors to permanent magnet DC motors. Permanent magnet motors have higher efficiency, smaller size, and better torque characteristics, which can provide stronger starting power under the same power supply conditions. At the same time, the heat dissipation performance of the motor has also been improved. By optimizing the housing structure and heat dissipation channels of the motor, the risk of damage due to overheating has been reduced.
In terms of transmission mechanism, the gear materials and manufacturing processes of the starter motor are constantly upgrading. By using more wear-resistant and high-strength alloy steel to manufacture gears, and optimizing the tooth profile of the gears, the meshing accuracy and transmission efficiency of the gears have been improved. In addition, some protective devices have been added, such as one-way clutches. The one-way clutch can ensure that the gear of the starter automatically separates from the flywheel ring gear after the engine starts, avoiding the engine from driving the starter to rotate at high speed and damaging the starter.
5、 Modern intelligent starter era (early 21st century present)
Entering the 21st century, with the rapid development of automotive technology, especially the widespread application of electronic technology and intelligent technology in the automotive field, starter motors have also ushered in new changes.
Against the backdrop of the rise of new energy vehicles, the application of electric starters in electric and hybrid vehicles has become more widespread. For electric vehicles, the function of the starter is no longer just to start the engine (because electric vehicles do not have traditional internal combustion engines), but more involved in the vehicle's power system control and energy recovery processes. For example, during vehicle start-up and acceleration, the starter motor (commonly referred to as the drive motor in electric vehicles) serves as a power source, efficiently converting electrical energy into mechanical energy to drive the vehicle forward; During the braking process, the driving motor can also serve as a generator, converting the vehicle's kinetic energy into electrical energy, which is recovered and stored in the battery to achieve energy regeneration and utilization.
At the same time, the intelligence level of starter motors is also increasing. Modern starter motors are equipped with complex electronic control units (ECUs) that can automatically adjust the starting parameters of the starter motor based on various factors such as engine temperature, battery level, and vehicle starting frequency. For example, in cold weather, the ECU can control the starter to pre rotate the engine at a lower speed, allowing the oil to fully lubricate the internal components of the engine before starting it normally. This can reduce wear and tear during engine start-up and extend the service life of the engine. In addition, the intelligent starter can also be connected to the owner's mobile phone and other devices through the vehicle's communication system to achieve remote starting and other functions, providing great convenience for users.
From early hand cranked cranks to today's intelligent electric starters, the history of starters has witnessed the continuous advancement of automotive technology and humanity's relentless pursuit of convenient and efficient modes of transportation.
