ENGINE AR 6I2678 - Caterpillar

Electric Starting Motor
Illustration 1 g00986944
(1) Electric starting motorElectric starting motor (1) turns the engine flywheel. The rpm must be high enough in order to initiate a sustained operation of the fuel ignition in the cylinders.The starting motor has a solenoid. When the ignition switch is activated, voltage from the electrical system will cause the solenoid to move the pinion toward the flywheel ring gear of the engine. The electrical contacts in the solenoid close the circuit between the battery and the starting motor barely before the pinion engages the ring gear. This causes the starting motor to rotate. This type of activation is called a positive shift.When the engine begins to run, the overrunning clutch of the pinion drive prevents damage to the armature. Damage to the armature is caused by excessive speeds. The clutch prevents damage by stopping the mechanical connection. However, the pinion will stay meshed with the ring gear until the ignition switch is released. A spring in the overrunning clutch returns the clutch to the rest position.Alternator
Illustration 2 g01280832
(1) AlternatorAlternator (1) is an electro-mechanical component that is driven by a belt from the crankshaft pulley. The alternator charges the storage battery during the engine operation.The alternator converts the mechanical energy and the magnetic energy into alternating current and voltage. This conversion is done by rotating a direct current electromagnetic field on the inside of a three-phase stator. The electromagnetic field is generated by electrical current flowing through a rotor. The stator generates alternating current and voltage.The alternating current is changed to direct current by a three-phase, full-wave rectifier. Direct current flows to the output terminal of the alternator. The rectifier has three exciter diodes. The direct current is used for the charging process.A solid-state regulator is installed on the rear end of the alternator. Two brushes conduct current through two slip rings. The current then flows to the rotor field. A capacitor protects the rectifier from high voltages. The regulators are sealed and repair is not possible.The alternator is cooled by an internal fan which is covered by the alternator housing. The fan pulls air through the holes in the front of the alternator. The air exits through the holes in the back of the alternator.The diodes, the resistors, and the brushes are also covered by the alternator housing in order to protect the components from dirt and moisture.The alternator is connected to the battery through the ignition switch. Therefore, alternator excitation occurs when the switch is in the ON position.Glow Plugs
Illustration 3 g00986945
Typical exampleThe electrically operated glow plugs are installed in the cylinder head near the fuel injection nozzles. The glow plugs are connected by a bus bar.On naturally aspirated engines (indirect injection), the tips of the glow plugs reach into the precombustion chamber in the cylinder head.On turbocharged engines (direct injection), the tips of the glow plugs reach into the combustion chamber in the piston crown.When the glow plugs are energized, the tips become very hot in order to improve the combustion during cold start conditions.