PCT No. PCT / DE97 / 01663 Sec. 371 Date Sep. 22, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Sep. 22, 1998 PCT Filed Aug. 7, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 20252 PCT Pub. Date May 14, 1998The
starter apparatus for an
internal combustion engine (2) includes a
starter-generator including a device for rotating a
flywheel (5) to a predetermined rotational speed and a device for rotating the
crankshaft (3) of the engine to directly start the engine; at least one
clutch (6, 7) for directly
coupling or disengaging the
flywheel (5) with the
crankshaft (3) of the engine (2) so that the
flywheel (5) starts the engine (2) with the
rotational energy stored in the flywheel (5) by the
starter-generator in an impulse starting method and a
changeover device (11) for changing between the impulse starting method based on engagement of the flywheel (5) with the engine (2) and a direct starting method in which the starter-generator (4) is directly coupled to the engine, wherein the
changeover device switches between the direct starting method and the impulse starting method as a function of a temperature of the engine (2) so that the impulse starting method is used at comparatively lower temperatures and the direct-starting method is used at comparatively higher temperatures. The starter apparatus also includes a device for adaptively determining the threshold for
changeover between impulse starting and direct starting.