Multiple-keyed flywheel and engine crankshaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10107250-B2
Application number	US-201615261508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2016
Priority date	Sep 9, 2016
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A multiple-keyed crankshaft and flywheel provides for different ignition timing options for an internal combustion engine. The crankshaft of the engine includes multiple keyways set at designated angular displacements of the crankshaft that correspond with keyways on a flywheel for providing different timing options for the engine. The flywheel may be mounted to the crankshaft by aligning one of the keyways of the flywheel to one of the keyways of the crankshaft related to a particular ignition timing selection.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a crankshaft including a plurality of keyways at a distal end of the crankshaft, wherein the plurality of keyways correspond to different ignition timings;
a flywheel including a magnet for use with an ignition module and a center bore including at least one keyway on a circumference of the center bore;
a key aligning one of the plurality of keyways of the crankshaft to at least one keyway of the flywheel;
a controller configured to identify one of the plurality of keyways of the crankshaft to align with the at least one keyway of the flywheel; and
a sensor configured to measure oxygen,
wherein the controller is configured to evaluate the measured oxygen and identify the one of the plurality of keyways of the crankshaft to align with the at least one keyway of the flywheel in response to the measured oxygen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ignition module is a magneto ignition module configured to trigger ignition of a spark plug when the magnet passes the magneto ignition module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one keyway of the flywheel includes two keyways spaced apart.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the two keyways are spaced apart in a range of 160 degrees to 180 degrees.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keyways of the crankshaft includes two keyways spaced apart.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keyways of the crankshaft includes two keyways spaced apart in a range of 160 degrees to 180 degrees.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one keyway of the flywheel includes indicia, the indicia being associated with one of the plurality of keyways of the crankshaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the distal end of the crankshaft is tapered to accept the flywheel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display for displaying a selected keyway of the plurality of keyways of the crankshaft to align with the at least one keyway of the flywheel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one keyway of the flywheel includes three keyways, each spaced apart in a range of 120 degrees and the plurality of keyways of the crankshaft includes two keyways spaced apart 180 degrees.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one keyway of the flywheel includes two keyways spaced apart 180 degrees from a center of the flywheel and the plurality of keyways of the crankshaft includes three keys ways, each spaced apart in a range of 110 to 130 degrees.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to identify a first indicia for the at least one keyway of the flywheel or a second indicia for the one of the plurality keyways of the crankshaft according to a predetermined timing setting.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Kleczewski Michael
• Webster James

Classifications

• F16F15/3153 Primary

  Securing inertia members to the shafts · CPC title

• F16F15/30 Primary

  Flywheels (F16F15/16, F16F15/28 take precedence; suppression of vibrations in rotating systems using elastic members or friction-damping members moving with the system, {i.e. split flywheels or single masses connected to a hub by elastic members or friction-damping members} F16F15/12; rotary-body aspects in general F16C13/00, F16C15/00) · CPC title

• F16F15/24

  of crankshaft systems by particular disposition of cranks, pistons, or the like {(shape of crankshafts or eccentric-shafts having regard to balancing F16C3/20)} · CPC title

• F16C2360/00

  Engines or pumps · CPC title

• F16C3/06

  Crankshafts · CPC title