Abstract: An engine ignition and charging system employs magnets mounted on a rotor, and a stator positioned relative to the rotor such that charge coils, alternator coils, and a power coil on the stator are located such that the magnets pass in close proximity thereto as the rotor rotates. The rotor also has a magnetic timing means for generating a timing flux path at a predetermined location relative to the rotor. A Hall effect transducer circuit is positioned in proximity to the rotor such that as the flux path passes, the flux path is sensed so as to generate a timing trigger voltage. This trigger voltage is employed in conjunction with an ignition voltage generating circuit to supply an ignition voltage to a spark plug in timed sequence with rotation of the rotor. The power coil on the stator supplies power to the Hall effect transducer for operation thereof. A charging circuit connects an output of the alternator coils to a system battery for charging thereof.

Abstract: A high efficiency marine alternator system employs a marine engine flywheel as a rotor in an alternator. The rotor has a cup-shaped portion defined by an outer circular wall, and wherein a stator is received within the cup-shaped portion. The rotor is formed of a one-piece net ductile iron casting by the lost foam process. Magnets are mounted on an inner surface of the circular wall such that as the rotor rotates, the magnets move past pole faces of the stator. A starter motor ring gear is mounted on an outer surface of the circular outer wall. By minimizing a thickness of the outer circular wall on which the magnets are directly mounted and by direct mounting of the magnets on an inner surface of the outer wall, for a given diameter of the rotor/flywheel, the rotor magnets can be mounted at a maximum radius from a central rotational axis of the rotor, thus increasing linear velocity of the magnets as they move past the rotor faces, and improving efficiency of the alternator.

Abstract: A stator assembly is associated with a rotor to form an alternator. The stator assembly has pole legs with pole faces, past which magnets on the rotor rotate. At least one coil bobbin with a coil thereon is slidably received over at least one of the pole legs, said at least one pole leg having a notch in a side thereof. A bobbin locking clip is positioned in a gap between a central aperture wall of the bobbin and the one side of the pole leg having the notch. The clip of springy material has two springy tabs for engagement in the notch and an embossment on a main body surface thereof, so as to provide three-point contact. The bobbin and coil to be wound thereon can be manufactured separate from the stator assembly, and then the bobbin with the coil can be slid on the pole legs after assembly. The stator is also assembled such that rivets are provided at a central portion, and rivets are provided near end faces of pole legs on which bobbins are not provided.

Abstract: A high efficiency charging and regulating system charges a battery and regulates a voltage delivered to the battery. An alternator having a rotor with at least one magnet thereon and a stator in close proximity to the rotor has at least one alternator coil and at least one power coil. A regulating and charging device connects an output of the alternator coil to a system battery for delivering a regulated voltage to the system battery for charging thereof. Preferably, the charging and regulating means comprises a full wave SCR rectifier, gate inputs of which are controlled by voltage derived from the power coil.

Abstract: A switch mechanism for use with a printed circuit board and for cooperatively operating with an advantageously formed housing to protect such printed circuit board from external forces.