Abstract: A breakerless electronic ignition system including a permanent magnet assembly, a transformer, an electronic ignition circuit and a cut off switch. In one embodiment of the system, a charging coil charges up a capacitor. The capacitor is connected in series with an electronic switching device and a primary coil of the transformer. The transformer primary coil has one end connected to the cut off switch which is normally closed and which is connected to ground. When the cut off switch is in the open position, current is prevented from flowing through the primary coil whereas the electronic switching device continues to be triggered as the engine coasts to a stop. In an inductive embodiment of the system, the primary coil of the transformer is also lifted from ground by the cut off switch to stop further generation of ignition sparks.

Abstract: A flywheel assembly for a small internal combustion engine including a permanent magnet structure secured to the flywheel near the outer periphery thereof and for cooperating with the ignition stator to induce spark creating voltages therein. The permanent magnet structure includes two pole shoes and a permanent magnet captured between shoulder portions of the pole shoes. A non-magnetic spacer plate includes two protuberances and is inserted between the flywheel and the magnet group consisting of the pole shoes and the permanent magnet. The protuberances cooperate with outer peripheral surfaces of the pole shoes. The magnet group is held accurately and rigidly in position by axially compressing a pair of rivets which pass through the flywheel, the plate and the magnet group, whereby the rivets are radially expanded to tightly fill the respective apertures through which they pass. The protuberances on the plate prevent the pole shoes from pivoting when the pole shoe outer surfaces are machined.

Abstract: A scheme for mounting a permanent magnet group on the flywheel of a small internal combustion engine to provide the moving portion of an ignition system for such an engine is disclosed wherein the engine flywheel is formed of cast iron or similar ferromagnetic material and the magnet group is magnetically isolated from that flywheel so as to minimize short circuiting of the magnet group flux. A generally flat region of the flywheel receives a spacer or plate formed from aluminum or a similar substantially non-magnetic material such as zinc with that plate sandwiched between the flywheel and the magnet group by a pair of aluminum or similar non-magnetic material rivets passing through the flywheel plate and magnet group. The magnet group is held accurately and rigidly in position by upsetting the rivets in such a manner as to axially compress and therefore radially expand the rivet material so that the rivets tightly fill the respective apertures through which they pass.

Abstract: The laminated stator core for an engine ignition system includes in addition to that ignition system an arrangement for charging the storage battery of an internal combustion engine powered device during engine operation with a charging coil surrounding one leg of the ignition stator core and a rectifier coupling to the charging coil for conveying a varying unidirectional current to the battery. The ignition system may be of the type having a three legged E-shaped laminated stator core and a flywheel supported permanent magnet with charging coils being positioned on each of the outer E legs with diodes in series with each charging coil and means connecting the two coil-diode series circuits in parallel with one another and to the battery for providing a pair of sequential primary charging current pulses to the battery during each revolution of the flywheel. A fourth laminated stator core leg supporting a charging coil may be employed in some circumstances.

Abstract: The laminated stator core for an engine ignition system includes in addition to that ignition system an arrangement for charging the storage battery of an internal combustion engine powered device during engine operation with a charging coil surrounding one leg of the ignition stator core and a rectifier coupled to the charging coil for conveying a varying unidirectional current to the battery. The ignition system may be of the type having a three legged E-shaped laminated stator core and a flywheel supported permanent magnet with charging coils being positioned on each of the outer E legs with diodes in series with each charging coil and means connecting the two coil-diode series circuits in parallel with one another and to the battery for providing a pair of sequential primary charging current pulses to the battery during each revolution of the flywheel. A fourth laminated stator core leg supporting a charging coil may be employed in some circumstances.

Abstract: An ignition timing method and apparatus for presetting the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine having a rotatable shaft and a wheel supported on that shaft carrying a portion of the ignition system with another portion of that ingition system supported by the engine in a relatively fixed position adjacent the wheel. A slot is provided in the shaft surface generally parallel to the axis of rotation of that shaft and a further slot is provided along an inner hub of the wheel so as to be generally alignable with the shaft slot when the wheel is supported on the shaft. A selected one of several different keys is captured between the wheel hub and the shaft so that a portion of the selected key occupies the shaft slot and another portion of the selected key occupies the wheel slot to thereby fix the angular relationship between the shaft and wheel at an angular offset determined by the particular key selected.