Ignition housing for internal combustion engine

1. An internal combustion engine comprising:

a crankcase, and a crankshaft rotatably supported within the crankcase;

at least one cylinder and a cylinder head above the at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder and the cylinder head together defining at least one combustion chamber;

a piston disposed in the at least one cylinder so as to be capable of reciprocal movement and operatively connected to the crankshaft;

a generator disposed outside the crankcase, the generator being operatively connected to one end of the crankshaft; and

a molded ignition housing distinct from the crankcase, the molded ignition housing including a generally cylindrical main body having a length, a first end and a second end, the main body having an opening such that the main body surrounds the generator, the first end connecting the main body to the crankcase; the molded ignition housing being made of a synthetic resin.

2. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , wherein the synthetic resin is an organic thermoplastic.

3. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 2 , wherein the organic thermoplastic is a polyamide based nylon.

4. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , wherein the synthetic resin is reinforced.

5. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 4 , wherein the synthetic resin is reinforced with fibers.

6. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , wherein the molded ignition housing is made of a fiber glass reinforced polyamide 6.6.

7. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 4 , wherein the reinforced synthetic resin has a tensile strength of at least 80 MPa.

8. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a recoil starter operatively connected to one end of the crankshaft adjacent the generator.

9. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 8 , further comprising an end plate connected to the second end of the ignition housing, the end plate covering the recoil starter.

10. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor for determining a position of the piston, the at least one sensor disposed within the ignition housing.

11. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of Hall sensors and inductive sensors.

12. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , wherein the crankcase is horizontally split into an upper half and a lower half.

13. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second end of the main body includes a rim and the main body includes a recess extending inwardly from the second end at least partially along the length of the main body, the recess having a structural ridge extending on one side of the recess at least partially along the length of the main body.

14. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 13 , comprising a second structural ridge extending on a second side of the recess, along the length of the main body.

15. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 14 , wherein the recess further comprises reinforcement ribs extending along the length of the main body.

16. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 15 , wherein the reinforcement ribs extend from the first side of the main body.

17. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 13 , wherein the main body further comprises cooling vents at least partially disposed around a circumference of the main body.

18. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 17 , wherein the cooling vents are disposed adjacent the rim of the second end of the main body.

19. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , wherein the generally cylindrical main body flares outwardly from the first end to the second end.

20. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 13 , wherein the rim of the second end of the main body extends outwardly from the main body.

21. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , including two cylinders and having a volumetric displacement of at least 400 cc.

22. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine operates on a two-stroke principle.

23. A snowmobile comprising:

a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;

a drive track assembly disposed below and supporting the rearward end of the frame;

a front suspension connected to the forward end of the frame;

two skis connected to the front suspension;

a two-stroke engine mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the drive track via a drive train for delivering propulsive power to the drive track;

the two-stroke engine comprising:

a crankcase, and a crankshaft supported within the crankcase for rotation;

at least one cylinder and a cylinder head above the at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder and the cylinder head together defining at least one combustion chamber;

a piston disposed in the at least one cylinder so as to be capable of reciprocal movement and operatively connected to the crankshaft;

a generator disposed outside the crankcase, the generator being operatively connected to one end of the crankshaft; and

a molded ignition housing distinct from the crankcase, the molded ignition housing including a generally cylindrical main body having a length, a first end and a second end, the main body having an opening such that the main body surrounds the generator, the first end connecting the main body to the crankcase; the molded ignition housing being made of a synthetic resin.