Multiple-keyed flywheel and engine crankshaft
View Patent ↗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.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a shaft comprising a first shaft slot and a second shaft slot;
a rotational element comprising a magnet for use with an ignition module and a center bore comprising a first rotational element slot and a second rotational element slot on a circumference of the center bore; and
a key configured to align the shaft to the rotation element, wherein when a first ignition timing is selected, the first shaft slot is aligned to the first rotational element slot in a first position and, when a second ignition timing is selected, the second shaft slot is aligned to the second rotational element slot in a second position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the key aligns the shaft and the rotational element in the first position corresponding to a first fuel type and aligns the shaft and the rotational element in the second position corresponding to a second fuel type.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first shaft slot and the second shaft slot are different sizes and the first rotational element slot and the second rotational element slot are different sizes.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the key is configured to mate with the first shaft slot and the first rotational element slot or the second shaft slot and the second rotational element slot.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the shaft is tapered to accept the rotational element.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotational element further comprises a third rotational element slot, and
wherein the key aligns the second shaft slot to the third rotational element slot in a third position corresponding to a third ignition timing option.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shaft further comprises a third shaft slot, and
wherein the key aligns the first rotational element slot or the second rotational element slot to the third shaft slot in a third position corresponding to a third ignition timing option.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first rotational element slot includes indicia associated with the first shaft slot.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is a crankshaft.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotational element is a flywheel.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first shaft slot, the second shaft slot, the first rotational element slot, and the second rotational element slot are keyways.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first ignition timing option corresponds to the magnet at a first setting of degrees from top dead center (TDC) of the shaft, and
wherein the second ignition timing option corresponds to the magnet at a second setting of degrees from the TDC of the shaft.
13. A method for installing a rotational apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
determining an ignition timing setting for the internal combustion engine, wherein the ignition timing setting corresponds to a first ignition timing or a second ignition timing;
identifying a plurality of slots formed on a center bore of a rotational element and a plurality of slots formed on a shaft of the engine that correspond;
mounting the rotational element on the shaft by inserting the shaft through the center bore; and
aligning a first slot from the plurality of slots of the rotational element with a second slot from the plurality of slots of the shaft with a key when the first ignition timing is determined;
aligning a third slot from the plurality of slots of the rotational elements with a fourth slot from the plurality of slots of the shaft with the key when the second ignition timing is determined.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first slot of the rotational element has a different size than the third slot.
15. A method for manufacturing a rotational apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
forming a center bore with a first rotational element slot and a second rotational element slot on a circumference of the center bore within a rotational element; and
joining a magnet to the rotational element at a predetermined angular orientation;
wherein the first rotational element slot and the second rotational element slot correspond to a first shaft slot and a second shaft slot formed on a distal end of a shaft of the engine, and
wherein a key aligns the first shaft slot to the first rotational element slot in a first position corresponding to when a first ignition timing option is selected and aligns the second shaft slot to the second rotational element slot in a second position corresponding to when a second ignition timing option is selected.
16. The method for manufacturing the rotational apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first shaft slot and the second shaft slot are different sizes and the first rotational element slot and the second rotational element slot are different sizes, and
wherein the key is configured to mate the first shaft slot and the first rotational element slot or the second shaft slot and the second rotational element slot.
17. The method for manufacturing the rotational apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first ignition timing option corresponds to the magnet at a first setting of degrees from top dead center (TDC) of the shaft, and
wherein the second ignition timing option corresponds to the magnet at a second setting of degrees from the TDC of the shaft.
18. The method for manufacturing the rotational apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the shaft is a crankshaft.
19. The method for manufacturing the rotational apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the rotational element is a flywheel.
20. The method for manufacturing the rotational apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first shaft slot, the second shaft slot, the first rotational element slot, and the second rotational element slot are keyways.