Abstract: A recoil starter having improved durability by inhibiting excessive deformation of a damper spring, and capable of receiving a damper spring with high shock-absorbing and force-storing capabilities. The recoil starter includes a rope reel and a cam which are rotated by pulling a recoil rope, so that a rotation of the cam is transmitted to an engine via a ratchet mechanism to start the engine. A damper spring which couples the rope reel and the cam to each other has, at opposite ends thereof, engaging portions radially movably supported by holding portions of the rope reel and the cam, respectively, so that substantially the overall length of the damper spring winds and tightens uniformly around outer peripheral surfaces of both bosses of the rope reel and the cam due to a startup resistance of the engine.

Abstract: In a multi-cylinder engine having a compression ignition combustion mode, a vibration detecting sensor that is preferably mounted in a cylinder block or a cylinder head is used to detect a frequency and the detected frequency is appropriately analyzed to detect or estimate a cylinder pressure peak value and peak timing for each cylinder. An amount of internal EGR, a fuel injection condition, an engine speed and the like are then controlled so as to bring each of these parameters into an appropriate range thereof. The control apparatus suppresses variations in combustion states among different cylinders and different cycles arising from unit-to-unit variations or deterioration in the engine or part-to-part variations or deterioration in a component thereof.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Abstract: A decompressing mechanism (D) for an internal combustion engine (E) is incorporated into a camshaft (15) provided with a bore (54) extending in the direction of the arrow (A) along the axis (L1) of rotation of the camshaft (15). The decompressing mechanism (D) includes a decompression member (80) formed by metal injection and integrally having a flyweight (81), a decompression cam (82) for exerting a valve-opening force through an exhaust rocker arm (48) on an exhaust valve, and an arm (83) connecting the flyweight (81) and the decompression cam (82). The flyweight (81) is supported for swing motion by a pin (71) on the camshaft (15). The axis (L2) of swing motion of the flyweight (81) is included in a plane (P4) substantially perpendicular to the axis (L1) of rotation, and does not intersect the axis (L1) of rotation and the bore (54) of the camshaft (15). The fully expanded decompression member (80) revolves in a cylindrical space of a small diameter around the camshaft (15).

Abstract: A system for an internal combustion engine (10) arranged for being powered with a fuel mixed with a lubricant, which system includes:—a detector (16) arranged for detecting the presence of a given additive in the lubricant mixed fuel—an electronic module (24) arranged for comparing the detected presence of the additive with a predetermined threshold value, and designed so that if the lubricant is not mixed in the fuel, or has been mixed in the fuel in an amount lower than a through the additive against the threshold value correlated amount, by means of an indicator (30) indicate that a lack of lubricant is at hand in the fuel and/or by means of a connection (26) to an ignition or injection system (11) for the engine (10) prevent or modify the operation of the internal combustion engine if said lack of lubricant is at hand in the fuel. The invention also refers to the method of how the system operates.

Abstract: A threaded fastener is configured to reduce stress experienced at a female threaded portion of a hole formed in an engine block, when the threaded fastener is inserted therein, and when an axial load is applied thereto. In a particular application, a crankshaft is supported between a top supporting wall of a crankcase and a bottom supporting wall of a main cap. The inventive bolt includes a hollowed-out male threaded portion, which fits into a hole in the top supporting wall. The male threaded portion includes an elastically deformable low-rigidity portion, in which a cylindrical hole is concentrically formed. The maximum allowable stress of the top supporting wall is less than that of the bolt, due to material considerations. The low-rigidity portion is placed overlapping the female threaded portion in the axial direction, and since it is elastically deformable, it helps alleviate the stress experienced by the female threaded portion.

Abstract: In a system which applies a torque-based control to a direct injection engine with a turbocharger and is capable of switching between stoichiometric running and lean-burn running in accordance with a driving state, in order to provide a means for obtaining preferred exhaust performance and driveability, a turbo lag index is computed on the basis of supercharged pressure information or air intake pipe pressure information which are obtained directly or indirectly, and then a throttle opening or a fuel injection quantity is corrected on the basis of the above-described turbo lag index to obtain desired torque and exhaust characteristics. As a result, it is possible to prevent a torque variation, a change in torque characteristics, exhaust deterioration, or the like in a transient time, which are generated due to a turbo lag.

Abstract: A recoil starter capable of preventing vibration of a damper spring due to vibrations of an engine caused during running of the engine, to thereby restrain abrasion of a rope reel, a cam and the like which are made of a plastic material, resulting in the durability of the recoil starter being enhanced. The recoil starter includes a drive section comprised of a rope reel which is rotated by pulling a recoil rope and a cam for transmitting the rotational force of the reel to a crankshaft of the engine through a one-way rotative transmission mechanism. A damper spring in the shape of a torsion coil spring is held in annular recesses formed in joint surfaces of the rope reel and cam to face each other while the damper spring is resiliently distorted, so that the rope reel and the cam are rotatingly coupled with each other through the damper spring.

Abstract: A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. The push rod extends through an inner pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons. The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. The movement of the inner and outer piston assemblies during engine operation will cause the fluid plungers to pump fluid from a low pressure container into a high pressure chamber as a means of storing the energy output from the engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the initial conditions for starting a direct injection, spark-ignition internal combustion engine. Measures, such as adjusting the throttle valve, a varying inlet and exhaust valve timings, operating a secondary-air pump, ensures that the internal combustion engine, when running down, scavenges exhaust gases from the cylinder by providing fresh air into the. Furthermore, measures are undertaken for the braking and/or active rotation of the internal combustion engine so that it is a suitable position for renewed starting, the restarting being accomplished without the aid of a starter motor.

Abstract: A power tool includes a combustion chamber (1; 54), a drive piston (8) adjoining the combustion chamber (1; 54) and displaceable upon combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber, an ignition device (52) for igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber (1; 54), and a cooling device (2a, 6a; 64; 70) connected with the combustion chamber (1; 54) for cooling the combustion chamber (1; 54) with a liquid cooling medium.

Abstract: Electronically controlled internal combustion engines are operated based upon control calibration algorithms that can come in a variety of forms, including maps, equations, surfaces and other mathematical techniques. Each combination of a control calibration algorithm and a particular engine must satisfy certain constraints such as customer acceptance and value demands, and should have the ability to perform a variety of expected duty cycles for the given engine application. A plurality of different engine control calibration algorithms are made available to an engine control system. Each of the engine calibration algorithms corresponds to a particular duty cycle while being optimized for a performance parameter such as reduced emissions, while meeting a variety of constraints.

Abstract: In a game system, players' own horse trained by players in a horse racing game of an arcade game machine is allowed to participate in races of a horse racing game Web site managed by a Web server by using a password. The password includes a day of retirement, names of G1 races won, and so on. In the horse racing game Web site, if the day of retirement is within a term of validity, participation for an application related to the password is not allowed. Experience of winning a predetermined number of G1 race is required in order to participate in a specific race held in the horse racing game site, and horses without such experience are not allowed to participate.

Abstract: A method is provided for starting an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder having at least one inlet valve and one exhaust valve. In accordance with one embodiment the method includes the steps of opening an inlet valve of any cylinder that would otherwise undergo a wasted power stroke and opening an exhaust valve of any cylinder that would otherwise undergo a wasted compression stroke.

Abstract: A recoil starter enabling a power-driven device to be coupled to a crankshaft of an engine in a state where the recoil starter is mounted to the crankshaft on the same side of the engine as the crankshaft is disposed on. A starter housing is provided on an inside thereof with a reel support shaft which projects coaxially with the crankshaft. A rope reel having a recoil rope wound thereon and a cam, which transmits rotation via centrifugal ratchets to the crankshaft, are rotatably mounted on the reel support shaft while they are rotatingly coupled to each other via a damper spring. An opening is formed in the reel support shaft so as to extend from a distal end thereof near the crankshaft to the outside of the starter housing. A drive shaft of the device is coupled to the crankshaft inside the opening.

Abstract: An engine starter includes a reel to be rotated by a rope wound around the reel, first and second springs, both of which being wound up by the rotation of the reel, an engine starting pulley to be rotated by the second spring for driving a crank shaft of an engine, and a centrifugal clutch inserted between the engine starting pulley and the crank shaft of the engine. A spring force accumulated in the second spring is dwindled into zero when the rope is recoiled around the reel by the first and the second springs.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine such as an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: checking the operability of at least one component by a diagnostic function (D); causing the diagnostic function (D) to transmit data (CB) that the diagnostic function (D) could have found a fault to a central function (CF) in a format uniform for all diagnostic functions (D); and, causing the central function (CF) to process the data (CB).

Abstract: A distributed manufacturing and distribution process for lottery tickets is disclosed. The manufacturing/vending system comprises a centralized ticket manufacturing controller located at a centralized location and one or more vending devices located at remote sites. Each vending device is operatively coupled for communication with the centralized ticket manufacturing controller, normally via a network connection. Each vending devices is further equipped with a printer and ticket media, so that a customer is able to purchase on-demand tickets from vending device in communication with the centralized ticket manufacturing controller. Additionally, the vending devices may be configured as electronic aid to display the results of the purchased lottery tickets in entertaining ways to the customer.

Abstract: A starter/battery charger, which is coupled to an internal-combustion engine, operates as a starting motor for starting the engine and also operates as a charging generator for charging a battery after the engine has been started. Control unit controls the rotation speed of the engine by performing a driving control and a braking control on the starter/battery charger. The control unit carries out a judgement that a self-ignition state has been established in the engine depends on one of the rotation speed of the engine and a variation rate of the rotation speed has exceeded a prescribed value. The control unit switchs from the driving control to the braking control upon the judgement, thereby preventing the overshoot in the rotation speed of the engine.

Abstract: An exemplary capacitor has a capacitor stack positioned in a case with a conductor positioned between the case and a lid. In one embodiment the conductor is positioned between the lid and an upper rim of the case and is welded to the lid and case. In one aspect, a capacitor constructed with round wire connectors for interconnecting anode and cathode layers. In one aspect, a configuration for electrically connecting a terminal wire to a capacitor case in which an end of the wire is attached to the case in end-on fashion. The terminal wire may have an expanded end for attaching to the capacitor case in a manner that minimizes the effect on the height profile of the case.