Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a variable compression ratio mechanism capable of varying a compression ratio of the engine, a compression ratio setting section that sets a compression ratio to be attained by the variable compression ratio mechanism in accordance with an operating condition of the engine, a knock detecting section that detects a knock occurrence state, an ignition timing learning correcting section that determines a learning correction value of an ignition timing in accordance with the knock occurrence sate, and a compression ratio correcting section that corrects the compression ratio set by the compression ratio setting section in accordance with the learning correction value of the ignition timing. A control method is also provided.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for temporarily warming a plurality of vehicle engines includes a warm fluid circulation loop; an engine fluid circulation loop; a fluid heater; a fluid to fluid heat exchangers; a warm fluid pump; and an engine fluid pump. The warm fluid circulation loop connects the warm fluid heater to the fluid to fluid heat exchanger. The engine fluid circulation loop transfers engine fluid from engine fluid systems to the fluid to fluid heat exchanger. The fluid heater heats the fluid in the warm fluid circulation loop and the warm fluid is then circulated through the warm fluid circulation loop to the fluid to fluid heat exchanger to warm the engine fluid in the engine fluid circulation loop. The warmed engine fluid circulates through the engine fluid system warming the vehicle engine. The apparatus is configured to warm a plurality of vehicle engines at the same time.

Abstract: The present air intake device for a straddle-type vehicle, includes: an air cleaner case including an outer wall having an outer surface; and an air intake case of a fixed volume having an open end. The open end is disposed opposite to the outer surface of the outer wall so that a predetermined gap is formed between the open end of the air intake case and the outer surface of the outer wall. Thereby, an air intake chamber is formed in the air intake case and the gap forms an air intake inlet. The air intake chamber communicates with an air inlet of an apparatus mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a reformer for reforming a fuel air mixture to produce a reformed gas, a crank angle sensor for detecting a rotational speed of the engine, and an ECU. The ECU obtains a difference of an actual rotational speed from a target rotational speed of the engine during an idling thereof based on a signal from the crank angle sensor. When the difference thus obtained exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the ECU determines that a reforming catalyst of the reformer has deteriorated or there is any abnormality in the reformer.

Abstract: An engine is constructed such that respective centers of gravity of a crank shaft, a balancer shaft and a cylinder are positioned close to one another and the mass of the engine is thus centralized. The engine includes a shaft center of a cylinder that is offset to one side with respect to a shaft center of a crank shaft, and a balancer shaft is disposed on a side of the engine where the cylinder shaft center is offset with respect to a first parallel line which intersects with the crank shaft center and extends substantially parallel to the cylinder shaft center.

Abstract: An engine having a cylinder, a piston slideably received in the cylinder, a crankshaft connected to the piston, and a multi-link piston crank mechanism. The multi-link piston crank mechanism controls movement of the piston such that an acceleration of the piston at top dead center is less than an acceleration of the piston at bottom dead center. A determining device determines an operating condition of the engine. A combustion mode control device controls the engine to operate at an air-fuel ratio leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the determining device determines that the operating condition of the engine is in a predetermined operating region.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes one or more pistons (4), each of which is mounted to reciprocate in a respective cylinder (2) and is pivotably connected to a connecting rod (6) which is connected to a respective crank on a crankshaft (7). The connecting rod (6) is pivotably connected to one end of an elongate link (14), which is pivotably connected to the associated crank at a point intermediate its ends and whose other end constitutes a rod (18) which is restrained by a mounting (20, 24) such that it may pivot about a pivotal axis parallel to the axis of the crankshaft. The mounting includes a first movable mounting member (20) and a second movable mounting member (24). The first mounting member (20) is connected to the rod (18) by a connection which permits only relative sliding movement in the direction of the length of the rod and is pivotally connected to the second mounting member (24) to pivot with respect thereto about the said pivotal axis.

Abstract: An engine includes at least one cylinder bore having a cylinder wall and a piston positioned within the cylinder bore, and adapted for reciprocal movement therein. At least one piston sleeve is positioned within the cylinder bore, radially between the piston and the cylinder wall. The piston sleeve extends around the piston, and is adapted for reciprocal movement therein. The piston and the piston sleeve are able to move independently of one another. A stop selectively secures the piston sleeve stationary within the cylinder adjacent a top portion of the cylinder. When the stop is de-activated, the piston and the piston sleeve move together within the cylinder, and when the stop is activated, the piston sleeve is secured adjacent the top portion of the cylinder and the piston moves reciprocally within the piston sleeve.

Abstract: A system includes a control switch mounted in a tractor cabin and is electrically mated to a power source of the tractor. A first coolant is housed within the tractor's engine and a second coolant is housed within a trailer's heating system. The first and second coolants have unique boiling and freezing temperatures respectively. A mechanism is included for simultaneously transferring heat from the first coolant to the second coolant while maintaining the coolants isolated. The first and second coolants have first temperatures entering and second temperatures exiting the heat transferring mechanism, respectively. The first coolant second temperature is lower than the second coolant second temperature. Mechanism are included for controlling an input flow rate of the second coolant upstream from the heat transfer mechanism and for replenishing the second coolant as heat is transferred between the first and second coolants.

Abstract: In an engine having a propeller mounted on one end of a crankshaft, the vibrations on an end portion of the crankshaft opposite to the propeller are effectively suppressed with a pair of vibration pendulum type weights arranged outside the crankcase whereby it is possible to easily perform a change of the vibration suppression structure in conformity with the property of the propeller.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing a lubrication system for an internal combustion engine with at least one piston reciprocating in an engine cylinder. The lubrication system includes an oil pump (11) with adjustable feed pressure which is controlled via a pressure-sensing means (18) which is acted on by the working pressure of the oil. The pressure-sensing means (18) is acted on via a pressure outlet (21) which is hydraulically connected to one of the bearings of the internal combustion engine which are lubricated by the lubrication system.

Abstract: In an air intake system, a rear tower having an interior space is provided on the top surface of a body frame. A rear pillar having an interior passageway is mounted on the rear tower. An air intake port communicating with the passageway is provided in the rear pillar, and the passageway and the space within the rear tower are connected together. An expansion silencer is connected to the space of the rear tower and an air cleaner is connected to the expansion silencer. The top surface of a working oil tank is lower than the upper end of a side plate to form a space above the top surface, where the expansion silencer is provided. A base bracket is mounted to the air cleaner, a support bracket is mounted on the side plate, and the base bracket is mounted on the support bracket to support the air cleaner above the expansion silencer.

Abstract: A mechanism or “motion converter” including cylinder, piston, yoke, 2 crankshafts and 2 gears converts linear motion of piston to rotary motion (or reverse) of crankshafts without creating the lateral force applied to the piston. Kinematics characteristics of the motion converter reduce the speed of the piston on the way down and enhance the efficiency of the combustion process in the case of using it in the combustion engine.

Abstract: With regard to a construction that a fan 41 is provided at one side of an engine 1 and covered by a fan casing 45, and an air cleaner 30 is arranged near the fan casing 45 and at a side of a cylinder head 5 on which an intake port 5a is disposed, a suction port 31a communicated with the inside of the fan casing 45 is provided in a main body 31 of the air cleaner 30. A barrier 46 is provided at a position facing to the suction port 31a in the air cleaner 30. A wall standing toward the fan casing 45 and the cylinder head 5 is formed on the outer surface of the main body 31 of the air cleaner 30. An air intake part is provided on one of side surfaces of a cover body 32 of the air cleaner 30 and the cover body 32 is constructed to be an equilateral polygon. An intake pipe 31k communicating the air cleaner 30 with the intake port 5a of the cylinder head 5 is constructed integrally with a main body 31 of the air cleaner 30.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automotive air filter assembly, in particular, an assembly which includes an air flow chamber portion and a liquid reservoir portion. The air flow portion includes a panel filter for filtering air flowing to an engine. The panel filter includes air filtration media and hydrocarbon absorption media to inhibit release of hydrocarbon vapours to the air on engine shut down. The air flow portion also may include resonance chambers for acoustic silencing purposes. The liquid reservoir portion can include a pump for delivery of fluid such as windshield washer fluid.

Abstract: Air is aspirated by cylinders of cylinder rows (11, 12) via branch pipes (23,24) from two intake collectors (21,22) of a V type multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. An auxiliary chamber (31, 32) is formed using the space between adjacent branch pipes (23,24). A communication port (25, 26) to the intake collector (21,22) of the auxiliary chamber (31,32) is formed between the openings (23A,24A) to the intake collector (21,22) of two adjacent branch pipes (23,24). Since the effective volume of the intake collector (21,22) increases due to the auxiliary chamber (31,32), residual resonance in the intake collector (21, 22) decreases. The auxiliary chamber (31,32) increases an intake inertia effect by increasing the flow rate of the branch pipes (23,24) in the second half of the intake stroke relative to the flow rate in the first half of the intake stroke. Engine volume efficiency is thereby improved using a limited space.

Abstract: An anti-explosion and anti-fire system is disclosed, the system comprising an encapsulant disposed to cover high temperature surface portions of a component; a conduit in thermal connection with the encapsulant; and a heat transfer fluid disposed within the conduit. A diesel engine is disclosed for an underground mine, the engine comprising an encapsulant disposed to cover high temperature surface portions of a cylinder head; a conduit in thermal connection with the encapsulant; and a heat transfer fluid disposed within the conduit. A method for encapsulating high temperature surface portions of a cylinder head is disclosed, the method comprising positioning a conduit adjacent the head; positioning an encapsulant in thermal connection with the head and the conduit; and transferring heat from high temperature portions to prevent gasses, coal dust, fuel, oils or other combustible material in an underground mine from contacting portions at temperatures above an explosion or fire safety limit.

Abstract: To provide an improved air scavenging type two-cycle combustion engine equipped with a pressure reducing device in which clogging of a decompressing hole can easily be removed, a two-cycle combustion engine includes a delivery passage (32) for introducing air into a combustion chamber (9) prior to an air-fuel mixture. This delivery passage (32) has a downstream opening (32c) through which the air is introduced into the combustion chamber by way of a scavenging port (40a). A decompressing hole (38) is defined for communicating the combustion chamber (9) to a portion of the delivery passage (32) and is closed by a piston (16) then ascending, at a timing delayed relative to closure of an exhaust port (31).

Abstract: An airflow treatment and regulation device for internal combustion engines that stabilizes inlet airflow characteristics before induction into a fuel metering and mixing device. The air stabilization device provides a non-restrictive honeycomb treatment element through which inlet combustion air must pass before entering the carburetor. The honeycomb element eliminates air turbulence and creates a co-adhesive straight line co-planar inlet airflow.

Abstract: A wet-style cylinder liner (16) for a diesel engine is provided with a surface texture (28) to combat the effects of cavitation-induced erosion. The surface texture (28) can be formed as a coating (30) of manganese phosphate applied about the outer surface (26) of the cylinder liner (16) within the coolant flow passage (20) of the engine. The manganese phosphate is applied in such a manner that a crystalline structure of 2–8 ?m average grain size, blocky in nature, clearly faceted, with no cauliflower-like formations and a discernable channel network surrounding the crystals is formed. This crystalline structure works with the natural adhesion and surface tension effects within the liquid coolant to create a stagnant fluid layer about the outer surface (26) of the cylinder liner (16). The stagnant fluid layer functions like a self-healing armor plate.