Patents Examined by Ronald H. Lazarus
  • Patent number: 4603673
    Abstract: A crankcase ventilating system for a V-type, OHC internal combustion engine comprising a substantially hollow engine body structure having a pair of upwardly diverging cylinder banks and an oil pan secured to the body structure from below to define a crankcase, and also having a pressure buffer chamber, defined between the cylinder banks, at least one engine cylinder, defined in each of the cylinder banks, and a cam chamber defined therein at top of each of the cylinder banks, and an intake system for the introduction of a controlled combustible air-fuel mixture into the engine cylinders. The system comprises first separate oil return passages each defined in the body structure and communicating between the respective engine cylinder and the buffer chamber, and a connecting passage communicating between the buffer chamber and the crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Hiraoka, Koji Asanomi, Ryoji Abe
  • Patent number: 4599984
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for internal combustion engines whereby a liquid hydrocarbon fuel is supplied to an enclosed pressure chamber, and wherein the chamber the liquid fuel is heated to within temperature limit of 95% plus or minus 5% of that said fuel's refined distillation end point. At that temperature high vapor pressure exists within the enclosed compression chamber. The resulting vapor is conveyed to the carburetor venturi system and combustion chamber in true vaporous state by means through a cooperating system of primary and secondary pressure reducing regulators. Attached onto the interior wall of the compression chamber is a liquid fuel dispensing pump, which maintains a constant fuel level within that chamber. Energy to operate the pump is derived from surrounding pressure within the compression chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Inventor: Edward O. Kleinholz
  • Patent number: 4598348
    Abstract: The anode of an arc lamp is supported on an arm. When the arc lamp fails, motion of the arm detects the failure and turns the current off of the arc lamp. In addition, after failure of the lamp, the arm limits motion of the anode so that it does not strike adjacent structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas A. Richter
  • Patent number: 4597372
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oil separator for blowby gas having a baffle with a side wall and a bottom wall. A cut piece is bent from the bottom wall. A shut-off member is attached to the side wall and has a first wall located at a spaced distance from and opposed to the bottom end of the cut piece. The bottom end of the first wall is located between a first line extending from the bottom end of the cut piece and perpendicular to the first wall, and an intersection point defined at the intersection of an extension of the cut piece and an extension of the first wall. According to the inventive structure, the oil drops splashed by the rotating cam and reflected from a side wall of a cylinder head cover toward the baffle are effectively prevented from entering the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuharu Furukawa
  • Patent number: 4596224
    Abstract: An improved diesel fuel heater wherein a predetermined quantity of fuel is captured within the heater in a reservoir defined therein. This quantity is heated by the heater's positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors (and heat conductive mounting plate) to assure a heated quantity of fuel will be pumped into the fuel system's filter element to enhance de-waxing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: Lee A. Prager
  • Patent number: 4596223
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system for internal combustion engines, both spark (gas) and or self-ignition (diesel) and liquid or air-cooled engines in which a duct or enclosure, fabricated entirely of non-heat conducting materials, which completely surrounds the rear of existing heat exchanger, cooling coil, or cooling fins, removes excessive heat by ducted air being routed through disposable air-filter, then into the velocity accelerator section, from there into the plenum or accumulater section to be consumed by the engine. The improvement being that no excessive heat is allowed to accumulate or be discharged into the engine compartment, fan and pulley arrangement are eliminated, reducing noise and excessive power loss, filtered air is accelerated to super-sonic velocities to better atomize fuel, allowing for greater volumetric efficiency of cylinders, all work being performed by the pressure differentials produced within the engines cylinders during its intake cycles or strokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Inventor: Russ F. Ruffolo
  • Patent number: 4594991
    Abstract: A fuel mixture injection apparatus associated with the carburetor of an internal combustion engine designed to improve engine efficiency by delivering a mixture of vaporized gasoline, steam and air directly to the carburetor. A portion of the fuel supplied by the fuel pump is diverted through a metering valve into a closed chamber where it is sprayed over a perforated vaporizer grid heated by a double loop of copper tubing through which hot engine coolant is ducted. The gasoline vapor is then ducted either into the carburetor or directly into the intake manifold. Simultaneously, water from a reservoir flows through a line in response to engine load and temperature conditions. The line passes through the closed chamber where the water is preheated. The line then leads to a heat exchanger connected to the engine's exhaust manifold where the water is converted to steam. From the heat exchanger, the steam is ducted either into the carburetor or directly into the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Inventor: Richard Harvey
  • Patent number: 4593670
    Abstract: A fuel evaporator comprises a ring-shaped heater element made of PTC ceramic, a pipe made of heat conductive metal and disposed within an air-fuel passage of an internal combustion engine therealong and a pair of terminal members for supplying power to the heater element. The heater element is disposed closely in contact with the outer periphery of the upper end of the pipe. One end of each of the pair of terminal members is closely in contact with each of the upper and under surfaces of the heater element. The fuel evaporator further comprises a plate-shaped compact made of electricity insulating rubber or synthetic resin and formed around the upper end of the pipe. Within the compact, the heater element, the upper end of the pipe and the terminal members are embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Nara, Akio Yazawa, Yoshinori Akiyama
  • Patent number: 4592312
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with intake and exhaust gas valving by a single rotary valve mounted within a jacketed housng atop the cylinder. The piston has a shaft extending up through the housing, the shaft defining multiple spirals wound in opposite directions for engagement by a pair of slipring drivers. Such drivers alternately engage sliprings carried by the valve for incrementally rotating the valve in a single direction of rotation as the piston reciprocates. The valve has at least one recess for providing communication between intake and exhaust gas passages as it rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Inventor: Samuel Hepko
  • Patent number: 4592329
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an electric ignition, internal combustion engine that substantially improves the fuel efficiency by utilizing heat normally discharged to the ambient to condition and prepare the fuel mixture prior to entry into the combustion chambers. The apparatus comprises a fuel vaporizer (50) that transfers heat from the engine coolant system to the fuel mixture as it leaves a fuel introducing device such as a carburetor (38); a fuel mixture heater (52) for heating the mixture above the vaporization temperature of the liquid fuel; and, a mixture homogenizer (54) for thoroughly stirring the fuel mixture that is located in the fuel mixture flow path intermediate the vaporizer and heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Motortech, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Yunick
  • Patent number: 4590894
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder block having at least one row of cylinders and at least one cylinder head, there are provided a coolant distributor passage for supplying a coolant from a pump to the water jacket of the cylinder block, first and second communication holes for allowing the coolant to flow from the cylinder block water jacket to the cylinder head water jacket, and a coolant collector passage for returning the coolant from the cylinder head water jacket to the pump. The coolant distributor passage and collector passages both extend along the cylinder row, one on one side of the cylinder row and the other on the opposite side. The distributor passage is formed in an upper portion of the cylinder block near the cylinder head. The collector passage is formed in the cylinder head. One longitudinal end of the collector passage is connected to the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ishida, Yosio Taguchi
  • Patent number: 4590914
    Abstract: By contacting a combustible fluid fuels with a metallic medium, such as metallized pellets, the fuel efficiency of the fuel can be increased. The metallic medium is maintained at a temperature sufficiently low so as to not alter the fluid phase of the fuel, e.g. if liquid, it remains liquid. The metallic medium is, preferably, a noble metal, such as platinum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Optimizer, Limited
    Inventors: Leon Rosky, Gabriel T. Anslow, Daniel F. Spaniola, Marvin H. Weintraub
  • Patent number: 4587941
    Abstract: An intake burner is disclosed for use in an internal combustion engine having an air intake system including an air intake tube, comprising an outer tube adapted to be attached to the air intake tube, a heater mounted in the outer tube and made of a ceramic material with a heating resistor embedded therein. A holder surrounds the heater in spaced relation thereto and together with the heater defines a vaporizing and a combustion region around the heater for vaporizing supplied fuel along a surface of the heater and for burning vaporized fuel supplied from the vaporizing region. Fuel feed means directs fuel into the vaporizing region around the heater, and a support member attaches the heater to the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignees: Isuzu Motors Limited, Kyocera Corp.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Mishina, Hiroshi Takahashi, Hisatsugu Iizuka, Noriyoshi Nakanishi, Noriaki Tateno, Shigetoshi Toeda
  • Patent number: 4587602
    Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for a lighting fixture whereby a bezel door is hinged to the fixture housing in a manner that it can be swung open from the open face of the housing but cannot be dropped or lose supported contact with the housing. The hinge assembly is located along one edge of the housing. The hinge assembly comprises a hinge hook portion typically an extension of the lower bezel door edge. The hinge hook is an open-faced, open-ended cylindrical structure having a centerpiece with a stud extending therefrom. The hinge bar comprises two axially aligned cylindrical sections extending typically from the lower edge of the housing. The hinge hook is fitted over the hinge bar sections and a fastener is placed over the hinge hook stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: FL Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Dean, Edward B. Bilson
  • Patent number: 4584944
    Abstract: A conveyor system in which loads supported by forwardly driven carriers of an overhead power and free conveyor are automatically transferred to a second conveyor arranged below the overhead conveyor at a transfer zone and driven at the same forward speed. The vertical spacing between the overhead and second conveyors is decreased from a greater spacing at which a load is engaged and supported by downwardly extending structure of a carrier to a lesser spacing at which the load is disengaged from the carrier structure and is supported by the second conveyor. As the disengaged carrier and load move forwardly in unison on their respective overhead and second conveyors, the carrier is engaged and moved by a transfer conveyor obliquely to the second conveyor at an increased speed such that the carrier continues to move forwardly in unison with the load while simultaneously moving laterally out of alignment therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Jervis B. Webb Company
    Inventor: Clarence A. Dehne
  • Patent number: 4584634
    Abstract: A support device for a vehicle headlamp that includes a ring-like retainer member having three spaced rearwardly extending arms each of which is provided with a spring clip for contacting and maintaining the headlamp within the retainer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Sigety, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4583511
    Abstract: The invention comprises a carburetion apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine having a generally conventional carburetor, an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold. The carburetion apparatus has a central chamber that receives the fuel-air mixture from the carburetor and delivers the fuel-air mixture to the intake manifold. The central chamber is provided with baffles to divert the fluid flow and cause intimate mixing of fuel and air. The baffles are such that the manifold vacuum is raised (or, the pressure is lowered), so the vacuum assists in evaporating liquid fuel. The baffles may be heated by passing exhaust gases through them, the exit of the exhaust gas being slowed by a constricted outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Inventor: Harry E. Greene
  • Patent number: 4583512
    Abstract: A fuel feed and fuel vaporization system for an internal combustion engine comprising a closed circuit feed line and a separate intake for air and for fuel. Each intake having a preset and predetermined and adjustable flow meter regulator valve connected to a transducer and accelerator lever for controlling the flow of air and fuel according to the size and capacity of the engine. The air and fuel are electrically heated by a series of resistive elements inside separate heat exchange units located inside the intake manifold and casing before mixing in a common heat exchange and being fed though a series of electrically operated valves into the combustion chamber of the engine. No carburetor or fuel injection system is needed. A thermostat or time delay controls the temperature to the heat exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Inventors: Paul R. Gardner, Elmer W. Gardner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4584632
    Abstract: In a mirror or mirrored cabinet with at least one lamp mounted at the side, wherein the mirror or mirrored cabinet is suspended from an assembly rail that can be secured toward the wall and wherein a lamp mount, which supports the lamps, is secured to and can be released from the front of the assembly rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Metallwarenfabrik Twick & Lehrke KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 4582040
    Abstract: A fuel preheater and emission control device for heating fuel being supplied through a fuel conduit from a fuel supply to the engine, and thereby improving its combustion. Fuel heating is accomplished as a result of heat exchange between the fuel and engine coolant flowing in a coolant conduit. The preheater comprises a coolant tube adapted to have heated coolant flow therethrough and a fuel tube adapted to have fuel flow therethrough enroute to the engine. The fuel tube includes a coil having a plurality of convolutions extending around the exterior of the coolant tube and a downstream section extending for a substantial distance within the coolant tube. The region of the downstream section between the most downstream convolution and the location at which the downstream section enters the coolant tube is spaced from the coolant tube in a way to minimize the likelihood of vapor lock, while the downstream section assures adequate fast heating for improved cold-weather performance and emission control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Inventor: Norman C. Niblett