Abstract: Disclosed herein is an internal combustion engine comprising a crankcase assembly including a crankcase member including a crankcase cover mounting surface, and a cylinder assembly mounting surface including therein an opening, and a cylinder block fabricately separately from the crankcase assembly and including a crankcase member surface fixed to the cylinder assembly mounting surface, and a cylinder extending from the crankcase member mounting surface and communicating with the opening in the cylinder assembly mounting surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion water pump including a casing defining a water passage including an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate portion between the inlet and the outlet, a first impeller located in the intermediate portion of the casing, a second impeller located in the intermediate portion of the casing and rearwardly of the first impeller, a first shaft drivingly connected to the first impeller, extending forwardly therefrom, and having a hollow interior, a second shaft drivingly connected to the second impeller, extending in the hollow interior of the first shaft and forwardly therefrom, and gearing for counter-rotating the first and second shafts.

Abstract: A method for casting a housing and insert assembly including a housing and a cast-in-place insert. The casting method comprises the steps of providing a prefabricated insert, surrounding the insert with an evaporable foam pattern to form a pattern and insert assembly, and utilizing the pattern and insert assembly in a lost foam casting process wherein the pattern is replaced by a material to form the housing and insert assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a piston comprising the steps of providing a shell comprising graphite fibers formed to include the general shape of an open-ended cylinder having an outer periphery, and casting metal to form at least a portion of the piston so that the shell is included and at least a portion of the outer periphery of the shell is exposed. Also disclosed herein is a piston comprising a mesh of graphite fibers having a generally cylindrical shape and defining mesh voids, structural material filling at least some of the mesh voids so that an exterior cylindrical surface of the piston is defined to include at least portions of at least some of the fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an internal combustion engine comprising first and second cylinders, first and second crankcases extending respectively from the first and second cylinders, a crankshaft extending through the first and second crankcases, first and second pistons connected to the crankshaft to afford opposite action of the pistons and respectively reciprocally movable in the first and second cylinders to define first and second combustion chambers respectively communicable, subject to piston movement, with the first and second crankcases, first and second air induction passages respectively including first and second reed valves for respectively supplying air to the first and second crankcases, a duct extending between the first and second crankcases, and a valve located in the duct and movable between open and closed positions to respectively permit and prevent fluid flow between the first and second crankcases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders respectively including a head end, an exhaust port, and a pressure port located between the head end and the exhaust port, a like plurality of pistons respectively movable in the cylinders through respective compression strokes, a like plurality of fuel injectors respectively connected to the cylinders and operative to supply, from a fuel source to each of the cylinders, a metered quantity of fuel conveyed by compressed gas in response to fuel injector operation during the compression stroke of the associated cylinder, a storage tank for accumulating and storing compressed gas, a duct system including a selector value for selectively connecting the pressure ports to the storage tank only during the compression strokes of the associated cylinders, and a conduit connecting the storage tank to the fuel injectors for supplying the fuel injectors with compressed gas in response to fuel injector operation.

Abstract: A carburetor comprises an air induction passage and a choke valve movable in the air induction passage. The carburetor also includes a fuel chamber and a fuel inlet valve which controls the introduction of fuel into the chamber. A control rod is operative for movement axially along and rotationally about its longitudinal axis. The control rod is operatively linked with both the choke valve and the fuel inlet valve such that movement of the control rod in one of its axial and rotational directions operates the choke valve and movement of the control rod in the other one of the axial and rotational directions operates the fuel inlet valve.

Abstract: An engine operative between a low speed, a high speed, and an intermediate speed between the low and high speeds comprises a combustion chamber and a throttle operatively connected to the engine for controlling operation of the engine between the low, intermediate, and high speeds. The engine further includes a source of fuel and a fuel delivery system communicating with the fuel source and the combustion chamber for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber in response to the throttle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle suspension system comprises four hydro-pneumatic struts three of which are provided with sensors to detect variations in length of the struts. A control system is responsive to the sensors and operates valves to add fluid to or remove fluid from struts to maintain the length of these struts constant. The pressure within the fourth strut is controlled so that the proportion of the static roll-torque (caused by off-center loading of the vehicle) which is reacted by the front and rear axles is the same as the proportion of the static weight of the vehicle which is reacted by the front and rear axles respectively. Control of the pressure within the fourth strut is accomplished by a control valve having a valve spool which is subject to the pressures within the four struts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device including an internal combustion engine having a water jacket with an inlet portion, a second portion, and a valve port communicating between the inlet portion and the second portion, a valve member movable relative to the valve port between open and closed positions, a recess extending from the inlet portion, a movable wall connected to the valve member for actuation thereof between the open and closed positions, which movable wall has opposite first and second sides and extends across the recess to define, on the first side thereof, a chamber located in the recess, and being subject, on the second side thereof, to the pressure of the water in the inlet portion, a water pump driven by the engine, having a discharge outlet, and communicating with the water during normal operation, a water supply conduit communicating with the discharge outlet and with the water jacket inlet portion, and including an overboard discharge branch conduit communicating with the atmosp

Abstract: The invention provides a quick disconnect fluid coupling for connection of fluid conduits and incorporates automatically actuated valves for closing the end of each fluid conduit when the connection is broken, and specifically provides for minimal fluid loss from the line at the time of making or breaking the connection.

Abstract: In brakes in which a friction member is urged into engagement with a rotatable braking member by a fluid-pressure operated actuator, for example internal shoe-drum brakes, the actuator and an adjuster for adjusting brake clearances are located between different pairs of shoe-ends.If the adjuster is automatic, it is difficult to transfer signals at the actuator that adjustment is required to the adjuster with sufficient energy to operate it, without affecting the operation of the actuator. Thus the adjuster is operated by a supply of pressure fluid controlled by a valve assembly which is operative to supply fluid to the adjuster when relative movement between parts of the actuator exceeds a predetermined value. The adjuster is operated by a slave unit.The valve assembly may comprise a valve operated by rotation of a shaft for applying the brake, or two valves embodied in the actuator itself.

Abstract: A photon source filter and primary collimator arrangement wherein the source and filter are within the boundaries of the primary collimator and together form a unitary assembly which may be fixed relative to the impinging electron beam or may be removable from the same. The assembly may consist of low and high atomic number elements or compounds.

Abstract: Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) can be advantageously employed to uniformly coat or impregnate an array or preform of fibers with a ceramic material. As a result, more efficient methods for making composite materials of superior quality are provided.