Abstract: Apparatus for machining gear teeth has a template control arrangement for varying the tooth flank shape longitudinally of the flanks. This arrangement comprises co-operating wedges, one fixed to the machining tool and the other to a moving tool carrier that makes the working stroke of the tool, the tool being displaceable relative to the carrier by the wedges to vary the tool position radially of the workpiece as it moves along the flanks. The carrier wedge slides in the carrier transversely to the working strokes and the template follower is fixed to slide with it, whereby the variation of the tool radial position is directly proportional to the template profile.

Abstract: A machine for the duplication of keys comprises a frame on which a carriage, supporting juxtaposed clamps for a sample key and a blank, is swingable about a horizontal guide bar and slidable along the latter. The clamps are held on a common support which is pivotable on the carriage about an axis parallel to the guide bar to facilitate the cutting of convex or laterally slanting lands in a key bit. Two uprights on the frame carry a cutting wheel, rotating on a shaft parallel to the guide bar, and a feeler engageable with the sample key, the feeler having the shape of a vertical blade with a convex key-contacting edge whose radius of curvature equals that of the cutting wheel. The feeler may be spring-urged toward the clamp support and repressible by its contact with the sample key into registry with the cutter periphery.

Abstract: A large bore, long stroke, low friction, hydraulic actuator having dual hydrostatic bearings permitting elastic deformation of the piston rod while inhibiting metal to metal contact between either the piston head or the deformed piston rod and the walls of the hydraulic cylinder. The actuator employs a safe and highly reliable metering orifice cushion decelerating means. Piston displacement is constantly monitored by a completely internal, magnetostrictive, sonic delay line displacement measuring means.

Abstract: In a piston actuated valve, means for determining the position of the operating piston by means of at least one insulated contact probe which is inserted through the wall of the cylinder. Two or more can be used, one in each extreme position of the piston. As the piston moves into its extreme position, contact is made with the probe and a suitable signal is sent, indicating that the piston is in that extreme position.

Abstract: A sheet piercing blade used to form perforate separation lines across continuous strip partible flattened tubular plastic film packaging bags is maintained a preselected optimum operating temperature by a heat transfer fluid medium circulating through a duct in substantially contiguous contact with the blade, a heat exchanger, and conduits connecting the duct and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Mobile vehicles and the like having enclosed cabs such as tractors, combines and the like, are provided with air inlet means for the comfort of the operator. The air inlet means are provided with a readily removable filter element and means to support the same by an overhanging forward portion of the roof which extends beyond the windshield of the cab. The filter element is supported by a frame and includes means to raise and lower the frame respectively to support the filter element in upper, operative position and lower, removable position, insertion and removal of the same occurring through an opening adjacent one side edge of the roof of the cab and normally closed by a door, the entire removal occurring exteriorly of the interior of the cab.

Abstract: A toast load selector mechanism for use with toasters accommodating varying toast loads of from one to a plurality of bread slices or other food items for toasting and having a toasting time interval timer including a manually operable brownness control knob for adjusting the toasting time interval, the brownness control movable through an adjustment range between a first position setting a minimum time interval for toasting a minimum toast load to the lightest brown condition and a second position setting a maximum time interval for toasting the maximum toast load to the darkest brown condition. The toast load selector mechanism comprises a toast load selector member which is mounted concentrically with the brownness control knob, the toast load selector member defining first and second stops limiting the adjustment range of the brownness control to a subrange applicable to a given toast load selected by the toast load selector member.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting an enclosable food cooker having a food supporting surface into a food smoker which can be advantageously used to smoke food at a very slow rate without significant dehydration or loss of natural juices. The apparatus includes an open topped container or pan containing a water filled, heat absorption cavity and suspension means, such as upstanding hooks, for detachably suspending the container or pan from the food supporting surface. A method for employing the apparatus in a conventional home charcoal grill is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed whereby a laminating press is controlled using the relative cure of a resinous material as the primary factor.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid and solid materials, especially for extracting juice from agricultural products, particularly from fruits, comprising a rotatably mounted press container subdivided by a substantially hood-like press or squeezing diaphragm into a pressure compartment and a press or squeezing compartment. The pressure compartment has an inlet arrangement for a pressurized fluid medium and the squeezing compartment has a juice outlet arrangement. The juice outlet arrangement possesses drainage channels at the solid-wall, preferably dome-shaped section of the container located opposite the squeezing diaphragm. The drainage channels are formed by substantially trough-shaped elements provided with perforations and arranged in spaced relationship from one another at the inside of the wall of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing or squeezing a stack of folded, essentially flat products, especially printed products, comprising a stack receiver compartment closed at its lowr end by a support element and a counter pressure device arranged above the support element. The support element and the counter pressure device are movable relative to one another, in order to press together the stack arranged between the counter pressure device and the support element. The counter pressure device comprises at least one pressing element pivotable about an essentially horizontal pivot axis. The pressing element spans over the stack receiver compartment in the direction of the pivot axis. This pressing element can be rocked upwardly by a product stack, out of a lower pivotal position inclined in the direction of the support element, against the action of at least one pressure element acting upon the pressing element.

Abstract: A continuous motion decorator is provided with mandrels pivotally mounted to a carrier wheel and radially positioned by a stationary cam. An individual eccentric, operated by an individual power cylinder, is interposed between each mandrel pivot. When an unloaded or misloaded mandrel is detected, the associated eccentric is operated to retract mandrel from the printing blanket. Each mandrel is part of a subassembly including a pair of crank arms that are integrally connected by a section parallel to the axis for the carrier wheel. The mandrel is mounted on one crank arm and cam follower means is mounted on the other crank.

Abstract: Printing wheels carried by a printing drum which is driven in rotation dug one cycle are manually set at the desired prepayment values for the purpose of franking postal envelopes, parcels and wrappers. Intermediate stopping of the machine can be effected if necessary on completion of a first part of the cycle prior to printing. Electronic means are provided for the acquisition of the prepayment value during the first part of the cycle, for the detection of fault conditions during operation, for the inhibition of the intermediate stopping means, and for transferring the prepayment value from the acquisition means to means for recording the total prepayment values.

Abstract: A device for setting the prepayment values of printing wheels in a machine or franking mail envelopes and wrappers comprises in the case of each printing wheel a mechanical planet-wheel transmission system in which an eccentrically mounted pinion is in mesh with a ring-gear within a franking drum. The ring-gear is rigidly fixed to an annular sliding disc which is freely rotatable on the drum and coupled thereto by means of a clutch. A retractable stop is capable of maintaining the clutch in the disengaged position as soon as the drum begins its movement of rotation for one revolution. The angular amplitude of rotation is predetermined in response to the position of a unit for controlling the prepayment value setting of the printing wheel considered.

Abstract: A lithographic ink and moisture control system is provided for maintaining copy quality over a wide range of operating and environmental conditions without special operator assistance. The control system, among other things, momentarily increases the moisture feed rate each time ink is added to the system to maintain a substantially constant ink/moisture balance at the master, particularly under high coverage conditions.

Abstract: A payload (e.g., a plasma, gas, magnetic field) having an initial energy density is confined within an implosion chamber which also contains a rotating liquid liner having an approximately cylindrical inner surface due to the rotational forces. An annular piston, disposed in the implosion chamber, is free to move parallel to the axis of rotation and has a surface in contact with a portion of the rotating liner. Motion of the piston against the liner (due to a pulsed external driving means) causes the inner surface of the liner to implode radially in said implosion chamber, thereby compressing the initial energy density to a higher energy density. The inner surface of the liner remains stable throughout compression due to the rotation of the liner. The other surfaces of the liner are stabilized by contact with the implosion chamber or the piston.

Abstract: A cartridge case and a process for the production thereof wherein the cartridge case includes an elongated tubular member and a separate bottom part. The separate bottom part is insertable in said elongated tubular member such that at least a portion of the wall surfaces of said bottom part and said tubular member contact one another and at least one of said separate bottom part and said elongated tubular member in the region of the wall surfaces to be contacted is provided with transfer elements. The transfer element means are responsive to ultrasonic energy for joining said bottom part and said elongated tubular member together such that a cartridge case is formed especially utilizable as a shot cartridge case.

Abstract: A safety device for a projectile is provided which includes a charge adapted to function as either an ignition charge or as a booster and relay charge. The charge comprises at least two components each of which comprises solid particles. These solid particles are disposed in the same cavity in the projectile and are entirely or partly separated. The particles forming the components are arranged in relation to each other such that the two components will be mixed subsequent to the firing of the projectile, responsive to the acceleration, rotation and retardation forces to which the particles are subjected after the projectile is fired. The two components comprise an oxygen donating component and a fuel component, and a third component for promoting mixing of the two may also be included.

Abstract: A coherent optical modulated sensor for use with missiles and the like wherein a series of pulses of optical energy which are intensity modulated by a radio frequency sub-carrier are transmitted to a preselected target having relative motion thereto and wherein returned pulses from the target are received. Phase coherence is effectively maintained by utilizing a single continuously operating local oscillator for down-converting the received detected pulses to a Doppler frequency signal. Target velocity information may be extracted from the Doppler frequency shift induced on the coherent radio frequency sub-carrier of the return pulses.A first channel, or radio frequency sub-carrier channel is provided for receiving the Doppler signal and generating a threshold signal in response to the magnitude of the Doppler signal being equal to or greater than a predetermined magnitude. A second channel (baseband) detects the average direct current power of the received pulse.

Abstract: A short-range training practice round, for simulating a high energy type unition round, comprises a discarding-sabot containing a self-destruct subprojectile, e.g. of aluminum or steel, similar in external configuration to the heavy armor-piercing subprojectile simulated, and made up of a plurality, e.g. 3, of contiguous elongated mating segments held together during launch and subsequent flight by a heat-sensitive nose cap adapted to be heated by the airstream and disintegrate at a predetermined point in flight, allowing the segments to tumble in air, decelerate, and come to rest after a short flight.

Abstract: 1. A differential integrator circuit comprising an input capacitance; means or applying an a-c input signal of varying amplitude between one terminal of said capacitance and circuit ground; first and second resistances each having one terminal connected to circuit ground; first and second capacitances connected across said first and second resistances respectively, said second capacitance being larger than said first capacitance; first and second diodes connected between the other terminal of said input capacitance and the ungrounded terminals of said first and second resistances respectively, said diodes being connected with opposite polarities; means for taking a first unipotential output signal from across said first resistance and means for taking a second unipotential output signal from across said second resistance.

Abstract: An electromagnetic suspension and guide system for a magnetically suspended vehicle comprises an armature rail of three-legged shape in cross section fixedly mounted on a rail support laid on the ground, and an electromagnet core of three-legged shape in cross section fixedly mounted on a magnetically suspended vehicle and disposed so that the three legs thereof are in an opposing relationship to the three legs of the armature rail with a gap therebetween, respectively. The three-legged electromagnet core has a different width from that of the three-legged armature rail, and the two side legs of the core are provided with windings wound thereon, respectively. The suspending and guiding operations of the vehicle are controlled by controlling the energizing currents supplied to the electromagnet.

Abstract: This invention, entitled "dual position table top support" permits a table top to be supported in a horizontal working position or in a vertical out-of-the way storing position. The support is such that it is to be installed in an area bounded by three adjacent walls without having to fasten it physically, i.e. by means of screws, nails, rivets, adhesive, to any wall. It is intended for use in locations where a free-standing support or a support physically fastened to a wall is impractical. It is particularly suited for installation over a bathtub to provide a utility table suitable for hobbyists such as amature photographers who use their bathroom as a temporary darkroom.

Abstract: A number of relatively wide, preferably wooden panels are shaped and proportioned to cover the entire areas of a back, a seat, or an end of a sofa or chair. The panels have tabs or hooks and mating slots which fit into each other when the panels come together in a proper fit. At that time the parts are interconnected by wedge-shaped pegs. The shapes, angles and dimensions of these tabs, hooks and slots are such that the panels inherently wedge together more tightly, as the furniture supports the weight of one or more persons. The panels become even more tightly wedged together when the people sitting upon the furniture move and shift their weight. A similar approach enables tables or other articles of furniture to be assembled in a similar manner.

Abstract: A process for the thermal decomposition of polychorinated organic compounds such as polychlorinated phenyls and biphenyls comprising heat treating the polychlorinated organic compounds in a flame, in a high-turbulence combustion chamber in a pulsating spiral flow at a temperature of at least about 850.degree. C. with a residence time of at least about 0.1 second, an excess of at least about 5% by weight of oxygen, based on the organic carbon to be burnt, being present in the combustion chamber. Advantageously the polychlorinated organic compound is present in the fuel feed in about 0.1 to 30% by weight.

Abstract: A furnace control system to control burner operation of a multifuel furnace to reduce primary fuel consumption of either oil or gas of the multifuel furnace. The system controls a primary fuel to initially kindle a secondary fuel when the fire reaches a self-sustaining burning rate, the primary fuel is shut off but the burner fan continues to run to force a draft and insure complete combustion of the secondary fuel and the volatile gases. The furnace control system is utilized as original equipment manufacturer incorporated into the controls for a burner of a multifuel furnace or as a retrofit furnace control system to control the burner operation of the multifuel furnace.

Abstract: A material guiding device for feeding material to a stitch-forming area of a sewing machine which has a rail guide over which the material is placed for guiding movement from a charging point to the stitch-forming area, comprises a braking weight which has a bottom recess of a size to receive the rail guide with the material thereon so as to permit engagement of the weight over the material so as to move with the material during the feeding operation and to provide a braking action thereon. The construction includes a deflector adjacent the stitch-forming area which deflects the weight into a breaking weight return track in the form of a slide or chute which has an opening adjacent the stitch-forming area and is inclined downwardly to a delivery end which is remote from the stitch area at the charging point for the material so that a weight may be returned automatically to a place at which it may be applied to a material at the charging point.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for forming a double back stitch seam from an upper and lower thread where the upper thread is conducted down by means of a needle through a sewing material and then up again, forming a loop at its underside and the lower thread is conducted through the upper thread loop and anchored on the sewing material by tightening the latter.

Abstract: An adjusting apparatus contained within the base of a sewing machine for selectively setting the desired limits of travel of the differential feed dog relative to that of the main feed dog and a manual actuating device operatively associated with the adjusting apparatus for causing the differential feed dog to travel within the limits governed by the adjusting apparatus when desired.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for preparing a tufted carpet consisting essentially of feeding simultaneously into a tufting machine a woven or bonded nonwoven sheet of continuous polypropylene filaments and a dyeable, bonded, nonwoven sheet of continuous synthetic organic filaments, said sheets being fed in surface contact with each other, and tufting a pile yarn through both sheets to develop a tufted face having tufts extending above the dyeable, bonded, nonwoven sheet, said pile yarn being selected so as to be dyeable in conjunction with the dyeable, bonded, nonwoven sheet.

Abstract: A can lid forming apparatus includes means for attaching a can opening key. A proximity field sensor is mounted in a doming die of the apparatus and generates a pulse logic signal as a can lid with a staked key is formed by the doming tool. A timing disc rotates in synchronism with each cycle of the tool and generates a pair of logic signals. A key monitor circuit is connected to respond to the signals to establish a latch, check latch and reset latch sequence for each cycle of the tooling. If the latch is not set, an appropriate output signal is generated indicating a key is missing from the lid. If the latch is not reset after being set, indicating a build-up of aluminum fines or the like on the probe, an appropriate signal is generated by a preconditioned probe monitoring curcuit.

Abstract: Heat barrier components and improved thermal insulation techniques are provided for an external tank insulation system of ships carrying liquefied natural gas, propane, ammonia, etc. Reduction of liquid boil-off rate or initial cost of insulation through the reduction of radiant heat leak is accomplished by a composite insulation system including a high reflectance component material on the external surface of insulation and/or interior surface of the ship facing the tank. Further, refrigeration in tank boil-off is used to cool a radiation shield located between the tank insulation and surrounding enclosure, and to cool the skirt support.

Abstract: A seagoing vessel is stabilized by a passive system including tanks symmetrically disposed on the vessel below the water line. The tanks are connected by a conduit and pressurized with air to a selected pressure level. During each oscillatory roll and/or pitch cycle of the vessel, the tanks alternately fill and drain with selected volumes of water, thereby to reduce the righting moment of the vessel. The period of oscillation of the vessel is lengthened beyond the period of wave motion.

Abstract: A steering control system for a ship including a hydraulic rudder actuator, a reversible variable displacement pump for powering the rudder actuator, a valve system for controlling the pump in responsive to certain input signals, and a helm system for generating command signals. The valve system includes two parallel fluid flow paths with at least oe relief valve in each flow path for generating a differential pressure to control the pump output. The valve system also includes a control valve with two movable members, one moving in response to rudder motion and the other moving in response to command signals, and controlling the relief valves in the flow paths. A permanent magnet electric motor receives command signals from a manual helm or an automatic pilot or otherwise, and drives one of the moving members of the control valve.

Abstract: A foot operated paddle wheel boat including a foot pedal well having a floor disposed above the water line and a drain opening disposed in the floor. The drain opening, being above the water line when the boat is in the water, continuously drains water from the pedal well.

Abstract: A portable navigational aid or device for use in a user-sailboat or similar vessel, where the user-sailboat and another approaching boat are traveling along courses which intersect, to indicate readily whether the user-sailboat should have the right-of-way considering the direction of the wind, the angles of approach of the two boats and the local governing rules regarding the right-of-way. The device includes a disc-shaped member which is held on board the user's boat so that an arrow on the disc-shaped member points in the direction of the wind. A marked pivoted indicator dial having a user-boat symbol is pivoted with the disc-shaped member and is oriented such that the user-boat symbol coincides with the direction of travel of the user's boat.

Abstract: An arrangement for regulating the evaporation rate and the layer buildup in the production of optically effective thin layers in a vacuum on substrates with controlled evaporator power and with continuous measuring of the optical characteristics of the deposited layer. The evaporation is started with a given evaporator power and with the start of change of the optical characteristics of the layer, the measured result after forming the time derivative is continuously compared with the output signal of a signal generator. This output signal reproduces the time rate of change of the optical properties during the layer buildup. The difference signal of the comparison signal is used to increase the evaporator power if the layer buildup lags, and to reduce this power if the layer buildup is too fast.

Abstract: A water conditioning system for fish growing tanks includes several receptacles connected to said tank and to one another in series by risers with cascade-like staggered compressed gas inlets thus obtaining rising water levels from ever one to the next receptacle, the last of which is connected by a return pipe to the growing tank.

Abstract: A portable combined animal cage and exercising device is composed of open work material, such as wire mesh or the like, to provide ample ventilation at all times.The device is formed of a plurality of telescopic sections or units, preferably three or more, which may be telescoped to facilitate carrying or may be expanded to allow ample space for exercising or other purposes. One or more of the sections or units, preferably the end sections, may be provided with doors or the like, each having fastening means.The sections are separable, and one at least of the end sections may be separately used as a cage.Each section, or unit may be provided with readily removable doors or closures having releasable fastening means whereby each of the sections may be separately used as a portable cage.

Abstract: A self-cleaning birdhouse comprising an inner wall supported by a post and to which is attached one or more nesting compartment assemblies each containing one or more nestng compartments, each nesting compartment having a forward wall, a top, side walls, and a floor, each compartment assembly being moveably mounted on the inner wall in a manner so that the compartment assembly can be caused to swing outwardly so that its floor inclines for dumping nesting materials down between a space created between the floor and the inner wall for the disposing of used nesting materials at the end of the nesting season.

Abstract: A holder for supporting animals such as pigs, sheep and the like, during castration or other treatment performed on the animals. An elongated tray has a U-shaped member including legs depending from the tray, the legs having adjustable hooks for engagement with the top of a fence or other partition to support the tray. A pair of straps are adapted to partially encircle the portion of an animal between its front and rear legs, and are provided at one end with a hook for releasable engagement with one side of the tray. The opposite ends of the straps are secured to an adjustment member whereby an animal is snugly secured in the tray. A neck-engaging strap is secured to the tray adjacent one end of the tray.

Abstract: A fuel mixture control system, for example a fuel injection system, has a control device which accepts signals for final correction of the fuel mixture. In particular, the final correction is made on the basis of engine roughness which is used as a measure of the degree of lean burning of the engine. The engine roughness is determined digitally by forming second differences of engine period in sequential digital counters whose contents are shifted after each counting period. The final counter is counted down at an rpm-dependent frequency. The digital datum related to engine roughness is examined for two conditions, i.e., for whether it exceeded a set-point value and for the nature of its algebraic sign. In one of the four possible states of combination of these conditions, the mixture is slightly enriched, whereas in the other three states, it is leaned out to a maximum degree.

Abstract: The period of opening of a solenoid-operated fuel injector is stabilized against variation of vehicle battery voltage by computing the period of injector opening from the instant of a discontinuity present in each rise of the solenoid energizing current. The discontinuity is detected and differentiated to form one input to a comparator, the other input of which is supplemented from the vehicle battery through a Zener diode so that the comparison threshold of the comparator increases as the battery voltage increases. The comparator is automatically switched off in the absence of a solenoid energizing current.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with fuel mixture preparation systems which employ an oxygen sensor in the exhaust line to determine the composition of the combustible mixture supplied to the engine and which adjust the mixture on the basis of the bi-valued signals from the sensor. In order to permit the use of these signals at lower than normal operating temperatures, where the internal resistance of the sensor is high and the output signal is skewed, the invention proposes generating a correction current which is passed through the sensor and which causes a voltage drop which symmetrizes the output voltage so that the two branches of the output signal always lie respectively above and below a fixed set-point voltage, thus permitting control loop processing.A circuit is also described which supplies the correcting current by comparison of the DC level of the output signal with the set-point value in a secondary feedback loop.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in association with a fuel mixture preparation system for an internal combustion engine in which the output signal from an oxygen sensor located in the exhaust system is used to provide closed-loop control of the mixture ratio supplied by the mixture preparation system. The apparatus includes a principal comparator in which the sensor signal is compared with a reference value and a subsequent integrator which supplies correcting signals to the mixture controller. A special circuit between the principal comparator and the integrator can delay the signal transmission between these two elements in one direction of change, thereby causing an effective shift of the point of operation of the control loop to a different point in the sensor output curve, to compensate for aging, etc.

Abstract: The air flow rate and the speed of an internal combustion engine are sensed and translated into pulse trains of variable frequency. During a time interval defined by the rpm related signal, a digital counter receives and counts the air flow rate frequency. Subsequently, the contents of this counter are counted out by a pulse train whose frequency is adjustable depending on other engine conditions such as start-up, warm-up, idling, full-load and the like. The apparatus also includes circuitry for generating a control pulse of minimun length.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system and technique for an internal combustion engine is disclosed having at least one controlled offset fuel injector valve and only one controlled trim injector valve. The offset injector valves produce a constant quantity of fuel by being energized for a fixed pulse duration each injection cycle while the difference between that constant quantity and a desired fuel injection quantity calculated from a fuel schedule is supplied by the variable trim injector. The fuel supply schedule is determined by the engine variables of the operating system by an electronic fuel scheduler circuit which further supplies fuel injection timing pulses for triggering the beginning of the injection cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pressure valve for use in any one of several cooling systems for different internal combustion engines also disclosed herein. The pressure valve is connected in series with a source of coolant and an engine coolant jacket for affording coolant flow from the source through the coolant jacket when the pressure in the coolant is above a first value and for affording continued coolant flow through the coolant jacket until the pressure in the coolant falls below a second value lower than the first value. The pressure valve comprises wall means defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet including a valve seat, together with a valve member having a first surface movable relative to a closed position wherein the first surface sealingly engages the valve seat, which valve member also has a second surface facing away from the first surface.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel is used in a precombustion chamber for igniting lean fuel-oxidant mixtures in a main combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.The precombustion chamber preferably utilizes a highly combustible gaseous fuel which burns clean with little or no deposits and produces no pollutants.The combustion gas products from the precombustion chamber are injected into the main combustion chamber at high temperature and at high velocity to produce highly efficient turbulent mixing of a lean fuel-oxidant mixture in the main combustion chamber and to produce effective ignition and efficient burning of the fuel at the lean fuel-oxidant ratios in the main combustion chamber for increased engine efficiency and lowered emissions as compared to existing engine systems using conventional spark ignition.The precombustion chamber mechanism incorporates injection structure for producing standing waves in the main combustion chamber to provide a plurality of highly effective ignition points.

Abstract: This device pertains to an automatically adjustable length connecting rod, as applied to each cylinder of an internal combustion engine designed to operate at variable speed and torque outputs.The purpose of the adjustable length connecting rod is to substantially maintain the level of compression of the fuel mixture over a wide range of speed and torque requirements by means of varying the compression ratio.Automatic adjustment and locking of the length of the connecting rod is accomplished by means of a hydraulic cylinder within the connecting rod. Pressure is applied during a suitable portion of the intake stroke to lengthen the connecting rod. Compression stroke pressure buildup overcomes a relief valve during a suitable portion of the compression stroke to adjust the length of the connecting rod. The connecting rod length is hydraulically locked except during the two short periods of adjustment per cycle.