Abstract: To facilitate construction of internal combustion engines rotating in opposite directions using the same crankcase, three recessed bearings 5, 5a, 5b, are formed in the crankcase. For engines operating in a first direction of rotation, a first bearing 5 supports a first intermediate gear 4 to provide the driving connection between the crankshaft 2 and the camshaft 7, and for an engine having an opposite direction of rotation the second and third bearings 5a, 5b, support a second intermediate gear 4 and the first intermediate gear 8 to provide the driving connection between the crankshaft 2 and the camshaft 7. This construction permits a simple conversion operation to change the rotation direction of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An extension tube for an internal combustion engine oil fill tube comprises an elongate bent cylindrical member having one threaded end adapted to engage within a threaded port in a valve cover. The tube includes a protruding nub thereon which is positioned to coact with a cavity between segmented threads in the port to produce a detent between the tube and the port when the tube is threaded into the port to a desired relative rotational orientation, for maintaining such orientation. The tube further includes a peripheral flange which compresses a high swell material seal member placed therebeneath against an area disposed about the port to ensure integrity of the engagement.

Abstract: An arrangement for releasably coupling an engine to a driven device such as a power tool includes a lug-bearing ring mounted on the engine, the ring encircling a centrifugally operated clutch, splined shaft or other shaft coupling member at the end of a drive shaft and having a plurality of lugs with enlarged heads mounted thereon. The engine is releasably coupled to a driven device by passing the enlarged heads of the lugs through large portions of mating apertures within a lug-receiving ring mounted on the driven device and then rotating the engine relative to the driven device to move the lugs into necked-down portions of the apertures and lock one of the lug heads against a manually actuable resilient retainer strip mounted on the opposite side of the lug-receiving ring. A cable at the end of a manually operated engine speed control on the driven device is releasably coupled to the engine throttle control.

Abstract: A valve train module used to effect operation of both the intake valve and the exhaust valve for a cylinder of an internal combustion engine includes a housing adapted to be secured to the cylinder head of the engine, the housing supporting a single engine driven camshaft having both intake and exhaust cam lobes thereon. In a preferred embodiment a direct acting hydraulic lash adjuster journaled in the housing is used to effect operation of the intake valve by the intake cam lobe while operation of the exhaust valve is by a rocker arm pivotally supported on a rocker shaft fixed to the housing and by a roller follower reciprocably journaled in the housing so as to operatively interconnect the exhaust cam lobe to one end of the rocker arm, the opposite end of the rocker arm having a hydraulic lash adjuster operatively positioned therein and operatively connected to the exhaust valve.

Abstract: A combustible mixture is compressed in the crankcase of a four-stroke cycle engine and forced into a boost plenum which houses the camshaft. The compressed mixture is metered by a throttle to intake valves of the engine. The engine is constructed from identical engine block elements rotated and joined to enclose the centrally disposed crankcase and common boost plenum with the cylinders horizontally opposed.

Abstract: A novel air compressor utilizing a simple modification of an opposing 4 cylinder air cooled Volkswagen internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A mounting for the transmission of a track laying vehicle wherein the transmission is longitudinally installed and removed from a power-pack compartment in the hull of the vehicle. The mounting includes a pair of collars slidably disposed on bosses on opposite sides of the transmission case for movement between laterally inboard and outboard positions. As the transmission is pushed into the power-pack compartment, the collars are in the retracted positions. When the transmission achieves an installed position with the collars aligned on the sprocket axis of the hull, the collars are moved to the extended positions wherein an external bearing surface on each collar engages an internal cylindrical pilot surface on a web adapter rigidly attached to the adjacent hull wall. The transmission is supported at the sprocket axis through the collars.

Abstract: An internal combustion V-type engine has a crankcase which is split horizontally on a plane containing the axis of the crankshaft. Relatively thin stationary webs in the upper and lower crankcase halves are aligned and each pair receives a plurality of fastening elements such as cap screws which extend through the lower half of the crankcase across the horizontal joint and into the upper half of the crankcase. These pairs of webs are placed at intervals along the length of the crankshaft to support it for rotation.

Abstract: This invention is an improved modular engine having replaceable power modules wherein the improvement consists of automatically coupling and decoupling the power modules and the engine's power output shaft in response to immediate operating requirements resulting in fuel savings. When a unit is decoupled, it is shut down and does not use fuel or add load to the engine. This feature saves fuel whenever operating requirements permit a reduction in power. The power units may be of several types known to the art. The power units are shown to have a gear which meshes with a gear part of the engine's power output shaft to drive the shaft. A microprocessor is shown to control the dynamic coupling and decoupling between the unit's gear and the power output shaft to keep the invention properly timed and fuel efficient. A flywheel is shown, in combination with the other parts, to store regenerated energy and release the energy to the power shaft upon demand.

Abstract: A machine cover comprising a main body 1 having two or more apertures 6 closed by interchangeable inserts 8,9, at least one of which incorporates an inlet duct 12 so that this inlet duct can be located in one of two or more different positions in the cover. A pair of interchangeable inserts for an adjacent pair of apertures may be formed in a single component 8 that is reversible end-to-end and which cooperates with both apertures 6 so that the filler duct 11 is aligned with either one while the other aperture is closed. One or more blanking inserts are provided to close each of the other apertures, one blanking component 9 being provided for each pair of adjacent apertures if desired. Alternatively, the insert 18 incorporating the filler duct 11 may be insertable in each aperture 16 in each of two or more different orientations in each of which the filler duct is located in a different position.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a crank shaft having a crank web, a crank pin on one end of the crank web, and a weight on an opposite end of the crank web, a crank case supporting the crank shaft therein, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally fitted in the cylinder, a rod coupled to the piston by a piston pin and connecting the piston to the crank pin for reciprocally moving the piston in the cylinder, the crank case having an opening and extending obliquely to axes of the crank shaft and the cylinder. The cylinder has an end corresponding to a bottom dead center of the piston and having a first recess opening toward the opening, the first recess being of a size allowing the piston pin to pass therethrough when the piston is in the bottom dead center. The weight on the crank web has on one side a second recess of a shape defining with the end of the cylinder a space allowing the piston as disconnected from the rod to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An engine block for a reciprocal piston internal combustion engine which is constructed from two substantially identical block halves. Each block half includes a mating surface formed around its outer periphery which is symetrical about the center line and a cylinder adapted to receive a reciprocal piston. Each block further includes a pair of manifold passageways wherein one end of each passageway is adapted to be connected to the cylinder through a valve means while the other of each passageway is open to the mating surface on opposite sides of and equidistantly spaced from the center line. A recessed channel is formed in the mating surface and extends from the other end of each passageway and to the outer edge of the mating surface. The engine block halves are secured together so that the mating surfaces abut together whereupon the recessed channels on one block half register with the recessed channels on the other block half.

Abstract: A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine comprises a crankcase cover secured to a cylinder block of the engine and arranged to absorb vibration applied thereto, an oil reservoir for containing lubricating oil, disposed independently and separately from the cylinder block, and pipes for establishing communication between the inside of the crankcase cover and the oil reservoir, and establishing communication between the oil reservoir and an oil pump associated with the cylinder block, respectively, thereby preventing noise emission due to vibration transmitted to the crankcase cover through the cylinder block.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises an engine unit support which contains the engine parts directly affected by body resonance (cylinderhead, cylinder, piston, connecting rod, crankshaft main bearing, and crankshaft) and a crankcase connected to the engine unit support by flanges located above the crankshaft. The crankshaft main bearings consist of bearing blocks and bearing caps which are connectable to main bearing units independently from the main bearing bolts. The bearing units are detachably secured to the engine unit support. The crankcase is provided with at least one aperture closed by at least one cover part below the crankshaft, said apertures providing access to the main bearing bolts. Dismounting of the engine unit support is enabled with the crankshaft and the main bearing units mounted thereon remaining in the crankcase and the crankcase remaining mounted on its place, for instance in a vehicle.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprises an engine block formed with first bearing carrying portions which carry a group of upper generally semicylindrical parts of main bearings for supporting a crankshaft, and a bearing support block secured to the engine block and formed with second bearing carrying portions which carry a group of lower generally semicylindrical parts of the main bearing, so that the engine block is reinforced to prevent generation of engine noises due to low flexural rigidity of the engine block.

Abstract: A modular internal combustion engine is provided in which a single crankcase can be adapted to a plurality of different types of engine configurations. The crankcase is open at its top so that each upper side edge of the crankcase forms a mounting flange while a crankshaft is rotatably carried by the crankcase. Block members and adapter members are provided and each includes a mounting flange formed along each longitudinal side. All of the mounting flanges are substantially identical to each other so that any one mounting flange can be detachably secured to another mounting flange. Thus to construct the engine, one mounting flange of either the block or adapter member is attached to one crankcase mounting flange while one mounting flange on the other member is attached to the other crankcase mounting flange. In addition, the remaining mounting flanges on the block and adapter members register with each other and are secured together.

Abstract: A modular internal combustion engine is provided in which a single crankcase can be adapted to a plurality of different types of engine configurations. The crankcase is open at its top so that each upper side edge of the crankcase forms a mounting flange while a crankshaft is rotatably carried by the crankcase. Block members and adapter members are provided and each includes a mounting flange formed along each longitudinal side. All of the mounting flanges are substantially identical to each other so that any one mounting flange can be detachably secured to another mounting flange. Thus to construct the engine, one mounting flange of either the block or adapter member is attached to one crankcase mounting flange while one mounting flange on the other member is attached to the other crankcase mounting flange. In addition, the remaining mounting flanges on the block and adapter members register with each other and are secured together.

Abstract: Method and device for removing the crank-shaft of an internal combustion engine, wherein the frame of the engine is tilted on one side about an axis parallel with the center-line of the crank-shaft, and said crank-shaft is extracted from below.