Abstract: A valve actuation assembly for an internal combustion engine is disclosed in which a rotatable rocker arm assembly is actuated by an engine driven camshaft to move a poppet valve reciprocably. The rocker arm assembly includes a hydraulic lash adjuster for disposition between the rocker arm and the valve stem. The lash adjuster includes an actuator at one end having an axially extending neck which terminates in an enlarged head. The enlarged head engages a foot assembly which includes a disk having a socket in which the head is positioned. Retention of the foot member to the enlarged head is through an interference between the perimeter of the enlarged head portion and the socket opening which is defined by a radially inwardly extending flange.

Abstract: According to the present invention a connecting rod constructed of a rigid, primary material is defined by a longitudinally extending beam having, at a first end, a piston pin bearing boss and, at a second end, a crankpin bearing boss. The longitudinally extending beam includes an opening extending from a location near the piston pin bearing boss to a location near the crankpin bearing boss to define opposing webs or legs. A secondary material having stiffness properties different from said primary material is disposed within the opening in the longitudinally extending beam. Under loads imposed on the connecting rod during the combustion event, the opposing legs exhibit a resiliency which allows inward movement, towards the beam axis thereby compressing the secondary material in the opening. The inward movement of the opposing legs, and resulting compression of the secondary material therebetween, absorbs a portion of the applied load to reduce or modify the amplitude of the force transferred to the crankpin.

Abstract: A fuel injection system is disclosed having a fuel injection nozzle which receives pressurized fuel pulses from a source. The nozzle includes a body having a tubular nozzle body with a longitudinally extending opening extending therethrough. A valve seat is located between the upstream and downstream ends of the longitudinal opening in the valve body for engagement with a valve member to thereby regulate the flow of fuel through the opening. A downstream stop member includes a hollow cylinder with a diametrical member extending across one end. The cylindrical stop member is received over the downstream end of the nozzle body with the diametrically extending member disposed across the downstream end of the longitudinal opening to thereby limit the outward range of movement of the valve member from the opening. As a result, the valve member and the downstream end of the longitudinally extending opening define an annular fuel metering orifice therebetween to regulate the flow of fuel from the nozzle.

Abstract: An intake system is disclosed for conducting air to a v-configured, internal combustion engine. The engine includes an engine coolant crossover conduit which extends between cylinder heads and has coolant passages which operate to conduct coolant therebetween. A throttle body mounting flange extends outwardly from a side of the conduit and includes a throttle body mounting surface which surrounds an opening extending through the flange. A throttle body is mounted to the throttle body mounting surface of the throttle body mounting flange with the opening of the flange aligned with the throttle body bore for conducting inlet air from said throttle body and to a conduit extending between the flange and the intake manifold of the engine.

Abstract: An inlet duct and seal assembly is disclosed having, as its preferred application, the attachment of an intake air transfer duct to the throttle body of an internal combustion engine. The throttle body is provided with an inlet opening about which extends an annulus defining an outer annular wall. The inlet air duct has an opening which corresponds in diameter to that of the annular outer wall. A seal is disposed in the duct opening and includes an inwardly, radially directed wiper seal which is flexibly deformed between the annular wall and the duct opening when the duct opening is engaged over the throttle body inlet.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster for an internal combustion engine, and a method of its construction is disclosed. The lash adjuster has a cylindrical follower body in which a tubular plunger is slidingly disposed. The plunger cooperates with the follower body to define a high pressure chamber therebetween which is supplied with fluid through a valved port. A low pressure chamber which operates to supply fluid to the high pressure chamber through the valved opening, is defined by an axial passage through the plunger. Fluid flows into and out of the low pressure chamber through a port in the wall of the plunger. Intermediate of the port and the valved opening is a radially inwardly extending annular shelf which is integral formed with the axial passage of the plunger using a mechanical shaving step to plow a portion of the plunger material from the wall of the axially extending passage.

Abstract: An air induction system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes a housing having a closed end, walls extending from the housing end, and an open end. The open end has a flanged perimeter with a hollow cross section in a portion thereof. The system also may include integral stiffening ribs extending along portions of the walls and the closed end. The stiffening ribs having hollow base portions which operate to minimize depressions caused by the ribs on the sides of the walls opposite the ribs. The hollow base portions allow an increase in rib height and, as such, rib stiffness over typical solid ribs. The hollow cross section perimeter and enlarged stiffener ribs operate to define the area moment of inertia of the housing member.

Abstract: According to the present invention a connecting rod is defined by a longitudinally extending beam having, at a first end, a piston pin bearing boss and, at a second end, a crankpin bearing boss. The longitudinally extending beam includes an opening extending from a location near the piston pin bearing boss to a location near the crankpin bearing boss to define opposing webs or legs. Under loads imposed on the connecting rod during the combustion event, the opposing legs exhibit a resiliency which allows inward movement, towards the beam axis. The inward movement of the opposing legs absorbs a portion of the applied load, thereby reducing the amplitude of the force transferred to the crankpin. As the force of the combustion event diminishes through downward movement of the piston in the engine cylinder, the opposing legs move outwardly, away from the beam axis, returning to their original relationship.

Abstract: A fuel rail for the distribution of fuel to a plurality of fuel injectors is disclosed. The fuel rail includes a longitudinal conduit having injector sockets disposed at spaced intervals and a fuel inlet. Fuel is distributed through the conduit to the various injector sockets for delivery, through associated electromagnetic fuel injectors, to the intake system of an internal combustion engine. A compliant damper is disposed in the fuel conduit and is operable to lower peak pressure pulsations initiated by the firing of the fuel injectors. The fuel damper is supported within the conduit by a keyed damper support which engages the damper. The damper support is keyed with the conduit so as to position the damper axially and rotationally within the conduit to prevent interference with fuel flow to the injector sockets.

Abstract: A valve actuation assembly is disclosed for use on an internal combustion engine. Retention of the roller shafts within the lifter body is through a wire c-ring which engages circumjacent internal and external ring grooves located in the shaft opening in the lifter body and on the outer circumference of the roller shaft. The c-shaped wire ring is formed so that, in its free state, it has an outside diameter larger than the groove in the shaft opening but, in an elastically collapsed state, its outside diameter is no larger than the shaft diameter. When the roller-shaft assembly is installed in the shaft opening of the lifter body, the c-shaped wire ring is elastically collapsed into the shaft groove.

Abstract: A port throttle valve and an intake system incorporating the valve is disclosed. The valve is disposed between one of two intake runners delivering air to the intake port of an engine cylinder and includes a base member having an opening for delivery of air therethrough. The base includes a track in which is slidingly disposed, two adjacent valve plates each having an opening for registry with the opening in the base member to allow for the passage of air. When moved, in opposite longitudinal directions, the edges of the openings in the valve members move towards one another to terminate registry of the openings with the opening in the valve body.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector is disclosed having an orificed fuel injector plate, mounted downstream of a solenoid actuated valve and an associated main orifice passage opened and closed by the valve, to receive fuel when the valve is moved to an open position from an associated valve seat for controlling and directing fuel flow from the injector. The director plate is provided with a plurality of injection orifices to direct fuel streams towards the valve head of an engine intake poppet valve while avoiding targeting the valve stem to thereby reduce the incidence of fuel reflection from the valve stem and associated intake surface wetting.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a crankcase, a cylinder bank extending from the crankcase and a crankshaft disposed in the crankcase. A cylinder in the cylinder bank is closed by a cylinder head which carries intake and exhaust valves for regulating the flow of gasses through the cylinder. An intake and an exhaust camshaft are rotationally disposed within the crankcase and are driven by the crankshaft. The intake camshaft has a cam lobe which operates the intake valve through a pushrod extending between the cam lobe and the valve and the exhaust camshaft has a cam lobe which operates the exhaust valve through a pushrod extending between the cam lobe and the valve. The use of separate intake and exhaust camshafts separates the intake valve actuation event from that of the exhaust valve and allows the application of camshaft phasing to vary the opening relationship, or timing of the intake and the exhaust valves. In addition, the use of two camshafts facilitates the use of multi-step cam lobe.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is disclosed having an apparatus which operates to induce cylinder charge swirl across the range of valve lift and volumetric flow. The intake system of the present invention includes a cylinder-disposed chamber shroud which extends circumferentially about a portion of the intake valve opening in the combustion chamber. The shroud operates to preferentially direct intake charge flowing into the combustion chamber to one side of the cylinder thereby inducing charge swirl. A port guide wing, disposed upstream of the intake valve opening within the intake port supplying charge to the combustion chamber, directs inlet charge to one side of the intake port under high flow conditions. The flow entering the combustion chamber primarily through one side of the valve opening induces swirl within the cylinder.

Abstract: A water pump is disclosed for use in an internal combustion engine. The water pump includes a seal assembly for use between the rotatable pump shaft and the water pump housing which is fixed relative to the shaft. The seal assembly includes a base carrier member which is fixed longitudinally and rotationally with respect to the pump shaft so as to rotate with the shaft. The base carrier member includes a seat for a first end of a compression spring member disposed coaxially about said cylindrical body. The seal assembly also includes a sliding carrier member which extends coaxially relative to the pump shaft in longitudinally slidable, rotationally fixed, coaxial disposition with the base carrier member so as to rotate with the base carrier member and the pump shaft and move longitudinally relative to said base carrier member. A spring member operates to move the sliding carrier member longitudinally along the water pump shaft relative to the fixed base carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the optimum outer dimensions of a piston are disclosed. The piston has a crown with a ring belt and a skirt depending therefrom. Openings in the ring belt are configured to receive abradable rod members having end portions which extend radially outwardly from the piston surface. The radial positions of the outer end portions of the rod members are adjustable so as to locate the rod ends closely adjacent to the walls of an associated engine cylinder. Upon operation of the piston within the cylinder the rods are abraded to reveal the optimum clearance of the piston, relative to the cylinder wall, at that location.

Abstract: A valve actuation assembly is disclosed for use on an internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a cam follower having a follower body. The follower body has an upper head portion and is configured to receive a pair of spaced rollers therein. The rollers are mounted on shafts in the follower body and extend outwardly from the head portion to engage corresponding spaced cam surfaces of a rotatable camshaft for actuating the valve lifter and, consequently, an associated engine valve. The head portion of the follower body cooperates with the inner sidewalls of the rollers to define a space therebetween for straddling a radially outwardly extending spacer mounted for rotation on the camshaft between the spaced cam surfaces. The side surfaces of the outwardly extending spacer are operable with corresponding sidewalls of the rollers to prevent rotation of the cam follower relative to the camshaft.

Abstract: A main bearing cap for an internal combustion engine has a longitudinally extending body defined in pan by parallel sides which terminate in first and second end portions. The bearing cap has a centrally located, semi-cylindrical bearing recess which cooperates with a corresponding recess in the engine crankcase to support journals of a crankshaft along a crankcase axis. The first and second end portions of the bearing cap include laterally outwardly extending flanged feet having end faces which mate with corresponding surfaces on the engine crankcase. The flanged feet operate against the engine crankcase to limit motion of the bearing cap body.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine having a primary catalytic converter located downstream of the engine and a hydrocarbon adsorber located downstream of the primary converter. The adsorber comprises a ceramic wall-flow substrate having a zeolite coating, having the ability to selectively adsorb hydrocarbon molecules from exhaust gas, applied to the interior surfaces of the inlet passages of the substrate and a catalytic coating applied to the adjacent surfaces of the walls of the outlet passages of the substrate. The catalyst preferably has a light-off temperature below the desorption temperature of the zeolite. In operation, hydrocarbon is adsorbed by the zeolite following a cold engine start and is held until the zeolite reaches its desorption temperature at which time the hydrocarbon is released and passes through the porous walled substrate for conversion by the catalyst.

Abstract: An EGR transfer assembly includes a tubular conduit having a first end in communication with a source of exhaust gas and a second end located in an oversized opening in the engine intake manifold. A seal carrier configured as a cylindrical sleeve having a flanged portion at one end, is received over the second end of the conduit such that the cylindrical portion is inserted into the opening in circumjacent relationship to the conduit to define an insulating space therebetween. The flanged portion of the carrier limits the entry of the cylindrical sleeve into the manifold by seating against the manifold. Seals are disposed between the sleeve and the conduit and between the flange and the manifold to limit the leakage of air through the manifold opening. A spring member is seated between the seal carrier and a stop member and acts to seat the flanged portion against the manifold.