Abstract: A centrifugal fluid machine such as a pump or compressor has a diffuser with fixed vane geometry which provides significantly increased range, as compared to conventional fixed geometry diffusers, by developing what appear to be flow accelerating stall bubbles in the diffuser throat that forestall the onset of surge in the portion of the operating range near and approaching the surge point. The stall bubbles are created by fixing the suction sides of the vanes, relative to the flow impinging upon their leading edges at angles slightly more radial than is conventional, thereby creating higher than normal angles of incidence with the flow delivered by the impeller.

Abstract: Modified cams and cam followers are designed to remove lash arising from clearances and compliance in valve train components. The cam followers have a crowned cam contacting surface having a crest, and the cams have a relief formed in a part of the base circle opposite the lift profile. The relief extends across the area opposed to the crest so that the region of the relief, the cam engages the follower in a path offset from and lower than the crest. The cam regions remote from the relief contact the follower on the crest. When the cam moves from the offset contact to the crest contact the valve train will be compressed just enough to remove the compliance prior to lift profile engagement. If any lash is present, it is also removed by the same action.

Abstract: An emission system especially for controlling evaporative emissions from the fuel system of a two cycle engine having a split exhaust wherein a combustor is provided to burn fuel vapor mixed with scavenging air exhausted from the engine and the combustor exhaust may be mixed with the engine blowdown gas for further treatment in a catalytic device or other treatment means. Additional control features are disclosed.

Abstract: An exhaust port timing valve for a two cycle engine has a sealing shroud preferably made as a flexible sheet that is urged by gas pressure into sealing contact with a slot and/or sealing edges of an associated exhaust port or shroud to allow low friction valve adjustment while limiting gas leakage past the valve unaffected by close tolerances and temperature changes. Springs and/or seals can alternatively be used with flexible or non-flexible shrouds to improve sealing.

Abstract: A port scavenged two cycle engine with a separate source of pressurized air has a valve between each port and the air supply to provide a high blowdown pulsing scavenging flow to the cylinders similar to that of a crankcase scavenged engine. Various arrangements with additional features are disclosed.

Abstract: Combinations of split and valved exhaust ports are provided in a ported two cycle engine with divided emission control system to provide better control of the division of exhaust gas flow to the two converters.

Abstract: A diaphragm valve includes a magnetically attractive snap disc with two unrestrained positions in one of which its edge contacts a valve seat to block flow and an electromagnet operates to urge the disc to end of its two positions with additional means for returning it to the other. Use of a valve for two cycle engine crankcase inlet control is also disclosed.

Abstract: A two-stroke cycle spark ignition cylinder fuel injection engine is provided with an exhaust emission control system that separately treats hot blowdown gases and uses the hot treated gases to warm the scavenging gases for further treatment. Various exhaust gas separation concepts are described for use in separating the blowdown and scavenging portions of the exhaust gas discharged from the cylinder exhaust ports.

Abstract: A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine charged by a turbosupercharger has forced circulation cooling of the engine and turbosupercharger. To cool the turbosupercharger after the internal combustion engine has been switched off the turbosupercharger inlet pipe contains a check valve and a return flow pipe to an expansion tank is split into branch pipes, a first pipe entering the expansion tank above the cooling liquid level and a second pipe entering the expansion tank below the cooling liquid level and having a check valve. Upon switching off the engine, the cooling liquid in the turbosupercharger is evaporated by residual heat and discharges the cooling liquid into the expansion tank in a cyclic, thrust-like process.

Abstract: A remote locomotive spotter control having a plug in remote unit to control braking and battery power to one or more traction motors for moving the locomotive from an outside location. The control system provides automatic bell operation when the brakes are released and brake application whenever the remote brake control is released. Additional features prevent operation of the spotter control until the locomotive independent brake has been set and whenever the main reservoir pressure is too low for repeated brake application. Damage to the battery through inadvertent connection to the main generator is also prevented.

Abstract: A direct injection internal combustion engine of the diesel or spark ignition type is provided with a combustion bowl recess in the head end of the piston having both a polygonal lip and a polygonal bowl with upwardly and inwardly curving reentrant sides to provide high turbulence for fuel air mixing during an extended portion of the piston compression stroke and improved combustion of the air/fuel mixture.

Abstract: A crankcase scavenged two cycle engine is provided with a supplemental variable volume chamber or plenum connected with the crankcase chamber for each cylinder to controllably vary the effective volume of the crankcase chambers and thereby control scavenging pressure. Control methods for providing more consistent scavenging and more efficient charge control are disclosed.

Abstract: A crankcase scavenged two cycle engine has an auxiliary or bypass port above the exhaust and inlet ports to direct blowdown exhaust gas into a plenum or the engine crankcase for later return to the engine cylinder. Loss of fuel-rich blowdown gas to the engine exhaust system is thereby reduced.

Abstract: A two cycle engine has oil distribution means through the cylinder wall to feed internal oil passages in the associated piston that distribute oil directly to the skirt and cylinder walls, preferably between ports, and/or to the wrist pin and connecting rod bearing to thereby limit oil carryover into the engine charging and scavenging air.

Abstract: A crankcase scavenged two cycle engine has a variable timing poppet inlet valve on the crankcase inlet. The valve timing is altered for load control with minimum air pumping loss and open periods may be skipped during skip firing of the engine cylinders for improved efficiency.

Abstract: A railway locomotive truck provides improved mountings and/or configurations for traction motor axle support bearings to improve their wear life. These include tilting, or sloping, of the support bearing bores to more closely match the orientations of the bearing journal surfaces on the axles which slope as a result of bending of the axles under the weight of the locomotive. An added feature is forming the bearing bores with a slight conicity to accommodate slight tilting of the traction motor under heavy loads due to taking up of the clearances in the motor support axle bearings. Other features include various ways of mountings or altering the construction of the axle bearings to provide the desired positioning.

Abstract: In a transversely mounted engine, oil intake efficiency is improved by a sloped baffle which funnels the returning engine oil to the oil intake in the oil pan, a small clearance between the baffle and the pan to retard oil surge beyond the baffle, a dam adjacent the oil intake port to inhibit the formation of a vortex that draws air into the port, and optimum placement of the intake in the pan.

Abstract: Torch jet ignition is used to assist conventional spark ignition. A small (0.5-1 cc) chamber in a spark plug has an orifice (0.1-0.2 cm diameter) adjacent the spark gap to emit a torch jet into the main combustion chamber to enhance the combustion. The combustion is initiated by the conventional spark in the combustion chamber and the combustion ignites the torch jet. In another embodiment, two spark gaps in series are used, one in the main combustion chamber and one in the torch chamber.

Abstract: An engine valve bridge assembly, or the like, contains an improved lash adjuster assembly including a follower body, such as in a known lash adjuster hydraulic element assembly, in an improved holder that axially separates the mounting portion from the body-carrying bore to avoid distortion of the bore from mounting of the holder. Numerous primary and alternative features are disclosed.

Abstract: Camshaft assemblies are disclosed with methods for making them by the expansion of tubular shafts into prelocated cams, journals and other elements, if desired. Features of the camshafts include trilobe or polylobe element openings, preferably splined or serrated for low energy filling and high torque capacity and High Strength Low Alloy mild steel tubular shaft material.