Abstract: A tamper-proof dual spring controlled air fuel control for a compression ignition type internal combustion engine is provided wherein fuel is supplied to the engine cylinders in response to the pressure of the air in the intake manifold. A pair of oppositely biased springs controls the movement of a stem valve in response to intake manifold air pressure exerted on a flexible diaphragm located between the oppositely biased springs. The stem valve includes a plunger within a barrel in the air fuel control housing in the engine fuel pump. The cross-sectional profiles of the plunger and barrel are designed to meter precisely a controlled amount of fuel to the engine fuel supply system as the intake air pressure increases and to reduce this metered flow as the intake air pressure decreases. Two plunger and barrel assembly embodiments having different profiles are provided. A class fit between the barrel and plunger of the present air fuel control wherein the clearance must not exceed 0.000075 to 0.

Abstract: A one-way pressure relief valve assembly is provided for venting the lubricant reservoir of a roller-type well drilling bit. The valve assembly is mounted in the cap of the lubricant reservoir, to open outwardly, and is adapted to provide hydrostatic loading of the valve element to its closed position.

Abstract: An oil change interval monitor is provided which senses diesel engine variables such as oil temperature, fuel flow and the volume of oil added to the engine since the last oil change and combines these variables with values determined by known engine parameters to provide a continuously updated indication of the percentage of oil life used by the engine since the last oil change.

Abstract: An improved bearing assembly which may only be assembled when its principle components are properly fitted together is disclosed herein. Generally, the bearing assembly includes a saddle member and a bearing cap, each of which includes a main bearing receiving, semi-circular recess for journaling the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The recess of the saddle member is flanked on either side by first and second alignment slots, and the recess of the bearing cap is flanked by first and second mounting shoulders which are asymmetrical in shape with respect to the axis of rotation of the semi-cylindrical recess, and which are insertable within the first and second alignment slots of the saddle member, respectively. However, dissymmetry between the first and second shoulders prohibit the first shoulder from being inserted into the second alignment slot in a manner to cause proper alignment of the semi-cylindrical recesses.

Abstract: Pivot rods, such as push rods of the type found in fuel injector and engine cylinder valve drive trains, wherein a pivot element is formed of a ceramic material that is joined to a nonceramic mounting shaft as a tip portion thereof, and a method for its manufacture are improved by utilizing an attachment sleeve to interconnect the pivot element to the mounting shaft in an end-to-end abutting fashion. The attachment sleeve is secured to a portion of the pivot insert by a first interference fit securement and to an end portion of the mounting shaft by a second interference fit securement.

Abstract: A cylinder head for a valve-controlled internal combustion engine having a bottom surface which faces into an associated combustion chamber and a plurality of spaced valve openings therethrough and also an injector bore for induction of fuel or ignition spark through the combustion face of said cylinder head into the cylinder, said bottom surface or combustion face of said cylinder head having a circular cut-out portion located radially spaced between said injector bore and the center lines of said valve openings, with said cut-out possibly intersecting each of said valve openings.

Abstract: An improved, simplified pressure/time dependent fuel injector assembly for injecting fuel intermittently into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The injector assembly includes a unitary or single-piece injector body which has at least one groove-like channel on the exterior surface thereof. The channel is closed and sealed by a sleeve which is press-fit about that portion of the injector body on which the channel lies. For reciprocation within the injector body, there is provided an injector-plunger assembly which includes a top stop mechanism for adjustably setting the distance traveled by the plunger assembly during the reciprocatory movement thereof.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint which allows the precise positioning of the line of contact between the ball and the socket utilizing a spherically curved socket and an offset radius ball. The significant manufacturing difficulties associated with the shaping of an offset radius socket is avoided by the use of the spherical socket and offset radius ball. Furthermore, the ball and socket configuration enables use of ceramic materials to produce the socket and/or ball components which, in turn, results in a dramatic increase of the life of the ball and socket joint.

Abstract: A pivot rod, such as a push rod of the type found included in fuel injector drive trains and engine cylinder valve drive trains, has a mounting shaft with an interior receiving space at at least one end thereof, and a pivot insert formed of a ceramic material that is positioned with a first portion thereof disposed within the receiving space of the mounting shaft and a second portion thereof projecting axially beyond the end of the mounting shaft.

Abstract: A method of rebuilding fuel injection pumps which have become inoperative due to excessive wear or other damage. Damaged surfaces of parts of the fuel distribution assembly, e.g., head and rotor assemblies used in rotary distributor type diesel fuel injection pumps, as well as plunger and barrel assemblies of inline diesel injection distributor pumps, are restored by a method involving disassembling of the distributor assemblies, inspecting and categorizing of damaged surface areas, machining of the parts to return them to their proper degree of roundness and surface finish with selected areas of the rotor or plunger being plated with a hard material such as chrome.

Abstract: A compressor having either an axial or radial stage adjacent the air inlet includes a circumferential row of slots in the inner casing wall, the slots opening into the casing bore; a rotor having a leading row of compressor blades thereon rotatable within the bore with the tips of the blades adjacent the row of slots; and, the axial centerline of the circumferential row of slots being positioned axially forward of the axial centerline of the blades of the leading blade row with a substantial portion of the axial slot length of each slot being forward of the leading edge of the blades of the leading blade row. In a preferred form of the compressor, the inner casing wall includes a circumferential stationary ring having an inner wall for defining with the inner casing wall the bore in which the rotor rotates, the circumferential row of slots being formed in the ring wall.

Abstract: The invention consists of an improved apparatus for filling, venting, de-aerating, and detecting the coolant level in an engine coolant system. The apparatus provided has a de-aerating tank with a filler neck disposed on top of the tank. A fill line and a vent line interconnect the engine block coolant jacket and the deaerating tank. At least one radiator vent conduit interconnects the filler neck and the top header tank of the radiator, thereby providing a passageway for gas and coolant. A removable cap is provided having a subtending cup portion disposed within the filler neck. The cup portion defines at least one groove on its outer surface and an orifice disposed within the groove, and having sealing O-rings bands opposite both sides of the groove and a stem connecting to an overflow conduit. When the cap is secured to the filler neck, the flow of coolant and gas from the radiator vent conduit to the filler neck is limited by the size of the orifice.

Abstract: A cooling system having a circulating coolant provided for an internal combustion engine, wherein the coolant temperature substantially remains at a predetermined elevated temperature while the engine is operating at a load below a predetermined amount and within a predetermined ambient temperature range.

Abstract: A plasma jet ignitor apparatus for generating plasma from a plasma medium and for discharging the plasma as a jet into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus has a plug which has electrodes from which an arc is generated. The arc causes the plasma medium which is supplied to the plasma generation cavity to become plasma. The plasma generation cavity is cooperatively arranged with magnetic field generation means, electrode discharging means and plasma medium supply means. The cavity has an inlet opening adjacent the plasma generation location at the bottom of the cavity and an outlet orifice at the top of the cavity. The plasma is ejected as a plasma jet, with a ring vortex structure, from the cavity and through the orifice. The magnetic field generation means is disposed as a magnetic field coil acting on the arc. The magnetic field is created by the discharge of a capacitor at the time of the formation of the plasma in the cavity.

Abstract: An inspection system for determining if the measured features within a measured pattern of features on a mechanical component are within specified tolerances by repositioning a representation of the dimensioned features relative to the corresponding measured pattern of features within the coordinate system and by determining whether each measured feature is within the tolerance zone associated with the corresponding dimensioned feature. To accomplish this purpose, a data processor is provided for simulating the relative positions of the measured and dimensioned pattern of features and for moving in incremental steps the dimensional pattern relative to the measured pattern within a predetermined coordinate system. The directions of movement for the incremental steps are chosen by the data processor by simulating restoring forces between corresponding features of the measured and dimensioned patterns.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided for controlling the flow of liquid accumulated in a closed vessel through a drain port in the bottom wall of the vessel. The assembly includes a body member having a first section disposed within the drain port. The body member has a second section extending outwardly from the first section. The first and second sections are provided with a first passage for air venting the vessel interior, a second passage for controlled draining of the accumulated liquid from the vessel interior, and a common opening, the latter having an exposed end. Adjustably mounted on the body member is a valve member having a first segment adjustably disposed with respect to the opening of the body member and a second segment projecting outwardly from the first segment and subtending the body member second section. The valve member second segment is provided with first and second passages corresponding with the first and second passages of the body member.

Abstract: A thrust bearing and cone locking assembly for rotatably mounting the cutter cones on a rock drill bit is provided. The assembly includes a dual function thrust bearing and cone retainer capable of absorbing radial thrust and axial thrust in opposite directions. One end of the thrust bearing is received in a central channel in a journal leg mounted on the bit body and is secured to the journal leg by a circular cross-section snap ring. The other end of the thrust bearing is received in a corresponding confugured receptacle in the cone and is locked to the cone by a dual function rectangular cross-section snap ring which both secures the cone to the thrust bearing and absorbs axial thrust loads. A separate radial thrust bearing is additionally provided between the journal and the cone. A lubricant supply system contained within the assembly provides lubricant directly to all the bearing structures.

Abstract: A lubricant filter assembly for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a head member removably mounted on a base member. The head member includes a sleeve-like housing open at one end only and having first and second filter units fixedly mounted therein. The outer peripheries of the filter units coact with the interior surface of the housing to form a common inlet passage. One of the filter units is provided with an interior first outlet passage which communicates with a first passage formation formed in the base member. The first passage formation communicates with a first lubricating circuit of the engine. The second filter unit is provided with an interior second outlet passage which communicates with a second passage formation formed in the base member. The second passage formation communicates with a second lubricating circuit of the engine. Seal sections are carried by the head member.

Abstract: A two-cycle internal combustion engine having an "open" combustion chamber/poppet valve arrangement that produces improved scavenging. The combustion chamber has a generally oblate configuration and is slanted with respect to the cylinder axis in such a manner that the air flowing therein converges and is directed downward in a collimated column into the cylinder. The placement of overhead cam operated poppet valves in combination with the combustion chamber produces a scavenging method of the reverse return-flow type. A displacer piston having a displacer with a peripheral wall corresponding in configuration to that of the combustion chamber and defining a recess of predetermined volume that forms the floor of the combustion chamber when the piston is located in its upper most position may be advantageously employed.