Abstract: A method of controlling the mass of air and fuel delivered to an internal combustion engine per cylinder, per cycle, by utilizing a unique control algorithm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a regenerative pump (1) comprising a casing (11) provided with an inlet port (2) for admission of fluid to the pump (1), an impeller (3) having a plurality of blades (4, 14, 23), each having an inner edge (26) and an outer edge (25) in the radial direction of the impeller (3) to generate, upon rotation, multi-stage compression of the admitted fluid and an outlet port (5) for discharge of fluid compressed by the pump (1) from the casing (11). The inlet port (2) is isolated from the outlet port (5) by a stripper portion (6) and the stripper portion (6) and the blades are relatively configured such that an outer edge (25) of each blade (4, 14, 23) enters the stripper portion (6) after an inner edge (26) thereof.

Abstract: A terminal assembly for a cable having a multiplicity of conductors, particularly having a relatively high number of small gauge conductors, and providing an individual terminal for each conductor. The terminal assembly comprises a terminal block having a plurality of terminal cavities at one face of the block to receive respective terminal elements and a plurality of conductor apertures in the opposite end of the terminal block. The respective conductors with or without a terminal element connected thereto pass through each conductor aperture to be connected to a terminal element in, or to be located in, a respective terminal cavity. Locking means are provided of the terminal block adapted to anchor each conductor to the terminal block to thereby limit the transmission of cable or conductor movement externally of the terminal block to the terminal elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for metering liquid fuel for delivery to an engine including delivering during each cycle a predetermined quantity of liquid fuel into a control chamber (71) charged with compressed gas, and thereafter, adjusting the quantity of fuel in the control chamber (71) in accordance with the engine load and/or speed to the required quantity per cycle, and discharging the adjusted quantity of fuel from the control chamber to an injection chamber (70) charged with compressed air for delivery to the engine combustion chamber. Conveniently, as the quantity of fuel is maintained in said control chamber (71) under pressure, the adjustment of the quantity of fuel is effected by opening a bleed valve 73 for a time period determined by the quantity of fuel required to be retained for delivery to the engine.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder two-stroke cycle engine according to the invention incorporates a plurality of cylinders (1,2,3) arranged in line with each cylinder having at least two inlet ports one on each of the two opposite longitudinal sides of the in-line cylinders (1,2,3). Air passages (67,77) extend along said opposite sides to supply air from a supercharger (not shown) to the respective inlet ports. An air control valve (68) is operable to selectively control air supply to one or both of said air passages (67,77) whereby optimum combustion conditions are obtained for various engine load/speed conditions. A centrifugal supercharger arrangement is also disclosed, the supercharger being coupled to the engine crankshaft and interposed between the cylinder block and the engine flywheel.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system having a fuel pump (15) to supply fuel to a fuel metering apparatus (23) operable to provide metered quantities of fuel for injection to an engine, and an electronic controller (22) responsive to a plurality of input signals to determine the engine fuel demand and to control the activation of the fuel metering apparatus ( 23 ) to deliver a quantity of fuel to meet said fuel demand. The method comprising maintaining a fuel supply to said fuel metering apparatus (23) within predetermined fuel pressure or fuel level parameters, and cyclically operating said fuel pump-to maintain said fuel supply within said parameters. Further providing a signal from the sensor (18) to an electronic controller (23) indicative of the pressure of the fuel supply at the fuel metering apparatus (23) as one of said input signals to be processed by the electronic controller (23) in the control of the fuel metering apparatus (22).

Abstract: A method for controlling fuel supplied to an engine includes steps of conducting tests on a representative model of a family of engines to obtain constants and coefficients of operating characteristics of the representative engine under ambient and induced temperatures and pressures, and creating look-up maps from which such coefficients may be obtained to compute actual operating conditions. When an engine is used in performance of normal operations, sensors are provided to determine actual operating temperatures and pressures which are used to select appropriate constants and coefficients for calculating engine fuel requirements in accordance with an algorithm, and using the calculated result to control flow to fuel to the engine under normal operating conditions.

Abstract: A terminal assembly for a cable having a multiplicity of conductors, particularly having a relatively high number of small gauge conductors, and providing an individual terminal for each conductor.The terminal assembly comprises a terminal block having a plurality of terminal cavities at one face of the block to receive respective terminal elements and a plurality of conductor apertures in the opposite end of the terminal block. The respective conductors with or without a terminal element connected thereto pass through each conductor aperture to be connected to a terminal element in, or to be located in, a respective terminal cavity. Locking means are provided of the terminal block adapted to anchor each conductor to the terminal block to thereby limit the transmission of cable or conductor movement externally of the terminal block to the terminal elements.

Abstract: A two stroke cycle engine cylinder block (9) has exhaust ports (14) controlled by power valves which rotate on an axis extending longitudinally of the block (9). Along this axis the block (9) has a plurality of aligned recesses in which are located bearing members (24) for the power valves. Bores (25) in each bearing member (24) are axially aligned and the bearing members (24) immobilely retained in the aligned recesses by assembly of the exhaust manifold (16). Spigots on the power valves are received in the bores (25) and coupled together so that the power valves rotate in unison.

Abstract: A method of control of the supply of lubricating oil to a two stroke cycle internal combustion engine comprising supplying fuel to a fuel injector from a fuel reservoir having a fuel capacity greater than the maximum fuel requirement of the engine per cycle. The fuel in the reservoir being maintained at a substantially steady pressure. Delivering oil to the engine by a positive displacement pump having a delivery capacity per pump cycle greater than the maximum oil requirement of the engine per cycle. The oil pump being activated in response to the consumption of fuel from the fuel reservoir to maintain a substantially uniform predetermined ratio between the fuel consumption rate and the oil delivery rate.

Abstract: A multicylinder two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine (10) comprises an individual crankcase cavity (18) for each cylinder to receive the incoming air charge for that cylinder and a cylinder block (11) with at least two cylinders having cooperating crankcase cavities (18) provided with valve controlled intake ports (19) in a common wall (31) of the cylinder block (11). An air induction manifold (25) is detachably mounted to the common wall (31) to form a single air induction cavity (27), at least part of which is formed within the cylinder block (11), and has a single main inlet port for regulation of air inflow to the induction cavity (27). Individual passages (33) communicating each crankcase cavity inlet port (19) with the air induction cavity (27) are formed in the manifold (25). Acceptable performance with limited increase in the overall physical dimensions of the engine (10) can thus be obtained.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a solenoid comprising supplying current to the solenoid winding from an electrical source and controlling the rate of rise of the current at a predetermined rate during at least the period between initiation of the current supply and the commencement of movement of the solenoid armature, said predetermined rate of rise of the current being independent of the maximum rate of rise of the current, attainable at the nominal voltage of the electrical source.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine (20) in order to improve the control of the level of emissions in the exhaust gases, comprising the steps of, at least when the engine (20) is operating under idle and/or low load conditions at a temperature below a predetermined value, applying a parasitic load to the engine (20) to increase engine fuel demand, and increasing fueling rate to the engine (20) in response to said engine fuel demand to thereby raise the temperature of the exhaust gases. The method may further comprise the steps of raising the temperature of the air being inducted into the engine (20) and/or directly heating a catalyst (25) in the engine exhaust system (24), conveniently by respective heater elements (23,26) coupled to an alternator (27) driven by the engine (20).

Abstract: An internal combustion engine air supply system having a first air intake passage (11) through which air can flow to the engine (8) with a driver actuated mechanism operatively coupled to a first control means (12) to vary the air flow through the primary passage (11) to the engine (8) in response to the driver demand and a second air intake passage (13) through which air can flow to the engine (8) with an actuator means operable in response to sensed engine operating conditions to operate a second control means (5) to vary the air flow through the second passage (13) to the engine (8); the first control (12) means and second control means (5) being operable independently, so that the air supplied to the engine (8) may pass solely through one of the first (11) or second (13) air passages or simultaneously through both.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine installation is provided which comprises an air compressor (20) to supply air to effect injection of the fuel for combustion in the engine, a fuel tank (12), an air/fuel separator (10) to receive vapor generated in the fuel tank (12) and separate the fuel in vapor from the air and a passage (25) communicating the separator with the inlet port of the compressor (20) so that when the compressor (20) is in operation at least part of the air taken in by the compressor (20) is drawn through the part of the separator (10) where the fuel is held to extract fuel therefrom.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a cylinder head at one end of the cylinder, a piston mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder, a cavity in the cylinder head, and a fuel injector nozzle located in the cavity in the cylinder head to deliver fuel into the cavity in a direction towards the piston. The piston has a bowl in the top thereof, positioned to intersect the path of delivery of the fuel from the injector nozzle. A rim extends around the periphery of the bowl and is upstanding from the to surface of the piston. The bowl and rim effect containment of the fuel, particularly during high fueling rates, to control the combustion process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine fuel injection system wherein fuel is cyclically injected directly into an engine combustion chamber though a selectively openable nozzle, whereby the nozzle is periodically maintained open while no fuel is being delivered through the nozzle and while the gas in the combustion chamber is at a temperature and pressure so that gas from the combustion chamber will pass into the open nozzle means to raise the temperature thereof sufficient to combust contaminate deposits thereon.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine to control "knock" therein, by injecting a metered quantity of fuel entrained in a gas directly onto the engine combustion chamber and controlling the timing of injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber. The control of timing of injection being effected by setting the time of the end of the period of injection in relation to the engine cycle, and reducing the duration of the injection period in response to detection of "knock" in the engine above a predetermined level. The duration of injection is reduced in a stepwise manner one step each cycle until "knock" is eliminated or reduced below the predetermined level.

Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for delivering a metered quantity of fuel to an engine comprising a valve controlled port through which the metered quantity of fuel is delivered to the engine the valve being resiliently urged to a position to close said port. .Iadd.An .Iaddend..[.Electromagnetic means.]. .Iadd.electromagnetic element is provided which is .Iaddend.operable when energized to displace said valve member from the closed position to permit delivery of the metered quantity of fuel through the port to the engine. The electromagnetic .[.means including.]. .Iadd.element includes .Iaddend.an armature member movable in a first direction in response to energizing of the electromagnetic .[.means.]. .Iadd.element .Iaddend.to effect the opening of the port. The armature .[.having.]. .Iadd.has .Iaddend.a limited free movement in the first and the opposite directions independent of the valve member when the electromagnetic .[.means.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.