Abstract: An electronically controlled fuel injection system for a snowmobile engine utilizing a battery with the fuel injection system having an electronic control unit connected to the battery for operating the system. The engine has an alternator provided for producing an electrical output in response to rotation of the engine. A control switching means is provided for selectively supplying electrical energy to the battery and the control unit upon detecting electrical current from the alternator so that power is supplied to the electronic control unit whenever the engine is in a starting operation either by a rope pull starter or by activating an electric starter.

Abstract: In a microprocessor-based electronic engine control system or ECU for electronic fuel injection which determines the amount of fuel to be injected on the basis of engine RPM and throttle opening position, modified by factors derived from sensed conditions of the engine and the environment, a single, long pulse width priming fuel pulse is injected upon cranking the engine. The priming fuel pulse is selected as an inverse function of engine temperature and delivered to the throttle bodies within a first period of time after the engine is initially turned over. The engine revolutions are counted until the engine starts. If the engine fails to reach a predetermined RPM for a predetermined time period (indicating that it has been successfully started) within a certain number of revolutions of the crankshaft, then a second priming pulse is delivered. The pulse width of the second pulse is independent of the pulse width of the first priming pulse but is again dependent on the engine temperature.

Abstract: A snowmobile ski comprising a longitudinally extending runner having a bottom surface, a generally flat elongate bar having a top and bottom surface, and a steering skag extending longitudinally of the runner on the bottom side of the bar. The flat bar is generally contoured to abut the bottom surface of the runner, and furthermore extends forwardly beyond the skag and laterally and longitudinally beyond the skag so that a skag track in the snow encountered by the ski and the skag track left by the skag in the snow will be at least partially filled in by the bar.

Abstract: A first fuel injection pulse width is provided based on engine operating conditions. The amount of fuel is necessary for one combustion stroke of the engine at one time. A second fuel injection pulse width is provided based on engine operating conditions so as to inject at one time an amount of fuel for two combustion strokes of the engine. The first fuel injection pulse width is compared with a minimum value. The first fuel injection pulse width is selected when the first fuel injection pulse width is larger than the minimum value, and otherwise, the second fuel injection pulse width is selected when the first fuel injection pulse width is smaller than the minimum value. Fuel is injected at the selected injection pulse.

Abstract: The internal combustion engine has a battery and a magneto for an ignition system of the engine. The magneto has a charge coil and a source coil for generating a first alternating current and a second alternating current, respectively. The alternating current is rectified and the rectified current is supplied to the battery for charging. The second alternating current is supplied to electric loads to be operated by the engine.

Abstract: An ignition device intermittently produces an ignition voltage in synchronism with speed of an engine. A fuel injection control is provided for operating a fuel injector for injecting fuel. A fuel pump for supplying fuel to the fuel injector is stopped at a time after the ignition and fuel injection stop, thereby keeping fuel pressure in a fuel supply passage.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a continuously variable belt-drive transmission having a clutch means which engages when speed of an engine is higher than a clutch engaging speed. A plurality of basic pulse widths for injecting fuel are stored in a memory arranged in accordance with the engine speed and opening degree of a throttle valve. Some of the basic pulse widths in a speed range lower than the clutch engaging engine speed are increased for acceleration of the engine. One of the basic pulse widths is retrieved in accordance with the actual engine speed and the throttle valve opening degree, and a fuel injection pulse width is calculated based on the retrieved basic pulse width.

Abstract: A crankcase temperature sensor is provided for detecting temperature of a crankcase. A low speed basic injection pulse width is provided based on the detected crankcase temperature for low engine speed. An ordinary fuel injection pulse width is provided in accordance with engine operating conditions for ordinary engine operating condition. A comparator is provided for comparing the low speed injection pulse width and the ordinary fuel injection pulse width with each other. A larger injection pulse width is determined for injecting fuel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a snowmobile with a reverse-shift lever. A shift cable extends between a transmission which is shiftable from a forward condition to a reverse condition and a lever means of the invention. The lever means is mounted on the snowmobile and includes a lever arm having first and second sides which may be moved from a first, forward position displaying its first side and second, reverse position displaying its second side. So moving the lever arm causes the cable to move, thereby shifting the transmission between its forward and reverse conditions. The first side of the lever arm may include an indicator indicating a forward condition of the transmission and the second side of the lever arm may be provided with an indicator indicating a reverse condition.

Abstract: A multiple driven axle vehicle, such as a four-wheel drive recreational vehicle having its front, steerable wheels being optionally driven by providing double acting overrunning clutches in the hubs of the front wheels. A transmission mechanism is provided for driving the front, optionally driven wheels slower than the driving surface otherwise drives those wheels so that the slower driven wheels overrun and do not engage when the steerable wheels are turned as the vehicle is driven through a turn, thereby eliminating the need for a differential between the steerable wheels and between the front and rear wheels. The overrunning roller clutches of the optionally driven hubs desirably include an intermittent friction apparatus operative between the roller cage and the vehicle chassis to intermittently exert a force tending to retard rotation of the cage with respect to the chassis, thereby indexing the roller cage and rollers to the forward or reverse engagable position.

Abstract: A water, ice and sediment trap attached to the lower portion of the fuel chamber of a carburetor for an internal combustion engine. The sediment trap receives and retain particles and fluids heavier than gasoline and stores them away from the fuel flow path. The sediment is retained in a transparent sediment tube which enables theuser to visibly inspect the trap for sediment accumulation. Sediment accumulation can be drained by removing a plug firmly received in the bottom end of the sediment tube.

Abstract: A clutch-brake assembly for use on a power-driven implement such as lawnmower having a stationary frame and a power-driven shaft. A driven member is rotatably attached to the shaft and carries a brake pad and a clutch pad on a spring permitting axial movement of the pads. A unique flywheel is attached to the shaft, and one of its surfaces serves as a clutch plate, normally engaging the clutch pad so that the driven member rotates with the shaft. A brake plate is mounted coaxially with the shaft and in alignment with the brake pad so that when the brake plate is rotated it is displaced axially towards the brake pad. When the brake plate engages the brake pad, the spring is compressed, disengaging the clutch plate and clutch pad. The flywheel desirably comprises a central shaft mount, an annular shell, a web connecting the shell and mount, and a weight received in the shell.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle having an enclosed, air cooled, variable speed, split sheave V-belt transmission. The transmission is enclosed by a housing having cooperatively located intake and exhaust ports connected respectively to intake and exhaust air conduits. One sheave of each pulley of the transmission includes a plurality of air propelling fins to generate air flow through the housing.

Abstract: The cover and case of fusible material forming the enclosure for a semiconductor chip are provided with a hermetically sealed joint in the form of a "stitch" weld along the marginal edge of the cover by multiple impulse, overlapped spot welding, with the heat of the welding current confined to a zone spanning the distance between a pair of pressure-imparting electrodes and transmitted transversely of the side wall of the case, thereby avoiding heat transfer across the case with consequent damage to the circuitry, electrical devices, semiconductor material and other contents of the case. A special carrier provides a mount for the case and, through use of a template on the carrier and a drive associated with the template, the case and cover are advanced or indexed in small increments after each resistance weld cycle, relocating the package in readiness for the next succeeding welding step.

Abstract: A centrifugal sprayer of the type having an electric motor driving a disc element, and coupled to a feed mechanism, wherein the feed mechanism is suspended in immersion in the liquid to be sprayed, including interchangeable hollow cone feed members having at least several surface slope angles relative to the vertex of the cone, and an outer housing around the feed mechanism, the housing having a bushing surface in supporting contact with the feed mechanism to maintain constant axial position during rotation of the cone feed mechanism.

Abstract: A centrifugal sprayer of the type having an electric motor driving a disc element, and coupled to a feed mechanism suspended in immersion in a container of liquid to be sprayed, including an external axially supporting bushing surface about the cone feeder, wherein the lower feed opening of the cone feeder is supported by a mating conical bushing surface, thereby providing laminar flow to the inlet of the cone feeder.

Abstract: A snowmobile includes a pair of skis connected to the snowmobile frame by a forward suspension including a pair of telescopic struts which are biased to normally extended positions and are connected to a stabilizer member including a transverse torsion bar. A drive track of the snowmobile is suspended from the frame by a rear suspension, including a link pivotally connected between the frame, and a pair of slide rails and biased downwardly by a pair of torsion springs having respective ends engaged with a pivotally mounted spring end retainer which is connected to the torsion bar of the forward suspension by a pair of motion transfer links which act to "soften" the rear suspension in response to upward telescopic movement of one or the other or both of the telescopic struts.

Abstract: The motion of an electromechanical device such as a relay may be analyzed through the use of the present system. A bundle of fiber optic filaments are located with one end adjacent the movable object which is to be sensed or analyzed. This movable object may, for example, be the armature of an electromagnet. With regard to the fiber optic probe, half of the fiber optic elements may be provided with input illumination and the other half of the bundle may be connected to transmit reflected light from the moving armature to a remotely located light-sensitive element such as an opto-transistor. An oscilloscope is provided to monitor the response of the electromagnet to applied signals. An actuating circuit is connected not only to apply energizing current to the electromagnet, but also to trigger the sweep of the oscilloscope.