Abstract: A combustion engine carburetor with a fuel-and-air mixing passage extending through a body and a float bowl engaged sealably to the body. A vacuum actuated acceleration fuel pump is preferably carried by the float bowl and has a hose-less vacuum channel communicating between the fuel-and-air mixing passage downstream of a throttle valve and a vacuum chamber of the acceleration pump. A hose-less fuel discharge channel communicates between a supplemental fuel chamber of the acceleration pump and the fuel-and-air mixing passage between a venturi and a choke valve in the mixing passage. Preferably, the fuel discharge channel has an injecting bore portion defined by the body and being angled to direct fuel in a downstream direction toward the venturi to promote mixing with air.

Abstract: A kill-switch control circuit for use with a light-duty combustion engine determines whether to execute a controlled shut down method or an immediate shut down method in response to kill-switch activation. The selection of a shut down method is made, at least in part, by using engine speed readings and by counting engine revolutions. The controlled shut down method utilizes ignition timing delay and/or spark ratio techniques to quickly bring the engine to a stop, yet does so in a controlled manner that avoids backfiring and other undesirable effects. Conversely, the immediate shut down method abruptly stops sending a current to the spark plug.

Abstract: In one presently preferred embodiment a stratified scavenging carburetor has a scavenging air passage with an air control valve and a fuel and air mixing passage with a throttle control valve, and a lost motion coupling associated with the valves to delay opening of the closed air valve until the throttle valve has partially opened from its idle position to an off idle position and preferably thereafter to open the air valve in phased relationship with the throttle valve so that the valves become wide open at substantially the same time. Preferably the coupling has reels associated with the valve and connected by a flexible cord.

Abstract: A four-stroke combustion engine is lubricated by a mixture of lubricant, fuel and air received from a rotary valve type carburetor. A cylinder of the engine houses a reciprocating piston and together they generally define a combustion chamber segregated from a generally sealed cavity which contains a mechanism for operating intake and exhaust valves communicating with the combustion chamber. Generally non-burning lubricant along with fuel-and-air enters the combustion chamber from the rotary-type carburetor and blows-by the piston into the sealed cavity through a clearance defined generally between the cylinder and piston for cooling the engine and lubricating the mechanical linkage assembly. Preferably, the sealed cavity is vented directly into a rotary throttle valve of the carburetor for controlled flow back into the engine without use of a check valve, enhanced idling characteristics of the engine and substantially reduced spit-back through the carburetor air inlet.

Abstract: A carburetor fuel valve adjustment and limiter assembly for a combustion engine limits the maximum and minimum fuel amounts delivered through the valve of the carburetor. A needle valve of the adjustment and limiter assembly cooperates with a collar and pin generally located axially inward of an enlarged valve head. The collar of the limiter assembly is arranged telescopically with a valve shaft and yieldably biased to lock to the head when moved in an axially outward direction. When locked, and upon rotation of the valve, first and second stops carried by the collar are arranged to bear on a stationary pin carried by a carburetor body. During manufacture, the collar can be pushed axially inward against the bias of a spring to disengage the collar from the head to permit rotation of the needle valve while the collar remains stationary for unlimited adjustment of the needle valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the air-fuel ratio of a fuel mixture to be supplied to an engine. The apparatus has a pair of needle valve bodies and a pair of receptacles formed in a main body of a carburetor for receiving the needle valve bodies. Each needle valve body has a needle and a head. The needles are axially movable relative to a respective needle orifice. The needles may be axially advanced and retracted by rotating the needle valve bodies within the receptacles to respectively decrease and increase the flow of the fuel mixture around the needles and through the orifices. To prevent tampering with the needle valve body setting, the head of the needle valve body has an unconventional shape requiring a specialized tool to rotatably adjust the needle valve body. To further prevent tampering, the head is recessed with the main body of the carburetor.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system for a light-duty spark ignition combustion engine includes an analog control circuit having a charging circuit, a trigger circuit and a shutdown circuit. In response to activation of a kill-switch, the shutdown circuit causes a switching device to discharge an ignition capacitor. Through the use of an RC circuit, the switching device continues to be biased such that it prolongs the discharge of the ignition capacitor, thereby preventing it from storing charge for the upcoming ignition pulse. This generally continues until the engine has come to a stop, at which time the engine can be immediately restarted without having to reset anything. The control circuit may also include engine speed limiting and ignition timing features.

Abstract: A method and system for operating an engine wherein ignition of the engine is activated according to a predetermined timing schedule that references engine speed, and the ignition is suppressed above a predetermined engine speed threshold to allow engine speed to fall below the predetermined engine speed threshold. Thereafter, ignition is reactivated according to timing that is retarded relative to the predetermined timing schedule for a predetermined number of engine revolutions substantially when the engine speed has fallen below the predetermined engine speed threshold, thereby mitigating undesirable spikes in combustion chamber maximum pressure.

Abstract: An ink flow control device for a printer having at least one print head includes a main body, an ink flow passage formed at least in part in the main body and constructed and arranged to communicate a supply of ink with a print head, a diaphragm carried by the main body and defining at least part of a pressure receiving chamber on one side of the diaphragm that forms part of the ink flow passage and a reference chamber on the other side of the diaphragm, a valve operably connected to the diaphragm and being moved by the diaphragm to control ink flow through the ink flow passage.

Abstract: A charge forming apparatus for delivering a controlled mixture of fuel-and-air to an engine has a butterfly-type throttle-choke valve disposed in a fuel-and-air mixing passage. Incoming air flowing through a downstream primary venturi of the mixing passage creates a strong negative pressure which induces fuel flow through a feed passage into the venturi from a fuel metering chamber held at near atmospheric pressure. When the engine is decelerating, substantial closure of the choke valve creates a secondary venturi having a vacuum which dynamically counters the effect of the primary venturi vacuum reducing fuel flow through the feed passage and causing the engine to run leaner and preventing egine stalls and reducing emmissions.

Abstract: A fuel vapor separator includes a polymeric body that preferably has a polymeric canister and a polymeric lid secured to the canister to define a liquid tight enclosure. The enclosure is preferably divided into at least two chambers. One chamber preferably receives liquid fuel and communicates with a heat exchanger to cool the supply of liquid fuel therein. Vapor is trapped in a vapor dome area above the liquid fuel and is vented through a vent valve carried by the fuel vapor separator. The other chamber of the enclosure preferably receives a high pressure fuel pump adapted to receive liquid fuel from the first chamber, and to deliver liquid fuel under pressure to the engine. Preferably, the chamber in which the fuel pump is received is communicated with a coolant to facilitate cooling the fuel pump in use.

Abstract: A carburetor dual fuel feed system has a primary passage for flowing fuel into a venturi of a fuel-and-air mixing passage, and a supplemental channel flowing fuel into a mixing passage upstream region. Sizing of the primary passage and channel with respect to pressure dynamics of each region disassociates low from high power engine fuel calibration. This disassociation ultimately achieves a leaner fuel-and-air mixture flow during low power conditions which reduces carbon monoxide emissions, and achieves a richer mixture flow during high engine power conditions which reduces NOx emissions. During low engine power conditions, substantially all of the fuel which mixes with clean air flowing through the venturi of the mixing passage flows from the primary passage. During high engine power conditions, supplemental fuel flow into the mixing passage is induced by a vacuum created about a nozzle of the channel.

Abstract: A control system for a low cost, light duty combustion engine, where the control system generally utilizes engine speed and/or temperature input signals and independent operating sequences to determine a desired ignition timing and air-to-fuel ratio for a combustible mixture. There are several independent operating sequences, each one of which is designed to optimally control the engine under certain conditions. These operating sequences include a Cranking sequence that commences after the engine is initially turned on, a Warm Up sequence which follows the Cranking sequence, a Normal Mode sequence for typical operating conditions, an Acceleration sequence for certain increases in engine speed, a Come Down sequence for when a sufficient engine speed is followed by a certain decrease in speed, and a Recovery Bump sequence for when the engine speed dips below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A modular oil delivery system has a mount with at least one passage, a flange and a body depending from the flange. A mounting bracket is carried by the mount to support an oil pump having an oil outlet in fluid communication with at least one passage in the mount. A float arm is pivotally supported relative to the mounting bracket and is constructed and arranged to be responsive to the level of the oil in the reservoir. An oil pressure sensor is supported by either the mounting bracket, the body, or the flange. The oil pressure sensor is in fluid communication with at least one passage in the mount and with the oil outlet of the oil pump to monitor the pressure of oil discharged from the oil pump.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel delivery assembly for vehicle fuel tanks, that includes: a first assembly forming a mount adapted to be fixed onto a wall of a fuel tank and which carries at least one accessory, a second assembly including an electric motor fuel pump, and a third assembly comprising at least two interchangeable linking members respectively fixed on the first assembly and on the second assembly, to provide support to the second assembly from the first assembly.

Abstract: A capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system includes a trigger circuit that generates a trigger signal in synchronism with operation of an engine for discharging an ignition capacitor. A timing circuit is connected to the trigger circuit for controlling the timing of the trigger signal and includes a timing coil for generating a timing signal in synchronism with operation of the engine. The timing circuit further includes a switch that has primary electrodes connected to the trigger circuit and a control electrode coupled to the timing coil for shorting the trigger circuit as a function of engine speed. The CDI system is thus capable of advancing engine timing to enable low-speed startup. The timing circuit is further adaptable to provide skip-spark speed-governing, timing retard speed-governing, and anti-reverse rotation of the engine.

Abstract: A throttle body for an internal combustion engine has a housing, a first plate carried by the housing for linear reciprocation between a first position and a second position in response to movement of a throttle member, and a second plate carried by the housing for linear reciprocation between a first position and a second position in response to the movement of the fist plate. The first plate and second plates define at least in part an opening through the throttle body. The opening provides a variable flow area that increases as the first plate and the second plate move from their first positions toward their second positions and decreases as the first and second plates move from their second positions toward their first positions. As the first and second plates move between their first and second positions, the flow area of the opening is continually varied.

Abstract: A cosmetically attractive fuel tank assembly preferably for a motorcycle application has a fuel pump subassembly inserted into the fuel chamber of the tank through bottom access hole thus preserving the overall appearance of the tank itself. The flange of the fuel pump subassembly covers the bottom access hole and sealably months to a bottom wall of the fuel tank. Various fuel pump subassembly components, such as a fuel pressure regulator, an outlet fuel filter, an electrical connector and a fuel outlet mount directly to the flange along with a tripod like vibration absorbing bracket which supports the fuel pump and preferably a fuel level sensor. The bracket is flexible and resiliently contacts an internal surface of a bottom wall of the fuel tank via a resilient pad, and is threadably engaged to the flange and spaced therefrom by a vibration damping member.

Abstract: An air throttle body assembly having an integrated electronic control unit, ECU, is part of robust and compact electronic fuel injection system of a combustion engine. The ECU has an internal heat sensitive microprocessor located in an environmentally protected inner compartment of the ECU defined between an external surface of thermally conductive throttle body and a circuit board of the ECU. The throttle body has a through air passage for flowing of combustion air into the piston cylinder. The relatively cool and non-laminar flow of air also serves to cool the inner compartment of the ECU through the throttle body thus protecting the microprocessor from overheating. Moreover, a thermally conductive heat sink member of the ECU is exposed within the inner compartment and directly engages various heat producing transistors for transfer of heat by thermal conduction away from internal circuitry an into the surrounding environment outward from the throttle body assembly.

Abstract: A self-relieving choke valve system for a carburetor of a combustion engine automatically opens a choke valve after a successful engine start up and permits the choke valve to automatically close when the engine is shut down. The self-relieving choke valve system is preferably passive in nature and preferably self contained to the carburetor. It has a vacuum motor which preferably receives a vacuum signal from a vacuum source derived from the operating engine to open the choke valve. A lost motion linkage of the self-relieving choke valve system permits the choke valve to fluctuate between a closed position and a slightly open engine start up position without any intervention by the vacuum motor while the engine is being started.