Abstract: A liquid level sensor includes a liquid level responsive member that moves in response to changing liquid level, an electrically conductive contact associated with the liquid level responsive member, a circuit including a rectifying element and a) one or more conductive elements, or b) one or more resistive elements or c) one or more conductive elements and one or more resistive elements, wherein the contact is arranged to engage at least one of the elements in a, b, or c, and a power supply. The power supply is adapted to provide a voltage to the circuit causing a current flow in a first direction in the circuit wherein the current flows through the contact and to provide a current flow in a second direction in the circuit wherein the rectifying element prevents current flow through the contact.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming system for a combustion engine includes a first fuel supply device having a first passage from which fuel is discharged for delivery to the engine and a second fuel supply device having a second passage from which fuel is discharged for delivery to the engine. The first passage communicates with the second passage so that the fuel in the first passage is combined with the fuel in the second passage.

Abstract: An assembly includes a mounting flange, support, carrier, reservoir and fuel pump. The mounting flange has a fluid passage extending through the mounting flange. The support is coupled to the mounting flange, and the carrier is coupled to the support with the weight of the carrier acting in compression on the support. The reservoir is carried by at least one of the carrier and the mounting flange with the weight of the reservoir acting on the carrier and/or the mounting flange, and the reservoir defining an interior. The fuel pump is carried by at least one of the carrier and the reservoir, the fuel pump has an inlet received within the reservoir interior and an outlet from which pressurized fuel is discharged from the fuel pump when the fuel pump is operating. The support defines at least part of a passage that is communicated with a fluid source.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a fuel vapor separator for an internal combustion engine includes a main body at least partially defining a chamber for holding fuel, a lid carried by the main body to close the chamber and at least partially define a vapor chamber above a level of fuel in the chamber, and a thermoelectric heat exchanger coupled to the main body. In at least some implementations, the main body is a thermally conductive polymeric material that is resistant to degradation or dimensional changes, and in some implementations, the main body may be formed from a metal.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a valve for a charge forming device, includes a needle having a first end and a second end, and a valve body. The valve body has an axis extending between a first end and a second end, and a cavity open to the second end and in which part of the needle is received with the second end of the needle extending out of the second end of the valve body. The valve body also has a projection extending axially from the first end of the valve body to a free end of the projection, and the valve body has at least one drive surface axially spaced from the free end, the drive surface extends axially and radially.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a fuel supply module includes a reservoir and a fuel pump carried by the reservoir. The reservoir may include a body and a lid that define an internal volume to contain a supply of fuel, and the reservoir may include an inlet through which fuel enters the internal volume and an outlet from which fuel is discharged from the fuel supply module. The fuel pump is carried by the reservoir and has a first inlet communicating with the internal volume to take fuel into the fuel pump from the internal volume and a second inlet spaced above the first inlet relative to the direction of the force of gravity to take fluid or vapors into the fuel pump from the internal volume. The fuel pump includes an outlet from which fluid is discharged for delivery to an engine through the reservoir outlet.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber in which a supply of fuel is received and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received, a throttle valve carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore to control fluid flow through the throttle bore, and a metering valve carried by the throttle body. The metering valve may have a valve element that is movable between an open position wherein fuel may flow from the pressure chamber into the throttle bore and a closed position where fuel is prevented or substantially prevented from flowing into the throttle bore through the metering valve.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of maintaining an engine speed below a first threshold, includes: (a) determining an engine speed; (b) comparing the engine speed to a second threshold that is less than the first threshold; (c) allowing an engine ignition event to occur during a subsequent engine cycle if the engine speed is less than the second threshold; and (d) skipping at least one subsequent engine ignition event if the engine speed is greater than the second threshold. In at least some implementations, the second threshold is less than the first threshold by a maximum acceleration of the engine after one ignition event so that an ignition event when the engine speed is less than the second threshold does not cause the engine speed to increase above the first threshold.

Abstract: An engine control and input system for a device having a tool driven by an engine, includes an input and control module having one or more inputs and a controller responsive to actuation of the inputs to permit user control of at least one engine operating parameter by user actuation of the inputs. The system may include a touch screen display that displays icons to the user relating to the inputs and the at least one engine operating parameter, and wherein the touch screen display is responsive to the user selecting one of the inputs by touching an associated one of the icons provided by the display. At least one of the inputs may relate to one or more of changing engine speed, starting the engine, causing the engine to drive the tool, turning on a light, actuating a heater or warmer or stopping engine operation.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a system includes a pump having an electric motor and a pump outlet, a controller coupled to the pump to vary the power provided to the motor to vary the flow rate of liquid discharged from the pump outlet, a pressure regulator having an inlet communicated with the pump outlet, a regulator outlet from which liquid is discharged from the regulator, a bypass outlet through which liquid is discharged from the regulator, and a pressure responsive valve that opens to permit liquid flow through the bypass outlet, and a flow sensor. The flow sensor is communicated with the bypass outlet to sense or determine a flow rate of liquid at or downstream of the bypass outlet, the flow sensor also communicated with the controller to provide an indication of the bypassed liquid flow rate to the controller.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device for a combustion engine includes a housing, a throttle valve and a vent valve. The housing has an inlet chamber in which a supply of fuel is received, a vent passage communicating with the inlet chamber and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. The throttle valve is carried by the housing and has a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore to control fluid flow through the throttle bore. And the vent valve is electrically actuated, carried by the housing and has a valve element that is movable between an open position wherein fluid may flow from the inlet chamber through the vent passage and a closed position where fluid is prevented or inhibited from flowing out of the inlet chamber through the vent passage.

Abstract: An engine control and input system for a device having a tool driven by an engine, includes an input and control module having one or more inputs and a controller responsive to actuation of the inputs to permit user control of at least one engine operating parameter by user actuation of the inputs. The system may include a touch screen display that displays icons to the user relating to the inputs and the at least one engine operating parameter, and wherein the touch screen display is responsive to the user selecting one of the inputs by touching an associated one of the icons provided by the display. At least one of the inputs may relate to one or more of changing engine speed, starting the engine, causing the engine to drive the tool, turning on a light, actuating a heater or warmer or stopping engine operation.

Abstract: A fuel pump for a fuel system includes a nozzle, a venturi, a pump inlet and a flow controller. The nozzle has an orifice through which fuel is ejected and the venturi is downstream of the nozzle and has an inlet through which fuel discharged from the orifice flows, a passage downstream of the venturi inlet through which fuel flows to create a drop in pressure in the area of the venturi, and an outlet through which fuel is discharged from the venturi. Fuel is drawn through the pump inlet by the drop in the pressure created in the area of the venturi and the flow controller is downstream of the outlet and has a chamber in which fuel from the venturi outlet is received. The flow controller causes fuel to fill the venturi to ensure performance of the fuel pump.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a throttle body assembly includes a body that has multiple throttle bores, multiple throttle valve heads received one in each of the throttle bores, at least one throttle valve shaft to which the throttle valve heads are coupled, and at least one of a fuel metering valve and a vapor separator carried by the body.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, an ignition system for a combustion engine includes a controller, an ignition circuit, and a wire providing two-way communication between the ignition circuit and the controller. The ignition circuit may include a charge capacitor that is discharged to cause an ignition event. The ignition circuit may be an inductive discharge ignition circuit including a coil and may then also include a second wire that provides electrical power to the coil.

Abstract: —In at least some implementations, a control and communication system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a circuit card, an ignition circuit carried by the circuit card and configured to control an ignition timing of the engine, and a short range wireless communication circuit carried by the circuit card. The communication circuit may include a Bluetooth Low Energy antenna. The ignition circuit may include an ignition capacitor that when drained induces an ignition pulse adapted to fire a spark plug. The system may further include a microprocessor that is coupled to and controls the ignition and communication circuits, and/or a clocking circuit adapted to provide a clocking frequency associated with the timing of the ignition circuit and associated with the communication circuit via a short range wireless communication protocol. The clocking circuit may include a crystal oscillator.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, an auxiliary power supply in an ignition system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a first auxiliary winding and a second auxiliary winding coupled in parallel with the first auxiliary winding such that both windings are arranged to provide power to an auxiliary load. The first auxiliary winding may include a greater number of turns than the second auxiliary winding. A ratio of the number of turns in the first auxiliary winding to the number of turns in the second auxiliary winding may be between 1.5:1 and 10:1, the first auxiliary coil and the second auxiliary coil may have between 50 and 2,000 turns, and the first auxiliary coil and the second auxiliary coil are formed from wire between 25 and 45 gauge.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a liquid and vapor separator includes a body and a cover, a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet and a vent passage. A fuel pump has an inlet in communication with the interior volume and an outlet in communication with the fuel outlet. A fuel pressure regulator has an inlet in communication with the fuel pump outlet, an outlet in communication with the interior volume and a valve between the fuel pressure regulator inlet and the fuel pressure regulator outlet. The fuel pressure regulator is carried by the cover and the cover defines at least part of a fuel passage between the fuel pump outlet and the fuel outlet. An inlet valve is received within the interior volume and associated with the fuel inlet. A wall at least partially separates the area of the fuel pump from the area of the inlet valve.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a wire includes a core formed from an electrically conductive material and having an outer surface, and a polymeric insulator surrounding the core. The insulator has a resistivity of between 105 and 109 ohms/square, and the insulator has an inner surface engaged with the core. In at least some implementations, the core is formed from metal and has a conductivity of at least 1×10?6 ?m. The insulator may include a base material and a conductive material in the base material, wherein the conductive material has a conductivity between 105 and 106 ohms/square. The insulator may have an outer surface that defines an outer surface of the wire and/or the insulator may have an inner surface engaged with the core.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, an ignition system for a combustion engine includes analog circuit components arranged to control ignition events at an engine speed below a first threshold of engine speed and a microprocessor to control ignition events at engine speeds higher than the first threshold. Hence, ignition can be controlled at lower engine cranking speeds to facilitate starting the engine at lower engine rotational speeds.