Abstract: Devices and methods for testing a pulmonary vein to determine whether or not ablation would be effective in terminating atrial fibrillation. The devices and methods include a catheter having an expandable balloon attached to the distal end of the catheter. The balloon has pores on the distal end of the balloon for administering a fluid into the target pulmonary vein. The fluid inhibits the electrical impulses generated by the target pulmonary vein. Once the electrical impulses of the target pulmonary vein have been inhibited it can be determined whether or not the atrial fibrillation continues to occur. If the atrial fibrillation has been eliminated, then ablation or other therapy is appropriate. Thus, the devices and methods limit unnecessary treatment of a pulmonary vein.

Abstract: An engine starter includes a starter switch having a plunger assembly movable between non-operating operating positions. When the plunger assembly is at the non-operating position, a gap between main stationary and movable contacts is smaller than the sum of a gap between a pinion and an engine ring gear and the most-widely opened variable gap, which is defined between a drive mechanism and a moving shaft. The arrangement is such that, as the plunger assembly moves from the non-operating position to the operating position, the auxiliary contact is first closed to cause the starter motor to be driven at the first speed, and then the main contact is closed to cause the starter motor to be driven at the second speed.

Abstract: An automotive remote start assembly 10 for use in an automobile 14 is provided. The automotive remote start assembly 10 includes a portable remote device 12 having a remote transmitter element 18 and a remote receiver element 20 in communication with a remote controller element 16. The remote controller element 16 is configured to transmit an operator initiated ignition signal 24, receive a main system confirmation signal 34, and transmit a remote system confirmation signal 42 upon receipt of the main system confirmation signal 34. The automotive remote start assembly 10 further includes an in-vehicle remote start module 26 having an internal transmitter element 30 and an internal receiver element 32 in communication with an internal controller element 28.

Abstract: A gasoline-fueled lawn mower has a pull rope that extends from the lawn mower engine and is attached to a pulley. An electrically powered starter motor is brought into engagement with the pulley, so that actuation of the starter motor causes the rope to be drawn out of the lawn mower engine, so as to start the engine. When the engine starts, the starter motor is disengaged, allowing the pull rope to be at least partly retracted into the engine. The pulley and the starter motor are preferably mounted on cross bars extending between portions of the lawn mower handle, the starter motor being mounted so as to slide along the cross bars. The invention also includes a kit for modifying a lawn mower to include a power-assisted starting mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic priming system for internal combustion engines, which is operable at engine cranking speeds and which is automatically disabled at engine running speeds. The automatic priming system is driven by pressure fluctuations within the engine crankcase which are caused by reciprocation of the piston. At engine cranking speeds, fluid communication between the engine crankcase and a chamber is substantially equalized, such that positive pressure pulses from the crankcase air space pass from the chamber through a check valve to the carburetor for priming. At engine running speeds, communication between the crankcase air space and the chamber is restricted such that the pressure within the chamber is below atmospheric, positive pressure pulses are not present within the chamber, and the priming function is automatically disabled.

Abstract: An engine has a through hole and a fitting hole on a lower portion of a crankcase, an oil container under the crankcase, a conduit inserted in the fitting hole, and a check valve disposed over a lower end of the through hole; lubricating oil is contained in the container; the check valve will seal the through hole when subjected to an upward force, and will open when subjected to a downward force; thus, the lubricating oil can be drawn into the crankcase via the conduit during a return stroke of the piston, and oil in the crankcase will flow back into the container via the through hole during a forward stroke of the piston; the amount of the lubricating oil in the container is such that that hot lubricating oil that has just flown back into the container can be cooled down in the container before it is drawn out again.

Abstract: The oil deflector apparatus can be installed in an internal combustion engine to deflect oil from gaskets mounted between an upper deck assembly and the engine block. The apparatus has a first portion that extends lengthwise along the upper deck assembly and includes mounting holes that accept mounting hardware to couple the apparatus to the engine block. A second portion is coupled lengthwise along the first portion and is angled downward to cover any exposed surface of the gasket from the internal oil generated by the engine operation. Layshaft support extensions are distributed lengthwise along the apparatus to permit the apparatus to fit around the layshaft support hardware in the engine and to keep oil splashed from the layshaft from reaching the gasket.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding hydrogen into an intake (11) of an engine (1), including: an air inlet (23); a hydrogen inlet (21); a mixing chamber (20) for generating a fuel mixture from hydrogen and air introduced from the inlets, the chamber being adapted to couple to the intake of the engine, for introducing the fuel mixture thereto; and control means (26) for controlling airflow through the mixing chamber. The control means may include an air speed control for varying an effective cross-section of air flow through the apparatus. The air speed control is preferably in the form of an annular collar arranged in the chamber for radial expansion or contraction.

Abstract: An improved an accessory mounting arrangement for an internal combustion engine that allows a low mounting position without overstressing the oil pan that provides a part of the support.

Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus reduces fuel vaporization and leakage the positions of vaporization and leakage and their amount in the fuel tank and the fuel pipe is detected properly in case of using a low boiling point fuel having a vapor phase in the normal temperatures and atmospheric pressures, and the fuel state is controlled based on those detected values. By providing another container made of elastomatic material having an expandable mechanical characteristic inside the fuel storing container, the low boiling point fuel is stored in the separate container. A flow rate controlling apparatus heat or cools the fuel pipe leading the low boiling point fuel stored in the fuel storing container to the engine. A flow rate controlling apparatus adjusts the flow rate of the fuel in the fuel pipe for leading the low boiling point fuel stored in the fuel storing container to the engine.

Abstract: An Elevated Expansion-Ratio Internal Combustion Engine has a substantially standard repeating four-stroke sequence for each cylinder, and the Engine includes for each cylinder: an intake valve, a combustion-gas exhaust valve, and a vapor return valve. A return manifold for vapor connects from the return valves of respective ones of the cylinders back into a passage ahead of a beginning portion of an intake manifold. Substantially during a predetermined part of each compression stroke in the sequence of strokes, the return valve opens after a closing of the intake valve, and thereafter closes at a time within the compression stroke corresponding to a predetermined position of the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: In a malfunction detecting system of an engine cooling apparatus constituted as a radiator having a thermostat that opens/closes a communicating passage between the engine and the radiator, estimated coolant temperature is calculated using a thermal load parameter correlated to rise in the coolant temperature after engine starting, whilst an engine standing time period is detected. Then, the detected engine standing time period is compared with a predetermined value and based on a result of comparison, one of preset threshold values including a malfunction discrimination threshold value and a malfunction discrimination execute threshold value is selected.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine providing a strong mounting attachment for an engine accessory component on a light weight element of the engine body that is provided with a reinforcement for another primary purpose.

Abstract: A method for adjusting coolant temperature in an internal combustion engine (2), whereby the coolant circuit thereof contains an electrically driven coolant pump (3) and an electrically controllable bypass valve (4). If the setpoint value of the coolant temperature changes in an abrupt manner, the rotating speed of the coolant pump (3) rises during the short interval in order to reduce the dead time required for adjustment. A Smith controller, which takes into account dead times of the system, is used to regulate the bypass valve.

Abstract: In a fluid passage structure of an internal combustion engine wherein oil flows from an in-block flow passage formed in a cylinder block to an in-head flow passage formed in a cylinder head, a groove that is generally rectangular in cross section is so formed in a top face of the cylinder block as to extend from a position corresponding to an opening of the in-block flow passage formed in the top face to a position corresponding to an opening of the in-head flow passage formed in a bottom face of the cylinder head, by machining or the like. Thus, a flow passage arrangement in which the openings of the flow passages are offset from each other is allowed. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the fluid passage structure is enhanced.

Abstract: A recoil starter for a backpack type power working machine, which is capable of easily performing the starting operation of an internal combustion engine with the working machine being carried on the operator's back. In this recoil starter, the recoil rope and the recoil handle are disposed so as to be pulled down obliquely forward at an angle of 100° to 150° to the horizontal plane. The recoil handle is formed into a T-shaped configuration in side view, which comprises the grip portion and a laterally extended stopper portion which is formed on a distal end of the grip portion.

Abstract: A recoil starter capable of readily staring an engine and reducing the number of components and manufacturing costs thereof and reducing a size and weight thereof. The recoil starter is so constructed that a rotational force accumulated in a cushioning and force accumulating means interposed between a rope reel and a cam is transmitted via the cam to a drive pulley, to thereby start the engine. A ratchet mechanism is provided between the rope reel and the cam so as to uncouple the cam from the rope reel when the rope reel is rotated in an engine starting direction and so as to couple the cam to the rope reel when the rope reel is rotated in a direction opposite to the engine starting direction, thus rotating the cam and the rope reel together in said opposite direction.

Abstract: A decompression device is provided for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head provided with a pair of left and right camshaft bearings sandwiching intake valves and exhaust valves with a structure that is both simple and small. A camshaft is provided having cam projections for at least a pair of intake cams between camshaft side bearings corresponding to the pair of left and right bearings, and a decompression member with a decompression cam with a centrifugal weight arranged at a camshaft end passing through the bearing close to the camshaft end so that a tip thereof is arranged in the vicinity of the cam projections, with the decompression member comprising the centrifugal weight, the decompression cam, and a rotatable shaft coupling the centrifugal weight and the decompression cam in an integral manner.

Abstract: A starting device for an internal combustion engine is capable of increasing starting torque as well as supplying air to a cylinder that is on the expansion stroke without separately providing a means for supplying high-pressure air. Communication control valves control the states of communication between cylinders of the engine. A crank angle detector detects the crank angle of a crankshaft of the engine. A compression/expansion identification part identifies the compression stroke or the expansion stroke of each cylinder. Fuel is injected into a cylinder on the expansion stroke and ignited therein, and the expansion stroke cylinder is placed in communication with a cylinder on the exhaust stroke by a communication state control part for a prescribed time after the ignition thereof, after which the expansion stroke cylinder is further placed in communication with a cylinder on the compression stroke for a prescribed time.

Abstract: A decompression device of an internal combustion engine which is arranged compactly with reduced number of parts is provided. Typically, the device comprises a push-up rod which is disposed on a circumference of a cam shaft of the engine, within a range in the circumferential direction corresponding to a compression stage of the engine, and which protrudes outwardly in the radial direction of the cam shaft with respect to a base face of an exhaust-side cam face. The push-up rod is supported movably in the cam shaft direction between a decompression operating position, at which the push-up rod is inserted into a width-wise range of a bottom face of an exhaust-side tappet and a decompression non-operating position, at which the push-up rod is retreated from the width-wise range of the bottom face.