Abstract: A mechanical automatic clearance adjuster (10) of the type comprising a screw (24) of generally buttress thread form running within an internally threaded housing (22) on running flanks (38,40) under the action of axially directed spring means (26) has the screw (24) provided with grooved locking flanks (42) incapable of establishing contiguous engagement with the co-operating locking flanks (44) of the housing. The adjuster (10) is described for use in a valve train application in an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine which includes an apparatus for wrapping a belt more than 180 degrees around a wheel of the engine.

Abstract: Several embodiments of internal combustion engines having plural valves operated by a single overhead mounted camshaft. In each embodiment, there is provided a central cam lobe on the camshaft and adjacent bearing portions on opposite sides of this cam lobe for journaling the camshaft. In some embodiments, all intake valves are operated by a single rocker arm and in other embodiments two rocker arms are provided for operating a pair of the intake valves and a single of the intake valves.

Abstract: A cold-formed rocker arm of the cam-follower type is specifically designed for variable-lift engines. The rocker arm comprises a one-piece metal body preferably of generally inverted U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length. The body has a top wall and two side walls extending downwardly therefrom and carrying an axle on which a cam-contacting roller is rotatably mounted and exposed through a central opening in the top wall above the roller to be engaged by a tapered cam of a cam shaft. The rocker arm has a substantially semi-spherical recess at one end to receive an end of a lifter post on which the rocker arm can pivot. The other end of the body has an open-ended channel extending longitudinally of the body to receive a rounded upper end of a valve stem. A lubrication port in the top wall of the rocker arm communicates with an inner end and with a clearance in a central portion of the channel. The clearance provides a lubrication path for the flow of oil along the channel.

Abstract: A self-adjusting variable duration hydraulic lifter utilizes two plungers within the cylindrical lifter body which move together to shorten the overall top-to-bottom length of the internal plunger pair during the valve opening cycle of the engine at low RPM's to improve engine performance. A pre-established gap between the two plungers establishes the bleed down amount for the lifter at low RPM, and the gap is self-adjusting in that it will remain the same over the lifetime of the engine despite changes in the overall length of the valve train and heat compensation effected by the hydraulic mechanism effected by the lifter.

Abstract: A control system for controlling intake and exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine includes electromagnetic actuator means for opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves. When the engine is idling, drive signals applied to the electromagnetic actuator means for selected cylinders are cut off, so that only the other cylinders are enabled.

Abstract: An intake and exhaust valve control apparatus includes a pair of valves rotatably disposed in a body mounted in association with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. Each valve includes a through bore selectively disposed between ports in the body in fluid flow communication with the cylinder. Magnets of opposed polarity are mounted on one end of the valve. A magnetically coupled core and coil are associated with the magnets and are positioned to repel and attract certain of the magnets to rotate the valve between first and second positions when current flows in one of two directions in the coil and induces a magnetic field in the core. The coil is connected to a control module which supplies electric currents in opposed directions at predetermined times in the engine cycle to rotate the valves between fluid flow and fluid blocking positions with respect to the cylinder.

Abstract: In the embodiments disclosed in the specification, a valve mechanism, preferably for an internal combustion engine, includes a valve spring guide sleeve which receives a cup plunger and has a supply passage for a hydraulic pressure medium in one wall. The guide sleeve at least partially encloses the valve spring and the supply passage is disposed unilaterally in the guide sleeve which has a smaller wall thickness on the side away from the supply passage.

Abstract: A phase adjustment mechanism for setting the phase of the engine camshaft relative to that of the crankshaft. The operative coupling of the crankshaft to the camshaft is via two sets of splines, one set having pitch different from that of the other set. A spline engagement ring contains a spline of one set on its O.D. and a spline of the other set on its I.D. The axial positioning of the ring controls the relative phasing and is accomplished by a screw and nut mechanism with the nut being operated by a worm drive that is under the control of the engine ECU.

Abstract: A device for varying optimally, throughout the operating range of an internal combustion engine, the duration of the processes of induction and exhaust. The device employing, within a common combustion chamber, two valves for each of the processes of induction and exhaust; each of the two valves being driven by a different camshaft; the two camshafts so employed being capable of variable angular indexing with respect to each other, and with respect to crankshaft revolution, by means of a camshaft indexing variator; the variable indexing so achieved causing variable indexing of the two valves relative to each other, whereby, for instance, one valve of a pair may be caused to open at an advanced indexing, relative to crankshaft revolution, and the other valve to open at a retarded indexing, relative to crankshaft revolution; the advanced opening point of one valve, and the retarded closing point of the other valve defining an extended duration of the process associated with the two valves.

Abstract: An air compressor, which is embodied as a single or multi-cylinder/piston compressor, and which is driven by gear wheels. The drive gear or pinion of the air compressor is disposed on the air compressor crankshaft and meshes with a gear wheel on the camshaft of an internal combustion engine. Provided on the periphery of the air compressor pinion is, for a single cylinder/piston compressor, one interval having an enlarged tooth gauge, and for a multi-cylinder/piston compressor, several such intervals, the number of which corresponds to the number of times the tangential force passes through zero during one air compressor crankshaft revolution, with the centers of the intervals being coordinated with the respective top dead center position of the air compressor piston.

Abstract: An improved propulsion unit for a watercraft embodying a reciprocating internal combustion engine having horizontally disposed cylinders so as to provide a compact assembly. The engine operates on the two-stroke principle and the exhaust manifold for the engine is disposed beneath the engine to achieve further silencing.

Abstract: A valve driving apparatus includes a permanent magnet connectd to a suction/exhaust valve and an electromagnet secured to the engine body, and is adapted to drive the valve by attractive and repulsive electromagnetic forces which act between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet. The electromagnet ordinarily is supplied with electric power from a battery. However, if a strong electromagnetic force is to be applied to the suction/exhaust valve, the electromagnet is supplied with charge from a capacitor charged beforehand by the battery. Control is exercised to increase or decrease, in dependence upon the engine rpm or load, the amount by which the electromagnet is energized by the battery and the amount by which the capacitor is charged.

Abstract: A DOHC engine comprises a cylinder block, and a chain which drivingly interconnects a crankshaft and two camshafts. A water pump mounting lug is integrally formed with the cylinder block, and located at the upper portion of a front wall of the cylinder block and below one of the two camshafts. The chain has a loose side defined by that portion thereof which runs between the crankshaft and the one of the camshafts. A movable chain guide bows the loose side of the chain inwardly to define a mounting site of a water pump.

Abstract: A bistable electronically controlled pneumatically powered transducer for use, for example, as a valve mechanism actuator in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The transducer has a piston which is coupled to an engine valve, for example. The pistion is powered by a pneumatic source and is held in each of its extreme positions by pneumatic pressure under the control of control valves which are in turn held in their closed positions by pressurized air and/or permanent magnet latching arrangements and are released therefrom to supply air to the piston to be pneumatically driven to the other extreme position by an electromagnetic neutralization of the permanent magnet field. A pair of auxiliary pistons movable with the piston compress air to a pressure above the pressure of the pneumatic source for aiding reclosure of the control valves as well as aiding maintenance of those control valves in their closed positions thereby reducing the size and cost of the latching permanent magnets.

Abstract: A camshaft driving arrangement for a DOHC engine comprises two pairs of sprockets, each pair being mounted to the adjacent pair of camshafts, and two idler gears rotatably mounted to the cylinder banks, respectively. A timing chain drivingly interconnects the crankshaft and the two idler gears. On the other hand, two camshaft driving chains each interconnect one of the two idler gears and the adjacent two cam sprockets. A front cover is so constructed and arranged as to conceal the two idler gears and the timing chain.

Abstract: A ceramic-metallic interfacing joint assembly is disclosed. The joint assembly includes a pair of interfaced components in a highly loaded, sliding contact in which the contact stresses can be as high as 250,000 psi. Preferably, the pair of interfaced components includes a ball member and a complementarily shaped, mating socket member and is used in a diesel type internal combustion engine. One of the components is formed of a ceramic material having a density of at least 3.18 g/cm.sup.3 and the other component is formed of a metallic material. Preferably, the density of the ceramic material ranges from 3.18 g/cm.sup.3 to 3.25 g/cm.sup.3. This arrangement reduces the wear of the joint assembly in conjunction with the use of a lubricant which lubricates the components. Specifically, the metallic material is an iron based material while the ceramic material is a sintered silicon nitride. The ceramic material may be sintered with rare-earth metal oxides such as yttrium oxide.

Abstract: A valve clearance adjustment method is proposed which is effective in improving smoothness of an idle operation of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine at a low engine speed. This method features steps of selecting a crankshaft angle where one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve is seated while the other valve is being lifted from its seated position, and conducting the adjustment of a valve clearance for the seated valve at this crankshaft angle.

Abstract: A valve operation mode changing system for the intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine is controlled in response to engine speed and temperature of the working oil utilized in the system in such a way as to permit the valve operating mode to be changed from a low-speed to a high-speed mode in response to engine speed requirements only when the temperature of the working oil exceeds a predetermined value. The system also provides for terminating fuel supply to the engine when the temperature of the working oil is below a predetermined temperature and the speed of the engine exceeds a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A failsafe method in connection with valve timing-changeover control for an internal combustion engine. An abnormality in a control system of the engine is detected. A changeover-instructing signal is generated for changing the valve timing to the low speed valve timing in both of the lower and higher engine speed regions, when the abnormality is detected. When the abnormality is detected, the air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture to be supplied to the engine is enriched when the engine is in a predetermined operating condition determined by the detected value of at least one engine parameter. The enriching of the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture is carried out by multiplying a basic fuel injection period by a correction coefficient or selecting a suitable basic fuel injection period map.