Patents Examined by Craig R. Feinberg
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Patent number: 5007383Abstract: In a water-cooling system for a water-cooled horizontal engine, a radiator and a radiator fan are arranged at the front of a cylinder head which is mounted forwardly of a cylinder block of the engine. A radiator fan generates a cooling air flow which passes through the space over the cylinder head and toward the radiator, the height of the radiator being sized to match the width of the cylinder block measured in the upward and downward direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1989Date of Patent: April 16, 1991Assignee: Kubota LimitedInventors: Ryoichi Ito, Koji Iwai, Tsuyoshi Nishida
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Patent number: 5000136Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a head with valve assemblies for controlling intake and exhaust gases to and from piston chambers. A head plate is located between the head and a block having cylinders accommodating pistons. The head plate has openings in communication with the cylinders and valve assemblies. Each valve assembly has a continuous ceramic sleeve having an intake port, and an exhaust port. Rotatably disposed within the sleeve is a rotatable valve body having a valving combustion chamber open to a piston chamber. A spark plug is mounted on each valve body. A ceramic segment seal mounted on the valving body has sealing surfaces engageable with the sleeve. A face seal is located between the head plate and the rotating valve body. The valving body and seal are rotatably driven to sequentially align the valving combustion chamber with the intake port and exhaust port during the operation of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1988Date of Patent: March 19, 1991Inventors: Craig N. Hansen, Paul C. Cross
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Patent number: 4977864Abstract: An engine is disclosed that is applicable for automotive and truck use but is also adaptive for other power producing uses. Two reciprocating cylinders are housed within an outer cylinder. A piston is housed within each of the two reciprocating cylinders. The reciprocating cylinders are so designed that after combustion in one reciprocating cylinder, the movement caused by the combustion will aid in setting up the circumstances combustion in the opposing compression chamber formed by the opposing reciprocating cylinder and opposing piston. Due to this design, the horizontal reciprocating movement is continuous and all of the horizontal movement caused by the combustion in both opposing reciprocating cylinders and both opposing pistons is useful. The horizontal movement of the reciprocating cylinders and pistons is translated into rotational energy in the crankshaft by three scotch yokes, each scotch yoke housing a scotch block, each scotch block in turn surrounding one crankthrow.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1984Date of Patent: December 18, 1990Inventor: Lloyd L. Grant
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Patent number: 4942853Abstract: Valve operating apparatus is disclosed in which intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine are operated by rocker arms driven by cams having different cam profiles and hydraulically operated coupling mechanisms for selectively connecting or disconnecting adjacent rocker arms to vary the operation of the valves under different engine operating conditions. Sensing means in the form of a piston displacement detecting device is included in the apparatus to monitor its operating condition.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1988Date of Patent: July 24, 1990Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tsuneo Konno
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Patent number: 4934347Abstract: The pressure prevailing in a variable volume chamber which controls the compression ratio developed by a piston, is used control the movement of a valve which regulates the supply and draining of the chamber. During high load the high pressure is used to drain the chamber while under light load the lower pressure permits the chamber to be supplied with hydraulic fluid in a manner which tends to fill the same during induction phases and the like when the pressure in the cylinder is low.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1988Date of Patent: June 19, 1990Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Atsugi Motor Parts Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seiji Suga, Tatsuyuki Matsuya, Seinosuke Hara, Hiromichi Ofuji, Takayuki Arai, Takaharu Goto
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Patent number: 4932365Abstract: In the typical cooling system described in the specification, an internal combustion engine has coolant conduits connected to a coolant circuit for cooling the engine and to a heater circuit for heating the vehicle. The coolant circuit includes a valve to close the circuit during warming-up of the engine to permit fast warming-up of the vehicle and at high engine temperature conditions the coolant may be circulated through the heater circuit to provide additional heat removal from the coolant.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1988Date of Patent: June 12, 1990Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Hans Marschall, Herbert Schapertons, Bodo Scheibner
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Patent number: 4926801Abstract: The cylinder liner of an internal combustion engine includes a wet-type upper portion and a dry-type lower portion. The interior wall of the cylinder and the corresponding lower portion of the liner are machined to have an interference fit under operating conditions. The liner is firmly supported by this interference fit engagement of the liner with the cylinder bore over approximately two-thirds the length of the liner. The cylinder wall is machined to provide a shoulder substantially at the junction of the upper and lower portions of the liner and a corresponding shoulder is formed at this point on the liner. These shoulders are forced into firm sealing engagement by the torque applied to the cylinder head screws during asssembly of the cylinder head on the engine block. The vertical dimension of the shoulder on the cylinder liner is formed to be a minimum of 1/8 of the vertical dimension of upper portion of the liner.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1987Date of Patent: May 22, 1990Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.Inventors: Eugene Eisenberg, Frederick E. Lindsay, James J. Evans, Ronald H. Collins
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Patent number: 4922872Abstract: An engine brake system comprising, in combination, a power absorbing oil pump driven in operative linkage with the crank shaft of the engine and a mechanism for controlling discharge pressure of said oil pump is disclosed. The pressure control mechanism comprises a main valve designed to be opened with a lift inversely proportional to the braking torque of the engine, a mechanism for adjusting the pressure on the back side of the main valve and a valve for switching the pressure on the back side of the main valve, all of which are provided in a valve box having an oil hole communicated with the discharge port of the oil pump. According to this system, in accordance as the engine speed increases, the lift of the main valve is reduced to elevate the power absorbed by the oil pump. Thus, this system is particularly useful for engine brake for vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1988Date of Patent: May 8, 1990Assignees: Tokyo-Buhin Kogyo Co., Ltd., Isuzu Gidoshiya Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Nogami, Akira Hasegawa, Hiroshi Nojima, Mitsuhiro Murata
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Patent number: 4919092Abstract: An improved cast cylinder head for a high performance internal combustion engine is provided by an especially configured quench surface from which a contoured combustion chamber extends having a metal mass buildup shrouding the exhaust gases through the exhaust valve seat. A metal mass buildup configuration is also provided about the intake valve seat which acts in conjunction with an especially configured and proportioned valve intake passage to draw the fuel-air mixture into the combustion chamber in an unshrouded, helical flow pattern. The intake passageway configuration is such that a rich fuel-air mixture is drawn through the intake valve seat at a portion thereof remote from said exhaust valve seat while a lean fuel-air mixture exits the intake valve seat adjacent the exhaust valve seat. Positioning the fuel-air mixture in such a manner in combination with the unshrouded metal mass buildup minimizes short-circuiting of the fuel through the exhaust valve seat in a valve overlap condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1988Date of Patent: April 24, 1990Assignee: TFS, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Smith, Jr., Michael E. Smith
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Patent number: 4905646Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder head 14 having intake valves 20 and exhaust valves 22 arranged therein. A supercharger 42 is arranged in an intake pipe 44 and a tank 46 is mounted downstream of the supercharger 42. A valve 48 is arranged in an opening between the tank 46 and the pipe 44. From the pipe b 44, two intake manifolds 30 and 32 are branched, with respective branch pipes connected to the respective intake ports 24. An intake control valve 50 is arranged in one of the manifold 32, which closes at idling and under a low load of the engine. The engine further has means for generating a swirl S about an axis of the combustion chamber 18 by a portion of exhaust gas caused to flow back from the exhaust port 26 into the combustion chamber 18 after being once exhausted through the exhaust port when the exhaust valve is open.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1987Date of Patent: March 6, 1990Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshio Tanahashi
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Patent number: 4896632Abstract: A compact free piston engine of the unsymmetrical type including a structure with a cylinder detachably supported therein, said cylinder having a pair of pistons with a combustion chamber therebetween and each piston having a rod extending through the adjacent end of the cylinder and having motion reversing means at one end of said cylinder and extending between said rods. Preferably, the structure is of strong but lightweight construction. It may have a skeleton type of housing with bolt type columns spaced around the cylinder. Portions of the reversing means lie along the side of the cylinder while another major portion thereof lies beyond one end of the cylinder. An energy absorbing device or devices may be connected to one only or to each of the rods, and each rod will be driven simultaneously in an opposite direction to the other by both pistons.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1985Date of Patent: January 30, 1990Inventor: Anton Braun
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Patent number: 4890588Abstract: A means to control piston movement in relationship to crank arm rotation in an internal combustion engine is provided. There is provided a system to permit the crank arm of an engine to rotate a number of degrees past what would be the normal TDC (TOP DEAD CENTER). There is also provided a means to lift the piston to its highest point when the crank arm has reached its predetermined number of degrees past normal TDC. A mechanical linkage has been provided to replace the usual connecting rod. A short link is assembled to the crank arm bearing by means of a journal. The crank arm length is coupled to a longer link through a coupling pin. The longer link is attached to the piston by a standard piston pin.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1988Date of Patent: January 2, 1990Inventor: John E. Tillman
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Patent number: 4887558Abstract: The invention relates to an internal-combustion engine having opposed integral annular pistons and a central shaft. The piston block (1), formed by the two pistons (2, 3) exhibits, at each axial end, an axial double skirt fitted with an outer crown (9) forming the piston head proper, and an inner crown (10) forming an admission pump with an antechamber (30) radially within the corresponding annular cylinder (5), wherein the piston head (9) delimits a combustion chamber (12). Radial pawls (22), penetrating axial ports (21) of the housing (4) and radial holes (18) of the piston block (1), have their inner radial ends engaged in sinusoidal circumferential undulated grooves (20) made in an enlarged central part (19) of the central driving shaft (8) driven in rotation by the reciprocating axial movements of the piston block (1).Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1988Date of Patent: December 19, 1989Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle, Societe AnonymeInventor: Esparbes Bernard
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Patent number: 4883024Abstract: In a water-cooling system for a water-cooled horizontal cylinder engine, a radiator and a radiator fan are arranged at the front of a cylinder head which is mounted forwardly of a cylinder block of the engine. A radiator fan generates a cooling air flow which passes through the space over the cylinder head and toward the radiator, the height of the radiator being sized to match the width of the cylinder block measured in the upward and downward direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1987Date of Patent: November 28, 1989Assignee: Kubota LimitedInventors: Ryoichi Ito, Koji Iwai, Tsuyoshi Nishida, Junji Kimura
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Patent number: 4875437Abstract: A mixing valve for an engine cooling system includes a cylindrical chamber, a main thermostatic element mounted in the chamber, first and second inlets axially spaced along the chamber, and a sleeve connected to the thermostatic element and movable in response to the changing temperature of liquid flowing through the chamber from a position completely blocking flow through one inlet and leaving the other inlet totally open to positions gradually permitting flow through the first inlet and restricting flow through the second inlet. A second thermostatic element is positioned outside the body of the mixing valve and has a piston axially aligned with a piston of the main thermostatic element and engaged therewith to adjust the starting position and range of movement of the sleeve. The second thermostatic element is responsive to parameters such as external air temperature, engine load, engine speed, etc. The double thermostatic element arrangement is also disclosed in connection with poppet valves.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1987Date of Patent: October 24, 1989Assignee: Procedes VernetInventors: Andre Cook, Jean P. Chamot
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Patent number: 4867109Abstract: A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with an intake valve and a throttle valve respective to each cylinder. A respective intake passage interconnects each throttle and intake valve. At least one element of a charge flows through the intake passage. An intake balance conduit includes a plurality of branches and interconnects a plurality (preferably all) of the intake passages. The branches discharge into their respective intake passages at an acute angle relative to the direction of stream flow in the intake passage, preferably substantially downstream from the throttle valve. Exhaust gas recirculation means can optionally discharge into the conduit, preferably substantially downstream from the throttle valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1985Date of Patent: September 19, 1989Inventors: Etsuhiro Tezuka, Koichiro Kaji, Toru Ichinose
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Patent number: 4864477Abstract: A trouble light shield is disclosed for use with an elongated handle member receiving an electric light bulb thereon. The shield includes a reflector partially surrounding the light bulb and a guard assembly having a plurality of radially spaced vertical wires. Collars located at the base of the reflector and guard assembly space the reflector a predetermined distance away from the light bulb and guard assembly, while posts which extend from the guard assembly engage the reflector to maintain its predetermined distance and also to prevent any substantial contact between the reflector and guard assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1988Date of Patent: September 5, 1989Inventor: Donald J. Engelman
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Patent number: 4776309Abstract: In a spark-ignition internal combustion engine of the type having a combustion chamber which presents at least one surface area on which there is applied at least one layer which presents to the combustion chamber a layer defining surface having very low reflectivity to electromagnetic waves in the wavelength range of about 0.2-7.0 microns. The layer reflects non-absorbed incident waves in a diffuse fashion, thereby to reduce the octane number requirement of the engine. The total surface area thus treated for each combustion chamber of the engine is equal to at least 10% of the top surface area of the piston in said chamber. The overall efficiency of the engine can be further improved when at least one of the layers has an underlying defining surface distal from the combustion chamber which reflects substantially all incoming electromagnetic waves in the wavelength range above 2.5 microns in a diffuse fashion.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1986Date of Patent: October 11, 1988Assignee: Oktan ABInventors: Jan Wicen, Lennart Forslund, Raoul Niklasson
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Patent number: 4774926Abstract: In an uncooled engine, it is propose to form insulator coatings on the combustion chamber surfaces, and to mechanically protect such coatings against erosion or cracking by means of outer protective layers applied over the insulator coatings. The insulator coatings can be zirconium oxide applied to a thickness of approximately 0.15 inch. The protective layers can be formed of various materials resistant to high temperatures in the vicinity of 2000.degree. F., e.g. silicon nitride, steel or cast iron.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1987Date of Patent: October 4, 1988Inventor: Ellsworth C. Adams
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Patent number: 4766858Abstract: This invention relates to an internal combustion engine including an oil seal ring between a cylinder block and a crank shaft, a crank shaft cap and a conduit. The cylinder block includes a plurality of cylinders, a crank shaft support portion and an oil seal retainer. The crank shaft support portion is located under the plurality of cylinders and the oil seal retainer projects outwardly from the cylinder block. A crank case is defined within the cylinder block. The crank shaft cap is secured to the crank shaft support portion and an opening is defined therebetween. The crank shaft includes a main journal and a flange portion. The main journal is inserted into the opening defined between the crank shaft support portion and the crank shaft cap. The crank shaft is rotatably mounted on both the cylinder block and the crank shaft cap.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1986Date of Patent: August 30, 1988Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Yoshidome, Takanori Nagai, Tadayoshi Kono, Mikio Goto