Abstract: An inlet manifold system particularly adapted for a "V-8" to "V-16" Type internal combustion engine. Such an engine has a first and a second bank of cylinders, each bank having a plurality of combustion cylinders, the banks being parallel to each other.

Abstract: A digitally controlled magneto provides for the precise control of the timing advance profile for an internal combustion engine. A micro-controller or a micro-processor provides the digital control by using inputs from engine sensors to determine the engine's crank speed and position. With this information, it computes an optimum timing advance angle for the time of spark generation. The digital system controls the spark generation by using a semiconductor switching circuit to interrupt the flow of current generated by the magneto in the primary coil. The current flow interruption results in a high voltage pulse in the secondary coil creating a spark in a spark gap for the initiation of combustion in the internal combustion engine. To maintain the operational reliability of the magneto ignition system, an alternate timing system allows the internal combustion engine to produce full power even if the electrical power supplied to the digital system fails.

Abstract: Sliding contact-making structures of an internal combustion engine, which comprise (a) a cylinder unit having an inner plating coating containing a dispersoid substance such as a plating coating of Ni-P-SiC or Ni-SiC; and (b) a piston provided with at least one piston ring, fitted into the inside of the cylinder in the axial direction so as to freely slide upon the inside surface thereof, are characterized in that the piston ring has a surface in sliding contact with the inside surface, which surface is covered with a vapor deposition layer such as a physical vapor deposition layer of TiN or CrN, whereby resistance to friction abrasion and seize, and the friction coefficient can be effectively improved.

Abstract: The pull-in coil of a fuel shut-off solenoid on an engine is connected to a thermistor circuit for limiting the current to the pull-in coil. The pull-in coil is connected to ground through terminals of a control relay and through a thermistor. The activation coil of the control relay is also connected to the thermistor. When power is initially supplied to the pull-in coil, the resistance of the thermistor is low and current flow is sufficient to activate the fuel shut-off solenoid. The initial low resistance also assures that the voltage at the control relay activation coil remains near ground so the control relay initially remains deactivated. As the thermistor heats and resistance increases, pull-in coil current diminishes and voltage at the control relay increases until the control relay activates to interrupt power to the thermistor. The thermistor cools so that upon occurrence of the next pull-in solenoid activation pulse, the solenoid pull-in coil will immediately activate.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is divided into a working section and a compressor section, with the working section supporting the combustion function and the compressor dedicated solely to infusion of intake charge into the working section. In a preferred embodiment, the compressor employs a conjugate drive motion translator with cycle dynamics matched to optimize compressor function. This is characterized by a displacement of crankshaft orientation from 0 degrees at top piston position. The working portion employs a conjugate drive motion converter exhibiting cycle dynamics matched to either a two, four, or diesel engine power cycle.

Abstract: Improved designs for the internal combustion engine are disclosed. The first embodiment of the invention relates to a configuration in which the cylinder/piston assembly is inclined at an oblique angle relative to the center axis of rotation of the crankshaft and connected to the crankshaft with a curved or bow-shaped connecting rod. The second embodiment of the invention resides in an improved design for the combustion chamber. In this embodiment, the cylinder and piston have elliptical cross sections. This, combined with a concave cylinder head, provide for a ellipsoid shaped combustion chamber. In this chamber are mounted two spark plugs, positioned along the major axis of the ellipse defined by the cylinder cross section. This configuration then sets the stage for the phenomenon called "Dual opposite firing fronts.

Abstract: An improved fuel supply system (20), fuel tank (22 or 50), and fuel (30), whose use in small internal combustion engines provides greatly reduced emissions, longer engine life, reduced maintenance, higher reliability, and safety. These fuel tanks (22 or 50) are partially filled with a LPG fuel (30) and are also connectable to the fuel supply system (20) by a corresponding fuelling receptor (32 or 56). The fuel system (20) is itself comprised, in combination, of a fuelling receptor (32 or 56) which is then followed in series and in fuel flow communication by a fuel conduit (36), a fuel lock valve (38), another fuel conduit (40), a primary pressure regulator (42), still another fuel conduit (44), and finally a fuel-air mixer (46).

Abstract: Three elements are hydraulically coupled by a hydraulic fluid contained within one of the elements serving as a housing so that reciprocally driven motion of one of the elements is transmitted to move another element responsively in a reciprocal motion. The movements can be counter-reciprocal or co-reciprocal, and the housing can be an unmoved element or can be one of the reciprocally moving elements. The stroke lengths and velocities of the reciprocal movements can vary, and the effect can involve dynamic balance, power transformation, vibrational dampening, and many variations of these possibilities.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine cylinder block is formed with communication ports allowing communication between cylinders that, when assembled with pistons and a crankshaft, are 180.degree. out of phase. This allows the trapped mass of air beneath a piston to flow beneath a piston in a different cylinder 180.degree. out of phase. As a result, advancing and returning pistons are matched to effectively balance pressures.

Abstract: An improved two-stroke internal combustion engine utilizing a vacuum chamber to create vacuum, which sucks the exhaust out from the combustion chamber, and forces the charge into it.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle is described having on-board storage of free natural gas and natural gas combined with water to form a hydrate. The natural gas is preferably a mixture of methane and about 1% propane. It is provided with hollow metal plates. Cooling fluid can be circulated through the plates to form the hydrate and heating fluid can be circulated through the plates to decompose the hydrate. The pressure within the storage container is preferably between 450 and 850 psig. The free natural gas within the container can be used to start and warm the engine. The vehicle air conditioning system is used to cool the circulated fluid and the vehicle radiator and/or exhaust is used to heat the circulating fluid. The container is insulated with multiple layers of heat reflective material, e.g., aluminum foil, separated by glass fiber felt. Preferably, the layers are sealed and the space between the layers is maintained under a vacuum.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the optimum outer dimensions of a piston are disclosed. The piston has a crown with a ring belt and a skirt depending therefrom. Openings in the ring belt are configured to receive abradable rod members having end portions which extend radially outwardly from the piston surface. The radial positions of the outer end portions of the rod members are adjustable so as to locate the rod ends closely adjacent to the walls of an associated engine cylinder. Upon operation of the piston within the cylinder the rods are abraded to reveal the optimum clearance of the piston, relative to the cylinder wall, at that location.

Abstract: An intake system for an internal-combustion engine, having a suction manifold comprising a chamber, has an intake connection on the inflow side and several individual suction pipes on the outflow side, which suction pipes lead into a cylinder head of the internal-combustion engine and are connected with the individual cylinders. The intake connection has an air guiding device which extends approximately to a plane extending between the two center suction pipes, and a wall of the air guiding device directed toward the interior openings of the suction pipes is arranged at a distance from these openings.

Abstract: An exhaust control system for a two-cycle engine for controlling the effective compression ratio. The exhaust control valve is operated by a servo mechanism to maintain the appropriate compression ratio in response to engine running conditions. To facilitate servicing, the exhaust control valve is rotatably journalled within the engine cylinder block in a removable sleeve. In addition, a manual operator is provided for manually rotating the exhaust control valve for cleaning operation and to reduce sticking if corrosion occurs.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a rotatable work shaft, a crank connected with the work shaft, a plurality of cylinders having working chambers, a plurality of pistons movable in the cylinders, and connecting means connecting the pistons with the crank so that a gas pressure in the combustion chambers applied to the pistons is transmitted when a maximum pressure is obtained in the combustion chambers and a maximum lever arm of the crank is obtained so as to provide a maximum torque on the work shaft.

Abstract: An induction system and method for enhancing the efficiency and performance of an internal combustion engine connectable between an air filter and an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine is provided.

Abstract: Method and mechanism for distributing air and recirculating gasses into the cylinders of internal combustion engines involving left and right side throttle bodies connected to the branches of a common air intake for controlling inlet air fed to left and right side inlet manifolds. These two manifolds are longitudinally offset from one another so that the outlets of their runners are in alignment and can be readily attached to the head of the engine. With such construction and for space saving considerations the throttle body for the right side intake manifold is located close to an outlet of a crossover tube recirculating exhaust gas into this manifold and the inlet of an air supply runner of this manifold for feeding air to one of the cylinders.

Abstract: A gear driven four cycle, opposed, internal combustion engine with pairs of twin pistons connected by a semi-rigid shaft converts reciprocating motion to rotary torque by segmented upper and lower rack and pinion gears which alternate left and right, above and below, with a rocking rack motion at the precise centerline of the piston travel. Central oscillating arms with pairs of translating, rotating cranks, on each side of the twin pistons, smoothly reverse the piston directions without stressing the rack and pinion gear drives. Lateral loads and friction from the piston to the cylinder walls are eliminated. The equivalent torque developed is more than quadruple that of a conventional crankshaft design. The parallel twin cylinders are connected by a common rotary valve at each end of the opposed cylinders. Each cylinder houses a spherical rotary valve with an internal flow baffle which is connected to companion rotary valves by concentric shafts.

Abstract: Walking-beam furnace for the accelerated heating of billets or the like, in which the upper surfaces of the mobile beams (1) and of the fixed beams (1') are made up of billet-tipping ridges (5, 4) having profiles which interact during operation so as to cause rotation of the billets about their longitudinal axes as they advance through the furnace. According to the invention, the billet-tipping ridges (4, 5) of the fixed beams (1') and of the mobile beams (1) consist of a plurality of modular elements (7, 8, 9, 10) in the form of billet-tipping ridge segments which are mutually aligned along the length of the beams (1, 1'). The ridge segments (7, 8, 9, 10) have additional features which improve operation of the billet-tipping ridges (4, 5).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling an adjusting device of a drive unit in a motor vehicle. When the ignition is switched on, the value then present for the driver command is interpreted as an idle command independently of its absolute magnitude.