Patents Examined by David A. Okonsky
  • Patent number: 5704325
    Abstract: A stacked snail-type manifold design is provided including a plurality of plastic manifold sections which are engageable with one another. The stacked design provides a simple process for manufacturing a snail-type manifold. The use of plastic manifold sections reduces the weight of the manifold. Furthermore, the plastic manifold sections can be fabricated by an inexpensive and relatively simple molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Basf Corporation
    Inventors: Eric R. Sattler, Joel S. Myers
  • Patent number: 5701855
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a cartridge containing a fuel/oil mixture where the fuel is liquid, normally gaseous fuel. The cartridges can be readily mounted or demounted from the engine, and provide flexibility of use coupled with easy starting. The use of the fuel/oil cartridges eliminates the need to separately mix oil and fuel, and eliminates substantial contact of the user with an oily fuel/oil mixture. The two cycle and four cycle cartridge-type engines are suitable for use in many hand-powered implements, including line trimmers, chain saws, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Ryobi Limited
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Shiro Kawamoto, John E. Nemazi, William G. Conger
  • Patent number: 5701854
    Abstract: An axial fan arrangement for the radiator of an internal combustion engine including an annular bypass channel terminating between the fan frame and the fan. The bypass channel is open to the pressure sided of the fan and is designed such that the bypass flow emerging on the intake side of the fan is deflected in the direction of the main flow. By these measures the stabilization of a back flow vortex is rendered unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Kurt Hauser
  • Patent number: 5699763
    Abstract: An air intake box for a four-stroke marine engine. The air box is generally U-shaped in configuration, including a lower section that is connected to the carburetor throat. The lower section extends forwardly from the carburetor and merges into an upper section via a reverse bend. The upper section extends rearwardly above the carburetor and terminates in a distal inlet end that is located at the rear of the engine. The air box reduces air intake noise, and results in cooler air being supplied to the engine, which enhances combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: George E. Phillips, Wayne M. Jaszewski, John M. Griffiths, Keith W. Gessner
  • Patent number: 5699761
    Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine in a working machine such as a chain saw has been prone to stalling when the stance of the machine was changed from slanting down to slanting up. Such stalling is minimized when lower longitudinal scavenging passage in the cylinder block of the engine have smaller cross section as compared with upper scavenging passage, and when the crank chamber of the engine includes a flow restricting portion for impeding the flow of liquid fuel into the lower scavenging passage when the stance is changed. The engine has a cylinder block (12), a crankcase (20), scavenging passages (27, 27), and a flow restricting portion (40) on an inner peripheral surface (22a) of the crank chamber (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Kioritz Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Yamaguchi, Masayoshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 5699765
    Abstract: A cylinder head for a uniflow-scavenged two-stroke internal-combustion engine, particularly in motor vehicles, is provided with outlet valves which can be controlled by a camshaft. Outlet ducts connected with the outlet valves extend out of the cylinder head. A total of four outlet valves are provided for each cylinder, with the associated outlet ducts being guided to one side of the cylinder head. The camshaft is arranged laterally of the cylinder head opposite the outlet side of the outlet ducts. The outlet valves which are situated on the side facing away from the camshaft can be operated from the direction of the camshaft by way of operating members transversely penetrating the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventors: Frank Duvinage, Markus Paule, Michael Kramer, Nils Rippert, Christian Enderle
  • Patent number: 5699757
    Abstract: A swivel-blade internal combustion engine which produces gas pressure energy for two-cycle and four-cycle operation is disclosed. The engine includes a reciprocating shaft (24) and a reciprocating element (9) supported on the reciprocating shaft. The reciprocating element (9) has a working surface adapted and positioned to receive the gas pressure energy for producing an oscillating pendulum moment in the reciprocating element. The working surface of the reciprocating element preferably has a trapezoidal shape which is rounded on the head. A rocker arm system (16) is provided for converting the pendulum moment into the torque of a crankshaft. The rocker arm system includes a swing arm (21) fixed solidly on the reciprocating shaft (24) and an articulated connecting rod (20) connected to the swing arm and to the crankshaft through which the pendulum moment is passed to the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventors: Georg B. Wollny, Marian Chmiel
  • Patent number: 5699759
    Abstract: A valve for controlling flow of temperature control fluid between a radiator fluid overflow container and a water pump. The valve includes a housing which is in communication with the fluid overflow container and adapted to receive a flow of temperature control fluid therefrom. The housing has a chamber formed in it for channeling a flow of temperature control fluid. The housing is also in communication with the water pump and adapted to channel a flow of temperature control fluid between the chamber and the water pump. In one embodiment, the valve includes a cap attached to the housing and having a channel formed in it which conducts fluid between the fluid overflow container and the valve chamber. A ball is slidably disposed within the valve chamber and is adapted to seal the channel in the cap to prevent fluid flow when the valve housing receives a flow of pressurized fluid from the water pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Thomas J. Hollis
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hollis
  • Patent number: 5694891
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having at least one working cylinder, a reciprocating working piston is connected by a piston rod to a second piston which can reciprocate in a supercharge cylinder. The common piston rod is also connected with a crank drive of the internal combustion engine. Corresponding inlet, outlet and connecting channels are provided on the working cylinder and the supercharge cylinder. The inlet channel discharges into the wall of the supercharge cylinder at a location which is unblocked at the top dead center position of the working piston or of the supercharge piston. Located between the working cylinder and the supercharge cylinder is a combustion mixture connecting channel which connects an opening at the end of the supercharge cylinder to an inlet arranged in the working cylinder. The inlet is unblocked when the working piston is at the bottom dead center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Max Liebich
  • Patent number: 5694888
    Abstract: A fuel consumption optimizer and exhaust emissions reducer for an internal combustion engine including an air-vacuum liquid compensation device has a device for supplying a first stream of air at high speed and a second stream of air at high volume through respective channels into a booster container and a device for passing the first stream of air and the second stream of air through a plurality of openings in the respective channels into a body of liquid in the booster container. A method is described for optimizing fuel consumption and reducing exhaust emissions in an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Tito de Lima
  • Patent number: 5694907
    Abstract: A gasoline engine booster which includes a casing having a first port connected to the atmosphere, a second port connected to the intake manifold, a first air passage of smaller diameter and a second air passage of bigger diameter connected in series between the first port and the second port, an adjusting device longitudinally movably fastened to the inside of the second air passage to hold a spring, a steel ball supported on the spring and forced by it to stop the connection between the first air passage and the second air passage, and a tightening up screw threaded into a screw hole on the casing to hold down the adjusting device, whereby when the pressure in the intake manifold drops below a predetermined value, outside air is induced into the first air passage to force the steel ball away from the first air passage, so that outside air flows through the second air passage into the intake manifold of the gasoline engine to mix with fuel oil for complete combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Wen-Chih Tseng
  • Patent number: 5694889
    Abstract: The compact electrical generator sets have separate cooling airflows for the cylinder of the driving internal combustion engine, for the electrical generator, and for the components which generate most of the heat. Providing separate airflows allows to reduce the size of the generator set. Use of an alternator and an electronic controller for converting the electrical energy generated by the alternator to electrical energy of the type required by the user simplifies the design. The design of the cooling airflow with multiple combined and separated airflows reduces both size of the generator set and reduces losses due to generating the airflows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventors: Ronald C. Ball, William A. Eldredge
  • Patent number: 5690063
    Abstract: A fuel injection and ignition control system for a two-cycle crankcase compression engine wherein both fuel injection and ignition timing are controlled by sensed engine running characteristics at a predetermined crankshaft position. The timing of the ignition is controlled by the same parameter at which the fuel injection was controlled, so that the timing of ignition and amount and duration of fuel injection will be optimized for the same engine running condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu Motoyama, Takeru Ibara
  • Patent number: 5690068
    Abstract: In an arrangement for mounting an air intake module on an internal combustion engine including a cylinder head and a cylinder head cover wherein the air intake module comprises an air collector and air induction pipes mounted on the cylinder head and extending therefrom to the air collector, an oil filler pipe having one end mounted on the cylinder head cover extends to the air intake module and is firmly connected thereto so as to form a bracing structure for the air intake module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Josef Astner, Lucian Betke, Angela Breymayer, Manfred Wamser
  • Patent number: 5685265
    Abstract: A unitary cylinder head assembly for a five-valve per cylinder internal combustion engine. The cylinder head assembly has upstanding walls that form tappet receiving bores for receiving the tappets that operate the respective valves. In addition, these walls provide bearing surfaces for a pair of camshafts, one of which actuates one set of valves and the other of which actuates another set of valves. The threaded fastening means for affixing the cylinder head to the cylinder block are disposed axially beyond the walls and in the case of the set containing the greater number of valves transversely outwardly from the walls. However, the threaded fastening means are disposed so that they are equal distance from the associated cylinder bore axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 5682853
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a unique piston and rod assembly which easily replaces an existing prior art piston and rod assembly, as found within any typical internal combustion engine. The present invention teaches a unique design which incorporates therein, a rack and pinion as the means to moveably attach the top end of the rod to the piston with a slider mechanism to keep the rack and pinion in close tolerance with each other. The horizontal travel of the crank shaft and the rod journal cause a rocking motion at the junction of the rod and piston, which causes the piston to rise and fall after top-dead-center (T.D.C.), and after bottom-dead-center (B.D.C.), thus producing numerous advantages, including less emissions, less fuel consumption, greater power, greater torque, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Inventors: Harold L. Hull, Cathy D. Santa Cruz
  • Patent number: 5682845
    Abstract: An improved fuel delivery system, method and apparatus providing a hybrid carburetor and direct fuel injection system, utilizing the best of each for different engine operational modes to thereby meet emission requirements for small hand-held two-cycle engines using standard two-stroke gasoline and oil premix fuel. A diaphragm carburetor and associated diaphragm fuel pump operates alone to supply a proper A/F idle mixture sufficient only for engine power at start-up idle and off idle (light load). This engine aspiration carburetor fuel delivery system is operated continuously, and then at part (off idle-light load) and wide open throttle (W.O.T) the same is combined with operation of a direct cylinder fuel injection system, using a second stage pressure boost peristaltic type pump and fuel injector nozzle, that is engine self-regulated and driven to operate only at part-throttle and W.O.T. to thereby supply most of the engine fuel demand in these operational ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Woody
  • Patent number: 5682854
    Abstract: The present invention is a variable compression ratio engine which can operate both in a Miller cycle and a normal cycle, and which can produce a high output, reduce the generation of NOx, and prevent the occurrence of knocking. For this purpose, the engine is provided with an exhaust gas recirculating device equipped with a first cam shaft (10), provided with cams (11, 12, 13) for operating an intake valve (2) and exhaust valves (4, 5), and a second cam shaft (20), provided with cams (21, 22) for operating at least one intake valve (3) and an exhaust valve (5) to thereby recirculate part of exhaust gas into intake gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Godo Ozawa
  • Patent number: 5682852
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a rotatable work shaft, a rotatable 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 maximum compression pressure in the respective cylinders is transmitted to the crank and a maximum lever arm of the crank is simultaneously obtained, the crank includes at least two crank members located one above the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Inventor: Timofei Gutkin
  • Patent number: 5678522
    Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine characterized in that the free piston is held by a magnet, fuel and compressed air are injected directly into the combustion chamber to start the engine. A spring is utilized to retract the piston at the beginning of each operating cycle. The movement of the piston and the output power of the hydraulic system are controlled by a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: William Han