Abstract: A direct cranking starter drive for an internal combustion engine has a driven member drivably connected to the engine crank shaft and a driving unit drivably connected to the starting motor. A clutch between the driving unit and the driven member is engaged when the engine runs below a running speed for drivably connecting the driving unit to the driven member and is disengaged when the engine runs above the running speed for disconnecting the driving unit from the driven member. Bearings are provided for permitting relative rotation of the driving unit and driven member when the engine is running and the clutch is disengaged.

Abstract: A side-mounted pull-rope recoil starter for low horsepower, vertical crankshaft internal combustion engines in which a starter gear moves vertically in a pair of journalled slots in the starter mounting bracket into engagement with a ring gear carried by the engine flywheel. The starter includes a starter brake spring which is released when the starter gear engages the flywheel, an operator handle which is specifically contoured to be comfortably held by the operator during pulling of the starter rope and a mechanical interlock between the engine and a drive transmission to prevent engagement of the starter mechanism when the transmission is in other than the neutral position. A safety lock mechanism which is operable by means of a removable key and which prevents unauthorized activation of the starter mechanism is also disclosed. A top-mounted pull-rope recoil starter is disclosed which incorporates many features of the basic side-mounted starter embodiment.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotary valved internal combustion engine is disclosed. The seal assembly comprises longitudinal side seals for axially sealing an interface between a cylindrical valve housing and a complementary valve rotor body therein. Circumferential ring seals are spaced apart along the valve rotor body for isolating inlet or exhaust ports which extend diametrically through the rotor. The ring seals are provided with a novel means for biasing the seals against the rotor. Spacers are provided for locating and retaining the seals in position within the housing, with bearing rings between the spacers for rotationally supporting the rotor. The assembly also includes means for locating the spacers properly in a head of the engine and for properly orienting the end seals.

Abstract: This invention provides an improvement in a flywheel magneto having a thyristor controlled capacitive ignition system including a flywheel having permanent magnets and at least one cooperating coil core which has three pole legs and at least one charging coil and one trigger coil. The improvement therein comprises a charging coil arranged on the intermediate pole leg of the coil core and a trigger coil being arranged on the last pole leg when viewed in the direction of rotation of the flywheel.

Abstract: A decompressing device for facilitating starting of internal combustion engines, by lifting one of the engine valves at the beginning of the compression cycle, comprises a lever which is movable, by hydraulic pressure developed by an engine-driven oil pump, from an extended position in which one end of the lever effects said valve lifting to a retracted position. Lifting of the valve therefore stops when the engine speed (and hence the hydraulic pressure) reaches a predetermined level. The lever is moved between the extended and retracted positions by piston means located in a bore in the engine camshaft, the piston means being acted upon in one direction by the hydraulic pressure, and in the opposite direction by resilient means which tends to move the lever to the extended position.

Abstract: A multicylinder, stratified charge, internal combustion engine in which the main combustion chamber of each cylinder is coupled, through a conduit with controllable flow cross section, to the precombustion chamber of the cylinder which precedes it in the firing order of the engine. A flutter valve controls the flow of gases into each precombustion chamber. Part of the fuel injected just ahead of the main engine inlet valve in the induction tube of each cylinder is thereby drawn off and delivered to the precombustion chamber of the preceding cylinder in the firing order of the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with means for creating a vortical stratified charge in a preferably axisymmetric combustion chamber which may be conical in shape. Excessive mixing of rich and lean mixtures, which make up the stratified charge, is avoided by first admitting a homogeneous lean mixture on the intake stroke through a swirl port to develop a vortical motion and subsequently admitting a rich air-fuel mixture toward the end of the intake stroke directed so as to form a swirling pattern of rich mixture around the spark plug. Means are provided for directing and timing the admission of lean and rich mixtures.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for feeding hydrogen fuel derived from a metal hydride to an internal combustion engine includes two tanks, one for containing fresh hydride and the other for spent hydride and a low capacity reactor through which the fresh hydride is pumped from the one tank to the other. Heat applied to the small quantity of hydride in the reactor generates hydrogen which is extracted and retained in a storage chamber for feeding to an engine, with the spent hydride being pumped away and fresh hydride being pumped into the reactor to maintain a continuous source of supply of hydrogen therein during operation of the system. Quick starts and stops are made possible and great flexibility of operation and control are obtained by circulation of the hydride through the small reactor for heating.

Abstract: The invention relates to internal combustion engines of the reciprocal type, and more particularly to such engines in which the pressure for Diesel operation can be attained, or in which the power output of an Otto-cycle engine can be increased.The present invention makes possible either a Diesel engine of approximately the same axial crank offset and overall dimensions as an Otto-engine of equal throughput, or an Otto-engine having a higher throughput with slightly increased overall size and axial crank offset.Gas supply pressures are maintained in pressure boosters by two pressure impellers which are synchronized to engine operation, a vertical pressure impeller receiving a fuel-air mixture and the inverted pressure impeller receiving air. A rotary metering pressure booster meters an amount of the fuel-air mixture and forces it under pressure into a pressure retaining chamber above the cylinder chamber ready to be released upon demand.

Abstract: A rotary valve device for internal-combustion engines, said device comprising an elongated, tubular drum having an exhaust-manifold system disposed therein and a plurality of fuel passages, forming a fuel-intake system having fuel-intake ports and fuel-outlet ports positioned in the peripheral wall of the drum, whereby lean and rich fuel mixtures can be separately but simultaneously deposited in each combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine, as the tubular drum rotates within the cylinder head, so that a complete burning of the fuel takes place. A cooling means, such as a water jacket, is interposed between the inner, tubular, manifold-exhaust conduit and the fuel passages -- the jacket being provided with openings at the terminating ends thereof for connecting the water flow to the cooling system of a conventional-type engine.

Abstract: A two part variable compression ratio (VCR) piston assembly having an outer member movable relative to an inner member to vary the compression ratio of an internal combustion engine and a hydraulic system utilizing oil from the lubrication system of the engine for automatically controlling the relative movement of the members to maintain a predetermined maximum combustion chamber pressure. A hydraulic circuit includes an upper and a lower chamber which expands and contracts conversely upon relative movement of the piston members and a system for supplying oil to the upper chamber and to the lower chamber via the upper chamber and for discharging the oil from the upper chamber in a manner which gradually changes the compression ratio of the piston until a predetermined maximum combustion chamber pressure has been achieved and which tends to maintain the maximum combustion chamber pressure after it has been achieved.

Abstract: A diesel engine fuel injection pump with electronic output regulation has an actuator cylinder for controlled displacement of a control rod which regulates a pumping element control screw. This actuator cylinder is machined in the pump body together with a seating for a distributor valve which controls the supply of hydraulic working fluid to the actuator cylinder. The working fluid may be the fuel itself.

Abstract: A manually operable lever feeds a selected fuel to the engine. A cam having lobes made of a magnetic material is affixed to a shaft driven off the engine. Each of a plurality of reluctance pickups is predeterminedly positioned to form a magnetic circuit with the lobes at given engine angular positions. A mechanically operable switch feeds a selected pickup output to a triggerable ignition system. Linkage connects the switch to the manual lever.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a rotary valve for controlling the inlet of fuel and exhaust of combustion products from the engine arranged to supply copious lubrication to the valve face and to remove excess lubricant before the valve registers with the combustion chamber inlet to leave a lubricant film of thickness not exceeding 40 to 50.mu. inches, the lubricant flowing through a series of concentric sealing rings, or a spiral groove in the valve housing or the valve surrounding the area of register of the valve opening into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A control arrangement for effecting the reconveyance of exhaust gas over a larger engine operating range, while concurrently constructing the control to be more sensitive and better correlated with any particular thermal and/or mechanical operating condition of the internal combustion engine. The arrangement includes a multiple-position valve located in the conducting path of the control conduit, which is so located and constructed whereby the control pressure chamber of the control pressure chambers of the adjusting device are selectively subjected to a gas pressure and/or atmospheric pressure present in the intake conduit of the internal combustion engine upstream and/or downstream of the dosing arrangement for the combustion air or, respectively, the provided fuel-air mixture, or in the path of an accumulator associated with the control conduit.

Abstract: A piston structure for an internal combustion engine which utilizes fuel injection to furnish the engine charge. To provide a more effective operation, and to more fully utilize the air induced into the engine, the piston face is formed with a main cavity as well as with one or more supplementary depressions spaced away from the main cavity whereby to promote turbulence at the combustion chamber and consequently a better fuel-air mixture during a power stroke.

Abstract: A cycling valve for an internal combustion engine comprises a valve housing on top of the engine block and a circular rotary valve body within the housing geared to the crank shaft of the engine. Air of sub-atmospheric pressure developed in the engine crankcase is drawn through a system of cooling passages in the valve body and through an additional system of cooling passages in the base of the valve housing.

Abstract: This disclosure deals with a centripetal flow turbine housing including an intake opening for receiving a working fluid, a volute which conveys the fluid to a turbine wheel rotatably mounted within the housing, and an outlet opening co-axial with the wheel. A valve is provided adjacent the intake opening, and two intake passages are formed in the housing between the valve and the volute. One of the intake passages is arranged concentrically around the other intake passage, and the intake passages merge ahead of the volute to form generally concentric aspirating nozzles. The valve is adjustable to one position where it directs all of the working fluid through one intake passage, and to a second position where it directs the working fluid through both intake passages.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine wherein a rotary inlet gaseous mixture valve is provided and a separate rotary exhaust valve. The inlet valve and the exhaust valve are connected together through a drive means and are rotated at the same velocity and in precise timing with respect to the engine crankshaft. The exhaust valve includes a water cooling jacket thereabout. The inlet valve includes an individual gaseous mixture inlet passage for each combustion chamber.

Abstract: A misfire detection system for an internal combustion engine is arranged to generate a first signal indicative of the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas. Such first signal, whose instantaneous value is normally employed to adjust the engine fuel supply to control its air-to-fuel ratio, is additionally employed to interrupt the supply of fuel and secondary air to the engine when the first signal remains above a prescribed level after the elapse of a prescribed duration of the fuel supply adjustment.