Abstract: An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder within which is a reciprocable piston movable in a compression stroke followed by movement in a power stroke and wherein a combustible fuel mixture is injected into the combustion chamber, compressed, ignited, and burned to produce the power stroke of the piston. After the fuel has been ignited and during the compression of such mixture a quantity of water from a reservoir is injected into the combustion chamber and converted by the heat of combustion into superheated steam, thereby generating within the combustion chamber a force which assists in driving the piston through its power stroke. The products of combustion and steam are discharged from the cylinder following the power stroke and cooled in a heat exchanger in which the steam is condensed, following which the gases are exhausted and the condensate returned to the water reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved oil pan that acts as a radiated noise reduction product. More specifically, the invention addresses the case of a broad frequency forced response sound radiation for structurally rigid cast aluminum engine oil pans. The improved oil pan comprises a foam rubber isolating layer coupled to the oil pan and a urethane outer barrier layer coupled to the foam rubber isolating layer. The oil pan has side walls comprised of a plurality of differently-sized flat panels. The vibration isolation takes place locally on the oil pan surfaces, not at the attachments that connect the oil pan to the engine. The net result is a significant reduction in the oil pan radiation efficiency within the desired frequency range of 2 kHz and above.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a piston (2) and a crankshaft (33). The crankshaft (33) includes: a journal (33A) as a rotation center; a crank pin (33B) that is located eccentrically with respect to the journal (33A) and rotates integrally with the journal (33A), the crank pin (33b) connecting the piston (2) to the crankshaft (33); and a counter weight (33C) that is located eccentrically with respect to the journal (33A) in a direction opposite to the crank pin (33) and rotates uniformly with the journal (33A). A cutout (11) through which the counter weight (33C) passes is formed in a wall (1) of a cylinder bore that accommodates the piston (2) so as to be free to move reciprocally along the wall (1). As a result, the bottom dead center position of the piston can be lowered, and the overall height of the engine can be decreased.

Abstract: The present invention features a rapid fire rapid response power conversion system comprising (a) a chamber having at least one fluid port configured to supply combustible fluid to the chamber, and an out-take port; (b) a compressor for supplying compressed combustible fuel to the chamber at a variable pressure to at least partially facilitate combustion therein; (c) a controller for initiating and controlling a combustion of the combustible fluid in a combustion portion of the chamber to generate energy; (d) a rapid response component in fluid communication with the chamber and situated adjacent the combustion portion of the chamber, wherein the rapid response component is configured to draw an optimized portion of the energy generated from the combustion and to convert this optimized portion of energy into kinetic energy; and (e) a dynamic mass structure situated between the rapid response component and an energy transfer component and allowing the rapid response component and the energy transfer component

Abstract: An engine control device with a reverse control function including: reverse control means for performing reverse control including a process of excessively advancing an ignition position of an engine for reversing a rotational direction of the engine when a reverse switch is operated; and a light emitting display device that displays that the reverse control is performed, wherein the reverse control means further includes light emitting display device blinking means for blinking the light emitting display device when the reverse switch is once operated, and operating error preventing means for starting the reverse control when the reverse switch is again operated within a set time after the one operation of the reverse switch, and stopping the reverse control when the reverse switch is not again operated within the set time after the one operation of the reverse switch.

Abstract: A damped windage tray for an engine including a windage tray formed from a laminate. The laminate operates to damp vibrations of the windage tray. The laminate includes a first constraining layer, a second constraining layer and a viscoelastic damping layer disposed between the first and second constraining layer. The viscoelastic damping layer spans substantially the entirety of the first and second constraining layers. Additionally, a method of forming the windage tray is provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combustion chamber structure for a spark-ignition engine, which comprises a combustion chamber defined between a bottom surface of a cylinder head and a top surface of a piston in such a manner that the bottom surface of the cylinder head serves as a ceiling wall thereof, and a spark plug having a sparking end protruding from the ceiling wall into the combustion chamber. In this combustion chamber structure, when the piston is at a top dead center, a principal space of the combustion chamber is comprised of a first combustion space around the sparking end of the spark plug and a second combustion space around a circumference of a cylinder bore. Further, the first combustion space and the second combustion space are communicated with each other through a small interspace zone where an interspace between the ceiling wall and the top surface of the piston is narrowed. The combustion chamber structure makes it possible to increase compression ratio in a practically effective manner.

Abstract: An expandable manifold comprises an expansion chamber defined by a resilient surface. Intake is provided by a conduit extending into the chamber. As reverse impulses resulting from the closing of an intake valve enter the expansion chamber from the output end of the chamber, the volume of the chamber increases as the resilient surface expands. The reverse impulses propagate along the inner surface of the resilient surface toward a void defined by the outer surface of the conduct and the inner surface of the resilient surface. When the intake valve reopens, the reverse impulse flow is redirected and combined with intake flow from the source of fuel/air. The reverse impulses are redirected within and proximate the void. Energy associated with the reverse flow is redirected and combined with the forward flow to improve overall engine performance.

Abstract: An object is to provide a method for operating a compression ignition internal combustion engine which, using a single fuel, can produce diesel combustion when the load is high, or homogeneous-charged compression ignition combustion when the load is low. The operating method includes: employing a fuel containing 95 to 99.5 wt. % of a base fuel made of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon, an alcohol, an ether and a fatty ester, and 0.1 to 5 wt. % of an additive made of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an organic peroxide, a nitric ester, a nitrite ester and an azo compound; and producing diesel combustion when the load is high, or homogeneous-charged compression ignition combustion when the load is low. The organic peroxide is di-tert-butyl peroxide. The nitric ester is n-pentyl nitrate. The nitrite ester is n-pentyl nitrite. The azo compound is 2,2-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile).

Abstract: A method for modifying a small diesel engine from a horizontal drive or crankshaft orientation into a vertical crankshaft orientation incorporates blocking of existing oil flow paths to rocker arms of the engine and replacement with pressurized low volume oil flow. In one form, tubing is added to direct oil from an oil pump onto the rocker arm mechanism. Additional tubing is then added to provide for oil drainage from the valve area to the oil reservoir in the engine crankcase.

Abstract: A baffle plate configuration of an internal combustion engine according to a first embodiment of the invention is provided below a rotational member arranged on or near a crankshaft and prevents the rotational members and lubricant in a pan from interfering each other. The baffle plate includes a preventing portion that is provided at an end portion of the baffle plate located in the side that is opposite, in the axial direction of the crankshaft, to the side where a larger amount of lubricant returns to the pan. The preventing portion prevents piston pumping air generated above the baffle plate from entering a space below the baffle plate through the end portion of the baffle plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter-cooler combination for liquids. The filter is a screw-type cartridge that comprises inlet and outlet openings on a front face and that can be detachably screwed to a connecting element having first connecting channels that are associated with the inlet and outlet openings by means of a central thread, while being radially sealed on the front face; the connecting element comprises the cooler and is provided with second connecting channels for the inlet and outlet channels of the coolant leading towards and away, from the filter-cooler combination, and with third connecting channels for the inlet and outlet channels of the liquid to be filtered leading towards and away, from the filter-cooler combination; the connecting element can be detachably connected to a base carrying the connecting element while the third connecting channels are associated with connecting channels of the base.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a spraying apparatus or humidifier for intake air, the apparatus having at least one spraying nozzle for spraying a first pressure medium, liquid and/or gas into the intake air conveys a second pressure medium, liquid and/or gas to the nozzle or continues the supply of the first pressure medium, liquid and/or gas to the nozzle at a substantially lower pressure after a supply of the first pressure medium, liquid and/or gas for the spraying has been interrupted to prevent clogging of the nozzle, and the second pressure medium, liquid and/or gas is introduced into a feed channel of the nozzle at a point between a valve element and the nozzle.

Abstract: A crankshaft equipped in an engine, including an oil passage through which oil is drawn from a crank journal to a crank pin. The oil passage has an inlet formed at a peripheral region of the crank journal. When a plane including a center axis of the crank journal and a center axis of the crank pin crosses a peripheral surface of the crank journal at two cross portions, the inlet is located to be spaced apart in an opposite direction to a rotational direction of the crank journal from a journal side cross portion located on an opposite side of the crank pin with respect to the center axis of the crank journal. The oil passage is configured to extend to be spaced apart from the center axis of the crank journal as seen from a direction of the center axis of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A lubrication system of an outboard motor delivers lubricant to an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is supported by an upper end of a case. The lubrication system has an oil pan configured to hold lubricant oil. An oil conduit has a lower end opening to the oil pan. An upper end of the oil conduit extends towards the internal combustion engine. An oil pump delivers the lubricant oil towards the internal combustion engine through the oil conduit. The oil pump is located in the vicinity of a front part of the oil pan as viewed from the side of the outboard motor. An inside bottom surface of the oil pan defines a lower bottom portion and an upper bottom portion. The lower bottom portion is located under the lower end of the oil conduit. The upper bottom portion of the oil pan is positioned rearward of the lower bottom portion.

Abstract: Provided is a variable stroke property engine that can prevent an increase in the resistance to the engine owing to the contact between the variable stroke piston mechanism and lubricating oil. In a variable stroke property engine equipped with a variable piston stroke mechanism consisting of a plurality of links 4, 5 and 12, a baffle plate 40 is provided between the links and the oil surface of the lubricating oil received in an oil pan so that the links may be separated from the oil surface by the baffle plate and the lubricating oil is prevented from contacting the links. Thereby, an increase to the resistance to the movement of the links can be avoided.

Abstract: A control method for the modulation of the torque of piston combustion engine that has a compression chamber (6) of variable volume and operable inlet valves (3). The torque requested for a predetermined operative condition is obtained through a selection of the volume of the compression chamber (6) combined with a selection of the time of opening and the time of closure of the inlet valves (3) combined with a selection of the frequency with which power strokes are performed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cooling system for an internal combustion engine having first and second cooling fans is provided, comprising operating the first cooling fan at a first rotational frequency which is greater than a combustion frequency of the internal combustion engine and operating the second cooling fan at a second rotational frequency which is less than the combustive vibration frequency of the internal combustion engine. Since the rotational frequencies of the first and second cooling fans are different from the combustion frequency of the internal combustion engine, the resonance between the rotational vibration of the cooling fans and the combustive vibration of the internal combustion engine may be prevented. Also, since the rotational frequencies of the first and second cooling fans are different from each other so that the resonance between their rotational vibrations may be prevented.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a connecting rod that connects a crankpin and a piston. The connecting rod has first and second connecting rods, and a guide piston is disposed at a connecting portion between the first and second connecting rods. Deformed portions are formed on a lower end portion of a guide piston and on a balancer weight portion of a crankshaft in order to reduce the whole length of the connecting rod, whereby a bottom dead center of the guide piston is set to a lower position. The engine has improved thermal efficiency by reducing the distance between the crank portion and the piston, increasing the speed of behavior of the piston at a position near a top dead center to reduce thermal energy loss, and preventing generation of knocking.

Abstract: A system and method for providing auxiliary power to a large diesel engine allowing shutdown of such large engine in all weather conditions. An auxiliary power unit made up of a secondary engine coupled to an electrical generator is provided. An automatic control system shuts down the primary engine after a period of idling and the auxiliary power unit provides electrical power for heating and air conditioning. In cold weather, the auxiliary power unit maintains the primary engine coolant and lube-oil warm to facilitate engine restart. The coolant system is kept warm using a heat exchanger and electrical heaters. The lube-oil system is kept warm using a recirculating pump and electrical heaters. In warm weather, the auxiliary power unit provides electrical power for air conditioning and other hotel loads. The auxiliary power unit isolates the primary engine batteries during operation and provides electrical power for hotel and non-vital loads.