Abstract: A system for regulating fuel flow in a fuel line from a supply of fuel to an engine, comprising: a fuel regulator disposed in the fuel line intermediate of the engine and the fuel supply regulating the flow of fuel to the engine; vacuum lockoff apparatus, disposed in the fuel line intermediate of the fuel regulator and the fuel supply and connected to the engine by an air passageway, sensing a partial vacuum condition at the engine, the vacuum lockoff means allowing flow of fuel in the fuel line when a partial vacuum condition is sensed and prohibiting flow of fuel in the fuel line when the partial vacuum condition is no longer sensed; one way check valve, disposed intermediate of the engine and the vacuum lockoff means in the air passageway, maintaining partial vacuum condition at the vacuum lockoff means; and bypass valve means, connected to the air passageway so as to provide an air passageway bypassing the one way check valve, for allowing restricted flow of air to the vacuum lockoff apparatus whereby the

Abstract: A method for assembling and preloading shaft assemblies that are supported by bearings in reciprocating internal combustion engines and the resulting improved shaft assembly. The method is comprised of the steps of: placing a spring element (21) on one end of the shaft (10) wherein said spring element (21) is arranged and configured to fill any gap between the shaft (10) and the bearings (14, 15) that could arise from the accumulation of design tolerances in the shaft assembly components and arranged and configured to always exert a positive load on the shaft (10) to reduce the axial movement of the shaft (10); and securing the shaft (10) between the bearings (14, 15).

Abstract: An apparatus for use as a governor arm/governor shaft joint in a governor system (10) and a method for zeroing out the tolerances in a governor system (10) used in reciprocating internal combustion engines. The apparatus is comprised of a governor shaft (12) with first and second ends having a tapered portion (21) located near said first end; a governor arm (13) with first and second ends having a tapered aperture (29) generally located near said first end that is arranged and configured to match the tapered portion (21) of the governor shaft (12); and a securing element (31) that forces the tapered portion (21) into engagement with the tapered aperture (29).