Abstract: A boat, having a transom, includes one or more aft-facing seats. Each aft-facing seat is positioned proximate to the transom and includes a seat bottom that is inclined at a downward angle in a direction extending from aft to fore, a seatback, a headrest, a seat support structure having at least one hidden compartment therein, and at least one pivot mechanism attached to the seatback and the headrest and configured to allow the seatback to move between a first position in which the seatback is capable of supporting the back of a person seated in the seat and a second position in which the seatback is pivoted upwardly to allow access to the compartment and the headrest to move between an upright position and a folded position. A plurality of handles may be provided for each aft-facing seat, with one at an outboard side and another at an inboard side.

Abstract: Fuel line arrangement for a liquefied petroleum gas fuel injection system, and method. A fuel supply line provides flow between a fuel tank and a plurality of fuel injectors, and a fuel return line returns a portion of the supply fuel to the tank. The supply line is positioned within the return line so that return fuel substantially surrounds the supply line. Liquefied petroleum gas is vaporized within the return line under certain conditions, thereby cooling supply fuel. A novel Y-connector and bushing are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for condensing return fuel in a fuel tank. The condenser comprises an elongated body having a passage therethrough in fluid communication with a fuel return line. A plurality of vent holes are spaced along the length of the body and communicated with the passage. The vent holes are sloped along the length of the passage so that gaseous fuel will tend to first exit vent holes toward a distal end of the passage. Both single and multiple passage condensers are disclosed.

Abstract: A solenoid actuated fuel injector for liquified petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) or the like has a fuel passage therethrough and a valve to control the flow of fuel through the fuel passage. The valve has a valve head formed of a generally flexible and substantially resilient material engageable with a valve seat to prevent fuel flow through the injector. The valve is preferably spring biased to a closed position which compresses the valve head against the valve seat to prevent fuel flow between them. Compression of the valve head is preferably limited by contact between the metal valve body and the metal valve seat which limits the travel of the valve body relative to the valve seat. The valve head and valve seat are also constructed to be highly resistant to wear to provide a consistent seal between them.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is fueled with a controlled mixture of natural gas and air which mixture is regulated by a regulator responsive to an electronic controller. In the event of a system failure with the electronic controller shutting down, a backup regulator automatically bypasses the normal regulator to provide temporary operation with a predetermined acceptable constant gas mixture.

Abstract: A fuel rail for supplying liquified petroleum gas ("LPG") to an internal combustion engine. Fuel supply channel and fuel return channel are aligned generally parallel to one another within fuel rail. LPG flowing through return channel cools LPG flowing through supply channel by vaporization of return fuel. Vaporization is caused by lower pressure in return channel relative to supply channel. Cooling of supply fuel aids in maintaining LPG injected into the engine in a fully liquid state. This results in increased power output, lower toxic emissions, and a reduction in knocking.

Abstract: A sensor (10) detects misfires of combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine by monitoring the exhaust from the engine. The sensor (10) comprises a spark gap (18) to be situated in exhaust from the engine and a transformer assembly (34). The transformer assembly (34) has an ignition transformer (41a) for providing a potential difference between the electrodes (18a, 18b) of the spark gap (18) and a detection transformer (41b) for sensing the occurrence of an arc across the spark gap (18). An ignition pulse shaper (68) provides an ignition pulse to the ignition transformer (41a) upon receiving a trigger signal from an engine control system (66), and a detection pulse shaper (72) monitors the detection transformer (41b) and forwards an arc detection signal to the engine control system (66) upon detecting an arc across the electrodes (18a, 18b) of the spark gap (18).

Abstract: A fuel injector for injecting liquified petroleum gas ("LPG") fuel into an internal combustion engine in a fully liquid state. Fuel injector includes a housing assembly having fuel supply and return channels. At least a portion of the return channel is adjacent to the supply channel, with the fuel in the return channel flowing countercurrent to fuel in the supply channel. Supply fuel in the supply channel is cooled by vaporization of return fuel in the return channel. This cooling aids in maintaining LPG in a fully liquid state during injection, resulting in improved engine performance.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for providing liquified petroleum gas ("LPG") fuel in a liquid state to intake manifold of internal combustion engine, including a fuel supply assembly and a fuel injecting mechanism. Fuel supply assembly includes a fuel rail assembly containing both supply and return channels. Fuel injecting mechanism is in fluid communication with supply and return channels of fuel rail assembly. Injected LPG is maintained liquid through refrigeration both along fuel rail assembly and within fuel injecting mechanism. Return fuel in both fuel rail assembly and fuel injecting mechanism is used to effectively cool supply fuel to a liquid state prior to injection into intake manifold of engine.

Abstract: An air-gas mixing device of the type used to mix air and gaseous fuel as a gaseous fuel charge for an internal combustion engine and having air and gaseous fuel valves for controlling the air-fuel mixture. For more optimum control of the air-fuel mixture, a linear variable differential transformer is coupled to each valve to detect the exact position of the valve at any particular engine operating condition and the detection is transmitted to a remote measuring instrument and control station. If the engine is not operating at its most optimum efficiency, the fuel valve may then be moved to a predetermined position relative to the air valve to provide this efficiency. Internal electrical wires of the device are connected to an external wiring harness through an interconnector in a manner to prevent contamination of interconnecting electrical contacts in a corrosive atmosphere or an explosion caused by arcing of the contacts during connection or disconnection in an explosive atmosphere.

Abstract: An air-gas mixing device of the type used to mix air and gaseous fuel as a gaseous fuel charge for an internal combustion engine and particularly suitable for use with engines operating generators and the like at constant speed. Fuel and air valves for controlling the air/fuel mixture are coupled together and actuated by a fluid motor in response to a fluid pressure signal, derived from the intake manifold pressure of the engine, acting on the diaphragm of the fluid motor. The fuel valve is also independently actuated by a second fluid motor, mounted to the diaphragm of the first fluid motor, in response to ambient air pressure which is applied to the second fluid motor upon a sudden increase in engine load demand to enlarge the opening of the fuel valve and thereby enrich the air/fuel mixture to prevent a significant falloff in engine speed.

Abstract: An air-gas mixing device of the type used to mix air and gaseous fuel as a gaseous fuel charge for an internal combustion engine. Fuel and air valves for controlling the air/fuel mixture are coupled together and actuated by a diaphragm in response to a fluid pressure signal, derived from the intake manifold pressure of the engine, acting on the diaphragm. The fuel valve is also independently acutated by a stepper motor mounted to the diaphragm and operated by a remote electrical control signal from a controller designed to measure engine performance and provide a signal to correct any deficiencies in the air/fuel mixture such as a feedback controller receiving inputs from oxygen, speed and other sensors for measuring engine performance. Becuase of the dual control of the fuel valve, the device is capable of handling a wide range of gaseous fuels of different BTU content and of providing a more optimum air/fuel mixture for better fuel economy, emissions control and engine performance.

Abstract: An improved dock shelter comprising a pair of side panels and a top panel which are hinged to the dock and border a doorway in the dock. The panels are each biased to a storage position where the panel extends laterally outward from the dock. The panels are pivoted inwardly from the storage position to an operative sealing position by inflatable bags which are operably connected to the panels. A blower mounted above the doorway operates through a duct system to inflate the bags and pivot the panels into sealing engagement with the sides and top of a truck parked in front of the dock. When the loading operation is completed, operation of the blower is discontinued and the biasing mechanism acts to return the panels to the storage position. Corner panels are carried by the top panel and are mounted for flatwise sliding movement relative to the respective side panels.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated dockboard comprising a ramp which is hinged at its rear edge to the frame of the dockboard, and a lip is hinged to the forward edge of the ramp. A main hydraulic cylinder unit connects the frame and the ramp, and by operating the cylinder unit the ramp can be pivoted upwardly from a horizontal cross traffic position to an upwardly inclined position. A lip cylinder interconnects the ramp and the lip and acts to pivot the lip from a downwardly hanging pendant position to an extended position. A hydraulic line is connected to the lip cylinder, and a control valve interconnects the hydraulic line to either a supply line or a return line that is connected to the reservoir of the hydraulic system. The control valve is normally biased to a first position where the lip cylinder is connected to the return line.

Abstract: A device for locking a vehicle to a loading dock during a loading operation. The device includes a frame mounted on the front surface of the dock beneath a pit which houses an adjustable dockboard. A slide assembly is mounted for vertical movement on the frame, and the slide assembly includes a locking member adapted to engage an abutment on the vehicle, as the slide assembly is elevated. To raise and lower the slide assembly, a motor is mounted on the slide assembly and drives a gear that engages a rack carried by the frame. The rack is spring biased to an upper position, and on operation of the motor in one direction, the slide assembly is raised to bring the locking member into engagement with the abutment on the vehicle. Continued operation of the motor will then move the rack downwardly relative to the gear and slide assembly, and downward movement of the rack will activate a switch to cut off power to the motor.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated dockboard comprising a ramp which is hinged at its rear edge to the frame of the dockboard, and a lip is hinged to the forward edge of the ramp and can be pivoted between a downwardly hanging pendant position and an extended position. A main hydraulic cylinder unit interconnects the frame and the ramp, and by operating the cylinder unit the ramp can be pivoted upwardly from a horizontal cross traffic position to an upwardly inclined position. As the ramp approaches its fully raised position, hydraulic fluid is conducted from the main cylinder unit to a lip lifting cylinder which interconnects the ramp and the lip. Introducing fluid to the lip lifting cylinder will act to pivot the lip to the extended position.

Abstract: A safety leg construction for a dockboard which acts to limit normal slow descent of the ramp, as well as rapid descent of the ramp, after a truck pulls away from the loading dock. Legs are hinged to the undersurface of the forward edge of the ramp and are biased to a forward supporting position and can be pivoted to a retracted non-supporting position. The legs are coupled to the lip of the dockboard by a coupling member which is pivoted to the leg and has an abutment positioned to be engaged by a cam attached to the lip as the lip is extended to thereby move the coupling member and the leg to the retracted position. An acceleration responsive latching element serves to lock the coupling member to the leg so under normal operation they move as a unit.

Abstract: An arrangement for reduction of exhaust noise in an internal combustion engine comprising in a preferred embodiment a two-cycle diesel engine having two or more exhaust valves per cylinder and separate cam lobes for actuating two groups of one or more valves. The lobes are arranged to stagger the openings of the two valves or groups of valves and to close all valves in a cylinder at the same time. The gas flow area past the earliest opening valve during the period before the second valve opens is controlled to restrict exhaust gas flow, thus limiting the exhaust blowdown pulse and exhaust noise from that source. Preferably, the initial flow restriction is provided by seating the early opening valve heads in countersunk seats with a predetermined radial clearance around the head which acts to restrict the flow in the initial opening period.

Abstract: A control lever extends through a cruciform opening in a control box and inside of the box fixed electrical contacts surround its inner end in an array corresponding to the shape of the cruciform opening. A common electrical contact is connected to the lever. Selective movement of the lever into the guideways provided by the cruciform opening selectively completes electrical contact of the common contact with the fixed electrical contacts to energize a desired electrical circuit. The lever is spring biased so that, when the operating force is removed, the lever returns to a neutral position out of engagement with all fixed contacts. A solenoid is selectively engageable with the lever to restrict movement thereof from the neutral position.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine crosshead piston assembly having an outer skirt elastomerically mounted on an inner skirt to reduce piston-slap-caused noise.