Abstract: A device includes an internal combustion engine, an engine control device coupled to the internal combustion engine and manually operable to stop operation of the engine, a fuel tank coupled to the engine for providing fuel to the engine, and a fuel vent closure device communicating with the fuel tank. The fuel vent closure device is automatically operable in response pressure changes in the engine to substantially seal the fuel tank when the engine is stopped, thereby substantially preventing emissions from the fuel tank. The device also preferably includes a fuel shutoff device automatically operable in response to pressure changes in the engine to substantially block the supply of fuel to the engine when the engine is stopped.

Abstract: The invention provides a monitoring system for monitoring an internal combustion engine. The monitoring system includes a power source having a winding and a magnet that magnetically interacts with the winding to generate a winding signal. The monitoring system further includes a conditioner that conditions the winding signal to generate a conditioned signal, a counter circuit powered by the conditioned signal that outputs an indication signal, and a visual or audible indicator that provides indication to the user upon receiving the indication signal.

Abstract: A retainer retains a release member for engine valves of an internal combustion engine. The release member causes an engine valve to be actuated depending on various operating conditions of the engine, such as engine speed or oil level. The retainer retains the release member to at least one of a cam lobe and a cam gear. The release member may be substantially L-shaped and centrifugally responsive. Alternatively, the release member may be a substantially U-shaped yoke that at least partially surrounds a cam shaft. The retainer includes a pin that is substantially transverse and non-intersecting to the cam shaft. The pin may be substantially straight and interconnect to bosses that project from the cam gear. Alternatively, the pin may be substantially C-shaped and extend into apertures in the cam gear that extend in the axial direction of the cam gear.

Abstract: A retainer retains a release member for engine valves of an internal combustion engine. The release member causes an engine valve to be actuated depending on various operating conditions of the engine, such as engine speed or oil level. The retainer retains the release member to at least one of a cam lobe and a cam gear. The release member may be substantially L-shaped and centrifugally responsive. Alternatively, the release member may be a substantially U-shaped yoke that at least partially surrounds a cam shaft. The retainer includes a pin that is substantially transverse and non-intersecting to the cam shaft. The pin may be substantially straight and interconnect to bosses that project from the cam gear. Alternatively, the pin may be substantially C-shaped and extend into apertures in the cam gear that extend in the axial direction of the cam gear.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a mechanical compression release including a cam, a cam follower, and a compression release member. The cam having a cam lobe and a base radius with a slot, and a compression release member disposed within the slot. The compression release member is substantially V-shaped and is comprised of a first portion, a second portion, and a bridging portion. The first portion has an auxiliary cam surface that extends slightly beyond the base radius and the second portion has sufficient mass to function as a flyweight. The bridging portion is substantially U-shaped and connects the first and second portions. The compression release member pivots about a pivot pin, that is disposed within the curved portion of the bridging portion. As the cam rotates, centrifugal forces cause the compression release member to pivot and to disengage from the cam follower.

Abstract: A cylinder head assembly having a cylinder head and an adapter. The intake cavity of the cylinder head is relatively large, and the adapter fills a portion of the space in the cavity. The cylinder head has an intake runner that decreases in cross-sectional area as it progresses inward from the entrance to the intake port. The adapter has a runner filler that decreases in cross-sectional area as it extends away from a spacer, and is inserted into the intake runner. The volume of the runner filler is smaller than the volume of the intake runner, so a cavity is left within the intake runner. This cavity forms a portion of the intake passageway that leads from the carburetor to the cylinder. The position of the intake position may be altered to accommodate clearance problems with devices in which an engine is incorporated.

Abstract: A device including an internal combustion engine, an engine control device coupled to the internal combustion engine and manually operable to stop operation of the engine, a fuel tank coupled to the engine for providing fuel to the engine, and a fuel vent closure device communicating with the fuel tank. The fuel vent closure device is automatically and electrically operable in response to the manual operation of the engine control device to substantially seal the fuel tank when the engine is stopped, thereby substantially preventing emissions from the fuel tank. The device also preferably includes a fuel shutoff device automatically and electrically operable in response to the manual operation of the engine control device to substantially block the supply of fuel to the engine when the engine is stopped.

Abstract: A cylinder head assembly having a cylinder head and an adapter. The intake cavity of the cylinder head is relatively large, and the adapter fills a portion of the space in the cavity. The cylinder head has an intake runner that decreases in cross-sectional area as it progresses inward from the entrance to the intake port. The adapter has a runner filler that decreases in cross-sectional area as it extends away from a spacer, and is inserted into the intake runner. The volume of the runner filler is smaller than the volume of the intake runner, so a cavity is left within the intake runner. This cavity forms a portion of the intake passageway that leads from the carburetor to the cylinder. The position of the intake position may be altered to accommodate clearance problems with devices in which an engine is incorporated.

Abstract: A device including an internal combustion engine, an engine control device coupled to the internal combustion engine and manually operable to stop operation of the engine, a fuel tank for providing fuel to the engine, and a fuel vent closure device automatically operable in response to the manual operation of the engine control device to substantially seal the fuel tank when the engine is stopped, thereby substantially preventing emissions from the fuel tank. The device also preferably includes a fuel shutoff device automatically operable in response to the manual operation of the engine control device to substantially block the supply of fuel to the engine when the engine is stopped.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a centrifugally-responsive vacuum release mechanism that relieves a vacuum within a combustion chamber during the expansion stroke of an engine at engine starting speeds. The vacuum release mechanism is disposed adjacent the cam and engages a cam follower at engine starting speeds to unseat an engine valve while an engine piston is moving toward a crankcase and away from the combustion chamber. When the engine rotation speed reaches a desired kick-out speed, the centrifugal force transitions the vacuum release mechanism from an engaged position to a disengaged position. The vacuum release mechanism engages the cam follower to separate the cam follower from the cam when the vacuum release mechanism is in the engaged position. When the vacuum release mechanism is in the disengaged position during normal operating speeds, the cam follower is permitted to contact the cam throughout the entire rotation of the cam.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a mechanical compression release including a cam, a cam follower, and a compression release member. The cam having a cam lobe and a base radius with a slot, and a compression release member disposed within the slot. The compression release member is substantially V-shaped and is comprised of a first portion, a second portion, and a bridging portion. The first portion has an auxiliary cam surface that extends slightly beyond the base radius and the second portion has sufficient mass to function as a flyweight. The bridging portion is substantially U-shaped and connects the first and second portions. The compression release member pivots about a pivot pin, that is disposed within the curved portion of the bridging portion. As the cam rotates, centrifugal forces cause the compression release member to pivot and to disengage from the cam follower.

Abstract: An engine starting and stopping device for an internal combustion engine includes an energy storing mechanism having at least one elastic member such as a spring, an input element engageable with the elastic member and movable during engine coast down to load the elastic member, and an output element that is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism. The output element is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism as the elastic member unloads from the loaded state, to thereby move a rotatable member (i.e., a crankshaft and/or flywheel) of the engine during starting of the engine. An input control device is also provided for positioning the input element into engagement with the rotatable member of the engine such that rotation of the rotatable member moves the input element to load the elastic member during engine coast down and also to brake the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a spring housing rotatably mounted to the engine's engine housing for rotation about an axis of rotation. An energy storing mechanism including at least one elastic member is housed within the spring housing. A spring loading mechanism includes at least one roller movable into and out of engagement between the engine's flywheel and the spring housing, such that rotation of the flywheel is converted through the at least one roller to cause rotation of the spring housing in a direction that loads the elastic member. An engine starting mechanism includes a helically threaded member interconnected with the spring housing and a starter pinion threaded onto the helically threaded member. Rotation of the spring housing in response to unloading of the elastic member causes the starter pinion to move into engagement with the flywheel, thereby rotating the flywheel and starting the engine.

Abstract: An engine starting and stopping device includes a first roller selectively abutting the flywheel of an engine for rotation on a first shaft in response to rotation of the flywheel. A second roller abuts the first roller and rotates in response to rotation of the first roller. A second shaft and an overwind clutch couple the second roller with a third roller such that the third roller rotates in response to rotation of the second roller. The third roller abuts a spring housing and causes rotation of the spring housing in response to rotation of the third roller. A spring is housed within the spring housing and is loaded in response to rotation of the spring housing. The overwind clutch slips when the spring is loaded to a preselected level to protect the spring from overwinding. The spring is selectively unloaded to rotate the spring housing in an unloading direction. Rotation of the spring housing in the unloading direction causes rotation of the engine's crankshaft and startup of the engine.

Abstract: An overhead valve engine including a cylinder bore having an outer end; and a crankshaft assembly including a substantially straight crankshaft, a substantially cylindrical journal eccentrically mounted on the crankshaft, a one-piece connecting rod rotatably mounted on the journal, and a counterweight mounted on the crankshaft. The engine also includes a cam shaft having at least one cam surface and an axis inward of the outer end of the cylinder bore; two valves having opened and closed positions; two valve stems, each valve stem being attached to a valve; and two generally L-shaped and pivotably mounted valve operating levers, each lever including a first lever arm having a cam follower in contact with the cam surface, a pivot axis about which the lever pivots, and a valve arm in contact with a valve stem, where movement of the lever caused by the cam surface causes the lever to pivot and the valve arm to depress the valve stem and thus open the valve.

Abstract: An engine starting device includes a roller selectively engageable between the crankshaft of an engine and an arbor. The roller causes the arbor to rotate in a loading direction in response to rotation of the crankshaft. Rotation of the arbor loads an elastic member. A locking mechanism, such as a ratchet wheel and pawl may be used to keep the elastic member loaded until it is desired to startup the engine. Engine startup is initiated by disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel and permitting the elastic member to unload. A pinion gear is mounted on a helically threaded portion of the arbor and moves axially along the helically threaded portion in response to unloading of the elastic member. The pinion gear engages teeth on the flywheel and causes the flywheel to rotate in a starting direction under the influence of the unloading elastic member.

Abstract: A starting and stopping device for an internal combustion engine includes an energy storing device including at least one elastic member. The elastic member is loaded in response to rotation of a main shaft, and the main shaft rotates in an unloading direction in response to unloading of the elastic member. A locking mechanism selectively prevents the elastic member from unloading from a loaded state by preventing the shaft from rotating in the unloading direction. A clutch mechanism is operatively disposed between the main shaft and the locking mechanism to permit rotation of the shaft in the unloading direction when a preselected torsional threshold between the shaft and the locking mechanism is reached.

Abstract: An engine starting device includes a first pulley mounted to the crankshaft of an engine for rotation with the crankshaft. A second pulley is mounted to an arbor that extends into a spring housing containing an elastic member. The elastic member is interconnected with the arbor such that rotation of the arbor in a loading direction loads the elastic member. A belt interconnects the two pulleys and a tensioner is mounted near the belt to selectively apply tension to the belt. When the tensioner applies sufficient tension to the belt, the second pulley rotates in response to the first pulley and crankshaft rotating. Rotation of the second pulley causes the elastic member to become loaded in response to rotation of the arbor in the loading direction. A ratchet wheel and pawl may be used to keep the arbor from rotating in the unloading direction. To initiate start up of the engine, the pawl is removed from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing, a crankshaft supported within the engine housing for rotation with respect to the engine housing, and a flywheel fixedly mounted to the crankshaft and rotatable with the crankshaft in a starting direction to start the engine. A coil spring has an outer end fixedly interconnected with respect to the engine housing, and an inner end. A unidirectional clutch has a portion connected to the inner end of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is characterized by an interference condition in which the unidirectional clutch couples the inner end of the spring to the flywheel such that the flywheel and crankshaft may be rotated in the starting direction in response to unloading of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is also characterized by a non-interference condition in which the inner end of the spring is uncoupled from the flywheel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing and a crankshaft supported for rotation within the engine housing and rotatable in a starting direction to start said engine. At least one cup is fixedly mounted to the crankshaft for rotation therewith. A starter shaft is supported by the engine housing for rotation. A spring housing includes a circumferential flange that defines an annular track with the at least one cup, and a spring is housed within the spring housing. The spring has a first end interconnected with the spring housing and a second end interconnected with the engine housing. A friction roller is movable into the annular track and into engagement with both of the circumferential flange and the at least one cup to cause rotation of the spring housing and loading of the spring in response to rotation of the crankshaft.