Abstract: A fluid reservoir for providing a supply of a lubricating fluid for an internal combustion engine, specifically for use in marine environments. The reservoir includes a housing for containing and protecting, a ventless flexible liner for housing a supply of fluid, where the flexible liner is located within the housing, and an orifice and conduit that extends through the ventless flexible liner and the housing for permitting the introduction of fluid into the ventless flexible liner and for permitting the removal of fluid therefrom. The fluid reservoir is constructed and arranged such that the ventless flexible liner is in a generally collapsed state until a fluid is introduced therein through the orifice. The introduction of fluid into the ventless flexible liner through the orifice expands the ventless flexible liner, while the removal of fluid from the ventless flexible liner collapses the ventless flexible liner proportionally as the fluid is removed and delivered to the engine.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir assembly for providing a supply of a lubricating fluid for an internal combustion engine, specifically for use in marine environments. The assembly includes an outer shell for containing and protecting the assembly, a ventless flexible liner for housing a supply of lubricating fluid, where the flexible liner is located within the outer shell, and an orifice and conduit that extends through the ventless flexible liner and the shell for permitting the introduction of lubricating fluid into the ventless flexible liner and for permitting the removal of lubricating fluid therefrom. The fluid reservoir assembly is constructed and arranged such that the ventless flexible liner is in a generally collapsed state until a lubricating fluid is introduced therein through the orifice.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine assembly comprising an internal combustion engine including an exhaust port, an exhaust conduit communicating with the exhaust port and having an inner surface, the conduit including first and second conduit portions having respective ends, the first and second conduit portions being connected end-to-end, a catalyst which is located within the conduit and which includes catalytic material and a sleeve surrounding the catalytic material, the sleeve having a length and an outer surface spaced from the inner surface of the conduit along substantially the entire length of the sleeve, the sleeve having thereon a rigid, radially outwardly extending flange captured between the ends of the conduit portions, and a flexible gasket between the flange and the end of one of the conduit portions.

Abstract: The invention provides a marine propulsion device comprising a powerhead including an internal combustion engine having an output shaft and an exhaust port, a propeller shaft adapted to hold a propeller, a selective coupler of the engine output shaft and the propeller shaft, an exhaust passage communicating with the engine exhaust port and comprising a first exhaust outlet and a second exhaust outlet, and a valve that is associated with the selective coupler to open and close the second exhaust outlet.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit including a propeller shaft, a housing including an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet, a catalytic element supported in the housing for reorientation from a first orientation to a second orientation different from the first orientation, and structure for reorienting the element from the first orientation to the second orientation.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, a propeller shaft rotatably supported by the drive shaft housing, an internal combustion engine drivingly connected to the propeller shaft, the engine including a cylinder block defining a cylinder having an exhaust port, and defining an exhaust outlet, and an exhaust passage between the exhaust port and the exhaust outlet, an exhaust catalyst apparatus mounted on the cylinder block, the apparatus including a tongue extending into the cylinder block exhaust passage and dividing the cylinder block exhaust passage into an upstream portion communicating with the exhaust port and a downstream portion communicating with the exhaust outlet, and the apparatus including an exhaust passage communicating between the upstream portion and the downstream portion, and a catalyst located in the apparatus exhaust passage.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided having a generally cylindrical piston, a piston ring on the generally cylindrical piston, and a cylinder receiving therein the piston for reciprocation with the piston ring. The piston ring and the cylinder are configured in such a fashion that rotation of the piston ring relative to the cylinder is prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a two-stroke internal combustion engine comprising an engine block including therein a combustion chamber, a piston, an exhaust passage communicable with the combustion chamber for conducting gas away from the combustion chamber, and structure for sensing a condition present in the combustion chamber gas at a time near the end of the power stroke and including a passage communicable between the combustion chamber and the exhaust passage and having therein a sensor for sensing a condition present in the gas flow in the passage.

Abstract: The device for proportioning a gaseous fuel and air for combustion in an internal combustion engine includes a plate-like first member having a peripheral edge portion and a second member cooperating with the first member having a peripheral edge portion and a second member cooperating with the first member to define a mixing chamber having an outlet adapted to be connected in communication with the air intake of the engine carburetor. The second member also includes an annular portion having an arcuate first wall which is convex to and spaced from the peripheral edge portion of the first member to define an annular venturi having an inlet in communication with the atmosphere and an annular outlet in communication with the mixing chamber. A base member or second wall cooperates with the arcuate wall to form a substantially closed, annular plenum chamber into which a gaseous fuel, such as natural gas, is admitted when the engine is to be operated on the gaseous fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spark advance control mechanism for an engine capable of being selectively operated on gaseous fuel and on liquid fuel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is illustrated having an engine block, a cylinder located in the engine block, and a cylinder head defining an end wall of the cylinder. A piston is housed in the cylinder and defines with the cylinder and the cylinder head a combustion space adapted to receive a mixture of fuel and air therein. The piston is reciprocably movable toward the cylinder head to compress a fuel mixture in the cylinder and movable away from the cylinder head, the piston engaging one side of the cylinder as the piston moves toward the cylinder and engaging an opposite side of the cylinder as the piston moves away from the cylinder head. The piston includes an annular groove, and the piston ring is housed in the annular groove, the piston ring including opposite ends being spaced apart and forming a gap.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle comprising a frame, a drive wheel supported by the frame, a direct current motor supported by the frame, a drive train connecting the direct current motor and the drive wheel and including a variable speed "V" belt drive with a rotatably carried pulley including a non-axially movable sheave and an axially movable sheave, and a spring biasing the axially movable sheave away from the non-axially movable sheave, a hydraulic circuit for regulating the axial position of the axially movable sheave and including a pump driven by the motor, a hydraulic cylinder piston assembly in communication with the pump and mechanically connected to the axially movable sheave for applying a force urging the axially movable sheave toward the non-axially movable sheave, and a control for regulating the pressure of the fluid in the hydraulic cylinder piston assembly to regulate the axial force applied to the axially movable sheave.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a V-belt power transmission including a movable sheave member which has a hub and is mounted on the driving portion of an input shaft for common rotary movement and for relative axial movement via first and second axially spaced drive bushings, each having a central aperture which receives the shaft driving portion and having driven surfaces which are drivingly engaged by driving surfaces on the shaft driving portion during rotation of the shaft by a power source. The first drive bushing is affixed to the hub of the movable sheave member and the second drive bushing is connected, either to the hub of the movable sheave member or to the first drive bushing, by means arranged to resiliently urge the second bushing rotationally relative to the first drive bushing so that the driven surfaces of the drive bushings apply a predetermined "locked-up" torque on the shaft driving portion, thereby minimizing backlash between the movable sheave member and the shaft driving portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an endless track assembly including three endless belts formed from a flexible material and supported for movement in parallel spaced relation by a plurality of spaced and transversely extending traction bars or cleats. Only the center belt, which preferably is a one-piece unit, includes at least one row of longitudinally spaced teeth which project from the inner surface thereof. The outer two belts preferably are of a spliced construction. The track assembly is driven by a drive sprocket including axially extending lugs which drivingly engage the teeth on the center belt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an inexpensive and mechanically efficient endless track formed from belts of flexible material and supported for movement in parallel spaced relation by a plurality of transverse traction bars or cleats including drive lugs which are located in the spacing between adjacent belts and which, preferably, are formed from a non-metallic material. The drive lugs are received between and drivingly engaged by drive elements or sprocket teeth on a drive wheel aligned with the spacing. The outer radial extremity of the drive elements or sprocket teeth does not extend beyond the inner surfaces of the belts.