Abstract: A pressure washer includes a prime mover, a water pump, the water pump including a pump inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid source and a pump outlet for supplying a pressurized primary fluid, a jet pump including a primary fluid inlet fluidly coupled to the pump outlet, a secondary fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, and a spray gun configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet of the jet pump, the spray gun including a spray gun outlet having a variable effective flow area. Wherein, in operation, in a high pressure operating mode, the pressurized primary fluid flows through the jet pump and exits through the fluid outlet of the jet pump, and in a high flow operating mode, the pressurized primary fluid flows through the jet pump and entrains a secondary fluid supplied through the secondary fluid inlet, resulting in a combined fluid flow.

Abstract: A high-flow hose assembly includes a hose, a fitting, and a ferrule. The hose includes an outer surface and an inner surface. In an unsecured configuration, an insertion portion of the fitting is positioned within a hose passage and the hose is positioned within a ferrule passage, and the inner surface of the insertion portion defines a first diameter and the outer surface of the insertion portion defines a second diameter. In a secured configuration, the inner surface of the insertion portion defines a third diameter greater than the first diameter and the outer surface of the insertion portion defines a fourth diameter greater than the second diameter, so that fitting barbs engage the inner surface of the hose and ferrule barbs engage the outer surface of the hose to secure the hose, the fitting, and the ferrule together.

Abstract: An engine includes a throttle, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a continuously variable transmission coupling the drive and driven shafts and providing a mechanical advantage therebetween, and a governor that operates the throttle as a function of rotational speed of the driven shaft. The transmission includes a first wheel coupled to the drive shaft, a second wheel coupled to the driven shaft, and a belt coupling the first and second wheels, wherein a working diameter of the second wheel changes as a function of torque acting on the driven shaft, thereby automatically changing the mechanical advantage in response to torque experienced by the driven shaft, and wherein a working diameter of the first wheel changes a function of tension in the belt.

Abstract: An engine includes a piston located in a piston bore within a cylinder block, a first spring biasing the piston in a first direction, and a second spring biasing the piston in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the first spring and the second spring control a displacement of the piston.

Abstract: An engine includes a throttle assembly, a governor, and an actuator. The throttle assembly is designed to at least partially control a fuel flow rate of the engine. The governor is designed to sense a speed of the engine and at least partially control the throttle assembly as a function of the engine speed. The actuator is designed to sense a manifold vacuum pressure of the engine and at least partially control the throttle assembly as a function of the vacuum pressure.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, which includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head fastened to the cylinder block, an aperture formed in a side of the cylinder head, and a conduit assembly, such as an intake runner assembly or an exhaust conduit assembly. A combustion chamber is formed by the cylinder block and the cylinder head. The intake runner assembly is received within the aperture and configured to communicate air to the combustion chamber. The intake runner assembly includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece has a first channel that includes a bend. The second piece has a second channel that includes another bend mirroring the bend of the first channel. The first piece is coupled to the second piece such that the first and second channels together form a flow path through the intake runner assembly, and the bends of the first and second channels together form a smooth turn in the flow path.

Abstract: An engine includes an engine cover, a blower fan, and a recoil starter having a cover. The engine cover includes an inlet aperture and is configured to house working components of the engine. The blower fan is configured to disperse air received through the inlet aperture to cool the working components of the engine. The recoil starter cover has an opening for air to pass through and is fastened to the underside of the engine cover.

Abstract: A pressure washer includes a prime mover, a water pump, the water pump including a pump inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid source and a pump outlet for supplying a pressurized primary fluid, a jet pump including a primary fluid inlet fluidly coupled to the pump outlet, a secondary fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, and a spray gun configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet of the jet pump, the spray gun including a spray gun outlet having a variable effective flow area. Wherein, in operation, in a high pressure operating mode, the pressurized primary fluid flows through the jet pump and exits through the fluid outlet of the jet pump, and in a high flow operating mode, the pressurized primary fluid flows through the jet pump and entrains a secondary fluid supplied through the secondary fluid inlet, resulting in a combined fluid flow.

Abstract: A snowthrower includes a body, a chute rotatable relative to the body among multiple chute positions, wherein the chute is configured to discharge snow from the snowthrower, a motor for rotating the chute, a chute position detector configured to detect a current chute position, a compass sensor configured to detect a snowthrower bearing, and an electronic control unit configured to, in a compass guidance operating mode, control the motor to move the chute to an appropriate chute position to maintain the chute at a preferred chute bearing in response to a comparison of the snowthrower bearing detected by the compass sensor and the current chute position detected by the chute position detector.

Abstract: An engine includes a carburetor including a variable venturi having a fixed surface and an adjustable surface that form a constricted section, a throttle valve downstream of the variable venturi, a governor assembly including a governor configured to detect an engine speed of the engine, a governor arm coupled to the governor, the venturi, and the throttle valve, and a governor spring coupled to the governor arm to bias the throttle valve towards the fully open position, and a vacuum actuator including an actuator linkage coupled to the governor spring and also coupled to a pressure-sensitive member for movement with the pressure-sensitive member in response to an engine vacuum, and an actuator spring biasing the actuator linkage to increase the tension on the governor spring.

Abstract: A muffler for exhaust gases of a combustion engine includes walls forming a chamber through which the exhaust gases pass, a first inlet in the walls of the chamber configured to receive the exhaust gases from an exhaust duct of the engine, a first outlet in the walls of the chamber through which the exhaust gases exit the chamber, and a conduit having a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein a substantial length of the conduit is positioned within the chamber.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a terminal for receiving an electrical charge, a firing electrode on a firing end of the spark plug, and a conductor electrically coupling the terminal and firing electrode. The spark plug further includes a casing, an electrical insulator, and a ground electrode. The casing is at least partially formed from an electrically conductive material and is configured to be electrically coupled to a ground. The electrical insulator separates the conductor from the casing. The ground electrode is positioned proximate to the firing electrode, but separated from the firing electrode by a spark gap. The ground electrode includes an extension projecting from the casing such that the firing electrode is closer to the ground electrode than the firing electrode is to the casing. There is substantially no air gap between the interior of the casing and the electrical insulator from the firing end of the spark plug.

Abstract: A water spraying system is configured for a variety of outdoor cleaning applications. In one embodiment, the water spraying system includes a water pump assembly having a water pump, a receiver configured to receive wireless communications, and an actuator coupled to the receiver and configured to change at least one of water pressure and flow rate provided by the water pump. A spray gun is configured to spray water provided by the water pump and includes an electronic display, circuitry configured to provide a graphical user interface via the electronic display, and a transmitter configured to wirelessly provide instructions to the actuator by way of the receiver based on input provided by the operator such that the operator may change at least one of the water pressure and the flow rate provided by the water pump via the graphical user interface of the spray gun.

Abstract: A water pump includes a base, a cam, a joint, and a piston. The base includes a PTO-attachment portion, a cam-attachment portion, a first contact surface, and a second contact surface. The cam includes a central opening, a first cam contact surface, and a second cam contact surface, wherein the cam-attachment portion of the base extends into the central opening. The joint pivotally couples the cam to the cam-attachment portion of the base. In a first operating position of the cam, the first contact surface engages the first cam contact surface so that the cam is positioned at a first angle relative to the axis of PTO rotation. In a second operating position of the cam, the second contact surface engages the second cam contact surface so that the cam is positioned at a second angle, greater than the first angle, relative to the axis of PTO rotation.

Abstract: A muffler for a combustion engine includes walls forming a chamber, a first inlet, a first outlet, and a conduit. The first inlet is designed to receive exhaust gases from an exhaust duct of the engine. The exhaust gases pass through the chamber when moving from the first inlet to the first outlet. The exhaust gases then exit the muffler through the first outlet. The conduit extends between a second inlet and a second outlet. The second inlet is configured to receive fresh air entering the muffler. The fresh air then exits the conduit and is introduced into the exhaust gases through the second outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method move a speed control lever of an engine automatically in response to movement of a manual actuator to engage a driven member.

Abstract: An engine includes an engine cover, a blower fan, and a recoil starter having a cover. The engine cover includes an inlet aperture and is configured to house working components of the engine. The blower fan is configured to disperse air received through the inlet aperture to cool the working components of the engine. The recoil starter cover has an opening for air to pass through and is fastened to the underside of the engine cover.

Abstract: An engine includes a carburetor, a governor assembly, and a vacuum actuator. The carburetor includes a throttle plate configured to control a fluid flow, a throttle lever coupled to the throttle plate, and an intake port in fluid communication with an engine vacuum pressure. The governor assembly includes a governor, a governor linkage coupled to the governor and the throttle lever, and a governor spring coupled to the throttle lever to bias the throttle plate towards the fully open position. The vacuum actuator includes an actuator housing, a pressure-sensitive member positioned in the actuator housing, an actuator linkage directly coupled to the governor spring and also coupled to the pressure-sensitive member for movement in response to the engine vacuum pressure, and an actuator spring coupled between a fixed attachment point and the actuator linkage to bias the actuator linkage to increase the tension on the governor spring.

Abstract: A carburetor includes a passageway having a constricted section, a nozzle directed into the passageway proximate the constricted section, and a shaft having a surface that at least partially defines the constricted section. The nozzle is configured to deliver fuel to air passing through the passageway, and the surface includes a contour that is configured to be moved relative to the passageway to change the area of the passageway through the constricted section.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, which includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head fastened to the cylinder block, an aperture formed in a side of the cylinder head, and a conduit assembly, such as an intake runner assembly or an exhaust conduit assembly. A combustion chamber is formed by the cylinder block and the cylinder head. The intake runner assembly is received within the aperture and configured to communicate air to the combustion chamber. The intake runner assembly includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece has a first channel that includes a bend. The second piece has a second channel that includes another bend mirroring the bend of the first channel. The first piece is coupled to the second piece such that the first and second channels together form a flow path through the intake runner assembly, and the bends of the first and second channels together form a smooth turn in the flow path.