Abstract: A drive mechanism for a high pressure fuel pump on a vertically oriented engine present a compact arrangement while driving the pump at a desired speed tailored to the engine's size and fuel supply needs. The drive mechanism includes a small diameter drive pulley mounted above a rotor (e.g., a flywheel or a cam drive pulley). This position permits easily access to the drive pulley for repair, replacement and belt positioning. The small diameter drive pulley drives a larger diameter driven pulley coupled to the fuel pump. The size of the drive and driven pulleys are selected to achieve a reduction ratio suited to drive the high pressure fuel pump at a speed tailored to supply an appropriate amount of fuel to the fuel injectors at an effective pressure for injection. In addition, the smaller diameter of drive pulley, and consequently the smaller diameter of the driven pulley, reduces the size of the engine.

Abstract: A feed back control system and method for direct injected engines useful in a start up operation that utilizes a fuel pressure condition sensor. At the commencement of cranking, the feed back control system adjusts at least the initiation of fuel injection based upon the output from the fuel pressure condition sensor. This removes a great shift in the fuel pressure between before and after starting of the engine and eventually promotes operator's feeling and also improves exhaust emissions.

Abstract: A cylinder head in a direct fuel injected engine includes an improved construction and defines a combustion chamber with other components of the engine. The engine has a fuel injector arranged to spray fuel directly into its combustion chamber and positioned at one side of the cylinder head. The cylinder head has a coolant jacket through which coolant flows. At least one rib of the cylinder head is positioned on a generally opposite side relative to the fuel injector in the coolant jacket.

Abstract: A fuel injector is mounting in a cylinder head assembly. The cylinder head assembly includes a mounting bore that extends into a recess wall that forms a portion of a combustion chamber. A sleeve is placed within the mounting bore. The fuel injector is secured with a nozzle portion extending through the sleeve. The fuel injector and sleeve interface is sealed by a heat resistant sealing member. The sleeve has any of a number of configurations designed to reduce the temperature of the nozzle. In addition, the nozzle can be recessed within the sleeve to reduce the direct exposure of the nozzle to flames propagated within the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Cooling arrangements that cool down fuel injectors exposed to the high temperature combustion in direct injected engines so that no heavy oil components deposit on nozzles of the fuel injectors. A bypass of water flow extends in the proximity of the boss where the fuel injector is inserted to expedite cooling of the fuel injector. A cavity extending toward the boss can replace the bypass or can be additionally provided. The fuel injector boss and a spark plug boss are connected with each other and make a wall that can obstruct water flow. Another bypass is provided to clear water away from a backwater formed at the wall. In case that some heavy oil components deposit on the injector nozzles for some reasons, a control system for controlling the fuel injection is allowed to adjust amounts of the fuel basically in response to the temperature of the injector nozzle.

Abstract: A direct fuel injected engine includes an improved construction for preventing a fuel injector from holding considerable heat therein. A cylinder head of the engine has a cavity opened to a combustion chamber. A fuel injector is placed within the cavity and is arranged to directly spray fuel into the combustion chamber. At least one heat insulator is disposed between the cylinder head and the fuel injector to insulate the fuel injector, at least in part, generally from the cylinder head.

Abstract: An outboard motor engine includes a plurality of cylinders. A fuel injector is disposed to inject a charge of fuel into an intake system. The fuel injector can form a portion of a direct injection system or a manifold injection system. The engine includes a processor that cycles each of the fuel injectors prior to energizing a fuel pump, a starter motor, or another electrical component of the outboard motor. By energizing the fuel injectors in sequence, a higher level of voltage can be applied to each fuel injector. In addition, by energizing the fuel injectors prior to energizing other electrical components, a higher level of voltage can be applied to each fuel injector.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of direct injected V-type outboard motors provided with a very effective fuel supply system wherein the number of components can be significantly reduced as well as the elimination of many of the flexible conduits normally employed. This also permits the fuel system to be assembled as a relatively unitary assembly that can be then affixed to the engine. The arrangement is such that purging of the system from vapors during shutdowns is easily accomplished and the system can be purged without complicated construction. Furthermore, the system can be pressure tested by an arrangement where the low pressure system can bypass the high pressure system when the engine is not operating so as to be pressurized for testing purposes. However, when the high pressure system operates, then the bypass line will be closed by the shunting valve arrangement.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a fuel injected internal combustion engine operating on either a two-cycle or four-cycle principle. In some embodiments, the engine is directly injected while in others it is indirectly injected. The engine features one of a number of methods for reducing the temperature of injector drivers. The methods include sensing the temperature of the injector drivers and decreasing the engine speed if the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. Another method involves sensing the duration of a high-speed, high-load operating condition and slowing the engine speed if the duration exceeds a predetermined time period. Yet another method involves activating a cooling fan if the temperature of the injector drivers exceeds a predetermined temperature and activating a warning device if the temperature does not decrease with the fan operating.

Abstract: A direct injection system and control methodology for two-cycle crankcase compression engines wherein the injection timing is advanced from those normally utilized to avoid the incomplete combustion that results from the prior art method. The injection timing is advanced so that it occurs while the exhaust port is still open but it is timed in such a way that the injected fuel will not be swept out of the exhaust port before the exhaust port closes and so that the fuel will vaporize adequately to be completely burned. The initiation of injection timing is adjusted in response to in combustion chamber air velocity determined by certain parameters such as engine speed and intake air flow.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of direct injected V-type outboard motors provided with a very effective fuel supply system wherein the number of components can be significantly reduced as well as the elimination of many of the flexible conduits normally employed. This also permits the fuel system to be assembled as a relatively unitary assembly that can be then affixed to the engine. The arrangement is such that purging of the system from vapors during shutdowns is easily accomplished and the system can be purged without complicated construction. Furthermore, the system can be pressure tested by an arrangement where the low pressure system can bypass the high pressure system when the engine is not operating so as to be pressurized for testing purposes.

Abstract: An improved fuel injection control for direct injected, multiple cylinder, internal combustion engines. The injection control is done by a feed back control device based upon an air fuel ratio sensor. The primary feature of this invention is that the respective injection timing for cylinders are shifted relative to each other so that at least one of the state of emissions contained in the burnt charge and the state of fuel efficiency is almost the optimal every cylinder. In one embodiment, the respective injection timings are controlled to be at the timing where emissions are almost the minimum at each cylinder. In another embodiment, one of the injection timings associated with the cylinder that has the air fuel ratio sensor is advanced than the timing where emissions are almost the minimum.

Abstract: An improved fuel supply system for a direct injected engine accommodated in outboard motors includes a pump drive mechanism, instead of a camshaft, for driving a high pressure fuel pump. A pair of the high pressure fuel pumps is applied in one embodiment and a single one is applied in another embodiment. A pulsation damper is further provided for smoothing output of the fuel pump. The pump drive mechanism is unified with a fuel supply conduit, which has a plurality of fuel injectors, for increasing rigidity of components and affixed to the cylinder body of the engine. Openings on the cylinder head of the engine for accommodating the fuel injectors are larger than the injectors so that accumulated tolerances are absorbed by the gap made between the opening and the injector.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus includes a light transmission optical system for transmitting a light beam having intensity distribution with a pair of peaks, and a reception system for measuring a distance to an obstacle on the basis of reflected light from the obstacle. The light transmission optical system has a pair of light transmission units for transmitting two light beams, each having a Gaussian intensity distribution, and composition of the two light beams forms the light beam having the intensity distribution with the pair of peaks. The light transmission units are arranged at positions near both ends of a front portion of an automobile, to transmit the two light beams in parallel from the positions. An interval between the peaks is a distance corresponding to an area in which the degree of danger to life is high in a collision against the obstacle, i.e. about 1 m. And the feet of the light intensity distribution with the pair of peaks fall within the width of the automobile.

Abstract: Several embodiments of V-type outboard motors having direct cylinder injection using electronic fuel injectors driven by a solenoid driver. The solenoid driver is mounted in the otherwise void area between the cylinder banks of the engine. The solenoid driver is also cooled so as to provide long life and good operation. The cooling can be either by air or water or both. Mounting the solenoid driver in the valley between the cylinder banks also permits shortening of the conduits from the solenoid driver to the solenoids of the injector valves for their operation.

Abstract: A fuel injection control strategy and system for engines for maintaining good performance under normal running conditions and also for providing cylinder engine speed slow-down under abnormal conditions without necessitating cylinder skipping except in extreme cases. This control is obtained primarily by retarding injection timing and/or reducing injection duration. Adjustment in spark timing may also be incorporated along with this routine.

Abstract: A light transmitting lens includes in a portion thereof a diffusion element constituted by a number of small prisms. The small prisms have the same height and different pitches depending on distances from an optical axis. Accordingly, the small prisms have different apical angles depending on the distances from the optical axis. The light transmitting lens has a function for collimating lights incident on the small prisms with the same apical angle. Light beams passed through the region of the diffusion element of the light transmitting lens are deflected at predetermined angles depending on the positions, however, the light beams passed through the other region of the light transmitting lens are collimated without deflection.

Abstract: A fuel injection control strategy and system for engines for maintaining good performance under normal running conditions and also for providing cylinder engine speed slow-down under abnormal conditions by cylinder skipping. Transitional operation between these modes is improved by changing injection timing and/or injection duration of the operating cylinders during this time. Adjustment in spark timing may also be incorporated along with this routine.

Abstract: A feed back control system for a direct injected, two cycle engine having a catalytic exhaust. The injection control is modified if the catalyst overheats to control its temperature.

Abstract: A feed back control system and method for direct injected engines, particularly useful in marine applications to avoid excessive hunting due to the close proximity of the sensor to the fuel injector. Both injection initiation and duration are controlled under most operating conditions. However, under certain conditions such as when only small corrections in the air fuel ratio are required the control is initially maintained by adjusting the injection timing.