Abstract: A variable-displacement engine comprises an engine block, cylinders and power shaft. Pistons and connecting rods mounted in the cylinders drive a wobble plate having a rotating ring portion and non-rotating ring portion connected to allow relative rotation therebetween while constraining the portions to remain parallel. The wobble plate defines an inclination plane, pivot axis and wobble plate angle ?. A piston control mechanism (PCM) includes a control yoke rotating with the power shaft and extending to an axially and radially fixed anchor line, a control shaft mounted on the yoke at the control line and a control arm extending from the rotating ring portion and defining a control slot captured over the control shaft. A lift mechanism changes the axial position of the pivot axis, in turn changing, via the PCM, the wobble plate angle ?. This changes the piston displacement of the engine while maintaining a predetermined compression ratio.

Abstract: A variable-displacement engine comprises an engine block, power shaft and rotating cylinder block. Pistons and connecting rods mounted in the cylinder block connect to a wobble plate having a rotating ring portion and non-rotating ring portion connected to allow relative rotation therebetween while constraining the portions to remain parallel. The wobble plate defines an inclination plane, pivot axis and wobble plate angle ?. A piston control mechanism includes axial lift, control lever supported by the lift and by an anchor bearing, and links connecting the control lever to the wobble plate. Axial movement of the lift changes the axial position of the control lever pivot and changes the control lever angle, in turn changing, via the connecting links, the wobble plate angle ? and the axial position of the wobble plate pivot axis. This changes the piston displacement of the engine while maintaining substantially constant compression ratio.

Abstract: A valve actuator system is capable of operating a number of valves with a single cam. The system includes a power shaft, a cam mounted around the power shaft and a gear train to drive the cam when the shaft rotates. Hydraulic actuator assemblies corresponding to the number of valves are radially positioned around the shaft axis for operation by the cam. Hydraulic tubes connect each actuator to a valve follower disposed adjacent to the respective valves. The cam profile pressing each actuator plunger in sequence as the cam rotates causes the hydraulic fluid to flow out of the actuator assembly, through the like-numbered pipe, and into the like-numbered follower assembly, which in turn causes the follower plunger to move the like-numbered valve from an open position or a closed position. This occurs sequentially for each valve.

Abstract: A variable-displacement engine comprises an engine block, power shaft and rotating cylinder block. Pistons and connecting rods mounted in the cylinder block connect to a wobble plate having a rotating ring portion and non-rotating ring portion connected to allow relative rotation therebetween while constraining the portions to remain parallel. The wobble plate defines an inclination plane, pivot axis and wobble plate angle ?. A piston control mechanism includes axial lift, control lever supported by the lift and by an axially fixed anchor bearing, and links connecting the control lever to the wobble plate. Axial movement of the lift changes the axial position of the control lever pivot and changes the control lever angle, in turn changing, via the connecting links, the wobble plate angle ? and the axial position of the wobble plate pivot axis. This changes the piston displacement of the engine while maintaining substantially constant compression ratio.

Abstract: A twist switch is shown for a flashlight of the type having a conductive tubular body having an interior, opposing ends and an internal shelf formed at one of the opposing ends. The internal shelf has a bulb receiving opening and a reflector is mounted on the internal shelf. A bulb is inserted into the tubular body having a shoulder contact which rests on the internal shelf and a base contact which passes through a bulb receiving opening in the internal shelf. A dry cell battery is stationarily positioned within the interior of the tubular body and has a center terminal in electrical contact with the bulb base contact. An end cap is rotatably engaged on the end of the tubular body opposite the reflector. A conductor element located within the interior of the end cap is initially separated from the tubular body by an insulating member.