Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine block, first and second cylinder heads, and first and second valvetrain covers fixed to the first and second cylinder heads. The engine block may include first and second cylinder banks disposed at an angle relative to one another to form a V-configuration. The first cylinder head may be fixed to the first bank and may include a first set of intake and exhaust ports. The second cylinder head may be fixed to the second bank and may include a second set of intake and exhaust ports. The first and second sets of exhaust ports may be located proximate a center of the V-configuration. The first valvetrain cover may include a first air inlet in communication with the first set of intake ports. The second valvetrain cover may include a second air inlet in communication with the second set of intake ports.

Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine block, first and second cylinder heads, and first and second valvetrain covers fixed to the first and second cylinder heads. The engine block may include first and second cylinder banks disposed at an angle relative to one another to form a V-configuration. The first cylinder head may be fixed to the first bank and may include a first set of intake and exhaust ports. The second cylinder head may be fixed to the second bank and may include a second set of intake and exhaust ports. The first and second sets of exhaust ports may be located proximate a center of the V-configuration. The first valvetrain cover may include a first air inlet in communication with the first set of intake ports. The second valvetrain cover may include a second air inlet in communication with the second set of intake ports.

Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is provided for an internal combustion engine. The PCV system includes a centrifugal separator disposed within a shaft member, for example a balance shaft, of the internal combustion engine. The centrifugal separator is operable to impart rotational motion on the gases flowing through the shaft member such that the centrifugal forces urge the separation of oil particle entrained within the gases.

Abstract: An intake assembly is provided for a sequentially fired eight cylinder V-type internal combustion engine including a cylinder block having a first band of cylinders and a second bank of cylinders. The assembly includes first, second, third, and fourth intake plenums mounted with respect to the engine. The first bank of cylinders includes a first group of two cylinders that fire ninety crank angle degrees apart from each other and the second bank of cylinders includes a second group of two cylinders that fire ninety crank angle degrees apart from each other. The first and second intake plenums are operable to communicate intake air to a respective one cylinder of the first group of two cylinders. The third and fourth intake plenums are operable to communicate intake air to a respective one cylinder of the second group of two cylinders.

Abstract: The present invention provides an engine cooling method and apparatus. The engine cooling apparatus includes a cylinder block having a cylinder head mounted thereto. The cylinder block defines an inlet passage and a block jacket in fluid communication with the inlet passage. The cylinder head defines a lower cylinder head jacket in fluid communication with the block jacket, and an upper cylinder head jacket in fluid communication with the lower cylinder head jacket. The lower cylinder head jacket includes a plurality of nozzles configured to direct engine coolant and thereby provide cooling to portions of the cylinder head located near a plurality of exhaust ports, a plurality of injector ports, and a plurality of intake ports.

Abstract: A four cycle outboard internal combustion engine for driving a watercraft with a cylinder housing having cylinders arranged in at least two rows, wherein a piston is reciprocating in each cylinder, the pistons driving an approximately horizontally accommodated propeller drive shaft by way of an approximately vertically arranged crankshaft, each cylinder bank being provided with cylinder head sealing surfaces for a cylinder head housing receiving gas shuttle valves and wherein the cylinder head sealing surfaces of all of the cylinders are arranged in one single cylinder head sealing plane and an exhaust main manifold for all of the cylinders is arranged approximately parallel to the crank shaft in the cylinder head housing in the area of a central plane of the motor which is configured parallel to the crankshaft. One crankshaft is provided for each cylinder bank, the crankshafts having a stable relative speed ratio and acting upon the propeller drive shaft through a common jackshaft.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in twisting together two or more wires precisely to a predetermined number of turns. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced chucks adapted to grip opposite ends of the wires which are placed therebetween for twisting. A manually operated switch causes the chuck jaws to close through a pneumatic control at the start of the twisting operation once the wires are in position. At the end of the twisting operation the jaws open automatically and the twisted wires are dropped. One of the chucks is fixed against rotation but is adapted to slide axially to a limited extent controlled by means of a coil spring in order to accommodate for the shortening of the wires as they are twisted. The other chuck is fixed against axial motion but rotatably mounted and driven by a motor adapted to rotate for a precise number of turns.

Abstract: A direct motor drive system for a sewing machine wherein a low-inertia direct current motor coupled directly to the drive shaft is excited by a low impedence source of variable direct current voltage derived from a rectified alternating current signal at a manually controllable autotransformer. A needle-positioning circuit senses the needle position and either pulses or brakes the motor electrically so that the needle moves to a selected up or down position.