Abstract: In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to an air cleaner having a housing portion, and a low profile rain cover having an opening on an underside of the cover to allow unfiltered air to enter into the air cleaner. Also, in at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to an air cleaner including a housing and an additional component by which the air cleaner is capable of being directly coupled to a carburetor inlet. In some such embodiments, one or more protrusions can be provided within a channel formed by the housing/additional component to influence air flow. Further, in at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to an air cleaner having a shaped wall formed on a housing portion, where the shaped wall includes both an interior surface and an exterior surface by which air flowing within the air cleaner is imparted with helical motion.

Abstract: An air cleaner device for filtering intake air including a housing defining a chamber, a filter element disposed within the chamber, and a duct element having a passageway in fluid communication with the chamber. Further, the duct element extends along-and downwardly from about a portion of the housing and further includes an inlet for drawing intake air into the chamber. The air cleaner having a base member in fluid communication with the chamber and an outlet, where the air drawn into the chamber is filtered by first and second filtering operations to obtain filtered air, with the first and the second filtering operations accomplished at least in part due to a cyclonic motion of the air and passage of the air through the filter element, respectively; and where the filtered air from the chamber of the housing is released through the outlet in the base member.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling/adjusting purge flow rate in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes an air intake assembly, a fuel tank assembly and an evaporative emissions control device such as a carbon canister in operational association with each other. Fuel vapors from the fuel tank assembly flow into the evaporative emissions control device for adsorption. The adsorbed fuel vapors from the evaporative emissions control device are recovered, at least in part due to pressure differentials, and actively purged into the internal combustion engine. The purge flow rate from the evaporative emissions control device is controlled/adjusted by a flow control device, the flow control device that is at least indirectly connected to the evaporative emissions control device and the air intake assembly. In one aspect, the flow control device can comprise an orifice device, such as, a connector device having at least one orifice for regulating purge flow rate.

Abstract: A cleaner oil change procedure can be achieved by using an adaptor assembly that comprises: a housing unit that defines a cavity volume; a filter mount connected to the housing unit, and adapted to mount a spin-on oil filter; an inner piston slidably engaged with the filter mount and adapted to fit within the cavity volume, wherein the inner piston is moveable between a first position within the cavity volume and a second position substantially outside of the cavity volume; an actuator spring located between the inner piston and the housing unit, wherein the actuator spring exerts a force on the inner piston capable of moving the inner piston from the first position to the second position; a drain valve slidably connected to the inner piston; a drain channel in the housing unit; and a valve spring adapted to force the drain valve to seal against the drain channel and prevent flow of oil through the drain channel when the inner piston is in the first position, wherein the drain valve does not seal against the

Abstract: A valve train in an internal combustion engine, and a method of adjusting the valve timing setting of a valve in such a valve train, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an engine that includes a crankcase with a cylinder, a valve, a push rod, and a rocker arm supported by the crankcase and coupling the valve to the push rod. The internal combustion engine further includes a cam rotatably supported by the crankcase, and a cam follower arm having first and second ends and, proximate the second end, having bottom and top surfaces. The cam follower arm is rotatably supported by the crankcase about a pivot point proximate the first end. The bottom surface proximate the second end slidingly interfaces the cam, and the top surface proximate the second end interfaces the push rod.

Abstract: An automatic compression release mechanism for in an internal combustion engine, includes a camshaft assembly including a cam gear, a cam lobe with a notch positioned along a first side of the gear, a tube passing through the cam gear and aligned with the notch, and a support on a second side of the cam gear. An actuator assembly includes a contoured shaft that extends through the tube and resides in the notch. The actuator assembly is rotatable between two operating orientations and a step formed in the surface of the notch prevents the actuator from becoming disabled during engine shut down.

Abstract: An engine having an oil circuit and method of communicating oil within an engine are disclosed. The engine includes a crankcase, a pump, and a camshaft having a first channel extending between first and second ends of the camshaft, where lubricant is provided from the pump to the first channel at the first end and communicated by way of the first channel to the second end. The engine also includes a crankshaft, a second channel communicating at least some of the lubricant delivered to the second end of the first camshaft to a crankshaft bearing, and a third channel within the crankshaft that receives at least some of the lubricant communicated by the second channel and communicates at least some of the lubricant to a crankpin bearing on the crankshaft. In some embodiments, lubricant is communicated by the third channel to an eccentric bearing configured to support a balance weight.

Abstract: A balance system and method for balancing piston forces within a single cylinder internal combustion engine are disclosed. The balance system includes a crankshaft, a counterbalance assembly and a groove. The crankshaft includes a crankshaft portion, a crank arm, a crank pin, and a eccentric flange adjacent to the crank arm. The counterbalance assembly has a counterbalancing mass portion and a coupling arm that are fixed with respect to one another, and a pin that protrudes from a side of the counterbalancing mass portion. The coupling arm is supported by the eccentric flange. The groove is capable of receiving the pin, where the pin is capable of sliding along the groove and also rotating within the groove, so that the counterbalance assembly is capable of rotating while moving toward and away from the crankshaft.

Abstract: A crankcase, and method of assembling a crankcase, of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The crankcase includes a top including at least a first portion of a top surface of the crankcase, and a bottom including a bottom surface of the crankcase and a plurality of side surfaces of the crankcase. The side surfaces are substantially vertical and extend between the top and bottom surfaces. The crankcase further includes bearings within at least one of the top and bottom to support a crankshaft. The crankcase additionally includes a first interface at which at least one of the top, bottom and side surfaces is coupled to a cylinder. The bottom and top interface one another along a split line, the top is removable from the bottom, and the top is configured to be attached to at least one of an oil filter component, a starter, and an ignition module.

Abstract: An engine having an oil circuit and method of communicating oil within an engine are disclosed. The engine includes a crankcase, a pump, and a camshaft having a first channel extending between first and second ends of the camshaft, where lubricant is provided from the pump to the first channel at the first end and communicated by way of the first channel to the second end. The engine also includes a crankshaft, a second channel communicating at least some of the lubricant delivered to the second end of the first camshaft to a crankshaft bearing, and a third channel within the crankshaft that receives at least some of the lubricant communicated by the second channel and communicates at least some of the lubricant to a crankpin bearing on the crankshaft. In some embodiments, lubricant is communicated by the third channel to an eccentric bearing configured to support a balance weight.

Abstract: An air filter and corresponding filter element for use in an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The filter element has a seal bead made of an elastomeric material that forms the frame of the filter element. A pleat block, made of a filter media, is molded into the seal bead in a first area of the filter element and a baffle is located in a second area of the filter element to protect the pleat block from wetting. A channel is formed in one side of the seal bead which allows the filter element to be retained during assembly without the use of fasteners and a surface is formed opposite the seal bead that in conjunction with the channel seals the filter element within the air filter when the air filter is fully assembled. The air filter has an intake silencing chamber that is located to receive outside air before it is provided to the pleat block and a sealed flow path is created from the intake silencing chamber to the pleat block by a third area of the filter element.

Abstract: A cylinder head assembly and a method of providing an air-fuel mixture from a carburetor to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The cylinder head assembly includes a cylinder head and a component coupled to the cylinder head. The cylinder head includes a first port having a first passage linking a first end to an intersection, and a second passage linking a second end to the intersection, where the intersection includes an abrupt transition between the first and second passages. The component includes a tongue that protrudes into the first passage from the first end to proximate the intersection, where the tongue is positioned along at least a portion of an inner side of the first passage, and where the tongue is gradually-reduced in thickness at least proximate the intersection.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a cross-flow cylinder head with improved cooling. The cylinder head includes a pivotally mounted intake rocker arm which engages an intake push rod located proximal a first side of the cylinder head, and includes a pivotally mounted exhaust rocker arm which engages an exhaust push rod located proximal a second side of the cylinder head which is opposite to the first side of the cylinder head.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, and method of distributing lubricant within an internal combustion engine, are disclosed. The internal combustion engine includes a crankcase having a floor, a pump supported by the floor, and a camshaft. The pump includes an inlet and an outlet. The camshaft has a cam, first and second camshaft ends, and an internal channel extending within the camshaft between the ends. The first end is supported by the pump or the floor. Rotation of the camshaft causes the pump to draw in lubricant via the inlet and to pump out at least some of the lubricant via the outlet. The outlet is positioned in proximity to the internal channel at the first camshaft end, so that at least some of the lubricant is pumped into the channel.

Abstract: A crankshaft, and method for distributing lubricant along a crankshaft, are disclosed. The crankshaft includes a crank pin, a crank arm, a main segment, and a flange. The crank arm is coupled between the main segment and the crank pin and has an outer side. A channel extends from within the crank pin to the outer side. The flange has outer and inner edges, is positioned on the main segment so that the outer edge abuts the main segment, and is further positioned so the inner edge abuts the outer side of the crank arm. The flange has first and second grooves along the outer and inner edges of the flange, respectively, and the grooves form a passage extending from the channel to an exterior portion of the main segment, so that lubricant can flow between the exterior portion of the main segment and the channel via the passage.

Abstract: A cylinder head assembly and a method of providing an air-fuel mixture from a carburetor to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The cylinder head assembly includes a cylinder head and a component coupled to the cylinder head. The cylinder head includes a first port having a first passage linking a first end to an intersection, and a second passage linking a second end to the intersection, where the intersection includes an abrupt transition between the first and second passages. The component includes a tongue that protrudes into the first passage from the first end to proximate the intersection, where the tongue is positioned along at least a portion of an inner side of the first passage, and where the tongue is gradually-reduced in thickness at least proximate the intersection.

Abstract: A crankshaft, and method for distributing lubricant along a crankshaft, are disclosed. The crankshaft includes a crank pin, a crank arm, a main segment, and a flange. The crank arm is coupled between the main segment and the crank pin and has an outer side. A channel extends from within the crank pin to the outer side. The flange has outer and inner edges, is positioned on the main segment so that the outer edge abuts the main segment, and is further positioned so the inner edge abuts the outer side of the crank arm. The flange has first and second grooves along the outer and inner edges of the flange, respectively, and the grooves form a passage extending from the channel to an exterior portion of the main segment, so that lubricant can flow between the exterior portion of the main segment and the channel via the passage.

Abstract: A crankcase, and method of assembling a crankcase, of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The crankcase includes a top including at least a first portion of a top surface of the crankcase, and a bottom including a bottom surface of the crankcase and a plurality of side surfaces of the crankcase. The side surfaces are substantially vertical and extend between the top and bottom surfaces. The crankcase further includes bearings within at least one of the top and bottom to support a crankshaft. The crankcase additionally includes a first interface at which at least one of the top, bottom and side surfaces is coupled to a cylinder. The bottom and top interface one another along a split line, the top is removable from the bottom, and the top is configured to be attached to at least one of an oil filter component, a starter, and an ignition module.