Horizontal Cylinder Patents (Class 123/195HC)
  • Patent number: 6079384
    Abstract: An outboard motor body case supported on a swivel shaft through a connecting member. The swivel shaft is vertically swingable about a tilting shaft. An engine is mounted at an upper portion of the outboard motor body case, with a crankshaft thereof being oriented vertically, and a flywheel is mounted at a lower end of the crankshaft and disposed between an engine block and the connecting member. A dynamo is mounted within the flywheel, and a starter motor is engaged with a ring gear which is formed around an outer periphery of the flywheel. Thus, since the flywheel having a large weight is mounted at the lower end of the crankshaft, the position of the center of gravity of the outboard motor is lowered. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform a tilting-up about the tilting shaft with a small force. Moreover, since the flywheel is mounted on a power taking-off side of the crankshaft, the torsional vibration of the crankshaft can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Koishikawa, Masaki Tsunoda, Hitoshi Suzuki, Yoshimi Watanabe, Shigeaki Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 6032628
    Abstract: An outboard motor embodying a twin overhead camshaft, four cycle internal combustion engine as a power plant. The engine has an improved flexible transmitter drive for the camshaft, which permits the drive pulley to overly the end main bearings for the camshafts so as to reduce bending loads on them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Watanabe, Takahide Watanabe, Masanori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6006712
    Abstract: A resonator structure which locates a resonator in a dead space inside an engine compartment, protects the resonator from vibration, and prevents a change in frequency due to oil mist residue in blow-by gas entering the resonator. In an internal combustion engine which is oriented horizontally in a vehicle engine compartment, an air cleaner outlet hose is provided in and connected to the downstream side of an air cleaner. The air cleaner outlet hose is connected to a throttle body, and the throttle body is connected to one end of a surge tank of an intake manifold, which intake manifold is provided at the rear side of the internal combustion engine. The resonator is located at the rear side of the air cleaner outlet hose, downstream from a bellows section of the air cleaner outlet hose, and also downstream from a breather pipe connecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takehiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5988135
    Abstract: A single cylinder, internal combustion engine with an engine housing in which the overhead camshaft and crankshaft are rotatably supported. The housing includes an integrally formed cylinder and head. A timing belt disposed externally of the engine housing interconnects the crankshaft and camshaft, and a piston connected to the crankshaft reciprocates within an internal bore provided in the engine housing cylinder. The cylinder wall around the internal bore is of a generally uniform thickness and circumscribed by cooling fins such that the cylinder resists bore distortion during operation. The inventive engine further provides for the mounting of flywheels within the crankcase cavity in conjunction with an external, lightweight fan for engine housing cooling, as well as employs a cast in valve seat for the overhead valve assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: James W. Moorman, Erik J. Christiansen, Roberto Molina, Gar M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5979392
    Abstract: A single cylinder, internal combustion engine with a dry sump lubrication system. The engine includes an engine housing in which the overhead camshaft and crankshaft are rotatably supported, and the housing includes an integrally formed cylinder and head. A timing belt disposed externally of the engine housing interconnects the crankshaft and camshaft, and a piston connected to the crankshaft reciprocates within an internal bore provided in the engine housing cylinder. The cylinder wall around the internal bore is of a generally uniform thickness and circumscribed by cooling fins such that the cylinder resists bore distortion during operation. Dry sump lubrication is obtained by an external oil reservoir connected to a pump which supplies pressurized oil to the bearing journals of the camshaft. A portion of the oil at the camshaft bearing journals flows through passages provided within the cylinder to lubricate the bearing journals of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: James W. Moorman, Erik J. Christiansen, Roberto Molina, Gar M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5967110
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for manufacturing an Fe-based sintered alloy which is superb in machinability. This process comprises the steps of coating a paste-like coating agent including a compound of boron to a surface of a compact of Fe-based or Fe, Cu-based sintered alloy powder including carbon or a pre-sintered compact obtained by heating the compact at a diffusion temperature or less of carbon, and sintering a resultant compact or a pre-sintered compact at a diffusion temperature or more of carbon. An Fe-based sintered alloy manufactured through this process and a bearing cap made of such an Fe-based sintered alloy are also disclosed. In the invention, a film including a compound of boron and pyrolytic resin can be used instead of the paste-like coating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi Powered Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadayuki Tsutsui, Bo Hu, Kei Ishii, Hideo Shikata, Jun Sakai
  • Patent number: 5964197
    Abstract: An outboard motor body case supported on a swivel shaft through a connecting member. The swivel shaft is vertically swingable about a tilting shaft. An engine is mounted at an upper portion of the outboard motor body case, with a crankshaft thereof being oriented vertically, and a flywheel is mounted at a lower end of the crankshaft and disposed between an engine block and the connecting member. A dynamo is mounted within the flywheel, and a starter motor is engaged with a ring gear which is formed around an outer periphery of the flywheel. Thus, since the flywheel having a large weight is mounted at the lower end of the crankshaft, the position of the center of gravity of the outboard motor is lowered. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform a tilting-up about the tilting shaft with a small force. Moreover, since the flywheel is mounted on a power taking-off side of the crankshaft, the torsional vibration of the crankshaft can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Koishikawa, Masaki Tsunoda, Hitoshi Suzuki, Yoshimi Watanabe, Shigeaki Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 5752866
    Abstract: An outboard motor having a high-performance V-type twin overhead cam four-cycle internal combustion engine. The oil reservoir for the engine is disposed in a driveshaft housing below the engine and an oil pump is driven off the lower end of the engine crankshaft for circulating the oil from the oil tank to the engine. The oil supply system for the engine includes a vertically extending main gallery and a drain passage which extend in parallel side-by-side relationship and which are disposed over the oil tank for ease of oil return. The exhaust and cooling system for the engine is configured so as to minimize heat transfer between the exhaust system and the lubricating system and to maintain a compact assembly. The engine has an improved oil reservoir and crankcase ventilating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Takahashi, Hitoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5718197
    Abstract: A cylinder block of a vertically oriented multicylinder engine includes a cylinder block structure which is configured to support a crankshaft in a vertical orientation. The cylinder block includes a cylinder head mounting surface thereupon, and a plurality of cylinders therein. The plurality of cylinders are configured along horizontal axes. A reinforcing rib or wall is included, with an inclined surface which is inclined with respect to the axes of the cylinders, to ensure that oil which may contact the reinforcing rib flows downward into the crankcase of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Tsunoda, Yoshimi Watanabe, Tetsu Wada
  • Patent number: 5706769
    Abstract: A single overhead cam (OHC) engine is provided in which intake and exhaust valves and intake and exhaust cam followers are disposed on opposite sides of a single valve operating cam which is disposed in a cylinder head. The intake and exhaust valves are parallel to each other and perpendicular to a crankshaft axis. The intake and exhaust cam followers are formed in a bifurcated configuration. One arm portions of the intake and exhaust cam followers extend inwardly towards each other, and contact the intake and exhaust valves, and other arm portions of the intake and exhaust cam followers also extend inwardly towards each other, and contact a cam face of the valve operating cam below a center C of rotation of the valve operating cam. With this arrangement, it is possible to reduce, in both size and cost, the head of the engine body in an OHC engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5704334
    Abstract: A throttle sensor senses the position of an associated throttle shaft in order to determine the position of a corresponding throttle valve. The position of the throttle sensor is positioned in the engine to reduce the girth of engine. In one embodiment, the throttle sensor lies to the side of a throttle linkage which interconnects a plurality of throttle valves. The throttle sensor and throttle linkage are arranged on a side of an intake manifold opposite a side on which fuel injectors of the engine are located. In another embodiment, the throttle sensor lies at an upper end of the intake manifold and is coupled to a common, vertically oriented throttle shaft that operates a plurality of throttle valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Kato
  • Patent number: 5673655
    Abstract: In a V-type engine, a pair of cylinder blocks are arranged in V-shape to form a V-bank therebetween, and a suction device and an exhaust device are arranged in the V-bank. An exhaust passage constituting the exhaust device is formed to the most inner side of the bottom portion of the V-bank and the inlet manifold constituting the suction device is arranged in the space formed by the V-bank and the engine cover, outside the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Mishima
  • Patent number: 5606944
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a vertical crankshaft rotatable in a crankcase, a piston reciprocable along a cylinder axis, and a push rod tube. The push rod tube communicates between the crankcase and a rocker box, and is positioned below the cylinder axis and upwardly inclined with respect to the cylinder axis. A cam gear agitates oil in the crankcase so that the oil is conveyed through the push rod tube into the rocker box and returns through the push rod tube to the crankcase under the force of gravity. In another embodiment, the engine comprises a crankshaft having an arcuate throw and a crankpin. A connecting rod has a continuously formed big end installable over the arcuate throw to cooperate with the crankpin. A flywheel is mounted to the crankshaft on a side of the crank pin opposite a balancing web, and has a radially offset center of gravity to balance forces applied to the crankshaft through the connecting rod by the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Ryobi Limited
    Inventor: Katumi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 5596962
    Abstract: An intake silencer of a vertical-type engine includes two silencing chambers. A first intake silencing chamber is disposed adjacent to the body of the engine; a second intake silencing chamber is located upstream in a flow of intake air from the first intake silencing chamber, and receives the flow of intake air as input thereto. An output of the second intake silencing chamber becomes an input to the first intake silencing chamber. The second intake silencing chamber is disposed at an opposite end of the engine body from the cylinder head of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Tsunoda, Tetsu Wada
  • Patent number: 5524584
    Abstract: An outboard motor having a four-cycle internal combustion engine as a power plant. The engine is provided with a cylinder head having intake passages that extend downwardly from inlet openings in a surface of the cylinder head to outlet openings that communicate with the cylinder bores so as to reduce uneven running as might be encountered if fuel were to puddle and collect in the induction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahide Wantanabe
  • Patent number: 5513606
    Abstract: Several embodiments of internal combustion engines for use in outboard motors that permits a compact construction. This is achieved by having the intake ports of the cylinder head have a U-shaped configuration and positioning the induction system on the side of the engine with the charge former extending into a recess formed by the cylinder block above the crankcase. Intake pipes extend along the side of the crankcase and are served by a plenum chamber that is spaced from the crankcase. Both V and in-line engines are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Shibata
  • Patent number: 5443044
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an outboard motor comprising a steerable and tiltable propulsion unit including a lower unit including a vertically extending drive shaft housing, a drive shaft extending vertically in the drive shaft housing and located in a plane extending in a fore and aft direction, and a propeller shaft driven by the drive shaft and extending in the fore and aft plane, and a powerhead comprising a four stroke engine including a vertically extending crankshaft located forwardly of the drive shaft and in laterally spaced relation to the fore and aft plane, a cylinder extending horizontally and radially from the crankshaft and at an acute angle to the fore and aft plane, a camshaft extending generally vertically in the fore and aft plane and in vertical alignment with and in driving connection with the drive shaft, and a gear set drivingly connecting the crankshaft and the camshaft for rotatably driving the camshaft at a rotational speed which is one-half of the rotational speed of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventor: Russell J. VanRens
  • Patent number: 5438963
    Abstract: A V-type multi-cylinder 4-cycle engine E accommodated in an engine room in an outboard motor includes a pair of left and right banks. A surge tank is disposed in a space defined between both the banks and connected to two left and right combustion chambers through intake ports. A throttle body is connected to a lower portion of the surge tank and also to an intake silencer mounted in a left space of the engine room through an elbow. A subsidiary tank for supplying a fuel to an injector is disposed symmetrically with the intake silencer in a right space of the engine room. The employment of the above-described layout makes it possible to make an intake device move compact in the 4-cycle engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Tsunoda, Shigeaki Kuwabara, Sadafumi Shidara
  • Patent number: 5353758
    Abstract: A wiring arrangement for an outboard motor including a circular wire harness body fitted within a casing that is secured to the upper portion of the engine of the outboard motor. The wire harness body has sets of branch wires that extend outwardly and which may also extend through slots formed in the side wall of the casing for coupled connection with branch leads that extend to various electrical components of the engine. The branch wire connectors may alternatively be formed integrally with the slots in the casing at which point the branch leads may be connected. Another embodiment provides tube-like extensions which extend outwardly from the slots to protect the branch wires. The branch leads and the coupled connections may also be contained within the tube-like extensions for protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Masuda, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5243936
    Abstract: The invention provides a vertical internal combustion engine with overhead valves wherein a crankshaft is vertically arranged and the cylinder is horizontally arranged. A carburetor is arranged on one side of the cylinder and a muffler is arranged on another side of the cylinder, opposite the carburetor. A suction port is connected to the carburetor by a horizontal straight line portion and a curved portion, leading from the horizontal straight line portion to a suction valve. The horizontal straight line portion includes a center line and the carburetor includes a center which is substantially aligned with the center line of the horizontal straight line portion, along a straight line. The exhaust port is connected to the muffler by an exhaust passage having a center line which passes through the center of the exhaust port and crosses the center line of the horizontal straight line portion, diagonally from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5203294
    Abstract: A four-cycle internal combustion engine which has one or more horizontally disposed cylinder bores and a piston supported for horizontal reciprocation in each cylinder bore. Each piston includes a ring structure wherein a plurality of compression rings are fitted in corresponding parallel grooves formed on the outer periphery of each piston. A positioning pin for each compression ring is press fitted into the groove of the associated ring in its end gap for positioning and holding the end gap of each compression ring at a point along the outer periphery of the piston outside of the area under the piston axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Takemura, Yoshikazu Yamaoka, Takahide Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5007383
    Abstract: In a water-cooling system for a water-cooled horizontal engine, a radiator and a radiator fan are arranged at the front of a cylinder head which is mounted forwardly of a cylinder block of the engine. A radiator fan generates a cooling air flow which passes through the space over the cylinder head and toward the radiator, the height of the radiator being sized to match the width of the cylinder block measured in the upward and downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Kubota Limited
    Inventors: Ryoichi Ito, Koji Iwai, Tsuyoshi Nishida
  • Patent number: 5000126
    Abstract: A rotary lawn mower having an air-cooled single cylinder four-cycle internal combustion engine for powering its cutting blade. The engine is air cooled and is disposed so that its exhaust port lies above the intake port and the carburetor is positioned above a raised portion of the scroll part of the lawn mower housing for good cooling of the exhaust port without heating of the carburetor. A valve operating mechanism is disclosed including a pair of push rods that are supported on the exhaust port side of the engine and which are surrounded by a mass of cylinder head and cylinder for assisting in heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Yamaha Kogyo Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Isaka, Kiyohiko Oguri
  • Patent number: 4981120
    Abstract: A low-profile internal combustion engine is disclosed, featuring a unitary flywheel spark generation and distributor assembly. A hydraulic starter system is disclosed which may be adapted to such internal combustion engine. The engine of the invention is particularly suitable for use in push-type lawnmowers, to provide a low-profile construction enabling mowing of landscape areas such as under low lying tree branches, beneath bushes, etc., which are otherwise inaccessible to high-profile conventional lawnmowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Inventor: Travis Mangum, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4977863
    Abstract: An air-cooled internal combustion engine, a crankshaft and a camshaft rotatably journalled in the crankcase parallel to one another, and a cast intake valve chamber and cast exhaust valve chamber each cast integrally with the cylinder and communicating with the combustion chamber via a respective intake valve port and exhaust valve port. Intake and exhaust valves are disposed for reciprocation in a direction lying perpendicular to the camshaft and simultaneously in a direction lying at an acute angle to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and parallel to the axis of the camshaft. An intake cross-over manifold is cast integrally with the cylinder and is delimited by interior walls which are substantially straight in longitudinal direction from a fuel/air intake port to a point of intersection with the intake valve chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Peter G. Kronich
  • Patent number: 4972809
    Abstract: An improved propulsion unit for a watercraft embodying a reciprocating internal combustion engine having horizontally disposed cylinders so as to provide a compact assembly. The engine operates on the two-stroke principle and the exhaust manifold for the engine is disposed beneath the engine to achieve further silencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 4936271
    Abstract: A portable powered working machine such as a chain saw has a casing, a hollow grip formed integrally with the casing and extending from a front portion to a rear portion of the upper wall of the casing. An internal combustion engine is disposed in the casing such that its crankshaft extends transversely of the casing, the internal combustion engine having a cylinder arranged horizontally in a rear portion of the casing and a crankcase disposed in a front portion of the casing. A carburetor is disposed on a front side of the crankcase, while an air cleaner disposed in a rear portion of the grip. A communication pipe extends through the grip portion in the longitudinal direction thereof and connected between the air cleaner and the carburetor so as to form an air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Kioritz Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Nagashima, Hiroaki Koga, Tsutomu Ogata
  • Patent number: 4930476
    Abstract: An improved governor mechanism for an engine having angularly related staggered cylinder banks. The governor mechanism includes a link or motion transmitting member that is disposed within the stagger between the cylinder banks so as to provide a compact assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Oguri, Tsuyoshi Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 4926813
    Abstract: The present invention is an inverted port L-head engine having a cross-under intake passage. The carburetor and exhaust system are disposed on opposite sides of the cylinder, and the exhaust valve is located over the intake valve on the exhaust side. The cast cylinder has openings for receiving ends of a cross-under tube which provides an intake passage from the carburetor to the intake valve. The U-shaped cross-under tube extends under the piston bore and is slidably received in the cylinder block openings. Sealant may be used to form airtight seals between the tube ends and the cylinder openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Kevin G. Bonde
  • Patent number: 4905636
    Abstract: An intake manifold and cylinder head intake passageway for an air-cooled internal combustion engine. The manifold is substantially S-shaped and generally vertically oriented and communicates a carburetor having a horizonal bore with an overhead valve cylinder head having a horizontal intake passageway located at an elevation above that of the carburetor. The manifold has a turbulence inducing ridge at the entrance from the carburetor and the cylinder head intake passageway has a similar ridge at the entrance from the manifold. Each elbow bend in the manifold and in the cylinder head passageway is provided with a flat area at the outside curve of the bend which prevents puddling of fuel in the arcuate section of the bend and which causes any fuel which collects there to be spread out in a thin film which is then reintroduced into the air stream by a wedge-shaped ridge transverse to the flat area and rising therefrom to a ridge peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Peter G. Kronich
  • Patent number: 4893597
    Abstract: An air-cooled engine having a vertical crankshaft and a horizontal cylinder. The cylinder is cast aluminum alloy and has the intake and exhaust valves located next to one another on one side of the cylinder, with the carburetor located on the other side of the cylinder. An intake cross-passageway integrally cast in part with the cylinder passes under the piston bore to connect the intake valve to the carburetor. For casting purposes, the lower side of the passageway is open in the cylinder casting to permit removal of the passageway casting core and forming an opening having side walls extending transverse to the piston bore extending from the passageway to the exterior of the cylinder. A cover having side walls corresponding to and lying adjacent the side walls of the opening is disposed in the opening. The cover has a curved inner surface corresponding to the curvature of the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: William C. Kandler
  • Patent number: 4890587
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a crankcase, cylinder, a transfer passage communicating between the crankcase and the cylinder and including a first point which is the lowest point in the transfer passage and at which the transfer passage has a first cross-sectional area, and a second point which is spaced from the first point and at which the transfer passage has a second cross-sectional area less than the first cross-sectional area, whereby air flow through the transfer passage establishes a static pressure differential between the first and second points, a sump communicating with the transfer passage at the first point, and a conduit utilizing the static pressure differential for pumping fluid from the sump to the transfer passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Outboardmarine Corporation
    Inventor: Theodore J. Holtermann
  • Patent number: 4889089
    Abstract: An improved work vehicle is disclosed in which a vertical shaft V-type engine having vertically supported crankshaft with the pair of right and left cylinders being arranged in V-shape is housed inside the front bonnet that is forwardly downwardly inclined at the top. The work vehicle, while having no less excellent performance in terms of power output, noise, and vibration, provides more increased operability and a wider range of forward visibility than conventional horizontal opposed type engine vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuzo Fujikawa, Makizo Hirata, Shinichi Tamba
  • Patent number: 4883024
    Abstract: In a water-cooling system for a water-cooled horizontal cylinder engine, a radiator and a radiator fan are arranged at the front of a cylinder head which is mounted forwardly of a cylinder block of the engine. A radiator fan generates a cooling air flow which passes through the space over the cylinder head and toward the radiator, the height of the radiator being sized to match the width of the cylinder block measured in the upward and downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Kubota Limited
    Inventors: Ryoichi Ito, Koji Iwai, Tsuyoshi Nishida, Junji Kimura
  • Patent number: 4864981
    Abstract: An improved overhead valve internal combustion engine is disclosed in which an intake port defined in a cyclinder head for communication at its outlet side opening with a combustion chamber opens at its inlet end in a first side of the cylinder head for connection to a carburetor. An exhaust port also formed in the cylinder head for communication at its inlet side opening with the combustion chamber opens at its outlet end in a second side of the cylinder head that extends substantially perpendicular with the plane of the first side for connection through an exhaust duct to a muffler that is located on the opposite side of the cylinder head to the carburetor. This arrangement can enhance cooling of the cylinder and cylinder heads of an engine and miniturize engine overall size, without shortening the length of the exhaust duct connected between a muffler and exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Takada, Hitoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4825825
    Abstract: An arrangement and structure for an oil pan system to permit mounting a vertical in-line engine in a vehicle in a horizontal or nearly horizontal attitude includes a cylinder block of the engine having an opening on the side wall thereof, a cover attached to the cylinder block where an ordinary oil pan is usually mounted, an adapter plate fastened to the lower side wall of the cylinder block and bottom of the cover, and an oil pan attached to the lower surface of the adapter plate. The adapter plate allows the oil pan to extend and always remain below the cylinder block, so that the return paths from the lubricated portions of the engine to the oil pan are shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Chino, Nobuaki Wakita, Masaru Hibino, Taro Ikeya, Toshiro Kanesaka, Kazuo Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 4811717
    Abstract: Several embodiments of outboard motors having fuel injected internal combustion engines. In each embodiment, the fuel injection pump is disposed so that its drive shaft extends horizontally and so that its outlets for pressurized fuel are below its top end to avoid the inclusion of air in the fuel. In each embodiment, the fuel injection pump has an air vent that is vented back to a remotely positioned fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoji Nakahama
  • Patent number: 4790273
    Abstract: An improved lubricating system for an internal combustion engine having a horizontally disposed cylinder. The engine is provided with overhead valves that are disposed vertically above each other and which reciprocate about horizontally extending axes. The exhaust valve lies above the intake valve and the lubricating system delivers lubricant first to the exhaust valve and then by gravity to the intake valve. In addition, an arrangement is provided for submerging the valve operating tappets in lubricant to effect lubrication and silencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Oguri, Yoshiharu Isaka
  • Patent number: 4781635
    Abstract: In a marine outboard engine unit driven by a four-stroke-cycle engine, the vertical crankshaft is aft of the cylinders and the camshaft and drives the camshaft via a sprocket-and-chain mechanism, the lower end of the camshaft being coupled to the extension drive shaft which is coupled to the propeller at the lower end of the lower unit, and the carburetor for each cylinder is at the forward part of the engine. By this arrangement, "oil rise" of the lubricating oil in the engine is prevented when the boat hull, under way, assumes a bow-up attitude, and the speed-reduction ratio from crankshaft to propeller can be reduced, whereby a high-speed, high-power-output engine can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sosuke Kinouchi, Hideto Yoshitake
  • Patent number: 4716984
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body with an engine compartment. Its power train includes: an engine with a crank shaft and at least one cylinder, mounted within the engine compartment with the crank shaft extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and with the cylinder extending generally horizontally; a transmission device with a power input shaft, coupled to the engine with the power input shaft substantially coaxial with and rotationally driven from the engine crank shaft; and a differential device, driven from the transmission device, with an axial center line which is located generally below the center line of the crank shaft. Thereby, the engine compartment arrangement can be made compact and low in height, and further the moments of inertia of the vehicle about its yaw and pitch axes can be kept low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takefumi Hiramatsu, Noboru Ashikawa
  • Patent number: 4697556
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a lower unit including a rotatably mounted propeller, and an internal combustion engine drivingly connected to the propeller, the engine including an engine block, a crankshaft rotatably supported by the engine block and including an end portion projecting from the engine block, a flywheel including a hub, the hub being mounted on the end portion of the crankshaft and having an outer surface, and a bearing located between the engine block and the outer surface of the flywheel hub for facilitating rotation of the flywheel relative to the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew H. Mondek, Louis R. Neal
  • Patent number: 4688529
    Abstract: A lubricating system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. This system includes a pair of passages formed between a crank chamber for reserving oil and an air-oil separating chamber accommodating a mechanism for actuating overhead valves. The pair of passages are constituted by a breather passage formed in the upper portion of a cylinder and the oil-returning passage formed in the lower portion of the cylinder. The breather passage has a valve for allowing a fluid to pass solely toward the air-oil separating chamber and a large oil-circulating resistance is imparted to the fluid flowing toward the air-oil separating chamber through the oil-returning passage, thereby circulating an oil mist in one direction only by using the reciprocal motion of each piston. Even when the engine is inclined, oil is prevented from flowing back from the crank chamber to the separating chamber through the oil-returning passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Mitadera, Tetsuaki Shirai, Tomozo Nakagawa, Naotake Nii, Kozo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4683846
    Abstract: A two-cycle crankcase compression internal combustion engine for use in an outboard motor that facilitates the use of low quality fuels by providing a carburetor that discharges fuel directly into one of the transfer passages of the engine. The transfer passages and carburetors are disposed so that the carburetors may extend horizontally and permits the use of a plurality of carburetors, one spaced above the others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Sanshin
    Inventor: Hidekazu Takayasu
  • Patent number: 4658767
    Abstract: A vertical shaft V-type engine having a vertical crankshaft and a pair of right and left hand cylinders arranged in V-shape, the engine comprising a carburetor arranged within a V-bank defined between both cylinders and an air cleaner arranged upwardly of the carburetor. The engine is also provided with an air fan and the air cleaner is arranged adjacent to a fan housing of the air fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuzo Fujikawa, Makizo Hirata, Shinichi Tamba
  • Patent number: 4570584
    Abstract: A general-purpose internal combustion engine has a vertically extending crank shaft. The engine includes intake and exhaust valves disposed in overhead relationship to a cylinder head having an intake passage connected to the intake valve and an exhaust passage connected to the exhaust valve, the intake and exhaust passages being defined in opposite sides of the cylinder head. A carburetor and an air cleaner are coupled to the intake passage and located on the same side as the intake passage, and a muffler is connected to the exhaust passage and located on the same side as the exhaust passage. With this arangement, the engine has as small a height as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yonekazu Uetsuji, Shoji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4570587
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a crank shaft having a crank web, a crank pin on one end of the crank web, and a weight on an opposite end of the crank web, a crank case supporting the crank shaft therein, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally fitted in the cylinder, a rod coupled to the piston by a piston pin and connecting the piston to the crank pin for reciprocally moving the piston in the cylinder, the crank case having an opening and extending obliquely to axes of the crank shaft and the cylinder. The cylinder has an end corresponding to a bottom dead center of the piston and having a first recess opening toward the opening, the first recess being of a size allowing the piston pin to pass therethrough when the piston is in the bottom dead center. The weight on the crank web has on one side a second recess of a shape defining with the end of the cylinder a space allowing the piston as disconnected from the rod to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimi Watanabe, Yukio Tada, Takanori Suzuki, Hitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4557235
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel injection quantity controlling device for diesel engines having a vertically extending crankshaft. The device has a control rod disposed in parallel with the crankshaft. In the event of a failure in the mechanism for vertically and reciprocatingly driving the control rod, e.g. a lever, link or the like, the control rod moves downward by the force of gravity to automatically stop the fuel supply to the unit injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Yanmar Diesel Engine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Amemori, Yosuke Takahashi, Manabu Miyazaki, Hiroaki Tsukahara, Toshihiko Kawabe, Toshio Banba
  • Patent number: 4509468
    Abstract: An improvement in an engine having conventional components including at least one valve, pivotally mounted rocker arm for operating the valve, reciprocally moveable member for effecting pivotal movement of the rocker arm, the improvement being characterized by a cover that is adapted for being sealingly emplaced about the rocker arm and having a plurality of oil inlet apertures to allow oil to be applied to the rocker arm at its points of contact that need lubrication and having at least one oil drain aperture to allow oil to drain therefrom; and oil reservoir for containing the oil, oil drain conduit between the cover and the reservoir, and oil pump having suction connected with the reservoir and a discharge for pumping the oil for lubricating the rocker arm, an oil conduit connected intermediate the pump and the reservoir and the pump and the cover for conveying oil is appropriate and an oil pump power means for powering the oil pump, the oil pump power means being drivingly connected with the oil pump and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Bell Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Harrold Cockburn, Darrel Weatherly, Earl Yarbro
  • Patent number: 4470382
    Abstract: A valve lash adjuster for a horizontally opposed engine in which valves are horizontally disposed and the adjuster for each valve is also horizontally disposed. The adjuster has a cylindrical body and a hollow plunger. The tip end of the plunger engages with a rocker arm of a valve lifting device of the engine. The plunger has a ball check valve for trapping oil in a pressure chamber defined behind the plunger and is outwardly biased by a spring for taking up clearance in the valve train. Passages are provided for supplying the lubricating oil into an annular groove provided around the cylindrical body. The passages are located at such positions that the oil remains in the groove. The inside chamber of the plunger is communicated with the annular groove through a hole located to communicate with the annular groove at the oil remaining zone, so that the oil is maintained in the inside chamber of the plunger and the pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Muto
  • Patent number: 4446828
    Abstract: In a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine to be installed horizontally in a motor vehicle the cylinder block (2), the cylinder head (4), one half (8) of the crankcase and the oil sump (9) are formed from a single casting, the oil sump being positioned below the cylinder block and having an opening (13) in the same plane as a flat surface (12) on the cylinder head which locates a camshaft case (14).The camshaft case (14) and the oil sump cover (17) are formed as one unit, and a stay between the camshaft case and the oil sump cover accommodates the drive shaft (21) of an oil pump (22) located in the oil sump and driven by the camshaft. A second stay (19) between the camshaft case and the oil sump cover contains a duct (25) for conveying oil from the camshaft case back into the oil sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: Audi Nsu Auto Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Armin Bauder, Gerd Ohrnberger