Abstract: A thermal choke, includes (1) a body, comprising a heat conductive material, (2) an electric heater, on or in the body, (3) a temperature sensor, on or in the body, and (4) a fin, in a channel surrounded by the body. The thermal choke is configured to fit between a throttle assembly and a cylinder of a spark ignition engine.

Abstract: A two-stage valve assembly for a turbocharger includes a movable primary valve adapted to open and close a valve seat of the turbocharger. The primary valve has at least one opening extending axially therethrough. The two-stage valve assembly also includes a movable secondary valve coupled to the primary valve to open and close the at least one opening of the primary valve. The two-stage valve assembly further includes a spring disposed between the primary valve and the secondary valve to seat the secondary valve against the primary valve. The secondary valve is adapted to be coupled to a valve arm of the turbocharger such that relative small movement of the valve arm causes the secondary valve to move and open the opening to allow some exhaust gas of the turbocharger to escape through the at least one opening without moving the primary valve relative to the valve seat.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The exhaust system includes an exhaust manifold receiving exhaust gas from a cylinder, an emission control device positioned downstream of the exhaust manifold, an electric heating device positioned in an exhaust line upstream of the emission control device and downstream of the exhaust manifold, the electric heating device including a frame at least partially surrounding a heating element, and an adjustment device configured to, during operation of the internal combustion engine, adjust the drag generated by the electric heating device in an exhaust gas flow through the exhaust line.

Abstract: An air/fuel mixing apparatus configured for use with an internal combustion engine including a carburetor including a body defining a passageway therethrough and a choke valve positioned in the passageway, a solenoid, and a thermal switch configured to energize or de-energize the solenoid. The solenoid is configured to move the choke valve between the choke open position and the choke closed position, wherein the solenoid includes a rotary shaft coupled to a choke lever, and a thermostatic element coupled to the rotary shaft. The thermostatic element expands and constricts based on a temperature of the engine and restricts the movement of the choke valve between the choke closed position and a partially-open position when the solenoid is not energized.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one tank having a tank bottom and a delivery unit for a liquid. The delivery unit is disposed in a chamber on the tank bottom and the chamber has at least one heater.

Abstract: An automatic control apparatus for a carburetor choke valve includes a pull-rod, throttle control lever, choke block, and temperature control assembly which is arranged on a cylinder head through a bracket having a rotating shaft and coil spring. The rotating shaft is connected to the spring and one end of the pull-rod via a rotary arm. The other end of the pull-rod is located at a choke valve shaft. The block and valve shaft are connected to respective ends of the lever. During cold start, the block is opened driving the lever to pull the valve shaft. When rotated through a certain angle the valve shaft is blocked by part of the pull-rod, such that the valve and block cannot be fully opened. During warm start, the valve shaft when returning is blocked by another part of the pull-rod such that the valve cannot fully close.

Abstract: A purge and prime assembly for a carburetor includes a purge and prime pump that alternately takes in and discharges fluid, and a plurality of passages through which fluid is routed. The passages may include a purge passage through which fluid is drawn by the purge and prime pump, a return passage through which fluid is discharged from the purge and prime pump and discharged from the carburetor, and a priming passage through which a portion of the fluid discharged from the purge and prime pump is routed to a main bore of the carburetor. The assembly may also include a purge valve that prevents fluid from being discharged from the purge prime pump through the purge passage, and a return valve that prevents fluid in the return passage from being drawn into the purge and prime pump.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. A choke valve is configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor and a thermally responsive element is coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element. A thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler and extending through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler, and a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element. The thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.

Abstract: In an auto choke apparatus, a throttle valve and a choke valve are provided in a carburetor. A bimetal is provided near a muffler to bring the choke valve back in an opening direction after warm-up is completed. A bimetal lever has a mounting hole to which one end of a choke rod is secured. A choke lever has a mounting hole having a long hole shape to which the other end of the choke rod is secured. By forming the mounting hole of the choke lever in a long hole shape, the choke lever can be moved with the bimetal lever being stopped so that a throttle lever and the choke lever can be caused to work together without being restricted by the bimetal.

Abstract: A carburetor having a choke valve has an open-close valve sliding reciprocatingly inside a valve hole partway along a bypass air passage. The open-close valve, pressed by urging member, slides according to a rotation angle of a choke valve shaft while a distal end side continuously contacts a side face of the shaft. A projecting part, urged by a coil spring, projects from a distal end of a body. The urging member includes a temperature-sensitive material that expands at or above a prescribed temperature. When the choke valve is closed and the ambient temperature is less than the prescribed temperature, the bypass air passage enters a closed state while the body remains in a closed-valve position; and when the ambient temperature is at or above the prescribed temperature, the urging member elongates and the body enters an open-valve position, and the bypass air passage enters an open state.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise, a choke valve configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor, a thermally responsive element coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element, and a thermally conductive member. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. The thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler in direct contact with the exhaust gases and extends through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler. The thermally conductive member also has a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element, the thermally conductive member configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.

Abstract: In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to an automatic choke system for use in an engine having a muffler and a choking mechanism that are located remotely apart from one another. The system includes a thermally responsive device, at least one component that serves to connect, at least in part, the device to the choking mechanism, and a further mechanism for conveying heat from the muffler to the device. Additionally, the system in at least one embodiment includes at least one of: (a) a pipe for conveying a fluid from a first location proximate the muffler to a second location proximate the device, the pipe being comprised within the further mechanism; and (b) a rotatable axle that spans a majority of a distance between the first location and a third location that is proximate the choking mechanism, the axle being comprised within the at least one component.

Abstract: In an auto choke apparatus, a throttle valve and a choke valve are provided in a carburetor. A bimetal is provided near a muffler to bring the choke valve back in an opening direction after warm-up is completed. A bimetal lever has amounting hole to which one end of a choke rod is secured. A choke lever has amounting hole having a long hole shape to which the other end of the choke rod is secured. By forming the mounting hole of the choke lever in a long hole shape, the choke lever can be moved with the bimetal lever being stopped so that a throttle lever and the choke lever can be caused to work together without being restricted by the bimetal.

Abstract: A carburetor for a high performance vehicle includes an actuator lever mounted to a first valve linkage for rotating a first pair of carburetor butterfly valves and a crank mounted to a second valve linkage for rotating a second pair of carburetor butterfly valves, a cam mounted on the actuator lever for engaging and moving said crank and rotating said second pair of valves in response to the movement of the actuator lever, and a quick disconnect coupling between said actuator lever and said cam such that the cam is removable from said actuator lever and can be replaced by another cam.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a carburetor. The internal combustion engine includes a choke valve disposed within the carburetor, and a choke lever interconnected with the choke valve for movement with the choke valve. The engine also includes a throttle valve disposed within the carburetor and a throttle lever interconnected with the throttle valve for movement therewith. An intermediate lever is disposed between the throttle lever and the choke lever for movement with the choke and throttle levers. In one embodiment, the engine includes a connecting link coupled between the choke and intermediate levers, the connecting link movable with movement of the choke lever such that movement of the choke lever is translated into movement of the intermediate lever.

Abstract: An automatic choke apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine. The choke apparatus includes a choke valve automatically operable in response to the speed of the engine, a thermally conductive assembly that conducts heat from exhaust gases produced by the engine, a thermally responsive member in thermal communication with the thermally conductive assembly, and a mechanism that moves in response to the thermally responsive member to cause the choke valve to remain in at least a partially open position during engine starting when the thermally responsive member senses a temperature above a predetermined temperature. The thermally conductive assembly at least partially surrounds the path of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A priming system for the carburetor of a small internal combustion engine which is used with a lawnmower, for example, in which the priming system is remotely actuated. The priming system includes a priming feature for supplying an amount of liquid fuel to the carburetor throat to aid in starting the engine, and an enrichment feature for providing an enriched fuel supply to the engine during a warm-up period. In one embodiment, the priming system includes an automatic primer disabling feature which is operative when the engine is warm to block the supply of priming fuel to the carburetor throat and thereby prevent priming during a warm engine re-start. In another embodiment, the priming system includes a primer reduction feature, which is operative when the engine is warm to provide a reduced amount of priming fuel to the carburetor throat during a warm engine re-start, with respect to the amount of fuel which is supplied during a cold engine start.

Abstract: A temperature compensator for a pressure splitter control chamber has two members which have different thermal expansion rates, and the dimensional changes in these two members caused by temperature change affect the pressure inside the control chamber. The compensator is normally designed so that the control chamber pressure is essentially constant with temperature change, but can be designed to increase or decrease the effect of temperature change on the pressure. This temperature compensator is especially useful in a control chamber used with a pressure splitter which is used as a carburetor compensator. The resulting temperature compensated control chamber allows the pressure splitter to easily be set for use with carburetors jetted for different base altitudes.