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  • Motorcycle having system for determining engine phase
    Patent number: 6499341
    Abstract: A system for determining engine phase in a motorcycle engine includes a crank gear sensor mounted near the crank gear of the engine, a pressure sensor mounted on the air intake manifold of the engine, and a processor communicating with the crank gear sensor and the pressure sensor. First and second groups of crank gear teeth pass by the crank gear sensor before either of the first and second pistons of the engine reaches TDC. A third group of crank gear teeth passes by the crank gear sensor before the first piston reaches TDC, but after the second piston reaches TDC. At low rpm, such as at start up, the processor determines the phase of the engine during a single rotation of the crankshaft by measuring and comparing the time periods taken by the group of teeth to pass by the crank gear sensor. At high rpm, the processor determines the phase of the engine using the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: V. Dennis Lodise, Eric Norppa, Barth Fisk
  • CYLINDER HEAD COOLING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20110114044
    Abstract: A cylinder head for a motorcycle engine, which has a pair of cylinders arranged in a “V” configuration such that the cylinders converge toward a crankshaft axis and such that a space is defined between the cylinders at an upper extent of each of the cylinders. The cylinder head includes a base configured to be coupled to one of the cylinders, an intake side including an intake passage and an intake valve movable disposed within the intake passage, the intake side being positioned adjacent the space, and an exhaust side including an exhaust passage and an exhaust valve movable disposed within the exhaust passage, the exhaust side being positioned remote from the space. A cooling liquid inlet port and a cooling liquid discharge port are located on the intake side. A cooling liquid passage runs through the cylinder head to reduce an operating temperature of the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Jesse L. Dees, Michael S. Carlin, Scott B. Cain, Dan M. Sepic, Terry J. Rumpel, Matt G. Hoffmann, Scott A. Koerner, Rick W. Elchert, Brian E. Healy, Stephann E. Balthazar, Nicolae Glaja
  • Cylinder head cooling system
    Patent number: 8539929
    Abstract: A cylinder head for a motorcycle engine, which has a pair of cylinders arranged in a “V” configuration such that the cylinders converge toward a crankshaft axis and such that a space is defined between the cylinders at an upper extent of each of the cylinders. The cylinder head includes a base configured to be coupled to one of the cylinders, an intake side including an intake passage and an intake valve movable disposed within the intake passage, the intake side being positioned adjacent the space, and an exhaust side including an exhaust passage and an exhaust valve movable disposed within the exhaust passage, the exhaust side being positioned remote from the space. A cooling liquid inlet port and a cooling liquid discharge port are located on the intake side. A cooling liquid passage runs through the cylinder head to reduce an operating temperature of the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company
    Inventors: Jesse L. Dees, Michael S. Carlin, Scott B. Cain, Dan M. Sepic, Terry J. Rumpel, Matt G. Hoffmann, Scott A. Koerner, Rick W. Elchert, Brian E. Healy, Stephann E. Balthazar, Nicolae Glaja
  • Method of modifying motorcycle engine cam drive
    Patent number: 6318321
    Abstract: A method of modifying the cam drive arrangement of a motorcycle engine. The method includes providing an existing cam gear arrangement having a crankshaft sprocket connected to a primary camshaft sprocket with a chain, removing the chain, replacing each of the sprockets with a crankshaft gear and primary camshaft gear respectively, and engaging teeth of the gears so the crankshaft gear drives the primary camshaft gear directly. A specific method for modifying a TWIN CAM 88 engine, made by Harley-Davidson, according to this method, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: S&S Cycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Kensok, Scott A. Sjoval, Dan Kinsey, Tim Culver
  • Internal combustion engine decompression valve kit and method for making same
    Patent number: 6240888
    Abstract: The invention is a decompression kit for large bore and/or high compression internal combustion engines. Specifically designed for engines such as the “Harley-Davidson®” “V-Twin®” or the “Sportster®” models, the invention vents high cylinder pressure and reduces the associated high starter torque required to turn the crankshaft when starting the engine, this in turn reduces the cranking amperage necessary to start the engine resulting in longer starter and battery life. A modified spark plug, steel tubing, and decompression valves are the main components of the invention. Cylinder pressure during the compression stroke is vented through the spark plug, tubing, and the decompression valve to make starting the engine easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Rich Pilney
  • Four valves per cylinder engine head
    Publication number: 20050211210
    Abstract: An improved head assembly replacement for the Harley Davidson Motorcycle engine 20 adapted to utilize four valves per cylinder using push rods 50 without modification to the engine block, and maintaining the existing location and configuration for the mounting of the normal intake and exhaust systems. The standard rocker arms actuate the new dual intake and exhaust valves through a yoke 54 bridging each pair of valves. The exhaust valve and intake valve pairs are inclined at an included angle of 50 to 70 degrees in the plane of the engine crankshaft. The pushrods 50 remain in the standard position and the self-adjusting hydraulic tappets are retained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventor: Masachika Arao
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