Kohler Company

Gregory E Schmitz

Jerry R Reineking

Terrence M Rotter

Todd Baumann

Dean M Nelson

Anthony L Coffey

Jeffrey L Bracht

James P Burke

Timothy E Higgins

A highly durable engine grass screen assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a grass screen for covering an air intake port of the engine, a grass screen stiffening mechanism for supporting the grass screen, a washer mechanism for compressing the screen such that the screen is pre-stressed during manufacture and such that the screen remains in compression during engine operation. The assembly can include one or more stud mechanisms which are securable to either an engine flywheel assembly or an engine fan assembly. The washer mechanism, the grass screen and the grass screen stiffening mechanism are engaged in a secured fashion to one or more stud mechanisms. A method of assembling and positioning a grass screen assembly in an engine is also disclosed.

Engine grass screen assembly

A fan shroud for an internal combustion engine includes a snap-on detachable overflow bottle. The fan shroud has a fan opening and a unitary bottle mount with a deflectable bottle clip with a latch end that engages a groove in the overflow bottle. The mount includes an opposite side with an inwardly directed locking surface that engages a recess in a side face of the overflow bottle. The overflow bottle is held upright and secured to the fan shroud by snapping it into the bottle mount.

Fan shroud with snap-on coolant bottle

A V-type engine having a crankcase with a face, and cylinders arranged so as to form a V space therebetween. Pistons slidably mounted in the cylinders rotatably drive a crankshaft. The crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the crankcase at the junction of the V and has one end extending through the crankcase face. A timing gear engaged by the crankshaft rotatably drives a camshaft rotatably mounted in the crankcase. The camshaft extends through the crankcase face and has a sprocket mounted thereon which engages a drive belt. The drive belt rotatably drives a coolant pump interposed between the crankcase face and flywheel. The coolant pump has a pump cavity which is formed as an integral part of the crankcase face, and an impeller shaft with a rotational axis arranged substantially parallel to the crankshaft outside of the V space. A flywheel is mounted on the crankshaft end extending through the crankcase face and substantially covers the face and coolant pump.

Engine with integral coolant pump

An internal combustion engine includes a mechanism for releasing compression from the cylinder during starting. That mechanism has an actuator attached to the engine camshaft for sliding between first and second positions. In first position the actuator is engaged by a lifter to open the engine exhaust valve during the compression phase of the combustion cycle. At the second position, the valve lifter does not engage the actuator and the exhaust valve remains closed during the compression phase. A weight lever is pivotally attached to the camshaft and drives the actuator between the first and second positions in response to engine speed. At slow speeds occurring while before the engine starts, the actuator is held the first position so that the compression is relieved. After the engine starts, centrifugal force causes the weight lever to drive the actuator into the second position at which normal compression occurs.

Growing community of inventors

Sherwood, WI, United States of America

Gregory E Schmitz