Tecumseh Products Company

Karl W Monis

Scot A Koehler

Russell J Dopke

Thomas A Immel

Dale D Snyder

Gary Stanelle

Mark J Glodowski

Todd L Carpenter

Paul J Kragh

A twin cylinder engine, includes a pair of cylinder members mounted to mounting surfaces of a crankcase, and cylinder heads mounted to the cylinder members. The cylinder members are modular components, which may be pre-assembled with components of the valve train as packaged units before the cylinder members are attached to the crankcase. Each cylinder member rotatably supports a cam gear which extends into the crankcase for driving engagement with the crankshaft. The cylinder members may be configured for either side valve-type ('L-head'), or overhead valve-type ('OHV') engines, and the cylinder members may also be used in single cylinder engines.

Internal combustion engine

A line of small internal combustion engines, including twin cylinder engines and single cylinder engines. The engines each include a crankcase, and one or more cylinder members attached to the crankcase, the cylinder members being separate components from the crankcase. A number of different crankcases are provided for various types of single and two cylinder engines, the crankcases having common mounting structure to which the cylinder members may be attached. Thus, the manner in which the cylinder members are attached to the crankcases is the same for each of the different types of crankcases. Two different types of cylinder members are provided, one having a side valve or 'L-head' valve train, and the other having an overhead cam ('OHV') valve train. The cylinder members are therefore modular components which may be selectively used in a variety of different types of engines.

Modular internal combustion engines

A valve clearance adjustment mechanism for use in small internal combustion engines such as, for example, side valve engines and overhead valve engines, which generally include intake and exhaust valves actuated by lifters pivotally mounted within the engine housing, which in turn are actuated by cam lobes driven in timed rotation with the crank shaft. An adjustment member is provided for mounting each lifter to a shaft, wherein the adjustment member is eccentric relative to the shaft, such that rotation of the adjustment member modifies the position of the lifter and in turn modifies the valve clearance between the lifter and the valve. After the valve clearance has been properly set, the adjustment member is fixed in position.

Valve clearance adjustment mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Oconomowoc, WI, United States of America

Karl W Monis