Tecumseh Products Company

Ariens Company

Tecumseh Power Company

Certified Parts Corporation

Scot A Koehler

Russell J Dopke

Randall E Sterr

Gary Stenz

Steven T Davis

Clyde R Wetor

Dale D Snyder

David R Brower

Karl W Monis

Thomas A Immel

William Tenorio

Jason Dong

Michael J Holeton

Brian Vickery

Gary Stanelle

Mark J Glodowski

Todd L Carpenter

Travis Schisel

Andrew L Donati

Brian D Neeley

Perry L Prochnow

Craig Key

Scott M Lyman

Paul J Kragh

William M Miller

Kyle T Roggenkamp

Gary L Stenz

Battery pack

Battery pack connector

A utility machine including a frame, a prime mover supported by the frame, a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame, a drive disk coupled to the prime mover to be driven by the prime mover, and a friction disk assembly. The friction disk assembly includes a friction disk in engagement with the drive disk for transmitting rotation of the drive disk to the pair of wheels, and a carrier disk coupled to the friction disk for rotation therewith. The utility machine also includes a shifter mechanism including a bearing disposed directly between the friction disk and the carrier disk. The shifter mechanism is operable to move the friction disk assembly with respect to the drive disk to selectively vary a drive speed of the pair of wheels.

Friction drive system for a utility machine

A chute rotation mechanism for a snow thrower having a frame and a chute rotatably mounted to the frame includes a ring gear configured to be mounted to the chute, a drive gear engaging the ring gear, and a handle assembly configured to pivot relative to the frame. The chute rotation mechanism also includes a first cable extending between the drive gear and the handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotable in a first direction to tension the first cable and rotate the drive gear, thereby rotating the ring gear in a corresponding first direction. The chute rotation mechanism further includes a second cable extending between the drive gear and the handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotable in a second direction to tension the second cable and rotate the drive gear, thereby rotating the ring gear in a corresponding second direction.

Snow thrower chute rotation mechanism

A V-twin engine having a crankcase and a pair of cylinders defining a V-space therebetween, wherein the V-space is substantially enclosed, and a carburetor is positioned within the V-space. An intake air preheating arrangement supplies heated intake air to the carburetor, and a carburetor heating arrangement heats the V-space and the carburetor which is positioned within the V-space. Each of the foregoing arrangements, used separately or in combination within one another, aids in preventing 'freeze-up' of the carburetor during running of the engine in a cold environment.

Intake air and carburetor heating arrangement for v-twin engines

Intake air and carburetor heating arrangement for V-twin engines

Intake air and carburetor heating arrangements for V-twin engines

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

Engine shroud

A compression release mechanism for use in a single or multi-cylinder engine to make the engine easier to hand start. The assembly includes a compression release shaft disposed substantially within the camshaft. The compression release shaft is formed in at least two segments and can therefore be formed accurately, repeatedly and cost effectively using powder metal technology. Consequently, the weight of the flyweight member that is attached to the compression release shaft can be accurately controlled, thereby allowing the compression release mechanism to disengage at a precisely known rotational velocity of the camshaft. The compression release shaft may engage one or more valve actuation devices, which in turn force exhaust valves open during starting engine speeds. The compression release mechanism is conveniently contained within the housing by a housing wall bearing against the flyweight member and a cam bearing against an end of the compression release shaft. These bearing surfaces also hold the compression release shaft segments together.

Compression release mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Scot A Koehler