The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 11, 2002
Gary J. Gracyalny, Milwaukee, WI (US);
John H. Thiermann, Greenfield, WI (US);
Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Wauwatosa, WI (US);
Abstract
An internal combustion engine having a centrifugally-responsive vacuum release mechanism that relieves a vacuum within a combustion chamber during the expansion stroke of an engine at engine starting speeds. The vacuum release mechanism is disposed adjacent the cam and engages a cam follower at engine starting speeds to unseat an engine valve while an engine piston is moving toward a crankcase and away from the combustion chamber. When the engine rotation speed reaches a desired kick-out speed, the centrifugal force transitions the vacuum release mechanism from an engaged position to a disengaged position. The vacuum release mechanism engages the cam follower to separate the cam follower from the cam when the vacuum release mechanism is in the engaged position. When the vacuum release mechanism is in the disengaged position during normal operating speeds, the cam follower is permitted to contact the cam throughout the entire rotation of the cam.