Patent US3874358A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3874358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Engine conversion system
Assignee: CROWER CAMS AND EQUIPMENT CO
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Filing: 1974-03-20
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1994-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A system for deactivating half the cylinders of an internal combustion engine to reduce its capacity, as in converting a V-8 engine to a V-4, to reduce fuel consumption and atmospheric pollution and make the engine more economical to operate. The pistons of the deactivated cylinders are replaced by piston substitutes, which are equal in weight to the original pistons and do not affect balance of the engine, the piston substitutes being cut away to allow free air flow and avoid pumping action. Spark plugs in the deactivated cylinders are replaced by dummy conductive plugs, the valve push rods are removed and the tappets replaced by fixed substitutes.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Bruce Crower
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:33
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B75/00; F02B75/16; F02B75/18; F02B75/22; F02B69/00; F02D; F02D13/00; F02D13/02; F02D13/06; F02B2075/1804; F02B2075/1832; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y10; Y10S; Y10S123/00; Y10S123/01; Y10S123/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, in which each cylinder has a piston, a spark plug, valves and valve actuating means, the improvement comprising: piston substitutes replacing the pistons in alternate cylinders in the firing order of the engine, each piston substitute having a diametrical wrist pin receiving bore, an axially extending opening therethrough, and being equal in weight to the respective replaced pistons; and the valve actuating means in the said alternate cylinders being disconnected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, in which each cylinder has a piston, a spark plug, valves and valve actuating means, the improvement comprising: piston substitutes replacing the pistons in alternate cylinders in the firing order of the engine, each piston substitute having a diametrical wrist pin receiving bore, an axially extending opening therethrough, and being equal in weight to the respective replaced pistons; and the valve actuating means in the said alternate cylinders being disconnected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein: said piston substitute has a substantially cylindrical body with axially extending cut away side portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein: said cut away portions are flat parallel sides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein: said cylindrical body has a sliding clearance in the respective cylinder to allow for expansion of the piston substitute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 1, and including: a dummy spark plug in each of the selected alternate cylinders, the dummy spark plug being conductive and providing a direct electrical connection to the engine ground.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein: the valve actuating means includes a push rod to each valve and a cam actuated tappet connected to each push rod; the improvement further comprising a fixed tappet plug replacing each tappet and the associated push rod being removed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein: the substitute piston has a substantially cylindrical body with axially extending flat sides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, in which each cylinder has a piston, a spark plug, valves and valve actuating means, the method of converting the engine to smaller capacity, comprising: removing the pistons from alternate cylinders in the firing order of the engine, and installing in their place piston substitute equal in weight to the removed pistons and with substantially unrestricted openings therethrough; and disconnecting the valve actuating means in the said alternate cylinders.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, in which each cylinder has a piston, a spark plug, valves and valve actuating means, the method of converting the engine to smaller capacity, comprising: removing the pistons from alternate cylinders in the firing order of the engine, and installing in their place piston substitute equal in weight to the removed pistons and with substantially unrestricted openings therethrough; and disconnecting the valve actuating means in the said alternate cylinders.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mEthod of claim 8 and including the further step of; replacing the spark plugs in the alternate cylinders with dummy conductive plugs providing an ignition short circuit to ground.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the valve actuating means includes a push rod and a cam actuated tappet for actuating each valve, and including the step of: removing the push rod from each valve in the alternate cylinders and replacing the associated tappets with fixed tappet plugs clear of the actuating cam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2919686A
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US3756205A
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US3765394A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |