Safety cut-off for internal combustion engine

Claim 1

In an internal combustion engine, a safety cut-off comprising a combustion chamber, a cylinder head communicating with said combustion chamber, a port in said cylinder head communicating with said chamber, a valve having an open and a closed position and having when in said open position a continuously open path permitting the bidirectional passage of gases therethrough, said path being positively closed when said valve is in said closed position, means connecting said valve with said port, and electrical ignition circuit communicating with the interior of said chamber including in series therewith an ignition disconnect switch arranged to interrupt the electrical continuity of said circuit, an actuating arm operatively connected to said valve and to said ignition disconnect switch and having a first position and a second position, said arm being arranged when in said first position to close said valve and complete said ignition circuit and when in said second position to interrupt said ignition circuit and open said valve thereby to stop the operation of said engine and release the pressure within said chamber and permit the bidirectional flow of gases into and out of said chamber.