A coolant bottle defines a first chamber and a second chamber fluidly coupled to the first chamber at a valve seat. The first chamber is fluidly coupled to a source of heated engine cooling fluid, while the second chamber is fluidly coupled to an engine water pump. A thermally responsive actuator is disposed within the first chamber, and has a thermally actuated sliding member having a valve seat engaging surface. The thermally actuated sliding member is movable from a first open position to a second closed position when the coolant is above a first temperature. The thermally responsive actuator is disposed within the first chamber.

A coolant bottle defines a first chamber and a second chamber fluidly coupled to the first chamber at a valve seat. The first chamber is fluidly coupled to a source of heated engine cooling fluid, while the second chamber is fluidly coupled to an engine water pump. A thermally responsive actuator is disposed within the first chamber, and has a thermally actuated sliding member having a valve seat engaging surface. The thermally actuated sliding member is movable from a first open position to a second closed position when the coolant is above a first temperature. The thermally responsive actuator is disposed within the first chamber.

Internal combustion engines having pistons with one or more depressions located on the piston head to facilitate the movement of air/charge in the cylinder are disclosed. The pistons may include a skirt with a field of pockets that provide a ringless, non-lubricated, seal equivalent. The piston head also may be domed to further facilitate the movement of air/charge in the cylinder. The engines may also have non-circular, preferably rectangular, cross-section pistons and cylinders. The engines also may use multi-stage poppet valves in lieu of conventional poppet valves, and may include a split crankshaft. The engines may use the pumping motion of the engine piston to supercharge the cylinder with air/charge. The engines also may operate in an inverted orientation in which the piston is closer to the local gravitationally dominant terrestrial body's center of gravity at top dead center position than at bottom dead center position.

Internal combustion engines having pistons with one or more depressions located on the piston head to facilitate the movement of air/charge in the cylinder are disclosed. The pistons may include a skirt with a field of pockets that provide a ringless, non-lubricated, seal equivalent. The piston head also may be domed to further facilitate the movement of air/charge in the cylinder. The engines may also have non-circular, preferably rectangular, cross-section pistons and cylinders. The engines also may use multi-stage poppet valves in lieu of conventional poppet valves, and may include a split crankshaft. The engines may use the pumping motion of the engine piston to supercharge the cylinder with air/charge. The engines also may operate in an inverted orientation in which the piston is closer to the local gravitationally dominant terrestrial body's center of gravity at top dead center position than at bottom dead center position.

A method and a system for starting an internal combustion engine (ICE) having a crankshaft and an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to the crankshaft are disclosed. An absolute angular position of the crankshaft related to a top dead center position of a piston in a combustion chamber of the ICE is determined. Electric power is delivered to the ETM at a first level to rotate the crankshaft. Electric power is then delivered to the ETM at a second level greater than the first level when the piston reaches a predetermined position before the TDC position. Fuel is injected in the combustion chamber after the piston has passed beyond the TDC position. The fuel is then ignited. In an implementation, the ICE is started in less than 110 degrees of rotation of the crankshaft.

Provided is a stratified scavenging engine and a portable work machine that suppress THC sufficiently. A stratified scavenging engine includes: a cylinder having a cylinder bore; and a piston stored in the cylinder bore to be movable in a reciprocating manner. The cylinder has an intake port to intake leading air and a scavenging port to scavenge combustion gas, the intake port and the scavenging port being open to the cylinder bore. The piston has a peripheral surface including a piston groove to guide leading air from the intake port to the scavenging port, and the piston groove has a recess near the intake port.

Embodiments describe a method of controlling a two-stroke internal combustion engine is shown. The method includes selecting one set of two or more sets of engine parameter inputs or a weighted value of two or more sets of engine parameter inputs, determining an engine output parameter from the selection, and utilizing the determined engine output parameter to control one or more engine operations; re-selecting one set of two or more sets of engine parameter inputs or a weighted value of two or more sets of engine parameter inputs during engine operation, utilizing the reselected output parameters to adjust one or more engine operations. Each set of engine parameter inputs includes a direct measurement of crankcase pressure and engine speed and optionally one or more of barometric pressure, exhaust valve position, air temperature, engine coolant temperature, exhaust temperature, boost pressure, crankshaft position and direction of rotation, humidity, fuel pressure, fuel temperature, detonation sensor level, exhaust oxygen content, and throttle valve angle.

Embodiments describe a method of controlling a two-stroke internal combustion engine is shown. The method includes selecting one set of two or more sets of engine parameter inputs or a weighted value of two or more sets of engine parameter inputs, determining an engine output parameter from the selection, and utilizing the determined engine output parameter to control one or more engine operations; re-selecting one set of two or more sets of engine parameter inputs or a weighted value of two or more sets of engine parameter inputs during engine operation, utilizing the reselected output parameters to adjust one or more engine operations. Each set of engine parameter inputs includes a direct measurement of crankcase pressure and engine speed and optionally one or more of barometric pressure, exhaust valve position, air temperature, engine coolant temperature, exhaust temperature, boost pressure, crankshaft position and direction of rotation, humidity, fuel pressure, fuel temperature, detonation sensor level, exhaust oxygen content, and throttle valve angle.

A proposed Adiabatic Diesel Engine (ADE), implements no cooling of the cylinders. The mechanism to achieve adiabatic cylinders is based on the separation of the crankcase mechanism from the cylinder mechanism. In an example implementation, the crankcase has a cross head mechanism driven by a connecting rod. The cross head mechanism drives the piston driveshaft(s) through a sliding bearing. The piston driveshaft moves between the crankcase and the cylinders. The cylinder has both a top where compression and combustion occur and a bottom with the piston driveshaft attached. The bottom has an opening for the piston driveshaft to move through. The bottom of the cylinder would normally be used to pump air for charging the combustion chamber. The crankcase mechanism contains lubricating oil and typically is cooled naturally through its casing.

A proposed Adiabatic Diesel Engine (ADE), implements no cooling of the cylinders. The mechanism to achieve adiabatic cylinders is based on the separation of the crankcase mechanism from the cylinder mechanism. In an example implementation, the crankcase has a cross head mechanism driven by a connecting rod. The cross head mechanism drives the piston driveshaft(s) through a sliding bearing. The piston driveshaft moves between the crankcase and the cylinders. The cylinder has both a top where compression and combustion occur and a bottom with the piston driveshaft attached. The bottom has an opening for the piston driveshaft to move through. The bottom of the cylinder would normally be used to pump air for charging the combustion chamber. The crankcase mechanism contains lubricating oil and typically is cooled naturally through its casing.