Internal-combustion engines – Accessories – Covers – trays – vibrators – corrosion inhibitors – air filters
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-10
2001-12-11
Yuen, Henry C. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Accessories
Covers, trays, vibrators, corrosion inhibitors, air filters
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328013
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a safety apparatus for use with high-performance motor engines, and more particularly to an apparatus for restraining the projection of motor engine parts during an uncontrolled explosion of a high-performance motor engine.
BACKGROUND
In high-performance motorcycle and boat racing, engines are utilized that are structurally reinforced for the use of highly explosive fuels such as nitrous oxide, nitro-methane, alcohol, gasoline, and other fuel combinations. Despite the careful design of these racing engines, and the controlled injection of fuel mixtures, destructive, uncontrolled explosions occasionally occur during racing that destroy a motorcycle or boat engine. When a racing engine explodes, the motorcycle operator may be critically injured or killed due to the missile-like projection of parts from the engine. A motorcycle operator is particularly vulnerable because the racing position of a driver is located directly over the motorcycle engine.
When high-performance engines explode, piston heads tend to separate from the piston cylinders and engine blocks. The piston heads may then be projected out of and away from the main engine body at tremendous velocity. Due to the orientation of engines having V-twin, angled V-twin, or four to six in-line cylinder arrangements, at least one piston head may be propelled away from the engine by an uncontrolled fuel explosion toward the race drivers chest or head. Approximately two deaths a year occur in motorcycle racing due to exploding engines, with additional serious injuries incurred by race drivers who survive episodes of exploding engines.
The explosion of high-performance boat engines also claim numerous lives each year. A safety device designed to contain an uncontrolled explosive engine is desperately needed to protect race drivers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for containing the cylinder heads and other parts of a high-performance motor engine during an uncontrolled explosion of the engine. The invented engine containment strap is a multi-ply band of heavy woven webbing having metal buckles on each end of the material. In use, the strap is fastened around an engine so that the strap passes under the main portion of the engine and then over the cylinder heads, which are typically found on the top of the engine.
The invented engine containment strap comprises a first layer and a second layer of material and two metal buckles. The two layers of material, approximately equal in length, rest flush against one-another. Two layers of material are used because of the improved strength gained with the use of multiple layers. A single layer of material may be used, but a single layer results in a significant reduction in strap strength. Three or more layers may be used in a strap, though the extra strength gained by the additional straps is unnecessary for all but the most powerful engines. The layers are made of heavily woven material having interwoven web construction. Preferably, the material is a high strength polymeric material such as Kevlar™.
A first and a second buckle are attached to the respective adjacent ends of the strap. Each buckle has a slot defined near the edge of the buckle. Each end of the strap is inserted through the slot of its respective buckle and then folded back upon itself The resulting four layers at each end of the strap are then stitched together, with the stitching repeated in a pattern to reinforce the stitched ends.
The buckles have two holes defined in each buckle. Connector bolts are attachable through the holes in the buckles when the buckles are overlaid, forming an encircling engine containment strap.
The encircling engine strap is placed around the cylinder heads and engine block of the motor engine, with the ends of the strap having the buckles attached together by the connector bolts, thus providing an engine containment strap that completely encircles the motor engine. During normal operation, the invented strap is installed around the engine and cylinder heads to encircle all parts that may break apart and be projected upwards towards the rider of the motorcycle. In the event of an engine explosion, projectiles are either contained by the strap or redirected away from the head and torso of the rider.
The invented containment strap provides a strong and pliable strap that can encircle different engine configurations, and can withstand a highly destructive separation of parts from a high-performance motor engine to protect the race driver from physical harm.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a safety strap which protects an operator of a motor engine from being injured by projectiles released during a motor engine explosion.
Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for containment of uncontrolled explosion motor engines.
A further object of this invention is to provide a safety strap that is flexible, low cost, and can encircle high performance motor engines.
Another object of the invention is to provide a containment strap that can withstand a highly destructive separation of engine parts from high performance motor engines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In view of the above and other objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the appended drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is an isometric view of one embodiment of use of the engine containment strap of the current invention;
FIG. 2
is a detail view of the two bracket ends of the engine containment strap attached together.
FIG. 3
is a side detailed view of the containment strap installed around the piston heads of a motor engine; and
FIG. 4
is an isometric view of one end of the dual layers of the straps of the engine containment strap;
REFERENCES:
patent: 5001779 (1991-03-01), Eggert et al.
patent: 5614280 (1997-03-01), Hanna
Ali Hyder
Dougherty & Clements LLP
Yuen Henry C.
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