Patent ID: 7267326

Claim:
An internal combustion engine, comprising: an engine housing including a crankcase and a cylinder; a crankshaft, connecting rod, and piston assembly disposed within said engine housing, said piston reciprocable within said cylinder to generate positive and negative pressure pulses within said crankcase during cranking and running speeds of said engine; a carburetor; and a priming system, comprising: an air pump having an inlet in communication with the atmosphere and an outlet in fluid communication with said carburetor; and an accumulator in fluid communication with said crankcase through a restrictor, and also in driving fluid communication with said air pump, said restrictor dimensioned to allow substantially uninhibited communication of pressure pulses between said crankcase and said accumulator at engine cranking speeds and to dampen communication of pressure pulses between said crankcase and said chamber at engine running speeds; whereby at engine cranking speeds, pressure pulses may pass from said crankcase through said accumulator to drive said air pump and supply atmospheric air to said carburetor for priming, and at engine running speeds, said pressure pulses are substantially absent within said accumulator, said air pump is not driven, and priming is terminated.