Modular engine family

An engine from a modular family of internal combustion engines, comprising:

• at least one cylinder;
• and
• a top end component package associated with the at least one cylinder;
• wherein the family includes at least three engines, each with a different configuration selected from a group comprising single cylinder, V-type, inline, opposed, square, w-type and radial, a first engine of the at least three engines having a configuration of one of a single cylinder, V-type, W-type, opposed and radial cylinder configuration, a second engine of the at last three engines having a configuration of one of an inline and a square cylinder configuration;
• wherein each cylinder of each engine of the family uses identical top end component packages;
• and
• wherein two of the at least three engines, with different configurations, are each constructed and arranged to power a different recreational vehicle selected from a group comprising snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, go carts, personal watercraft, boats with outboard motors, boats with inboard engines, motorcycles, scooters, and light aircraft.

A method for manufacturing a modular family of internal combustion engines, comprising:

• designing a single top end component package;
• and
• designing a family of internal combustion engines, the family including at least three engines, each with different configuration selected from a group comprising a single cylinder, V-type, inline, opposed, square, w-type and radial, a first engine of the at least three engines having a cylinder configuration of one of a single cylinder, V-type, W-type, opposed and radial engine, a second engine of the at least three engines having a cylinder configuration of one of an inline and a square engine;
• wherein each cylinder of each engine of the family uses the same top end component package designed in the first step;
• and
• wherein two of the at least three engines, with different configurations, are each constructed and arranged to power different recreational vehicle selected from a group comprising snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, go carts, personal watercraft, boats with outboard motors, boats with inboard engines, motorcycles, scooters, and light aircraft.

A method for reducing a number of unique components required for manufacturing a modular family of internal combustion engines, comprising:

• designing a single top end component package;
• designing a family of internal combustion engines, the family including at least three engines, each with a different configuration selected from a group comprising single cylinder, V-type, inline, opposed, square, w-type and radial, a first engine of the at least three engines having a cylinder configuration of one of a single cylinder, V-type, W-type, opposed, and radial engine, a second engine of the at least three engines having a cylinder configuration of one of an inline and a square engine;
• wherein, each cylinder of each engine of the family uses the same top end component package designed in the first step and each component in the top end component package is designed to comply with the strictest performance requirement for that component in any application utilizing one of the family of engines;
• and
• wherein two of the at least three engines, with different configurations, are each constructed and arranged to power a different recreational vehicle selected from a group comprising snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, go carts, personal watercraft, boats with outboard motors, boats with inboard engines, motorcycles, scooters, and light aircraft.

One from a family of recreational vehicles incorporating one from a modular family of internal combustion engines, wherein:

• the family of engines includes at least two engines
• a first engine of the at least two engines having a cylinder configuration of one of a single cylinder, V-type, opposed, w-type and radial engine;
• a second engine of the at least two engines having a cylinder configuration of one of an inline and square engine;
• each of the first and the second engine including at least one cylinder, each cylinder of each engine of the family using identical top end component packages;
• the family of recreational vehicles encompasses at least two different recreational vehicles selected from a group comprising snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, go carts, personal watercraft, boats with outboard motors, boats with inboard engines, motorcycles, scooters, and light aircraft;
• and
• the first and the second engine are each constructed and arranged to power one of the at least two different recreational vehicles.

A family of recreational vehicles sharing a modular family of internal combustion engines, wherein:

• the family of engines includes at least two engines
• a first engine of the at least two engines having a configuration of one of a single cylinder, V-type, opposed, w-type and radial;
• a second engine of the at least two engines having one of an inline and a square cylinder configuration;
• each of the first and the second engines including at least one cylinder, each cylinder of each engine of the family using identical top end component packages;
• the family of recreational vehicles encompasses at least two different recreational vehicles selected from a group comprising snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, go carts, personal watercraft, boats with outboard motors, boats with inboard engines, motorcycles, scooters, and light aircraft;
• and
• the first and the second engine are each constructed and arranged to power one of the at least two different recreational vehicles.

A method for manufacturing one from a family of recreational vehicles sharing a family of internal combustion engines, comprising:

• designing a single top end component package;
• and
• designing a first engine having a cylinder configuration of one of a single cylinder, V-type, opposed, w-type and radial;
• designing a second engine having one of an inline and square cylinder configuration;
• the first and the second engine being part of the family of internal combustion engines
• wherein each cylinder of both of the first and the second engine of the family uses the same top end component package designed in the first step;
• wherein the plurality of recreational vehicle types encompasses at least two from a group comprising snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, go carts, personal watercraft, boats with outboard motors, boats with inboard engines, motorcycles, scooters, and light aircraft;
• and
• the first and the second engine are each constructed and arranged to power one of the at least two different recreational vehicle types from the plurality of recreational vehicle types.

A method for manufacturing a family of recreational vehicles sharing a family of internal combustion engines, comprising:

• designing a single top end component package;
• and
• designing a first engine having a cylinder configuration of one of a single cylinder, V-type, opposed, w-type and radial;
• designing a second engine having one an inline and a square cylinder configuration;
• the first and the second engine being part of the family of internal combustion engines;
• wherein each cylinder of the first and the second engine of the family uses the same top end component package designed in the first step;
• wherein the plurality of recreational vehicle types encompasses at least two from a group comprising snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, go carts, personal watercraft, boats with outboard motors, boats with inboard engines, motorcycles, scooters, and light aircraft;
• and
• the first and the second engines, with different configurations, are each constructed and arranged to power one of the at least two different recreational vehicle types from the plurality of recreational vehicle types.

A method for reducing a number of unique components required for manufacturing a family of recreational vehicles sharing a family of internal combustion engines, comprising:

• designing a single top end component package;
• and
• designing a first engine having a configuration of one of a single cylinder, V-type, opposed, square, w-type and radial;
• designing a second engine having an inline cylinder configuration;
• the first and the second engine being part of the family of internal combustion engines;
• wherein each cylinder of the first and the second engine of the family uses the same top end component package designed in the first step and each component in the top end component package is designed to comply with the strictest performance requirement for that component in any application utilizing one of the family of engines;
• wherein the plurality of recreational vehicle types encompasses at least two from a group comprising snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, go carts, personal watercraft, boats with outboard motors, boats with inboard engines, motorcycles, scooters, and light aircraft;
• and
• wherein the first and the second engine are each constructed and arranged to power one of the at least two different recreational vehicle types from the plurality of recreational vehicle types.