Abstract: A cylinder head gasket including a first functional layer, a second functional layer, a first stopper, and a second stopper is provided. The first functional layer includes a first full bead extending around a combustion chamber opening and axially aligned with a second full bead of the second functional layer. The first stopper extends along the first functional layer between the combustion chamber opening and the first full bead for preventing over-compression of the first full bead. The second stopper extends along the second full bead of the second functional layer for increasing load on the second full bead, reducing head lift, and promoting an even distribution of the load. The second stopper includes a third full bead matching the second full bead of said second functional layer.

Abstract: A spark plug (20) for being threaded into a cylinder head (28) includes a shell (24) with threads (26) disposed at a predetermined angled relative to the ground electrode (34). The position of the threads (26) relative to the ground electrode (34) places the ground electrode (34) in a predetermined position in the combustion chamber (22) and relative to components of the engine, thus allowing the ground electrode (34) to provide a robust and reliable ignition. The threads (26) are formed by a thread forming apparatus (102) that includes an orientation tool (38) to position the ground electrode (34) relative to a thread forming apparatus (102), allowing the thread forming apparatus (102) to form the threads (26) at the desired angle (?).

Abstract: A piston and method of construction are provided. The piston has a piston body with an insert forming at least a portion of an upper combustion surface. The piston body is constructed from a first material having a first thermal conductivity and the insert is constructed from a second material having a second thermal conductivity. The first thermal conductivity is less than the second thermal conductivity. The piston body has an upper crown and a pair of pin bosses depending from the upper crown with the pin bosses presenting pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis. The upper crown includes a recess in which the insert is fixed.

Abstract: A piston for a high temperature internal combustion engine is provided. The piston includes an upper wall, base wall, outer rib, and inner rib defining a cooling chamber therebetween, and a plurality of ring grooves formed in the outer rib. Only the second ring groove is formed with the keystone cross-section, and all of the other ring grooves are formed with the conventional rectangular cross-section. Thus, the piston can be formed with low manufacturing costs and can also provide exceptional performance when used in high temperature combustion engines, wherein the temperature at the first ring groove is greater than 280° C., and thus prevents carbon from depositing or burns off any carbon deposits, but the temperature at the second ring groove is between 200° C. and 280° C., in which case carbon deposits can form and cause the piston ring to stick.

Abstract: A windscreen wiper device, or a wiper blade assembly, for cleaning a windshield of a vehicle is provided. The wiper blade assembly includes a wiper strip that extends in a longitudinal direction and at least one carrier element in engagement with the wiper strip for supporting and biasing the wiper strip into a predetermined configuration. An at least two piece connecting device is coupled to the at least one carrier element. One piece of the connecting device is a main piece that has a bearing surface shaped, and the other piece is a door piece that is pivotable between an open position for allowing attachment and detachment between the connecting device and the wiper arm and a closed position for securing the wiper arm into engagement with the wiper blade assembly. The door piece is pivotably coupled to the main piece about an axis that extends in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A radial shaft seal, method of installation thereof, and seal assembly are provided. The seal includes a mounting portion and a seal lip having a sealing surface extending between an oil side end and a free air side end. An annular bridge extends from the oil side end to the mounting portion in radially overlying relation with the seal lip. An annular installation lip extends from the free air side end toward an air side of the seal. The installation lip has an inner surface spaced radially outwardly from the sealing surface and has an end portion that diverges radially outwardly toward the air side of the seal. The installation lip engages the shaft to promote the seal lip to slide over the shaft without unfolding the seal lip, and then springs radially outwardly from the shaft to remain out of contact with the shaft during use.

Abstract: A metal gasket for establishing a gas and fluid-tight seal between two members and which is resistant to temperatures of greater than 430° C. and even up to 540° C. is provided. The metal gasket is made of a 200 series stainless steel which includes, by weight percentage: up to 1.0% Silicon, 3.5-5.5% Manganese, up to 0.060% Phosphorus, up to 0.030% Sulfur, 17.5-19.5% Chromium, 0.50-2.00% Molybdenum, 4.0-6.0% Nickel, 0.10-1.00% Niobium, 0.08-0.30% Nitrogen and the remainder of Iron. This particular alloy has been found to provide the gasket with very high mechanical strength, even at temperatures of up to 540° C. Additionally, due to the low nickel content of the 200 series stainless steel, the metal gasket may be made more cost-effectively than other known metal gaskets.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting inner surfaces (22) of cylindrical parts (20) includes a line scan camera (30), a pair of light emitting diodes each directing light toward the inner surface (22), and a mirror (36) disposed in the cylindrical part (20) at a 45 degree angle relative to the inner surface (22). The camera (30) and mirror (36) remain in a fixed position while the cylindrical part (20) rotates continuously about a center axis (A) and the images are acquired. The cylindrical part (20) is then moved laterally along the center axis (A) and the images are again acquired as the cylindrical part (20) rotates about the center axis (A). An unwrapped display of the inner surface (22) is generated and used to automatically identify defects (24) on the inner surface (22).

Abstract: A piston and method of construction are provided. The piston includes a piston body having an upper combustion surface configured for direct exposure to combustion gases within a cylinder bore with an undercrown surface located beneath the upper combustion surface. The piston body also includes a ring belt region configured for receipt of at least one piston ring adjacent the upper combustion surface with a cooling gallery configured radially inwardly and in substantial radial alignment with the ring belt region. The piston further includes a non-stick coating material bonded to at least one of the undercrown surface and at least a portion of the cooling gallery, wherein the non-stick coating material inhibits the build-up of carbon deposits thereon.

Abstract: A piston and method of construction are provided. The piston includes a piston body having an upper combustion surface configured for direct exposure to combustion gases within a cylinder bore with an undercrown surface located beneath the upper combustion surface. The piston body also includes a ring belt region configured for receipt of at least one piston ring adjacent the upper combustion surface with a cooling gallery configured radially inwardly and in substantial radial alignment with the ring belt region. The piston further includes a non-stick material contained in or bonded to at least one of the undercrown surface and at least a portion of the cooling gallery, wherein the non-stick material inhibits the build-up of carbon deposits thereon.

Abstract: A powder metal composition for high wear and temperature applications is made by atomizing a melted iron based alloy including 3.0 to 7.0 wt. % carbon; 10.0 to 25.0 wt. % chromium; 1.0 to 5.0 wt. % tungsten; 3.5 to 7.0 wt. % vanadium; 1.0 to 5.0 wt. % molybdenum; not greater than 0.5 wt. % oxygen; and at least 40.0 wt. % iron. The high carbon content reduces the solubility of oxygen in the melt and thus lowers the oxygen content to a level below which would cause the carbide-forming elements to oxidize during atomization. The powder metal composition includes metal carbides in an amount of at least 15 vol. %. The microhardness of the powder metal composition increases with increasing amounts of carbon and is typically about 800 to 1,500 Hv50.

Abstract: A modular fracture plug and method of construction thereof for temporarily sealing off a well is provided. The fracture plug includes an inner substrate material and an outer shell. The outer shell is provided having a plurality of individual sections bonded to one another. One of the sections provides a closed base, while another of the sections provides a closed cover, and one or more of the sections provide an intermediate section between the base and the cover. The intermediate section has a through opening forming at least a portion of the cavity.

Abstract: An improved piston for an opposed piston internal combustion engine is provided. The piston includes a piston body that extends along an axis from a crown portion to a skirt portion with a full piston skirt and to a pin boss portion. The piston body includes a plurality of ring grooves in the crown portion and at least one ring groove in the skirt portion. A wrist pin which has a length that is longer than a maximum diameter of the piston body is joined with the piston body at the pin boss portion and extends past the pin boss portion for receiving a pair of connecting rods on opposite sides of the piston body. The piston body is a monobloc piston body which is made of one integral piece or of multiple pieces that are welded or adhered together.

Abstract: A piston assembly and method of construction thereof for an internal combustion engine are provided. The assembly includes a piston head having an upper combustion wall with an undercrown surface and a ring belt region. The piston head has a floor with an upper surface and a bottom surface. The floor is spaced beneath the upper combustion wall in radial alignment with the ring belt region. A substantially enclosed, annular cooling gallery is bounded by the undercrown surface and the floor. A pair of pin bores depends directly from the floor of the cooling gallery. The assembly further includes a pin having ends configured for oscillating receipt in the pin bores. A pin bearing surface extends within the pin bores and between the pin bores in the lower surface of the floor. The assembly includes a connecting rod with an end fixed to the pin for conjoint oscillation therewith.

Abstract: A multi-spectral imaging system includes a first light source that emits a first wavelength and a second light source that emits a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. The system further includes a camera having a lens, a beam splitter downstream of the lens and a pair of sensors downstream of the beam splitter. The lens is configured to focus the first and second wavelengths onto separate ones of the sensors, and the beam splitter allows one of the first wavelength or the second wavelength to pass through the beam splitter, and the other of the first wavelength or the second wavelength to be reflected off the beam splitter. One of the pair of sensors is configured to receive the first wavelength to produce a first image and the other of the sensors is configured to receive the second wavelength to produce a second image different from the first image.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine comprises a sealed cooling gallery extending circumferentially around a center axis beneath a bowl rim of an upper crown. A metal-containing composition having a high thermal conductivity fills a portion of the sealed cooling gallery to dissipate heat. The metal-containing composition includes a base material having a melting temperature less than 181° C. and a plurality of metal particles having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of the base material. For example, the metal-containing composition can comprise copper particles dispersed in silicone oil, or copper particles dispersed in a mixture of alkali metals. During high temperature operation, as the piston reciprocates in the cylinder bore, the base material is liquid and flows throughout the cooling gallery to dissipate heat away from the upper and lower crowns.

Abstract: A multi-layer cylinder head gasket providing improved sealing performance, stability, and a more rigid joint between two components is provided. The gasket includes a plurality of functional layers each including a full bead located between an inner edge and outer edge and surrounding a combustion chamber opening. A stopper is disposed between the functional layers and is located radially between the combustion chamber opening and the full bead. A coating material is applied to at least one surface of at least one functional layer and extends along a majority of the length of the functional layer. To achieve the improved performance, a region along the surface located between the inner edge and the full bead remains uncoated, or includes a reduced amount of the coating material. Alternatively, the stopper can be located between the combustion chamber opening and the inner edges of the functional layers to provide the uncoated region.

Abstract: An imaging system for inspecting an inner surface bounding a component bore is provided along with a method of inspection therewith. The system includes a laser light source configured to emit a laser beam. Further, a camera is configured to image a reflection of the laser beam from the inner surface. At least a first minor is disposed within the bore. The laser light source is configured to emit the laser beam directly from the laser light source in substantially parallel relation to the central axis incident on the first mirror and the camera is configured to view a reflection of the laser beam from the inner surface.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp system includes a headlamp assembly having a light source and a beam pattern panel. The beam pattern panel includes one or more regions capable of changing between opaque and transparent light-transmission states to selectively allow light from the light source to pass through the panel. The panel may be an LCD panel with a plurality of liquid crystal elements arranged in an array with the ability to provide a plurality of different beam patterns. The beam pattern may be determined and changed in real time based on information received at a system processor about one or more vehicle and/or road conditions. The headlamp system can direct a projected light beam into a curve in the road ahead and/or automatically change the direction of the projected beam to avoid shining light directly at oncoming drivers.

Abstract: A continuous hot bonding method for producing a bi-material strip with a strong bond therebetween is provided. The method comprises sanding a first strip formed of steel; and applying a layer of first particles, typically formed of copper, to the sanded first strip. The method next includes heating the first strip and the layer of the first particles, followed by pressing a second strip formed of an aluminum alloy onto the heated layer of the first particles. The aluminum alloy of the second strip includes tin particles, and the heat causes the second particles to liquefy and dissolve into the melted first particles. The first particles and the second particles bond together to form bond enhancing metal particles, which typically comprise bronze.