Abstract: A sliding vane pump comprising a rotor housing having a pumping chamber, a rotor in the pumping chamber having a plurality of radially disposed slots, and a plurality of sliding vanes disposed in the slots configured to extend to follow an inner wall of said pumping chamber.

Abstract: A sliding vane pump comprising a rotor housing having a pumping chamber, a rotor in the pumping chamber having a plurality of radially disposed slots, and a plurality of sliding vanes disposed in the slots configured to extend to follow an inner wall of said pumping chamber.

Abstract: An oil pump drive assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a source of rotational input such as a crankshaft and a splined hub mounted to the crankshaft for rotation therewith. The splined hub has male splines extending about the outer perimeter to transfer rotational load to drive an oil pump. The oil pump includes a pump body housing a gerotor pump set, which includes an internally lobed pumping annulus and a pump rotor. The pump rotor has lobes along the outer surface to engage the internally lobed pumping annulus and female splines along the inner surface which compliment and receive the male splines of the splined hub for meshing engagement to operatively connect the crankshaft and the gerotor pump set.

Abstract: According to the present invention a connecting rod constructed of a rigid, primary material is defined by a longitudinally extending beam having, at a first end, a piston pin bearing boss and, at a second end, a crankpin bearing boss. The longitudinally extending beam includes an opening extending from a location near the piston pin bearing boss to a location near the crankpin bearing boss to define opposing webs or legs. A secondary material having stiffness properties different from said primary material is disposed within the opening in the longitudinally extending beam. Under loads imposed on the connecting rod during the combustion event, the opposing legs exhibit a resiliency which allows inward movement, towards the beam axis thereby compressing the secondary material in the opening. The inward movement of the opposing legs, and resulting compression of the secondary material therebetween, absorbs a portion of the applied load to reduce or modify the amplitude of the force transferred to the crankpin.