Abstract: An engine assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The assembly comprises a bearing housing portion configured to support a bearing for a crankshaft of the engine assembly, wherein the bearing housing portion comprises a bearing interface surface configured to interface with the bearing and an end face adjacent to the bearing interface surface, the end face being arranged so as to face a web of the crankshaft when installed. The engine assembly further comprises an insulation layer provided on the end face, the insulation layer being positioned such that the insulation layer is between the bearing housing portion and the web of the crankshaft when the crankshaft is installed in the engine assembly.

Abstract: A machine having a cylinder, the configuration of the machine being such that a body portion of a piston of the machine periodically engages an inner surface of the cylinder during operation of the machine, this engagement defining a contact zone between the body portion of the piston and the inner surface of the cylinder, the inner surface of the cylinder having an enhanced bearing region comprising one or more recesses indented into the inner surface, the enhanced bearing region being smaller than the inner surface of the cylinder and being substantially centered on the contact zone.

Abstract: An engine assembly is provided. The engine assembly comprises an oil system comprising: a first oil pump configured to supply oil at a first pressure to one or more first components of the engine assembly; and a second oil pump configured to supply oil at a second pressure to one or more second components of the engine assembly, the second pressure being higher than the first pressure; wherein the second oil pump is provided adjacent to a valve train of the engine assembly.

Abstract: A crankcase oil catcher, the crankcase oil catcher comprising one or more surfaces configured to catch dispersed oil in a crankcase and direct the oil along the surfaces of the crankcase oil catcher away from a crankcase casing wall and towards a crank sump.

Abstract: A bearing interface of an apparatus, the apparatus having a first element and a second element configured to move relative to each other during operation of the apparatus, the first element comprising a first bearing surface configured to engage at least a portion of a second bearing surface of the second element thereby defining a contact zone between the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface, the first bearing surface having at least one recess indented into the first bearing surface, wherein the dimension of the recess in the direction of movement of the second element relative to the first element is less than the dimension of the contact zone in the direction of movement of the second element.

Abstract: A machine having one or more cylinders, each cylinder having an inner surface configured to engage a circumferential surface of a piston ring of a piston thereby defining a contact zone between the inner surface of the cylinder and the circumferential surface of the piston ring, the inner surface having at least one recess indented into the inner surface, wherein the ratio of the dimension of the recess in the direction of travel of the piston to the dimension of the contact zone in the direction of travel of the piston is in the range of approximately 1:5 to 3:5.

Abstract: A piston ring for a piston, the piston ring having a circumferential surface configured to engage an inner surface of a cylinder, the inner surface having at least one recess indented into the inner surface, the engagement of the circumferential surface of the piston ring with the inner surface of the cylinder defining a contact zone therebetween, wherein the circumferential surface of the piston ring is configured such that the ratio of the dimension of the contact zone the direction of travel of the piston to the dimension of the recess in the direction of travel of the piston is in the range of approximately 5:1 to 5:3.

Abstract: A crankcase assembly for an engine comprising: a crankcase comprising a crank sump; the crank sump comprising primary and secondary sump volumes; one or more crankcase oil catchers, the crankcase oil catchers comprising surfaces to catch dispersed oil in the crankcase and direct the oil away from a crankcase casing wall and towards the crank sump, wherein the crankcase oil catchers are provided above a crankshaft and below a piston of the engine; and one or more guides to collect oil and guide the oil to the primary sump volume. At least a portion of the guide is movable between a first configuration in which the guide collects the captured oil that would otherwise have.

Abstract: An engine assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The assembly comprises a bearing housing portion configured to support a bearing for a crankshaft of the engine assembly, wherein the bearing housing portion comprises a bearing interface surface configured to interface with the bearing and an end face adjacent to the bearing interface surface, the end face being arranged so as to face a web of the crankshaft when installed. The engine assembly further comprises an insulation layer provided on the end face, the insulation layer being positioned such that the insulation layer is between the bearing housing portion and the web of the crankshaft when the crankshaft is installed in the engine assembly.

Abstract: A crankcase assembly for an engine is provided. The crankcase assembly includes a crankcase comprising a crank sump, the crank sump including a primary sump volume and a secondary sump volume, one or more crankcase oil catchers, the crankcase oil catchers comprising one or more surfaces configured to catch dispersed oil in the crankcase and direct the oil along the surfaces of the crankcase oil catcher away from a crankcase casing wall and towards the crank sump, wherein the crankcase oil catchers are provided above a crankshaft and below an associated piston of the engine, and one or more guides configured to collect oil captured by the crankcase oil catchers and guide the oil to the primary sump volume.

Abstract: An engine assembly is provided. The engine assembly comprises an oil system comprising: a first oil pump configured to supply oil at a first pressure to one or more first components of the engine assembly; and a second oil pump configured to supply oil at a second pressure to one or more second components of the engine assembly, the second pressure being higher than the first pressure; wherein the second oil pump is provided adjacent to a valve train of the engine assembly.

Abstract: A crankcase assembly for an engine comprising: a crankcase comprising a crank sump; the crank sump comprising primary and secondary sump volumes; one or more crankcase oil catchers, the crankcase oil catchers comprising surfaces to catch dispersed oil in the crankcase and direct the oil away from a crankcase casing wall and towards the crank sump, wherein the crankcase oil catchers are provided above a crankshaft and below a piston of the engine; and one or more guides to collect oil and guide the oil to the primary sump volume. At least a portion of the guide is movable between a first configuration in which the guide collects the captured oil that would otherwise have.

Abstract: A crankcase oil catcher, the crankcase oil catcher comprising one or more surfaces configured to catch dispersed oil in a crankcase and direct the oil along the surfaces of the crankcase oil catcher away from a crankcase casing wall and towards a crank sump.

Abstract: An engine block has one or more bores configured for receiving one or more respective pistons; one or more coolant passages; and one or more lubricant passages. At least portions of the coolant passages and lubricant passages are disposed adjacent to and about the bores so as to cool the bores. The coolant passage portion extends over a first lengthwise portion of the bores and the lubricant passage portion extending over a second lengthwise portion of the bores. The first and second lengthwise portions are longitudinally spaced apart along the bores.

Abstract: A machine having a cylinder, the configuration of the machine being such that a body portion of a piston of the machine periodically engages an inner surface of the cylinder during operation of the machine, this engagement defining a contact zone between the body portion of the piston and the inner surface of the cylinder, the inner surface of the cylinder having an enhanced bearing region comprising one or more recesses indented into the inner surface, the enhanced bearing region being smaller than the inner surface of the cylinder and being substantially centered on the contact zone.

Abstract: A crankcase oil catcher configured for placement above a crankshaft and below a piston is described. In one particular example, the crankcase oil catcher has a contour that catches dispersed oil within the crankcase while directing the oil away from a casing wall and towards a crank sump along the contoured surface of the crankcase oil catcher. Inclusion of an aperture within the surface allows for passage of a connecting rod of the crankshaft while providing for a protruding lip around the perimeter of the aperture that prevents oil on the top surface from falling through the aperture.

Abstract: A crankcase assembly for an engine is provided. The crankcase assembly includes a crankcase comprising a crank sump, the crank sump including a primary sump volume and a secondary sump volume, one or more crankcase oil catchers, the crankcase oil catchers comprising one or more surfaces configured to catch dispersed oil in the crankcase and direct the oil along the surfaces of the crankcase oil catcher away from a crankcase casing wall and towards the crank sump, wherein the crankcase oil catchers are provided above a crankshaft and below an associated piston of the engine, and one or more guides configured to collect oil captured by the crankcase oil catchers and guide the oil to the primary sump volume.

Abstract: A piston ring for a piston, the piston ring having a circumferential surface configured to engage an inner surface of a cylinder, the inner surface having at least one recess indented into the inner surface, the engagement of the circumferential surface of the piston ring with the inner surface of the cylinder defining a contact zone therebetween, wherein the circumferential surface of the piston ring is configured such that the ratio of the dimension of the contact zone the direction of travel of the piston to the dimension of the recess in the direction of travel of the piston is in the range of approximately 5:1 to 5:3.

Abstract: A machine having one or more cylinders, each cylinder having an inner surface configured to engage a circumferential surface of a piston ring of a piston thereby defining a contact zone between the inner surface of the cylinder and the circumferential surface of the piston ring, the inner surface having at least one recess indented into the inner surface, wherein the ratio of the dimension of the recess in the direction of travel of the piston to the dimension of the contact zone in the direction of travel of the piston is in the range of approximately 1:5 to 3:5.

Abstract: A piston ring for a piston, the piston ring having a circumferential surface configured to engage an inner surface of a cylinder, the inner surface having at least one recess indented into the inner surface, the engagement of the circumferential surface of the piston ring with the inner surface of the cylinder defining a contact zone therebetween, wherein the circumferential surface of the piston ring is configured such that the ratio of the dimension of the contact zone the direction of travel of the piston to the dimension of the recess in the direction of travel of the piston is in the range of approximately 5:1 to 5:3.