Frame Construction Patents (Class 123/195R)
  • Patent number: 6152097
    Abstract: Engine brace apparatus for an overhead-valve engine comprising a crankcase, a cylinder, a cylinder head and a rocker arm box in operative securement, with pushrods communicating between the crankcase and the rocker arm box, and a rigid elongate member securing the rocker arm box to the crankcase outwardly of the pushrods. The brace adds rigidity to a conventional overhead-valve engine and structurally ties together the engine's rocker arm box, cylinder head, cylinder and crankcase, and prevents the engine's pushrods from lifting the rocker arm box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Alan C. Sputhe
  • Patent number: 6135082
    Abstract: A cylinder head having a device for returning lubricating oil from the interior is provided with two separate collectors which each extend in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder head. One of the collectors is connected with the interior of the cylinder head in the forward or rearward area of the cylinder head. The other of the collectors is connected with the interior only in the opposite rearward or forward area of the cylinder head. As a result, it is ensured that, in each case, at least one of the two collectors in the area of their connection point into the interior, also in the event of strong decelerations/accelerations, is always below the adjusting oil level and thus a disposal of oil from the cylinder head is ensured under all operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Roland Stromsky, Albrecht Reustle
  • Patent number: 6135081
    Abstract: An engine power section for piston engines, particularly V-engines, having a power unit block made of an iron material arranged in a casing of light metal. In order to achieve a stiff weight-reducing power unit block, a flange plate used for limiting the crank space as well as for the connection with the casing is arranged offset relative to a cylinder from its lower end toward its upper end with its front side surface center of gravity at a distance on this side of the bearing center plane of a crankshaft bearing, which corresponds at least to a largest possible distance of the surface center of gravity of a reinforcing profile of a bearing frame on the other side of the bearing center plane. The crankshaft bearings are connected with the flange plate by way of struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Fritz Winter Eisengiesserei GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Eidenboeck, Franz Malischew, Klaus Eigenfeld, Horst Henkel
  • Patent number: 6125811
    Abstract: A lightweight high-strength cylinder block that is configured so as to provide an enlargement at one end thereof that defines a bell housing. The enlargement is provided with cavities, however, so as to lighten the weight of the cylinder block without substantially reducing its strength. At least one of these cavities can provide for communication of oil return and/or crankcase ventilating gases and also may function as a thermostat housing. An embodiment wherein the cylinder block extends below the crank shaft axis to form the upper portion of the crankcase is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Koriyama, Hitoshi Uema
  • Patent number: 6105549
    Abstract: A chain tensioning arrangement arranged in a timing case for an internal-combustion engine which acts upon a timing chain that can be driven by the crankshaft of the internal-combustion engine. The chain tensioning arrangement provides a simple device with respect to assembly and operational reliability. The chain tensioning arrangement includes a tensioning member which can be adjusted between a mounting position, releasing chain tension and a tensioning position acting upon the chain. In the mounting position, the tensioning member is clamped by a releasable locking pin which extends beyond the floor of the timing case of the internal-combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Uwe Moser
  • Patent number: 6101994
    Abstract: An aluminum cylinder block (1) of an engine has a plurality of cylinder bores (2), and intermediate marginal areas (17) defined between adjacent cylinder bores (2). A single water jacket (8) is formed in the cylinder block (8) to surround the plurality of cylinder bores (2), and a plurality of oil chutes (15) are also formed in the cylinder block (1) outside the water jacket (8) for allowing an oil to drop from a cylinder head (5) to a crankcase (14) therethrough. These oil chutes (15) are formed between adjacent intermediate marginal areas (17) so that they do not make the cylinder block (1) swell out. An air in the oil chutes (15) functions as a sound insulation layer against combustion noises generated in the cylinder bores (2). The air in the oil chutes (15) also serves as a heat insulation layer for a cooling water in the water jacket (8) so that warming up performance of the engine under a cold condition is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6101995
    Abstract: An auxiliary part mounting bracket for an in-line multi-cylinder engine. An oil pump, an auto-tensioner, an alternator, a water pump and a compressor are preassembled on the auxiliary part mounting bracket to form an assembly. This assembly is fixed to a side of the engine cylinder block by six bolts. One bolt is threadedly inserted into the cylinder block through a space defined between the upper oil pump and auto-tensioner and the lower alternator and water pump; two bolts are threadedly inserted into the cylinder block through a space defined between the upper positioned alternator and water pump and the lower positioned compressor. Thus, it is possible to enhance the assembling operation, when the plurality of auxiliary parts are fixed to an engine body through the auxiliary part mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Itoh, Yasuyo Kosugi, Masaharu Goto
  • Patent number: 6095109
    Abstract: In a fastened joint where two or more joint members are secured together, a method for improving the sealing properties of the joint. The method includes the incorporation of one or more depressions into at least one joint surface of the joint members. The depressions are positioned to reduce the tendency of the joint members to transmit clamping forces between non-sealing areas, thereby increasing the magnitude of the clamping forces transmitted through sealing areas and reducing the opportunity for leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Ming Zhou, Alan Falkowski
  • Patent number: 6086260
    Abstract: The subject invention refers to a crankshaft bearing system (1) for an internal combustion engine, in which the engine's crankshaft (15) is mounted in permanently lubricated sealed bearings (2, 3), usually ball bearings (2, 3), and the engine's crankcase seals (4, 5) are located inside each bearing (2, 3), i.e. between the bearing (2, 3) and the crankshaft assembly (6) with piston rod (7) and counterweights (8, 9), and a draining duct (11) is arranged in the crankshaft so that it leads from a space (12) between one of the crankcase seals (4, 5) and adjacent bearing out to the surrounding air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventor: Goran Dahlberg
  • Patent number: 6082320
    Abstract: A plurality of head bolt holes (8) is formed in the top part (4) of a cylinder block (1) of an engine at prescribed intervals about the peripheries of cylinder bores (2). Female threads (8b) are formed in the head bolt holes (8) and wall buildups (9) are formed on side walls of the cylinder block (1) around the female threads (8b) respectively. Axial tension transmission members (10) are also formed on the cylinder block side walls between the wall buildups (9) so as to interconnect adjacent wall buildups (9). The axial tension produced in the female threads upon tightening of the head bolts is transmitted not only to the vicinities of head bolt holes (8), but also to intermediate areas (12) between adjacent head bolt holes, via the wall buildups (9) and axial tension transmission members (10). Thus, the top face (5) of the cylinder block (1) is uniformly pressed against the mating bottom face of the cylinder head even if the cylinder block is made of a material with small Young's modulus such as aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Yoshiro Shimayama
  • Patent number: 6076494
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, especially a multi-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine with split cast crankcase comprising two half-shells (1a, 1b) clamped together by fastening studs, with the joint plane running in the direction of the crankshaft and cylinder axis, there are disposed, in recesses provided therefor in the half shells (1a, 1b), separate cylinder sleeves (2), each closed at its top end by a separate cylinder cover (10) with a circumferential rim. These cylinder covers (10) are completely clamped sealingly between the crankcase half shells (1a, 1b). A method for making such an internal combustion engine is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Motorenfabrik Hatz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Guenter Kampichler, Erich Eder
  • Patent number: 6073517
    Abstract: Connection piece for connecting a housing (4) of a drive unit (2) with a housing (5) of a compressor element (1). The connection piece is provided with ribs (12) over at least a part of its wall, the height of the ribs (12) being at least equal to one and a half times a thickness of the part of the wall upon which the rib is standing and the thickness of the ribs (12), half-way up the height, being equal to at least half of the thickness of the part of the wall. The ribs (12) form a pattern which divides the wall into adjacent wall segments (13) which have a first characteristic mode for bending that has a resonant frequency which excludes excitation by substantially all excitation frequencies up to and including a highest of the compressor element (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Raphael Henri Maria Pauwels, Willy Joseph Rosa Bodart, Philip Xavier Jacques Veys
  • Patent number: 6073603
    Abstract: To enable preventing interference between a honing machine and a journal wall, avoiding large-sizing of a cylinder block and tilting a front cylinder part so that the upper end is as low as possible in a vehicular V-type internal combustion engine wherein the front cylinder part arranged on the front side in a vehicular travel direction and a rear cylinder part arranged on the rear side in the vehicular travel direction are arranged so that they form an approximate V-shape. A front cylinder part is tilted so that the upper end is lower than that of a rear cylinder part and a bent part bent on the side distant from a central position is formed in a part corresponding to a front cylinder hole of a journal wall arranged on the side displaced from the central position between both journal walls of the front cylinder hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Sumi, Yoshiaki Hori
  • Patent number: 6070563
    Abstract: In an engine block of an internal combustion engine having a clutch housing provided with cut-outs, a thin-walled liner is fitted into the clutch housing to cover the cut-outs so as to provide a clutch housing structure of a relatively low weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Karl-Jorg Achenbach, Ulrich Bertsch, Thomas Hardt, Hubert Schnupke, Gunther Zoll
  • Patent number: 6070562
    Abstract: A cylinder block for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with a multi-bearing crankshaft and a water jacket surrounding the cylinders. The outer wall of the water jacket extends downwards approximately into a parting plane of the crankshaft bearings. A base frame rests against and is connected to a contact surface formed by a circumferential free edge of the water jacket outer wall. The crankshaft bearings are arranged on the base frame and detachable bearing caps are arranged and fastened by screws on the side of the base frame facing the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Eisenwerk Bruehl GmbH
    Inventor: Nico Johan Van Bezeij
  • Patent number: 6058903
    Abstract: An engine enclosure for a work machine comprises a firewall, left and right-hand side panel structures, and a pivotal hood. Each set of side panel structures is supported by a support tower connected between the frame of the machine and a side margin of the firewall. The support towers are specially shaped to generally conform to the general shape of the panel structures they support. The hood is provided with a hold-open support which maintains the hood in an open position if so desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David Downham
  • Patent number: 6053142
    Abstract: In a crankcase of an internal combustion engine with lower and upper crankcase parts joined together along a separation plane extending through the axis of crankshaft bearings mounted in the transverse walls of the crankcase, the upper crankcase part has side walls with cut-outs formed therein and a cup-shaped member is disposed within the crank chamber formed between the transverse walls of the crankcase to cover the cut-outs. The cup-shaped member has an opening adjacent the respective cylinder of a cylinder block extending from the upper crankcase for accommodating a connecting rod extending between the crankshaft and a piston in the respective cylinder of the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChysler AG
    Inventors: Karl-Jorg Achenbach, Ulrich Bertsch, Thomas Hardt, Hubert Schnupke
  • Patent number: 6029620
    Abstract: An engine block containing thermoelectric materials that generates a direct current during operation and, in so doing, provides for at least some of the necessary engine cooling requirements and for at least some of the electric power requirements. The result is wasted heat energy is being converted into electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Robert Dan Zinke
  • Patent number: 5992393
    Abstract: A diesel engine having cylinders disposed in a V shape is constructed as compact as possible so that it can be adapted to either vertical and horizontal use without changing many parts. To this end, intake and exhaust cams and a fuel injection pump driving cam are disposed on a single camshaft to thereby obviate the necessity of a plurality of camshafts. In addition, a fuel pump, which has conventionally been disposed in a separate fuel injection pump case outside a cylinder block, is disposed inside the cylinder block. Furthermore, a fuel injection nozzle is disposed on an inner side of a pushrod and the pushrod and fuel injection nozzle are disposed between the cylinders, whereby a compact construction is obtained. Moreover, a governor device and a fuel injection pump are disposed on a side opposite to a crankshaft of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Yanmar Diesel Engine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Yoshida, Manabu Miyazaki, Osamu Murakami
  • Patent number: 5901680
    Abstract: A crank chamber structure for an engine which is designed to reduce vibratory noise, to achieve a reduction in weight and cost, and to improve lubricating performance. The crank chamber structure is positioned between a block-side skirt section and a case-side skirt section respectively provided in a cylinder block and a lower case. The skirt sections are curved outwardly to permit the crank chamber to enclose peripheral loci of connecting rods, and further to permit the crank chamber to be formed by a curvilinear surface whose radius is smaller at successively higher positions above the crankshaft axis, thereby providing a substantially egg-like cross-sectional shape. An opening is provided in the lower case by the case-side skirt section being collapsed to taper toward an oil pan-mating surface of the lower case so as to communicate with the oil pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Ozeki
  • Patent number: 5868110
    Abstract: In a crankcase for a piston machine having a bearing support structure for a crankshaft main bearing with a bearing base part integrally formed with the bearing support structure and a bearing cover mounted onto the bearing base part by bearing bolts extending into bolt mounting columns, the bearing support structure includes a transverse wall which extends between the crankcase walls, the bearing support base and the bearing base part and includes a rib structure of an increased wall thickness formed between the bearing base part and the bearing support base and having a recess in the area between the end of a mounting bolt bore in the bolt mounting column and the bearing support base providing for a force flux path which istributes the force flux evenly over the length of the threaded mounting bolt bore area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz A.G.
    Inventor: Jochen Betsch
  • Patent number: 5868107
    Abstract: In a liquid cooled multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising an engine block having a cooling water space, wherein a cylinder head is mounted on the engine block by cylinder head bolts with a cylinder head gasket disposed therebetween, and the cylinder head includes a water space which is in communication with the engine block water space by passages extending through the gasket and the cylinder head bottom wall, the cylinder head bolts extend through the passages into the engine block in spaced relationship from the walls defining the passages such that cooling water flowing from the engine block cooling water space through the passages to the cylinder head cooling water space, flows along the cylinder head bolts maintaining them at cooling water temperature, and the cylinder head includes in its cooling water space longitudinal ribs extending between the cylinder head bottom and top walls for reinforcing the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz-AG
    Inventors: Jochen Betsch, Georg Stumpp
  • Patent number: 5850814
    Abstract: A cylinder block isolator core for use in casting engine cylinder blocks for internal combustion engines. The isolator core cooperates with companion core elements in a casting operation to form a short coolant jacket surrounding the upper portion of each engine cylinder adjacent the air/fuel combustion chamber and an air pocket that surrounds the lower region of the cylinder. Drainback passage core elements may be formed integrally with the isolator core thereby reducing the total number of cores in the casting mold package during a casting operation, the finished casting thereby eliminating dividing walls between the isolator and the oil drain cores thus reducing the number of core elements and reducing the cost and complexity of the casting operation as well as reducing the weight of the finished casting. The isolator core may be used independently of cylinder liners during the casting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Michael Fenn, Thomas John Heater, Mark Allen Hayley
  • Patent number: 5842447
    Abstract: A cylinder block of an internal-combustion engine of an open-deck construction, in which the cooling water jacket and the oil jacket between the cylinder tube and the cylinder block housing are separated from one another by a connection web which connects the respective cylinder tubes with the cylinder block housing. In order to reduce the cylinder tube distortions in the braced condition of the cylinder block, ribs are provided at least in the water jacket or in the oil jacket. The ribs start out from the connection web and improve the linking of the cylinder tubes to the cylinder block housing. The height of these ribs is much lower than the height of the water jacket or of the oil jacket which results in a low weight increase and minimizes the linking lengths to the cylinder tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Peter Krotky, Guenter Helsper, Markus Bauhofer, Antonius Rehr
  • Patent number: 5829406
    Abstract: An engine assembly is disclosed which includes a cylinder block having cylinders, pistons disposed in the cylinders, and connecting rods connecting the pistons to a crankshaft. The crankshaft rotates to move the pistons reciprocally in the cylinders thereby inducing volumetric changes within the engine and, particularly between axially adjacent pistons. A crankcase disposed below the cylinder block has axial sidewalls extending therefrom to define a crankcase volume in which the crankshaft is disposed for rotation. Crankcase bulkheads extend laterally to connect the axial walls and define cylinder bays therebetween. Each of the crankcase bulkheads includes a crankshaft journal support and a surface configured to rotatably receive a complementary bearing cap for support of the crankshaft therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: James Joseph Mazzola, Terry Wayne Black
  • Patent number: 5738062
    Abstract: A hand held powered tool is provided which is intended to be carried by an operator during use. The power tool has a frame, including a handle to be grasped by the operator, an implement affixed to the frame having a rotary input member and a small four-cycle lightweight internal combustion engine attached to the frame for driving the implement. The four-cycle engine is made up of a lightweight aluminum engine block having a cylindrical bore and an oil reservoir. A crankshaft is journaled to the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod having an oil splasher formed thereon for intermittently engaging the oil within the enclosed oil reservoir to splash lubricate the engine. The engine is provided with a cylinder head assembly defining a compact combustion chamber having a pair of overhead intake exhaust ports cooperating intake and exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Ryobi Outdoor Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Everts
  • Patent number: 5727512
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises an iron block 2 and an aluminium head 3 held together by bolts 6. The bolts 6 extend through oil drainage passages 8 in the head and through bores 9 in the block and engage with the block at a point substantially spaced from the head/block interface. The increased length of the bolts 6 allows them to stretch to accommodate the relatively large expansion of the head as the engine warms up. Good thermal contact is provided between the bolts and the water jacket of the engine so that the bolts warm up quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Rover Group Limited
    Inventor: William Richard Hutchins
  • Patent number: 5711614
    Abstract: The crankshaft bearing of a multicylinder internal combustion engine has an upper and a lower bearing part, as well as upper and lower bearing brackets with bearing bores connected therewith, in which brackets the main bearing pins of a crankshaft are mounted. The main bearing pins of the crankshaft are supplied with lubricant through oil grooves in the bearing bores. In order to guide the oil escaping from the bearing locations, which oil is flung-off by the rotating crankshaft cheeks, oil grooves are provided on the lateral surfaces of the bearing brackets. The groves are open on their radial interiors and drain downward in the installed position. This prevents severe foaming of the oil, since the oil flung-off the crankshaft can be captured directly and guided. The residence time of the oil in the crank chamber is reduced so that the oil flows more rapidly back into the oil pan and churning losses are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Johannes Wuest, Dieter Nowak, Herbert Ampferer, Michael Muddemann
  • Patent number: 5687634
    Abstract: A method for making a lightweight cylinder block composed of carbon--carbon is disclosed. The use of carbon--carbon over conventional materials, such as cast iron or aluminum, reduces the weight of the cylinder block and improves thermal efficiency of the internal combustion reciprocating engine. Due to the negligible coefficient of thermal expansion and unique strength at elevated temperatures of carbon--carbon, the piston-to-cylinder wall clearance can be small, especially when the carbon--carbon cylinder block is used in conjunction with a carbon--carbon piston. Use of the carbon--carbon cylinder block has the effect of reducing the weight of other reciprocating engine components allowing the piston to run at higher speeds and improving specific engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Philip O. Ransone
  • Patent number: 5669339
    Abstract: A water passage forming member (10) embedded in a connection wall (4) between adjacent bores (3a) (3a) of a multi-cylinder (2) by a casting process is provided with a pair of left and right vertical jacket communication passages (12)(12) for making cylinder jackets (8)(8) within a cylinder block (1) communicate with a head jacket (22), cooling water passages (15) arranged vertically and in multiple stage for making the paired jacket communication passages (12)(12) communicate with each other, and non-hollow portions (11) arranged in multiple stage and alternately with the cooling water passages (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masaji Yukawa, Masahiro Aketa, Kazutoshi Okamoto, Yasukazu Kamada, Akira Hayatani, Masahiko Sugimoto, Nobuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5669346
    Abstract: In an engine block comprising a casting including side walls extending along a row of cylinders and front and rear walls extending between the side walls with top flanges for mounting a cylinderhead and bottom flanges for mounting an oil pan, the side walls have sections extending forwardly beyond the front wall to define therebetween a timing drive chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Johannes Leweux, Hubert Schnupke, Albert Pietsch
  • Patent number: 5664538
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine 20 comprises a cylinder block 22, a cylinder head 24, and a plurality of fasteners 47 holding the head onto the block. The block comprises a single structure having walls 34 defining four cylinder bores 36 arranged in a line for receiving pistons, longitudinal support sections 60, 61 extending along the block one on either side of the line of bores and transverse support sections 74 joined to the longitudinal support sections and extending substantially tangentially to the bores. The fasteners 47 are arranged to engage with the block 22 such that a substantial part of the load exerted on the top of the walls 36 of the bores is transmitted to the fasteners via the support sections. This prevents forces from being transmitted radially into the cylinder walls 36 and thereby reduces bore distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Rover Group Limited
    Inventor: William Richard Hutchins
  • Patent number: 5657724
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an internal combustion engine comprising a crankcase assembly including a crankcase member including a crankcase cover mounting surface, and a cylinder assembly mounting surface including therein an opening, and a cylinder block fabricately separately from the crankcase assembly and including a crankcase member surface fixed to the cylinder assembly mounting surface, and a cylinder extending from the crankcase member mounting surface and communicating with the opening in the cylinder assembly mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Brown, George L. Broughton
  • Patent number: 5651340
    Abstract: A piston internal combustion engine includes an engine block made of a base material and including a cylinder block having walls. Segmented, rib shaped reinforcements are disposed on the engine block, each reinforcement defining breaks along a course thereof, the reinforcements further being made of a material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Schwaderlapp, Christian Schoenherr, Thomas Wagner
  • Patent number: 5615650
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes: a cylinder block having a connecting surface formed at a lower portion thereof and a skirt portion extending outwardly from the connecting surface; a crankcase having a connecting surface for contacting the connecting surface of the cylinder block and a bore for inserting the skirt portion therewithin; and, a gasket interposed between the connecting surfaces of the crankcase and the connecting surface of the cylinder block when assembled such that the gasket has a bore formed at the central portion thereof. A pair of detent portions are formed at the outer periphery of the skirt portion with each of the detent portion being different in shape from each other. A pair of recess portions, corresponding to the detent portions, are formed at each of the bores of the crankcase and the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Kioritz Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneo Araki
  • Patent number: 5611301
    Abstract: The invention relates to an engine with a constructional design and material composition for optimum thermal conductivity and vibration damping functions. The invention consists in the cylinder section (11) surrounding the combustion chamber being made of a light metal alloy and in the lower part of the cylinder section being connected to a crankcase section (13) with integral lateral walls (21,22) which enclose the cylinder section (11) with an air gap, and the crankcase section is made of a material with higher density than the cylinder section, preferably cast iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Saab Automobile Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Per Gillbrand, Lars Bergsten
  • Patent number: 5564837
    Abstract: A main bearing structure for an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block with main bearing bulkheads which are bored for receiving cylindrical alignment elements carried in a main bearing cap assembly. The cylindrical alignment elements and the bores formed in the cylinder block are not concentric, with the result that a majority of the cylindrical alignment elements extending into the cylinder block are in interference fit with the cylinder block itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Putnam, Gary D. Liimatta, Bradford R. Battey
  • Patent number: 5562073
    Abstract: A cylinder block for an internal-combustion engine includes a cast gray iron base block having, as integral, one-piece components therewith, a cylinder sleeve, a crankshaft bearing bracket and an engine foot. The cylinder block further has an aluminum shell surrounding the base block and having a portion constituting a water jacket in a shell zone adjoining the cylinder sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Eisenwerk Bruhl GmbH
    Inventors: Nico J. Van Bezeij, Rolf Gosch
  • Patent number: 5560328
    Abstract: A multi-cylinder reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, preferably operating on the two-stroke cycle, having a cylinder block 8 incorporating a bank of cylinders 10 each communicating with a crankcase 15. Each cylinder having inlet ports 20,21,22,29,30 located on each of the two opposite sides of the bank of cylinders 10, and a conduit 17 communicating at least one port on one side of the bank with at least one port on the opposite side of the bank. That conduit 17 extends through a crankshaft bearing support portion 14a of the cylinder block 8 located within said crankcase 15 below the level of the cylinders 10. There is preferably one bearing support portion 14a within the crankcase 15 and below the junction between each two adjacent cylinders 10, with a respective conduit 17 extending through said bearing support portion 14a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Orbital Engine Company Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Gregory B. Bell, Heiner Louis
  • Patent number: 5558057
    Abstract: A hand held powered tool is provided which is intended to be carried by an operator during use. The power tool has a frame, including a handle to be grasped by the operator, an implement affixed to the frame having a rotary input member and a small four-cycle lightweight internal combustion engine attached to the frame for driving the implement. The four-cycle engine is made up of a lightweight aluminum engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is journaled to the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod having oil splasher formed thereon for intermittently engaging the oil within the enclosed oil reservoir to splash lubricate the engine. The engine is provided with a cylinder head assembly defining a compact combustion chamber having a pair of overhead intake exhaust ports cooperating intake and exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Ryobi Outdoor Products
    Inventor: Robert G. Everts
  • Patent number: 5513601
    Abstract: The invention relates to an engine for an aircraft. The engine includes an engine housing having a drive shaft and a power output shaft. The power output shaft and the drive shaft are separately journalled within the engine housing. The power output shaft includes a propeller at a front end for providing propulsive thrust for the aircraft. The aft end of the power output shaft extends aft of the engine housing. The drive shaft is rotatably coupled to the aft end of the power output shaft by a gear train located outside and aft of the engine housing. The engine provides bearings which solidly support the power output shaft over a substantial portion of its length. This arrangement significantly reduces the loads which would be applied to the drive shaft and other engine components, and therefore, increases the service life of these components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: Robert A. Benson
  • Patent number: 5509387
    Abstract: A main bearing cap for an internal combustion engine has a longitudinally extending body defined in pan by parallel sides which terminate in first and second end portions. The bearing cap has a centrally located, semi-cylindrical bearing recess which cooperates with a corresponding recess in the engine crankcase to support journals of a crankshaft along a crankcase axis. The first and second end portions of the bearing cap include laterally outwardly extending flanged feet having end faces which mate with corresponding surfaces on the engine crankcase. The flanged feet operate against the engine crankcase to limit motion of the bearing cap body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Brian D. Kaminski, Paul J. Gelazin, William L. Miller, Roger G. Van Vechten
  • Patent number: 5501529
    Abstract: A bearing insert for being cast into an aluminum alloy engine block is made by a ferrous powder metal sintering process to make a skeleton structure which is permeable to the molten aluminum alloy in the block casting process. The insert is made of a material having a similar composition as the bearing cap so as to equalize machining and thermal expansion properties of the cap and block so as to provide improved roundness of the bearing in the machining operations for forming the bearing support and in operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Zenith Sintered Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry M. Cadle, Carl J. Landgraf, Georgia M. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5501189
    Abstract: A cast iron cylinder block for an internal combustion engine having a crankcase which defines a region for crankshaft bearings. The cylinder block includes: at least two contiguous cylinders having a dividing plane therebetween; a support web interposed between the cylinders and the crankcase for supporting the cylinders on an upper part of the crankcase, the support web including a bore for fastening screws of a seating for a crankshaft bearing; and a cooling jacket surrounding the at least two contiguous cylinders and including on each side of the two contiguous cylinders, in the dividing plane, at least one reinforcing rib having upper and lower ends and a U-shaped cross-section which defines an inner U-profile extending, at the upper end of the reinforcing rib, into an extension defining a bore for a cylinder head stud screw and extending, at the lower end of the reinforcing rib, into an extension of the bore in the support web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Eisenwerk Bruehl GmbH
    Inventor: Nico J. van Bezeij
  • Patent number: 5476077
    Abstract: An engine has an exhaust manifold placed on an air outlet side thereof, and an auxiliary device and a water pump are both positioned on the air outlet side of the engine toward one axial end of a crankshaft. The auxiliary device and the water pump are situated respectively at under and upper portions of the engine. At least one exhaust port as located on one side of the engine at one axial end of the crankshaft is positioned offset relative to the other side of the engine toward the other axial end thereof, thereby forming an enlarged void space in the engine between the water pump and the exhaust manifold. A thermostat case portion for a thermostat is placed in the void space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuaki Nishio
  • Patent number: 5474040
    Abstract: A cylinder block for an internal combustion engine includes a bolt boss located between cylinders, the bolt boss being connected to a common wall portion of a siamese bore wall structure by a double bridge structure including a lower bridge and an upper bridge located above the lower bridge. Since a composite moment E.sub.0 acting on the bolt boss during the tightening of a head bolt is directed in a plane including the common wall portion, the composite moment can be born by the common wall portion which has a very large rigidity in a direction perpendicular to the row of cylinder bores. As a result, deformation of the bolt boss is suppressed, and deformation of the cylinder bore and inclination of the top deck are also effectively suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Murakami, Kazuyuki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 5463991
    Abstract: An annular gap formed between a shaft of a cylinder head bolt and adjacent components is filled with a wire knit for example to increase the heat transfer. The improved heat transfer reduces the increase in bolt force, especially after a cold start of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Peter Krotky, Markus Bauhofer, Walter Heinzelmann
  • Patent number: 5462366
    Abstract: A rolling bearing for mounting a crankshaft (1) in a crankcase (6) of an internal combustion engine comprising a bearing housing (4), between which housing (4) and a journal of the crankshaft (1), rolling elements (18) roll on raceways (19), the bearing housing (4) being split radially into two semi-shells (7,8) which can be connected to each other by screws (11), characterized in that a radially outer rolling element raceway (19) is formed directly on the semi-shells (7,8) and an outer peripheral surface of the semi-shells (7,8) comprises at least one fitting surface (9) extending parallel to a longitudinal central plane of the screws (11), by which fitting surface (9) the semi-shells (7,8) are guided in a preferably fork-shaped seat (5) formed in the crankcase (6), the semi-shells (7,8) being jointly held on the crankcase (6) by screws (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Oskar Hausler
  • Patent number: 5460140
    Abstract: A two-cycle engine block machined from a solid block of aluminum alloy has at least one cylinder passing through the block. An exhaust port extends from an outside surface of the block to an inside surface of the cylinder approximately midway between a top and a bottom of the cylinder. First and second fuel transfer ports are positioned on opposite sides of the cylinder and circumferentially displaced from the exhaust port. Each of the fuel transfer ports have front side walls angularly oriented so as to direct fuel toward a sidewall of the cylinder opposite the exhaust port. Each fuel transfer port has a top surface lying in a plane generally normal to an axis of the cylinder to deter upward flow of fuel into the outward flowing exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Able Performance Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy C. Porter
  • Patent number: 5456229
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing element for an internal combustion engine, preferably a two-stroke engine, having a crankcase with an upper part and a lower part in which two roller bearings for the crankshaft are disposed between the upper part and the lower part. The roller bearings are encompassed by rings made of a heat resistant, thermoplastic material; each of the rings is provided with a groove running around its outer circumferential surface, and each groove receives a sealing element. The sealing elements are part of a shaped sealing part received between the upper part and the lower part, which shaped sealing part has an essentially circular cross section and is made of an elastomer material, and which, in the region between the two rings extends within another groove which is provided in the upper part and/or lower part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Emmerich