Abstract: A piston with a skirt shaped to accommodate distortion by changing thermal and load conditions is further modified to increase stability and broaden load distribution to reduce contact forces and wear by providing maximum radii lines on either side of a longitudinal thrust plant with reduced radius regions forming apparent concavities therebetween.

Abstract: An engine turbocharger, particularly of the two cycle diesel type for railway locomotives and other applications, has a rotor with an overhung compressor supported by a compressor journal bearing and thrust flange combination. The bearing combines a multi (two) lobed offset cylindrical wedge film inner surface with a close clearance squeeze film outer surface that causes the bearing to float laterally in a support member to damp shaft runout while supporting the rotor on load controlling oil wedges. The fixed flange provides thrust control and provides a loose pin connection with the bearing that prevents rotation while permitting its squeeze film damping lateral motion. Particular pressure lubrication provides oil to the bearing interior and exterior adequate for the oil wedge supporting and squeeze film damping functions.

Abstract: A turbocharger impeller has a lock ring that is flexed in assembly to clampingly center and lock an impeller wheel on its drive shaft. The lock ring is also applicable to other driving or driven shaft and wheel combinations. The lock ring is made part of a two-piece spacer for the illustrated rotor applications but is not limited to that arrangement. Alternative impeller wheel structures including drive means and locking nose cone features are included.

Abstract: A variable camshaft phaser (VCP) has lash take up drive piston assemblies with inner and outer helical splines for phase changing and return springs mounted in pockets in the pistons to shorten overall length for a compact unit and also relieve lash take-up friction on the piston return strokes. Numerous other features are included. A three-way feed-discharge valve limits oil flow to that necessary to operate the drive pistons for phasing.

Abstract: An oil pan for an internal combustion engine has a relatively flat bottom part as well as a deep pan section as the oil sump with a suction pipe of an oil pump extending into the deep pan section. The deep pan section is designed as a removable oil container. The oil can thus be changed rapidly and without draining the oil since all the oil is collected in the oil container. A cover may be provided to close the container when removed from the shallow flat bottom part. Also, a filter may be mounted in the container and its upper section may be vented to the engine crankcase ventilation system.

Abstract: A cam cover for an overhead cam engine has first and second oil separators connecting the crankcase with the engine induction system high and low vacuum portions as part of a crankcase ventilation system. The separators each have a floor sloping toward the outlet and forming a sump with a drain to the crankcase. A large slow flowing separation chamber precedes the sump. An optional inlet tube is angled down with a large inlet facing away from the oil splash. A shelf may extend between the sump and the outlet end to deter oil carryover to the outlet. Optional PCV valve and oil filler locations are shown.

Abstract: A self-contained lash adjuster includes a closed end cylinder body and a plunger in the cylinder defining a pressure chamber at the closed end of the cylinder and an internal reservoir connected with the chamber by a one-way passage in the plunger. A diaphragm sealing the reservoir is loaded by a spring piston to pressurize the reservoir and apply a differential pressure extending force to the plunger. The plunger is preferably made in two parts with the diaphragm in the lower part defining the chamber and the piston in the upper part distal from the chamber. The two-part construction permits leakdown testing before permanent installation of the diaphragm. A seal in the lower part beyond a return port seals the plunger walls to the cylinder. Installation during assembly of excess fluid for make-up is controlled by positioning of the plunger lower part during filling in a hyper extended position beyond the fully extended position to which the plunger is limited after full assembly of the lash adjuster.

Abstract: A variable camshaft phaser (VCP) has various embodiments and features including inner and outer helical splines for phase changing and return springs mounted in pockets to shorten overall length and relieve lash take-up friction on the piston return strokes. A three-way feed-discharge valve limits hydraulic actuating oil flow to that required to operate the drive pistons for phase changing operation. The three-way valve may be carried in a srew or fastener that secures the phaser to a camshaft or other rotary member.

Abstract: An improved direct acting hydraulic valve lifter (DAHVL) has features including reduced dead oil storage with lower mass and faster filling, improved air venting, internal oil recirculation and targeted oil supply that combine to reduce the presence of air in the lifter. Foam filling and baffle reconfiguration are included among means for reducing stored oil volume which can also improve the follower cylinder support. Means for venting along the piston and cylinder of the lifter are shown. The various features combine to limit air intake and to more quickly expel air which does enter the lifter.

Abstract: Fluid pressures in an internal combustion engine are monitored by two diaphragm operated valves and open either valve when abnormal pressures are sensed to shut down the engine. Each valve is a sleeve valve slidable on a stem and normally latched to the stem. The stem carries a reset button and is spring biased to hold the valve in closed position. A valve is released from the stem when abnormal pressures are detected and the valve is spring biased to the open position. If the reset button is held in to override the protective function, the latch release and valve opening will still occur.

Abstract: A camshaft has, for each valve lifter, a high lift cam between two low lift cams, the high lift cam fitting within the envelope of the low lift cams. The lifter comprises an outer tappet elongated in the direction of the camshaft and slidably mounted in an elongated bore in a cam carrier. The outer tappet is contacted by both low lift cams and operates two valves simultaneously. An elongated bore extending transverse of the outer tappet carries an elongated inner tappet which is contacted by the high lift cam. A hydraulically actuated locking mechanism couples the tappets for movement together for high lift operation and unlocks for low lift operation to allow the inner tappet to idle in the outer tappet.

Abstract: A two stroke cycle engine has tiered cooling jackets in the cylinder block with upper and lower jackets separated by a diaphragm wall. Transfer openings in the diaphragm and downward portions of the lower jacket direct coolant flow around exhaust ports and preferentially along the exhaust port side of the engine cylinder openings. A cylinder head gasket controls outflow from the upper jacket to the cylinder head through transfer holes placed preferably on the exhaust side of the upper jacket to provide overall control of flow in the cooling jacket system.

Abstract: A stud for securing a cylinder liner to a head has a modified thread form engaging a threaded hole in the stud with an interference fit. The thread is rolled and all threads have the same pitch diameter except the endmost thread. Three relief channels are formed in the threads and extend axially from the stud end through several threads while some full threads remain to engage the hole. The relief channels decrease hoop stress in the threaded hole and allow debris developed during installation to escape from the thread interface to prevent entrapment therein.

Abstract: Low mass hydraulic and mechanical valve lifters are shown and described. The lifters are of oblong configuration for reduced mass, with straight or narrowed sides connecting longitudinally spaced ends having depending semi-cylindrical end walls that are received in similarly shaped end portions of lifter gallery openings to absorb all longitudinal and lateral side loads. The lifters are preferably made by investment casting of steel alloys. The investment casting permits the use of thin semi-cylindrical walls at each end of the valve lifters which also have internal reinforcing ribs extending on their undersides.

Abstract: In a method and a device for processing surfaces subject to high stresses by friction in internal combustion engines, especially the honed cylinder bearing surfaces of piston engines, the surface is subjected to a laser beam treatment. A pulsed excimer laser is used in this case. By the laser beam treatment using excimer lasers, a microsmoothing and processing of the honed surface is achieved such that in sliding combinations, e.g., of pistons and cylinders in an internal combustion engine, friction and wear are essentially reduced during the breaking-in phase. This also means a reduction of the amount of oil needed to lubricate the sliding combination. By this means, a combustion that is friendlier to the environment and--possibly--a preservation and thus an increase in durability of the exhaust-gas-purification catalyst is obtained in the case of internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A powertrain including an engine and attached power transmission means has a stiffening bracket extending between the side walls of the engine block and the transmission means housing. The bracket extends under and separate from the engine oil pan and has integral ribs depending from a floor and extending longitudinally and diagonally from the power transmission connections to each of the side wall connections to add both bending and torsional stiffness to the powertrain, thus reducing vibration, noise and stress.

Abstract: A roller type conveyor has a series of rotors on a frame, each rotor being continuously driven and having a pair of spaced discs overlapping the discs of adjacent rotors. The discs have aligned notches for sequentially engaging the parts and carrying the parts to the next rotor downstream where they are picked up for another movement when the notches of the downstream rotor engage the parts. Gates journaled on each rotor have levers which are actuated by a part on a rotor to move stops into the path of part movement to prevent pickup of a second part by a rotor as long as the rotor is occupied.

Abstract: Bore distortion from assembly of a jacketed cylinder liner and cylinder head is reduced by provision of a heavy uniform liner flange for evenly distributing the assembly stresses. Multiple drilled coolant passages between stud holes in the flange provide bore cooling and elongated manifold recesses distribute the coolant to non registering inlet holes in the cylinder head. Elongated seals with insulators and shields for support are also provided to seal the manifold connections at the head-liner interface.

Abstract: A phase adjuster for engine camshafts and the like includes in a preferred embodiment a sprocket driving a camshaft attached hub through paired wedge packs that transfer torque and maintain a lash free connection. A plunger actuated by engine oil pressure and coating drive springs axially move alternate active wedges to oppositely vary the arcuate lengths of the wedge packs and thereby change the phase angle between the sprocket and camshaft. A three way valve shuts off pressure oil flow except when needed to advance the plunger, thus minimizing oil flow requirements.

Abstract: The valve-lash adjustment system 10 includes a load-carrying spacer means 82 adjacent the hydraulic valve-lash assembly which is interposed between said hydraulic valve-lash assembly and said free end 12 of the valve stem, the thickness of said load-carrying spacer means 82 being such as to compensate substantially for said mechanical tolerances between said valve and said associated engine components, so that, during engine operation, said hydraulic valve-lash adjuster assembly adjusts the overall length thereof within a limited range of distances required to compensate for said thermal expansion/contraction between the valve and said associated engine components, and, in the event of a failure in supply of hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic valve-lash adjuster assembly, said hydraulic valve-lash adjuster assembly will only decrease in overall length by an amount falling within said limited range of distances.