Abstract: An improved surface activation technique improves the adhesion of thermal spray coatings, which is useful for engine cylinder bores. The new method includes compressing the cylinder bore surface to create a surface profile on the surface, such as through rolling a roller along the surface. An engine block is also provided, which includes a plurality of cylinder bores, each cylinder bore having an inner surface, and each inner surface having a surface profile that includes a helical groove and other surface profiles formed in the inner surface. A thermal spray coating is formed on the inner surface of each cylinder bore, the thermal spray coating being adhered to the surface profile of the inner surface. A roller assembly for activating the surface is also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cylinder liner for an engine block for a vehicle propulsion system and the cylinder liner made from the method. The method includes providing a cylinder liner mold having a cylindrical inner surface, masking a first portion of the cylindrical inner surface, applying a coating to a second portion of the cylindrical inner surface, and forming a cylinder liner by solidifying molten metal in the cylinder liner mold.

Abstract: An engine block and a method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore of an engine cylinder are provided. The method includes attaching a strengthening layer or ring onto an upper portion of the inner surface of the cylinder bore. The strengthening layer or ring may be attached by laser cladding. The method also includes depositing a thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the cylinder bore and the strengthening layer or ring.

Abstract: A method for depositing a coating of a first metal on a second metal component includes applying a first laser beam to a surface of the second metal to remove a portion of an oxide layer from the surface, and applying a second laser beam to deposit a coating of a first metal on the surface immediately following the first laser beam and a component made by the method.

Abstract: A method for bonding a cylinder liner within a cylinder bore of a vehicle engine block includes providing a bonding substrate on one of an outside surface of the cylinder liner and an inside surface of a cylinder bore in the engine block, positioning the cylinder liner in the cylinder bore, and heating the cylinder liner.

Abstract: A multiple step method increases net tensile strengths of high pressure die cast (HPDC) aluminum components through an alloy- and process-dependent thermal treatment. The highest temperature feasible for solution treatment of an HPDC casting is determined by computational thermodynamics, kinetics and the gas laws based on the alloy composition and gas pressure in the finally solidified parts. Determining the maximum solution temperature involves mapping pressure in the bubbles of solidified material to avoid the formation of blisters by surface adjacent bubbles in the casting. To reduce residual tensile stress, the HPDC parts are air cooled after the solution treatment. Finally, a specific, multiple temperature aging cycle is utilized to improve the aging response of air cooled HPDC parts and increase net tensile strength.

Abstract: An engine block, an automotive structure, and a method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore of an engine cylinder are provided. The method includes providing an inner bore substrate defining an inner surface of the engine cylinder bore, the inner bore substrate being formed of a first material. The method further includes disposing a thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The thermal spray coating is formed of a second material that is different than the first material. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the thermal spray coating with a laser after performing the step of disposing the thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The automotive structure and the engine block have a substrate covered by a thermal spray coating and laser remelted sections anchoring the coating to the substrate.

Abstract: An engine block and a method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore of an engine cylinder are provided. The method includes attaching a strengthening layer or ring onto an upper portion of the inner surface of the cylinder bore. The strengthening layer or ring may be attached by laser cladding. The method also includes depositing a thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the cylinder bore and the strengthening layer or ring.

Abstract: An improved surface activation technique improves the adhesion of thermal spray coatings, which is useful for engine cylinder bores. The new method includes compressing the cylinder bore surface to create a surface profile on the surface, such as through rolling a roller along the surface. An engine block is also provided, which includes a plurality of cylinder bores, each cylinder bore having an inner surface, and each inner surface having a surface profile that includes a helical groove and other surface profiles formed in the inner surface. A thermal spray coating is formed on the inner surface of each cylinder bore, the thermal spray coating being adhered to the surface profile of the inner surface. A roller assembly for activating the surface is also provided.

Abstract: A method of reducing entrained aluminum oxides in aluminum castings. The method comprises preheating a furnace charge to remove moisture and contaminants. The furnace charge is then coated on all free surfaces with a layer of flux. Subsequently the furnace charge is melted in a furnace to form a melt bath of liquid aluminum suitable for casting. The flux layer removes the naturally occurring oxide film from the furnace charge surface as well as provides a cover flux to protect the melt bath from oxidation.

Abstract: An engine cylinder bore with an anodized or phosphated bondcoat and a method of coating the surface of an engine cylinder bore with an anodized or phosphated bondcoat prior to depositing a thermally sprayed protective coating. Cleaning or related pretreatment operations may also be used. In one preferred form, the cylinder bore is made from an aluminum-based alloy or a magnesium-based alloy, while the bondcoat forms a porous interface between the cylinder bore and the outermost protective coating. Additives may be placed into the anodizing or phosphating solution to promote adhesion and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: Adhesion testing of coatings to the cylinder bore of an engine block. An adhesion testing fluid is dispensed from a nozzle that simultaneously rotates so that the fluid impinges about a substantial inner periphery defined by the coated cylinder bore. The performance of a referee coated engine block is used to provide parameters for one or more production-oriented engine blocks. This allows for rapid evaluation of a sizable sample of such production-oriented engine blocks. The fluid-dispensing nozzle is configured to simultaneously provide complete circumferential coverage of the cylinder bore with high-pressure/high-velocity fluid through rotational movement of the nozzle within the bore. By keeping the production-oriented engine blocks stationary during the test further improves testing efficiency.

Abstract: Methods and technologies to maximize the aging response and the mechanical properties of aluminum alloys are provided. In one embodiment, the aging process for the slowly-quenched aluminum alloys includes, but is not limited to, at least a two-stage solution treatment and a two-stage aging hardening. In the solution treatment, the components are first heat treated at an initial solution treatment temperature and then gradually heated up to about 5° C. to about 30° C. above the initial solution treatment temperature for the material. For the aging treatment, the castings/components are first aged at a lower temperature followed by a higher temperature for the subsequent aging stages. The temperature increase during solution treatment and/or aging can be in steps, in a continuous manner, or combinations thereof. Another embodiment includes a two stage aging process in which there is a non-isothermal aging step.

Abstract: A method of reducing entrained aluminum oxides in aluminum castings. The method comprises preheating a furnace charge to remove moisture and contaminants. The furnace charge is then coated on all free surfaces with a layer of flux. Subsequently the furnace charge is melted in a furnace to form a melt bath of liquid aluminum suitable for casting. The flux layer removes the naturally occurring oxide film from the furnace charge surface as well as provides a cover flux to protect the melt bath from oxidation.

Abstract: A sealing system for the cylinder head valve seat pocket to valve seat insert interface of a cylinder head assembly comprises a valve seat pocket gasket compressed between a valve seat insert pocket and a valve seat insert having an active layer of material with at least one seal, defining a compression seal at the interface of the seal and the valve seat insert pocket, the valve seat insert or both, to thereby prevent the ingress of fuel or water between the valve seat insert and the valve seat insert pocket.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing a simulated casting of a light weight alloy component. The simulation includes passing component design data through various computational modules relating to casting designs, process modeling and optimization, material microstructure and defects and product performance. Variations in microstructure and defects across various very small size scales are extended to increasingly larger scales to permit structural performance calculations of the cast component to take such non-uniformities into consideration. At least some of the modules employ an expert system-based approach to achieve the optimized results. The results can be compared to end user needs to determine if redesign of the part geometry or manufacturing process is needed.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electric device includes a laminated stack of electric steel sheets defining a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves. A conductor bar is disposed within each of the grooves. Each of the conductor bars includes a first end and a second end extending longitudinal outward from opposing axial end surfaces of the laminated stack. The first end and the second end of the conductor bars include a textured surface having micro-sized surface irregularities. A first end ring is cast in place over the first ends of the conductor bars, and a second end ring is cast in place over the second ends of the conductor bars. The textured surface in the first ends and the second ends of the conductor bars mechanically interlocking with the cast in place first end ring and second end ring respectively.

Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder head at least partially defining a valve seat pocket. A valve seat is located proximate to the cylinder head to at least partially define the valve seat pocket. A pocket filler is located between the valve seat and the pocket insert such that the pocket filler occupies a substantial portion of the valve seat pocket. A pocket insert is attached to the cylinder head proximate to the valve seat pocket, such that the pocket insert lines at least a portion of the valve seat pocket.

Abstract: A rotor for an induction motor and a method of preparing same. The method includes making a squirrel-cage rotor made up of a cage and a laminate stack by forming a mold around the stack, heating the stack and introducing a molten metal into the mold such that the molten metal substantially fills a space defined in the stack that corresponds to the cage. In one form, the space includes slots or related channels formed in the stack that upon filling with the molten metal become longitudinal bars that form electric current loops with end rings of the cage. By heating the stack and maintaining it at a temperature high enough to keep the molten metal in a substantially molten state at least long enough for it to flow through the slots of the stack, premature freezing of the molten metal is avoided. In addition, by providing low pressure to the molten metal in conjunction with the elevated temperature in the stack, flow is promoted to ensure a substantially porosity-free, fully dense squirrel-cage for the rotor.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing a simulated casting of a light weight alloy component. The simulation includes passing component design data through various computational modules relating to casting designs, process modeling and optimization, material microstructure and defects and product performance. Variations in microstructure and defects across various very small size scales are extended to increasingly larger scales to permit structural performance calculations of the cast component to take such non-uniformities into consideration. At least some of the modules employ an expert system-based approach to achieve the optimized results. The results can be compared to end user needs to determine if redesign of the part geometry or manufacturing process is needed.