Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a tuning state of a pendulum damper are provided. In one example, an engine system is provided that includes a crankshaft coupled to a plurality of pistons in a plurality of cylinders. The crankshaft includes a plurality of pendulums coupled to a plurality of cheeks and a pendulum tuning mechanism coupled to an associated pendulum included in the plurality of pendulums or coupled to an associated pendulum in a torque converter and configured to tune damping characteristics of the associated pendulum based on an engine order.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cooling a piston arranged within a cylinder of an engine. Oil received from a connecting rod bearing and crank journal interface may be continuously transferred via an internal conduit in a connecting rod coupled to the piston wherein the internal conduit is formed within a hollow flange of the connecting rod. The oil may then be sprayed in a continuous manner via an external nozzle to an underside of the piston, enabling continuous piston cooling as the piston travels from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center position (BDC) and back.

Abstract: A full, one-piece, wrap around bumper for a crankshaft pendulum is disclosed. The pendulum includes two halves. Continuous, mirror-image bumper-receiving channels are formed in each pendulum half. When the two halves are attached, the bumper is captured between therebetween and is retained by a crush fit. Each pendulum half includes an elevated central area and a pair of recessed areas with each recessed area formed on one side of the elevated area. Side walls are formed at the intersections of the elevated area and the recessed areas. A base wall is formed along the lower edge of the elevated area. The continuous channel in each half is formed along portions of the side walls and along the entire length of the base wall. The elongated, one-piece bumper wraps around the side walls and the base wall and extends from the elevated area beyond the side and base walls.

Abstract: A bumper clip having rubber or elastomeric bumpers for use with a pendulum assembly for attachment to the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The bumper clip is has particular application for use with pendulum carriers that are formed from stamped steel. By using the stamped steel carrier, more room is created to provide a more robust bumper. The pendulum carrier bumper clip can be either two separate, L-shaped clips or a single U-shaped clip. If the pendulum carrier bumper clip includes two separate clips, each clip includes a bumper surface to which the bumper is attached and an attachment leg for attachment of the clip to the pendulum carrier and to the crankshaft by a fastener such as a bolt. The bumper surface has a channel through which the pendulum carrier passes, thus dividing the bumper surface into two surfaces. A bumper is attached to each surface.

Abstract: A bumper for a pendulum that cannot inadvertently become loose is disclosed. The pendulum has at least one and preferably a pair of spaced apart, elongated bumpers. The elongated bumpers generally have an L-shape. The pendulum is comprised of two halves. L-shaped channels are formed in each pendulum half. The bumpers are fitted into channels of the same shape formed in the pendulum halves. When the two halves are fitted together, the L-shaped bumper is captured therebetween. Each pendulum half includes an elevated central area and a pair of recessed areas with each recessed area formed on one side of the elevated area. Side walls are formed at the intersections of the elevated area and the recessed areas. A base wall is formed along the lower edge of the elevated area. The bumper ends extend from the elevated area beyond the side walls and base wall.

Abstract: A pendulum crankshaft for an internal combustion engine includes a pendulum crankshaft having pendulum crank rolling path inserts that are cast into the component during the casting process. The rolling path inserts are positioned in a mold prior to casting. By including the rolling path inserts in the component during the molding process, the need to press the rolling path insert into the component after the component is cast is thus avoided, thereby eliminating the resulting stresses that would otherwise result. Machining and subsequent heat treatment are unnecessary. The component can be one or both of the crankshaft pendulum and the pendulum carrier. The rolling path may be formed from a metal such as sintered powdered metal. The flowable material may be a metal such as iron. The resulting component is free of stress regions, such as on the carrier strap, that normally result from methods that involve press-fitting the rolling path insert into the component.

Abstract: A pendulum crankshaft for an internal combustion engine includes a pendulum crankshaft having pendulum crank cycloid inserts. The inserts may be formed from high graded hardened steel while the crankshaft may be formed from conventional iron. The pendulum crankshaft includes a crankshaft having pendulum-holding ears. A cycloid insert-receiving aperture is formed in each of said ears for receiving a cycloid insert. Each of the cycloid inserts has a cycloid path formed therethrough. The pendulum is movably attached to the ears by a rolling pin fitted through the cycloid paths of the ears and captured between the cycloid paths formed in each half of the pendulum. Each half of the pendulum includes recessed areas on which the cycloid paths are formed. A pin is provided between each cycloid insert and the ear into which it is inserted to restrict rotation of the cycloid insert with respect to the ear.

Abstract: A pendulum absorber fixed to the crankshaft of an engine comprises a pendulum and a pendulum carrier attached to the pendulum carrier attachment boss of the crankshaft. The first preferred embodiment provides a crankshaft web having spaced apart part pendulum carrier attachment bosses that define a carrier groove. The second preferred embodiment provides an arrangement similar to that of the first embodiment but the attachment bosses extend further away from the web. The third preferred embodiment provides a pendulum carrier having a flat portion and a cylindrical portion. The fourth preferred embodiment provides a carrier engagement portion that includes a deck and two lateral attachment bosses having curved surfaces. The carrier includes two outwardly-extending attachment arms. The fifth preferred embodiment provides a web having a pendulum carrier engagement portion that includes a machined groove and machined attachment bosses.

Abstract: A full, one-piece, wrap around bumper for a crankshaft pendulum is disclosed. The pendulum includes two halves. Continuous, mirror-image bumper-receiving channels are formed in each pendulum half. When the two halves are attached, the bumper is captured between therebetween and is retained by a crush fit. Each pendulum half includes an elevated central area and a pair of recessed areas with each recessed area formed on one side of the elevated area. Side walls are formed at the intersections of the elevated area and the recessed areas. A base wall is formed along the lower edge of the elevated area. The continuous channel in each half is formed along portions of the side walls and along the entire length of the base wall. The elongated, one-piece bumper wraps around the side walls and the base wall and extends from the elevated area beyond the side and base walls.

Abstract: It is common for crankshafts of internal combustion engines to have main bearing journals provided between each of the conrod bearing journals. However, to reduce engine friction, the fewest main bearing journals that can be used while still meeting the design targets is preferred. A crankshaft for an in-line, four-cylinder engine, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, has three main bearing journals. Bridges, one each located between first and second conrod bearing journals and between third and fourth conrod bearing journals. The bridges have a cross-section with at least two concavities to improve the strength of the bridge compared to, for example, a cylindrical bridge, without greatly increasing the mass of material used in the bridge. Furthermore, a locus of a centroid of cross sections through the bridge are not coincident with an axis of rotation of the crankshaft, but instead is displaced toward the nearer conrod bearing journal.

Abstract: It is common for crankshafts of internal combustion engines to have main bearing journals provided between each of the conrod bearing journals. However, to reduce engine friction, the fewest main bearing journals that can be used while still meeting the design targets is preferred. A crankshaft for an in-line, four-cylinder engine, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, has three main bearing journals. Bridges, one each located between first and second conrod bearing journals and between third and fourth conrod bearing journals. The bridges have a cross-section with at least two concavities to improve the strength of the bridge compared to, for example, a cylindrical bridge, without greatly increasing the mass of material used in the bridge. Furthermore, a locus of a centroid of cross sections through the bridge are not coincident with an axis of rotation of the crankshaft, but instead is displaced toward the nearer conrod bearing journal.

Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block defining at least one main bearing bulkhead adjacent to a cylinder, and a crankshaft rotatably housed within the block by a main bearing. A bulkhead insert has a cap portion, and an insert portion provided within the bulkhead. The insert portion has having first and second end regions connected by first and second straps. Each strap having a flanged beam cross section. The first and second ends of the insert portion are configured to connect a main bearing cap column to a cylinder head column. Each of the first and second end regions define at least one protrusion having a surface substantially normal to engine combustion and reactive loads. The cap portion is configured to mate with the first end region at the main bearing cap column and support the main bearing.

Abstract: A bumper clip having rubber or elastomeric bumpers for use with a pendulum assembly for attachment to the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The bumper clip is has particular application for use with pendulum carriers that are formed from stamped steel. By using the stamped steel carrier, more room is created to provide a more robust bumper. The pendulum carrier bumper clip can be either two separate, L-shaped clips or a single U-shaped clip. If the pendulum carrier bumper clip includes two separate clips, each clip includes a bumper surface to which the bumper is attached and an attachment leg for attachment of the clip to the pendulum carrier and to the crankshaft by a fastener such as a bolt. The bumper surface has a channel through which the pendulum carrier passes, thus dividing the bumper surface into two surfaces. A bumper is attached to each surface.

Abstract: A crankshaft comprising a cheek, a torsion-absorbing pendulum pivotally coupled to the cheek, and a rotational speed actuated brake to oppose motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek. The brake is configured to provide greater opposition to the motion at lower rotational speeds than at higher rotational speeds.

Abstract: A pendulum crankshaft for an internal combustion engine includes a pendulum crankshaft having pendulum crank rolling path inserts that are cast into the component during the casting process. The rolling path inserts are positioned in a mold prior to casting. By including the rolling path inserts in the component during the molding process, the need to press the rolling path insert into the component after the component is cast eliminates the resulting stresses that would otherwise result. Machining and subsequent heat treatment are unnecessary. The component can be one or both of the crankshaft pendulum and the pendulum carrier. The rolling path may be formed from a metal such as sintered powdered metal. The flowable material may be a metal such as iron. The resulting component is free of stress regions, such as on the carrier strap, that normally result from methods that involve press-fitting the rolling path insert into the component.

Abstract: A pendulum assembly comprises a cold forged steel pendulum or cold formed steel pendulum attached to a cold forged steel carrier or cold formed steel carrier. The carrier is attached to the crankshaft. The pendulum assembly includes a first outer steel plate, a second outer steel plate, and an intermediate steel plate. The stamped plates are formed from flat sheet steel to provide the pendulum shape and features. The outer steel plates are attached to the intermediate steel plate by any of a variety of methods. The pendulum carrier of the disclosed inventive concept is comprised of one or more steel plates that are also cold forged or cold formed from steel to provide the pendulum carrier shape and features. Alternatively, the pendulum carrier may include two cold forged or cold formed portions attached together or three cold forged or cold formed portions attached together.

Abstract: A pendulum crankshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a pendulum carrier, a pendulum and rolling pins. The carrier and the pendulum have kidney-shaped rolling pin tracks. The rolling pin tracks are kidney-shaped and thus are defined by opposed curved side walls and opposed end walls. The pendulum carrier has an ear extending therefrom to which the pendulum is attached. The pendulum comprises a first half and a second half, each half being positioned on the sides of the ear. At any given time in operation, the gap between the rolling pin and the opposed walls of the rolling pin tracks is never greater than 0.5 mm. The pendulum carrier is attached to a cheek of the crankshaft by a pair of opposed fasteners.

Abstract: A bumper for a pendulum that cannot inadvertently become loose is disclosed. The pendulum has at least one and preferably a pair of spaced apart, elongated bumpers. The elongated bumpers generally have an L-shape. The pendulum is comprised of two halves. L-shaped channels are formed in each pendulum half. The bumpers are fitted into channels of the same shape formed in the pendulum halves. When the two halves are fitted together, the L-shaped bumper is captured therebetween. Each pendulum half includes an elevated central area and a pair of recessed areas with each recessed area formed on one side of the elevated area. Side walls are formed at the intersections of the elevated area and the recessed areas. A base wall is formed along the lower edge of the elevated area. The bumper ends extend from the elevated area beyond the side walls and base wall.

Abstract: A pendulum absorber fixed to the crankshaft of an engine comprises a pendulum and a pendulum carrier attached to the pendulum carrier attachment boss of the crankshaft. The first preferred embodiment provides a crankshaft web having spaced apart part pendulum carrier attachment bosses that define a carrier groove. The second preferred embodiment provides an arrangement similar to that of the first embodiment but the attachment bosses extend further away from the web. The third preferred embodiment provides a pendulum carrier having a flat portion and a cylindrical portion. The fourth preferred embodiment provides a carrier engagement portion that includes a deck and two lateral attachment bosses having curved surfaces. The carrier includes two outwardly-extending attachment arms. The fifth preferred embodiment provides a web having a pendulum carrier engagement portion that includes a machined groove and machined attachment bosses.

Abstract: A nylon chain tensioning arm and nylon chain guide having diamond-like carbon coatings are provided. The diamond-like carbon coating is formed on the substrate by methods including physical vapor deposition, for example, by sputtering or chemical vapor deposition of coating systems composed of various combinations of amorphous carbon. A preferred method for applying the diamond-like carbon coating to the nylon substrate is a hybrid process of plasma-based ion implantation and deposition. The chain tensioning arm or guide may be formed from any number of plastics appropriate to the purpose, although a synthetic polymer, such as the aliphatic polyamide nylon, is the preferred material. The substrate may be a conventional nylon or may be a composite reinforced with glass or carbon fibers. The diamond-like carbon coating may be applied to the nylon substrate by vapor deposition, either directly to the chain-contacting surface or upon a primed surface formed on the substrate prior to deposition.