Abstract: A crank shaft support assembly for increasing stiffness and reducing thermal mismatch distortion in a crank shaft bore of an engine comprising different materials. A cylinder block comprises a first material and at least two crank journal inserts are insert-molded into respective crank journal regions of the cylinder block and comprise a second material having greater stiffness and a lower thermal coefficient of expansion that the first material. At least two bearing caps are bolted to the respective crank journal inserts and define, along with the crank journal inserts, at least two crank shaft support rings defining a crank shaft bore coaxially aligned with a crank shaft axis. The bearing caps comprise a material having higher stiffness and a lower thermal coefficient of expansion than the first material and are supported on the respective crank journal inserts independently of any direct connection to the cylinder block.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a dual microstructure titanium based engine valve, wherein a first zone of the valve contains essentially a mixture of fine, equiaxed alpha and transformed beta crystalline grains which exhibit high tensile strength and high fatigue resistance, and a second zone of the valve which contains essentially a colony type microstructure exhibiting resistance to high temperature creep. The method comprises: (a) preparing a valve stock of forgeable mixed phase alpha/beta titanium based material; (b) hot working said first zone at a temperature below the beta transus temperature, (c) forging said second zone and, either simultaneously with said forging or subsequent thereto, heat treating said second zone at a temperature above (e.g., 25.degree.-200.degree. F. above) the beta transus temperature for a period of time to achieve beta processing followed by cooling to 1400.degree. F. at a rate of 0.1.degree.-10.0.degree. F.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a dual microstructure titanium based engine valve, wherein a first zone of the valve contains essentially a mixture of fine, equiaxed alpha and transformed beta crystalline grains which exhibit high tensile strength and high fatigue resistance, and a second zone of the valve which contains essentially a colony type microstructure exhibiting resistance to high temperature creep. The method comprises: (a) preparing a valve stock of forgeable mixed phase alpha/beta titanium based material; (b) hot working said first zone at a temperature below the beta transus temperature, (c) forging said second zone and, either simultaneously with said forging or subsequent thereto, heat treating said second zone at a temperature above (e.g., 25.degree.-200.degree. F. above) the beta transus temperature for a period of time to achieve beta processing followed by cooling to 1400.degree. F. at a rate of 0.1-10.0.degree. F.

Abstract: A method of coating a metal substrate with a ternary or greater alloy of a redetermined composition is disclosed. Initially, a first and second metals are electrodeposited on the substrate using an aqueous electrolyte. At least one metal powder is simultaneously mixed in the electrolyte as the first and second metals are electrodeposited so that a portion of the metal powder is occluded in the electrodeposited metal coating. The rate of occlusion of the metal powder is controlled by the volume percent of the metal powder in the electrolyte. Finally, the metal coating and substrate are heat treated to diffuse the occluded metal powder in the coating and to form the desired alloy coating. A plurality of metal powders can be mixed in the electrolyte according to the present method. In addition, a diffusion barrier coating can be initially provided on the metal substrate. The method is particularly useful with iron-based metals such as stainless steel.