Abstract: A testing rig and method of testing a bearing with the rig, wherein the rig includes a bearing housing, wherein said bearing housing includes an opening and a drive shaft extending into said opening, wherein the drive shaft is rotatable around a bearing axis. The testing rig also includes a vertical actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a vertical load to the bearing housing and a horizontal actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a horizontal load to the bearing housing. In addition, the testing rig includes a first misalignment actuator coupled to the first actuator for applying a first misalignment load to the bearing housing and a second misalignment actuator coupled to the bearing housing for applying a second misalignment load to the bearing housing.

Abstract: A testing rig and method of testing a bearing with the rig, wherein the rig includes a bearing housing, wherein said bearing housing includes an opening and a drive shaft extending into said opening, wherein the drive shaft is rotatable around a bearing axis. The testing rig also includes a vertical actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a vertical load to the bearing housing and a horizontal actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a horizontal load to the bearing housing. In addition, the testing rig includes a first misalignment actuator coupled to the first actuator for applying a first misalignment load to the bearing housing and a second misalignment actuator coupled to the bearing housing for applying a second misalignment load to the bearing housing.

Abstract: The disclosure provides rotary machines that include, in one embodiment, a rotatable shaft defining a central axis A, the shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft can have an elongate first island disposed thereon. The first island can have a body with a volume generally defined between front and rear surfaces that are spaced apart. The front and rear surfaces can lie in a plane parallel to a radial axis R. The perimeters of the front and rear surfaces can define a curved perimeter surface therebetween. The disclosure further provides embodiments having stationary islands and casings that rotate about the island.

Abstract: An apparatus including a piston bore, exhibiting a longitudinal axis, and a piston, including a piston head and a piston shaft. The piston being axially displace-able within the piston bore along the longitudinal axis. The piston bore and a first surface of the piston head form a first working volume and displacement of the piston alters the first working volume. The apparatus also includes a first plurality of injectors coupled to the first working volume and a first common rail. The first plurality of injectors are configured to inject a hydraulic fluid from the common rail into the first working volume. The first common rail is configured to store the hydraulic fluid at an elevated pressure of 1,000 bar or greater. The apparatus includes a flow path between the first working volume and a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A set of mechanisms, for use with an internal combustion test engine, for testing cylinder offset during operation of the engine. The test engine specifics may vary, but it is assumed to have a crankcase base that supports a cylinder barrel and cylinder head. During engine operation, a transit plate is secured to the top surface of the crankshaft base, and a pair of wedge plates is secured between the transit plate and the bottom of the cylinder barrel. When the engine is not in operation, the transit plate can be slid in a direction normal to the crankshaft axis (for cylinder offset adjustment), and the wedge plates can be moved relative to each other (for cylinder height adjustment).

Abstract: The disclosure provides rotary machines that include, in one embodiment, a rotatable shaft defining a central axis A, the shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft can have an elongate first island disposed thereon. The first island can have a body with a volume generally defined between front and rear surfaces that are spaced apart. The front and rear surfaces can lie in a plane parallel to a radial axis R. The perimeters of the front and rear surfaces can define a curved perimeter surface therebetween. The disclosure further provides embodiments having stationary islands and casings that rotate about the island.

Abstract: The disclosure provides rotary machines that include, in one embodiment, a rotatable shaft defining a central axis A, the shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft can have a first hub disposed thereon with a plurality of cavities. At least one contour is slidably received into an arcuate cavity in an exterior surface of the hub. The contour has a convex outer surface that cooperates with an inwardly facing curved surface of a housing to form a working volume.

Abstract: An apparatus including a piston bore, exhibiting a longitudinal axis, and a piston, including a piston head and a piston shaft. The piston being axially displace-able within the piston bore along the longitudinal axis. The piston bore and a first surface of the piston head form a first working volume and displacement of the piston alters the first working volume. The apparatus also includes a first plurality of injectors coupled to the first working volume and a first common rail. The first plurality of injectors are configured to inject a hydraulic fluid from the common rail into the first working volume. The first common rail is configured to store the hydraulic fluid at an elevated pressure of 1,000 bar or greater. The apparatus includes a flow path between the first working volume and a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: The disclosure provides rotary machines that include, in one embodiment, a rotatable shaft defining a central axis A, the shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft can have an elongate first island disposed thereon. The first island can have a body with a volume generally defined between front and rear surfaces that are spaced apart. The front and rear surfaces can lie in a plane parallel to a radial axis R. The perimeters of the front and rear surfaces can define a curved perimeter surface therebetween. The disclosure further provides embodiments having stationary islands and casings that rotate about the island.

Abstract: Devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve variable actuation of engine valves. In one embodiment, a valve train for a split-cycle internal combustion engine or an air hybrid split-cycle engine is provided that includes a cam phaser, a dwell cam, an adjustable mechanical element for performing a variable valve actuation function, and/or a valve seating control device. The devices and methods disclosed herein also have application in conventional internal combustion engines and can actuate inwardly-opening and/or outwardly-opening valves.

Abstract: The disclosure provides rotary machines that include, in one embodiment, a rotatable shaft defining a central axis A, the shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft can have an elongate first island disposed thereon. The first island can have a body with a volume generally defined between front and rear surfaces that are spaced apart. The front and rear surfaces can lie in a plane parallel to a radial axis R. The perimeters of the front and rear surfaces can define a curved perimeter surface therebetween. The disclosure further provides embodiments having stationary islands and casings that rotate about the island.

Abstract: A split-cycle air hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. An air reservoir valve selectively controls air flow into and out of the air reservoir. In an Air Expander and Firing (AEF) mode of the engine, the engine has a residual expansion ratio at XovrE valve closing of 15.7 to 1 or greater, and more preferably in the range of 15.7 to 1 and 40.8 to 1.

Abstract: Valve actuation systems are disclosed herein that allow valve opening timing to be varied using a cam phaser and that allow valve closing timing to be varied using a lost-motion system. In one embodiment, an actuation system is provided that has a locked configuration in which a bearing element is held in place between a cam and a rocker to transmit cam motion to an engine valve. The actuation system also has an unlocked configuration in which the bearing element is permitted to be at least partially ejected from between the cam and rocker, such that cam motion is not transmitted to the engine valve. The actuation system is switched to the unlocked configuration by draining fluid therefrom through a main valve which is piloted by a trigger valve. The actuation system also includes integrated autolash and seating control functionality.

Abstract: Devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve the selective deactivation of one or more engine valves. In one embodiment, a split-cycle internal combustion engine is provided in which a high-speed trigger valve is used to fill and drain a hydraulic tappet that forms part of a lost-motion system of an engine valve. A spool valve can be used to selectively disconnect the tappet from the trigger valve, thereby deactivating the associated engine valve (i.e., preventing the engine valve from opening). The devices and methods disclosed herein also have application in conventional internal combustion engines and can be used with inwardly-opening and/or outwardly-opening valves.

Abstract: A cylinder head for an engine is provided comprising a monolithic structure forming an upper deck, a fire deck, at least one coolant jacket and a cavity to accommodate a fuel injector or an ignitor therein, the cavity defined by a wall connecting the fire deck with the upper deck. The wall connecting the fire deck with the upper deck, as well as other features of the cylinder head, are preferably arranged to support the fire deck against a deflection thereof by transmitting a mechanical load introduced on a flame face of the fire deck to the upper deck. A method of increasing the stiffness of the cylinder head is also provided.

Abstract: Devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve variable actuation of engine valves. In one embodiment, a valve train for a split-cycle internal combustion engine or an air hybrid split-cycle engine is provided that includes a cam phaser, a dwell cam, an adjustable mechanical element for performing a variable valve actuation function, and/or a valve seating control device. The devices and methods disclosed herein also have application in conventional internal combustion engines and can actuate inwardly-opening and/or outwardly-opening valves.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed that generally involve split-cycle engines in which a combustion event is initiated in a crossover passage that interconnects a compression cylinder and an expansion cylinder of the split-cycle engine. In one embodiment, the compression piston leads the expansion piston by a phase shift angle so that, for example, a substantial amount of the combustion event can occur in the crossover passage at a constant volume.

Abstract: Devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve variable actuation of engine valves. In one embodiment, a valve train for a split-cycle internal combustion engine or an air hybrid split-cycle engine is provided that includes a cam phaser, a dwell cam, an adjustable mechanical element for performing a variable valve actuation function, and/or a valve seating control device. The devices and methods disclosed herein also have application in conventional internal combustion engines and can actuate inwardly-opening and/or outwardly-opening valves.

Abstract: Devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve the selective deactivation of one or more engine valves. In one embodiment, a split-cycle internal combustion engine is provided in which a high-speed trigger valve is used to fill and drain a hydraulic tappet that forms part of a lost-motion system of an engine valve. A spool valve can be used to selectively disconnect the tappet from the trigger valve, thereby deactivating the associated engine valve (i.e., preventing the engine valve from opening). The devices and methods disclosed herein also have application in conventional internal combustion engines and can be used with inwardly-opening and/or outwardly-opening valves.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to providing an air supply for components associated with an engine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for using compressed air generated by a split-cycle engine to power components such as valves or air springs associated with the split-cycle engine.