Abstract: A piston including a crown and at least one pin tower coupled to the crown. The pin tower has an opening therein configured to receive a pin therein along a pin axis. The piston further includes a skirt extending generally away from the crown, the skirt including a pair of opposed skirt panel portions. The skirt has a generally non-circular oval shape having a major axis extending generally parallel to the pin axis, wherein the panel portions are offset from the major axis.

Abstract: A piston including a crown and at least one pin tower coupled to the crown. The pin tower has an opening therein configured to receive a pin therein along a pin axis. The piston further includes a skirt extending generally away from the crown, the skirt including a pair of opposed skirt panel portions. The skirt has a generally non-circular oval shape having a major axis extending generally parallel to the pin axis, wherein the panel portions are offset from the major axis.

Abstract: A piston system including a body defining a bore and a piston positioned inside the bore and mounted for reciprocation therein. The piston includes a crown and a skirt extending generally away from the crown, the skirt including a pair of opposed panel portions. The piston further includes a transition portion configured to first engage the body during reciprocation of the piston in the bore. The piston is configured such that additional movement of the piston in the bore after the first engagement causes additional contact between the piston and the body, the additional contact increasing or moving in a circumferential direction about the piston. The piston is configured such that maximum side loading forces from the body to the piston are applied to the piston at one of the panel portions.

Abstract: A piston including a crown and a skirt extending generally axially away from the crown. The skirt includes a pair of opposed skirt panel portions and a band spaced away from the crown and extending generally around a perimeter of the piston. The piston further includes a pair of strut assemblies, each strut assembly including a pair of struts which converge in a radially outward direction. Each strut terminates at or adjacent to one of the panel portions.

Abstract: A pin assembly including a piston pin configured to couple a piston to a connecting rod. The piston pin includes a pin body having an inner cavity and a stiffening rib positioned to resist forces applied to the pin body by a connecting rod. The assembly further includes a pair of ovalarity-resisting ribs and a pair of shear-resisting ribs. Each shear-resisting rib is axially positioned between one of the ovalarity-resisting ribs and the stiffening rib and positioned to resist shear forces applied to the pin body by a connecting rod and a piston. The assembly further includes at least one insert received in the inner cavity, wherein the at least one insert provides at least one of the stiffening rib, or at least one of the ovalarity-resisting ribs, or at least one of the shear-resisting ribs.

Abstract: A piston including a crown and a skirt extending generally axially away from the crown. The skirt includes a pair of opposed skirt panel portions and a band spaced away from the crown and extending generally around a perimeter of the piston. The piston further includes a pair of strut assemblies, each strut assembly including a pair of struts which converge in a radially outward direction. Each strut terminates at or adjacent to one of the panel portions.