Abstract: A variable length connecting rod (12) has a first locking mechanism (36) for releasably locking connecting rod parts in a first effective length setting (FIG. 7) for the rod, and a second locking mechanism (38) for releasably locking the connecting rod parts in a second effective length setting to change the compression ratio for an engine cylinder. When a length change is to be made, hydraulic fluid unlocks a locked one of the locking mechanisms, allowing inertial force to effect the length change during an engine cycle. At completion of a length change, the other locking mechanism automatically unlocks.

Abstract: A variable length connecting rod assembly for imparting a variable compression ratio to an internal combustion engine. The assembly contains a first part (22; 72), a second part (20; 74), and a third part (34; 70) assembled together to form the large end of the connecting rod assembly and provide a variable length for the connecting rod assembly. The first part is a semi-circular cap. One (20; 74) of the second and third parts is fastened tight to the first part (22; 72). Guides (36, 38, 48; 88, 90, 92) disposed at opposite sides of the large end operatively relate the other (34; 70) of the second and third parts and the fastened parts to provide for relative sliding motion between the other of the second and third parts and the fastened parts over a limited adjustment range to change the length of the connecting rod assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus to coat cylinder bores with precise thickness and adhesion having a nozzle for effecting a hollow conical spray pattern of an emulsion about an axis, a highly pressurized supply of emulsion to the nozzle, the emulsion containing solid lubricant in fluid suspension and means for controllably moving the nozzle within the cylinder bore to deposit a coating of the emulsion in the thickness range of 8-13 microns. A method for coating cylinder bores includes preparing the cylinder bore surface to expose fresh metal free of contamination, generating a hollow conical spray consisting of fine mist droplets of a solid lubricant emulsion (the conical spray having an effective base with a diameter greater than the diameter of the cylinder bore), and moving the apex of the conical spray along the axis of the bore at a uniform speed to deposit a coating of the emulsion on the interior of such cylinder bore in a thickness no greater than 20 microns.

Abstract: A low friction valve train actuating at least one valve in an internal combustion engine includes a cam shaft having at least one cam, a tappet contacting the cam and valve, the cam and valve having outer surfaces with an open porosity, a solid film lubricant impregnated and anchored in the open porosity, the solid film lubricant is stable to temperatures at about 700.degree. F. to retain a low coefficient of friction in an oil starved environment.

Abstract: An iron or copper based metal powder useful for plasma deposition of a coating that has a dry coefficient of friction 0.75 or less and readily conducts heat through the coating. The powder comprises (a) H.sub.2 O atomized and annealed particles consisting essentially of (by weight) carbon 0.15-0.85%, oxygen 0.1-0.45%, an air hardening agent selected from manganese and nickel of 0.1-06.5%, and the remainder iron or copper, with at least 90% of the particles having oxygen and iron or copper combined in the lowest atomic oxygen form for an oxide of such metal.A method of making anti-friction iron powder that is economical, selectively produces FeO and promotes fine flowable particles. The method comprises (a) steam atomization of a molten steel that excludes other oxygen, the steel containing carbon up to 0.4% by weight to produce a collection of comminuted particles, and (b) annealing the particles in an air atmosphere for a period of time of 0.25-2.0 hours in a temperature range of 800.degree.-1400.degree. F.

Abstract: An iron or copper based metal powder useful for plasma deposition of a coating that has a dry coefficient of friction 0.75 or less and readily conducts heat through the coating. The powder comprises (a) H.sub.2 O atomized and annealed particles consisting essentially of (by weight) carbon 0.15-0.85%, oxygen 0.1-0.45%, an air hardening agent selected from manganese and nickel of 0.1-6.5%, and the remainder iron or copper, with at least 90% of the particles having oxygen and iron or copper combined in the lowest atomic oxygen form for an oxide of such metal.A method of making anti-friction iron powder that is economical, selectively produces FeO and promotes fine flowable particles. The method comprises (a) steam atomization of a molten steel that excludes other oxygen, the steel containing carbon up to 0.4% by weight to produce a collection of comminuted particles, and (b) annealing the particles in an air atmosphere for a period of time of 0.25-2.0 hours in a temperature range of 800.degree.-1400.degree. F.

Abstract: A collection of agglomerated anti-friction grains for plasma deposition, the grains each consisting essentially of (a) H.sub.2 O atomized stainless steel particles, (b) solid lubricant particles consisting of at least one of boron nitride or a eutectic of calcium fluoride and lithium fluoride, and (c) a binder holding said steel and solid lubricant particles together for plasma spraying, said binder being present in an amount of 0.5-4.0% by weight and is vaporizable at the temperature of plasma spraying and does not interfere with the deposited process. A method of making agglomerated grains of powder suitable for plasma deposition, by (a) H.sub.

Abstract: Method of depositing a metal base coating containing a self-lubricating oxide phase and one or more wear resistant phases, by: preparing at least one light metal substrate surface to be essentially oxide-free and in a condition to adherently receive the coating, plasma spraying a supply of metal (M) powder particles onto the substrate surface to produce a composite coating of such metal (M) and an oxide (MO.sub.

Abstract: A sealing assembly that significantly reduces or eliminates blow-by, peristolic pumping and sealing element flutter while, at the same time, reducing to ultra low levels friction between the sealing element and its assembly. The assembly has surfaces in at least one of the bore wall or piston to form a groove facing the other of the wall or piston, the groove having exposed smoothly curved shoulders which face each other. A sealing element is positioned in the groove, the element having smoothly curved side surfaces mateable with the groove shoulders for supporting the element in the groove. The sealing element has an exposed outer surface (crown) which also is smoothly curved with a pair of mirror image shoulders, The crown is effective to tangentially contact the cylinder wall while the element side surfaces each tangentially contact their respective mating groove shoulders.

Abstract: A method of treating a light metal cylinder bore wall to adherently receive a thermally sprayed metallic coating, that comprises (a) honing the wall to produce a net cylinder shape surface by use of spiral overlapping cross-abrasions having certain peaks and valleys of the abrasions folded over and molded to create tears, folds and undercuts rendering a hook and ladder effect, the honing being carried out with the use of a machining coolant to prevent burnishing of the walls; (b) either concurrently or shortly after step (a), washing the honed surface with a hot alkaline solution comprising (i) a non-soaping aluminate forming agent (sodium xanthate) that produces a residue on the walls, and (ii) surfactants that facilitate wetting of the walls even when some steam bubbles may be present; (c) rinsing the washed surfaces without disturbing the residue; and (d) thermally spraying a metallic bond coat and top coat on the honed and washed surface to render adhesion between the coating and prepared surface that is

Abstract: A method of making coated engine blocks by (a) casting a metallic engine block having one or more cylinder bores; (b) fabricating a thin walled liner for each bore, the liner being constituted of extruded metallic tubing having a cleansed inner surface, a wall thickness controlled to a thickness of 1-3 mm.+-.

Abstract: An iron or copper based metal powder useful for plasma deposition of a coating that has a dry coefficient of friction 0.75 or less and readily conducts heat through the coating. The powder comprises (a) H.sub.2 O atomized and annealed particles consisting essentially of (by weight) carbon 0.15-85%, oxygen 0.1-0.45%, an air hardening agent selected from manganese and nickel of 0.1-6.5%, and the remainder iron or copper, with at least 90% of the particles having oxygen and iron or copper combined in the lowest atomic oxygen form for an oxide of such metal.A method of making anti-friction iron powder that is economical, selectively produces FeO and promotes fine flowable particles. The method comprises (a) steam atomization of a molten steel that excludes other oxygen, the steel containing carbon up to 0.4% by weight to produce a collection of comminuted particles, and (b) annealing the particles in an air atmosphere for a period of time of 0.25-2.0 hours in a temperature range of 800.degree.-1400.degree. F.

Abstract: A method of preparing the surface of a conductive metal to be non-smooth and non-passivated for reception of thermal sprayed coatings. The method comprises melting and rapidly solidifying globules of the surface by electrical discharge by bring an electrode (anode) in close gap-sparking proximity to the surface, filling the gap with an electrolyte containing a halogenated hydrocarbon fluid present in an amount of 2-5% of the electrolyte, and imposing a pulsed DC voltage (i.e. 20-100 volts at 40-200 amps) on the electrode to provide cyclical sparking between the electrode and the surface through the electrolyte resulting in a breakdown of the hydrocarbon to release nascent halogen atoms which attack the surface to prevent passivation during melting and solidification of the globules. The electrolyte is preferably cooled to a temperature below 65.degree. F.

Abstract: A high efficiency pump having relatively-moving parts constituted of a light weight material and a coating on at least one of the parts to effect essentially zero clearance between the parts where they merge together. The coating is comprised of solid lubricants in a polymer resin matrix stable up to 700.degree. F.

Abstract: A method of flexibly manufacturing engine blocks by first bonding an extruded tube liner insert, of a given thickness (1-15 mm), to a fixed configuration block, the liner insert having been coated with an anti-friction wear-resistant coating having a controlled standard thickness, and secondly bonding an extruded tube liner insert of a different thickness (again selected from 1-15 mm) to another of the fixed configuration blocks, the second liner insert having been coated with the same type of anti-friction wear-resistant coating in essentially the same controlled standard thickness. The common sized engine block can have (i) identically shaped circular cylindrical bore walls or (ii) ovoid cylindrical bore walls with the liner insert having an interior surface shape selection varying between circular to ovoid. The block and liner insert may be both made of aluminum.

Abstract: A turbocharger for compressing air on the air inlet side of a fuel air combustor or in the air intake manifold of an internal combustion engine of a compression ignition engine whereby the exhaust energy of the exhaust gases for the engine is used to boost the intake manifold pressure or the combustor air inlet pressure, the turbocharger having a rotor with multiple air and gas cells situated in a shroud so that the cells communicate through ported stators with air inlet and exhaust ports and gas inlet and exhaust ports, pressure waves established in the cells effecting compression of the inlet air for the engine, the materials used for the rotor and the shroud being closen to effect a minimum, uniform running clearance therebetween to reduce leakage and improve operating efficiency, the running clearance between the stators on either side of the rotor and the rotor itself being minimized by the use of an abradable seal.

Abstract: A micro-crystalline material and method for making the same wherein a vitreous material known as magnesium aluminum silicate or cordierite glass is caused to undergo a high temperature solid state conversion to a crystalline material and wherein the crystallization is catalyzed by using a nucleating agent on the surface of the base material to trigger microscopic grain formation, the base material that is used being in the form of a fine frit or powder.

Abstract: A process for making and assembling a rotary regenerator comprising a ceramic core adapted to rotate upon its central axis and a ring gear surrounding the periphery of the core for purposes of driving the core rotatably including preparing and forming a yieldable compliant ring sandwiched between the ring gear and the periphery of the core to prevent stresses in the core caused by differential rates of expansion of the core and the ring during operation of the regenerator in a gas turbine engine and during processing of the regenerator and the regenerator drive ring.

Abstract: Improvements in molded articles from sinterable particulate solids, improvements in method for making such articles, and novel sacrificial binders for use in making such articles are disclosed. The sacrificial binders used in this invention comprise block polymers having the structural formulaAB--AB--.sub..eta. Awherein ".eta." is 0 or a positive integer, "A" is a linear or branched polymer that is glassy or crystalline at room temperature and has its softening point in the range of about 80.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. and "B" is a polymer different from A that behaves as an elastomer at processing temperatures, a plasticizer which may be oil, wax, or oil and wax, and optionally other components.

Abstract: A process for making and assembling a rotary regenerator comprising a ceramic core adapted to rotate upon its central axis and a ring gear surrounding the periphery of the core for purposes of driving the core rotatably including preparing and forming a yieldable compliant ring sandwiched between the ring gear and the periphery of the core to prevent stresses in the core caused by differential rates of expansion of the core and the ring during operation of the regenerator in a gas turbine engine and during processing of the regenerator and the regenerator drive ring.