Particular Connecting Rod Patents (Class 123/197.3)
  • Patent number: 8763584
    Abstract: A connecting rod assembly is disclosed for use with an engine. The connecting rod assembly may include a first connecting rod having a first end configured to pivotally connect to a first piston and a second can with a circular opening configured to receive a throw of a crankshaft. The connecting rod assembly may also include a second connecting rod having a first end configured to pivotally connect to a second piston and a second end with a circular opening configured to receive the throw of the crankshaft. The second connecting rod may have a running surface defining at least two outer lands and at least one inner land disposed between the at least two outer lands that alternately support a load of the second piston. Both the at least one inner and the at least two outer lands may simultaneously support the load of the second piston at a point of highest load on the second piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron G. Foege
  • Patent number: 8763583
    Abstract: An opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder OPOC engine is disclosed in which the central axis of the two cylinders is collinear. In four-stroke engines, this is possible with a built up crankshaft. Disclosed are connecting rod configurations that are suitable for a two-stroke engine that can be assembled to a unitary crankshaft, including both pullrods in tension and pushrods in compression. The configuration includes pistons arranged symmetrically, but with offset timing of the intake and exhaust pistons. The offset timing leads to a slight imbalance which can be partially overcome by having the center of gravity of the crankshaft offset from the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: EcoMotors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Hofbauer, Adrian Tusinean
  • Publication number: 20140174400
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a connecting rod, The connecting rod may include a first end having a bore configured to receive a piston pin, and a second end having a yoke and a cap removably connected to the yoke at a separation plane. Together, the yoke and the cap may define a bore configured to receive a crankshaft. The connecting rod may also include a shank extending between the first and second ends and being generally symmetrical about a longitudinal plane that may be oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the separation plane. The connecting rod may further include a radial thickness of a shoulder that is greater than a radial thickness of the yoke at the separation plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: James Dean Dunbar, Michael Ray Hess, Lucas John Moehling
  • Patent number: 8757028
    Abstract: A crankshaft has a receiving platform for catching lubricant dropping from a main bearing assembly. The receiving platform has at least one wall disposed thereon. The wall has one point that is the furthest from the rotational axis of the crankshaft. One channel is defined in the platform and has an inlet disposed close to the point of the wall that is furthest from the rotational axis of the crankshaft. The channel has an outlet in the vicinity of a connecting rod bearing assembly, so that lubricant dropped on the receiving platform will flow to the connecting rod bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: BRP US Inc.
    Inventors: George Broughton, Andrew Findlay, John Valek, James E. Macier
  • Patent number: 8757125
    Abstract: An engine comprises one or more cylinders, each cylinder comprising a piston, a connecting rod, a crank shaft, and a crankpin, wherein the crankpin further comprises a main crankpin and a crankpin extension, wherein the connecting rod is affixed at one end to the piston and at another end to a first end of the crankpin extension, wherein a second end of the crankpin extension is affixed to a first end of the main crankpin, and wherein a second end of the main crankpin is affixed to the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Chris Karabatsos
  • Patent number: 8752523
    Abstract: A piston assembly is disclosed for use with an engine. The piston assembly may include a first and second piston crown and a first and second connecting rod. The first and second connecting rods may each have a first end pivotally connected to the first and second piston crowns, respectively, and a second end with a circular opening configured to receive a throw of a crankshaft. The second connecting rod may have a running surface defining at least two outer lands and at least one inner land disposed between the at least two outer lands that alternately support a load of the second piston crown. The piston assembly may further include a bearing. Both the inner and outer lands may simultaneously support the load of the second piston crown against the bearing at a point of highest load on the second piston crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron G. Foege
  • Patent number: 8726877
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a frame and an engine, with the engine including components forming a crankshaft assembly, such as a flywheel, a pinion shaft supporting the flywheel for rotation, a piston assembly including a connecting rod with a base end portion having a bearing support structure, a bearing, and a crank pin. An uninterrupted oil passageway is formed by an axial hole in the pinion shaft, a radial hole in the pinion shaft, an aligned hole in the flywheel, an angled hole in the crank pin, at least one radial hole in the crank pin. The angled hole in the crank pin extends between the inner and outer surfaces, with the angled hole starting on the outer surface at a location along a distance L1 and extends to the inner surface exiting at a location inboard of the distance L1, the angled hole being linear along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: S & S Cycle, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Bramstedt
  • Patent number: 8720410
    Abstract: An improved piston crankshaft interface device provides a stabilized and balanced follower-guide member or “follower” which supports a fulcrum that is created by the point at which the connecting rod fastens to the sliding members within the follower. Sliding members fitted for follower allow the fulcrum to slide with ease up and down, within the follower wherein the movement of the follower is stabilized by attaching members, which fasten the follower to the piston, such that the follower and piston move in unison, as a unit, within the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Hans G. Schubert
  • Publication number: 20140116373
    Abstract: A connecting rod of an internal combustion engine, including a small end and a shank. The small end employs a flexible structure made of hard material. The hard material is a steel or alloy material having a tensile strength greater than or equal to 700 megapascal. The small end of the flexible structure includes a circular body, a center hole, and a flexible support. The circular body encircles the center hole, and the center hole is a complete circular hole having a constant diameter. The small end matches with a piston pin. The flexible structure of the small end operates to allow an elastic deformation of the center hole along an axial direction thereof produced by cylinder pressure exerted on the piston pin to adapt to a bending deformation of the piston pin along the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming JIANG, Hongji SU, Xiaoxun CHEN, Weiguo LI, Hongliang WU
  • Publication number: 20140096740
    Abstract: An improved piston crankshaft interface device provides a stabilized and balanced follower-guide member or “follower” which supports a fulcrum that is created by the point at which the connecting rod fastens to the sliding members within the follower. Sliding members fitted for follower allow the fulcrum to slide with ease up and down, within the follower wherein the movement of the follower is stabilized by attaching members, which fasten the follower to the piston, such that the follower and piston move in unison, as a unit, within the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Hans G. Schubert
  • Patent number: 8677951
    Abstract: An opposed piston engine has an outer piston and an inner piston, which are disposed in a cylinder and are driven in opposite directions and delimit a common combustion chamber. The inner piston drives a crankshaft via a connecting rod and the outer piston drives the crankshaft via a pair of traction connecting rods. The outer piston is supported by a connecting rod that is guided linearly in a guide block, and the connecting rod protrudes from a bridge that is connected at both end portions to a traction connecting rod. Accordingly, it is provided that each traction connecting rod contains a U-shaped curved piece of tube, preferably with parallel legs, which with its U-shaped curved portion encloses a part of the circumference of the pivot bearing supported by the bridge and is fixed, especially bolted, with its leg ends onto a traction connecting rod bearing mounted on the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mahle Koenig Kommanditgesellschaft GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Laimboeck
  • Patent number: 8667948
    Abstract: The dwell cycle crank includes a reciprocating piston having a piston head or cylinder, a main body connected to the piston head, a cap detachably mounted to the main body, an S-shaped cam formed between the main body and the cap, a follower disposed in the S-shaped cam, a rotatable crankshaft, and an offset journal disposed between the connecting bearing and the crankshaft to thereby form a torque arm. The S-shaped cam and connecting bearing create periodic dwells and faster strokes in the crank cycle to maximize volumetric and geometric efficiencies of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: W. Daniel Hamby
  • Publication number: 20140053798
    Abstract: A device and corresponding methods for applying a coating material are disclosed. The method may include applying a first coating material on a threaded region of an opening in a multi-piece assembly, and inserting at least one fastener to the threaded region. The fastener may include a mating thread selectively secured to the threaded region of the opening to create a first friction interface between the fastener and the multi-piece assembly. The method may further include tensioning the fastener between a load surface of the multi-piece assembly and the mating thread. In one example, the load surface may define in part a second friction interface between the fastener and the multi-piece assembly that is spaced away from the threaded region such that the first coating material does not influence the second friction interface. In another example, the first coating material may be applied in a substantially uniform thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Roger A. Krause, Christopher Hall, Dan H. Dinu
  • Publication number: 20140041620
    Abstract: A flexible connecting rod arrangement for engines, hermetic compressors, and any application that requires a connection between a piston and a crankcase or any application that requires a connection between a linear slider and a crankcase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Barnes Group Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Henriques, JR., Ricardo Paschoaneli, Jose Ubaldino Rosa
  • Publication number: 20140014061
    Abstract: A method for treating a bushingless connecting rod, wherein the bushingless connecting rod comprises an elongated rod having a pin end configured to connect with a piston, and a crank end configured to connect with a crankshaft. The pin end includes a bore with an internal diameter. The method includes cleaning the pin end bore, masking and fixturing the pin end bore with elastomeric separators, and providing a high-phosphorous nickel alloy coating on the internal diameter of the pin end bore. The method may be applied to original equipment or to a worn engine undergoing a remanufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Brian Jeffrey KOSKEY, Gerald David Castner, Morris Allen White
  • Publication number: 20130319367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a zinc-free spray powder for thermally coating a substrate, in particular for thermally coating a bearing part of a bearing apparatus, which spray powder has the following composition except for unavoidable contaminants: tin=5% to 30% weight percent; aluminum=0.1% to 5% weight percent; iron=at most 1% weight percent, and copper=difference to 100% weight percent. The invention furthermore relates to a layer system applied via thermal spraying, a work piece, particularly a connecting rod, as well as a spray method for manufacturing a spray layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Bernd Distler, Peter Ernst
  • Publication number: 20130312697
    Abstract: A dual link internal combustion engine, as viewed in a crank axial direction where a crankshaft rotates clockwise, has a following relative configuration. A piston pin center axis is offset to a right side of a piston center line extending through a center of a piston crest surface of a piston. A movement trajectory of a link coupling center of first and second links is positioned to a left side of a piston reciprocation line. A piston center of gravity is positioned to the left side. An average value of a distance in the cylinder axial direction to individual points of the piston crest surface from a reference plane passing through the piston pin center axis and orthogonal to the cylinder axial direction in an area to the left side is greater than an average value of the distance in an area to the right side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20130284142
    Abstract: A piston assembly is disclosed for use with an engine. The piston assembly may include a first and second piston crown and a first and second connecting rod. The first and second connecting rods may each have a first end pivotally connected to the first and second piston crowns, respectively, and a second end with a circular opening configured to receive a throw of a crankshaft. The second connecting rod may have a running surface defining at least two outer lands and at least one inner land disposed between the at least two outer lands that alternately support a load of the second piston crown. The piston assembly may further include a bearing. Both the inner and outer lands may simultaneously support the load of the second piston crown against the bearing at a point of highest load on the second piston crown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Aaron G. FOEGE
  • Publication number: 20130284143
    Abstract: A connecting rod assembly is disclosed for use with an engine. The connecting rod assembly may include a first connecting rod having a first end configured to pivotally connect to a first piston and a second can with a circular opening configured to receive a throw of a crankshaft. The connecting rod assembly may also include a second connecting rod having a first end configured to pivotally connect to a second piston and a second end with a circular opening configured to receive the throw of the crankshaft. The second connecting rod may have a running surface defining at least two outer lands and at least one inner land disposed between the at least two outer lands that alternately support a load of the second piston. Both the at least one inner and the at least two outer lands may simultaneously support the load of the second piston at a point of highest load on the second piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron G. FOEGE
  • Patent number: 8567358
    Abstract: This is mainly a one-cylinder environmental friendly two stroke engine with a lubrication and a gas control mechanism similar to a four stroke engine. An additional rotation inside of a cylinder of a piston making a stroke motion is utilized for a better gas control mechanism. Control edges on the rotating piston open and close ports in the cylinder in the right sequence, most importantly the exhaust port will be closed prior to the opening of the transfer port. The piston with the rigidly connected L-shaped piston rod rotate around the axis of symmetry of the piston by a rotating spherical bearing rigidly, but eccentrically connected to a rotating shaft. A certain angle between the shaft and the axis of rotation of the piston creates also a stroke motion. An oil-ring around the piston rod works in the same way as by a four stroke engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Wolfhart Willimczik
  • Publication number: 20130269650
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine may include a cylinder block defining a cylinder, and a crankshaft defining a crankpin, wherein the crankshaft is rotatably received by the cylinder block and rotates about a longitudinal axis. The internal combustion engine may further include a piston configured to reciprocate within the cylinder, and a connecting rod operably coupled to the piston and the crankpin. The connecting rod may include a first rod element having a first distal end and a first proximate end, wherein the first distal end is operably coupled to the piston. The connecting rod may further include a second rod element having a second distal end operably coupled to the first proximate end of the first rod element, and a second proximate end operably coupled to the crankpin, wherein the first rod element and the second rod element are pivotally coupled to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Larry C. WILKINS
  • Patent number: 8539928
    Abstract: A piston assembly and connecting rod therefor is provided. The connecting rod has an elongate body extending to an end for operable attachment to a piston. The end has a wrist pin bore extending between opposite sides of the body. The wrist pin bore has a wavy profile extending between the sides. The wavy profile has at least one concave surface with a valley extending along a circumferential direction of the wrist pin bore and convex surfaces having peaks extending along a circumferential direction of the wrist pin bore on laterally opposite sides of the valley. The peaks and valleys cooperate to form a smooth load gradient and uniform lubrication flow across the interface region between the wrist pin bore and the wrist pin extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Bueno Nigro, Kai Wang
  • Patent number: 8522745
    Abstract: A reinforced piston assembly provides a piston having a corrugated insert supporting an outer piston layer. The corrugated insert can include lateral, concentric or radial corrugations and can include regular or irregular corrugation spacing. The corrugated insert in some embodiments forms a circular disk and can include a plurality of insert holes defined in the disk. A laminated connecting rod having at least two rod layers is pivotally attached to the piston in some embodiments. The laminated connecting rod provides a first end having a diverging section with first and second rod prongs each forming a wrist pin socket. A wrist pin can extend through each socket, and a sleeve is disposed about the wrist pin between the wrist pin sockets. Additionally, one or more flanges can extend from the opposite end of the connecting rod, and a base cap including one or more flange recesses is positioned on the connecting rod for securing the connecting rod to a crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Eddie H. Doss
  • Publication number: 20130192559
    Abstract: A method of forming a connecting rod, the method including the steps of: forming the connecting rod via a powder forging process; forming an integral wear resistant surface inside a bore of the connecting rod via an inductive heating process after completion of the powder forging process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Russell A. Chernenkoff
  • Patent number: 8484844
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a connecting rod assembly including the steps of defining a small end of a connecting rod assembly having a terminal end and then defining a pin bore extending through the small end of the connecting rod assembly. A pair of channels is formed on opposite sides of the small end of the connecting rod assembly wherein the axis of each of the channels is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pin bore. A bushing having a contact surface including at least partially annular grooves disposed thereon is installed into the pin bore of the small end. The connecting rod is then machined to reduce the width of the small end between each channel and the terminal end wherein at least a portion of the grooves are disposed along the distal ends to reduce the need to deburr the area adjacent to the pin bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: MAHLE Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Alan Stephen McEwan
  • Patent number: 8479704
    Abstract: A sliding component for an internal combustion engine includes a component main body made of titanium or a titanium alloy, a surface hardened layer provided on a surface of the component main body, a diamond-like carbon film provided on the surface hardened layer, and a titanium layer provided between the surface hardened layer and the diamond-like carbon film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kosuke Doi
  • Patent number: 8474430
    Abstract: A crankshaft mechanism for an engine wherein a crankshaft can be disposed close to the piston side while securing a moment of inertia. In the crankshaft mechanism for the engine including the piston, the crankshaft is provided with a crank pin and counterweight parts, and a connecting rod connecting the piston and the crank pin of the crankshaft to each other, the inner side of a circumferential end, on the opposite side of the crank pin, of each of the counterweight parts is cut out along a curve at equidistance R from the center Q of the crank pin, to obtain such a shape so as to avoid a projected part, projected in the direction of the piston, at the lower end of a small end part of the connecting rod when the piston reaches the bottom dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Sakuyama, Shunsuke Muroi
  • Patent number: 8468997
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine may include a cylinder block defining a cylinder, and a crankshaft defining a crankpin, wherein the crankshaft is rotatably received by the cylinder block and rotates about a longitudinal axis. The internal combustion engine may further include a piston configured to reciprocate within the cylinder, and a connecting rod operably coupled to the piston and the crankpin. The connecting rod may include a first rod element having a first distal end and a first proximate end, wherein the first distal end is operably coupled to the piston. The connecting rod may further include a second rod element having a second distal end operably coupled to the first proximate end of the first rod element, and a second proximate end operably coupled to the crankpin, wherein the first rod element and the second rod element are pivotally coupled to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Larry C. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 8464671
    Abstract: The horizontally opposed center fired engine improves on the traditional design of the horizontally opposed engines and center fired engines with a better engine geometry. The present invention utilizes four pairs of opposing pistons to compress a larger volume of air-fuel mixture within four different cylinders. The four different cylinders are radially positioned around a center axle in order to achieve a perfectly symmetric engine geometry. The center axle consists of two different shafts spinning in two different directions, which could drastically reduce engine vibrations in the present invention. Engine vibrations are caused by a change in engine speed and result in a loss of energy. Due to the design, the present invention will only experience energy loss in the form of entropy and friction. Thus, the present invention can convert a higher percentage of chemical energy into mechanical energy than any other internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Bo Zhou
  • Publication number: 20130146019
    Abstract: An engine comprises one or more cylinders, each cylinder comprising a piston, a connecting rod, a crank shaft, and a crankpin, wherein the crankpin further comprises a main crankpin and a crankpin extension, wherein the connecting rod is affixed at one end to the piston and at another end to a first end of the crankpin extension, wherein a second end of the crankpin extension is affixed to a first end of the main crankpin, and wherein a second end of the main crankpin is affixed to the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Chris Karabatsos
  • Patent number: 8443778
    Abstract: A dual crankshaft internal combustion engine having two rotating offset crankshafts respectively attached to connecting rods. Each of the connecting rods, in turn, are pivotally attached to piston rods, which are located an equidistance between the crankshafts. The piston rods are attached to a piston reciprocally disposed in a cylinder. The crankshafts are aligned in parallel and are geared together, either directly or indirectly, thus causing the crankshafts to rotate in the same or opposite directions, depending upon the linkage gear configuration. The dual crankshaft internal combustion engine utilizes leverage from the wedge-effect of the offset crankshafts to provide increased torque, power duration and fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Arthur E. Dalke
  • Publication number: 20130112167
    Abstract: A connecting rod is described for operatively joining a piston to a crankshaft in an engine. The connecting rod has elongated body having a longitudinal axis. A cap is secured to the connecting rod and defines a bore. A journal on the crankshaft is positioned in the bore to connect the second end of the connecting rod to the crankshaft. Threaded bolts secure the cap to the connecting rod. The centerline of the bolts is angularly displaced from about 2° to about 15° from the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod. The angular displacement of the centerline of the bolts provides additional clearance between the camshaft and the connecting rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Nicholas L. Norris
  • Publication number: 20130098330
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a piston, a crankshaft having a journal, and a connecting rod. The connecting rod includes a first end coupled to the piston and a second end coupled to the journal of the crankshaft. The second end of the connecting rod includes a bearing surface configured to interface with the journal, and further includes an open portion extending through the second end from the bearing surface to the exterior of the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: John W. Sigrist, Jeffrey H. Whitmore, Elliot J. Matel
  • Publication number: 20130092119
    Abstract: Exemplary connecting rods and methods of making a connecting rod are disclosed. A method of making a connecting rod may include the step of providing a connecting rod blank, where the connecting rod blank includes a crankshaft end and a piston pin end. The method may further include forming a crankshaft pin recess in the crankshaft end of the connecting rod blank and a piston pin recess in the piston pin end, and forming at least one lubrication recess in the piston pin end of the connecting rod blank. The lubrication recess and the piston pin recess may both formed concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Mahle International GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130087115
    Abstract: An opposed piston engine has an outer piston and an inner piston, which are disposed in a cylinder and are driven in opposite directions and delimit a common combustion chamber. The inner piston drives a crankshaft via a connecting rod and the outer piston drives the crankshaft via a pair of traction connecting rods. The outer piston is supported by a connecting rod that is guided linearly in a guide block, and the connecting rod protrudes from a bridge that is connected at both end portions to a traction connecting rod. Accordingly, it is provided that each traction connecting rod contains a U-shaped curved piece of tube, preferably with parallel legs, which with its U-shaped curved portion encloses a part of the circumference of the pivot bearing supported by the bridge and is fixed, especially bolted, with its leg ends onto a traction connecting rod bearing mounted on the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: MAHLE KOENIG KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: MAHLE KOENIG KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT
  • Publication number: 20130074799
    Abstract: In a reciprocating engine piston, added equipment to renew the piston pin's oil film once per crankshaft rotation. The equipment is located between the connecting rod's small end and the underside of the piston crown. There is a plunger carrier with a plunger, and a saddle with a plunger bore. The saddle closely straddles the plunger carrier, maintaining the alignment of the arcuate plunger with the arcuate plunger bore, for a plunger stroke without friction. The small end's natural oscillation during crankshaft rotation powers the plunger's working cycle. There is an oil-filling stroke and a delivery stroke. The delivery is to the saddle's top, which is just below the piston crown. The oil pressure pushes upward on the piston crown, lifting the piston slightly and the piston pin bosses off the piston pin. In the small gap thus created, new oil can enter, recreating the oil film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: PATRICK A. KOSHELEFF
  • Patent number: 8381524
    Abstract: A piston and a reciprocating expansion engine with a piston having a piston head, a piston neck, and a piston shaft are described. The piston head has at least one groove which runs in a circumferential direction suitable for receiving a piston ring, and the piston shaft has a pin boss and, at its outer circumference, a guide surface which is suitable for guiding the piston along a cylinder inner wall. An outer diameter of the piston neck is smaller than an outer diameter of the piston head and/or of the piston shaft, and the length of the piston neck approximately corresponds to the travel of the piston in the installed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Oesterreich AG
    Inventors: Gottfried Raab, Markus Raup, Josef Klammer, Roland Kirchberger, Michael Lang
  • Patent number: 8371263
    Abstract: A connecting rod includes an elongate rod shank with a small end at a first axial end of the rod shank and a big end at the second axial end of the rod shank. The big end includes a body part and a cap part adapted to releasably couple to the body part. When the cap part is coupled to the body part, the cap part and body part cooperate to define a crank pin receiving bore and abut at first and second spaced apart interfaces. The cap part defines an aperture proximate the first interface that is adapted to receive a threaded fastener that engages and clamps the cap part to the body part. The cap part includes a side portion that extends radially beyond a largest radius from a crank pin bore center to the first interface. The side portion is substantially radially concentrated adjacent the first interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian R. Knudsen, David T. Borth, Wayne G. Seaberg
  • Publication number: 20130025563
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a frame and an engine, with the engine including components forming a crankshaft assembly, such as a flywheel, a pinion shaft supporting the flywheel for rotation, a piston assembly including a connecting rod with a base end portion having a bearing support structure, a bearing, and a crank pin. An uninterrupted oil passageway is formed by an axial hole in the pinion shaft, a radial hole in the pinion shaft, an aligned hole in the flywheel, an angled hole in the crank pin, at least one radial hole in the crank pin. The angled hole in the crank pin extends between the inner and outer surfaces, with the angled hole starting on the outer surface at a location along a distance L1 and extends to the inner surface exiting at a location inboard of the distance L1, the angled hole being linear along its length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Justin Bramstedt
  • Publication number: 20130019836
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block defining a cylinder and a crankshaft rotatably received by the cylinder block. The crankshaft includes a crankshaft gear and is configured to rotate along a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft. The engine further includes a piston configured to reciprocate within the cylinder between spaced stroke termination points defining a stroke of the piston. The engine also includes a connecting rod operably coupled to the piston. The connecting rod includes a gear configured to engage the crankshaft gear, wherein the crankshaft gear and the gear of the connecting rod are configured to engage one another, such that as the piston travels within the cylinder, the connecting rod rotates the crankshaft via engagement between the crankshaft gear and the gear of the connecting rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Larry C. Wilkins
  • Publication number: 20130000595
    Abstract: Trigonal Linkage System replacing a single connecting rod system to a combination of two components (No. 1): a connecting link coupled to a guide piston (No. 2) which is without a solid top or bottom creating no pressure or vacuum and serves only as a guide for the power piston assembly, which prevents seizure moment on the main and crankpin journals, which will no longer be in inline formation at fuel mixture explosive impact moment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Michael D. Gilmartin
  • Patent number: 8336425
    Abstract: A cast metal connecting rod of the type used in a reciprocating piston engine has a beam section between two end sections. The beam section and the end sections are integral with one another and are at least partially made of a cast metal material. At least the beam section of the connecting rod includes an insert made of a sintered powder metal material. The insert is at least partially encapsulated by the cast metal material of the connecting rod. The insert reinforces the connecting rod and can help match characteristics of surrounding or mating parts of the engine that are made of materials more similar to the material of the insert than the cast metal of the connecting rod. The cast metal material, for example aluminum alloy, of the connecting rod can also provide localized regions of high machinability where needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals, LLC
    Inventors: Joel H. Mandel, Donald D. Cooper, Carl J. Langraff
  • Publication number: 20120312273
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder and a piston disposed with the cylinder to define a combustion chamber that is bounded at least in part by interior surfaces of the cylinder and a surface of the piston. A mechanism coupled with the piston reciprocates the piston within the cylinder, causing the combustion chamber to have a volume that varies in accordance with motion of the piston. A torsional element is coupled with the mechanism such that mechanical energy is stored in and released from the torsional element with motion of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Robert T. Weverka
  • Patent number: 8327819
    Abstract: Constant velocity internal combustion engines/designs capable of converting linear motion to rotary motion or rotary motion to linear motion include a gearshaft rather than a crankshaft, at least one pair of opposed and reciprocating pistons, and the gearshaft controlling the reciprocal linear translation of the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: CV Group, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald C. Voegeli
  • Publication number: 20120247419
    Abstract: Reciprocating motion can be converted to rotary motion through a crankshaft and a connecting rod. In a connecting rod that is primarily in compression, two opposing connecting rods can be coupled to a single journal. Two bearing shell portions are placed over the journal with a pushrod placed over each bearing shell portion. The pushrods are normally in compression. To overcome the potentiality of the pushrods briefly being in tension, retainers can be coupled to the pushrods. Because both pushrods are coupled in-line, the width of the journal that can accommodate these pushrods is shorter than for a journal on which the two pushrods are side by side. The crankshaft can be shorter, stronger, and lighter weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: ECOMOTORS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Hofbauer, Adrian Tusinean
  • Publication number: 20120222658
    Abstract: Improvements in a gas powered engine. Said improvements include use of a piston with a fixed piston arm that extends through a seal in the lower portion of the cylinder. The piston arm operates on an elliptical crank that drives the output shaft. Valves that move air and exhaust into and out of the pistons are lifted by a cam located on the crank. A unique oil injector passes oil to the piston and the cylinder wall. An energy recovery unit recovers energy from the cooling system and from the exhaust system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Mustafa Rez
  • Publication number: 20120222648
    Abstract: An engine comprises one or more cylinders, each cylinder comprising a piston, a connecting rod, a crank shaft, and a crankpin, wherein the crankpin further comprises a main crankpin and a crankpin extension, wherein the connecting rod is affixed at one end to the piston and at another end to a first end of the crankpin extension, wherein a second end of the crankpin extension is affixed to a first end of the main crankpin, and wherein a second end of the main crankpin is affixed to the crankshaft, so that when the piston is at top dead center of the power stroke, the torque at the crankshaft is substantially greater than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Chris Karabatsos
  • Patent number: 8245687
    Abstract: A connecting rod and methods for making the same are disclosed. A connecting rod may include a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end. The piston pin end generally defines a bore opening extending along an axis. The connecting rod further includes a bore surface formed integrally with the piston pin end and extending about an inner circumference of the bore opening. The bore surface may define a plurality of dimples that extend axially along the bore surface. The bore opening further may further include profiled surfaces adjacent opposing ends of the bore opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Michael T. Lapp, Roger A. Krause, Dan H. Dinu
  • Publication number: 20120180752
    Abstract: A crank drive has a frame, which may be formed in particular by a housing, a rocker fixed on the frame, a crank that is fixed on the frame and which forms the drive output, and a coupler which connects the rocker and the crank. The coupler is articulately connected in each case to the crank and to an end, which is situated opposite the positionally fixed mounting, of the rocker. In order to drive the crank, a first cylinder is provided which has a movably mounted piston. The piston and the rocker are articulately connected to one another via a push rod such that the axial movement of the piston sets the rocker in an oscillating swinging motion. The rocker has a section that is remote from the fixed mounting of the rocker and which is inclined by a fixed angle towards the coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Konrad Heimanns
  • Patent number: 8220434
    Abstract: The Internal-Combustion Engine is set forth, in which when in use there is no lateral component of the force on the piston which is taken up by the slider rolling by the bearings. As a result of this the cylinder compression is improved, power losses on friction are reduced and wear out of the cylinder is decreased. Also due to the absence of the lateral component of the force on the piston, the latter can be made in a relieved version, e.g. without a skirt and with two compressing rings in one groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Tamerlan Mouradov