Abstract: Reciprocating motion can be converted to rotary motion through a crankshaft and a connecting rod. In a connecting rod that is primarily in tension, two opposing connecting rods can be coupled to a single journal. Two bearing caps are placed over the journal, the bearing caps having fingers that extend away from the bearing cap with the fingers of the two bearing caps being enmeshed. Fingers of each bearing cap are coupled to the connecting rods. The resulting joint is compact and lighter weight with a shorter journal than prior joints.

Abstract: A high speed electric motor for automotive applications that is designed to effectively minimize vibration of its component parts and thus suppress noise generated during its operation. The motor incorporates acoustic engineering principles including surface vibration control, acoustic radiation efficiency, active intensity field control and noise control using acoustic materials to reduce overall vibration of the motor components and the motor noise sensed by the passenger of the vehicle. In one aspect, a bearing assembly for an electric motor is disclosed. The electric motor is of the type including a housing defining an internal chamber, an armature disposed within the internal chamber and having a rotatable shaft, and magnet means for inducing rotational movement of the armature shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing member for supporting the armature shaft for rotational movement and a bearing housing defining an internal bore that accommodates at least a portion of the bearing member.

Abstract: A connecting rod crankshaft bearing, provided for installation in the connecting rod at the crankshaft end, eliminates the necessity for reaming out the ridge in a cylinder during rebuilding. The rod bearing is an eccentric bearing, provided as two semi-circular sections having a slightly greater thickness along the lower section than on the upper section so as to offset the center of the inner surface from the outer surface of the bearing.This offset restricts the uptravel of the connecting rod. This in turn lowers the position of the piston during reciprocating travel by the same amount, eliminating possible impact with wear ridges within the cylinder. The cylinder thus need not be reamed to remove these ridges, as they no longer present a source of damaging impact during piston travel.