Engine Housing Closure Patents (Class 384/433)
  • Patent number: 8833328
    Abstract: A structural frame is provided. The structural frame includes a bottom surface, first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces, the first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces positioned above the bottom surface at a height that is above a centerline of a crankshaft support included in a cylinder block when the structural frame is coupled to the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher K. Palazzolo, Darren Sipila, Steve Poe, Philip D. Cierpial, Changsheng Gan
  • Patent number: 8327817
    Abstract: A bearing for an automotive engine includes a base having a first bearing segment formed therein, and a bearing cap removably mounted to the base, with the bearing cap including fastener towers in contact with the base. A second bearing segment extends between the fastener towers. A number of non-contact stiffening ribs extend parallel to the fastener towers. The stiffening ribs are attached to outboard portions of the fastener towers. The stiffening ribs cause the bearing cap to avoid excessive flexing and distortion, while at the same time avoiding fretting corrosion which would occur were the clamp loads of the cap to the base be reduced by materially increasing the size of the fastener towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Christopher Kelly Palazzolo, Daryl Self
  • Publication number: 20110048367
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an engine includes the steps of: casting a side skirt having first and second opposing sidewalls and casting a transverse wall of the cast material connecting the sidewalls. The transverse wall will form a bulkhead and a main bearing cap. A first void and a second void are cast into the transverse wall on opposite lateral sides of a main bearing journal location, each void adjacent to one of the sidewalls. A main bearing journal hole is then machined into the transverse wall. Cast material is removed along a first removal path from the edge of the transverse wall and ending into the first void, and along a second removal path from the edge of the transverse wall and ending into the second void. A tool exerts an opening force within the circular bore to fracture the cast material along the first and second fracture planes to separate the main bearing cap from the bulkhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Martin R. Zielke, Andrew B. Witkowski, Roger C. Kenitz
  • Patent number: 7322750
    Abstract: A locking engine splay cap apparatus and method of use and manufacture comprising a splay cap and an engine block base having uniquely positioned and formed slots and protrusions which integrally mate. The mating provides optimum register of the internal combustion engine main bearing caps whereby cap chatter and inward deformation is minimized. The method of use allows smaller displacement and more efficient engines to produce higher powers without compromising reliability and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Ronnie Besselman
  • Patent number: 7314315
    Abstract: Improved serviceability of cold metal cutting machines is accomplished in a modified gearbox structure enabling several annular components that are conventionally attached by press-fit to be attached instead by slide-fit for easy removal and replacement, eliminating hammering and/or heating required conventionally to release press-fit components. Press-fitting of a motor shaft coupling is eliminated by introduction of clamping slide-fit structure. Press-fits of two thrust bearings to the housing are eliminated by introduction of slide-fit adaptors. Instead of the conventional practice of making the saw rotor integral with the low speed shaft, a separate saw rotor bolted to the shaft enables easy replacement of the oil seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Ashot Salvaryan
  • Patent number: 7104694
    Abstract: A bearing cap is bolted to the cylinder head by a cap bolt to fix relative position of the camshaft to the cylinder head. An oil escape bore that connects a cap bolt insert bore formed in the bearing cap through a chain casing to an oil pan is formed in the bearing cap, wherein the oil escape bore is positioned with a distance from a cylinder-head meeting surface of the bearing cap. As a result the oil escape bore is formed without damaging mounting performance of the bearing cap to the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Harui
  • Patent number: 7093980
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bearing structure for a camshaft to prevent obliquely wiping off the oil from the surface of the camshaft caused by a knife edge. A lower journal (3) for supporting the camshaft (2) is formed with a counterbore (6) cutting off a part of a bearing surface (5) of the lower journal (3). A connecting part between the bearing surface (5) and the counterbore (6) is formed with a recess (11) hollowed from the bearing surface (5). A part of an edge (11a) connecting the recess (11) to the bearing surface (5) is elongated along a perpendicular direction to an axis of the bearing surface (O5), and a remaining part of the edge (11b) is elongated along a parallel direction to the axis (O5). The part of the edge (11a) does not wipe off the oil in the axis direction (O5), while the oil wiped by the remaining part of the edge (11b) is received into the recess (11) and is used for lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Akira Iijima
  • Patent number: 6984070
    Abstract: In a bearing metal fitted to a journal bearing portion where a center of a bearing metal fitting hole is deviated from a reference straight line in a direction orthogonal to the reference straight line at a time of mounting a cylinder head, a thickness, in a direction parallel to a direction in which the center of the bearing metal fitting hole is deviated, of one of an upper metal and a lower metal, which is positioned in the same direction as the direction in which the center of the bearing metal fitting hole is deviated, is increased by an amount by which the center of the bearing metal fitting hole is deviated from the reference straight line, and a thickness, in the direction parallel to the direction in which the center of the bearing metal fitting hole is deviated, of one of the upper metal and the lower metal, which is positioned in a direction opposite to the direction in which the center of the bearing metal fitting hole is deviated, is reduced by the amount by which the center of the bearing metal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sugimura
  • Patent number: 6926444
    Abstract: A main bearing cap (20) for an internal combustion engine consists of an aluminum alloy with an iron alloy core (10). The cap has a supporting surface (22) for a bearing shell. The iron alloy core has a central portion (13) with two spaced apart through-channels (15) filled with an aluminum alloy (24) forming a coherent mass with an aluminum layer (23) the outer limiting surface of which forms the supporting surface (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Staffan Rengmyr
  • Patent number: 6907660
    Abstract: In an arrangement and method for mounting a camshaft onto a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine by camshaft bearings disposed on the cylinder head of the engine camshaft bearing by support seats which are formed integrally with the cylinder head and bearing caps which are formed integrally with a cylinder head cover mounted onto the cylinder head, at least one of the bearings is an assembly bearing with a separate assembly bearing cap that has a bearing opening of a diameter greater than that of the camshaft so that the camshaft when placed onto the bearing seats is not fully moved into the bearing seat openings but is fully engaged with the bearing seats only when the cylinder head cover is mounted onto the cylinder head whereby the camshaft in the assembly bearing is moved out of contact with the assembly bearing cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler A.G.
    Inventor: Josef Astner
  • Patent number: 6786643
    Abstract: A cam bracket is disclosed for lubricating the vicinity of a thrust plate sufficiently even during starting of the engine. In the cam bracket adapted to support a camshaft for rotation in cooperation with a cylinder head and provided with a support portion having a slot for supporting a thrust plate of the camshaft for rotation, an oil sump is formed in a hollow fashion on the upper surface of the support portion around the edge of the slot at least on one side in a rotation direction of the thrust plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignees: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Hada, Hisao Okawa
  • Publication number: 20040017956
    Abstract: A crankshaft supporter having a bearing holder molded in aluminum alloy and having a bearing for supporting a crankshaft. A preform member is cast inside of the aluminum alloy. A screw hole having one opened end is formed in an outer surface of the bearing holder. A concave recess section is formed in the preform member to accommodate a bottom of the screw hole. An introduction passage is provided in the recess section to introduce molten metal therein during casting to prevent blowholes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6666582
    Abstract: A main bearing cap (20) has an hourglass shaped slot (22) in each leg (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Benini, Jude D. Schlimm, Ralph E. Mc Kimm, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20030223664
    Abstract: A bearing cap is bolted to the cylinder head by a cap bolt to fix relative position of the camshaft to the cylinder head. An oil escape bore that connects a cap bolt insert bore formed in the bearing cap through a chain casing to an oil pan is formed in the bearing cap, wherein the oil escape bore is positioned with a distance from a cylinder-head meeting surface of the bearing cap. As a result the oil escape bore is formed without damaging mounting performance of the bearing cap to the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Harui
  • Patent number: 6655843
    Abstract: A core member has a core member side journal portion and a core member bolt hole on both sides of the core member side journal portion and is provided in a separation state from a surface of a casting mold through a cast-off pin including a step portion in a vertical direction in the casting mold. A radius of curvature of the core member side journal portion of the core member is made greater than a radius of curvature of the cap side journal portion of the bearing cap in such a manner that a clearance between the cap side journal portion and the core member side journal portion is larger than a clearance between the core member bolt hole and the cast-off pin. A pouring gate is provided on a side surface of the casting mold to inject a base material along the bonding portion of the bearing cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20030072508
    Abstract: In an arrangement and method for mounting a camshaft onto a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine by camshaft bearings disposed on the cylinder head of the engine camshaft bearing by support seats which are formed integrally with the cylinder head and bearing caps which are formed integrally with a cylinder head cover mounted onto the cylinder head, at least one of the bearings is an assembly bearing with a separate assembly bearing cap that has a bearing opening of a diameter greater than that of the camshaft so that the camshaft when placed onto the bearing seats is not fully moved into the bearing seat openings but is fully engaged with the bearing seats only when the cylinder head cover is mounted onto the cylinder head whereby the camshaft in the assembly bearing is moved out of contact with the assembly bearing cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Josef Astner
  • Publication number: 20020191875
    Abstract: A main bearing cap (20) has an hourglass shaped slot (22) in each leg (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: James M. Benini, Jude D. Schlimm, Ralph E. Mc Kimm
  • Patent number: 6471406
    Abstract: A powder metal main bearing cap has integral dowels at its adjoining face around bolt holes and tooth projections surrounding the dowels. The dowels are force fit into counterbores in the engine block and the teeth bite into the metal of the block around the bolt holes to inhibit fretting wear. Elongated bolt holes can be formed in the main bearing cap to accommodate a splayed joint, with the bolt head supporting face of the cap at an oblique angle to the hole. The bearing cap can be first pressed into the engine block so as to assure indentation by the teeth and insertion of the dowels, followed by bolting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry M. Cadle, Peter C. Butler, Joel H. Mandel
  • Patent number: 6422755
    Abstract: A sintered powder metal (P/M) component has an integrally formed tapered boss surrounding its bolt hole which extends into counterbores in a component to which it is assembled and produces plastic conformance between the boss and the counterbore when the boss is seated in the counterbore. The P/M component can then be removed from the other component and reassembled to it, with the boss fitting perfectly back into the bore with the plastically deformed surfaces fitting back together precisely to determine the relative positioning of the two components. The boss is tapered, a moat may surround it, and the boss may be provided with axial splines and/or be oblong in the axial direction. Bosses such as these may be applied to two components in general, at least one of which is powder metal, such as a main bearing cap, a sensor ring for measuring the timing of an internal combustion engine and a connecting rod bearing cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals-Germantown, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry M. Cadle, Lawrence E. Eckstein
  • Patent number: 6076971
    Abstract: A reinforcing insert for an engine block formed of an engine block material is provided which is positioned in the bearing saddle area of the block for increasing the strength and stiffness of the bearing saddle area to ensure a secure connection of the main bearing cap throughout engine operation thereby ensuring proper crankshaft support and operation. The reinforcing insert is formed of a material having a higher modulus of elasticity than a modulus of elasticity of the engine block material. The insert includes a lower transverse surface for positioning at a lowermost position in the engine block, an upper surface positioned farthest from the crankshaft, a first and second linear side surfaces for positioning on opposite sides of the crankshaft. The linear sides extend from the lower surface along respective planes in nonparallel relation to each other. The linear sides may extend either in a converging or a diverging manner from the lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Warwick, Martin R. Myers, Yong Ching Chen, Paul C. Becker, Richard Belush
  • Patent number: 5816710
    Abstract: A reinforcing insert for an engine block formed of a lightweight material is provided which is positioned in the bearing saddle area of the block for increasing the strength and stiffness of the bearing saddle area to ensure a secure connection of the main bearing cap throughout engine operation thereby ensuring proper crankshaft support and operation. The reinforcing insert is formed of a material having a higher modulus of elasticity than a modulus of elasticity of the lightweight engine block material. The insert includes a lower transverse surface for positioning at a lowermost position in the engine block, an upper surface positioned farthest from the crankshaft, a first and second linear side surfaces for positioning on opposite sides of the crankshaft. The linear sides extend from the lower surface along respective planes in nonparallel relation to each other. The linear sides may extend either in a converging or a diverging manner from the lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Warwick, Martin R. Myers, Yong Ching Chen, Paul C. Becker, Richard Belush
  • Patent number: 5203854
    Abstract: A main bearing cap for an internal combustion engine consists of an aluminum alloy with a steel core (6). The cap has a supporting surface (2) for the bearing shell (3). The supporting surface is the outer surface of a 3 mm thick aluminum layer (10) outside the steel core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventors: Lars Nilsson, Kjell Berntson
  • Patent number: 4730833
    Abstract: For sealing the axle opening in a traction motor gearcase on the motor side thereof, an annular member of elastomeric material has a sleeve portion that is adapted to be clamped to a motor-supporting axle bearing thrust flange and a radially outwardly projecting flange portion that is adapted to fit inside an annular groove formed in an edge of the gearcase sidewall that surrounds the hub of an axle gear adjacent to the thrust flange. The seal further comprises a reinforcing ring having concentric outer and inner sections: the outer section is attached to the flange portion of the annular member to ensure a tight fit in the aforesaid groove, and the inner section extends from the groove to within close proximity of the axle gear hub and forms, with the axle-gear end of the sleeve portion, an annular trough for collecting axle bearing lube oil that escapes through the gear hub-thrust flange interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert B. Foster, Dale C. Walker
  • Patent number: 4693216
    Abstract: These crankshaft bearings consist of a light-metal alloy and are formed by a bearing section of a crankcase and a bearing cap. In order to avoid a bearing clearance causing noise, a core made of iron metal is poured at least into the bearing cap, said core, by means of a bearing area, directly surrounding the crankshaft journal of a crankshaft, and having lugs for bores connected by a transverse part. The bores are penetrated by the screws in order to fasten the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Ampferer, Klaus Groger
  • Patent number: 4423667
    Abstract: A sleeve-type bearing includes an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, and an oscillation-damping material fixedly disposed between the outer and inner sleeves. It is preferable that such a bearing is used to support a crankshaft of an automotive engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Hayashi