Interconnected Without Separate Fastening Means Patents (Class 92/219)
  • Patent number: 9370847
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piston can prevent casting defects such as oxide inclusions or shrinkage cavities on the surface of a combustion chamber over a piston head after casting. The method includes casting a head top having a bowl by pouring a first molten metallic material into a first mold with a bonding portion of the head top to be formed at an upper portion in the first mold and a first riser on the bonding portion of the head top, casting the body by pouring a second molten metallic material into a second mold, with a bonding portion of the body to be formed at an upper portion in the second mold and a second riser on the bonding portion of the body, removing the risers from the head top and the body, and integrally bonding the head top and the body to form the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Pil Sung Jang
  • Patent number: 9004037
    Abstract: A piston assembly includes a piston having a crown with an upper combustion surface with a cylindrical outer surface extending downwardly from the upper combustion surface. A pair of pin bosses depends from the crown to a pair of pin bores having generally cylindrical bearing surfaces aligned along a pin bore axis with a top wall portion extending between the pin bosses. The top wall portion has a concave bearing surface forming a continuous concave bearing surface with the pin bores. A separate skirt is fixed to the piston against relative movement. At least one rib extends upwardly from the top wall portion of the piston on opposite sides of the pin bore axis to a lower wall surface of the crown. The at least one rib joins the crown to the top wall portion to provide structural support to the top wall portion against unwanted deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Floin Muscas
  • Patent number: 8813712
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine has a piston head, a piston skirt, and a circumferential recess configured between the piston head and the piston skirt. The piston has a piston base body and a piston ring element. The piston base body has a crown region of a combustion bowl and the piston skirt. The piston ring element has a piston crown, a wall region of the combustion bowl, a circumferential top land, and a circumferential ring belt with ring grooves. The piston ring element has a circumferential cooling channel between the wall region of the combustion bowl and the ring belt, closed with a closure element. The piston base body and the piston ring element have a circumferential joining seam in the region of the combustion bowl, by way of which seam they are non-releasably connected with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Karlheinz Bing, Michael T. Lapp, Rainer Scharp, Michael Ullrich
  • Patent number: 8337175
    Abstract: A coupling system for receiving a push rod includes a housing defining an internal channel having a sloped wall, and a piston received within the internal channel. The piston includes at least one flexible member arranged within the channel to be acted upon by the sloped wall to engage the push rod. The only external force required to couple the push rod is an axial force on the piston in a direction. The only external force required to de-couple the push rod is an axial force on the piston in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest A. Dion, Ed D. McLean, Fred W. Boussu, Manny J. Salinas, Sean J. Albert
  • Patent number: 7721431
    Abstract: An engine piston is manufactured by assembling an outer shell, comprising a crown and tubular side wall in which a ring groove region and skirt are defined, with a plate-like mounting member and bonding them together by brazing or welding. The mounting member is located within the tubular side wall displaced axially from the crown and is bonded near, but displaced radially from, its centre to the crown and at its periphery to the side wall at the end of the ring groove region. The mounting member carries gudgeon pin boss means facing away from the crown. The outer shell is formed by extrusion or the like that permits minimal wall thickness and the bonded structure is of light weight but great strength and stiffness, particularly in the ring groove region. A combustion bowl formed in the crown facilitates bonding to the mounting member and defines with the mounting member an annular cooling chamber adjacent the ring groove region and crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventors: Duncan Parker, David Thornton Pindar, Roger James Jones, Gillian Hume, David James Tharratt
  • Patent number: 6062125
    Abstract: In a piston-cylinder assembly with a shaftless piston, the aim is to improve the lateral guidance of the connecting rod, to reduce edge wear and the seizing tendency in the event of fault during the combustion process. Consequently, the piston has at least one supporting ring, form-fittingly on the bosses which guides in the cylinder the piston along with the piston head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Mahle GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Bubeck
  • Patent number: 6048126
    Abstract: A mushroom-type pin retainer for a pin having a central bore and which connects a piston and a piston rod of an internal combustion engine. The pin retainer is comprised of a mushroom head connected to a shaft. The shaft has a section of larger diameter for insertion into the bore of the pin. This section is no longer than 2 mm in an axial direction and is located remote from the mushroom head, so that the pin retainer may swing by a limited angle during mounting in the bore. This configuration makes the assembly simple to mount, even if it is manufactured by an imprecise manufacturing process such as injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mahle GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kemnitz, Klaus Keller
  • Patent number: 5913960
    Abstract: A method is described of making a piston crown, the method comprises the steps of making a lower crown portion, the lower crown portion also having piston pin bosses, making an upper crown portion which co-operates with the lower crown portion and joining the lower and upper crown portions together to form an oil retaining chamber. The upper and lower crown portions may be made by a precision casting technique in a ferrous alloy and may be joined by a brazing operation. The piston crown may be part of an articulated piston or may further include integral skirt portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Wellworthy Limited
    Inventor: David Francis Fletcher-Jones
  • Patent number: 5890417
    Abstract: A piston/cylinder assembly for a reciprocating compressor has a piston comprising telescopingly connected first and second piston members. The first piston member is connected to a connecting rod. The second piston member is provided with a piston head and is connected to the first piston member in such a way as to be movable axially relative to the first piston member by a predetermined distance. A spring is interposed between the first piston member and the second piston member to yieldably urge the first and second piston members axially apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ju Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 5701802
    Abstract: An engine piston includes a piston head; a first bearing block forming a one-piece component with the piston head and having a first bearing face; a piston skirt being a component separate from the piston head; a second bearing block forming a one-piece component with the piston skirt and having a second bearing face; and a coupling device for interconnecting the piston head and the piston skirt and for interconnecting the first and second bearing blocks with one another. The first and second bearing faces complement one another to form a bearing for rotatably supporting a connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: AE Goetze GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Junge
  • Patent number: 5692430
    Abstract: An articulated piston apparatus including an improved skirt member wherein the skirt member includes a cooling gallery channel with means for providing a directed flow of lubricant from the cooling gallery channel to the elements of the piston apparatus disposed within the skirt bore, wherein during the upward stroke of the piston apparatus a downwardly directed flow of lubricant flows from the cooling gallery channel through a bore from the cooling gallery channel to the skirt bore and therein impinges those elements of the piston apparatus to assure complete lubrication thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel L. McLaughlin, Stephen V. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5499572
    Abstract: A piston for developing compression within the cylinder of a combustion engine or other type compression generating apparatus; said piston being a two-piece assembly, whereas the topside portion, or traditionally known as the crown, being of relative disc-shape in relation to asymetrics of said piston, is connected to the lower portion, or traditionally known as the skirt, by a distinct fastening means that consist of said crown being concaved from the underside and having multiple vertically positioned ridges that align the inside perimeter of said underside. Said skirt has another set of matching vertically positioned ridges that align the outer perimeter at the top of said skirt, as said top is appropriately sized to match said underside of said crown so that said crown may be press-fitted to said top of said skirt for a rigid and complete piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Inventor: Daniel L. Cobble
  • Patent number: 5483869
    Abstract: The design and construction of past articulated pistons include an open space between a head portion and an independent skirt portion. The open space allows excess cooling fluid, such as oil, to exit the piston and flow toward the cylinder, increasing oil consumption and carbon deposits within the engine. The present invention overcomes these problems by positioning a sealing means within an open space between a head portion and a skirt portion of an articulated piston. The sealing means completely blocks the oil from exiting the piston while being adequately conformable to allow the necessary articulation between the head and skirt portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Allyn P. Bock, Stephen V. Kelly, Samuel L. McLaughlin, Brian R. Weller
  • Patent number: 5394788
    Abstract: A cooled piston head and method of manufacture, the piston head having a closed cooling chamber. In one embodiment, the piston head is formed of a top member, an intermediate member and a pin boss member joined to each other preferably by welding; the top and intermediate members are provided with circumferential grooves which defines the closed cooling chamber. In an alternate embodiment, the head is formed of a top member and a pin boss member joined together preferably by welding; the closed cooling chamber is defined by circumferential grooves provided on both members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Metal Leve S/A Industria e Comercio
    Inventors: Jose A. C. Mendes, Jose M. M. Leites, Andre Lippai
  • Patent number: 5307732
    Abstract: The design and construction of past piston assemblies having a wrist pin bolted to a connecting rod have excessive weight and structural components, and requires more complex machining techniques and tooling. The present invention overcomes these problem by providing a piston assembly (30) with a wrist pin (36) attached to a piston member (32). Thus, the length of the leg members (80) are short and do not require a portion surrounding the wrist pin (36). The results being reduced piston member (32) and piston assembly (30) weight and lower inertia, a simplified forging or casting process, a more easily machinable cavity (86) within the piston member (32) and a higher quality piston assembly (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Willibald G. Berlinger
  • Patent number: 5289758
    Abstract: The design and construction of past piston assemblies having a wrist pin retained by a pair of snap rings positioned in a groove. Other past piston assemblies have a stubpin or cap positioned within a bore of a piston member or the wrist pin. In these applications the stubpin or cap is in continuous contact along the interface between the bore and the stubpin or cap. The present invention provides a device for retaining a wrist pin within a pair of bores of a piston member during operation of an engine. The device includes a shank portion having an outer portion thereon and only the outer portion of the shank portion being in contact with an inner surface of the wrist pin. The device and the wrist pin forming a wrist pin assembly. Thus, the device remains positioned within the inner surface and properly positioned the wrist pin assembly within the bores during operation of an engine within a bore of a cylinder liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Willibald G. Berlinger
  • Patent number: 5211101
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine with a separate head and skirt which are joined by the piston pin. At least one of the upper lands has a reduced diametrical clearance with the cylinder wall in an area perpendicular to the pin direction. The bottom land has a reduced diametrical clearance with the cylinder wall in the pin direction. The lands are oval shaped, the bottom land optionally a truncated oval. At least one of the upper lands can have the shape of two ovals offset by 90.degree. like a cloverleaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Mahle GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Letsch, Jorn Weipert, Eduart Steppat
  • Patent number: 5144884
    Abstract: A piston assembly for use in a piston cylinder of an engine is disclosed. The piston assembly includes a piston rod which connects the piston assembly to a crankshaft. The piston rod has a pin receiving opening at an upper end. A piston head having a transverse bore is connected to the piston rod. A piston pin is disposed through the pin receiving opening of the piston rod and the transverse bore of the piston head. The piston pin connects the piston head to the piston rod and has an axial bore. A piston skirt is connected to the piston head. The piston skirt has a transverse bore and an oil reservoir formed in the upper surface. At least one piston skirt pin is disposed through the piston pin axial bore and the transverse bore of the piston skirt to connect the piston skirt to the piston pin. This connects the piston skirt to the piston head. A fastening device secures the piston skirt pin in position within the piston skirt and the piston pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Eudell L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5115726
    Abstract: A two-piece, or articulated, piston assembly for internal combustion engines, comprising a head composed of a top portion and a pair of pin bosses integral with it, a skirt portion, and a wrist pin mounted in the pin boss holes. The pin bosses are secured to a member restraining lateral deformation of the pin bosses. The restraining member may be the wrist pin itself, or defined by a cylindrical hollow pin fastened to the pin boss holes and housing the wrist pin. The thus formed structure prevents deformation of the pin bosses toward the cylinder liner, thereby imparting a higher strength to the piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Metal Leve S.A.
    Inventors: Georg Daxer, Joao A. D. T. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5040454
    Abstract: Present day diesel engines having aluminum piston assemblies are limited to combustion chamber pressures of approximately 12,410 kPa (1,800 psi) whereas the desire is to increase such pressures up to the 15,170 kPa (2,200 psi) range. To reach such levels the instant piston assembly includes a steel piston member having an upper cylindrical portion of a diameter "D" and a compression height "CH". The ratio of the compression height "CH" to the diameter "D" being within the range of from 60% to 45%. The piston member is preferably forged and subsequently machined to precisely controllable dimensions. Moreover, the piston assembly is preferably of the articulated type and includes a forged aluminum piston skirt connected to the piston member through a common wrist pin. Engine manufacturers are also demanding a smaller engine package size while retaining power output, improve fuel consumption and decreased emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benny Ballheimer, Stephen G. Shoup
  • Patent number: 4905577
    Abstract: A hydraulically-operated piston machine includes at least one cylinder and a piston axially movably guided in the cylinder. The piston is connected to a crankshaft or the like by means of a connecting rod. The connecting rod and the piston each have spherically-shaped bearing surfaces serving for connecting the connecting rod and the piston with each other in an articulated manner. The connecting rod defines at its end connected to the piston a radially outwardly facing spherical surface portion which is arranged concentrically with the spherical bearing surface of the connecting rod. The spherical surface portion rests against the surface of a recess defined in the piston, so that a hollow space is defined between the surface of the recess and the spherical surface portion. The piston defines a bore for effecting communication of fluids between the interior of the cylinder and the hollow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: G. Dusterloh GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Schneeweiss
  • Patent number: 4805518
    Abstract: A crosshead piston 10 comprises a head member 18 and a skirt member 20, each of which can be secured independently to a piston pin 14. The skirt 20 has a reduced diameter upper end portion 66 which fits within lower end 24 of the head member ring belt portion 23, thereby exposing maximum head member surface area to a cylinder or cylinder sleeve wall for cooling. Preferably, the skirt end portion 66 defines a seal groove 32 which contains a metal ring 67 for sealing the gap 62 between the head member and skirt member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Norb A. Heban, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4714008
    Abstract: An improved piston for operation within a cylinder. The piston includes a main piston body having a primary cylindrical surface, a first end, and a secondary surface of smaller diameter, the secondary surface of smaller diameter is disposed between the primary cylindrical surface and the first end. At least one piston ring is disposed and captured in an operational position about the secondary surface of the piston body by a releasably mounted cap positioned on the first end of the piston body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Inventor: Walter B. Bowers
  • Patent number: 4508019
    Abstract: A reduced impact piston assembly including a cylindrical body with a cavity formed therein and having a cross-bore formed therethrough which intersects the cavity. The cross-bore receives a piston pin which has an exposed intermediate portion aligned with the cavity for attachment of a connecting rod thereto. A wide groove is formed about the outer circumference of the cylindrical body which has its center aligned with the center of the cross-bore. Positioned within this groove are a pair of C-shaped inserts, the legs of which abut the ends of the piston pin to prevent axial movement of the pin within the cylindrical body. The C-shaped inserts cooperate with the pin to form a closed loop having a circumferential length which is larger than the circumferential length of the cylinder body. In addition, a portion of each of the C-shaped inserts is in constant contact with a cylinder wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dennis F. Kabele, Herbert J. Hauser, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4358881
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piston for internal combustion engines, compressors and the like, comprising a head portion articulately connected to a separate skirt portion, wherein the skirt portion comprises a steel tubular part obtained by cutting, bending and closing of a piece of steel strip, the outer surface of said tubular part being covered by a layer of antifriction material bonded to said outer surface prior to the cutting, bending and closing of the steel strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Assignee: Metal Leve S/A Industria e Comercio
    Inventors: Duraid Mahrus, Georg Daxer
  • Patent number: 4256022
    Abstract: A piston for reciprocating internal combustion engines, especially Diesel engines, is provided having a crown exposed to the heat of combustion gases, a guide member spaced from said crown, a shell connecting said crown and guide member, a ring carrier connected to the crown of said piston, sealing and oil control rings in said ring carrier, said ring carrier being connected to said crown by a constriction situated adjacent a straight line extending through the crown of the piston, said shell being formed at its end away from the crown with a base formed by two bifurcated legs, said legs being arranged symmetrically to a plane extending through the center of the piston and formed with eyes, a wrist pin in said eyes connecting said shell with said guide member, said shell being in the form of a truncated cone provided in its interior with a cavity constructed at least in one direction of the longitudinal axis of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Inventors: Ludwig Elsbett, Gunter Elsbett
  • Patent number: 4073220
    Abstract: An improved piston assembly for high-power internal combustion engines such as supercharged diesel engines. The piston includes separate head and skirt portions. An elongated bearing member having an external journal surface is formed across the bottom of the piston head. A wrist pin, which is attached to or integral with a connecting rod, defines a generally tubular shaped bearing member having an internal bearing surface in which the piston head bearing member is journaled to permit rotational movement between the connecting rod and the piston head. The external journal surface on the piston head is supported by the wrist pin along its entire length to prevent any flexing of the wrist pin when high compressive forces are applied to the piston head. The skirt is connected to the wrist pin by thrust bearings which engage an external journal surface on the wrist pin substantially along its entire length to permit rotational movement between the piston head and the piston skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: William D. Guenther
  • Patent number: RE37565
    Abstract: In a piston-cylinder assembly with a shaftless piston, the aim is to improve the lateral guidance of the connecting rod, to reduce edge wear and the seizing tendency in the event of fault during the combustion process. Consequently, the piston has at least one supporting ring, form-fittingly on the bosses which guides in the cylinder the piston along with the piston head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Mahle GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Bubeck