Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Ford Motor Company Limited

Grant K Tappen

Thomas A Spix

Robert Jay Natkin

Shekhar G Wakade

Thomas John Heater

John Edmond Allison

Bret Allen Oltmans

Paul Noles Crepeau

Joy Adair Hines

Dietmar Peiskammer

A control system for an engine includes an icing condition detection module and an icing prevention module. The icing condition detection module detects an icing condition of a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system of the engine when an ambient temperature is less than a predetermined temperature for a first predetermined period. The icing prevention module increases engine speed for a second predetermined period when the icing condition is detected.

System and method for preventing icing in positive crankcase ventilation systems

A crank shaft support assembly for increasing stiffness and reducing thermal mismatch distortion in a crank shaft bore of an engine comprising different materials. A cylinder block comprises a first material and at least two crank journal inserts are insert-molded into respective crank journal regions of the cylinder block and comprise a second material having greater stiffness and a lower thermal coefficient of expansion that the first material. At least two bearing caps are bolted to the respective crank journal inserts and define, along with the crank journal inserts, at least two crank shaft support rings defining a crank shaft bore coaxially aligned with a crank shaft axis. The bearing caps comprise a material having higher stiffness and a lower thermal coefficient of expansion than the first material and are supported on the respective crank journal inserts independently of any direct connection to the cylinder block.

Crank shaft support assembly

A cast iron cylinder liner for an engine has a body with a radial upper flange and a generally cylindrical wall extending axially from an inner portion of the flange. An arcuate fillet is formed at a juncture between the upper flange and an exterior of the cylindrical wall. To strengthen the juncture of thin wall liners, for example with wall thickness less than 2.5 mm, a portion adjacent the fillet is laser hardened to a selected depth of the wall, thus increasing resistance to stresses created in the wall when the liner is installed and operating in an engine.

Cast iron cylinder liner with laser-hardened flange fillet

An internal combustion engine comprises an aluminum alloy engine block housing pistons in cylinders and having a lower face including an upper semi-circular bearing surface. A lower bearing support has a lower semi-circular bearing surface to complement the upper semi-circular bearing surface in the engine block to define a crankshaft bore to rotatably support an iron alloy crankshaft. The lower bearing support is formed of a single aluminum-silicon alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion comparable to the iron alloy crankshaft to promote a consistent clearance between the lower bearing support and the crankshaft. Such an aluminum-silicon alloy is comprised of approximately 33-35% by weight silicon and the balance is aluminum.

Engine block crankshaft bearings

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Washington, MI, United States of America

Grant K Tappen