Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

John B Fisher

Balakrishna Chinta

Fanghui Shi

Kenneth Erich Schroeder

Zheng Ma

Amit Kumar

Dale Edward Murrish

Scott A Hucker

James Dwight Cremonesi

Bo Yang

Quintin A Wilson

Massimiliano Sala

Ronald J Helmstadt

A piston assembly for an internal combustion engine of a motor includes a piston head having an outer diameter surface spaced a first distance from the longitudinal axis and an annular surface spaced a second distance from the longitudinal axis, with the second distance being less than the first distance. Upper and lower walls extend between the annular surface and the outer diameter surface so as to define an annular groove in the outer diameter surface. A piston ring is received within the annular groove and includes an inner diameter surface facing the annular surface of the piston head. The inner diameter surface of the piston ring and the annular surface of the piston head cooperate with one another to define a plurality of pockets angularly spaced from one another about the longitudinal axis and configured to receive oil.

Piston assembly for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle

A connecting rod is adapted to extend between, and connect to, a crankshaft and a piston pin. The connecting rod includes first and second end portions, and an elongated rail. The first end portion is adapted to connect to the crankshaft. The second end portion is adapted to connect to the piston pin. The elongated rail longitudinally extends between the first and second end portions, and includes a first and second flanges, and a web. The first flange has opposite outer and inner first faces. The second flange has opposite outer and inner second faces. The web has opposite first and second surfaces, and laterally spans between, and is attached to, the inner first face and the inner second face. The inner first face and the inner second face, at least in-part, converge toward one-another as the rail extends from the first end portion to the second end portion.

Combustion engine connecting rod

Disclosed are journal bearing assemblies, methods for making and methods for using journal bearing assemblies, and motor vehicles employing journal bearing assemblies. A disclosed friction-reducing journal bearing assembly includes a first (upper) bearing shell insert and a second (lower) bearing shell insert. Each insert mounts inside a bore, e.g., of an engine block or piston connecting rod, and has an arcuate inner-diameter (ID) surface. These ID surfaces are adjoined at opposing ends thereof to cooperatively define a cylindrical channel that receives therethrough a journal portion of a shaft (e.g., crankshaft or crank pin). The inner-diameter and/or outer-diameter (OD) surface of the second insert includes one or more axially elongated and/or one or more axially angled grooves, each of which extends only partially across the axial width of the shell insert. The lower insert may be fabricated with two axially elongated grooves extending generally orthogonally from respective edges of the insert.

Journal bearings with surface features for improved bearing oil supply

A method of manufacturing a crankshaft assembly includes configuring a crankshaft with a crankpin journal having a cavity extending at least partially from a first axial side to a second axial side of the crankpin journal, and opening at at least one of the first axial side and the second axial side. The method includes disposing a core plug in the cavity. The crankshaft has a first density and the core plug may have a second density which may be less than the first density. A crankshaft assembly includes the crankshaft and the core plug.

Crankshaft assembly with core plug and method of manufacturing a crankshaft assembly

A compression ring assembly for a piston of an internal combustion engine includes a first compression ring and a second compression ring, with the second compression ring overlaid adjacent to and in abutting engagement with the first compression ring. When both the first compression ring and the second compression ring are uncompressed and in a free state, the second compression ring includes an outer second ring diameter that is greater than an outer first ring diameter of the first compression ring. Additionally, the first compression ring includes a first radial width that is greater than a second radial width of the second compression ring. A first gap of the first compression ring is positioned relative to a second gap of the second compression ring in a non-overlapping orientation.

Two-piece compression piston ring of an internal combustion engine

Disclosed is a piston having a top chamfer functioning as an oil reservoir, the top chamfer designed to reduce piston noise and friction. The top chamfer partially defines a tapered volume or cavity configured to enhance oil flow to the middle portions of the piston skirt so as to increase lubrication during piston up stroke and thereby reduce piston noise and friction.

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Flint, MI, United States of America

John B Fisher