Cummins Engine Company, Inc.

Other

Cummins Inc.

Michael J Warwick

Martin R Myers

Paul C Becker

Yong Ching Chen

Ramesh Subramanian

Srinath Viswanathan

Karren Leslie More

Richard Belush

Yongching Chen

Quingyou Han

Bryan Ellis Blackwell

James W Patten

A method for forming light-weight composite metal castings incorporating metallurgically bonded inserts for a variety of applications. Castings formed by the invention have particular utility as components of an internal combustion engine. A casting method includes the step of coating the insert with a first layer under conditions including sufficient temperature to cause a portion of the layer to be sacrificed by dissolving into the cast metal material while leaving at least a portion of the first layer as a diffusion barrier between the insert and the cast material. The molten casting material is treated and handled to keep the hydrogen content below 0.15 and preferably below 0.10 parts per million. The casting step takes place under a protective gas environment of dry air, argon or nitrogen with a moisture content of less than 3 parts per million.

Metallurgical bonding of coated inserts within metal castings

A method for forming light-weight composite metal castings incorporating metallurgically bonded inserts for a variety of applications. Castings formed by the invention have a particular utility as components of an internal combustion engine. A casting method includes the step of coating the insert with a first layer which is followed by coating a second layer and concluded by a casting step under conditions including sufficient temperature to cause the second coated layer to be sacrificed by dissolving into the cast metal material while leaving at least a portion of the first layer as a diffusion barrier between the insert and the cast material. The molten casting material is treated and handled to keep the hydrogen content below 0.15 and preferably below 0.10 parts per million. The casting step takes place under a protective gas environment of dry air, argon or nitrogen with a moisture content of less than 3 parts per million.

Mettallurgical bonding of inserts having multi-layered coatings within metal castings

A tappet assembly for an internal combustion engine, the tappet assembly having a first end mechanically connected to a engine component and second end adapted to contact a cam lobe of a camshaft to displace the engine component, where the tappet assembly includes a tappet body having a recessed pocket positioned at one end thereof, the recessed pocket being defined by an extended peripheral lip of said tappet body, a ceramic wear pad at least partially received within the recessed pocket, and a mechanism for preventing the ceramic wear pad from rotating relative to the recessed pocket. The ceramic wear pad has a top surface for contacting the cam lobe, a bottom surface which is received in the recessed pocket, and a peripheral edge surface thereinbetween. In the preferred embodiment, the mechanism for preventing rotation of the ceramic wear pad includes at least one inwardly angled portion of the peripheral lip, the at least one inwardly angled portion being swaged radially inwardly toward an axial center of the ceramic wear pad to engage the peripheral edge surface of the ceramic wear pad.

Tappet assembly with a ceramic wear pad

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. Alternatively, the insert may include two cylindrical inserts positioned in bores formed in the block on opposite sides of the crankshaft. These insert designs provide strengthening and stiffening of the block over an optimum area while permitting secure attachment of a main bearing cap to the block.

Engine block bearing saddle reinforcing inserts

A combustion face insert is provided for connection to a bottom wall of an aluminum cylinder head adjacent a combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine which includes an insert body formed of a material having a predetermined hardness. The insert body includes a lower surface facing the combustion chamber and extending radially outwardly to form an outer peripheral extent having a predetermined size necessary to cause the lower surface to be positioned for engagement with an annular combustion seal to effectively seal the combustion chamber. This design allows a greater power density to be achieved in a heavy duty diesel engine utilizing an aluminum cylinder head, increases the thermal fatigue resistance of the valve bridge area and increases the resistance of an aluminum cylinder head to indentation by the combustion seal of the head gasket during deflection of the aluminum cylinder head. Hardened valve seats, which include either a hardened portion of the insert body or a hardened valve seat insert connected to the insert body, are positioned around intake and exhaust openings formed in the insert body for sealing abutment by respective intake and exhaust valves.

Combustion face insert

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. Alternatively, the insert may include two cylindrical inserts positioned in bores formed in the block on opposite sides of the crankshaft. These insert designs provide strengthening and stiffening of the block over an optimum area while permitting secure attachment of a main bearing cap to the lightweight block.

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, IN, United States of America

Michael J Warwick