The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 30, 2001
Willibald G. Berlinger, Peoria, IL (US);
William E. Moser, Peoria, IL (US);
Leland W. Weiss, Peoria, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc, Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A free piston internal combustion engine, particularly suitable for use in a vehicle, is provided with a combustion cylinder and a piston assembly. The piston assembly includes a piston and a plunger shaft. The piston is reciprocally movable within the combustion cylinder. The piston includes a crown, a skirt extending from the crown and having a piston ring groove therein, a hub attached to the plunger shaft, and at least one support block. Each support block is positioned adjacent to the crown and extends from the hub toward the skirt. Each support block, skirt and piston ring groove defines a cut-out there between. The cut-out provides mechanical support to the piston during acceleration, and also provides effective heat transfer for cooling the piston ring groove.