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US 10,132,270 B2Granted
Engine assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsAnthony M. Coppola, Hamid G. Kia, Paul M. Najt, Russell P. Durrett, Michael A. Potter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Vehicle assemblies, such as engine assemblies, including an integrated cylinder head and plurality of liners as well as a polymeric composite housing are provided. Methods of making such vehicle assemblies are also provided.
Claims15
An engine assembly comprising:
- a plurality of metal liners each defining an open void cylindrical region for each receiving a piston;
- a metal cylinder head integrally joined to the plurality of metal liners, wherein the metal cylinder head is integrally joined to the plurality of metal liners as a single component or the metal cylinder head and the plurality of metal liners are separate components each respectively integrally joined by fasteners, threading present on the metal cylinder head and metal liners, an adhesive, and/or a weld;
- a polymeric composite housing disposed around at least a portion of an exterior surface of the metal liners and adjacent to the metal cylinder head, wherein the polymeric composite housing comprises a polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers and at least one of:
- (i) a plurality of microchannels for receiving a fluid for heating and/or cooling the engine assembly, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of microchannels are interconnected;
- or
- (ii) at least one wire for heating the engine assembly;
- and
- a polymeric composite layer disposed around at least a portion of an exterior surface of the polymeric composite housing.
5 more elements
A method for manufacturing an engine assembly, wherein the method comprises:
- arranging an assembly in a mold, the assembly comprising:
- a plurality of metal liners each defining an open void cylindrical region for each receiving a piston;
- and
- a metal cylinder head integrally joined to the plurality of metal liners;
- arranging a component precursor in the mold adjacent to at least a portion of the assembly;
- introducing a resin into the mold;
- curing the resin and forming a polymeric composite housing disposed around at least a portion of an exterior surface of the metal liners and adjacent to the metal cylinder head, wherein the polymeric composite housing comprises a polymer and a plurality reinforcing fibers;
- and
- forming a polymeric composite layer around at least a portion of an exterior surface of the polymeric composite housing.
6 more elements
An engine assembly comprising:
- a plurality of metal liners each defining an open void cylindrical region for each receiving a piston;
- a metal cylinder head integrally joined to the plurality of metal liners, wherein the metal cylinder head is integrally joined to the plurality of metal liners as a single component or the metal cylinder head and the plurality of metal liners are separate components each respectively integrally joined by fasteners, threading present on the metal cylinder head and metal liners, an adhesive, and/or a weld;
- a polymeric composite housing disposed around at least a portion of an exterior surface of the metal liners and adjacent to the metal cylinder head, wherein the polymeric composite housing comprises a polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers and at least one of:
- (i) a plurality of microchannels for receiving a fluid for heating and/or cooling the engine assembly, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of microchannels are interconnected;
- or
- (ii) at least one wire for heating the engine assembly;
- a polymeric composite layer disposed around at least a portion of an exterior surface of the polymeric composite housing and extended around at least a portion of the metal cylinder head.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.