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US 10,330,044 B2Granted
Internal combustion engine having structural frame
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChristopher K. Palazzolo, Darren Sipila, Steven Poe, Phil Damian Cierpial, Changsheng Gan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structural frame is provided. The structural frame includes a bottom surface, first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces, the first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces positioned above the bottom surface at a height that is above a centerline of a crankshaft support included in a cylinder block when the structural frame is coupled to the cylinder block.
Claims20
An engine, comprising:
- a structural frame including a bottom surface and first and second structural frame exterior sidewalls extending above the bottom surface, the bottom surface including an oil pan engaging surface and a plurality of laterally aligned supports, with respect to a lateral direction that is arranged perpendicular to a centerline of a crankshaft, the bottom surface positioned vertically below and offset from the centerline;
- a cylinder block including a cylinder, at least two crankshaft supports at a bottom of the cylinder block, and first and second cylinder block exterior sidewalls extending from first and second structural frame engaging surfaces to first and second cylinder head engaging surfaces at a top of the cylinder block, where a top surface of the first structural frame exterior sidewall is coupled to the first structural frame engaging surface at a location above the centerline of the crankshaft supported by the two crankshaft supports.
An engine, comprising:
- a cylinder block having two or more cylinders arranged in a non-straight angle, two crankshaft supports at a bottom of the cylinder block, first and second cylinder head engaging surfaces at a top of the cylinder block, first and second exterior sidewalls, the first exterior sidewall extending from the first cylinder head engaging surface to a first structural frame engaging surface positioned above a centerline of a crankshaft supported by the two crankshaft supports, the second exterior sidewall extending from the second cylinder head engaging surface to a second structural frame engaging surface positioned above the centerline of the crankshaft;
- and
- a structural frame including:
- an oil pan engaging surface and a plurality of laterally aligned supports, with respect to a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the centerline, forming a bottom surface of the structural frame;
- and
- first and second structural frame exterior sidewalls, the first structural frame exterior sidewall extending from the bottom surface to a first cylinder block sidewall engaging surface coupled to the first cylinder block exterior sidewall, the second structural frame exterior sidewall extending from the bottom surface to a second cylinder block sidewall engaging surface coupled to the second cylinder block exterior sidewall.
3 more elements
A cylinder block assembly comprising:
- a cylinder block having a crankshaft opening with a centerline;
- a structural frame coupled to the cylinder block and including:
- a bottom surface formed by an oil pan engaging surface and a plurality of laterally aligned supports, with respect to a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the centerline, forming a ladder configuration, where the bottom surface is positioned vertically below and offset from the centerline;
- first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces coupled to first and second structural frame engaging surfaces of the cylinder block, respectively, the first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces positioned above the oil pan engaging surface at a height that is above the centerline;
- and
- an oil pan coupled to the structural frame at the oil pan engaging surface.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.