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
A structural frame configured to be coupled between a cylinder block and oil pan of an engine, comprising:
- a 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 support included in the cylinder block when the structural frame is coupled to the cylinder block, the bottom surface positioned vertically below and offset from the centerline;
- a top surface including first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces positioned vertically above the bottom surface at a height that is above the centerline when the first and second cylinder block engaging surfaces are coupled to bottom engaging surfaces of the cylinder block and;
- first and second structural frame exterior sidewalls extending above the bottom surface and between the bottom surface and the top surface, the plurality of laterally aligned supports extending laterally across the structural frame in a space that separates the first and second structural frame exterior sidewalls.
A structural frame configured to be coupled between a cylinder block and oil pan of an engine, comprising:
- an oil pan engaging surface and a plurality of laterally aligned supports, with respect to a lateral direction that is perpendicular to a centerline of a crankshaft support included in the cylinder block when the structural frame is coupled to the cylinder block, forming a bottom surface of the structural frame;
- first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces forming a top 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 the first cylinder block sidewall engaging surface and the second structural frame exterior sidewall extending from the bottom surface to the second cylinder block sidewall engaging surface, where each of the oil pan engaging surface, plurality of laterally aligned supports, and first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surface are mounting surfaces arranged parallel to one another and including a plurality of fastener openings for coupling to corresponding surfaces of the cylinder block and oil pan.
A structural frame configured to be coupled between a cylinder block and oil pan of an engine, comprising:
- a bottommost surface including an oil pan engaging surface, the bottom surface positioned vertically below and offset from a centerline of a crankshaft support included in the cylinder block when the structural frame is coupled to the cylinder block;
- a topmost surface including first and second cylinder block sidewall engaging surfaces positioned vertically above the bottom surface at a height that is above the centerline when the first and second cylinder block engaging surfaces are coupled to bottom engaging surfaces of the cylinder block;
- first and second structural frame exterior sidewalls extending between the bottommost surface and the topmost surface on opposite sides of the structural frame;
- and
- a lubrication circuit including an oil passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.