Methods and systems for an engine housing assembly with a reinforcement member
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPaul Nigel Turner, Robert Davies, Dominic Timothy Evans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for an engine housing assembly. In one example, an engine housing assembly comprises an engine housing component, the housing component at least partially defining a first bore for receiving a first shaft and at least partially defining a second bore for receiving a second shaft; and a reinforcement member cast into the housing, the reinforcement member having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the housing component, wherein the reinforcement member at least partially surrounds the first and second bores. A method of manufacturing the engine housing assembly is also provided.
Claims17
An engine housing assembly comprising:
- an engine housing component at least partially defining a first bore for receiving a first shaft and at least partially defining a second bore for receiving a second shaft;
- and
- a reinforcement member cast into the engine housing component, the reinforcement member having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the housing component, wherein the reinforcement member at least partially surrounds the first and second bores,
- wherein the engine housing component further at least partially defines a third bore,
- wherein the reinforcement member at least partially surrounds the third bore,
- wherein the third bore is configured to receive a third shaft, and
- wherein the first shaft, the second shaft, and the third shaft include a crankshaft, a camshaft, and an engine balance shaft.
An engine assembly comprising:
- an engine housing component at least partially defining a first bore for receiving a first shaft and at least partially defining a second bore for receiving a second shaft, wherein a first shaft assembly comprises a first gear wheel, and a second shaft assembly comprises a second gear wheel configured to mesh with the first gear wheel;
- and
- a reinforcement member cast into the engine housing component, the reinforcement member having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the housing component, wherein the reinforcement member at least partially surrounds the first and second bores,
- wherein the engine housing component further at least partially defines a third bore,
- wherein the reinforcement member at least partially surrounds the third bore,
- wherein the third bore is configured to receive a third shaft, and
- wherein the first shaft, the second shaft, and the third shaft include a crankshaft, a camshaft, and an engine balance shaft.
A method of manufacturing an engine housing assembly, the method comprising:
- fabricating a reinforcement member for an engine housing component;
- and
- fabricating the engine housing component with the reinforcement member cast into the engine housing component, wherein the engine housing component at least partially defines a first bore for receiving a first shaft and at least partially defines a second bore for receiving a second shaft, wherein the reinforcement member at least partially surrounds the first and second bores and wherein the reinforcement member has a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the engine housing component,
- wherein fabricating the engine housing component further comprises casting the engine housing component over the reinforcement member and machining the outer surfaces of the engine housing component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.