# US 2017/0284545 A1 · Lightweight piston pin for piston inertial loading

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- Number: US 2017/0284545 A1
- Document ID: US20170284545A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/089,121
- Filed: 2016-04-01
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01
- Assignees: Mahle International GmbH
- Applicants: Mahle International GmbH
- Inventors: Michael T. Lapp; Scott Janowiak; Alex Antoc
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284545A1

## CPC

- F16J 1/16: with gudgeon-pin; Gudgeon-pins
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS

## Abstract

An exemplary piston pin for a power cell unit having a piston assembly and a connecting rod may include an elongated body. The elongated body generally may be configured to rotatably secure the piston assembly and the connecting rod in a manner such that no more than approximately an inertial loading generated from an upward movement of the piston assembly is transferred to the elongated body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A piston pin for a power cell unit having a piston assembly and a connecting rod, the piston pin comprising an elongated body configured to rotatably secure the piston assembly and the connecting rod in a manner such that no more than approximately an inertial loading generated from an upward movement of the piston assembly is transferred to the elongated body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The piston pin of claim 1, wherein the elongated body includes a core of a first material and a shell of a second material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The piston pin of claim 2, wherein the first material is aluminum, and the second material is steel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The piston pin of claim 1, wherein the material of the elongated body is at least one of steel, aluminum, ceramic, magnesium, titanium, fiber reinforced composite, polymer, cast iron, and steel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The piston pin of claim 1, wherein the elongated body has a circular cross-section with a diameter of 15 mm or less.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The piston pin of claim 1, wherein the elongated body is hollow.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The piston pin of claim 1, wherein none of a gas load generated from downward movement of the piston assembly is transferred to the elongated body.

### Claim 8

A piston pin for a power cell unit having a piston assembly and a connecting rod, the piston pin comprising an elongated body configured to rotatably secure the piston assembly and the connecting rod, the elongated body being configured to withstand an inertial loading during an upward movement of the piston assembly and not a gas load during a downward movement of the piston assembly.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The piston pin of claim 8, wherein the elongated body includes a core of a first material and a shell of a second material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The piston pin of claim 9, wherein the first material is aluminum, and the second material is steel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The piston pin of claim 8, wherein the material of the piston body is at least one of steel, aluminum, ceramic, magnesium, titanium, fiber reinforced composite, polymer, cast iron, and steel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The piston pin of claim 8, wherein the elongated body has a circular cross-section with a diameter of 15 mm or less.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The piston pin of claim 8, wherein the elongated body is hollow.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The piston pin of claim 1, wherein the elongated body has a diameter less than 20% of a diameter of the piston assembly.

### Claim 15

A piston pin assembly for a power cell unit, comprising at least one piston pin having an elongated body configured to rotatably secure a piston assembly and a connecting rod of the power cell unit, wherein the elongated body has a diameter and is made of a material such that the elongated body is able to withstand no more than approximately an inertial loading generated from an upward movement of the piston assembly.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The piston pin assembly of claim 15, wherein the elongated body includes a core of a first material and a shell of a second material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The piston pin assembly of claim 16, wherein the first material is aluminum, and the second material is steel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The piston pin assembly of claim 15, wherein the material of the elongated body is at least one of steel, aluminum, and ceramic.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The piston pin assembly of claim 15, wherein the elongated body is hollow.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The piston pin assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one piston pin includes two piston pins aligned along a common axis, the piston pins being configured to be inserted in respective notches in opposite sides of a boss portion of a piston crown of the piston assembly.