Reduced component internal combustion engine
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorTodd Gerhardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine block is formed by a single piece lower crankcase and a single piece upper crankcase having abutting surfaces sealed with a gasket. The abutting surfaces have semicircular notches aligned with one another to form a circular opening for a crankshaft. The upper crankcase includes central section from which extends a barrel unit that contains the entire cylinder bore for a piston. An integral housing for the cylinder valves and rocker arms is formed on the barrel unit and an integral intake manifold extends from the housing. Forming the engine block from two primary components reduces the number of joints that require machining and gaskets.
Claims16
An engine block for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a single piece lower crankcase having flat first surface with a substantially semicircular first notch;
- a single piece upper crankcase having a second surface adjoining the first surface of said lower crankcase with the second surface having a semicircular second notch aligned with the first notch to form an opening for receiving a crankshaft, said upper crankcase containing an entire cylinder bore for a piston, apertures at one end of the cylinder bore for receiving stems of a pair of cylinder valves, and a housing for a mechanism that actuates the pair of cylinder valves;
- and
- means for securing said upper crankcase to said lower crankcase with the first and second surfaces adjoining each other.
An engine block for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a single piece lower crankcase with four walls which combine to form a first surface, and one of the walls having a semicircular first notch in the first surface;
- a single piece upper crankcase having central section from which two barrel units extend, the central section having a second surface mated with the first surface of said lower crankcase and having a semicircular second notch aligned with the first notch to form a circular opening, each barrel unit containing an entire cylinder bore for a piston which cylinder bore opens into the central section, said upper crankcase also having a separate housing on each barrel unit;
- and
- means for securing said upper crankcase to said lower crankcase with the first and second surfaces adjoining each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.