Engine block crankshaft bearings
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorGregory Paul Prior
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An internal combustion engine comprises an aluminum alloy engine block housing pistons in cylinders and having a lower face including an upper semi-circular bearing surface. A lower bearing support has a lower semi-circular bearing surface to complement the upper semi-circular bearing surface in the engine block to define a crankshaft bore to rotatably support a ferrous crankshaft. The lower bearing support is formed of a single beryllium-aluminum alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion comparable to the ferrous crankshaft to promote a consistent clearance between the lower bearing support and the crankshaft. Such a beryllium-aluminum alloy may be comprised of approximately 60-65% by weight beryllium and the balance is aluminum.
Claims9
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an aluminum alloy engine block housing pistons in cylinders and having a lower face including an upper semi-circular bearing surface;
- a ferrous crankshaft;
- a lower bearing support having a lower semi-circular bearing surface to complement said upper semi-circular bearing surface in said engine block to define a crankshaft bore to rotatably support said ferrous crankshaft and wherein said lower bearing support is entirely formed of a beryllium-aluminum alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion comparable to said ferrous crankshaft to promote a consistent clearance between said lower bearing support and said crankshaft during engine operation.
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an aluminum alloy engine block housing pistons in cylinders and having a lower face including an upper bearing support having an upper semi-circular bearing surface;
- a ferrous crankshaft;
- a lower bearing support having a lower semi-circular bearing surface to complement said upper semi-circular bearing surface in said upper bearing support to define a crankshaft bore for rotatably supporting said ferrous crankshaft and wherein said upper and lower bearing supports are formed of a beryllium-aluminum alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion comparable to said ferrous crankshaft to promote a consistent clearance between said upper and lower bearing supports and said crankshaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.