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US 7,287,494 B2Granted
Multicylinder internal combustion engine with individual cylinder assemblies and modular cylinder carrier
AssigneeBuck Supply Co., Inc.
InventorKennth M. Buck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An internal combustion engine that includes individual, liquid-cooled, cylinder assemblies mounted separately to a common cylinder carrier. A modular cylinder carrier that is assembled from separate cylinder mounting modules and main bearing bulkheads.
Claims19
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a cylinder carrier, comprising:
- a plurality of cylinder mounting modules;
- and
- a plurality of main bearing bulkheads interposed between and interconnecting adjacent ones of said cylinder mounting modules;
- a crankshaft mounted to said main bearing bulkheads, with said crankshaft having a longitudinal centerline;
- and
- a plurality of cylinder assemblies mounted to said plurality of cylinder mounting modules, with each of said cylinder assemblies comprising:
- a cylinder bore portion which does not contact any of said main bearing bulkheads;
- a cylinder head having at least one intake port and at least one exhaust port;
- a piston slidingly housed within said cylinder portion;
- and
- a connecting rod mounted to said crankshaft.
9 more elements
A method for removing and re-installing an individual cylinder assembly of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
- removing a plurality of fasteners extending from a cylinder carrier upwardly through a cylinder portion and a cylinder head;
- lifting said cylinder head from said engine;
- lifting said cylinder portion from said engine;
- removing a wrist pin and a piston mounted upon a connecting rod for reciprocation within the cylinder portion;
- installing a new piston and wrist pin upon said connecting rod;
- installing a new cylinder portion upon said piston by sliding a piston ring compression zone of said cylinder portion over a plurality of piston rings carried upon said piston;
- seating said new cylinder portion upon a pilot diameter formed in the cylinder carrier;
- and
- mounting said cylinder head upon said cylinder portion.
6 more elements
A method for replacing crankshaft main bearing inserts in a reciprocating internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
- removing an oil pan mounted to structural rails at the bottom of the engine's crankcase;
- removing at least one structural rail extending longitudinally along a portion of the periphery of said cylinder carrier parallel to said crankshaft centerline, with said structural rail also extending vertically from a position above the centerline of the crankshaft to said oil pan;
- serially removing a plurality of main bearing caps from a cylinder carrier, while replacing the main bearing insert associated with each of said bearing caps;
- reinstalling said at least one structural rail;
- and
- reinstalling said oil pan.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.