Asymmetric piston
AssigneeMahle International GmbH
InventorsLuiz Perrone, Kenneth L. Wirkkala, II, Iosif Muscas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Exemplary pistons and methods of making the same are disclosed. An exemplary piston may include a crown defining a combustion bowl and a ring land extending circumferentially around the combustion bowl. Exemplary pistons may further include a skirt supporting the crown. The skirt may include a pair of pin bosses defining a pin bore configured to receive a piston pin, and two opposing skirt supports defining surfaces configured to slide along a cylinder bore surface. The skirt supports each define a different radial stiffness.
Claims18
A piston, comprising:
- a crown defining a combustion bowl and a ring land extending circumferentially around the combustion bowl, the crown defining at least in part a cooling gallery extending circumferentially about the piston;
- and
- a skirt supporting the crown, the skirt having a first side and a second side, and including a pair of pin bosses, the pin bosses each defining a pin bore that receives a piston pin along a pin bore axis extending between the pin bosses, the skirt including the first side and the second side defining surfaces configured to slide along a cylinder bore surface, wherein the first side defines a first opening, and the second side defines a second opening, the second opening extending parallel to the pin bore axis such that the first side defines a first radial stiffness that is greater less than a second radial stiffness of the second side, and the second side of the skirt defines the second opening that is different in configuration from the first opening;
- wherein the second side includes the second opening that is larger than the first opening, and the radial stiffness of the first side is at least twice the radial stiffness of the second side.
A method of making a piston, comprising:
- forming a crown defining a combustion bowl and a ring land extending circumferentially around the combustion bowl;
- and
- providing a skirt supporting the crown, the skirt having a first side and a second side, the skirt including a pair of pin bosses, the pin bosses each defining a pin bore that receives a piston pin, the skirt including two opposing skirt supports defining surfaces configured to slide along a cylinder bore surface;
- and
- establishing a first one of the skirt supports, corresponding to the first side, as defining a first opening such that a first radial stiffness of the first skirt support is greater than a second radial stiffness of the second one of the skirt supports, and the second side of the skirt defines a second opening, extending parallel to the pin bore axis, the second opening being different in configuration from the first opening;
- wherein the second support includes the second opening that is larger than the first opening, and the radial stiffness of the first one of the skirt supports is at least twice the radial stiffness of the second one of the skirt supports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.