Cylinder liner installation in an opposed-piston engine

1 . An opposed-piston engine, comprising:

a cylinder block comprising a first crankcase configured to receive a first crankshaft, a second crankcase configured to receive a second crankshaft, and a bulkhead extending between the first crankcase and the second crankcase;

the bulkhead comprising a first end portion situated at the first crankcase and configured to at least partially define a cylinder space in the cylinder block and a second end portion situated at the second crankcase and configured to support a journal of the second crankshaft;

a cylinder liner received in the cylinder space;

a main bearing device comprising a cylindrical bearing recess configured to support a journal of the first crankshaft and an attachment surface configured to be attached to the first end portion; and,

a clamping assembly configured to act between the cylinder liner and the main bearing device so as to clamp the cylinder liner against the cylinder block.

2 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of through studs received in the bulkhead and configured to assemble the main bearing device to the first end portion and to assemble a main bearing cap to the second end portion.

3 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 2 , in which the clamping assembly comprises a clamp configured to act between the main bearing device and the cylinder liner and a biasing device situated between the clamp and the cylinder liner and configured to bias the cylinder liner against the cylinder block.

4 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 3 , in which the clamp comprises an annular body with a circular rim which transitions to a pair of radially opposing legs that define opposing arches.

5 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 3 , in which the biasing device comprises a Belleville device.

6 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 1 , in which the cylinder liner comprises an intermediate portion with an outer diameter D M that is greater than a next largest outer diameter D E of the outer surface of either or each of the two end portions.

7 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 6 , in which the first end portion of the bulkhead is scalloped to at least partially define an aperture into the cylinder space.

8 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 7 , in which the scalloped first end portion comprises a concave trench having a partially-circular cross-sectional shape characterized by an effective diameter sufficient to permit the diameter D M of the intermediate portion of a cylinder liner to be received in the cylinder space.

9 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 7 , in which a portion of the aperture into the cylinder space is obstructed when the main bearing device is assembled to the first end portion.

10 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 7 , further comprising a pair of through studs received in the bulkhead and configured to assemble the main bearing device to the first end portion and to assemble a main bearing cap to the second end portion.

11 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 10 , in which the clamping assembly comprises a clamp configured to act between the main bearing device and the cylinder liner and a biasing device situated between the clamp and the cylinder liner and configured to bias the cylinder liner against the cylinder block.

12 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 11 , in which the clamp comprises an annular body with a circular rim which transitions to a pair of radially opposing legs that define opposing arches.

13 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 12 , in which the biasing device comprises a Belleville device.

14 . The opposed-piston engine of claim 11 , in which the biasing device comprises a Belleville device.

15 . A combination for an opposed-piston engine, comprising:

a cylinder block comprising a first crankcase configured to receive a first crankshaft, a second crankcase configured to receive a second crankshaft, and a bulkhead extending between the first crankcase and the second crankcase;

the bulkhead comprising a first end portion situated at the first crankcase and configured to receive a cylinder liner in cylinder space at least partially defined by the first end portion and a second end portion situated at the second crankcase and configured to receive a journal of the second crankshaft;

a main bearing device comprising a cylindrical bearing recess configured to support a journal of the first crankshaft and an attachment surface configured to attach the main bearing device to the first end portion; and,

a pair of through studs received in the bulkhead and configured to assemble the main bearing device to the first end portion and to assemble a main bearing cap to the second end portion.

16 . The combination of claim 15 , further comprising a cylinder liner received in the cylinder space, and a clamp configured to act between the cylinder liner and the main bearing device so as to clamp the cylinder liner against the cylinder block.

17 . The combination of claim 16 , in which the cylinder liner comprises an intermediate portion with an outer diameter D M that is greater than a next largest outer diameter D E of the cylinder liner.

18 . The combination of claim 17 , further comprising a biasing device situated between the clamp and the cylinder liner.

19 . The combination of claim 18 , in which the clamp comprises an annular body with a circular rim which transitions to a pair of radially opposing legs that define opposing arches.

20 . The combination of claim 19 , in which the biasing device comprises a Belleville device.

21 . The combination of claim 16 , further comprising a biasing device situated between the clamp and the cylinder liner.