IP Library Granted Patent US 8,020,530
Granted Patent B2
US 8,020,530 · App. 12/138,660 · Granted Sep 20, 2011

Piston and internal combustion engine therewith and method of constructing the piston

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,020,530
App. No.
12/138,660
Granted
Sep 20, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A piston and internal combustion engine therewith constructed in accordance with the present invention has a piston body with an upper crown having a substantially cylindrical outer surface depending from a top surface along a central axis. At least one annular ring groove extends radially into the outer surface to provide a top land extending from the ring groove to the top surface. A plurality of waves are formed circumferentially about the top land. Each of the waves has a valley extending radially into the outer surface of the top land and extending from the top surface to the ring groove. The waves traverse from the top surface to the ring groove and are configured in substantially non-overlapping relation with one another and in a predetermined orientation relative to at least one of a fuel spray stream, a pin bore axis or a thrust axis of the piston.

Claims (56)

1. A piston for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a piston body having an upper crown with a substantially cylindrical outer surface depending from a top surface along a central axis, at least one annular ring groove extending radially into said outer surface providing a top land extending from said ring groove to said top surface; and

a plurality of waves formed circumferentially about said top land, each of said waves having a valley extending radially into said outer surface of said top land and extending from said top surface to said ring groove, said waves traversing from said top surface to said ring groove in non-parallel relation to said axis, wherein said waves extend from an upper end at said top surface to a lower end at said ring groove, said upper end of one of said waves being in non-overlapping relation to said bottom end of an adjacent one of said waves.

2. The piston of claim 1 wherein said upper ends of said waves are configured relative to a fuel spray pattern.

3. The piston of claim 2 wherein said valleys are configured receive direct spray from the fuel spray pattern.

4. The piston of claim 1 wherein said piston has a pair of pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis and said upper ends of said waves being arranged relative to said pin bore axis.

5. The piston of claim 4 wherein said waves have peaks extending outwardly to said outer surface, one of said peaks being arranged along a thrust direction substantially perpendicular to said pin bore axis.

6. The piston of claim 4 wherein one of said valleys is aligned along said pin bore axis.

7. The piston of claim 1 wherein said waves extend in a helical pattern relative to said central axis.

8. The piston of claim 1 wherein said waves extend in a spiral pattern relative to said central axis.

9. The piston of claim 1 wherein said valleys have a variable depth between said top surface and said ring groove.

10. A piston for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a piston body having an upper crown with a substantially cylindrical outer surface depending from a top surface along a central axis, at least one annular ring groove extending radially into said outer surface providing a top land extending from said ring groove to said top surface; and

a plurality of waves formed circumferentially about said top land, each of said waves having a valley extending radially into said outer surface of said top land and extending from said top surface to said ring groove, said waves traversing from said top surface to said ring groove in non-parallel relation to said axis,

wherein said waves and said outer surface of said top land provide a smooth sinusoidal form circumferentially about said top land.

11. An engine, comprising:

a cylinder block having a cylinder bore;

a fuel injector configured to inject fuel spray streams in a predetermined pattern into said cylinder bore; and

a piston received in said cylinder bore, said piston having a top surface and a peripheral outer surface depending from said top surface along a central axis with at least one annular ring groove extending radially into said outer surface providing a top land extending from said ring groove to said top surface, said top land having a plurality of waves formed therein, each of said waves having a valley extending radially into said outer surface of said top land and a peak extending radially outwardly from said valleys, said valleys and peaks extending from said top surface to said ring groove, said piston further having a pair of pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis with a thrust direction being provided substantially perpendicular to said pin bore axis, and wherein said peaks and valleys are configured in a predetermined orientation relative to at least one of said fuel spray streams, said pin bore axis or said thrust direction, wherein said waves extend from an upper end at said top surface to a lower end at said ring groove, said upper end of one of said waves being in non-overlapping relation to said bottom end of an adjacent one of said waves.

12. The engine of claim 11 wherein said valleys are oriented to receive said fuel spray streams directly therein.

13. The engine of claim 11 wherein one of said peaks is oriented at said top surface along said thrust direction.

14. The engine of claim 11 wherein a pair of diametrically opposite valleys are oriented along said pin bore axis.

15. The engine of claim 11 wherein said waves extend in a helical pattern relative to said central axis.

16. The engine of claim 11 wherein said waves extend in a spiral pattern relative to said central axis.

17. The engine of claim 11 wherein said waves extend in non-parallel relation to said central axis.

18. The engine of claim 11 wherein said valleys have a variable depth between said top surface and said ring groove.

19. An engine, comprising:

a cylinder block having a cylinder bore;

a fuel injector configured to inject fuel spray streams in a predetermined pattern into said cylinder bore; and

a piston received in said cylinder bore, said piston having a top surface and a peripheral outer surface depending from said top surface along a central axis with at least one annular ring groove extending radially into said outer surface providing a top land extending from said ring groove to said top surface, said top land having a plurality of waves formed therein, each of said waves having a valley extending radially into said outer surface of said top land and a peak extending radially outwardly from said valleys, said valleys and peaks extending from said top surface to said ring groove, said piston further having a pair of pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis with a thrust direction being provided substantially perpendicular to said pin bore axis, and wherein said peaks and valleys are configured in a predetermined orientation relative to at least one of said fuel spray streams, said pin bore axis or said thrust direction, wherein said waves extend substantially parallel to said central axis.

20. An engine, comprising:

a cylinder block having a cylinder bore;

a fuel injector configured to inject fuel spray streams in a predetermined pattern into said cylinder bore; and

a piston received in said cylinder bore, said piston having a top surface and a peripheral outer surface depending from said top surface along a central axis with at least one annular ring groove extending radially into said outer surface providing a top land extending from said ring groove to said top surface, said top land having a plurality of waves formed therein, each of said waves having a valley extending radially into said outer surface of said top land and a peak extending radially outwardly from said valleys, said valleys and peaks extending from said top surface to said ring groove, said piston further having a pair of pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis with a thrust direction being provided substantially perpendicular to said pin bore axis, and wherein said peaks and valleys are configured in a predetermined orientation relative to at least one of said fuel spray streams, said pin bore axis or said thrust direction, wherein said waves provide a smooth, non-stepped surface circumferentially about said top land.

21. A method for constructing a piston configured for reciprocation in a cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine having a fuel injector for injecting a fuel spray stream into the cylinder bore, comprising:

providing a piston body having a top surface and an outer surface depending from the top surface along a central axis;

forming an annular ring groove extending radially into the outer surface providing a top land extending from the ring groove to the top surface;

forming a pair of laterally spaced pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis with a thrust axis established substantially perpendicular to the pin bore axis;

forming a plurality of waves in the top land, the waves having valleys extending radially into the outer surface of the top land and peaks extending radially outwardly from the valleys and configuring the peaks and valleys in a predetermined orientation relative to at least one of the fuel spray stream, the pin bore axis or the thrust axis; and

further including forming the waves having an upper end at the top surface and a lower end at the ring groove with the upper ends being in non-overlapping relation to the adjacent bottom ends.

22. The method of claim 21 further including configuring the valleys to receive fuel spray streams directly therein.

23. The method of claim 21 further including configuring one of the peaks for orientation at the top surface along the thrust axis.

24. The method of claim 21 further including configuring diametrically opposite valleys for orientation along the pin bore axis.

25. The method of claim 21 further including forming the waves in a helical pattern relative to the central axis.

26. The method of claim 21 further including forming the waves to extend in non-parallel relation to the central axis.

27. The method of claim 21 further including forming the valleys having a variable depth between the top surface and the ring groove.

28. A method for constructing a piston configured for reciprocation in a cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine having a fuel injector for injecting a fuel spray stream into the cylinder bore, comprising:

providing a piston body having a top surface and an outer surface depending from the top surface along a central axis;

forming an annular ring groove extending radially into the outer surface providing a top land extending from the ring groove to the top surface;

forming a pair of laterally spaced pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis with a thrust axis established substantially perpendicular to the pin bore axis;

forming a plurality of waves in the top land, the waves having valleys extending radially into the outer surface of the top land and peaks extending radially outwardly from the valleys and configuring the peaks and valleys in a predetermined orientation relative to at least one of the fuel spray stream, the pin bore axis or the thrust axis; and further including forming the waves to extend substantially parallel to the central axis.

29. A method for constructing a piston configured for reciprocation in a cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine having a fuel injector for injecting a fuel spray stream into the cylinder bore, comprising:

providing a piston body having a top surface and an outer surface depending from the top surface along a central axis;

forming an annular ring groove extending radially into the outer surface providing a top land extending from the ring groove to the top surface;

forming a pair of laterally spaced pin bores aligned with one another along a pin bore axis with a thrust axis established substantially perpendicular to the pin bore axis;

forming a plurality of waves in the top land, the waves having valleys extending radially into the outer surface of the top land and peaks extending radially outwardly from the valleys and configuring the peaks and valleys in a predetermined orientation relative to at least one of the fuel spray stream, the pin bore axis or the thrust axis; and further including forming the waves having a smooth, non-stepped surface circumferentially about said top land.

Assignments (22)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: TENNECO INC.
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC
Reel/Frame 072553/0043 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 25, 2023
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC (DELAWARE)
To: TENNECO INC
Reel/Frame 065337/0273 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 7, 2023
From: TENNECO INC.; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063268/0506 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061989/0689 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INTERNATIONAL HOLDING CORP.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; TENNECO GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.; CLEVITE INDUSTRIES INC.; TMC TEXAS INC.; CARTER AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FELT PRODUCTS MFG. CO. LLC; MUZZY-LYON AUTO PARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN IP LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PISTON RINGS, LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; F-M MOTORPARTS TSC LLC; F-M TSC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL VALVE TRAIN INTERNATIONAL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL SEVIERVILLE, LLC; BECK ARNLEY HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FILTRATION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FINANCING CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC
Reel/Frame 061975/0218 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061975/0031 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061971/0156 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC., AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; TENNECO INC., AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 056886/0455 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC., AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; TENNECO INC., AS SUCCESSOR TO FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 058392/0274 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2021
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055626/0065 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 5, 2021
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC
To: TENNECO INC.
Reel/Frame 054900/0129 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 1, 2020
From: TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054555/0592 →
COLLATERAL TRUSTEE RESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENT, JOINDER, ASSUMPTION AND DESIGNATION AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 26, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS CO-COLLATERAL TRUSTEE AND RESIGNING COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS CO-COLLATERAL TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 047630/0661 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047276/0554 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047276/0771 →
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2018
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INTERNATIONAL HOLDING CORP.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; TENNECO GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.; CLEVITE INDUSTRIES INC.; TMC TEXAS INC.; CARTER AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FELT PRODUCTS MFG. CO. LLC; MUZZY-LYON AUTO PARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN IP LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PISTON RINGS, LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; F-M MOTORPARTS TSC LLC; F-M TSC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL VALVETRAIN INTERNATIONAL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL SEVIERVILLE, LLC; BECK ARNLEY HOLDINGS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FILTRATION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL FINANCING CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 047223/0001 →
COLLATERAL TRUSTEE RESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 3, 2018
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 045822/0765 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Sep 26, 2017
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 044013/0419 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Jun 23, 2017
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 042963/0662 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 28, 2017
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL LLC
Reel/Frame 042107/0565 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2014
From: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE, INC., A MICHIGAN CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANY, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN, INC., A MICHIGAN CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS, INC. , A MISSORI CORPORATION; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 033204/0707 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2011
From: TAYLOR, ANDY; MARTINS, AIRTON; HORN, MAGNUS; FRENNFELT, CLAES; DURHAM, JOHN; MACKNEY, DEREK; MCGROGAN, SEAN; TIAN, TIAN; WONG, VICTOR
To: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026748/0770 →