IP Library Granted Patent US 11,402,020
Granted Patent B2
US 11,402,020 · App. 17/125,582 · Granted Aug 2, 2022

Piston with multiaxial bearing and piston bowl

Inventors: Kevin C. Augustin, Sr. (Greenwood, IN); Florin Mocanu (Columbus, IN); Eric M. Osecky (Indianapolis, IN); Robert G. Sperry (Columbus, IN)
Assignees: CUMMINS INC.; ACHATES POWER, INC.
F16J1/02F02F3/28F16J1/08F16J1/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,402,020
App. No.
17/125,582
Granted
Aug 2, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides a piston for an internal combustion engine, the piston having a piston body including a first bearing saddle defining a first axis and a second bearing saddle defining a second axis, the first axis being parallel to and spaced from the second axis. A bearing is also provided, the bearing having a first journal having a first body, longitudinal ends, and lateral edges, the first journal defining a first axis, the first journal disposed about approximately 180 degrees of the first axis and a second journal having a second body and defining a second axis, the second journal disposed about approximately 180 degrees of the second axis, the second journal operable to be positioned abutting one of the lateral edges of the first journal when the first and second journals are positioned with the piston.

Claims (36)

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

a piston body including a first bearing saddle defining a first axis and a second bearing saddle defining a second axis, the first axis being parallel to and spaced from the second axis.

2. The piston of claim 1 , wherein the first axis of the first bearing saddle is offset from the second axis of the second bearing saddle between 0.1 and 0.3 inches.

3. The piston of claim 1 , wherein the first bearing saddle and the second bearing saddle are separated by a recess operable to maintain oil as an oil reservoir.

4. The piston of claim 1 , further comprising a third bearing saddle defining a third axis, wherein the first axis of the first bearing saddle and the third axis of the third bearing saddle are aligned.

5. The piston of claim 4 , wherein the second bearing saddle is positioned between the first bearing saddle and the third bearing saddle.

6. The piston of claim 4 , wherein the first bearing saddle is operable to receive a first bearing journal, the second bearing saddle is operable to receive a second bearing journal, and the third bearing saddle is operable to receive a third bearing journal.

7. A bearing for a piston in an internal combustion engine, the bearing comprising:

a first journal having a first body, longitudinal ends, and lateral edges, the first journal defining a first axis, the first journal disposed about approximately 180 degrees of the first axis, the first journal having a first thickness along the first body, the lateral edges including a chamfer or bevel; and

a second journal having a second body and defining a second axis, the second journal disposed about approximately 180 degrees of the second axis, the second journal having a second thickness along the second body that is substantially similar to the first thickness of the first journal, the second journal operable to be positioned abutting one of the lateral edges of the first journal when the first and second journals are positioned with the piston.

8. The bearing of claim 7 , wherein the first journal is tapered such that the first thickness of the first body is greater in a middle portion of the first journal than at longitudinal ends of the first journal, and wherein the second journal is tapered such that the second thickness of the second body is greater in a middle portion of the second journal than at longitudinal ends of the second journal.

9. The bearing of claim 7 , wherein the first journal and the second journal each includes a beveled or chamfered edge at the lateral edges.

10. The bearing of claim 9 , wherein the beveled or chamfered edge is operable to act as a circumferential oil loading channel.

11. The bearing of claim 7 , further comprising a third journal having a third body, longitudinal ends, and lateral edges, the third journal defining a third axis, the third journal disposed about approximately 180 degrees of the third axis, the third journal having a third thick mess along the third body.

12. A piston for an internal combustion engine, the piston comprising:

a piston body including a bearing saddle;

a bearing positioned with the bearing saddle;

a clamp for retaining the bearing with the bearing saddle;

wherein the clamp includes a pin receiving surface; and

a pin positioned within the pin receiving surface of the clamp;

wherein the pin receiving surface is configured to load lubricant between the pin and the pin receiving surface.

13. The piston of claim 12 , wherein the clamp includes a clamp body having a first side, a second side, axial ends, and lateral ends, the first side including the pin receiving surface defining a pin recess.

14. The piston of claim 13 , wherein the pin receiving surface forms a substantially arcuate shape.

15. The piston of claim 13 , wherein the pin receiving surface is formed of a plurality of arcs, each arc being disposed about a separate axis spaced from an adjacent axis of an adjacent arc.

16. The piston of claim 15 , wherein the pin receiving surface includes at least one transition ridge between the each of the plurality of arcs.

17. The piston of claim 16 , wherein the transition ridge is operable to allow a pin to transition between different positions to allow for lubricant loading.

18. The piston of claim 13 , wherein the clamp defining a connecting rod opening defined through the clamp body, the clamp body including tapered surfaces at the connecting rod opening.

19. An internal combustion engine comprising:

a piston having a piston crown defining a first combustion surface, the first combustion surface being symmetric across a first plane and across a second plane, the first plane being perpendicular to the second plane;

wherein the piston further includes a clamp:

wherein the clamp includes a pin receiving surface; and

a pin positioned with the pin receiving surface of the clamp;

wherein the pin receiving surface is configured to load lubricant between the pin and the pin receiving surface; and

an opposing member positioned opposing the piston crown, the opposing member defining a second combustion surface, the second combustion surface being symmetric to the first combustion surface of the piston crown.

20. The piston of claim 12 further comprising:

a piston crown including first and second longitudinal ends, the piston crown defining a combustion surface including a ridge positioned between the first and second longitudinal ends of the piston crown, the ridge, being formed to redirect an injection charge away from the combustion surface.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: ACHATES POWER, INC.
To: GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072956/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: CUMMINS INC.
To: CUMMINS INC.; ACHATES POWER, INC.
Reel/Frame 059151/0049 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2021
From: AUGUSTIN, KEVIN C., SR.; MOCANU, FLORIN; OSECKY, ERIC M.; SPERRY, ROBERT G.
To: CUMMINS INC.
Reel/Frame 055825/0340 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,442,328