Provided is a spiny liner that may further improve bonding strength when being integrated with metal on the outer peripheral surface side. The spiny liner includes a plurality of projections including constricted projections on the surface. Denoting the number of constricted projections per 100 mm2 out of the projection by Pc, the average height of projections by h (mm), and the average of maximum thicknesses and the average of minimum thicknesses of any 20 projections out of the constricted projections by dw (mm) and dn (mm), respectively, the total value of (I) and (II) below is 1.55 or more.

(I)=Pc×[(0.35 hπ/12)×(2dw.sup.2−dw×dn−dn.sup.2)]

(I)=Pc×{(dn.sup.2/4)×r×0.35h}

A method of manufacturing a highly insulating three-dimensional (3D) structure is provided. The method includes depositing a first layer of hollow microspheres onto a base. The hollow microspheres have a metallic coating formed thereon. A laser beam is scanned over the hollow microspheres so as to sinter the metallic coating of the hollow microspheres at predetermined locations. At least one layer of the hollow microspheres is deposited onto the first layer. Scanning by the laser beam is repeated for each successive layer until a predetermined 3D structure is constructed. The 3D structure includes a composite thermal barrier coating (TBC), which may be applied to a surface of components within an internal combustion engine, and the like. The composite TBC is bonded to the components of the engine to provide low thermal conductivity and low heat capacity insulation that is sealed against combustion gasses.

A cylinder liner for an internal combustion engine may include an outer circumferential surface defined by the cylinder liner composed of a gray cast iron for integrally casting onto a cast material of an engine block. A bonding component may be included for strengthening a bond of the outer circumferential surface to the cast material of the engine block. The bonding component may include at least one of a wire mesh and a wire grid that does not melt during a casting operation of the engine block. The bonding component may be arranged at least in a predefined region on the outer circumferential surface. The bonding component may be welded at least partially to the outer circumferential surface.

A piston capable of reducing undesirable “knock,” reducing hydrocarbon emissions, and providing more complete combustion, is provided. The piston includes a multilayer coating having a thickness of 500 microns or less disposed on an upper combustion surface. The coating includes a bond layer including nickel disposed on the upper combustion surface. A thermal barrier layer including a ceramic composition is disposed on the bond layer. A sealant layer formed of metal is disposed on the thermal barrier layer. A catalytic layer including at least one of platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and iridium is disposed on the sealant layer. The catalytic layer can be disposed on select regions or the entire upper combustion surface to promote combustion through a catalyzed reaction.

A piston for an internal combustion engine may include a shaft. A dual-layer coating with an inner layer and an outer layer may be applied to the shaft. The inner layer may include organic binders and solid lubricants. The inner layer may also include hard material particles of at least one of tungsten disulphide (WS.sub.2), tungsten carbide (WC), silicon carbide (SiC), and aluminium oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3). The outer layer may include inorganic binders, may be air-hardening, and may have a lower wear resistance than the inner layer.

A barrier ring for a cylinder assembly for an opposed-piston engine fits into a groove fashioned into a portion of the cylinder liner that is adjacent to the top dead center location of the end surfaces of the pistons, in a volume of the cylinder liner that defines the combustion chamber. The barrier ring and groove are part of a barrier assembly that prevents heat generated during combustion from reaching the outer wall of the cylinder assembly, reducing the need for conventional cooling systems and increasing the amount of heat retained in the combustion chamber. The barrier assembly allows for increased engine efficiency because of the combustion heat retained in the combustion chamber, as well as a reduction in the overall size of the engine because of the reduction in engine cooling needed.

A galleryless piston including a ring belt with three ring grooves is provided. Each ring groove is formed by an uppermost wall and a lower wall spaced from one another by a back wall. A pair of pin bosses depend from the upper wall, and pair of skirt panels depend from the ring belt and are coupled to the pin bosses by struts. An inner undercrown region is surrounded by the skirt panels and the struts and the pin bosses. A pair of outer pockets extend along the undercrown surface, and each outer pocket is surrounded by a portion of the ring belt and one of the pin bosses and the struts coupling the one pin boss to the skirt panels. The third ring groove includes an oil drain slot extending through the back wall to the outer pockets of the piston for conveying cooling oil.

A system to attach valve seat inserts to an aluminum cylinder head of an automobile vehicle includes a cylinder head of an automobile vehicle engine having a valve seat portion. A valve seat insert is positioned in the valve seat portion of the cylinder head. A fusion bond is created between the valve seat insert and the valve seat portion by laser welding thereby fusing the valve seat insert to the valve seat portion.

A method for producing an internal combustion engine, includes the steps of providing a cylinder comprising a cylinder wall, wherein a surface of the cylinder wall has a structure which is designed and formed such that it can be penetrated by a coating; generating at least one barrier region by way of at least regional machining of the structure such that the coating cannot penetrate into the structure; and applying a coating to the cylinder wall, which coating does not penetrate into the structure in the at least one barrier region.

A sensor device system for detection of a liquid adjacent to the sensor having a glass fiber laminate substrate, at least one pair of comb electrodes formed on the glass fiber laminate substrate, a first of the pair of comb electrodes being interdigitated with a second of the pair of comb electrodes, the pair of comb electrodes defining geometric parameters; and a passivation coating covering the pair of comb electrodes.