A piston for a cylinder, and a method of fabrication thereof, the piston rod comprising a substrate and a coating, the substrate having a surface roughness profile comprising peaks and valleys with a peak-to-valley height in a range between 0.5 and 2 m, and the coating having a hardness in a range between 1000 and 4000 HV and a coefficient of friction in a range between 0.1 and 0.05.

Disclosed herein is a cover for a rod end of an actuator. The cover comprises a mounting collar for surrounding and mounting to a portion of the rod end. The collar is deformable such that it may be mounted over a rod eye mounted to the rod end. The cover further comprises a shield extending from the collar and shaped such that when attached to the rod end the shield shields a portion of rod end to prevent fluid or foreign object ingress to the rod end. Also disclosed is a rod end assembly comprising a rod end and a cover mounted thereto and a method of assembling and retro-fitting a rod end and cover.

Disclosed herein is a cover for a rod end of an actuator. The cover comprises a mounting collar for surrounding and mounting to a portion of the rod end. The collar is deformable such that it may be mounted over a rod eye mounted to the rod end. The cover further comprises a shield extending from the collar and shaped such that when attached to the rod end the shield shields a portion of rod end to prevent fluid or foreign object ingress to the rod end. Also disclosed is a rod end assembly comprising a rod end and a cover mounted thereto and a method of assembling and retro-fitting a rod end and cover.

A piston for a cylinder, and a method of fabrication thereof, the piston rod comprising a substrate and a coating, the substrate having a surface roughness profile comprising peaks and valleys with a peak-to-valley height in a range between 0.5 and 2 m, and the coating having a hardness in a range between 1000 and 4000 HV and a coefficient of friction in a range between 0.1 and 0.05.

A piston for a cylinder, and a method of fabrication thereof, the piston rod comprising a substrate and a coating, the substrate having a surface roughness profile comprising peaks and valleys with a peak-to-valley height in a range between 0.5 and 2 m, and the coating having a hardness in a range between 1000 and 4000 HV and a coefficient of friction in a range between 0.1 and 0.05.

An energy storage device is provided for a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The energy storage device includes first and second end connectors connected to respective ones of a piston and crankshaft, and a flexible connection rod portion rotatably connected with the first and second end connectors. The flexible connection rod portion elastically buckles above a predetermined cylinder pressure threshold to store combustion energy and provide a more constant pressure combustion process.

An energy storage device is provided for a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The energy storage device includes first and second end connectors connected to respective ones of a piston and crankshaft, and a flexible connection rod portion rotatably connected with the first and second end connectors. The flexible connection rod portion elastically buckles above a predetermined cylinder pressure threshold to store combustion energy and provide a more constant pressure combustion process.

An internal combustion may include a cylinder having a first combustion chamber at one end and a second combustion chamber at an opposing end, first and second cylinder heads located at an end of the first and second combustion chambers, respectively, and a double-faced piston slidably mounted within the cylinder. The piston may be configured to move in the cylinder in a first stroke from one end to another. The first stroke may include an expansion stroke portion and a non-expansion stroke portion. The non-expansion stroke portion may include a momentum stroke portion. The non-expansion stroke portion may include a scavenging phase. The engine may further include first and second piston rod portions extending from opposite faces of the piston. Passageways in the piston rod portions may be configured to communicate gases between a combustion chamber and other locations.

An internal combustion may include a cylinder having a first combustion chamber at one end and a second combustion chamber at an opposing end, first and second cylinder heads located at an end of the first and second combustion chambers, respectively, and a double-faced piston slidably mounted within the cylinder. The piston may be configured to move in the cylinder in a first stroke from one end to another. The first stroke may include an expansion stroke portion and a non-expansion stroke portion. The non-expansion stroke portion may include a momentum stroke portion. The non-expansion stroke portion may include a scavenging phase. The engine may further include first and second piston rod portions extending from opposite faces of the piston. Passageways in the piston rod portions may be configured to communicate gases between a combustion chamber and other locations.

A supporting arrangement for an eccentric member (8) of an adjusting arrangement (6) of a connecting rod (2) of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine having at least one piston rod (18) that is guided displaceably by a piston (20) and a seal member (24) is connected to the supporting piston (20) in a supporting cylinder (12, 14) which is provided in the connecting rod (2) and has a longitudinal axis (16). The supporting piston (20) enclosing at least one cylinder chamber (22) with the supporting cylinder (12, 14). A side (28) of the supporting piston (20) that is directed toward the cylinder chamber (22) has a brake piston (30) that can be moved in the longitudinal axis (16). The brake piston (30) is mounted on the supporting piston (20) and can be prestressed by a spring (32).