An air cooling device facilitates the cooling and/or thermal protection of a rotating member of a vehicle exposed to a proximately located heat source of the vehicle. The air cooling device may include a plurality of airfoils projecting radially outward from the rotating member for forming a flowing, thermally insulating, layer of air about the rotating member.

A system including a combustion engine is disclosed. The combustion engine includes a first cylinder orientated along a first axis. The combustion engine also includes a first piston, fitted within the first cylinder, to move in reciprocating motion by alternately moving in a first linear direction along the first axis responsive to a first power stroke or a second linear direction along the first axis responsive to a second power stroke. The combustion engine includes a tensile band affixed to a first end and a second end of the first piston. The first piston is to exert a first tensile force on the tensile band in the first linear direction in response to the first power stroke. The first piston is to exert a second tensile force on the tensile band in the second linear direction in response to the second power stroke.

A system including a combustion engine is disclosed. The combustion engine includes a first cylinder orientated along a first axis. The combustion engine also includes a first piston, fitted within the first cylinder, to move in reciprocating motion by alternately moving in a first linear direction along the first axis responsive to a first power stroke or a second linear direction along the first axis responsive to a second power stroke. The combustion engine includes a tensile band affixed to a first end and a second end of the first piston. The first piston is to exert a first tensile force on the tensile band in the first linear direction in response to the first power stroke. The first piston is to exert a second tensile force on the tensile band in the second linear direction in response to the second power stroke.

An opposed-piston engine includes a backlash reducing gear with at least a first and second gear that move relative to each other because of a hydraulic pressure applied within the gear. A backlash control system that includes the backlash reducing gear can dynamically adjust backlash between at least two gears in the gear train of the engine during operation of the engine instead of setting backlash prior to operation of the engine. A method for adjusting backlash in a two-stroke-cycle, opposed-piston engine with a backlash reducing gear includes providing hydraulic fluid, such as oil, to the gear, and allowing the backlash reducing gear to adapt to changes in the engine that include temperature changes, torque reversals, changes in load and the like. The backlash reducing gear adapts to changes in the engine by controlled leaking and intake of oil.

An opposed-piston engine includes a backlash reducing gear with at least a first and second gear that move relative to each other because of a hydraulic pressure applied within the gear. A backlash control system that includes the backlash reducing gear can dynamically adjust backlash between at least two gears in the gear train of the engine during operation of the engine instead of setting backlash prior to operation of the engine. A method for adjusting backlash in a two-stroke-cycle, opposed-piston engine with a backlash reducing gear includes providing hydraulic fluid, such as oil, to the gear, and allowing the backlash reducing gear to adapt to changes in the engine that include temperature changes, torque reversals, changes in load and the like. The backlash reducing gear adapts to changes in the engine by controlled leaking and intake of oil.

In an internal combustion engine for a vehicle wherein a crankshaft is supported for rotation on a crankcase and a speed change gear shaft which extends in parallel to the crankshaft and forms part of a transmission for changing the speed of rotational power from the crankshaft is supported for rotation on the crankcase such that it is disposed on one side of the crankshaft with a plurality of oil filters being mounted from the same direction to enhance the maintenance. A cover is coupled to a crankcase on one end side of a crankshaft in an axial direction, and a plurality of oil filters are attached to an outer side wall of the cover on the opposite side to a transmission with respect to the crankshaft and are disposed in an upwardly and downwardly juxtaposed relationship with each other.

In an internal combustion engine for a vehicle wherein a crankshaft is supported for rotation on a crankcase and a speed change gear shaft which extends in parallel to the crankshaft and forms part of a transmission for changing the speed of rotational power from the crankshaft is supported for rotation on the crankcase such that it is disposed on one side of the crankshaft with a plurality of oil filters being mounted from the same direction to enhance the maintenance. A cover is coupled to a crankcase on one end side of a crankshaft in an axial direction, and a plurality of oil filters are attached to an outer side wall of the cover on the opposite side to a transmission with respect to the crankshaft and are disposed in an upwardly and downwardly juxtaposed relationship with each other.

Methods and systems for delivering powertrain torque of a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In one example, torque is supplied to vehicle wheels from a piston engine, an electric machine, and a turbine engine via a planetary gear set. The planetary gear set may be configured with at least one sun gear and two ring gears.

Methods and systems for delivering powertrain torque of a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In one example, torque is supplied to vehicle wheels from a piston engine, an electric machine, and a turbine engine via a planetary gear set. The planetary gear set may be configured with at least one sun gear and two ring gears.

Electric machine assemblies and methods of manufacturing and operating electric machine assemblies for internal combustion engines are provided. The electric machine assembly includes an electric machine configured to generate electric current by induction via a prime mover causing rotation of one of a rotor and a stator with respect to the other one of the rotor and the stator. The electric machine assembly also includes a torque transmitter including a rotating output driver coupled to the prime mover of the electric machine. The torque transmitter includes a rotating input driver configured to receive a rotary input transmitted from a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The rotating input driver is coupled to the rotating output driver to actuate the rotating output driver at a plurality of gear ratios.