To provide a surface structure of an aluminum-based member which can further improve heat insulating properties and heat shielding properties of the aluminum-based member. In an aluminum-based member 1 containing at least a silicon composition, a porous oxide film 2 is provided on a surface of the aluminum-based member 1, and the oxide film 2 is constituted to have at least a pore 2a extending from the surface toward an inside in a thickness direction of the oxide film 2 and a void 3a present inside the silicon composition 3 extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the thickness direction of the oxide film 2.

An engine includes an engine block with at least one cylinder bank including cylinder bores formed therein. A piston is reciprocatingly disposed in each of the cylinder bores. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted to the engine block. Connecting rods are rotatably attached to the crankshaft and are coupled to the piston. A cylinder head with intake valves and exhaust valves in fluid communication with the cylinder bores is mounted to each cylinder bank. At least one permanent magnet is disposed in a skirt of each piston. At least one electromagnet is positioned adjacent to the permanent magnet(s). A control system selectively provides an electrical current to the electromagnets to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnets cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnets to affect a motion of the piston in respect of the engine block.

An engine includes an engine block with at least one cylinder bank including cylinder bores formed therein. A piston is reciprocatingly disposed in each of the cylinder bores. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted to the engine block. Connecting rods are rotatably attached to the crankshaft and are coupled to the piston. A cylinder head with intake valves and exhaust valves in fluid communication with the cylinder bores is mounted to each cylinder bank. At least one permanent magnet is disposed in a skirt of each piston. At least one electromagnet is positioned adjacent to the permanent magnet(s). A control system selectively provides an electrical current to the electromagnets to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnets cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnets to affect a motion of the piston in respect of the engine block.

The present invention provides a thermally sprayed coating that is a thermally sprayed iron-based coating formed on an inner circumferential surface of a cylinder bore of an aluminum or aluminum alloy cylinder block. The thermally sprayed coating has a plastic deformation part on its surface. Thus, pores on the surface of the thermally sprayed coating are reduced, resulting in a reduction in the amount of oil consumption.

A method for roughening a cylinder bore wall to be coated of a component, at least one groove, running around the central longitudinal axis, and at least one associated groove web, are generated such that the at least one groove web, in a radial direction directed toward the central longitudinal axis, forms first undercuts for a coating which is to be applied. Axial grooves running in the cylinder bore wall transversely to the at least one groove are generated such that the at least one groove web, in a peripheral direction about the central longitudinal axis, forms respective second undercuts for the coating which is to be applied. An adhesion of the coating which is to be applied, in the peripheral direction, is improved, so that stress cracks or detachments owing to a different thermal expansion of the component and of the coating which is to be applied are avoided.

A fuel injector mounting assembly in an opposed-piston engine allows for mounting of a fuel injector in a cylinder block without significantly deforming the wall of the cylinder into which the injector is configured to deliver fuel. The fuel injector mounting assembly includes a clamping arrangement to clamp the fuel injector to the cylinder block, an elongate tubular sleeve that sheathes a nozzle portion of the fuel injector, and a spanner nut attached to the elongate tubular sleeve. Clamping loads applied to retain the fuel injector in the cylinder block are controlled by the spanner nut.

A cylinder aligning sleeve and adapter plate for use within an internal combustion engine. The sleeve includes apertures placed contiguously with holes within the adapter plate to form a flow passage through the dead space between compression and crosshead pistons. The flow passage exits to a vent line where gas detection may occur along with safe venting of any gas detected. The sleeve serves to ensure concentric alignment of the compression cylinder with the engine block bore.

A cylinder aligning sleeve and adapter plate for use within an internal combustion engine. The sleeve includes apertures placed contiguously with holes within the adapter plate to form a flow passage through the dead space between compression and crosshead pistons. The flow passage exits to a vent line where gas detection may occur along with safe venting of any gas detected. The sleeve serves to ensure concentric alignment of the compression cylinder with the engine block bore.

An engine for a vehicle. The engine includes a cast engine block having a hybrid insert disposed in a fastener bore having rolled internal threads. The hybrid insert includes an internal surface having cut inner diameter (ID) threads and an external surface having rolled outer diameter (OD) threads. The rolled OD threads of the hybrid insert are received in the rolled internal threads of the fastener bore. The hybrid threaded insert may include a bi-metal in which the ID threads are formed of one metal alloy and the OD threads are formed of another metal alloy. Alternatively, the external surface of the hybrid insert may define locking features and the engine block is cast onto these locking features, thereby locking the hybrid insert to the engine block.

An engine for a vehicle. The engine includes a cast engine block having a hybrid insert disposed in a fastener bore having rolled internal threads. The hybrid insert includes an internal surface having cut inner diameter (ID) threads and an external surface having rolled outer diameter (OD) threads. The rolled OD threads of the hybrid insert are received in the rolled internal threads of the fastener bore. The hybrid threaded insert may include a bi-metal in which the ID threads are formed of one metal alloy and the OD threads are formed of another metal alloy. Alternatively, the external surface of the hybrid insert may define locking features and the engine block is cast onto these locking features, thereby locking the hybrid insert to the engine block.