A bearing unit structure includes a bearing and a bearing holding unit. The bearing rotatably supports a drive shaft. The bearing holding unit is provided to a crankcase so as to hold the bearing. A groove portion is formed on an inner peripheral surface a of the bearing holding unit, and the inner peripheral surface a faces the bearing. A thermal expansion correction band made of a resin is integrally formed with the bearing holding unit in a state of being embedded into the groove portion.

A damper guard coupled to an external surface of an engine block includes a back cover defining an opening. The damper guard also includes a front cover adapted to couple to the back cover such that an enclosed space is defined between the front and back covers. The damper guard further includes a pressure balancing line coupled at a first portion of the back cover. The pressure balancing line is adapted to vent the enclosed space to an engine crankcase for maintaining the enclosed space at an engine crankcase pressure. The damper guard includes a drain line adapted to allow drainage of a damper oil present in the enclosed space.

A method and a control device for monitoring the pressure in a crankcase of an internal combustion engine. The desired values for the pressure in the crankcase are defined for a plurality of operating points of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, at least one of the defined desired pressure values is modified during operation of the internal combustion engine.

A case that houses a chain includes a first cover member fixed to a cylinder block and a cylinder head, and a second cover member arranged on the opposite side of the cylinder block and the cylinder head from the first cover member. In an intermediate part, which is a part of a confronting wall of the first cover member between the first flange and the second flange, a cover-side rib is provided, having a height so that a distal end of the cover-side rib is not in contact with the cylinder block.

An internal combustion engine provided with a cylinder block which can move relative to a crankcase is provided with a block movement mechanism arranged at just one side of the left and right of the internal combustion engine, a support member supporting a side surface of the cylinder block, and a pushing member pushing against a side surface of the cylinder block at the opposite side to the side surface supported by the support member. Further, the support member supports the side surface of the cylinder block at the side of arrangement of the block movement mechanism, while the pushing member pushes against the side surface of the cylinder block at the opposite side to the side of arrangement of the block movement mechanism.

A damper pulley assembly for a vehicle engine is provided wherein the damper pulley assembly includes a hub, a pulley and a hybrid shield affixed to the hub. The hub may be affixed to the crankshaft. The hub includes a pulley contact surface. The pulley may be mounted on the hub at the pulley contact surface of the hub. The hybrid shield may be affixed to the hub. The hybrid shield may be configured to attenuate an axial flow of noise and vibration from the crank shaft when the crankshaft, the hub, and the pulley are rotating.

A spacer for coupling a water pump to a timing chain cover on an automotive engine includes a body having an upstanding sidewall with opposed front and rear faces. The sidewall bounds an interior chamber, and a ramp is formed to the sidewall. The ramp extends into the interior chamber from the rear face to the front face.

A damper guard coupled to an external surface of an engine block includes a back cover defining an opening. The damper guard also includes a front cover adapted to couple to the back cover such that an enclosed space is defined between the front and back covers. The damper guard further includes a pressure balancing line coupled at a first portion of the back cover. The pressure balancing line is adapted to vent the enclosed space to an engine crankcase for maintaining the enclosed space at an engine crankcase pressure. The damper guard includes a drain line adapted to allow drainage of a damper oil present in the enclosed space.

An internal combustion engine includes: a crankcase that supports a crankshaft rotatably about a rotational axis; a cylinder block connected with the crankcase and including at least one pair of cylinders that sandwich a valve chamber therebetween in an axial direction of the crankshaft, the valve chamber housing therein a valve actuating mechanism that connects a camshaft to the crankshaft; a detected member disposed between crank pins corresponding to the pair of cylinders, the detected member rotating integrally with the crankshaft; and a detection sensor disposed to face a trajectory of the detected member and generating a pulse signal in accordance with movement of the detected member. Accordingly, the internal combustion engine can avoid displacement of a nearby part and enlargement of the crankcase as much as possible, while allowing the detected member to be increased in size.

A crankshaft seal flange has a support made at least partially of a plastic material. The support has a passage with an inner wall. The support has at least one dynamic seal that extends about a circumference of the inner wall of the passage. At least one sensor is provided that detects crankshaft rotary speed and crankshaft position. The at least one sensor encompasses an electronic component group that is integrated into the plastic material of the support.