An engine cylinder head includes an internal metal structure forming an upper portion of a combustion chamber. The internal metal structure includes a semi-compliant coating configured to absorb thermal expansion of the internal metal structure. The engine cylinder head also includes a polymer composite forming an external structure at least partially surrounding the internal metal structure.

A tapered roller bearing (31a) has a plurality of retainer segments (11a, 11d) each having a pocket to house a tapered roller (34a), and arranged so as to be continuously lined with each other in a circumferential direction between an outer ring (32a) and an inner ring (33a). The retainer segment (11a, 11d) is formed of a resin containing a filler material to lower a thermal linear expansion coefficient. In addition, a clearance (39a) is provided between the first retainer segment (11a) and the last retainer segment (11d) after the plurality of retainer segments (11a, 11d) have been arranged in the circumferential direction without providing any clearance. Here a circumferential range (R) of the clearance (39a) is larger than 0.075% of a circumference of a circle passing through a center of the retainer segment (11a, 11d) and smaller than 0.12% thereof at room temperature.

A vacuum pump rotor comprises at least one displacement element arranged on a rotor shaft. The rotor shaft comprises at least one shaft end for a bearing element to be arranged thereon. The rotor element, the at least one displacement element and the at least one shaft end are made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

A steel piston designed to improve thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, and performance of an engine is provided. The piston includes a steel body portion and a thermal barrier layer applied to an upper combustion surface and/or a ring belt to reduce the amount of heat transferred from a combustion chamber to the body portion. The thermal barrier layer has a thermal conductivity which is lower than a thermal conductivity of the steel body portion. The thermal barrier layer typically includes a ceramic material, for example ceria, ceria stabilized zirconia, and/or a mixture of ceria stabilized zirconia and yttria stabilized zirconia in an amount of 90 to 100 wt. %, based on the total weight of the ceramic material. The thermal barrier layer can also have a gradient structure which gradually transitions from 100 wt. % of a metal bond material to 100 wt. % of the ceramic material.

A galleryless steel piston designed to improve thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, and performance of an engine is provided. The piston includes a steel body portion and a thermal barrier layer applied to an upper combustion surface and/or a ring belt to reduce the amount of heat transferred from a combustion chamber to the body portion. The thermal barrier layer has a thermal conductivity which is lower than a thermal conductivity of the steel body portion. The thermal barrier layer typically includes a ceramic material, for example ceria, ceria stabilized zirconia, and/or a mixture of ceria stabilized zirconia and yttria stabilized zirconia in an amount of 90 to 100 wt. %, based on the total weight of the ceramic material. The thermal barrier layer can also have a gradient structure which gradually transitions from 100 wt. % of a metal bond material to 100 wt. % of the ceramic material.

A bearing cap (1) is attached to a bulkhead (22) of a cylinder block (21) made of a light metal through a pair of bolts (24). The bearing cap (1) has a frame (2) made of an iron-based metal and a cast light-alloy part (3). The frame (2) has a pair of pillar parts (9) through which the bolts (24) extend and a circular-arc-shaped arch section (10). At high temperatures, the span of the pair of the bolts (24) increases due to thermal expansion of the light-alloy material, and the pair of the pillar parts (9) expand. This causes the middle part of the arch section (10) to shift upward, thereby suppressing an increase in bearing clearance.

An enhanced elastomeric stator assembly and method of making the same is disclosed. The elastomeric stator may be structurally, thermally, and/or chemically enhanced through the incorporation of graphene particles, cross-linkable polymers, coupling agents that extend cross-links, and by the reduction of filler material. The graphene particles can be incorporated in functionalized or non-functionalized form or in a combination thereof, the functionalized graphene increasing the number of cross-links in the overall structure, thereby enhancing the structural robustness of the elastomeric stator. The compound can be formulated to have a relatively low viscosity and other characteristics that allow the material to flow through a mould cavity.

An engine cylinder head includes an internal metal structure forming an upper portion of a combustion chamber. The internal metal structure includes a semi-compliant coating configured to absorb thermal expansion of the internal metal structure. The engine cylinder head also includes a polymer composite forming an external structure at least partially surrounding the internal metal structure.

A steel piston designed to improve thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, and performance of an engine is provided. The piston includes a steel body portion and a thermal barrier layer applied to an upper combustion surface and/or a ring belt to reduce the amount of heat transferred from a combustion chamber to the body portion. The thermal barrier layer has a thermal conductivity which is lower than a thermal conductivity of the steel body portion. The thermal barrier layer typically includes a ceramic material, for example ceria, ceria stabilized zirconia, and/or a mixture of ceria stabilized zirconia and yttria stabilized zirconia in an amount of 90 to 100 wt. %, based on the total weight of the ceramic material. The thermal barrier layer can also have a gradient structure which gradually transitions from 100 wt. % of a metal bond material to 100 wt. % of the ceramic material.

A gas bearing is disclosed. The gas bearing may include a cylinder with an inner cylinder radius. The gas bearing may include a piston with a piston radius, wherein the inner cylinder radius is larger than the piston radius, wherein the piston is located within the cylinder. The gas bearing may include a gas bearing radius, wherein the gas bearing radius is greater than the piston radius and less than the inner cylinder radius. The gas bearing may include a gap that exists between the cylinder and the piston, wherein the gap contains a pressurized gas, the pressurized gas configured to prevent contact between the cylinder and the piston. The gas bearing may include a gas bearing interface, wherein the gas bearing interface is positioned to control a size of the gap.