An engine-and-electric-machine assembly, including an engine (8) and an electric machine (9). The crankshaft (7) of the engine has an extension section (7-3) that extends to the exterior of the engine, and the rotor (3) of the electric machine is mounted to the extension section. The present disclosure improves the integration level of the engine-and-electric-machine assembly, and reduces the weight and volume of the engine-and-electric-machine assembly. A vehicle driving device including the engine-and-electric-machine assembly is also disclosed.

A method of heat treating a workpiece, the method including projecting a laser beam from a laser source onto said workpiece, so as to produce a laser spot on said workpiece; projecting the laser spot onto different portions of said workpiece; and while projecting the laser spot, repetitively scanning the laser beam in two dimensions so as to produce a two-dimensional equivalent effective laser spot on said workpiece and thereby temper, reduce hardness of, enhance ductility of, and/or reduce brittleness of at least one of the different portions of the workpiece.

A method of heat treating a workpiece, the method including projecting a laser beam from a laser source onto said workpiece, so as to produce a laser spot on said workpiece; projecting the laser spot onto different portions of said workpiece; and while projecting the laser spot, repetitively scanning the laser beam in two dimensions so as to produce a two-dimensional equivalent effective laser spot on said workpiece and thereby temper, reduce hardness of, enhance ductility of, and/or reduce brittleness of at least one of the different portions of the workpiece.

An engine includes a crankshaft and a timing gear to be attached to the crankshaft so as to rotate integrally with the crankshaft. A fitting projection is provided on either one of the crankshaft and the timing gear, and a fitting recess to be fitted with the fitting projection, and erroneous-assembling prevention ribs to sandwich the fitting recess in a circumferential direction are provided on the other one of the crankshaft and the timing gear.

An engine includes a crankshaft and a timing gear to be attached to the crankshaft so as to rotate integrally with the crankshaft. A fitting projection is provided on either one of the crankshaft and the timing gear, and a fitting recess to be fitted with the fitting projection, and erroneous-assembling prevention ribs to sandwich the fitting recess in a circumferential direction are provided on the other one of the crankshaft and the timing gear.

A crankshaft for a controlled variable compression ratio engine has an axis of rotation defining a longitudinal axis and comprises at least one crank pin, at least one journal connected by a connecting web, and at least one control element able to move translationally along the longitudinal axis in order to cooperate with an actuator of a system for adjusting the length of a connecting rod. The crankshaft is notable in that the control element, positioned at the connecting arm, comprises an annular part coaxial with the crank pin and capable of establishing continuous contact with the actuator of the system for adjusting the length of the connecting rod, regardless of the angular position of the crankshaft. The crankshaft comprises a fluidic control circuit for moving the control element along the longitudinal axis.

A crankshaft for a controlled variable compression ratio engine has an axis of rotation defining a longitudinal axis and comprises at least one crank pin, at least one journal connected by a connecting web, and at least one control element able to move translationally along the longitudinal axis in order to cooperate with an actuator of a system for adjusting the length of a connecting rod. The crankshaft is notable in that the control element, positioned at the connecting arm, comprises an annular part coaxial with the crank pin and capable of establishing continuous contact with the actuator of the system for adjusting the length of the connecting rod, regardless of the angular position of the crankshaft. The crankshaft comprises a fluidic control circuit for moving the control element along the longitudinal axis.

A device for adjusting the effective length of a connecting rod for an internal combustion engine, includes at least one connecting rod which has a variable length and which can be locked in at least two length settings, at least one first oil pump for supplying oil to the at least one connecting rod with a variable length, and a control unit which provides for a switchover between the length settings of the connecting rod in the event of a change in the oil supply pressure for the connecting rod. The aim of the invention is to shorten the switching times during a switchover between the length settings of the connecting rod. A method for providing such a device for adjusting the effective length of a connecting rod is also provided.

Provided is a production method, including a first preforming process for obtaining a first preform from a billet, a second preforming process for obtaining a final preform from the first preform, and a finish forging process for forming the final preform into a finishing dimension of a forged crankshaft. In the first preforming process, a plurality of flat parts are formed by pressing pin-corresponding parts and journal-corresponding parts in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the billet. The second preforming process includes: a process of pressing regions to be a plurality of journals with a width direction of the flat part as a pressing direction by using a pair of first dies; and a process of, after starting pressing by the first dies, decentering regions to be a plurality of pins with the width direction of the flat part as a decentering direction by using second dies.

A bearing support structure wherein a shaft member that rotates about a central axis is rotatably supported by a rolling bearing split into two portions in a peripheral direction, wherein the shaft member has a fitting portion into which the rolling bearing is externally fitted, the fitting portion has a non-round shape in a direction orthogonal to the central axis, and the rolling bearing includes an inner ring that is split into two portions in a peripheral direction and is externally fitted to the fitting portion and has an inner raceway surface on an outer periphery, an outer ring that is split into two portions in a peripheral direction and is fixed radially outward of the inner ring, and that has an outer raceway surface coaxial with the inner raceway surface on an inner periphery, and a plurality of rolling elements rotatably disposed between the inner and outer raceway surfaces.