In a rotation speed detecting apparatus of an internal combustion engine having a rotor supported by an end part of the crankshaft, a pulser ring that has a detected body composed of recess-projection teeth and rotates integrally with the rotor, and a detector that detects the rotation speed of the crankshaft by detecting the detected body, the detected body has a detected surface opposed to the detector, and the detected surface is inclined in such a manner as to be located closer to the outside of the crankshaft in the axial direction of the crankshaft as getting more apart from an axis line of the crankshaft in the radial direction. In the detector, an axis line of the detector is inclined with respect to the axis line of the crankshaft in such a manner that the detector is opposed to the detected surface.

A crankshaft for an internal combustion engine is provided. The crankshaft comprises at least four main journals aligned on a crankshaft axis of rotation defining a centerline. The crankshaft further comprises at least three pin journals. Each pin journal is disposed about a respective pin journal axis and positioned between the main journals. Each of the pin journals is joined to a pair of crank arms. Each pair of crank arms is joined to a respective main journal. Each of the main journals, pin journals, and crank arms is made of a first metallic material. Each crank arm has an over-molded counterweight metallurgically bonded thereto. Each counterweight is disposed opposite a respective pin journal relative to the centerline for balance and stability. Each counterweight is made of a second metallic material. The crankshaft has a weight ratio of the second metallic material to the first metallic material of between 0.20 to 0.50.

A crankshaft for an internal combustion engine is provided. The crankshaft comprises at least four main journals aligned on a crankshaft axis of rotation defining a centerline. The crankshaft further comprises at least three pin journals. Each pin journal is disposed about a respective pin journal axis and positioned between the main journals. Each of the pin journals is joined to a pair of crank arms. Each pair of crank arms is joined to a respective main journal. Each of the main journals, pin journals, and crank arms is made of a first metallic material. Each crank arm has an over-molded counterweight metallurgically bonded thereto. Each counterweight is disposed opposite a respective pin journal relative to the centerline for balance and stability. Each counterweight is made of a second metallic material. The crankshaft has a weight ratio of the second metallic material to the first metallic material of between 0.20 to 0.50.

An annular cylinder liner includes an annular body defining a longitudinal axis, a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a circumferential direction, a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and a liner length measured from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end along the longitudinal axis. The annular body also includes a shoulder that is disposed at the first longitudinal end, defining a shoulder axial thickness measured along the longitudinal axis. A ratio of the liner length to the shoulder axial thickness ranges from 24.0 to 46.0.

An annular cylinder liner includes an annular body defining a longitudinal axis, a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a circumferential direction, a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and a liner length measured from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end along the longitudinal axis. The annular body also includes a shoulder that is disposed at the first longitudinal end, defining a shoulder axial thickness measured along the longitudinal axis. A ratio of the liner length to the shoulder axial thickness ranges from 24.0 to 46.0.

A crankshaft damper for attachment to one end of a crankshaft of an engine. The crankshaft damper includes an elastomeric member attached to a hub, and an inertia ring connected to the hub through the elastomeric member. Several different structures for cooling the elastomeric member are disclosed that dissipate heat away from the elastomeric member. Air flow is induced near the elastomeric member by providing air flow openings in the inertia ring or the elastomeric member.

Systems and methods of making a cast steel alloy crankshaft for an internal combustion engine are provided. The method comprises providing a mold of the crankshaft. The mold has cavities to form the crankshaft. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material at between 1400 degrees Celsius (° C.) and 1600° C. to define a molten metallic material. In addition, the method further comprises feeding the molten metallic material at a riser connection angle of between 30° and 75° in the cavities of the negative sand cast mold. The method further comprises cooling the molten metallic material at a solidification time of between 5 seconds (sec) and 20 sec in the negative sand cast mold with at least one chill member to define a solidified metallic material having dimensions of the cast steel alloy crankshaft. Furthermore, the method comprises separating the solidified metallic material from the negative sand cast mold to define the cast steel alloy crankshaft.

Internal combustion engines having a split crankshaft are disclosed. The engines may also have non-circular, preferably rectangular, cross-section pistons and cylinders. The pistons may include a skirt with a field of pockets that provide a ringless, non-lubricated, seal equivalent. The pistons also may have a domed piston head with depressions thereon to facilitate the movement of air/charge in the cylinder. The engines also may use multi-stage poppet valves in lieu of conventional poppet valves. The engines may use the pumping motion of the engine piston to supercharge the cylinder with air/charge. The engines also may operate in an inverted orientation in which the piston is closer to the local gravitationally dominant terrestrial body's center of gravity at top dead center position than at bottom dead center position.

Internal combustion engines having a split crankshaft are disclosed. The engines may also have non-circular, preferably rectangular, cross-section pistons and cylinders. The pistons may include a skirt with a field of pockets that provide a ringless, non-lubricated, seal equivalent. The pistons also may have a domed piston head with depressions thereon to facilitate the movement of air/charge in the cylinder. The engines also may use multi-stage poppet valves in lieu of conventional poppet valves. The engines may use the pumping motion of the engine piston to supercharge the cylinder with air/charge. The engines also may operate in an inverted orientation in which the piston is closer to the local gravitationally dominant terrestrial body's center of gravity at top dead center position than at bottom dead center position.

Provided is a fluid flow energy harvester (10) comprising a crankshaft (12) and at least one vane (14) pivoted into a sail portion (18) and a crank portion (20) on respective sides of the pivot (16). Both portions (18) and (20) are operatively oscillatable about the pivot (16) when the crank portion (20) is operatively arranged facing into a fluid flow (22). The crank portion (20) is linked to the crankshaft (12) via a crank (24) so that operative oscillation of the vane (14) imparts rotational force to said crankshaft (12). The harvester (10) also includes a fin arrangement (26) which comprises a fin (28) arranged on, and configured to guide, the sail portion (18) of the vane (14) facing towards or in a direction of the fluid flow (22). The harvester (10) also includes a fin actuator (30) configured to control an orientation of the fin (28) relative to the sail portion (18), so that during oscillation of the sail portion (18), either a surface (32) of the sail portion or a surface of the fin (34) impedes the fluid flow (22) when a surface of the other is parallel to such fluid flow. In this manner, stalling of the vane oscillation is counteracted thereby facilitating continuous rotation of the crankshaft (12) during fluid flow (22).