Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for connecting a reciprocating piston of an internal combustion engine to a connecting rod, comprising (a) a generally cylindrical member (9) having a longitudinal axis, said member being formed of composite material and including a plurality of concentric layers of reinforcing fibers, the fibers of successive layers extending in different directions; and (b) generally tubular segmented sliding bearing means (14) arranged concentrically about the external surface of said cylindrical member, said sliding bearing means including a plurality of discreet metallic tubular segments (15, 16, 17) arranged in contiguous end-to-end relation, thereby to accomodate deformations in said bearing means in the region of support between the piston and the connecting rod during operation of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for connecting a reciprocating piston of an internal combustion engine to a connecting rod, comprising (a) a generally cylindrical member (9) having a longitudinal axis, said member being formed of composite material and including a plurality of concentric layers of reinforcing fibers, the fibers of successive layers extending in different directions; and (b) generally tubular segmented sliding bearing means (14) arranged concentrically about the external surface of said cylindrical member, said sliding bearing means including a plurality of discreet metallic tubular segments (15, 16, 17) arranged in contiguous end-to-end relation, thereby to accomodate deformations in said bearing means in the region of support between the piston and the connecting rod during operation of the internal combustion engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the fibers of at least one of said layers of fibers extend parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the fibers of alternative layers of said layers of fibers extend orthogonally relative to and circumferentially about said longitudinal axis, and further wherein the fibers of the remaining layers of fibers extend parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said fibers are selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, glass fibers, synthetic fibers, boron fibers, aluminum oxide fibers and silicon carbide fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said boron fibers are coated with silicon carbide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said boron fibers are coated with B 4 C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said fibers are embedded in a light metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said fibers are embedded in synthetic plastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said fibers comprise at least 60% of the volume of said cylindrical member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said device is metallized.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said sliding bearing means is hollow, and further wherein said cylindrical member completely fills the interior of said bearing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member contains a longitudinal through-bore.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, and further comprising a generally cylindrical layer of impermeable material (18) arranged adjacent the inner cylindrical surface of said cylindrical member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said impermeable material comprises synthetic plastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said impermeable material comprises metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 13, 14, or 15, wherein said layer of impermeable material comprises a tubular sleeve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said tubular sleeve includes a flange (24) which extends radially outwardly from one end of said longitudinal through-bore to cover one end face of said member and said bearing sleeve means, and further wherein said bearing sleeve means extends radially inwardly to cover the opposite end of said member and said impermeable layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said bearing sleeve means comprise a central segment and a pair of end cap segments (15a, 17a) being adapted to cover at least the end face portions of said cylindrical member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said end cap segments each comprise two coaxially arranged cylindrical portions and an annular end wall joining one end of said cylindrical portions, thereby to define an annular recess adapted to receive the end portion of said cylindrical member.