Automotive internal combustion engine with bearing beam structure

Claim 1

An automotive internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder block having a bottom portion including a plurality of bearing sections; and a bearing beam structure secured to the bottom portion, said bearing beam structure including: a plurality of main bearing cap sections each of said bearing cap sections being aligned with a respective one of said plurality of bearing sections to form therewith a plurality of axially aligned bores for rotatably supporting a journal of a crankshaft, each of said bearing cap sections including opposed substantially vertical side portions defining a surface area; first and second side walls respectively connected respectively with substantially the entire surface area of said opposing side portions of said plurality of bearing cap sections to securely connect said bearing cap sections with each other, said first and second side walls extending generally parallel to an axis of said axially aligned bores; first and second beam sections respectively attached to and connecting opposite upper corner portions of said plurality of bearing cap sections, said first and second beam sections being integral with and projecting outwardly from said first and second side walls, respectively, and extending parallel with said axis; and third and fourth beam sections respectively attached to and securely connecting opposite lower corner portions of said plurality of bearing cap sections, said third and fourth beam sections projecting outwardly from said first and second side walls, respectively, and extending parallel with said axis.