Michael T Lapp

US Patent:

6920860, Jul 26, 2005

Filed:

Oct 6, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/679588

Inventors:

Dieter Gabriel - Highland MI, US
Michael T. Lapp - Bloomfield MI, US

Assignee:

Mahle GmbH - Stuttgart

International Classification:

F02F003/00

US Classification:

1231936, 92186, 2988804

Abstract:

A cooling channel cover for a one-piece piston of an internal combustion engine, the piston having a closed cooling channel that runs around inside the piston crown, at the level of the piston ring band, and a ring-shaped recess provided between the piston ring band and the piston shaft. The piston shaft is connected with the piston hubs suspended on the piston crown. In such a piston, an easy to assemble cooling channel cover is achieved by a one-piece plastic/spring steel ring that is U-shaped in cross-section, having a ring bottom and an outer shank around the circumference, molded onto the ring bottom and angled off radially to the outside, and an inner shank around the circumference, angled off radially to the inside. The plastic ring has a first radial division having a mouth width and a second radial division, opposite the first division, which does not separate the radially angled outer shank that runs around the circumference, to form a film hinge for radial deflection of a ring shank formed by the film hinge.

US Patent:

7162990, Jan 16, 2007

Filed:

Dec 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/322189

Inventors:

Valerian Ioja - Windsor, CA
Michael T. Lapp - Bloomfield MI, US

Assignee:

Mahle Technology, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI
Mahle International GmbH - Stuttgart

International Classification:

F02F 3/00

US Classification:

1231936

Abstract:

A two-part piston for an internal combustion engine, comprising a piston head and a piston skirt connected with the piston head in articulated manner, by way of a piston pin. The piston head has a piston crown that is followed by a cylindrical circumference surface having a top land and a ring belt. The piston head can include a ring-shaped circumferential cooling channel disposed within the piston head. The opening of this cooling channel faces the piston skirt, and is closed off with a seal element. There is a seal element that has a first free end that is held between piston head and piston skirt, or rests against an outer wall of the cooling channel. The seal element has a second free end that rests against the piston head, and wherein the seal element has a bottom that lies on a surface of the piston skirt that faces the cooling channel.

US Patent:

7533601, May 19, 2009

Filed:

Dec 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/637521

Inventors:

Michael T. Lapp - Bloomfield MI, US
Dan Dinu - Windsor, CA

Assignee:

MAHLE Technology, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI
MAHLE International GmbH - Stuttgart

International Classification:

F01B 31/08

US Classification:

92186

Abstract:

A multi-part piston for a combustion engine having a piston upper part and a piston lower part, where the piston upper part has a piston crown and an attachment head on its side facing the piston lower part, and the piston lower part has an attachment element in which the attachment head is held, the attachment element being disposed on a side facing the piston upper part. The attachment head is held in the attachment element by a press fit.

US Patent:

7918155, Apr 5, 2011

Filed:

Dec 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/955073

Inventors:

Michael T. Lapp - Bloomfield MI, US
Juan Gildemeister - Howell MI, US
Steve Walker - Talbott TN, US
Stan Sorin - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Mahle International GmbH - Stuttgart

International Classification:

F02F 3/00
F02F 3/22

US Classification:

92231, 92159, 92208, 29888042

Abstract:

A piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston crown includes an interior surface that defines at least in part a cooling gallery and a cooling gallery surface within the piston. An annular surface may defines at least in part an annular passageway that allows fluid communication between an outer surface of the piston and the cooling gallery. Opposing annular surfaces may be abutted with a predetermined force, thereby limiting fluid flow from the cooling gallery to an outer surface of the piston. Further, an annular surface may extend into the cooling gallery to form a deflector along the cooling gallery surface, thereby limiting fluid flow from the cooling gallery to an outer surface of the piston.

US Patent:

8245687, Aug 21, 2012

Filed:

Jan 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/683659

Inventors:

Michael T. Lapp - Bloomfield MI, US
Roger A. Krause - Howell MI, US
Dan H. Dinu - Windsor, CA

Assignee:

Mahle International GmbH

International Classification:

F02B 75/32
B21D 53/84

US Classification:

1231973, 2988809, 74579 E

Abstract:

A connecting rod and methods for making the same are disclosed. A connecting rod may include a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end. The piston pin end generally defines a bore opening extending along an axis. The connecting rod further includes a bore surface formed integrally with the piston pin end and extending about an inner circumference of the bore opening. The bore surface may define a plurality of dimples that extend axially along the bore surface. The bore opening further may further include profiled surfaces adjacent opposing ends of the bore opening.

US Patent:

8424445, Apr 23, 2013

Filed:

Jun 2, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/476382

Inventors:

Michael T. Lapp - Bloomfield MI, US
Dan H. Dinu - Windsor, CA
Roger Krause - Howell MI, US

Assignee:

Mahle International GmbH

International Classification:

F16C 7/00
F16C 7/06

US Classification:

92187

Abstract:

A linking arm conveying generally linear movement from a piston into generally radial movement of a crankshaft is disclosed. The linking arm includes a shaft extending between a piston pin end and a crankshaft pin end. The piston pin end defines a piston pin bore. A piston pin bore surface is defined by the piston pin bore, where the piston pin bore includes a non-circular transverse profile having at least two curved surfaces that each include a distinct radius, where the at least two curved surfaces are positioned in different locations around a periphery of the transverse profile.

US Patent:

8205332, Jun 26, 2012

Filed:

Dec 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/330062

Inventors:

Michael T. Lapp - Bloomfield MI, US

Assignee:

Mahle International GmbH

International Classification:

F16C 7/00

US Classification:

29888091, 2988809, 29888092, 228155, 74579 R

Abstract:

A connecting rod and methods for making the same are disclosed. A method of making a connecting rod may include joining a first connecting rod blank and a second connecting rod blank together. The first connecting rod blank includes a first material, while the second connecting rod blank includes a second material different from the first material. The first and second connecting rod blanks have an interface between the piston pin and crankshaft ends. The method further includes narrowing a cross-section of the blanks at the interface, forming a piston pin aperture in the first connecting rod blank, and forming a crankshaft pin aperture in the second connecting rod blank. At least one of the narrowing and forming steps works a perimeter of the interface, thereby forming a generally smooth connecting rod surface about the perimeter of the interface.

US Patent:

20050072387, Apr 7, 2005

Filed:

Oct 6, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/679602

Inventors:

Dieter Gabriel - Highland MI, US
Michael Lapp - Bloomfield MI, US

International Classification:

F02F003/16

US Classification:

123041350

Abstract:

A cooling channel cover for a one-piece piston of an internal combustion engine, the piston having a closed cooling channel that runs around inside the piston crown, at the level of the piston ring band, and a ring-shaped recess provided between the piston ring band and the piston shaft, wherein the piston shaft is connected with the piston hubs suspended on the piston crown. In such a piston, an easy to assemble cooling channel cover is achieved in that a one-piece, plastic ring, U-shaped in cross-section, having radially angled outer and inner shanks around the circumference, has at least one film hinge running around the circumference of the ring. The film hinge allows at least one radial deflection of at least one of the shanks, in such a manner that in order to close off the cooling channel, the shanks engage in a stepped conical recess on the inner edge of the cooling channel.