Crankshaft support structure for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine

摘要

The problem posed consists in maintaining high rigidity whilst reducing the weight of the engine assembly, with reduced axial thermal stresses on the bearing caps and the presence of a lubricating oil system in these caps. According to the invention, the structure comprises a cylinder block B made from a light alloy and comprising a crankcase top half 11-12 defining a plurality of cylinder bores 31-33 and a crankcase 2 having a plurality of spaced-apart journal partitions 7, a plurality of spaced-apart bearing caps 11, made from an iron alloy and respectively connected to the said journal partitions 7, these journal partitions 7 and these bearing caps 11 communally delimiting between them bearing holes 24, a crankshaft Sc rotationally supported in the said bearing holes 24, and a bridge 17 made from a light alloy, extending above the bearing caps 11, and connected to the bearing caps 11. The invention finds an advantageous application in multi-cylinder internal combustion engines. <IMAGE>