Patent ID: 8608385

Claim:
A main bearing ( 20 ) for an internal combustion engine comprising: an upper shell ( 22 ) including an upper inner surface ( 32 ) extending circumferentially between a first shell end ( 36 ) and a second shell end ( 38 ) and radially between a first side edge ( 40 ) and a second side edge ( 42 ), said upper shell ( 22 ) presenting a shell length (L s ) extending circumferentially from said first shell end ( 36 ) to said second shell end ( 38 ); a lower shell ( 24 ) including a lower inner surface ( 46 ) extending circumferentially between a third shell end ( 48 ) and a fourth shell end ( 50 ); said first shell end ( 36 ) of said upper shell ( 22 ) abutting said third shell end ( 48 ) of said lower shell ( 24 ) and said second shell end ( 38 ) of said upper shell ( 22 ) abutting said fourth shell end ( 50 ) of said lower shell ( 24 ); said upper shell ( 22 ) and said lower shell ( 24 ) each including an oil supply groove ( 26 ) extending circumferentially along said inner surfaces ( 32 , 46 ); said upper shell ( 22 ) including an oil stem groove ( 28 ) extending obliquely from said oil supply groove ( 26 ) to a stem groove distal end ( 70 ) spaced from said first side edge ( 40 ); and said upper shell ( 22 ) including a pair of oil distribution grooves ( 30 ) each extending from said oil stem groove ( 28 ) along said oil supply groove ( 26 ) to a distribution groove distal end ( 76 ), each of said oil distribution grooves ( 30 ) presenting a distribution groove length (l dist ) extending from said oil stem groove ( 28 ) to said distribution groove distal end ( 76 ), wherein the distribution groove length (l dist ) is one third to not greater than one half of said shell length (L s ).