Patent ID: 6928974

Claim:
A reinforcement component for a reciprocating engine, the engine having a crankcase with a lower skirt and containing a plurality of main bearing caps secured by a plurality of main bearing cap bolts, the reinforcement component comprising: a unitary, monolithic, flat plate having a length spanning all of the main bearing caps and a width extending across the lower skirt of the crankcase of the engine, the plate having; mutually opposed first and second side portions adapted for being disposed immediately within and adjacent the lower skirt of the crankcase of the engine when the plate is installed therein; and a plurality of lateral ribs extending between the first and second side portions corresponding in number to the plurality of main bearing caps and defining a plurality of crankshaft counterweight and throw passages therebetween, each of the lateral ribs having a plurality of bearing cap bolt passages defined therethrough corresponding in number to the plurality of main bearing cap bolts.