Cylinder head for an internal combustion engine

Details Cylinder head for an internal combustion engine Cylinder head for an internal combustion engine

1999-07-22

2001-07-24

McMahon, Marguerite (Department: 3747)

Internal-combustion engines

Particular piston and enclosing cylinder construction

Cylinder head

Reexamination Certificate

active

06263854

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to internal combustion engines, and, more particularly, to cylinder heads in internal combustion engines.
BACKGROUND ART
A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine typically includes a plurality of cylinder heads which are attached to and cover corresponding combustion cylinders. Each cylinder head may include an inlet air channel and an exhaust channel which are disposed in fluid communication with a corresponding combustion cylinder. The inlet air channel and the exhaust channel may include an inlet valve seat and an exhaust valve seat which are opened and closed using an inlet valve and an exhaust valve, respectively. An internal combustion engine with a plurality of larger combustion cylinders may include multiple inlet valve seats and exhaust valve seats to ensure that the combustion air and exhaust gasses are transported into and away from the combustion cylinder.
With a cylinder head having an air inlet channel with multiple inlet valve seats as described above, it is known to place the inlet valve seats in a series arrangement within the inlet air channel such that combustion air passes over a first inlet valve seat and terminates at a second inlet valve seat. A problem with this type of configuration is that most of the combustion air passes over the first inlet valve seat and flows through the second inlet valve seat disposed at the end of the inlet air channel. The combustion air is therefore not evenly introduced into the combustion cylinder through the inlet valve seats, and may not ensure that an adequate supply of combustion air is introduced into the combustion cylinder. Additionally, the push rods associated with each cylinder head typically pass through an opening defined by the cylinder head which is disposed in the inlet opening of the inlet air channel. The push rods and associated carrying structure of the cylinder head therefore impede the flow of combustion air through the inlet air channel through the combustion cylinder. Such a cylinder head is known as a “cross-flow” cylinder head.
It is also known to provide a cylinder head with multiple inlet air channels which each terminate at a respective inlet valve seat. Such a cylinder head configuration avoids the problems associated with a “cross-flow” configuration, but also adds additional structure to the cylinder head which increases the size and manufacturing costs and complexity of the cylinder head.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, an internal combustion engine includes a housing with at least one combustion cylinder. A cylinder head is attached to the housing and covers at least one combustion cylinder. The cylinder head includes at least one inlet air channel and at least one exhaust channel. Each inlet air channel and exhaust channel is associated with at least one respective combustion cylinder. Each air inlet channel includes a single inlet opening and two inlet valve seats. The inlet valve seats are positioned in a parallel fluid flow configuration with each other within the inlet air channel.
In another aspect of the invention, combustion air is supplied to an internal combustion engine. A housing is provided having at least one combustion cylinder. At least one combustion cylinder is covered with a cylinder head. The cylinder head includes at least one inlet air channel and at least one exhaust channel. Each inlet air channel and exhaust channel are associated with at least one respective combustion cylinder. Each air inlet channel includes a single inlet opening and two inlet valve seats. The combustion air is introduced into the inlet air channel through the single inlet opening. The combustion air flows through a main flow path extending from the single inlet opening. The combustion air is split into two branching flow paths which are disposed in a parallel fluid flow configuration relative to the main flow path. The two branching flow paths respectively terminate at the two inlet valve seats. The combustion air is loaded into each respective combustion cylinder through each corresponding two inlet valve seats.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3395690 (1968-08-01), Riley
patent: 3824971 (1974-07-01), Skatsche et al.
patent: 4285310 (1981-08-01), Takizawa et al.
patent: 4593662 (1986-06-01), Baring et al.
patent: 4627396 (1986-12-01), Yoshida
patent: 4702207 (1987-10-01), Hatamura et al.
patent: 5038732 (1991-08-01), Matayoshi et al.
patent: 5119784 (1992-06-01), Hashimoto et al.
patent: 5156124 (1992-10-01), Sugimoto et al.
patent: 5207210 (1993-05-01), Yamagata et al.
patent: 5365900 (1994-11-01), Farnlund et al.
patent: 6065437 (2000-05-01), Kleinschmidt

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Cylinder head for an internal combustion engine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Cylinder head for an internal combustion engine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cylinder head for an internal combustion engine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2472201