Internal combustion engine

Details Internal combustion engine Internal combustion engine

1999-08-05

2001-11-27

Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)

Internal-combustion engines

Multiple cylinder

Cylinders radiating

Reexamination Certificate

active

06321698

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine having four cylinder banks arranged in a double-V configuration.
RELATED TECHNOLOGY
The article “18-Zylinder von Volkswagen” (18-Cylinder by Volkswagen) in Autos Test Technik (Auto Test Technology), mot, no. 11, ISSN 0027-1462, pages 16 to 23, (May 15, 1998) discloses an internal combustion engine which has eighteen cylinders that are accommodated in three cylinder banks. Each cylinder bank accommodates six pistons. Four gas exchange valves per cylinder are controlled via six camshafts located above. Eighteen connecting rods are received by a crankshaft, three connecting rods engaging with one crankshaft throw. The three cylinder banks are manufactured as an integrally cast aluminum part. The complex geometry of this part makes a casting operation very costly. The three cylinder banks are configured radially, one vertical cylinder bank being bisected by a plane of the internal combustion engine defined by a vertical axis and a longitudinal axis of the internal combustion engine. The other two cylinder banks are configured symmetrically to the engine plane. Since there are only three cylinder banks, a relatively large number of pistons must be accommodated in one cylinder bank. This results in large dimensions in the longitudinal direction, the consequence being, on the one hand, a relatively substantial weight of the internal combustion engine and, on the other hand, unfavorable crash performance due to long front ends of the automobile body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, which are divided into cylinder banks, comprising at least one camshaft for controlling at least two gas exchange valves provided per cylinder, and comprising a crankshaft for receiving corresponding connecting rods. Four individual cylinder banks (
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
) are provided, with two cylinder banks (
1
,
2
or
3
,
4
) being arranged in a V-shape with respect to one another in such a way that the cylinder banks (
1
,
2
or
3
,
4
) forming a V are configured on both sides of one engine plane E. One cylinder bank (
2
or
3
) of the cylinder banks (
1
,
2
or
3
,
4
) that are associated with one another in a V-shape is configured closer to the engine plane E than the cylinder bank (
1
or
4
) that is diametrically opposed with respect to the engine plane E.
In contrast to prior designs, the internal combustion engine of the present invention has the advantage of a more compact design with a relatively low weight in terms of the size of the internal combustion engine and its number of cylinders. Also advantageous, moreover, is the fact that only a short front end of the automobile body is required for the internal combustion engine, resulting in a favorable crash performance. Especially beneficial, particularly given a cylinder number of twenty or more, is the attainable running smoothness for the internal combustion engine. The benefit of a simplified cylinder-head manufacturing is also derived from the design of four individual cylinder banks.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2927565 (1960-03-01), Turner
patent: 2929368 (1960-03-01), Payne
patent: 2990819 (1961-07-01), Bouvy
patent: 5937804 (1999-08-01), Kaminski
patent: 413933A (1910-08-01), None
patent: 1024825 (1953-04-01), None
patent: 121605A (1919-05-01), None
patent: 97/40267 (1997-10-01), None
“18-Zylinder von Volkswagen”, Autos Test Technik, mot No. 11, ISSN 0027-1462, pp. 16-23, (May 15, 1998).

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