Internal-combustion engines – Cooling – With jacketed head and/or cylinder
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-01
2001-12-11
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Cooling
With jacketed head and/or cylinder
C123S193300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328001
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to replaceable cylinder liners for internal combustion engines, including very efficient diesel engines with high brake mean effective pressures. However, certain applications for the present invention may be outside of this field.
Replaceable cylinder liners provide significant advantages to internal combustion engines, especially those engines intended to have extremely long periods of time between overhauls. Engines such as truck diesel engines may be designed for two million hours of usage between overhauls. At the time of overhaul, the cylinder liners of such engines can be removed and replaced and the engine block reused with another set of liners. Further, at the time of manufacturing, replaceable liners eliminate the need for precision finishing of long bores in a block, shifting that process to a smaller, more economical operation on an individual liner.
The continuing need for more thermally efficient engines has placed additional demands on the cylinder liner. Increased thermal efficiency can be achieved by increasing the brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) of the engine. Advanced diesel engines are capable of BMEP in excess of 300 psi. These very efficient engines have very high combustion temperatures. A portion of the combustion energy not converted into work or expelled as exhaust gas must be dissipated, and a portion of this energy is dissipated as heat conducted through the walls of the cylinder liner and into the cooling system. If this heat is not properly removed from the cylinder liner, there can be numerous problems. One such problem involves overheating of the top piston ring.
Unlike the bottom piston ring and the piston itself, the top piston ring receives only limited cooling from the engine oil supply. Unlike the bottom ring, the top piston ring is directly exposed to combustion gases. If the top piston ring overheats, oil in contact with the ring from the cylinder wall inner diameter will be converted to coke, with an accompanying loss of lubrication. Ring and liner wear will be accelerated as a result, and ring failure made more likely.
One method of removing heat from the top piston ring involves improved cooling of the cylinder liner. A cooler cylinder liner will conduct more heat away from the top piston ring. Various ideas have been proposed for improved cooling of replaceable cylinder liners. These ideas, as well as ideas generally relating to cylinder liners, can be found in the following U.S. Patents:
Patent No.
Patentee
Issue Date
4,244,330
Baugh et al.
1/13/81
4,305,348
Martin
12/15/81
4,616,603
Kubis et al.
10/14/86
4,638,769
Ballheimer
1/27/87
4,867,118
Kubis et al.
9/19/89
5,048,468
Broughton et al.
9/17/91
5,150,668
Bock
9/29/92
5,299,538
Kennedy
4/5/94
5,343,837
Ward et al.
9/6/94
5,575,251
Bock
11/19/96
There is a continuing need for improved cooling of cylinder liners. The present invention provides a novel and unobvious apparatus and method for improved cooling of cylinder liners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention provides a replaceable cylinder liner for an internal combustion engine with a cylinder head and an engine block. The cylinder liner includes a rim section of the liner proximate the cylinder head, a circumferential seal groove defined within the rim section, a seal ring located within the groove, and a mid stop of the liner below the groove.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for locating and sealing a replaceable cylinder liner within an engine block of an internal combustion engine. The method includes receiving a replaceable cylinder liner within an engine block, locating the axial position of the cylinder liner within the engine block by a mid stop, flowing coolant in a cooling passage between the liner and the block, and sealing the bottom of the cooling passage with a diametral interference fit between the cylinder liner and the engine block.
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved replaceable cylinder liner for an internal combustion engine.
Related objects of the present invention will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3403661 (1968-10-01), Valentine et al.
patent: 3818878 (1974-06-01), Zaruba
patent: 3973429 (1976-08-01), Durgan et al.
patent: 4034723 (1977-07-01), Hamparian
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patent: 4244330 (1981-01-01), Baugh et al.
patent: 4305348 (1981-12-01), Martin
patent: 4440118 (1984-04-01), Stong et al.
patent: 4562799 (1986-01-01), Woods et al.
patent: 4616603 (1986-10-01), Kubis et al.
patent: 4638769 (1987-01-01), Ballheimer
patent: 4844030 (1989-07-01), McAvoy
patent: 4867118 (1989-09-01), Kubis et al.
patent: 5048468 (1991-09-01), Broughton et al.
patent: 5150668 (1992-09-01), Bock
patent: 5251579 (1993-10-01), Morris
patent: 5299538 (1994-04-01), Kennedy
patent: 5343837 (1994-09-01), Ward et al.
patent: 5575251 (1996-11-01), Bock
patent: 5752480 (1998-05-01), Berggren et al.
patent: 0 768 459 A1 (1997-04-01), None
patent: 2 164 702 (1986-03-01), None
patent: 2 250 058 (1992-05-01), None
patent: 50-147008 (1974-05-01), None
patent: 58-181951 (1982-05-01), None
patent: 61-17157 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 61-17158 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 63-31237 (1986-08-01), None
patent: 62-69275 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 7-253043 (1994-03-01), None
Bare Kristopher R.
Corbeels Carol L.
Dawkins Abby J.
Kirtley Daniel E.
Perr Andrew P.
Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
Kamen Noah P.
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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