Spark plug cooling line, cylinder head and engine

Abstract

The application discloses a spark plug cooling pipeline, a cylinder cover and an engine, and belongs to the technical field of automobile engines. The cooling pipeline has cooling fluid inside. Part of the spark plug cooling pipeline is arranged around the spark plug to cool and lower the temperature of the spark plug. The application introduces external air to directly cool the spark plug. Compared with the prior art in which the spark plug is indirectly cooled by parts around the installation position of the spark plug, the cooling effect is obviously better than that of the prior art, the purpose of better cooling effect of the spark plug is achieved, and the occurrence of hot ignition and sintering of the spark plug and the spacer sleeve is avoided, so that the spark plug is convenient to disassemble and replace.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automotive engine technology, specifically relating to a spark plug cooling pipe, cylinder head, and engine. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, no automotive engine has a direct cooling system for the spark plugs. In most cases, cooling is achieved indirectly through components at the spark plug mounting point (the spacer between the spark plug and the cylinder head), which has limited effectiveness. Poor spark plug cooling directly affects spark plug lifespan, can lead to overheating under high loads, affecting the smoothness of engine power output and reducing engine reliability. Furthermore, after a certain mileage, the spark plug can easily sinter with the mounting point (spacer), making it difficult or impossible to remove, and in severe cases, damaging the entire engine. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above background technology, the present invention proposes a spark plug cooling pipe, a cylinder head and an engine having the cooling pipe, which introduces outside air to directly cool the spark plug, thus solving the technical problems of poor engine stability and difficulty in spark plug removal caused by poor heat dissipation of the spark plug in the prior art.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] On one hand, the present invention provides a spark plug cooling pipe, wherein the spark plug cooling pipe contains a cooling fluid, and a portion of the spark plug cooling pipe is arranged around the spark plug to cool it down. The present invention, by arranging the cooling pipe around the spark plug, can directly cool the spark plug, significantly improving the cooling effect.

[0006] Furthermore, the spark plug cooling pipeline includes an intake section, a cooling section, and an exhaust section connected in sequence. The cooling section is arranged around the spark plug, and the cooling section is connected to the spark plug so that the cooling fluid can directly contact the spark plug to cool it down, which has the advantage of good cooling effect.

[0007] On the other hand, the present invention provides a cylinder head, the cylinder head including the above-mentioned spark plug cooling pipe, and the cylinder head also including a cylinder head body and a spacer. The cylinder head body has a mounting hole, the spacer is disposed in the mounting hole, the spark plug is installed in the spacer, the intake section and the exhaust section are located on the cylinder head body on both sides of the mounting hole, and the cooling section is disposed inside the spacer.

[0008] Furthermore, the cylinder head body has a first channel and a second channel extending away from the mounting hole on both sides of the mounting hole, the first channel constituting the intake section and the second channel constituting the exhaust section.

[0009] Furthermore, the spacer includes a first spacer and a second spacer that are connected in a mating manner. The first spacer extends away from the first channel from one side wall and extends perpendicularly towards the second spacer, such that a gap is formed between the first spacer and the wall of the mounting hole, and between the first spacer and the second spacer, for the cooling fluid to flow. This gap communicates with the receiving space of the first and second spacers to form the cooling section.

[0010] Furthermore, the first spacer has an exhaust port formed on the side wall near the second channel for connecting the cooling section and the exhaust section.

[0011] In addition, the present invention also provides an engine comprising the cylinder head described above.

[0012] Furthermore, the engine also includes an air system, which includes an air supply line and an air outlet line respectively connected to the spark plug cooling line.

[0013] Furthermore, the air supply pipeline includes an air filter, a turbocharger, an intercooler, and an intake pipe connecting the air filter, the turbocharger, and the intercooler.

[0014] Furthermore, the air system also includes valves disposed on the air supply line and the air outlet line.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention mainly include:

[0016] This invention provides a spark plug cooling pipe system. By arranging a portion of the spark plug cooling pipe around the spark plug and containing a cooling fluid, the spark plug cooling pipe system can directly cool the spark plug. Compared with existing technologies that rely solely on parts at the spark plug mounting location for indirect heat dissipation, the heat dissipation effect is significantly better, achieving superior spark plug heat dissipation. This avoids overheating and spark plug-spacer sintering, and facilitates disassembly and replacement. Simultaneously, this invention also provides a cylinder head and engine with excellent heat dissipation performance due to the aforementioned spark plug cooling pipe system, improving engine stability and reliability, and reducing the likelihood of major engine overhauls. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention.

[0018] In the attached diagram:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the spark plug cooling pipe layout according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the cylinder head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the first spacer in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the air system described in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] As shown in the figure:

[0024] 100 - Spark plug cooling line, 110 - Intake section, 120 - Cooling section, 130 - Exhaust section;

[0025] 200 - Spark plug;

[0026] 300 - Cylinder head, 310 - Cylinder head body, 311 - Mounting hole, 320 - Spacer, 321 - First spacer, 3211 - Exhaust port, 322 - Second spacer, 330 - Sealing groove;

[0027] 400 - Engine, 410 - Air filter, 420 - Turbocharger, 430 - Intercooler. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0029] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0030] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0031] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to direct connection, detachable connection, or integral connection; they can refer to mechanical connection or electrical connection; they can refer to direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0033] This invention uses a four-valve spark-ignition natural gas engine as an example to illustrate the technical content of the invention in detail.

[0034] In existing four-valve spark-ignition natural gas engines, the spark plugs are generally installed in the center inside the cylinder head. The spark plugs are indirectly cooled by the coolant in the water jacket, which cools the spacer. This cooling effect is poor, making the spark plugs risky from overheating. In addition, after the car has traveled a certain distance, the high temperature near the spark plugs can cause the spark plugs and spacers to sinter together, making them impossible to replace. Improper handling can also damage the entire engine.

[0035] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the first aspect of this embodiment provides a spark plug cooling pipe. The general idea is to introduce a portion of the air from the engine air system into the spacer, surrounding the spark plug to directly dissipate heat. Specifically:

[0036] like Figure 1 The diagram shows a spark plug cooling pipe 100, which contains a cooling fluid. A portion of the spark plug cooling pipe 100 is arranged around a spark plug 200 to cool the spark plug 200.

[0037] It should be noted that the cooling fluid inside the spark plug cooling pipe 100 can be liquid or gas. Generally, based on the structural characteristics of the engine, the cooling fluid here can be either air from the air system or coolant from the cooling system. In this embodiment, air is preferred as the cooling fluid. Regardless of whether air or coolant is used, the essence is to arrange the spark plug cooling pipe 100 around the spark plug 200 so that it can directly cool the spark plug 200, ensuring good heat dissipation performance of the spark plug. This avoids the spark plug 200 from overheating and sintering with the spacer, facilitates disassembly and replacement, and improves the service life of the components.

[0038] In this embodiment, the spark plug cooling pipe 100 includes an intake section 110, a cooling section 120, and an exhaust section 130 connected in sequence. The cooling section 120 surrounds the spark plug 200 and is connected to the spark plug 200 so that the cooling fluid can directly contact the spark plug 200. That is, the cooling section 120 must be located inside the spacer and around the spark plug 200. In this embodiment, air is directly introduced into the spacer and surrounds the spark plug 200, allowing direct contact with the spark plug 200 for direct heat dissipation, maximizing the removal of heat generated by the spark plug 200. The intake section 110 provides air to the cooling section 120, and the exhaust section 130 discharges the hot air.

[0039] The second aspect of this embodiment provides a cylinder head 300, on which a spark plug cooling pipe 100 provided in the first aspect of this embodiment is arranged.

[0040] In specific implementation, the structure of the cylinder head 300 is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, it includes a cylinder head body 310 and a spacer 320, combined with Figure 1 The cylinder head body 310 has a mounting hole 311, the spacer 320 is disposed in the mounting hole 311, and the spark plug 200 is installed in the spacer 320. A water jacket is located outside the lower part of the spacer 320, through which coolant flows to cool the spacer 320 and indirectly cool the spark plug 200. However, this indirect cooling method is clearly insufficient for the spark plug 200 to dissipate heat. Therefore, the spark plug cooling pipe 100 provided in the first aspect of this embodiment is arranged on the cylinder head 300. Specifically, the intake section 110 and the exhaust section 130 are arranged on the cylinder head body 310 on both sides of the mounting hole 311, and the cooling section 120 is disposed inside the spacer 320.

[0041] In specific implementation, in order to lay out the spark plug cooling pipe 100, we respectively open a first channel and a second channel on both sides of the cylinder head body 310 located at the mounting hole 311, extending away from the mounting hole 311. The first channel constitutes the intake section 110 in this embodiment, and the second channel constitutes the exhaust section 130 in this embodiment.

[0042] Preferably, in this embodiment, the first and second channels are horizontal straight channels, which can be circular or rectangular. In other embodiments besides this embodiment, the first and second channels can also be other shapes, such as serpentine channels. The aperture of the first and second channels is determined to meet the air circulation requirements and can be set according to actual needs. In addition, the processing technology of the first and second channels can adopt the hole forming technology commonly used in the art, which will not be elaborated here.

[0043] In this embodiment, the spacer 320 includes a first spacer 321 and a second spacer 322 that are connected in a mating manner. The spark plug 200 is threadedly connected to the second spacer 322. After the first spacer 321 and the second spacer 322 are connected, their internal spaces are interconnected.

[0044] Preferably, in order to arrange the cooling section 120 of the spark plug cooling pipe 100, such as Figure 3 As shown, a recess is extended from the side wall of the first spacer 321 near the first channel (i.e., the air intake section 110) away from the first channel. This recess extends vertically towards the second spacer 322, serving as a guide for airflow. This creates gaps between the first spacer 321 and the wall of the mounting hole 311, as well as between the first spacer 321 and the inner wall of the second spacer 322. The recess extends towards the second spacer 322 without contacting the bottom surface of the second spacer 322. In other words, there is a gap between the recess and the bottom of the second spacer 322. Thus, the gaps between the first spacer 321 and the wall of the mounting hole 311, and between the first spacer 321 and the inner wall of the second spacer 322, are connected to the internal spaces of the first and second spacers 321 and 322. Together, they constitute the cooling section 120 of the spark plug cooling pipe 100.

[0045] Meanwhile, the first channel on the cylinder head body 310 forms the intake section 110 of the spark plug cooling pipe 100, and the second channel forms the exhaust section 130 of the spark plug cooling pipe 100. In order to connect the intake section 110, the cooling section 120 and the exhaust section 130, one end of the first channel is directly connected to the gap formed by the first spacer 321 and the mounting hole 311. An exhaust hole 3211 is opened on the side wall of the first spacer 321 close to the second channel. The intake section 110 and the cooling section 120 can be connected through the exhaust hole 3211 to ensure air circulation.

[0046] Preferably, the diameter of the exhaust port 3211 should be less than or equal to that of the first channel.

[0047] Preferably, a sealing groove 330 is also provided on the upper outer side of the first spacer for sealing when the spacer 320 is combined with the cylinder head body 310.

[0048] The working principle of the cylinder head 300 provided in the above embodiment is as follows:

[0049] Air is fed into the cooling section 120 through the first channel (i.e., the intake section 110). It first enters the gap between the inner wall of the first spacer 321 and the mounting hole 311, then the gap between the inner walls of the first spacer 321 and the second spacer 322, and then flows into the internal space of the second spacer 322 and the internal space of the first spacer 321 in sequence. During this process, it flows through the spark plug 200, carrying away the heat of the spark plug 200 to achieve the purpose of cooling it. Finally, the air inside the first spacer 321 is discharged into the second channel (i.e., the exhaust section 130) through the exhaust hole 3211.

[0050] It should be noted that the spark plug cooling pipe 100 provided in this embodiment can flow according to the above-mentioned route because when the engine is running, the intake manifold of the engine air system is under negative pressure, while the air after the intercooler is under positive pressure after being pressurized. Therefore, there is a pressure difference, and the air can flow on its own under the action of the pressure difference.

[0051] The third aspect of this embodiment provides an engine 400, which includes the cylinder head 300 described in the second aspect of this embodiment.

[0052] In this embodiment, the engine 400 further includes an air system, which includes an air supply pipe and an air outlet pipe that are respectively connected to the spark plug cooling pipe 100. That is, the air source of the spark plug cooling pipe 100 provided in the first aspect of this embodiment is the air supply pipe of the air system of the engine 400, and the air discharge is the air outlet pipe of the air system.

[0053] In this embodiment, the air supply pipeline includes an air filter 410, a turbocharger 420, an intercooler 430, and an intake pipe connecting the air filter 410, the turbocharger 420, and the intercooler 430.

[0054] It should be noted that the working principle of the four-valve spark-ignition natural gas engine 400 in this embodiment is illustrated as follows: the cylinder head 300 and the engine block form a combustion chamber, and the spark plug 200 is mounted on the cylinder head 300 and enters the combustion chamber, as shown below. Figure 4 As shown, after entering, the outside air first passes through the air filter 410 for purification, then enters the turbocharger 420 for pressurization, and then enters the intercooler 430, and then enters the mixer (not shown in the figure). At the same time, the treated natural gas is also delivered to the mixer to mix with the air. The mixture is injected into the combustion chamber through the intake pipe and burned under the ignition of the spark plug 200. The heat energy generated can push the piston, thereby enabling the engine 400 to do work. The high-temperature exhaust gas generated by the combustion of the mixture is discharged from the exhaust pipe.

[0055] Based on the working principle of the engine 400 and the composition of the air system, we add another intake pipe to the existing intake pipe of the intercooler 430. The outlet end of this intake pipe is connected to the intake section 110 of the spark plug cooling pipe 100 (that is, connected to the first channel of the cylinder head body 310) to provide clean air to the spark plug cooling pipe 100. At the same time, an exhaust pipe is added to the outlet end of the exhaust section 130 of the spark plug cooling pipe 100. The outlet of this exhaust pipe is connected to the pipe located between the air filter 410 and the turbocharger 420, so that the air used to cool the spark plugs 200 is returned to the turbocharger 420 for pressurization and then recycled through the intercooler 430. In this process, the air can flow by itself due to the pressure difference, without the need for power, thus saving energy.

[0056] Preferably, in this embodiment, the material and diameter of the newly added intake and exhaust pipes are the same as those of the original intake and exhaust pipes of the engine 400's air system, such as stainless steel pipes with a diameter of 20mm. In other embodiments besides this one, pipes with different materials and diameters than the original intake and exhaust pipes, such as rigid plastic pipes, can also be used, as long as they meet the requirements for intake and exhaust.

[0057] Preferably, the air system further includes valves installed on the air supply line and the air outlet line. The valves are automatic valves that are electrically connected to the vehicle's controller and function to change the air flow rate in the line according to the engine's operating conditions.

[0058] It is understood that the spark plug cooling pipe 100 provided by this invention can be used not only in natural gas engines, but also in spark-ignition diesel and gasoline engines. Specifically, when applied to diesel and gasoline engines, the structural form of the spark plug cooling pipe 100 arranged in the cylinder head 300 remains unchanged. Only the arrangement of the air supply and exhaust pipes needs to be changed according to the specific air system arrangement of the diesel and gasoline engines. In principle, it is sufficient to meet the intake and exhaust requirements of the spark plug cooling pipe 100.

[0059] It should be noted that for the parts not mentioned above, existing mature technologies can be referenced, and will not be elaborated here.

[0060] In summary, the spark plug cooling pipe provided by this invention directly cools the spark plug 200 by introducing external air into the spark plug cooling pipe 100, achieving better heat dissipation for the spark plug 200. This avoids overheating and sintering between the spark plug 200 and the spacer 320, and facilitates disassembly and replacement. Simultaneously, the cylinder head 300 and engine 400 provided by this invention, by incorporating the aforementioned spark plug cooling pipe 100, also possess excellent heat dissipation performance, improving the stability and reliability of the engine 400 and reducing the likelihood of major engine overhauls.

[0061] The specific embodiments of the present invention described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and modifications made in accordance with the technical concept of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cylinder head, characterized in that, The cylinder head has a spark plug cooling pipe with a cooling fluid inside. A portion of the spark plug cooling pipe is arranged around the spark plug to cool it. The spark plug cooling pipe includes an intake section, a cooling section, and an exhaust section connected in sequence. The cooling section is arranged around the spark plug and is connected to the spark plug so that the cooling fluid directly contacts the spark plug. The cylinder head also includes a cylinder head body and a spacer. The cylinder head body has a mounting hole, the spacer is disposed in the mounting hole, the spark plug is installed in the spacer, the intake section and the exhaust section are located on the cylinder head body on both sides of the mounting hole, and the cooling section is disposed inside the spacer. The cylinder head body has a first channel and a second channel extending away from the mounting hole on both sides of the mounting hole, the first channel forming the intake section and the second channel forming the exhaust section. The spacer includes a first spacer and a second spacer that are connected in a mating manner. The first spacer extends away from the first channel from one side wall and extends perpendicularly towards the second spacer, so that a gap is formed between the first spacer and the wall of the mounting hole, and between the first spacer and the second spacer, for the cooling fluid to flow. This gap communicates with the receiving space of the first and second spacers to form the cooling section.

2. The cylinder head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first spacer has an exhaust port formed on its side wall near the second channel for connecting the cooling section and the exhaust section.

3. An engine, characterized in that, The engine includes a cylinder head as described in any one of claims 1 to 2.

4. The engine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The engine also includes an air system, which includes an air supply line and an air outlet line that are respectively connected to the spark plug cooling line.

5. The engine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The air supply pipeline includes an air filter, a turbocharger, an intercooler, and an intake pipe connecting the air filter, the turbocharger, and the intercooler.

6. The engine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The air system also includes valves installed on the air supply line and the air outlet line.

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