Motor vehicle featuring a simplified geometry cylinder head

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a water outlet housing (10, 110) intended to bring said engine to an optimal operating temperature, and a cylinder head (1, 100) to which said water outlet housing (10, 110) is attached. According to the invention, the cylinder head (100) has a first face (102) into which opens at least one internal lubrication channel (104) and the water outlet housing (10, 110) has a second face (111) which is fixed to said first face (102), a sealing element (115) being inserted between the first face (102) and the second face (111) around an opening materializing an outlet of said at least one lubrication channel (104) into the first face (102), so that the second face (111) of the water outlet housing seals said at least one lubrication channel (104) tightly, thanks to a compression of the sealing element (115) between said two faces (102, 111).Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 6.

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle comprising a cylinder head with simplified geometry

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a cylinder head with simplified geometry.

[0002] Referring to [Fig. 1], a cylinder head 1 of a water-cooled internal combustion engine has a substantially flat receiving face 2, onto which a water outlet housing 10 is intended to be mounted. As a reminder, and as is known in itself, a water outlet housing 10 is a self-contained component of a liquid-cooled engine, used to bring the engine to its optimal operating temperature. The water outlet housing 10 generally includes a thermostatic valve, the degree of opening of which depends on the temperature of the coolant. This water outlet housing 10 is used as a connection between the various pipes of the cooling circuit. Its function is to ensure the flow of the coolant and its maintenance at the optimal temperature.The housing 10 has a substantially flat wall 11, and is fixed to the cylinder head 1 by means of a plurality of screws 3 passing through said flat wall 11 and the receiving face 2 of said cylinder head 1. The seal between the water outlet housing 10 and the cylinder head 1 is ensured by a wire gasket 17 forming a closed loop, which is inserted between the flat wall 11 of the water outlet housing 10 and the receiving face 2 of the cylinder head 1. When the water outlet housing 10 has been fixed to the cylinder head 1, the flat wall 11 of the water outlet housing 10 extends parallel to the receiving face 2 of the cylinder head 1, being preferentially in contact with it, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.An oil circulation circuit lubricates the moving parts of the internal combustion engine. This circuit includes at least one lubrication channel 4, formed in the cylinder head 1 and opening into the receiving face 2 of said cylinder head 1, due to manufacturing constraints that do not allow for a non-opening channel. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the cylinder head 1 includes two parallel lubrication channels 4 extending perpendicularly to the receiving face 2 of the cylinder head 1.

[0003] With reference to Figures 2, 3, and 4, since the oil circulation circuit must be sealed, at least one lubrication channel 4 is currently sealed by a solid ball 5, press-fitted into one end 6 of said lubrication channel 4 opening into the receiving face 2 of the cylinder head 1. Inserting the ball 5 into the end 6 of the lubrication channel 4 requires special machining of this end 6, including a counterbore and the presence of a chamfer. When the ball 5 occupies a sealing position within the lubrication channel 4 after having been forced into the end 6 of said channel 4, it is located behind the receiving face 2 of the cylinder head 1.

[0004] However, as mentioned above, sealing the lubrication channel 4 with a ball 5 to ensure the oil circulation circuit is sealed requires specific machining of this lubrication channel 4, resulting in longer manufacturing time for the cylinder head 1 and therefore significant additional costs. Furthermore, a ball 5 that is press-fitted into the lubrication channel 4 may experience slight positional drift over time within said channel 4, potentially leading to a leak in the oil circulation circuit.

[0005] A vehicle according to the invention includes a cylinder head having at least one lubrication channel, the sealing of which is achieved by overcoming the disadvantages encountered in existing vehicles.

[0006] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a water outlet housing intended to bring said engine to an optimal operating temperature, and a cylinder head to which said water outlet housing is attached.

[0007] According to the invention, the cylinder head has a first flat face into which at least one internal lubrication channel opens, and the water outlet housing has a second flat face in contact with said first flat face. A sealing element is inserted between the first flat face of the cylinder head and the second flat face of the water outlet housing around an opening that represents an outlet of said at least one lubrication channel in the first face, such that the second flat face of the water outlet housing hermetically seals said at least one lubrication channel by means of compression of the sealing element between said two faces. The principle of a vehicle according to the invention is to take advantage of the presence of the water outlet housing next to the cylinder head to hermetically seal each lubrication channel of said cylinder head.In this way, it is no longer necessary to machine the lubrication channel to force in a sealing ball, which is a lengthy and costly operation. Preferably, the first and second flat faces are parallel, and attaching the water outlet housing to the cylinder head will compress the sealing element between the first and second flat faces, allowing the second flat face to hermetically seal at least one lubrication channel. Preferably, there are as many sealing elements as there are lubrication channels in the cylinder head. This at least one lubrication channel is completely enclosed within the cylinder head. Advantageously, the water outlet housing is attached to the cylinder head by means of a plurality of screws passing through the first flat face of the cylinder head and the second flat face of the water outlet housing, tightening said screws. This results in a closer relationship between the two flat surfaces and therefore compression of the sealing element. The sealing element can, for example, be an elastomeric gasket. Preferably, the sealing element defines a closed loop. Advantageously, once the water outlet housing is fixed to the cylinder head, the first flat face and the second flat face establish surface contact between them.

[0008] According to one possible feature of the invention, a closed groove is formed in one of two elements, to be selected from the first flat face and the second flat face, the sealing element being inserted into said groove. The presence of this groove thus makes it possible to stabilize the position of the sealing element between the first flat face and the second flat face.

[0009] According to one possible feature of the invention, the groove is formed in the second flat face of the water outlet housing and is annular. In this configuration, the sealing element is arranged concentrically with respect to the lubrication channel and will thus ensure a homogeneously distributed seal around said lubrication channel.

[0010] According to one possible feature of the invention, the sealing element is an O-ring.

[0011] According to one possible feature of the invention, said at least one lubrication channel is straight and cylindrical, said channel having a constant diameter along its entire length. Indeed, it is no longer necessary to specifically machine one end of the lubrication channel to press-fit a sealing element such as, for example, a sealing ball. In this way, the lubrication channel has a streamlined geometry and becomes easy to machine.

[0012] According to a possible feature of the invention, said at least one internal lubrication channel extends perpendicularly to the first flat face of the cylinder head.

[0013] According to a possible feature of the invention, the cylinder head has two parallel lubrication channels extending perpendicularly to the first flat face of the cylinder head and opening into said first face.

[0014] According to one possible embodiment of the invention, the water outlet housing is attached to the cylinder head by means of a screw passing through the first flat face of the cylinder head and the second flat face of the water outlet housing, said screw being equidistant from the two lubrication channels so as to homogenize the compression of the two sealing elements relating to said two lubrication channels. In other words, this screw is located between the two lubrication channels. Preferably, this screw is elongated and extends parallel to said two lubrication channels. It is also possible that the water outlet housing may be attached to the cylinder head by means of a plurality of other screws. passing through the first flat wall of the cylinder head and the second flat face of the water outlet housing.

[0015] The invention also relates to an assembly of a cylinder head and a water outlet housing for the production of a vehicle according to the invention.

[0016] According to the invention, the cylinder head has a first flat face in which at least one internal lubrication channel opens and the water outlet housing has a second flat face which is in contact with the first flat face, the water outlet housing being fixed to the cylinder head by means of a plurality of screws passing through said first flat face and said second flat face, a sealing element being inserted between the first flat face and the second flat face around an opening materializing an outlet of the lubrication channel in the first flat face, so that the second flat face of the water outlet housing seals said at least one lubrication channel, thanks to a compression of the sealing element between said two faces.

[0017] The invention also relates to a cylinder head for the realization of an assembly according to the invention.

[0018] According to the invention, the cylinder head has two parallel lubrication channels opening into the first flat face and perpendicular to it, said two channels being cylindrical and of constant diameter along their entire length. Such a cylinder head has a simplified geometry compared to existing cylinder heads and is easy to manufacture.

[0019] A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of possessing a cylinder head and water outlet housing assembly that is fully operational thanks to a judicious use of the arrangement between said cylinder head and water outlet housing, and by eliminating the need for special machining of at least one of these two elements. This results in significant cost reductions. Furthermore, it has the advantage of possessing a cylinder head lubrication channel sealing system that is safer and more efficient than existing sealing systems, as the risks of drift over time in this sealing system are much lower.

[0020] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0021] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cylinder head of a vehicle according to the state of the technique,

[0022] [Fig.2] The [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the cylinder head of the [Fig.2] and of a wall of a vehicle's water outlet housing according to the state of the art,

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view of the top of the cylinder head and the wall of [Fig.2] showing two lubrication channels of said cylinder head,

[0024] [Fig.4] Fig.4 is a cross-sectional view from above of one end of a channel lubrication of the [Fig.3],

[0025] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of a cylinder head and an output housing water from a vehicle according to the invention,

[0026] [Fig. 6] [Fig. 6] is a cross-sectional view of the top of the cylinder head and a wall of the water outlet housing of [Fig. 5], showing a lubrication channel for said cylinder head,

[0027] [Fig.7] Fig.7 is a front view of an area of ​​a cylinder head wall of a vehicle according to the invention, showing two lubrication channels and two sealing elements.

[0028] Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 have already been described.

[0029] With reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7, a vehicle according to the invention comprises a An internal combustion engine consists of a cylinder head 100, a water outlet housing 110 for bringing the engine to its optimal operating temperature, and an oil circulation circuit for lubricating the engine. The cylinder head 100 has a first flat face 102 and two parallel lubrication channels 104 opening perpendicularly into the first flat face 102. The two lubrication channels 104 are cylindrical and each has a diameter that is constant along its entire length. These two lubrication channels 104 are completely enclosed within the cylinder head 100 and are part of the oil circulation circuit used to lubricate the engine. Since this oil circulation circuit must be sealed, the two lubrication channels 104 must also be sealed.Rather than achieving this seal with independent means, such as for example with sealing balls forced into the lubrication channels 104, as is the case in some current vehicles, this seal is achieved with a second flat wall 111 of the water outlet housing 110. Indeed, it has been observed that when the water outlet housing 110 is fixed to the cylinder head 100, the second wall 111 of said water outlet housing 110 is in contact with the first face 102 of said cylinder head 100, establishing an extensive surface contact with it.

[0030] To achieve the sealing of the two lubrication channels 104, two O-rings 115 are inserted into two annular grooves made in one face of the second flat wall 111 of the water outlet housing 110, and which is intended to be opposite the first face 102 of the cylinder head 100. The annular grooves are arranged on the second flat wall 111 so that, when said water outlet housing 110 is fixed to the cylinder head 100, they are found around the two openings forming the outlets of the two lubrication channels 104 in the first flat face 102.

[0031] In this way, referring to [Fig. 7], the two O-rings 115 surround each opening materializing the outlet of each lubrication channel 104 in the first face 102 flat, being arranged concentrically with respect to said openings.

[0032] Referring to Figures 5 and 7, the water outlet housing 110 is attached to the cylinder head 100 by means of a plurality of screws 103 passing through the second flat wall 111 of said housing 110 and the first flat face 102 of said cylinder head 100. Tightening these screws 103 brings the second flat wall 111 closer to the first flat face 102, this bringing together compressing the two O-rings 115 inserted in the annular grooves 115 between the second flat wall 111 and the first flat face 102. The final attachment of the water outlet housing 110 to the cylinder head 100 corresponds to the contact between the second flat wall 111 and the first flat face 102. Among the fixing screws 103, a specific screw 116 is placed between the two O-rings 115, being equidistant from said two O-rings 115 to accentuate in a balanced way the clamping pressure exerted on said two O-rings 115.It should be noted that all the fixing screws 103, 116 are parallel and extend perpendicularly to the first flat face 102 of the cylinder head 100 and to the second wall 111 of the water outlet housing 110.

[0033] Since in a vehicle according to the invention, it is no longer necessary to force sealing balls 5 into the lubrication channels 104, said channels 104 no longer need to undergo special machining to retain said balls 5. As a result, the cylinder head 100 of a vehicle according to the invention is easy and quick to machine without requiring significant manufacturing time and therefore without generating additional costs. Furthermore, since the means for sealing the two lubrication channels 104 is represented by the second flat wall 111 of the water outlet housing 110, it is safer and more effective than the sealing balls 5 currently used, because it is larger than said balls 5 and therefore does not risk moving over time, unlike the latter.

Claims

Demands

1. A vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a water outlet housing (10, 110) for bringing said engine to an optimal operating temperature, and a cylinder head (1, 100) to which said water outlet housing (10, 110) is attached, characterized in that the cylinder head (100) has a first flat face (102) into which at least one internal lubrication channel (104) opens, and the water outlet housing (10, 110) has a second flat face (111) which is in contact with said first flat face (102), in that a sealing element (115) is inserted between the first flat face (102) of the cylinder head (100) and the second flat face (111) of the water outlet housing (110) around an opening forming an outlet of said at least one lubrication channel. (104) in the first flat face (102), so that the second flat face (111) of the water outlet housing (110) hermetically seals said at least one lubrication channel (104),thanks to compression of the sealing element (115) between said two faces (102, 111), and in that the cylinder head (100) has two parallel lubrication channels (104) extending perpendicularly to the first flat face (102) of the cylinder head (100) and opening into said first face (102).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that a closed groove is made in one of the two elements to be chosen from the first flat face (102) and the second flat face (111), and in that the sealing element (115) is inserted in said groove.

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the groove is made in the second flat face (111) of the water outlet housing (110), and in that said groove is annular.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing element (115) is an O-ring.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two lubrication channels (104) are straight and cylindrical, and in that each has a constant diameter along its entire length.

6. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the water outlet housing (110) is fixed to the cylinder head (100) by means of a screw (116) passing through the first flat face (102). of the cylinder head (100) and the second flat face (111) of the water outlet housing (110), and in that said screw (116) is equidistant from the two lubrication channels (104) so ​​as to homogenize the compression of the two sealing elements (115) relating to said two lubrication channels (104).

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