Coolant Jacket Insert for Turbocharged Engine Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coolant distribution systems in turbocharged engines often result in uneven coolant distribution to cylinders, leading to premature degradation due to inadequate cooling, especially in the cylinder head and cylinder block, as coolant flow is delayed and unevenly distributed.

Innovation Solution

A coolant jacket insert with internal passages that direct coolant directly to the cylinder head and upper regions of the cylinder block, ensuring even distribution and increased coolant flow velocity to hotter areas, using a configuration of first, second, and third internal passages that promote coolant flow without mixing with coolant in the cylinder block.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If coolant flows through the coolant jacket in the cylinder block before reaching the cylinder head, then the cylinder block is cooled, but the coolant flow to the cylinder head is delayed resulting in inadequate cooling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoolant temperatureVSAvoidcoolant flow delay

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The coolant jacket is divided into two separate pathways: a first coolant jacket in the cylinder block and a second coolant jacket in the cylinder head. The insert provides separate internal passages that allow coolant to flow directly from the coolant inlet manifold to the second coolant jacket in the cylinder head, bypassing the need to flow through the entire first coolant jacket first. This segmentation enables independent cooling control for the cylinder head and cylinder block, eliminating the time delay in coolant delivery to the cylinder head.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If coolant enters the cylinder block via the coolant inlet manifold, then the cylinder block receives coolant, but uneven distribution occurs with leading cylinders receiving more coolant than trailing cylinders

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoolant distributionVSAvoidcoolant flow uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is provided with multiple separate internal passages (at least two internal passages) that are independently configured to deliver coolant to different regions. The first internal passage delivers coolant to a first region of the first coolant jacket, and the second internal passage delivers coolant to a second region of the second coolant jacket in the cylinder head. This local quality approach ensures each region receives adequate coolant flow independently, eliminating the uneven distribution where leading cylinders received more coolant than trailing cylinders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Temperature

If the cylinder head has greater cooling demands than the cylinder block, then the cylinder head requires more coolant flow, but the conventional path forces coolant to flow around the cylinder block first

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling demandVSAvoidcoolant flow speed

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The insert acts as an intermediary component with internal passages that provide a direct coolant delivery route from the coolant inlet manifold to the second coolant jacket in the cylinder head. This intermediary pathway bypasses the conventional route that forced coolant to flow around the cylinder block first, enabling rapid coolant delivery to the cylinder head where cooling demands are greatest. The insert effectively mediates between the coolant source and the high-demand cooling zone, ensuring adequate coolant flow speed and volume reach the cylinder head promptly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enhances cooling efficiency by ensuring even coolant distribution to all cylinders, reducing thermal stress and degradation, and effectively addressing the issues of uneven coolant flow and delayed cooling in turbocharged engines.

Implementation Method 1

a first internal passage configured to flow coolant directly to a portion of the coolant jacket in a head without mixing with coolant in the portion of the coolant jacket in the block

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

coolant may be quickly directed to hotter portions of an engine... reducing thermal stress and degradation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20210017895A1Coolant jacket insert

Publication Date: 2021.01.21 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

Methods and systems are provided for a coolant jacket insert. In one example, a system may include a coolant jacket arranged in a block comprising an insert with a first internal passage configured to direct coolant from an inlet manifold of the coolant jacket directly to a portion of the coolant jacket arranged in a cylinder head.