Crankcase Water Jacket Layout for Space-Efficient Engine Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing internal combustion engines face challenges in optimizing installation space for water jackets, which limits the integration of additional functional sections due to the design of coolant flow paths between the crankcase and cylinder head water jackets.

Innovation Solution

The coolant flow is configured to enter and exit the crankcase water jacket at axially spaced points, allowing for a single outlet and enabling both longitudinal and transverse flow paths, thereby optimizing installation space and facilitating integration of further functional sections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the crankcase water jacket has multiple outlets with direct transfer to the cylinder head water jacket, then the cooling function is achieved, but the design requires more installation space and prevents integration of additional functional sections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling functionVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the direct transfer design from the water jacket system and replaces it with a centralized collector channel configuration. The coolant flows through the crankcase water jacket and is collected in a single location, eliminating the need for multiple direct transfer points to the cylinder head water jacket, thereby freeing installation space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple coolant flow paths into a single collector channel that consolidates the coolant collection from the crankcase water jacket. This single outlet design combines the function of multiple outlets while reducing the overall space requirement and enabling better integration with additional functional sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If the crankcase water jacket has multiple outlets for direct coolant transfer, then cooling is provided, but the design complexity increases and additional functional sections cannot be integrated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling functionVSAvoidwater jacket design

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex multi-outlet configuration and replaces it with a simplified single-outlet design using a collector channel. This reduces the design complexity of the water jacket system while maintaining the essential cooling function through the centralized collection and distribution approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Temperature

If coolant flows through multiple paths in the crankcase water jacket, then cooling coverage is improved, but installation space is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes hydraulic flow principles to achieve comprehensive cooling coverage through optimized coolant flow paths within the crankcase water jacket. The single outlet design with collector channel leverages fluid dynamics to distribute coolant effectively across the crankcase components, maintaining cooling efficiency without requiring additional installation space for multiple outlets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 configuration ensures efficient cooling and creates free installation space for additional components by allowing complete coolant flow through the crankcase water jacket, enhancing the engine's cooling efficiency and integration capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

internal combustion engines are subject to high thermal stress in the area of the crankcase and cylinder head. To reduce this thermal stress, modern internal combustion engines are water-cooled.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a coolant pump for supplying the crankcase water jacket and the cylinder head water jacket with a coolant volume flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS12404819B2Internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 DEUTZ AG

AI summary

An internal combustion engine includes a crankcase for rotatably supporting a crankshaft about a crankshaft longitudinal axis. The crankcase comprises a crankcase water jacket, a cylinder head which is connected to the crankcase and comprises a cylinder head water jacket, and a coolant pump for supplying the crankcase water jacket and the cylinder head water jacket with a coolant volume flow. The crankcase water jacket and the cylinder head water jacket are fluidly connected to one another in series. The crankcase water jacket is suppliable with the coolant volume flow by the coolant pump via a crankcase inlet, and the crankcase water jacket is designed such that the coolant volume flow is directed via a crankcase outlet and is transferred in the direction of the cylinder head water jacket. The crankcase inlet and the crankcase outlet are axially spaced apart. The crankcase inlet is arranged on a first longitudinal side of the crankcase.