Cylinder Block Load Path Structure for Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cylinder blocks for internal combustion engines require additional material near fasteners to enhance strength, leading to increased weight and cost, which negatively impacts fuel efficiency and engine desirability.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a load path structure with support ribs that distribute forces along non-linear paths within the cylinder block, minimizing material volume and weight while maintaining structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If additional material is added near fasteners to enhance strength, then the strength of the cylinder block is improved, but the weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestrengthVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding material selectively only in regions where fasteners are located and where loads are transmitted, rather than uniformly throughout the entire cylinder block. This localized material addition provides the necessary strength at critical points while minimizing unnecessary weight elsewhere in the block.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the reinforcement strategy by creating discrete material additions around each fastener location rather than using a continuous thickening approach. This segmentation allows precise targeting of material to specific load paths, optimizing the balance between strength and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If additional material is added near fasteners to enhance strength, then the strength of the cylinder block is improved, but the production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestrengthVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing local quality through selective material addition only at fastener locations, the patent reduces overall material consumption compared to uniform thickening approaches. This selective material usage directly lowers material costs while maintaining the necessary strength at critical fastener regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If additional material is added near fasteners to enhance strength, then the structural integrity is improved, but the fuel efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidfuel efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The local quality approach provides the necessary structural integrity at fastener locations through targeted material addition, while avoiding unnecessary material weight throughout the rest of the block. This selective reinforcement maintains strength where needed without the penalty of excessive overall weight that would reduce fuel efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250059930A1Cylinder block and internal combustion engine system

Publication Date: 2025.02.20 CUMMINS INC

AI summary

A cylinder block includes a cylinder block body and a load path structure. The cylinder block body defines a first cylinder block upper bore. The load path structure includes a first support rib having a first support rib body interfacing with the first cylinder block upper bore. The load path structure is configured to transfer a load from the first cylinder block upper bore along a non-linear path within the cylinder block body away from the first cylinder block upper bore.