Cylinder Head Connecting Assembly with Segmented Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for fastening intake or exhaust manifolds to cylinder heads require significant space and mounting effort due to the need for screws or clamping apparatuses near channel openings, limiting design freedom and increasing production complexity.
Innovation Solution
The air- or gas-conducting parts are fastened to the cylinder block rather than the cylinder head, with a spatially and functionally separate fastening device, using a flexible sealing element that compensates for movements and deformations, allowing for reduced clamping forces and separate sealing and fastening functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screws or clamping apparatuses are arranged in direct vicinity to channel openings to generate high pressing forces, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but mounting space requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function and sealing function are segmented into separate components: a fastening device with multiple fastening elements for mechanical attachment, and a separate sealing element for gas-tight connection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing the space required for mounting while maintaining both sealing effectiveness and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A membrane element acts as an intermediary between the fastening device and the air- or gas-conducting part, transmitting the fastening forces generated by the fastening elements to the components being joined. This intermediary enables force transmission without requiring direct adjacency of fasteners to channel openings, thereby reducing mounting space requirements.
2Strength
If threaded bores are provided on the cylinder head for fastening, then fastening strength is improved, but production effort and design freedom of water cooling jacket are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into a separate fastening device that can be attached to the cylinder block without requiring threaded bores in the cylinder head. This eliminates the need for complex threading operations on the cylinder head, reducing production effort while maintaining fastening strength through the separate fastening mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening function is extracted from the cylinder head structure itself and implemented through a separate fastening device. This extraction eliminates the need to modify the cylinder head with threaded bores, thereby simplifying manufacturing processes and preserving design freedom for the water cooling jacket while still providing adequate fastening strength.
3Reliability
If screws are provided for fastening air- or gas-conducting parts, then connection reliability is improved, but required mounting space and accessibility requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into a fastening device with multiple distributed fastening elements and a separate sealing element. This segmentation allows the fastening elements to be positioned at locations that are more accessible for mounting operations, while the sealing element ensures gas-tight connection, thereby improving both accessibility and connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane element serves as an intermediary that transmits fastening forces from the fastening device to the air- or gas-conducting part. This intermediary enables the use of fastening elements positioned at more accessible locations, improving mounting accessibility while maintaining connection reliability through effective force transmission.
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 reduces the required space and mounting effort, enhances reliability and durability, and promotes gas flow while minimizing vibration excitations, allowing for easier access and improved thermomechanical fatigue resistance.
Implementation Method 1
Only relatively low clamping forces are required as a result of the deformation of the sealing element, the cylinder head and the air- or gas-conducting part.
Data Source
AI summary
An internal combustion engine having a connecting assembly for a cylinder head (2) includes at least one air- or gas-conducting part (4) that connects to at least one flow opening (3a) of the cylinder (2), in particular an exhaust manifold (5) or an intake manifold, and a sealing element (9) disposed between the air- or gas-conducting part (4) and the cylinder head (2). In order to reduce the assembly complexity and save installation space, at least one fastening means (7) for the air- or gas-conducting part (4) is disposed spatially separate from the sealing element (9).