Cylinder Liner Void for O-Ring Groove Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internal combustion engine cylinder liners face issues with excessive temperature in the O-ring groove, leading to thermal degradation and external coolant leaks due to the material limitations of the sealant, which existing solutions do not adequately address beyond wear reduction.

Innovation Solution

A cylindrical sleeve with a void disposed on the top surface and extending behind the sealant groove to disrupt the thermal gradient, reducing temperatures within the groove and preventing sealant failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cylinder liner is operated under normal conditions, then the engine generates mechanical power, but the temperature within the O-ring groove exceeds material capabilities causing sealant failure and coolant leaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing joint reliabilityVSAvoidO-ring groove temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cylinder liner is segmented into multiple cooling channels that distribute coolant flow through the liner wall thickness. This segmentation allows targeted cooling of the O-ring groove region without requiring complete redesign of the entire cooling system, effectively reducing the temperature at the sealing joint while maintaining engine power generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cooling channels are strategically positioned to provide localized cooling at the O-ring groove region where temperature exceeds material capabilities. The cooling intensity is concentrated at this specific location rather than uniformly distributed, addressing the thermal problem at the sealing joint without unnecessary cooling elsewhere in the liner.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If traditional cylinder liner designs are used, then manufacturing is simple, but wear of the cylinder liner increases negatively impacting engine performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecylinder liner durabilityVSAvoidcylinder liner structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cylinder liner incorporates adjustable or variable cooling channels that can modify coolant flow characteristics based on operating conditions. This dynamic cooling capability allows the liner to adapt to varying thermal loads and wear conditions, extending liner durability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that integrates with traditional engine architectures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The void effectively reduces sealant groove temperatures, preventing thermal degradation and external coolant leaks by disrupting the thermal gradient, thereby enhancing the durability of the cylinder liner sealing joint.

Implementation Method 1

disrupting a thermal gradient of the cylinder liner using the void

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal gradient disruption: Temperature Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS9732698B2Temperature reducing channel

Publication Date: 2017.08.15 CATERPILLAR INC

AI summary

A cylinder liner for an engine is disclosed. The cylinder liner may include a cylindrical sleeve with an inner surface and an outer surface extending axially from a first end to a second end. The cylinder liner may also include a void disposed in the first end and concentric to the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve.