Engine Block Sealing Insert for Liner Strength and Reconditioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cylinder liners face challenges in balancing structural integrity and sealing effectiveness, particularly in the lower coolant sealing region, where incorporating sealing grooves can compromise liner structure and complicate reconditioning and reusability during engine overhauls.

Innovation Solution

A ring-shaped stainless steel insert with sealing grooves is used in the engine block, accommodating sealing rings that extend beyond the insert's inner surface, allowing for effective sealing without compromising the liner's structure and enabling cost-effective reconditioning by replacing the insert rather than machining sealing grooves into the block.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sealing grooves are incorporated in the liner, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but liner structure is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidliner structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is divided into two independent parts: the liner and the insert. The insert contains the sealing grooves and sealing rings, while the liner maintains its structural integrity. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be provided by the insert without compromising the liner structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing grooves and sealing rings are extracted from the liner and placed in a separate insert component. This extraction eliminates the need to machine grooves into the liner, preserving its structural strength while still providing effective sealing through the insert's sealing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If sealing grooves are accommodated in the liner, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but liner thickness becomes undesirable and reconditioning becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidliner thickness and reconditioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is segmented into the liner and a separate insert. The insert is designed with optimal thickness to accommodate sealing grooves and sealing rings, while the liner maintains its original thickness requirements for structural purposes. This segmentation resolves the conflict between sealing needs and liner thickness constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert is designed as a replaceable, lower-cost component compared to the liner. During engine reconditioning, the insert can be replaced without machining the liner, reducing overhaul costs and complexity. The insert serves as a sacrificial sealing component that can be economically replaced rather than permanently modifying the liner.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11578680B2Insert with sealing groove for engine block and systems, assemblies, components, and methods thereof

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 CATERPILLAR INC

AI summary

An insert for an engine block and systems, assemblies, components, and methods thereof can comprise a ring-shaped body having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The inner surface can having one or more sealing grooves adapted to receive and retain respective sealing rings. A maximum outer diameter of the ring-shaped body can be defined by the outer surface and can be greater than a height of the ring-shaped body in a longitudinal direction of the ring-shaped body.