Engine Support Structure Reinforcing Thermo-Valve Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing support structures for water-cooled internal combustion engines face reduced rigidity around the thermo-valve case when the size of the thermo-valve is increased to improve cooling performance, leading to potential structural weaknesses.
Innovation Solution
A support structure with a solidly formed support portion that integrates with the cylinder head and thermo-valve case, featuring reinforcing ribs and a support boss portion, which increases rigidity and includes a connecting wall and a thickness gradient for enhanced stability and assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the size of the thermo-valve is increased to improve cooling performance, then the cooling performance is improved, but the rigidity of the area around the thermo-valve case is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is segmented into multiple reinforcing ribs that radially extend from the support boss portion toward the thermo-valve case and cylinder head. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain rigidity while accommodating the larger thermo-valve case, as each rib provides localized reinforcement without requiring a complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portion extends in multiple spatial dimensions by having reinforcing ribs that radially extend in different directions. This multi-dimensional support structure reinforces the area around the thermo-valve case from multiple angles, compensating for the reduced rigidity caused by the larger thermo-valve size while maintaining cooling performance.
2Temperature
If the thermo-valve case is made larger to accommodate a larger thermo-valve, then the cooling performance is improved, but the protrusion from the cylinder head becomes greater
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion utilizes multi-dimensional spatial arrangement with reinforcing ribs extending radially in various directions. This allows the thermo-valve case to protrude further for improved cooling while the support structure compensates in other spatial dimensions, distributing the structural load and maintaining overall rigidity despite increased protrusion length.
3Strength
If reinforcing ribs are added to increase rigidity, then the strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is integrally molded with the cylinder head, merging the support structure with the existing component. This integration allows multiple reinforcing ribs to be added for increased rigidity without significantly increasing device complexity, as the support portion is formed as a single integrated structure rather than separate components requiring assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Reinforcing ribs are strategically positioned to radially extend from the support boss portion toward specific areas needing reinforcement. This localized reinforcement approach increases strength where needed while minimizing unnecessary structural complexity in other areas, optimizing the balance between strength and simplicity.
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 support structure effectively reinforces the area around the thermo-valve case, increases the overall strength, and improves assembly efficiency by reducing interference between components, while maintaining balanced support and rigidity.
Implementation Method 1
a support portion formed on the cylinder head is fixed to the body frame and is integrally molded so as to extend between the cylinder head and the thermo-valve case
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of reinforcing ribs are formed so as to radially extend from the support boss portion toward the thermo-valve case and the cylinder head
Implementation Method 3
a cooling device that circulates cooling water through an inside and an outside of at least a cylinder head of the water-cooled internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 4
a cooling device that circulates cooling water through an inside and an outside of at least a cylinder head of the water-cooled internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 5
a thermo-valve that controls the cooling water circulating in the cooling device
Data Source
AI summary
A support structure for a water-cooled internal combustion engine supported by a body frame of a motorcycle 2 includes a cooling device that circulates cooling water through an inside and an outside of at least a cylinder head of the engine, a thermo-valve that controls the cooling water circulating in the cooling device, and a thermo-valve case that accommodates the thermo-valve and that is integrally molded with the cylinder head such that a part thereof bulges from a side surface of the cylinder head. A support portion formed on the cylinder head is fixed to the body frame and is integrally molded so as to stride between the cylinder head and the thermo-valve case, whereby the support portion is solidly formed and an area around a thermo-valve case can be reinforced by the support portion.