Offset Temperature-Responsive Valves for Marine Engine Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional temperature-responsive valves in marine engines have large-diameter flow passages, making it difficult to achieve fine control over cooling water discharge flow, and are prone to thermal cycling, especially in cold water applications, necessitating improved systems with independently-mounted valves having staggered opening temperatures and varying opening rates to minimize size, weight, and thermal cycling.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of first and second temperature-responsive valves with staggered opening temperatures and varying opening rates, along with a pressure-responsive bypass valve, to provide fine control over cooling water discharge, reduce thermal cycling, and optimize packaging in marine engines, allowing for improved cooling flow control and reduced size and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional temperature-responsive valves with large-diameter flow passages are used, then the valve structure is simple, but fine control over cooling water discharge flow cannot be achieved and thermal cycling occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidvalve structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single valve function into multiple independent temperature-responsive valves (first valve at 70°C, second valve at 80°C). Each valve has smaller flow passages and handles specific temperature ranges, enabling fine control over cooling water discharge while maintaining simple individual valve structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If multiple temperature-responsive valves with staggered opening temperatures are implemented, then thermal cycling is reduced and fine control is achieved, but the number of valves and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal cycling stabilityVSAvoidnumber of valves

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each temperature-responsive valve is designed with specific local characteristics (first valve opens at 70°C, second valve opens at 80°C) to handle different temperature ranges. This local differentiation stabilizes the cooling system by preventing thermal cycling while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized valve designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If independently-mounted valves with varying opening rates are used, then cooling flow control is optimized, but packaging space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling flow control efficiencyVSAvoidpackaging space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The valves are independently mounted on different banks of the V-configuration engine, utilizing the three-dimensional engine architecture. This spatial arrangement optimizes cooling flow control for each bank while efficiently utilizing available packaging space, avoiding the need for a larger centralized valve assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 configuration enables finer control over cooling water discharge, reduces thermal cycling, and achieves uniform cooling of the engine by allowing for independent adjustment of valve opening rates and temperatures, improving operational efficiency and reducing size and weight.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature-responsive valve having an inlet that receives the cooling water flow and having an outlet that discharges the cooling water flow to an environment external to the marine engine. The temperature-responsive valve includes a temperature-responsive element that responds to a temperature of the cooling water to open and close the temperature-responsive valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

first and second cooling water passages that convey cooling water in parallel alongside the first and second banks of piston-cylinders, respectively

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10890097B1Cooling systems for marine engines having offset temperature-responsive discharge valves

Publication Date: 2021.01.12 BRUNSWICK CORP

AI summary

A marine engine has first and second banks of piston-cylinders, and first and second cooling water passages that convey cooling water in parallel alongside the first and second banks of piston-cylinders, respectively. A cooling water pump pumps the cooling water through the first and second cooling water passages. A first temperature-responsive valve is configured to discharge the cooling water from both of the first and second cooling water passages when the cooling water reaches a first temperature threshold. A second temperature-responsive valve is configured to discharge the cooling water from both of the first and second cooling water passages when the cooling water reaches a second temperature threshold that is greater than the first temperature threshold.