Piston Dome Cooling Passages Using Connecting Rod Oil Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reciprocating engines lack effective cooling of piston domes, as lubrication oil does not provide significant thermal management during operation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a fluid passage system within the connecting rods and crankshaft to circulate lubrication fluid through cooling passages within the piston domes, with fluid pumps and heat exchangers to enhance heat transfer and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubrication oil is sprayed onto the piston dome, then lubrication is provided for the piston dome sliding along the cylinder, but significant cooling of the piston dome is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The piston dome is segmented into multiple cooling zones with separate cooling passages receiving lubrication oil from different ports. This allows targeted cooling of specific high-temperature areas while maintaining lubrication coverage, resolving the contradiction between lubrication effectiveness and cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubrication oil system is designed to serve dual functions: lubrication and cooling. By routing lubrication oil through integrated cooling passages within the piston dome structure, the same fluid provides both protective lubrication film formation and thermal management, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems.
2Temperature
If a fluid passage system is incorporated within connecting rods and crankshaft to circulate lubrication fluid through cooling passages, then cooling capacity of piston domes is increased, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling passages are merged with the existing lubrication oil pathways in the connecting rod and crankshaft. The same fluid channels that deliver lubrication oil to bearing surfaces are extended or branched to also reach the piston dome cooling passages, combining two functions into a single integrated system rather than adding separate cooling infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubrication oil system serves itself by providing cooling function in addition to its primary lubrication role. The existing pump and oil circulation infrastructure automatically provides cooling to the piston domes as the oil flows through the integrated passages, without requiring additional pumps, valves, or control systems.
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 solution effectively increases the cooling capacity of piston domes, maintaining optimal operating temperatures and improving engine performance by utilizing the lubrication fluid for both lubrication and cooling purposes.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling passage in fluid communication with the inlet for circulating the fluid through the piston dome
Implementation Method 2
The solution effectively increases the cooling capacity of piston domes, maintaining optimal operating temperatures
Implementation Method 3
a fluid pump coupled to and driven by the crankshaft, the fluid pump configured to provide a flow of fluid to the fluid passage in the crankshaft
Implementation Method 4
Lubrication oil is routed to each of the cylinders and may be sprayed, e.g., onto a cold side of each of the piston domes. The lubrication oil provides lubrication for the piston domes sliding along the longitudinal direction of the respective cylinders.
Data Source
AI summary
A reciprocating engine includes a crankshaft and a connecting rod rotatably coupled to the crankshaft. The connecting rod defines a fluid passage extending along a length thereof. The reciprocating engine also includes a piston dome coupled to the connecting rod, the piston dome defining an inlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage of the connecting rod for receiving a fluid from the fluid passage of the connecting rod, a cooling passage in fluid communication with the inlet for circulating the fluid through the piston dome, and an exit in fluid communication with the cooling passage.