Sodium-Filled Piston Cooling with a Pre-Sealed Coolant Container

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for filling coolant into pistons, particularly those with multiple skewed bores, are complex and prone to coolant leakage, making the production process difficult and error-prone.

Innovation Solution

A coolant container is pre-filled and sealed separately, then inserted into the piston, allowing for simpler piston manufacturing as it eliminates direct handling of coolant and provides options for closure and positioning to enhance heat transfer and dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the coolant is introduced directly into the space provided in the piston during manufacturing, then the cooling function is achieved, but the production process becomes complex and error-prone due to the need for careful handling and sealing of multiple skewed bores

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling functionVSAvoidproduction process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is divided into two independent parts: the piston structure and the coolant container. The coolant container is manufactured separately, filled with coolant, and sealed independently, then inserted into the piston as a complete unit. This segmentation eliminates the complexity of filling multiple skewed bores during piston manufacturing while ensuring reliable cooling functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coolant container is pre-filled and sealed with the coolant before insertion into the piston. This preliminary action of filling and sealing the coolant in a separate, controlled environment eliminates the risk of leakage during piston assembly and simplifies the manufacturing process, as no special precautions are needed during piston production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple skewed bores are provided in the piston for coolant introduction, then the cooling coverage is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring proper filling increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling coverageVSAvoidfilling process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The coolant container serves as an intermediary that encapsulates the coolant and delivers it to the piston in a controlled manner. Instead of directly filling multiple skewed bores, the pre-filled container is inserted as a complete unit, eliminating the difficulty of detecting and measuring proper filling in multiple orientations. The container itself becomes the measurement reference point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the coolant is handled directly during piston assembly, then the cooling system is integrated, but the risk of coolant leakage into the environment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem integrationVSAvoidcoolant leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coolant is extracted from the piston assembly process and contained in a separate, pre-sealed container. This extraction eliminates the risk of coolant leakage during piston manufacturing and assembly, as the coolant never leaves the controlled environment of the sealed container until the container itself is inserted into the piston.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The coolant container is designed as a separate, replaceable component that can be manufactured, filled, and sealed independently. If leakage occurs, only the container needs to be replaced rather than the entire piston, minimizing waste and cost while maintaining system integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 approach simplifies the production process, ensures effective heat transfer and dissipation, and maintains the coolant's gas-tight integrity, enabling efficient heat management in internal combustion engines.

Implementation Method 1

the coolant is to be introduced into the space provided in the piston... areas of the piston that are subjected to high temperatures by means of the alkali metal... heat can be better transferred to the coolant and can be dissipated in areas with significantly lower temperatures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3347585B1Cooling of a piston by means of sodium-filled tubes
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 KS KOLBENSCHMIDT GMBH
  • EP3347585B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3347585B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3347585B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a piston (1) of an internal combustion engine, comprising an upper part (2) having a ring zone (6) and piston skirt (3) adjoining the upper part (2), wherein at least one space (12) is formed in the piston (1), into which at least one space a coolant is introduced, wherein the coolant is introduced into a coolant container (13) and the coolant container (13) is inserted into the at least one space (12) in the piston (1).