V7 Engine Layout for Larger Bore and Non-Adjacent Firing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional internal combustion engines with eight cylinders face limitations in power output due to fixed cylinder configurations, which restrict the ability to increase bore diameters and intake flow, leading to suboptimal horsepower and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An internal combustion engine with seven combustion cylinders divided into two groups arranged at an angle, featuring larger bore diameters in six active cylinders and a smaller passive cylinder, allowing for increased intake flow and horsepower while maintaining engine balance through specific firing orders and counterbalance elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional V8 engine configuration is used, then engine size and capacity are maintained, but horsepower and power output are limited due to fixed cylinder configurations restricting bore diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engine divides the seven cylinders into two separate banks (Bank 1 with cylinders 1, 3, 5, 7 and Bank 2 with cylinders 2, 4, 6), arranged in a V-configuration at a 60-degree angle. This segmentation allows each bank to be optimized independently for intake flow and combustion efficiency, enabling larger bore diameters while maintaining structural balance and achieving higher horsepower output.
2Power
If larger bore diameters are implemented to increase power, then horsepower improves, but intake flow capacity becomes restricted in traditional configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The V-7 engine utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement with a 60-degree V-configuration, allowing larger bore diameters in the radial dimension while maintaining compact engine length in the axial dimension. This dimensional optimization enables increased intake flow capacity through larger valve openings and improved airflow paths without compromising engine size constraints.
3Productivity
If sequential firing of adjacent cylinders occurs, then combustion efficiency decreases due to exhaust back pressure, but firing order control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The engine implements a specific periodic firing order (1-5-3-6-2-4-7) that systematically sequences combustion events across all seven cylinders. This periodic action ensures that adjacent cylinders never fire sequentially, allowing exhaust gases to clear from one cylinder before the next adjacent cylinder fires, thereby minimizing exhaust back pressure and maximizing combustion efficiency through optimized gas flow timing.
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 V7 configuration achieves higher horsepower and improved fuel efficiency by enhancing intake flow and preventing sequential firing of adjacent cylinders, reducing exhaust back pressure and promoting volumetric efficiency, thus outperforming traditional V8 engines of the same size.
Implementation Method 1
A spark is provided to the compressed air-fuel mixture to generate a controlled burn of the air-fuel mixture
Implementation Method 2
The pressure resulting from the controlled burn or explosion drives the piston downward
Implementation Method 3
The crankshaft transforms the linear motion of the piston into rotational motion that can be output to a drive system
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for a combustion engine having an engine block with a V-shape, where eight cylinder passages form two banks of four passages. Each cylinder passage receives a piston from a set of pistons coupled to a crankshaft. Seven ignition devices couple to seven of the eight cylinder passages. Every 102.85 to 102.86 degrees of rotation of the crankshaft, one of the seven ignition devices trigger combustion.