Water Jacket Spacer Conversion Portion for Cylinder Block Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cooling structures for internal combustion engine cylinder blocks, where a water jacket spacer is used, lead to increased viscosity of lubricating oil due to effective cooling of the inner wall, resulting in deteriorated fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cylinder block design incorporating a water jacket spacer with a conversion portion that uses the pressure of coolant to push the spacer plate toward the inner side, minimizing the gap between the spacer and the inner wall, thereby reducing coolant flow and maintaining oil viscosity, and a coupling method involving extension pieces that pivot to separate the spacer plates, preventing contact with the inner and outer walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a water jacket spacer is disposed inside the water jacket to cool the inner wall, then the cooling effect is improved, but the lubricating oil viscosity increases and fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The water jacket spacer is designed with a flexible structure that can dynamically adjust its position. The spacer plate can move in the radial direction to change the gap size between the spacer and the inner wall, allowing the system to adapt between cooling effectiveness and energy efficiency based on operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap between the water jacket spacer and the inner wall is changed as a variable parameter rather than being fixed. By adjusting the gap size through the flexible spacer design, the cooling intensity can be modulated to prevent excessive oil viscosity increase while maintaining adequate cooling when needed.
2Loss of energy
If the water jacket spacer is made flexible to adjust the gap, then the coolant flow is reduced and oil viscosity is maintained, but the spacer structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The water jacket spacer utilizes a flexible plate structure that can deform elastically in response to pressure differential changes. This flexible membrane approach provides the necessary adaptability without requiring complex mechanical actuation systems, maintaining relatively simple construction while achieving the desired functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer structure serves itself by using the existing coolant pressure differential across the water jacket to automatically adjust its position. The pressure difference between the upstream and downstream sides of the spacer naturally drives the gap adjustment, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms or additional energy input.
3Temperature
If the spacer plate is pushed toward the inner side to minimize the gap, then the cooling effect is enhanced, but the friction increases and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer system dynamically adjusts the gap size based on real-time pressure differential conditions. When the upstream-downstream pressure difference increases, the spacer is automatically pushed toward the inner wall to reduce the gap and enhance cooling. When the pressure difference decreases, the gap increases to reduce friction and energy loss, optimizing the balance between cooling and efficiency.
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 design limits the increase in lubricating oil viscosity and reduces friction, thereby maintaining fuel efficiency and minimizing abrasion, while simplifying the structure and insertion process of the water jacket spacer.
Implementation Method 1
The conversion portion has an action surface on which a pressure of coolant flowing through the water jacket acts. The conversion portion is configured to convert a force applied to the action surface by the pressure of the coolant into a force pushing the spacer plate toward the inner side.
Data Source
AI summary
A cylinder block includes a water jacket surrounding a cylinder of an internal combustion engine and a water jacket spacer disposed inside the water jacket. In the cylinder block, a direction toward a center of the cylinder in a radial direction of the cylinder is defined as an inner side. A direction away from the center in the radial direction of the cylinder is defined as an outer side. The water jacket spacer includes a spacer plate and a conversion portion protruding from the spacer plate in the radial direction. The conversion portion has an action surface on which a pressure of coolant flowing through the water jacket acts. The conversion portion converts a force applied to the action surface by the pressure of the coolant into a force pushing the spacer plate toward the inner side.