CYLINDER LINER HAVING A FLANGE WITH A VARIED DIAMETER

A cylinder liner is disclosed. The cylinder liner may include a generally cylindrical body having a top end and a bottom end. The cylinder liner may include a flange connected to the generally cylindrical body at the top end of the generally cylindrical body. The flange may have an annular surface. A first diameter of a top portion of the annular surface may be less than a second diameter of a bottom portion of the annular surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a cylinder liner and, more particularly, to a cylinder liner having a flange with a varied diameter.

BACKGROUND

Many components of an internal combustion engine, such as a multi-cylinder diesel or gasoline engine, are subjected to high loads and/or wear during operation of the engine. For example, an engine block and/or a cylinder bore of the engine block may experience loads from combustion events occurring within combustion chambers formed by the cylinder head, pistons, and cylinder bores of the engine block. As a result, cylinder bores of the engine block may include a cylinder liner in which the piston reciprocates (e.g., to protect the cylinder bore from stresses experienced during combustion events). A cylinder liner may be adapted for one or more uses and/or functions by varying the design of the cylinder liner.

One attempt to adapt a cylinder liner (e.g., via a flange with a varied diameter) is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0084193 published on Mar. 24, 2016 (“the '193 application”). In particular, the '193 application discloses a cylinder liner having a flange with an annular groove. The annular groove is formed in the outer annular surface of the flange at an axial location about midway through the axial thickness of the flange. The disclosed cylinder liner may be used in any application where it is desired to increase the reliability and operating life of the associated engine. The disclosed cylinder liner may increase reliability and operating life by enhancing sealing and improving contact pressure consistency at an interface between the cylinder liner and an associated engine block. This enhanced sealing may be provided by increasing flexibility in the flange of the cylinder liner by way of an annular groove.

While the cylinder liner of the '193 application may enhance sealing and improve contact pressure consistency at an interface between the cylinder liner and an associated engine block, other designs of a cylinder liner having a flange with a varied diameter may facilitate other functions and/or uses of the cylinder liner.

The cylinder liner of the present disclosure provides one or more uses that are different than what is set forth above in the art.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure is related to a cylinder liner. The cylinder liner may include a generally cylindrical body having a top end and a bottom end. The cylinder liner may include a flange connected to the generally cylindrical body at the top end of the generally cylindrical body. The flange may have an annular surface. A first diameter of a top portion of the annular surface may be less than a second diameter of a bottom portion of the annular surface.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is related to a combustion engine. The combustion engine may include an engine block that at least partially defines a plurality of cylinder bores. The combustion engine may include a cylinder liner assembly, within one of the plurality of cylinder bores. The cylinder liner assembly may include a generally cylindrical body having a top end and a bottom end. The generally cylindrical body may have a cylinder liner wall that defines a cylinder liner bore. The cylinder liner assembly may include a flange connected to the generally cylindrical body at the top end of the generally cylindrical body. The flange may have an annular surface. A first diameter of a top portion of the annular surface may be less than a second diameter of a bottom portion of the annular surface. The flange may have a gasket recess configured for a gasket. The combustion engine may include a cylinder head configured to, in combination with the gasket and using one of a plurality of counter bores in the cylinder head, seal the one of the plurality of cylinder bores.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is related to a cylinder liner assembly. The cylinder liner assembly may include a generally cylindrical body having a top end and a bottom end. The cylinder liner assembly may include a flange connected to the generally cylindrical body at the top end of the generally cylindrical body. The flange may have an annular surface. A first diameter of a top portion of the annular surface may be less than a second diameter of a bottom portion of the annular surface. A cylinder liner wall of the generally cylindrical body and the flange may define a cylinder liner bore. The cylinder liner assembly may include a gasket recess in a top surface of the flange. The cylinder liner assembly may include a gasket in the gasket recess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to a cylinder liner. The cylinder liner has universal applicability to any machine utilizing such a cylinder liner. The term “machine” may refer to any machine that performs an operation associated with an industry such as, for example, mining, construction, farming, transportation, or any other industry. As some examples, the machine may be a vehicle, a backhoe loader, a cold planer, a wheel loader, a compactor, a feller buncher, a forest machine, a forwarder, a harvester, an excavator, an industrial loader, a knuckleboom loader, a material handler, a motor grader, a pipelayer, a road reclaimer, a skid steer loader, a skidder, a telehandler, a tractor, a dozer, a tractor scraper, or other paving or underground mining equipment. Moreover, one or more implements may be connected to the machine and driven from an engine that includes a cylinder liner.

FIG. 1is a diagram100of an example engine block of an engine. For example,FIG. 1shows an engine block102of an engine. Engine block102can also be referred to as a cylinder block. Engine block102may, for example, be constructed of cast iron, aluminum, magnesium, stainless steel, or any other suitable material. Engine block102may be used in compression ignition engines or spark ignited engines that are utilized to power a machine.

Engine block102may be made from a one-piece casting and may include an upper section104and a lower section106. The upper section104may include a variety of openings on a top deck108, such as cylinder bores114, attachment bores110, and fluid passages112. Although six-cylinder bores114are shown, engine block102may include any number of cylinder bores114depending on the configuration of the engine being utilized. A cylinder head (not shown inFIG. 1) may be attached to engine block102by using, for example, a plurality of attaching bolts received within the corresponding number of attachment bores110. The cylinder head may seal cylinder bores114, thus creating combustion chambers within engine block102, and may additionally provide a structure for supporting intake and exhaust valves and/or ports, fuel injectors, linkages, and other components that are used to combust the fuel. As further shown, upper section104of engine block102may include a plurality of fluid passages112, such as water passages, circumferentially spaced around cylinder bore114. Any number of fluid passages112may be provided throughout engine block102and may be formed within the inner portion of engine block102(e.g., of lower section106and upper section104) and may open through top deck108. Fluid passages112may form a water jacket or another similar cooling system for controlling circulation of cooling fluids and may provide proper cooling of engine block102.

As indicated above,FIG. 1is provided as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described in connection withFIG. 1. In some implementations, engine block102may include additional elements, fewer elements, different elements, or differently arranged elements than those shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 2is a diagram200of an example top deck of the engine block ofFIG. 1. For example,FIG. 2shows a top-view of an example configuration of top deck108of engine block102(e.g., a configuration of cylinder bore114and corresponding attachment bores110and fluid passages112of top deck108).

In some implementations, a cylinder liner, described herein, may be installed in cylinder bore114. In this configuration, when engine block102is not counter-bored for a flange of a cylinder liner (or where the cylinder liner is used with a counter-bored cylinder head), a bottom edge of the flange of the cylinder liner may contact a top surface of top deck108, as described elsewhere herein.

As indicated above,FIG. 2is provided as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described in connection withFIG. 2. In some implementations, top deck108may include additional elements, fewer elements, different elements, or differently arranged elements than those shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 3is a diagram300of an example cylinder liner having a flange with a varied diameter. For example,FIG. 3shows various views of the cylinder liner (or a cylinder liner assembly).

Reference number302shows a side view of cylinder liner304. For example, cylinder liner304may include a cylinder liner to be used in engine block102(e.g., that is configured for a counter-bored cylinder head, that includes a straight bored cylinder bore114, and/or the like). In some implementations, cylinder liner304may include a generally cylindrical cylinder liner body306. Cylinder liner body306may include a top end and a bottom end and cylinder liner304may include a flange308connected to cylinder liner body306at the top end of cylinder liner body306. In some implementations, flange308may be generally cylindrical, similar to cylinder liner body306. A bottom surface of flange308may contact a top surface of engine block102when cylinder liner304is installed in cylinder bore114of engine block102, as described elsewhere herein. In addition, a top surface of flange308may include a gasket (e.g., in a gasket recess of the top surface), which in combination with the top surface of flange308, may contact a cylinder head to form and/or seal a combustion chamber when the cylinder head is mounted to engine block102.

Flange308may include an annular surface (e.g., an outer surface of flange308). Reference numbers310through314show various portions of the annular surface. For example, the annular surface may include a top portion310and a bottom portion312. As further shown inFIG. 3, a diameter of top portion310may be less than a diameter of bottom portion312. For example, the diameter of top portion310may be between approximately 98.5 percent and approximately 99.5 percent of the diameter of bottom portion312. In other words, the diameter of bottom portion312may be between approximately 1.015 times and approximately 1.005 times larger than the diameter of top portion310. In some implementations, the respective diameters of top portion310and bottom portion312may be substantially constant around a circumference of flange308. In some implementations, the diameter of top portion310may be configured to accommodate a portion of a cylinder head when cylinder liner304is installed in engine block102and the cylinder head is mounted to engine block102. As a result, the relative diameters of flange308may be different from that described above.

In some implementations, and as further shown inFIG. 3, the annular surface of flange308may include a middle portion314. For example, middle portion314may be between top portion310and bottom portion312. In some implementations, middle portion314may connect top portion310and bottom portion312. In some implementations, a diameter of middle portion314may not be constant around a circumference of flange308. For example, middle portion314may have a variable diameter that is approximately a same diameter as the diameter of top portion310at one end of middle portion314(e.g., the end that connects to top portion310) and approximately a same diameter as the diameter of bottom portion312at another end of middle portion314(e.g., the end that connects to bottom portion312) to provide a sloping transition between the diameter of top portion310and the diameter of bottom portion312.

WhileFIG. 3shows flange308as including middle portion314to provide a sloping transition between the diameter of top portion310and the diameter of bottom portion312, flange308may be configured in a different manner. For example, flange308may not include middle portion314. In this case, the diameter of top portion310may transition to the diameter of bottom portion312in a step manner (e.g., where top portion310is directly connected to bottom portion312). In some implementations, and as another example, rather than providing a sloping transition between top portion310and bottom portion312, middle portion314may provide a stepping transition between top portion310and bottom portion312(e.g., where a set of sub-portions of middle portion314have different diameters between the diameter of top portion310and bottom portion312. In some implementations, and as another example, flange308may include a single portion that transitions from a first diameter at a top end of flange308to second diameter at a bottom end of flange308(e.g., in a sloping manner).

Although flange308is described as having different portions, in practice, flange308may be a single element (e.g., cast as a single element separate from, or in combination with, cylinder liner body306). Conversely, the different portions described with regard to flange308may be cast as separate elements and attached to each other and/or cylinder liner body306via welding, use of an adhesive, and/or the like.

Reference number316shows a cross-sectional view of cylinder liner304. As shown, cylinder liner304further includes cylinder liner wall318that forms the generally cylindrical shape of cylinder liner body306and/or flange308. In some implementations, cylinder liner304may include a cylinder liner bore320(e.g., formed by cylinder liner wall318). In some implementations, cylinder liner bore320may be a generally cylindrical cavity in which a piston (not shown) of an engine may move when cylinder liner304is installed in engine block102and the engine is driving the piston.

As indicated above,FIG. 3is provided as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described in connection withFIG. 3. In some implementations, cylinder liner304may include additional elements, fewer elements, different elements, or differently arranged elements than those shown inFIG. 3. Further, a simplified version of cylinder liner304is shown in and/or described in connection withFIG. 3for illustrative and/or explanatory purposes. For example, cylinder liner304may include various bands, gaskets, seals, inserts, and/or recesses to receive any of the aforementioned elements, and/or the like not shown in and/or described in connection withFIG. 3. In addition, the elements shown inFIG. 3may not be shown to scale. For example, the relative size of elements of cylinder liner304may have been exaggerated to emphasize features of the elements and/or for illustrative and/or explanatory purposes.

FIG. 4is a diagram400of a cross-sectional view of an engine block with cylinder liner ofFIG. 3installed therein. For example,FIG. 4shows a cross-sectional view of engine block102with cylinder liner304installed therein (e.g., in cylinder bore114of engine block102). ForFIG. 4, assume that cylinder bore114of engine block102is not counter-bored to accommodate flange308(e.g., may be straight bored). In this case, a counter-bored cylinder head (not shown inFIG. 4) would be used in association with the particular engine block102shown inFIG. 4.

As shown by reference number402, cylinder liner304may be configured such that a bottom surface of flange308contacts a top surface of engine block102when cylinder liner304is installed in cylinder bore114of engine block102. In some implementations, and as further shown by reference number402, flange308may be above the top surface of engine block102while cylinder liner body306is within cylinder bore114(e.g., to cause flange308to be positioned to create a seal with a cylinder head). As described in more detail below, the configuration of the diameters of top portion310and bottom portion312of flange308provide different clearance paths for a cylinder head (not shown inFIG. 4). For example, the smaller diameter of top portion310allows for a smaller diameter cylinder head and/or a tighter clearance path of the cylinder head with cylinder liner bore320, relative to the diameter of bottom portion312.

As indicated above,FIG. 4is provided as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described in connection withFIG. 4. Similar to that described elsewhere herein,FIG. 4may show a simplified and/or exaggerated version of various elements for illustrative and/or explanatory purposes. The number and arrangement of elements shown inFIG. 4are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional elements, fewer elements, different elements, or differently arranged elements than those shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 5is a diagram500of another cross-sectional view of the engine block ofFIG. 4with the cylinder liner ofFIG. 3installed therein. For example,FIG. 5shows another cross-sectional view of engine block102with cylinder liner304installed therein.FIG. 5shows multiple cylinder liners304installed in respective cylinder bores114of engine block102with a cylinder head (or cylinder heads) installed on engine block102.

As shown inFIG. 5, gasket502may be installed in a recess of flange308. As further shown inFIG. 5, cylinder head504may be installed on engine block102to seal cylinder bore114and/or cylinder liner bore320, such as to form a combustion chamber. In some implementations, cylinder head504may include a mounting guide506that is around top portion310of the annular surface of flange308when cylinder head504is installed on engine block102. For example, mounting guide506may be a ringed lip that can aid a technician in mounting cylinder head504on engine block102and/or may help to seal cylinder bore114and/or cylinder liner bore320. In some implementations, mounting guide506may define, or be associated with, a counter bore of cylinder head504(e.g., a counter bore in which top portion310of flange308is to be sealed). As shown by reference number508, the smaller diameter of top portion310allows for a smaller diameter of mounting guide506and/or additional clearance for mounting guide506relative to the diameter of bottom portion312. This in turn facilitates a tighter pitch between adjacent cylinder liners304and/or adjacent cylinder bores114.

As indicated above,FIG. 5is provided merely as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described with regard toFIG. 5. Similar to that described elsewhere herein,FIG. 5may show a simplified and/or exaggerated version of various elements for illustrative and/or explanatory purposes. The number and arrangement of elements shown inFIG. 5are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional elements, fewer elements, different elements, or differently arranged elements than those shown inFIG. 5.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The disclosed cylinder liner304may be used with any engine block102, where cylinder bores114of engine block102are configured such that flange308does not rest in (or entirely in) cylinder bore114. By including a smaller diameter top portion310of flange308relative to bottom portion312of flange308, cylinder liner304facilitates a tighter pitch between adjacent cylinder bores114, a tighter pitch between adjacent cylinder liners304when installed in engine block102, and/or the like. For example, the smaller diameter of top portion310may facilitate a tighter draft of mounting guide506to cylinder bore114and/or cylinder liner bore320. This, in turn, can facilitate a smaller dimension engine block102while maintaining a quantity of cylinders bores114in engine block102, a higher quantity of cylinder bores114while maintaining a size of engine block102, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, this can facilitate tighter sealing of a combustion chamber, can reduce costs associated with manufacturing cylinder head504(e.g., via a smaller cylinder head504), and/or the like.

Further, this facilitates use of cylinder liner304with different sized engines102(e.g., engines102that may have different amounts of pitch between cylinder bores114), that may be associated with different sized cylinder heads504(e.g., cylinder heads504that have different load paths), and/or the like. Further, cylinder liner304may facilitate conservation of space in an engine compartment of a vehicle by facilitating use of a smaller sized cylinder head504(e.g., relative to another cylinder head504that would be used with another cylinder liner that includes another flange with a diameter that is the same at the top of the flange as at the bottom of the flange), by facilitating use of a smaller engine block (e.g., via a tighter configuration of cylinder bores114), and/or the like without compromising a diameter of cylinder bore114.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. It is intended that the specification be considered as an example only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents. Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.