Internal combustion engine and head gasket for internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine and a head gasket are provided. The internal combustion engine includes a block having at least one cylinder, a head joined to the block at a head interface, a cooling fluid circulation passage extending at least partially through the head and the block and having a first portion disposed in the head and a second portion disposed in the block, a head gasket having a plate extending across the head interface and separating the first portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage from the second portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage, and a plurality of orifices extending through the plate. The plurality of orifices is aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage and is configured to control a flow of cooling fluid circulating between the first portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage and the second portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage.

BACKGROUND

Internal combustion engines may include one or more cooling fluid circulation passages to allow a cooling fluid such as a coolant to flow through a block and a head of the engine. The engine may further include a head gasket to seal the connection or otherwise provide an interface between a cylinder head of the engine and a cylinder block of the engine. The cooling fluid circulation passage may extend from the block to the head, or vice versa, through or across the head gasket to provide flow of cooling fluid to the block and head. The cooling fluid circulation passage may include one or more curves or paths to circulate the cooling fluid to various portions of the head or other portions of the engine. It is desirable to configure the cooling fluid circulation passage, the head, and/or other portions or operation of the engine to direct the cooling fluid to the high temperature areas of the engine, such as, in a non-limiting example, the cooling fluid circulation passage surfaces in the head adjacent to the cylinder(s) of the engine.

SUMMARY

Various aspects of examples of the present disclosure are set out in the claims.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an internal combustion engine includes a block comprising at least one cylinder, a head joined to the block at a head interface, a cooling fluid circulation passage extending at least partially through the head and the block and comprising a first portion disposed in the head and a second portion disposed in the block, a head gasket comprising a plate extending across the head interface and separating the first portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage from the second portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage, and a plurality of orifices extending through the plate, wherein the plurality of orifices is aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage and is configured to control a flow of cooling fluid circulating between the first portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage and the second portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage.

The engine may further include a second plurality of orifices extending through the plate, and a second cooling fluid circulation passage extending at least partially through the head and the block and comprising a first portion disposed in the head and a second portion disposed in the block, wherein the second plurality of orifices is aligned with the second cooling fluid circulation passage and is configured to control a flow of cooling fluid circulating between the first portion of the second cooling fluid circulation passage and the second portion of the second cooling fluid circulation. The plurality of orifices may be aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage such that each of the plurality of orifices is contained within the cooling fluid circulation passage at the head interface. At least one of the plurality of orifices may be tangentially aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage. At least one of the plurality of orifices may comprise a circular shape. At least one of the plurality of orifices may comprise a rectangular shape. At least one of the plurality of orifices may comprise an oval shape. A first orifice of the plurality of orifices may be larger than a second orifice of the plurality of orifices. The first orifice and the second orifice may be aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage such that the first orifice is positioned closer to the at least one cylinder of the block than the second orifice.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a head gasket for an internal combustion engine includes a head and a block joined at a head interface and a cooling fluid circulation passage extending at least partially through the head and the block. The head gasket includes a plate extending across the head interface and configured to separate a first portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage disposed in the head from a second portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage disposed in the block, a plurality of orifices extending through the plate, wherein the plurality of orifices is configured to be aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage and control a flow of cooling fluid circulating between the first portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage and the second portion of the cooling fluid circulation passage.

The head gasket may further include a second plurality of orifices extending through the plate, wherein the second plurality of orifices is configured to be aligned with a second cooling fluid circulation passage and control a flow of cooling fluid circulating between a first portion of the second cooling fluid circulation passage and a second portion of the second cooling fluid circulation.

The plurality of orifices may be configured to be aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage such that each of the plurality of orifices is contained within the cooling fluid circulation passage at the head interface. At least one of the plurality of orifices may be configured to be tangentially aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage. At least one of the plurality of orifices may have a circular shape. At least one of the plurality of orifices may have a rectangular shape. At least one of the plurality of orifices may have an oval shape. A first orifice of the plurality of orifices may have a greater size than a second orifice of the plurality of orifices. The first orifice and the second orifice may be configured to be aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage such that the first orifice is positioned closer to a cylinder of the block than the second orifice.

The above and other features will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

Like reference numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout the several figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At least one embodiment of the subject matter of this disclosure is understood by referring toFIGS. 1 through 3of the drawings.

Referring now toFIG. 1, an enlarged cross-sectional view of an internal combustion engine10is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The engine10includes a block12and a head14joined to the block12at a head interface16by one or more fasteners (not shown). The block12further includes one or more cylinder(s)18having one or more piston(s)80and one or more intake and/or exhaust valves30.

The engine10further includes a cooling fluid circulation passage20extending at least partially through the head14and the block12and configured to direct cooling fluid34through the block12, the head14, and/or another part of the engine10. The cooling fluid circulation passage20includes a first portion22disposed in the head14and a second portion24disposed in the block12. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, the second portion24extends substantially parallel to the cylinder(s)18, and the first portion22of the passage20includes at least one curve40whereby the cooling fluid34initially flows parallel with the second portion24before flowing through the curve40and flowing at least partially across the head14. In additional embodiments not shown, the flow of the cooling fluid34is reversed such that the cooling fluid34flows from the head14to the block12. Further, in additional embodiments, the cooling fluid34is another heat exchanging fluid, such as a fluid that heats one or both of the block12and/or the head14.

The engine10further includes a head gasket26having a plate28. The plate28forms the main portion of the head gasket26and extends across the head interface16. The plate28of the head gasket26separates the first portion22of the cooling fluid circulation passage20from the second portion24of the cooling fluid circulation passage20. In an embodiment, the plate28is composed of metal, such as a stainless steel in a non-limiting example, but the plate28and/or any other portion of the head gasket26may include one or more other materials, such as a ceramic, polymer, elastomer, composite, and/or any combination thereof in additional non-limiting examples.

As shown inFIG. 1and in further detail inFIG. 2, the engine10and/or the head gasket26further includes a plurality of orifices32extending through the plate28. The orifices32are aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage20. In the illustrated embodiment, multiple orifices32are located within a single cooling fluid circulation passage20to form an array or grouping of orifices32. In an embodiment, the orifices32are vertically and/or axially aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage20such that the cooling fluid34flows through the orifices32while flowing through the cooling fluid circulation passage20.

In an additional embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 2, a second plurality of orifices44extends through the plate28. In the additional embodiment, a second cooling fluid circulation passage36extends at least partially through the head14and the block12. The second cooling fluid circulation passage36includes a first portion38disposed in the head14and a second portion (not shown) disposed in the block12. Although not illustrated, the second portion of the second cooling fluid circulation passage36may be illustrated identically as the second portion24of the cooling fluid circulation passage20in one embodiment. The second plurality of orifices44is aligned, such as vertically and/or axially aligned in particular embodiments, with the second cooling fluid circulation passage36. The second plurality of orifices44controls or is configured to control a flow of cooling fluid34circulating between the first portion38of the second cooling fluid circulation passage36and the second portion of the second cooling fluid circulation36. It will be appreciated that any number of pluralities of orifices or cooling fluid circulation passages are provided in the engine10and/or the head gasket26of additional embodiments of the present disclosure. Any feature or embodiment of the orifices32or cooling fluid circulation passage20may be applied to the orifices44or the second cooling fluid circulation passage36and vice versa.

The orifices32,44control or are configured to control a flow of cooling fluid34, such as, with regard to orifices32, circulating between the first portion22of the cooling fluid circulation passage20and the second portion24of the cooling fluid circulation passage20. In one or more embodiments, the number, size, arrangement, or other feature of the orifices32,44are configured to meter the cooling fluid34and/or restrict flow of the cooling fluid34to modulate pressure and/or flow of the cooling fluid34at the head14, the block12, and other portions of the engine10.

In an embodiment, as further shown inFIG. 2, one or more of the pluralities of orifices32,44is aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage20and/or the second cooling fluid circulation passage36such that each of the plurality of orifices32,44is contained within the cooling fluid circulation passage20or the second cooling fluid circulation passage36at the head interface16. In an embodiment, one or more of the orifices32,44of the pluralities of orifices32,44, such as the orifices82relative to passage36illustrated inFIG. 2, is tangentially aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage20and/or the second cooling fluid circulation passage36, or the edge of the one or more orifices32,44is directly aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage20and/or the second cooling fluid circulation passage36.

Referring now toFIG. 3with continued reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, various embodiments of the present disclosure include one or more orifices32,44having one or more shapes and/or sizes. In an embodiment, one or more of the orifices32,44includes a circular shape50. In an embodiment, one or more of the orifices32,44includes a slot, square, or otherwise rectangular shape52. In an embodiment, one or more of the orifices32,44includes an oval shape54. In additional embodiments, one or more orifices includes a combination of shapes, such as the combination56illustrated inFIG. 3, and/or any other shape or combination of shapes at any location and/or in any configuration in the orifice(s)32,44.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, a first orifice58of one or more of the pluralities of orifices32,44is larger than a second orifice60of the plurality of orifices32,44. The first orifice58and the second orifice60are aligned with the cooling fluid circulation passage20and/or the second fluid circulation passage36such that the first orifice58is positioned closer to the cylinder18of the block12than the second orifice60. Such sizing and positioning is provided in one or more embodiments to enhance heat transfer at one or more surfaces of the cooling fluid circulation passage20and/or the second fluid circulation passage36adjacent to or closer to combustion heat in the cylinder18.

Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, it will be appreciated that the engine10and/or the head gasket26of various embodiments described herein utilize orifices32,44located, arranged, sized, and/or otherwise configured to control cooling fluid impingement or flow to enhance heat transfer in the engine10. As shown inFIG. 1, the orifices32,44induce turbulent flow72of the cooling fluid34such that the cooling fluid34impinges on side surfaces70of the cooling fluid circulation passage20and/or the second fluid circulation passage36and, thereby, enhance heat transfer in the head14at a location adjacent to or closer to combustion heat in the cylinder18. Further, the orifices32,44are aligned with or located tangentially with or adjacent to the side surfaces70of the cooling fluid circulation passage20and/or the second fluid circulation passage36such that the cooling fluid34provides cooling at a location lower and, thereby, closer to combustion heat of the cylinder18.

As used herein, “e.g.” is utilized to non-exhaustively list examples and carries the same meaning as alternative illustrative phrases such as “including,” “including, but not limited to,” and “including without limitation.” As used herein, unless otherwise limited or modified, lists with elements that are separated by conjunctive terms (e.g., “and”) and that are also preceded by the phrase “one or more of,” “at least one of,” “at least,” or a like phrase, indicate configurations or arrangements that potentially include individual elements of the list, or any combination thereof. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” and “one or more of A, B, and C” each indicate the possibility of only A, only B, only C, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B, and C). As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, “comprises,” “includes,” and like phrases are intended to specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is not restrictive in character, it being understood that illustrative embodiment(s) have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the present disclosure are desired to be protected. Alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may devise their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.