Reciprocating engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11060479-B2
Application number	US-201715689440-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2017
Priority date	Aug 29, 2017
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

A reciprocating engine includes a crankshaft and a connecting rod rotatably coupled to the crankshaft. The connecting rod defines a fluid passage extending along a length thereof. The reciprocating engine also includes a piston dome coupled to the connecting rod, the piston dome defining an inlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage of the connecting rod for receiving a fluid from the fluid passage of the connecting rod, a cooling passage in fluid communication with the inlet for circulating the fluid through the piston dome, and an exit in fluid communication with the cooling passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reciprocating engine comprising:
a cylinder comprising a cylinder wall;
a crankshaft;
a connecting rod rotatably coupled to the crankshaft, the connecting rod defining a connecting rod fluid passage extending along a length thereof; and
a piston dome comprising a hot side and a cold side, the piston dome coupled to the connecting rod and positioned within the cylinder, the piston dome defining an inlet in fluid communication with the connecting rod fluid passage and configured to receive a fluid from the connecting rod fluid passage, a piston dome cooling passage in the form of a duct enclosed by the piston dome and configured to circulate the fluid in a set directional flow through the piston dome, such that the piston dome cooling passage extends through the piston dome from the inlet, toward the hot side, proximate the hot side, and from proximate the hot side toward at least one branch point at which the piston dome cooling passage divides so as to direct the fluid toward a plurality of exits defined by a plurality of nozzles disposed on the cold side of the piston dome, the plurality of nozzles configured to spray the fluid directly onto the cylinder wall.

2. The reciprocating engine of claim 1 , wherein the crankshaft defines a crankshaft fluid passage, and wherein the crankshaft fluid passage is fluidly coupled to the connecting rod fluid passage.

3. The reciprocating engine of claim 2 , wherein the connecting rod defines a first end and a second end, wherein the connecting rod is rotatably coupled to the crankshaft at the first end and coupled to the piston dome at the second end, and wherein the connecting rod fluid passage extends from the first end to the second end.

4. The reciprocating engine of claim 2 , wherein the crankshaft includes a crankpin journal, wherein the connecting rod includes an attachment end extending around the crankpin journal, wherein the crankpin journal defines at least one opening fluidly connected to the crankshaft fluid passage, wherein the attachment end defines an annulus in fluid communication with the connecting rod fluid passage and extending around the at least one opening to fluidly connect the crankshaft fluid passage to the connecting rod fluid passage.

5. The reciprocating engine of claim 1 , wherein the connecting rod is a first connecting rod defining a first connecting rod fluid passage, wherein the piston dome is a first piston dome defining a first inlet, a first piston dome cooling passage and a first plurality of exits defined by a first plurality of nozzles, and wherein the reciprocating engine further comprises:
a second connecting rod rotatably coupled to the crankshaft, the second connecting rod defining a second connecting rod fluid passage; and
a second piston dome coupled to the second connecting rod, the second piston dome defining a second inlet in fluid communication with the second connecting rod fluid passage, a second piston dome cooling passage, and a second plurality of exits defined by a second plurality of nozzles.

6. The reciprocating engine of claim 5 , wherein the crankshaft defines a crankshaft fluid passage, and wherein the crankshaft fluid passage is fluidly connected to each of the first connecting rod fluid passage and the second connecting rod fluid passage.

7. The reciprocating engine of claim 5 , wherein the crankshaft defines a first crankshaft fluid passage fluidly connected to the first connecting rod fluid passage, and wherein the crankshaft additionally defines a separate, second crankshaft fluid passage fluidly connected to the second connecting rod fluid passage.

8. The reciprocating engine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat exchanger configured to receive the fluid from the plurality of exits defined by the piston dome.

9. The reciprocating engine of claim 8 , further comprising:
an oil pan, wherein the heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the oil pan.

10. The reciprocating engine of claim 1 , wherein the hot side of the piston dome is configured to be exposed to combustion within the cylinder, and wherein the piston dome cooling passage extending proximate the hot side of the piston dome allows the fluid therein to accept heat from the hot side of the piston dome.

11. A piston assembly for a reciprocating engine including a crankshaft and a cylinder having a cylinder wall, the piston assembly comprising:
a connecting rod extending between a first end and a second end, the connecting rod defining a connecting rod fluid passage extending from the first end to the second end; and
a piston dome comprising a hot side and a cold side, the piston dome defining an inlet in fluid communication with the connecting rod fluid passage for receiving a fluid from the connecting rod fluid passage, a piston dome cooling passage in the form of a duct enclosed by the piston dome and configured to circulate the fluid in a set directional flow through the piston dome, such that the piston dome cooling passage extends through the piston dome from the inlet, toward the hot side, along the hot side, and from along the hot side toward at least one branch point at which the piston dome cooling passage divides so as to direct the fluid toward a plurality of exits disposed on the cold side of the piston dome, the plurality of exits configured to spray the fluid directly onto the cylinder wall.

12. The piston assembly of claim 11 , wherein the hot side of the piston dome is configured to be exposed to combustion within the cylinder, and wherein the piston dome cooling passage extending along the hot side of the piston dome allows the fluid therein to accept heat from the hot side of the piston dome.

13. The piston assembly of claim 11 , wherein the connecting rod is configured to be rotatably coupled to the crankshaft at the first end and coupled to the piston dome at the second end.

14. The piston assembly of claim 13 , wherein the connecting rod includes an attachment end at the first end, and wherein the attachment end defines an annulus in fluid communication with the connecting rod fluid passage and configured to extend around one or more openings defined in a crankpin journal of the crankshaft to fluidly connect a crankshaft fluid passage to the connecting rod fluid passage.

15. The piston assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of exits disposed on the cold side of the piston dome are defined by a plurality of spray nozzles.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Bellardi Jason Joseph
• Desrosiers Andrew Jean

Classifications

• F16C7/023

  for piston engines, pumps or the like · CPC title

• F02F3/22 Primary

  the fluid being liquid · CPC title

• F16C3/16

  Features relating to cooling · CPC title