Internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9810177-B2
Application number	US-201414760069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

An internal combustion engine and related components and methods of manufacturing and implementing an internal combustion engine and related components. The internal combustion engine includes a base, a cylinder block mounted onto the base, a cylinder head mounted onto the block, and a structural overhead member mounted onto the cylinder head, such that the cylinder head is positioned between the cylinder block and the structural overhead member. At least one through-bolt positioned in a through-bolt opening, the through-bolt opening extending from the base to the structural overhead member through the cylinder block and the cylinder head to couple the base, the cylinder block, the cylinder head and the structural overhead member together.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a base;
a cylinder block mounted onto the base;
a cylinder head mounted onto the block;
a structural overhead member removably mounted onto the cylinder head such that the cylinder head is positioned between the cylinder block and the structural overhead member, the structural overhead member defining apertures configured to receive and retain intake and exhaust cam shafts in a spaced apart relationship with the cylinder head; and
at least one through-bolt positioned in a through-bolt opening, the through-bolt opening extending from the base to the structural overhead member through the cylinder block and the cylinder head to couple the base, the cylinder block, the cylinder head and the structural overhead member together.

2. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein a base material of the base and a structural overhead member material of the structural overhead member have a higher-strength and higher specific weight than a cylinder block material of the cylinder block and a cylinder head material of the cylinder head.

3. The internal combustion engine of claim 2 , wherein the base material and the structural overhead member material include the same material.

4. The internal combustion engine of claim 2 , wherein the cylinder block material and the cylinder head material include the same material.

5. The internal combustion engine of claim 2 , wherein the base material and the structural overhead member material include different materials.

6. The internal combustion engine of claim 2 , wherein the cylinder block material and the cylinder head material include different materials.

7. The internal combustion engine of claim 2 , wherein the cylinder block material and the cylinder head material comprise aluminum, and wherein the base material and the structural overhead member material comprise at least one of iron and steel.

8. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the through-bolt opening in one of the base and the structural overhead member includes a threaded formation configured to engage the at least one through-bolt via corresponding threads on the at least one through-bolt.

9. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the through-bolt opening in the structural overhead member includes a threaded formation configured to engage the at least one through-bolt via corresponding threads on the at least one through-bolt.

10. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the structural overhead member includes a cam carrier configured to receive and retain intake and exhaust cam shafts.

11. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the structural overhead member includes a base portion, a cam shaft support structure, and neck portion coupling the cam shaft support structure to the base portion and maintaining the base portion spaced apart from the cam shaft support structure, and wherein the through-bolt opening is positioned in the base portion.

12. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the structural overhead member includes a bolt securing portion formed as a plate, the bolt securing portion including the through-bolt opening, and wherein the structural overhead member includes a valve train support, each of the bolt securing portion and the valve train support directly coupled to the cylinder head.

13. The internal combustion engine of claim 12 , wherein the valve train support comprises aluminum, and wherein the bolt securing portion comprises at least one of iron and steel.

14. The internal combustion engine of claim 12 , wherein the bolt securing portion comprises a plurality of load distribution apertures interconnected by a plurality of ribs.

15. The internal combustion engine of claim 12 , wherein the valve train support comprises a sidewall surrounding an outer periphery of the bolt securing portion.

16. The internal combustion engine of claim 15 , wherein the sidewall further comprises a valve train lubrication system comprising one or more lubrication rifles.

17. A cam carrier of an internal combustion engine, the cam carrier being mounted onto a head of the internal combustion engine, comprising:
a cam shaft support portion supporting a cam shaft;
a base portion configured to receive a through-bolt; and
a neck portion positioned between and coupling the cam shaft support portion and the base portion, wherein a gap is defined below the cam shaft between the cam shaft support portion and the base portion,
wherein the cam shaft support portion, the base portion, and the neck portion are positioned on a same side of the head of the internal combustion engine.

18. The cam carrier of claim 17 wherein the base portion includes a threaded formation configured to engage at least one through-bolt via corresponding threads on the at least one through-bolt.

19. The cam carrier of claim 17 , wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of load distribution apertures interconnected by a plurality of ribs.

20. The cam carrier of claim 17 , wherein the cam shaft support portion comprises a sidewall surrounding an outer periphery of the base portion.

21. A cam carrier of an internal combustion engine, the cam carrier being mounted onto a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, comprising:
a valve train support portion made from a first material, the valve train support portion being mounted directly to the cylinder head; and
a bolt securing portion made from a second material, the bolt securing portion being configured to receive a through-bolt and mounted directly to the cylinder head independently of the valve train support portion, wherein the valve train support surrounds the bolt securing portion, and wherein the bolt securing portion is coupled to the valve train support portion independently of the cylinder head.

22. The cam carrier of claim 21 wherein the first material comprises aluminum, and wherein the second material comprises at least one of steel and aluminum.

23. The cam carrier of claim 21 wherein the bolt securing portion comprises a plurality of load distribution apertures interconnected by a plurality of ribs.

24. The cam carrier of claim 21 wherein the valve train support comprises a sidewall surrounding an outer periphery of the bolt securing portion.

25. The cam carrier of claim 21 wherein the sidewall further comprises a valve train lubrication system comprising one or more lubrication rifles.

26. A cam carrier of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a sidewall enclosing a space;
a valve train support system positioned within the space, the valve train support system comprising a phaser, an intake cam shaft, an exhaust cam shaft, a plurality of intake bucket tappets, and a plurality of exhaust bucket tappets, each of the plurality of intake bucket tappets comprising an inner portion movable relative to an outer portion; and
a valve train lubrication system positioned within the space, the valve train lubrication system comprising:
first intake lubrication rifles, first exhaust lubrication rifles, second intake lubrication rifles, and second exhaust lubrication rifles,
a plurality of feed lines fluidly coupling the first intake lubrication rifles and the intake cam shaft,
a plurality of feed lines fluidly coupling the first exhaust lubrication rifles and the exhaust cam shaft,
a plurality

Assignees

• Cummins Ip Inc

Inventors

• Barnes David M
• Mackey Jason W
• Cecil Adam C

Classifications

• F02F1/40

  cylinder heads with means for directing, guiding, or distributing liquid stream · CPC title

• F02F1/38 Primary

  the cylinder heads being of overhead valve type · CPC title

• F01L1/344

  changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear · CPC title

• F02F7/0095 Primary

  Constructing engine casings (welded casings F02F7/0034) · CPC title

• F02F2007/0063

  Head bolts; Arrangements of cylinder head bolts · CPC title