CN111527301B

CN111527301B - Piston engine

Info

Publication number: CN111527301B
Application number: CN201780097666.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·塞瓦罗马
Original assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
Current assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
Priority date: 2017-12-14
Filing date: 2017-12-14
Publication date: 2022-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-14
Also published as: CN111527301A; WO2019115856A1; KR20200089696A; KR102439058B1; EP3724485B1; EP3724485A1

Abstract

A fluid distribution element (1) for a piston engine, the fluid distribution element (1) having at least two longitudinally parallel fluid channels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) adjacent to each other. Each fluid passage comprises an inlet (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) and, for at least one cylinder in an associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine, each fluid passage comprises an outlet for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the respective cylinder head. The fluid channels are defined by separate longitudinal profiles (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) arranged side by side such that adjacent profiles are adjoined by welding so as to form at least two closed cross-sectional profiles defining said at least two fluid channels. A securing device (6) is provided for securing the fluid distribution element to the respective piston engine.

Description

Piston engine

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to piston engines, and more particularly to fluid distribution members for piston engines. The disclosure also relates to a piston engine equipped with such a fluid distribution element.

Background

Piston engines typically require a number of different types of fluid to be provided adjacent each cylinder. In some applications, such as marine engines and/or powerplant engines, the physical size of the engines results in the need for complex piping or plumbing arrangements to direct these fluids along the cylinder banks to the cylinders.

This problem has previously been solved by providing a fluid distribution element having a plurality of fluid conduits corresponding to respective fluids to be provided. The fluid distribution member is provided to the engine assembly so as to extend along a side of the engine. The fluid distribution element is also provided with a fluid outlet conveniently located in the vicinity of the associated cylinder, thereby simplifying the required piping associated with the associated fluid.

Such segments are generally made by casting metal in order to obtain a structure capable of withstanding the vibrations associated with the piston engine and to ensure a firm coupling between the outlet and the subsequent ducts in such highly vibrating environments. Typically, such fluid distribution elements are made up of a plurality of successively attached casting segments, since a single casting is generally considered infeasible due to the need for a plurality of different variants of such fluid distribution elements corresponding to different types of engines, each variant having their own unique associated dimensions, which in turn requires a separate mold for each variant.

To this end, known fluid distribution elements are manufactured by casting individual segments, which are subsequently attached one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the engine (i.e. the crankshaft direction) to form the entire fluid distribution element. Typically, the number of segments used corresponds to the number of cylinders in the respective cylinder bank of the associated engine. Furthermore, the segment is provided with an outlet in communication with the fluid conduit.

Even in this case, separate modifications are still required for each engine type having different distances between adjacent cylinders, and thus separate casting molds are required for each segment modification. In addition to the relatively heavy segments (as opposed to just the pipe) due to the unitary structure obtained by casting, this method requires further machining of the mating surfaces of the cast segments in order to achieve a tight seal between adjacent segments. However, the seal between the mating surfaces of adjacent segments requires periodic inspection in order to confirm the operating conditions due to vibrations associated with the piston engine.

Another known method of manufacturing a fluid distribution element is to extrude a single profile piece, incorporating the required fluid conduits in the extruded profile piece as closed profile piece segments. While this method enables the fluid distribution profile to be continuously manufactured and subsequently cut to the desired length, it does not allow the number and size of the fluid conduits to be modified to correspond to the relevant engine type without changing the extrusion die and mandrel. Such extrusion dies and mandrels are very expensive and therefore it is generally not desirable to maintain a specific set of extrusion die mandrels for each type and variation of fluid dispensing element. Furthermore, changing the set of mold spindles is very time consuming, hindering the flexibility of manufacturing the fluid distribution elements for each type and variation of engine.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid distribution element having a simple construction, such that it can be easily manufactured configured for different types of piston engines having various dimensions, i.e. customized for piston engines of different dimensions, while ensuring fluid tightness of the conduits even under high vibration conditions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a piston engine equipped with such a fluid distribution element.

The invention is based on the idea of providing separate longitudinal profiles arranged side by side in order to define the fluid channels of the fluid distribution element.

An advantage of the present disclosure is that the profile can be easily configured for different lengths and sizes, thus facilitating greater versatility in configuring the fluid distribution element for different types of engines having various corresponding sizes.

Drawings

The disclosure will now be described in more detail by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 schematically shows a portion of a fluid distribution element according to an embodiment of the disclosure as an isometric perspective view, an

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates, as a cross-sectional view, a portion of a fluid dispensing element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In an embodiment according to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a fluid distribution element 1 for a piston engine, such as a reciprocating internal combustion engine, is provided. The fluid distribution element has at least two longitudinally

parallel fluid channels

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d adjacent to each other.

Each fluid passage comprises an

inlet

3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and, for at least one cylinder in an associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine, each fluid passage comprises an

outlet

4a, 4b, 4c, 4d for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the respective cylinder head. Preferably, but not necessarily, each of the

fluid passages

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d may comprise an

outlet

4a, 4b, 4c, 4d for each cylinder in the associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine. That is, for example, the fluid passage 2a may have a plurality of outlets 4a corresponding to the number of cylinders in the associated cylinder group of the corresponding piston engine. Furthermore, each or any of the

fluid passages

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d may comprise a plurality of

outlets

4a, 4 a', 4b, 4c, 4d for each cylinder in the associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine. That is, for example, the fluid passage 2a may have a plurality of

outlets

4a, 4 a' corresponding to twice the number of cylinders in the associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine. The fluid channels are defined by individual

longitudinal profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d arranged side by side, i.e. transversely with respect to their longitudinal direction. More particularly, the

profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are in use stacked on top of each other. Furthermore, adjacent profiles are adjoined by welding so as to form at least two closed cross-sectional profiles which respectively define at least two fluid channels.

Fixing means 6 are also provided for fixing the fluid distribution element to the respective piston engine. For example, the securing means may be provided as a side plate attached to the outermost (preferably, when in use, the lowermost) profile 5d such that portions of the side plate extend outwardly, i.e. laterally, in both transverse directions relative to the profile 5d when in use. Holes may further be provided on these parts to enable the fluid distribution element 1 to be attached to a respective piston engine with attachment means through these holes.

In an embodiment according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, adjacent profiles are adjoined by laser welding along longitudinal seams 7ab, 7bc, 7cd between said profiles.

In another embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, at least one of the longitudinal profiles is a U-profile. In this arrangement the open portions of the U-shaped profiles abut against the closed portions of adjacent profiles or abut against the side plates 6.

For example, a plurality of U-shaped profiles may be adjoined side by side, such that the open portion of one U-shaped profile is adjoined against the closed portion of an adjacent U-shaped profile, and the open portion of the outermost U-shaped profile is adjoined against the side panel 6.

For example, at least one longitudinal profile may be a U-profile and at least one longitudinal profile is a rectangular profile, such that the open portion of the U-profile abuts against the rectangular profile. Preferably, in this case, the outermost profile (i.e. the uppermost or lowermost profile), when used, is a rectangular profile, thus enabling a greater flow rate of the outermost profile relative to the adjacent U profile. More preferably, in this case, the uppermost profile, when used, is a rectangular profile. This enables the fluid passage of the starting air to be located closest to the cylinder head in use. This in turn allows the relatively expensive piping required between the fluid distribution element and the cylinder head (due to the larger flow area) to be minimized.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the fixing means 6 are arranged as side plates when the open part of the U-shaped profile abuts against said side plates.

In a further embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, the fluid distribution element 1 extends over a distance corresponding at least to the distance between the first and last cylinder in the associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine. Suitably, the distance between the first and last cylinders may be considered as the minimum distance between said cylinders. Alternatively, the distance between the first cylinder and the last cylinder may be considered as the distance between the center axes of the cylinders.

In a further embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, each of the

longitudinal profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d defining the

fluid channels

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d extends a distance at least corresponding to the distance between the first and last cylinder in the associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine. Suitably, the distance between the first and last cylinders may be considered as the minimum distance between said cylinders. Alternatively, the distance between the first cylinder and the last cylinder may be considered as the distance between the center axes of the cylinders.

It should be noted, however, that the fluid distribution element 1 may alternatively be arranged to be shorter than the distance corresponding to the distance between the first and last cylinder in the associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine. For example, the fluid distribution element 1 may extend a distance corresponding to at least 3/4 to 7/8 of the distance between the first and last cylinder in the associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine. Suitably, the distance between the first and last cylinders may be considered as the minimum distance between said cylinders. Alternatively, the distance between the first cylinder and the last cylinder may be considered as the distance between the center axes of the cylinders.

It should be noted, however, that each of the

longitudinal profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d defining the

fluid channels

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d may alternatively be provided shorter than the distance corresponding to the distance between the first and last cylinder in the associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine. For example, each of the

longitudinal profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d defining the

fluid channels

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d may extend a distance corresponding to at least 3/4 to 7/8 of the distance between the first and last cylinder in the associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine. Suitably, the distance between the first and last cylinders may be considered as the minimum distance between said cylinders. Alternatively, the distance between the first cylinder and the last cylinder may be considered as the distance between the center axes of the cylinders.

In another embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, the

inlets

3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the

fluid channels

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are provided on either or both of the longitudinal ends of the fluid distribution element. That is, the fluid channel may have an inlet at one end or both ends. The inlet need not be provided on the end surface but may be provided on an end portion of the fluid channel. That is to say that in this case the longitudinal ends of the fluid distribution element 1 or the

profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d comprise end portions thereof, for example that portion which extends 1/8 for the entire length of the fluid distribution element 1, and furthermore some of the fluid channels may have inlets at one end and others at both ends. Furthermore, one fluid channel may have inlets on the same or opposite respective longitudinal ends compared to adjacent fluid channels, i.e. all inlets need not be on the same side.

In a further embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, the at least one

outlet

4a, 4 a', 4b, 4c, 4d of the fluid channel is formed on a lateral side of the fluid distribution element 1. Preferably, all

outlets

4a, 4a ', 4b, 4c, 4d are provided on one or more lateral sides of the fluid distribution element 1, e.g. when in use, the fluid channel 2a of the uppermost profile 5a has

outlets

4a, 4 a' on the upward facing lateral side and the

fluid channels

2b, 2c, 2d have

outlets

4b, 4c, 4d on the lateral side.

In a further embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, the

fluid channels

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d comprise a priming air channel 2a and at least one fluid channel being one of:

a fuel return passage for liquid fuel;

a fuel leak passage for liquid fuel;

a gas passage for a gaseous fuel;

a lubrication passage for lubricating oil;

a control passage for controlling air;

a water passage for introducing water into the combustion chamber;

for controlling the oil passage.

The control oil passage may be provided, for example, as a VIC oil passage for hydraulic medium for variable intake valve timing, a VEC oil passage for hydraulic medium for variable exhaust valve timing, or both. Naturally, a plurality of control oil channels may be provided for different purposes, e.g. as described above.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the cross-sectional flow area of the priming air passage 2a is larger than the cross-sectional flow area of any other fluid passage.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the start air channel 2a is the outermost fluid channel. Suitably, the priming air channel 2a is defined by a profile 5a located on the opposite side of the fluid distribution element 1 with respect to the fixing means 6. More preferably, when in use, the start air channel 2a is the uppermost fluid channel. This enables the fluid passage of the starting air to be located closest to the cylinder head in use. This in turn minimizes the relatively expensive piping (due to the large flow area) required between the fluid distribution member and the cylinder head.

In another embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, one or more

longitudinal profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d defining the

fluid channels

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are made of steel.

In a further embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, the one or more

longitudinal profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d defining the

fluid channels

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are made of stainless steel.

It should be noted that the first aspect of the present disclosure encompasses combinations of the above-described embodiments and variations thereof.

In an embodiment according to a second aspect of the invention, a piston engine is provided. Most suitably, the engine is a reciprocating internal combustion engine.

The engine comprises a plurality of cylinders, each provided with its own cylinder head.

Furthermore, the piston engine is equipped with a fluid distribution element 1 according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, as discussed above in connection with any of the embodiments and variations thereof.

Each cylinder head of the engine is in fluid communication with at least one

fluid channel

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d via a

respective outlet

4a, 4 a', 4b, 4c, 4d corresponding to said cylinder head.

In the following, an embodiment of the fluid distribution element 1 according to the first aspect of the present disclosure shown in fig. 1 and 2 will be discussed in more detail. It should be noted, however, that the drawings are provided to illustrate non-limiting exemplary embodiments in order to further describe the disclosure in detail.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a part of a fluid distribution element 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as an isometric perspective view. It should be noted, however, that although the end portions and the intermediate portion of the fluid distribution element 1 are shown, the opposite end portions are not shown.

The longitudinal

rectangular profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are placed side by side, i.e. one above the other, when in use. In the fluid distribution element 1 of fig. 1, the profile 5a is uppermost and the profile 5b is below the

profiles

5a, 5 c. The fixing means 6 are further located below the profile 5 d.

The uppermost profile 5a has a plurality of outlets 4a on its lateral side, i.e. its side facing upwards. The outlets 4a are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, the position of the outlets 4a being intended to correspond to the position of the cylinders in the associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine. Furthermore, the number of outlets 4a is intended to correspond to the number of cylinders in the associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine. Furthermore, the uppermost profile 5a has a plurality of outlets 4 a' on its lateral sides, i.e. on its upwardly facing side. The outlets 4a 'are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, the position of the outlets 4 a' being intended to correspond to the position of the cylinders in the associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine. The number of outlets 4 a' also corresponds to the number of cylinders in the associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine.

Accordingly, each remaining

profile

5b, 5c, 5d also has a plurality of

outlets

4b, 4c, 4d on its lateral sides, i.e. on its side facing sideways. The outlets of each

profile

5b, 5c, 5d are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Furthermore, the positions of the

outlets

4b, 4c, 4d are intended to correspond to the positions of the cylinders in the associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine. The longitudinal positions of the

outlets

4b, 4c, 4d are staggered. That is, the

outlets

4b, 4c, 4d corresponding to a given cylinder are arranged such that the immediately

adjacent outlets

4b, 4 c; 4c, 4d are different from each other in longitudinal position.

Furthermore, the number of

respective outlets

4b, 4c is intended to correspond to the number of cylinders in the associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine. That is, each

profile

5b, 5c, 5d of the fluid distribution element of fig. 1 has a number of outlets corresponding to the number of cylinders in the associated cylinder bank of the respective piston engine.

Fig. 1 also shows the

inlets

3b, 3c, 3d of the profiles 5cb, 5c, 5d, respectively, at the longitudinal ends of the fluid distribution element 1. The

inlets

3b, 3d are provided on respective longitudinal end surfaces of the

profiles

5b, 5c, while the outlets 3c are provided on lateral side surfaces of the profile 5 c. The inlet 3a of the profile 5a is not shown in fig. 1, since it is located at a longitudinal end of the fluid distribution element 1, which is not shown here.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates, as a cross-sectional view, a portion of a fluid dispensing element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. That is, fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid distribution element of fig. 1, as seen towards a longitudinal end of the fluid distribution element 1, not shown in fig. 1.

In particular, the

fluid channels

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d defined by the respective

rectangular profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d can be seen from fig. 2, in particular the cross-sectional area of the profile 5a, i.e. the cross-sectional flow area of the fluid channel 2a, is larger than the cross-sectional flow area of the

other profiles

5b, 5c, 5 d. As can be seen, the cross-sectional flow area of the outlet 4a intended for the starting air is also larger than the cross-sectional flow area of the other outlets 4 a', 4b, 4c, 4 d. Furthermore, the inlet 3a of the fluid channel 2a can be seen on the longitudinal end surface of the profile 5 a.

It can also be seen from the illustration in fig. 2 that the

profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are arranged in alignment on their lateral sides equipped with the

outlets

4b, 4c, 4 d.

Furthermore, the reference numerals 7ab, 7bc and 7cd denote longitudinal seams between

adjacent profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, along which the adjacent profiles abut against each other by welding. Although only longitudinal seams on one transverse side are mentioned, adjacent profiles may naturally abut each other along longitudinal seams on both transverse sides.

The

profiles

5a, 5b, 5c, 5d in fig. 2 have equal heights (i.e. the dimension of the profiles abutting one above the other side by side), however, the profile 5a has a larger width than the other profiles in order to provide a larger cross-sectional flow area for the fluid channel 2 a.

Claims

1. A piston engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, each provided with its own cylinder head, comprising a fluid distribution element (1) having at least two longitudinally parallel fluid channels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) adjacent to each other, wherein each of the fluid channels comprises an inlet (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) and for at least one cylinder of an associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine each of the fluid channels comprises an outlet (4a, 4 a', 4b, 4c, 4d) for providing fluid communication between the fluid channel and the respective cylinder head,

wherein the fluid channels are defined by separate longitudinal profiles (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) arranged side by side such that adjacent profiles are adjoined by welding so as to form at least two closed cross-sectional profiles defining the at least two fluid channels, respectively, and

wherein fixing means (6) are provided for fixing the fluid distribution element to the respective piston engine,

wherein each cylinder head of the piston engine is in fluid communication with at least one fluid channel (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) via a respective outlet (4a, 4 a', 4b, 4c, 4d) corresponding to the cylinder head,

characterized in that said fluid channels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) comprise a priming air channel (2a) and at least one fluid channel, each of said at least one fluid channel being one of:

a fuel return passage for liquid fuel;

a fuel leak passage for liquid fuel;

a gas passage for a gaseous fuel;

a lubrication passage for lubricating oil;

a control passage for controlling air;

a water passage for introducing water into the combustion chamber;

controlling the oil passage.

2. A piston engine according to claim 1, characterized in that adjacent profiles are adjoined by laser welding along longitudinal seams (7ab, 7bc, 7cd) between the profiles.

3. A piston engine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the longitudinal profiles is a U-profile, the open part of which abuts against the closed part of the adjacent profile or against the side plate (6).

4. A piston engine according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one longitudinal profile is a rectangular profile, wherein the open part of a U-profile abuts against the rectangular profile.

5. A piston engine according to claim 3, characterized in that the fixing means (6) is provided as a side plate against which the open part of a U-shaped profile abuts.

6. A piston engine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluid distribution element (1) extends over a distance corresponding at least to 3/4-7/8 of the distance between the first and last cylinder in the associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine.

7. A piston engine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of the longitudinal profiles (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) defining a fluid channel (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) extends over a distance which corresponds at least to 3/4-7/8 of the distance between the first and last cylinder in the associated cylinder group of the respective piston engine.

8. A piston engine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inlets (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) of the fluid channels are provided on either or both of the longitudinal ends of the fluid distribution element.

9. A piston engine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one outlet (4a, 4 a', 4b, 4c, 4d) of a fluid channel is formed on a lateral side of the fluid distribution element (1).

10. A piston engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross-sectional flow area of the starting air channel (2a) is larger than the cross-sectional flow area of any other fluid channel.

11. A piston engine according to claim 1 or 10, characterized in that the starting air channel (2a) is the outermost fluid channel.

12. A piston engine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the longitudinal profile or profiles (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) defining the fluid channels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) are made of steel.

13. A piston engine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the longitudinal profile or profiles (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) defining the fluid channels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) are made of stainless steel.