CN115405406B

CN115405406B - Energy-saving engine cooling system

Info

Publication number: CN115405406B
Application number: CN202110590798.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘姿; 刘畅
Original assignee: Cummins Inc
Current assignee: Cummins Inc
Priority date: 2021-05-28
Filing date: 2021-05-28
Publication date: 2024-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2041-05-28
Also published as: CN115405406A

Abstract

The present application relates to an energy efficient engine cooling system. An engine assembly includes a cylinder block having at least two cylinder block openings disposed therein, a cylinder block inlet disposed between the at least two cylinder block openings, and a plurality of cylinder block passages connected to the cylinder block inlet. The plurality of passages includes a first passage for the first cylinder block opening connected between the cylinder block inlet and the first cylinder block outlet, a second passage for the first cylinder block opening connected between the cylinder block inlet and the second cylinder block outlet, and a third passage for the first cylinder block opening connected between the cylinder block inlet and the third cylinder block outlet. The cylinder head is coupled to the cylinder block and is configured to receive fluid from the cylinder block via the first cylinder block outlet, the second cylinder block outlet, and the third cylinder block outlet.

Description

Energy-saving engine cooling system

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an internal combustion engine having an engine cooling system for cooling an engine block (engine block) and a cylinder head.

Background

Engine components (e.g., engine blocks and cylinder heads) require cooling systems to maintain efficient and effective operation of the engine. Cooling the engine in a substantially uniform manner may present various challenges associated with coolant distribution, heat transfer, pressure changes, and other dynamics of the engine and processes for manufacturing related components.

Disclosure of Invention

Various embodiments provide an engine assembly and a method of distributing coolant among the engine assembly and related components.

In one embodiment, an engine assembly includes a cylinder block and a cylinder head coupled to the cylinder block such that the cylinder head is in fluid communication with the cylinder block. The cylinder block includes at least two cylinder block openings provided in the cylinder block, a cylinder block inlet provided between the at least two cylinder block openings, and a plurality of cylinder block passages (passages) connected to the cylinder block inlet. The plurality of cylinder block passages includes a first passage connected between the cylinder block inlet and the first cylinder block outlet for a first cylinder block opening of the at least two cylinder block openings. The plurality of cylinder block passages includes a second passage for the first cylinder block opening connected between the cylinder block inlet and the second cylinder block outlet. The plurality of cylinder block passages includes a third passage for the first cylinder block opening connected between the cylinder block inlet and a third cylinder block outlet. The cylinder head is configured to receive fluid from the cylinder block via the first cylinder block outlet, the second cylinder block outlet, and the third cylinder block outlet.

In one embodiment, the first passage is configured to direct fluid flow on an exhaust side of the cylinder block, the second passage is configured to direct fluid flow around a first side of the first cylinder block opening to an intake side of the cylinder block, and the third passage is configured to direct fluid flow around a second side of the first cylinder block opening to the intake side, the first side of the first cylinder block opening being opposite the second side of the first cylinder block opening.

In one embodiment, the engine assembly further includes a coolant manifold coupled to the cylinder block, the coolant manifold in fluid communication with the cylinder block inlet.

In one embodiment, the plurality of cylinder block passages further includes:

a first passage connected between the cylinder block inlet and a first cylinder block outlet for a second cylinder block opening of the at least two cylinder block openings, the first passage of the second cylinder block opening configured to direct fluid flow on an exhaust side of the cylinder block;

a second passage for the second cylinder block opening connected between the cylinder block inlet and a second cylinder block outlet, the second passage of the second cylinder block opening configured to direct fluid flow around a first side of the second cylinder block opening to an intake side of the cylinder block; and

a third passage for the second cylinder block opening connected between the cylinder block inlet and a third cylinder block outlet, the third passage of the second cylinder block opening configured to direct fluid flow around a second side of the second cylinder block opening to the intake side, wherein the first side of the second cylinder block opening is opposite the second side of the second cylinder block opening.

In one embodiment, the cylinder head includes a lower cylinder head portion and an upper cylinder head portion, the lower cylinder head portion receiving fluid from the cylinder block and directing the fluid to the upper cylinder head portion.

In one embodiment, the lower cylinder head portion includes at least two lower cylinder head water jackets, each of the at least two lower cylinder head water jackets including:

a first inlet corresponding to the first cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening and configured to receive the fluid from the first cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening at the exhaust side;

a second inlet corresponding to the second cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening and configured to receive the fluid from the second cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening at the intake side; and

a third inlet corresponding to the third cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening and configured to receive the fluid from the third cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening at the intake side.

In one embodiment, the at least two lower cylinder head jackets are formed from separate sand core castings.

In one embodiment, the at least two cylinder block openings comprise six cylinder block openings.

In one embodiment, the cylinder head includes a cylinder head coolant manifold configured to transfer the fluid from an exhaust port of a first cylinder to an exhaust port of an adjacent cylinder and to transfer the fluid around the exhaust port of the adjacent cylinder.

In one embodiment, the first cylinder block outlet, the second cylinder block outlet, and the third cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening create parallel fluid flows between the cylinder block and each lower cylinder head water jacket, wherein the fluid flows are received by the first inlet from the first cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening, the fluid flows are received by the second inlet from the second cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening, and the fluid flows are received by the third inlet from the third cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening.

In one embodiment, the cylinder block inlet is generally equally spaced from each of the at least two cylinder block openings in the cylinder block.

In another embodiment, a cooling system for an engine includes a cylinder block jacket (socket) coupled to a cylinder block such that the cylinder block includes at least two cylinder block openings. The cylinder block cover includes at least one cylinder block inlet. At least one cylinder block inlet is located on the cylinder block and at least one cylinder block inlet is located between at least two cylinder block openings. The cylinder block jacket includes a first cylinder block outlet located on the cylinder block, a second cylinder block outlet located on the cylinder block, a third cylinder block outlet located on the cylinder block, and a plurality of cylinder block passages. Each cylinder block passage is connected between at least one cylinder block inlet and at least one of the first cylinder block outlet and the second cylinder block outlet.

In one embodiment, the at least one cylinder block inlet is located at a first side of the cylinder block, the first cylinder block outlet is located at the first side of the cylinder block, the second cylinder block outlet is located at a second side of the cylinder block opposite the first side of the cylinder block, and the third cylinder block outlet is located at a third side of the cylinder block opposite the second side of the cylinder block.

In one embodiment, the at least one cylinder block inlet is configured to receive coolant from the coolant manifold.

In one embodiment, the coolant manifold includes one or more coolant passages, each of which is connected to a respective cylinder block inlet.

In one embodiment, the cooling system further comprises a lower cylinder head jacket in fluid communication with the cylinder block jacket.

In one embodiment, the lower cylinder head cover includes at least a first lower cylinder head cover inlet in communication with the first cylinder block outlet, a second lower cylinder head cover inlet in communication with the second cylinder block outlet, and a third lower cylinder head cover inlet in fluid communication with the third cylinder block outlet.

In one embodiment, the lower cylinder head cover includes one or more sets of lower cylinder head passages, wherein each set of lower cylinder head passages is configured to direct coolant around at least one of an intake valve, an injector, and an exhaust valve seat of a respective cylinder, the one or more sets of lower cylinder head passages including:

a first passage connected between the first cylinder block outlet and the first lower cylinder head jacket inlet, the first passage configured to direct coolant flow on the first side of the cylinder block;

a second passage connected between the second cylinder block outlet and the second lower head sleeve inlet, the second passage configured to direct coolant flow on the second side of the cylinder block; and

a third passage connected between the third cylinder block outlet and the third lower head sleeve inlet, the third passage configured to direct coolant flow on the second side of the cylinder block.

In one embodiment, the first, second, and third lower cylinder head passages are configured to direct coolant to a single lower cylinder head outlet for a respective lower cylinder head cover.

In one embodiment, the cooling system further comprises an upper cylinder head jacket in fluid communication with the lower cylinder head jacket, wherein the single lower cylinder head outlet allows the coolant to flow from the lower cylinder head jacket to the upper cylinder head jacket.

In one embodiment, the upper cylinder head cover comprises one or more upper cylinder head inlets, each upper cylinder head inlet being connected to a respective lower cylinder head outlet, wherein the cooling system comprises a plurality of cylinder head covers.

In one embodiment, the first cylinder block outlet, the second cylinder block outlet, and the third cylinder block outlet create a parallel fluid flow between the cylinder block and the lower cylinder head cover, wherein the fluid flow is received from the first cylinder block outlet by the first lower cylinder head cover inlet, the fluid flow is received from the second cylinder block outlet by the second lower cylinder head cover inlet, and the fluid flow is received from the third cylinder block outlet by the third lower cylinder head cover inlet.

In one embodiment, the cylinder block includes six cylinder block openings.

In one embodiment, each of the six cylinder block openings has a respective cylinder block jacket and a respective lower cylinder head jacket.

It is to be understood that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in more detail below (assuming such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of the claimed subject matter of the present disclosure are contemplated as part of the subject matter disclosed herein.

Drawings

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cooling system for an engine according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates the coolant manifold of FIG. 1 connected to an engine block component.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic side view of a coolant flow path through an engine according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows a partial view of the transition of the coolant flow path from the section of the engine block to the section of the lower water jacket of fig. 1.

Fig. 5A shows a top view of the cylinder block of fig. 1 with a coolant system.

Fig. 5B shows a top view of the lower cylinder head portion of fig. 1 with a coolant system.

Fig. 5C shows a top view of the upper cylinder head portion of fig. 1 with a coolant system.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cylinder block water jacket of fig. 5A.

Fig. 7 shows a top view of the lower cylinder head portion of fig. 5B.

Throughout the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like numerals generally identify like components unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It should be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and form part of this disclosure.

Detailed Description

The following is a more detailed description of various concepts related to the inventive system for an engine block and method of forming an engine block and embodiments thereof. It should be appreciated that the various concepts introduced above and discussed in more detail below may be implemented in any of a variety of ways, as the disclosed concepts are not limited to any particular implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

Referring now generally to the drawings, a three valve configuration for a six cylinder basic engine is discussed. Coolant from the coolant manifold is configured to flow into the engine block water jacket on the exhaust side of the engine block. A portion of the coolant flows directly from the engine block water jacket to the under-head water jacket on the exhaust side, while another portion of the coolant is configured to flow through the engine block water jacket and to the under-head water jacket on the intake side opposite the exhaust side. In other words, for each cylinder, the engine block water jacket having the opening corresponding to the cylinder is provided with one port on the exhaust side on the under-head water jacket, and two ports on the intake side on the under-head water jacket. Each cylinder is provided with a cylinder cover lower water jacket. In addition, one port is provided on each head lower water jacket to allow coolant to flow to the head upper water jacket.

In the above configuration, a parallel flow mode (parallel flow pattern) is introduced. Thus, in various embodiments, the cooling system pressure drop may be reduced by about 50%, saving about 1hp of fuel consumption and power consumption at nominal conditions. At the same time, the desired cooling capacity is maintained. The flow mass balance passage and coolant ports are designed to maintain cooling capacity. Furthermore, the pressure drop is often unbalanced in the system; the passage between the block water jacket and the head water jacket is controlled by a head gasket. The port diameter to the head jacket on the exhaust side may be different from the port diameter to the head jacket on the intake side. For example, to maintain cooling capacity and pressure balance, it may be desirable to allow 40% of the coolant to flow from the block water jacket into the head water jacket on the intake side, with the remaining 60% of the mass flow flowing into the head water jacket on the exhaust side. To control the flow, the diameter of the gasket orifice hole controls the flow to balance the flow.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cooling system for an engine according to an exemplary embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling system 100 includes a coolant manifold 101 that distributes cooling fluid through three channels. The first, second, and third passages 102, 104, 106 supply cooling fluid into the cooling passages, thereby forming a block water jacket 201, as discussed further herein, the block water jacket 201 providing a plurality of coolant flow passages extending around peripheral portions of respective block openings in the engine block. The cooling system 100 also includes coolant flow passages (not shown in fig. 1) forming coolant manifolds in the cylinder head that extend through the lower cylinder head portion 301. According to an exemplary embodiment, the cooling system 100 further comprises a coolant flow passage forming a further coolant manifold (not shown in fig. 1) in the cylinder head, which coolant flow passage extends through the upper cylinder head portion 401.

FIG. 2 illustrates a coolant manifold connected to an engine block component according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. More specifically, fig. 2 shows a block water jacket 201 that is connected to the coolant manifold 101 for transferring fluid from the coolant manifold 101 to the block water jacket 201. The cylinder block water jacket 201 includes a plurality of coolant flow passages 203a, 203b, 203c, 203d, 203e, and 203f that extend around peripheral portions of cylinder block openings 202a, 202b, 202c, 202d, 202e, and 202f in the engine cylinder block. According to an exemplary embodiment, cylinder block openings 202a-202f are disposed in an engine block and are configured to receive engine pistons. As further indicated herein, according to an exemplary embodiment, the coolant flow passages 203a-203f extend to outlets that convey cooling fluid from the cylinder block to the cylinder head. According to an exemplary embodiment, the coolant flow passages 203a-203f may be formed in the engine block by casting, wherein the shape of the coolant flow passages is integrated into the cores for the block openings 202a-202 f.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic side view of a coolant flow path through an engine according to an exemplary embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the engine 501 includes an engine block 514 and a cylinder head 516, the cylinder head 516 including a lower cylinder head portion 518 and an upper cylinder head portion 520. The engine block 514 houses a plurality of block openings configured to receive pistons. The cylinder head 516 houses intake and exhaust valves. The total flow of coolant or cooling fluid through the engine includes coolant flowing from the coolant manifold into the engine block 514. The coolant flows through two paths; a portion of the coolant flows around the cylinder block opening for transfer generally laterally across the engine block 514 from the exhaust side to the intake side. After traversing the engine block 514, the coolant then flows up to the cylinder head 516 via an opening in the outlet, such as a throttle orifice (flow restriction orifice) 539. The coolant then moves generally laterally through the lower cylinder head portion 518 and then upwardly into the upper cylinder head portion 520. At the same time, another portion of the coolant does not flow laterally through the engine block 514, but rather flows directly upward to the cylinder head 516 via an opening in the outlet (e.g., throttle orifice 541), the throttle orifice 541 being located where the coolant intake manifold meets the engine block on the exhaust side. The coolant continues to flow upward from the lower cylinder head portion 518 to the upper cylinder head portion 520.

The block and head cooling system directs cooling fluid or coolant into a first side of the engine block 514, into various passages, directs fluid laterally through the engine block 514 to an opposite second side of the engine block 514, and then upward toward a top surface of the engine block 514. The cylinder head 516 includes various passages positioned to receive coolant from an opposite second side of the engine block 514 and direct the coolant back laterally through the cylinder head 516, and more specifically through the lower cylinder head portion 518 to a first side of the engine 501. As discussed further herein, passages in the cylinder head facilitate coolant flow around the intake ports and intake valve seats and around the combustion gas exhaust ports and exhaust valve seats. The upper cylinder head portion 520 also includes a passage positioned to receive coolant from the lower cylinder head portion 518. The usual cooling circuit flow pattern advantageously cools the engine. By dividing the flow and distributing the paths as described herein, the pressure drop across the system is reduced. The system may be applied to an even cylinder number inline engine or a V-type engine having a cylinder number of 4, 8, 12, etc.

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view of a transition of a coolant flow path from an engine block to a lower water jacket (e.g., lower cylinder head portion) according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. Fig. 4 shows a side view of a section of the cooling system 100, illustrating outlet passages 234 and 236 extending from the coolant flow passage of the block water jacket 201. The outlet passages 234 and 236, which may include throttle orifices, allow coolant to move from the block water jacket 201 to the lower cylinder head portion 301. After passing through the lower cylinder head portion 301, the coolant then moves into the upper cylinder head portion 401 via an outlet passage (e.g., outlet passage 348). On the opposite side of the illustrated view, another outlet passage (not shown), which may include a throttle orifice, allows coolant to move from the block water jacket 201 to the lower cylinder head portion 301 without traversing the lower cylinder head portion 301. The lower cylinder head portion 301 includes a separate sand core for each cylinder of the lower cylinder head portion 301. As described herein, each piece may be configured with three coolant inlet ports from the engine block, with two coolant inlet ports disposed on the intake side and one coolant inlet port disposed on the exhaust side. Advantageously, by forming a separate sand core for each cylinder, manufacturing costs are reduced while increasing sand core strength. In addition, instead of providing one fluid port for a pair of cylinders, one fluid port may be provided for each cylinder between the head lower water jacket and the head upper water jacket.

Fig. 5A shows a top view of a cylinder block with a coolant system according to the exemplary embodiment of fig. 1. Fig. 5B shows a top view of the lower cylinder head portion with the coolant system according to the exemplary embodiment of fig. 1. FIG. 5C illustrates a top view of an upper cylinder head portion with a coolant system according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. More specifically, fig. 5A, 5B and 5C show top views of a block flow passage, a lower head portion flow passage and an upper head portion flow passage, respectively, which distribute coolant to the cylinder block and the cylinder head. Coolant is first distributed from the coolant manifold 101 into the block water jacket 201 at a first location or passage 224, a second location or passage 226, and a third location or passage 228 in the engine block 514, each location between two cylinders and preferably between different pairs of cylinders (e.g., pairs of cylinders 1 and 2; pairs of cylinders 3 and 4; pairs of cylinders 5 and 6) such that each pair receives flow from the coolant manifold 101 at one location. Fig. 5A shows the coolant flow direction within the engine block around each cylinder before entering the first and second outlet passages 230, 232 of the first cylinder on the intake side, the first and second outlet passages 234, 236 of the second cylinder on the intake side, the third outlet passage 238 of the first cylinder on the exhaust side, and the third outlet passage 240 of the second cylinder on the exhaust side (thus six outlet passages per pair of cylinders). However, as will be appreciated herein, the block water jackets 201 need not be understood as paired except with respect to receiving coolant from the coolant manifold 101. For example, because the lower cylinder head portion 301 includes a separate casting for each respective cylinder, the cylinder 1 may operate in a designed manner independent of the cylinder 2.

The lower cylinder head portion 301 includes a plurality of inlet passages, such as a first inlet passage 340 and a second inlet passage 342 of a first cylinder on the intake side, a first inlet passage 344 and a second inlet passage 346 of a second cylinder on the intake side, a third inlet passage 348 of a first cylinder on the exhaust side, and a third inlet passage 349 of a second cylinder on the exhaust side. The first, second and third inlet passages 340, 342 and 348 of the first cylinder, and 344, 346 and 349 of the second cylinder correspond to the number of outlet passages from the cylinder block water jacket 201 that extend upwardly from a bottom surface of the cylinder head (e.g., cylinder head 516) to connect to a coolant cavity or head water jacket formed in the cylinder head to distribute flow across the cylinder head around a region of the cylinder head containing valves, fuel injectors, etc. In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 5A-5C, coolant flows through the lower cylinder head portion 301 along a path to and around the intake valve and injectors, while the flow is directed around a single exhaust valve seat for each cylinder. The lower cylinder head portion 301 includes an outlet passage for each cylinder, and thus includes a first outlet passage 350, a second outlet passage 352, a third outlet passage 354, a fourth outlet passage 356, a fifth outlet passage 358, and a sixth outlet passage 359 for the exemplary embodiment to receive coolant and direct the coolant out of the cylinder head or into the upper cylinder head portion 401 in the exemplary embodiment. The upper cylinder head portion 401 includes a first passage 450, a second passage 452, a third passage 454, a fourth passage 456, a fifth passage 458, and a sixth passage 459 for receiving coolant flow from the first outlet passage 350, the second outlet passage 352, the third outlet passage 354, the fourth outlet passage 356, the fifth outlet passage 358, and the sixth outlet passage 359, respectively.

Fig. 6 shows a top perspective view of the cylinder block water jacket 201 for receiving coolant flow and directing coolant around each cylinder to the lateral flow paths at the first outlet passage 230 of the first cylinder, the second outlet passage 232 of the first cylinder, the first outlet passage 234 of the second cylinder, and the second outlet passage 236 of the second cylinder, or the third outlet passage 238 of the first cylinder and the third outlet passage 240 of the second cylinder. In an exemplary engine having six cylinders, there are eighteen outlets. However, other even numbers of cylinders and outlets may be used. The layout of each cylinder in a pair of cylinders is a mirror image of the other cylinder. Thus, the coolant: 1) Through a water jacket from the center of each cylinder pair around both sides of each cylinder to opposite ends (extrees), and 2) from the center of each cylinder pair and directly to the lower cylinder head portion 301. The diameter of the outlet may be varied in order to control the flow as desired. For example, if 60% of the coolant flow is to flow from the block water jacket 201 into the lower cylinder head portion 301 on the intake side, and the remaining 40% of the mass flow flows into the lower cylinder head portion 301 on the exhaust side, the diameter of the third outlet passage 238 of the first cylinder and the diameter of the third outlet passage 240 of the second cylinder may be smaller than the first outlet passage 230 of the first cylinder, the second outlet passage 232 of the first cylinder, the first outlet passage 234 of the second cylinder, and the second outlet passage 236 of the second cylinder.

Fig. 7 shows a top view of the lower cylinder head portion of fig. 5B. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the lower cylinder head portion 301 includes a first inlet passage 340 of a first cylinder, a second inlet passage 342 of the first cylinder, a first inlet passage 344 of a second cylinder, a second inlet passage 346 of the second cylinder, and a third inlet passage 348 of the first cylinder and a third inlet passage 349 of the second cylinder on the intake side. The inlet passages are in fluid communication with coolant flow passages 360, forming coolant manifolds in the cylinder head, which passages extend through the lower cylinder head portion 301. The coolant flow passage 360 in the lower cylinder head portion 301 extends from an intake side 361 extending around an intake port 362 to an exhaust side 363 extending around a combustion gas exhaust port 364. According to an exemplary embodiment, coolant flow passages 360 of adjacent cylinders (e.g., cylinder 1 and cylinder 2) may be in fluid communication on the combustion gas exhaust port side to facilitate coolant flow from a passage around the combustion gas exhaust port on one cylinder to the combustion gas exhaust port on an adjacent cylinder. In various exemplary embodiments, coolant flows from both cylinders of a pair of cylinders may merge and flow upwardly between the combustion gas exhaust ports. The coolant is then directed through a manifold assembled from individual cylinder pairs to the outlet of the cylinder head. In other exemplary embodiments that have been described herein, since a separate lower water jacket is provided for each cylinder, they are not in fluid communication. One advantage of this arrangement is that it provides a parallel flow through the engine block and head system that results in a lower potential pressure drop in the cooling system while providing a consistent heat transfer pattern for each cylinder. In addition, the mirrored layout of the cylinders allows for a shorter, more compact exhaust manifold, thereby reducing costs and increasing opportunities for designing such an exhaust manifold without expansion joints.

It should be noted that the term "example" as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to imply that such embodiments must be unusual or the best examples).

As used herein, the terms "about" and "approximately" generally mean plus or minus 10% of the stated value. For example, about 0.5 would include 0.45 and 0.55, about 10 would include 9 to 11, and about 1000 would include 900 to 1100.

The term "coupled" and similar terms as used herein mean that two members are directly or indirectly joined to one another. Such joining may be fixed (e.g., permanent) or movable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with two members or two members integrally formed with one another as a single unitary body and any additional intermediate members or with two members or two members attached to one another and any additional intermediate members.

It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it should be understood that features from one embodiment disclosed herein may be combined with features of other embodiments disclosed herein, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present embodiments.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiments or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features of specific implementations of specific embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Claims

1. An engine assembly, the engine assembly comprising:

a cylinder block, comprising:

at least two cylinder block openings provided in the cylinder block;

a cylinder block inlet disposed between the at least two cylinder block openings;

a plurality of cylinder block passages connected to the cylinder block inlet, the plurality of cylinder block passages comprising:

a first passageway for a first cylinder block opening of the at least two cylinder block openings connected between the cylinder block inlet and a first cylinder block outlet, the first cylinder block outlet comprising a first outlet diameter;

a second passage for the first cylinder block opening connected between the cylinder block inlet and a second cylinder block outlet, the second cylinder block outlet comprising a second outlet diameter; and

a third passageway for the first cylinder block opening connected between the cylinder block inlet and a third cylinder block outlet, the third cylinder block outlet including a third outlet diameter, the third outlet diameter being smaller than the first outlet diameter and the second outlet diameter,

wherein a first portion of coolant traverses the cylinder block transversely through at least one of the first passage or the second passage while a second portion of coolant flows directly upward through the third passage to the third cylinder block outlet without flowing transversely through the cylinder block; and

a cylinder head coupled to the cylinder block such that the cylinder head is in fluid communication with the cylinder block such that the cylinder head is configured to receive a first portion of coolant from the cylinder block from at least one of the first cylinder block outlet or the second cylinder block outlet, and a second portion of coolant from the third cylinder block outlet, the second portion of coolant being less than the first portion of coolant.

2. The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the first passage is configured to direct fluid flow on an exhaust side of the cylinder block, the second passage is configured to direct fluid flow around a first side of the first cylinder block opening to an intake side of the cylinder block, and the third passage is configured to direct fluid flow around a second side of the first cylinder block opening to the intake side, the first side of the first cylinder block opening being opposite the second side of the first cylinder block opening.

3. The engine assembly of claim 1, further comprising a coolant manifold coupled to the cylinder block, the coolant manifold in fluid communication with the cylinder block inlet.

4. The engine assembly of any of claims 1-3, wherein the plurality of cylinder block passages further comprises:

5. The engine assembly of claim 4, wherein the cylinder head includes a lower cylinder head portion and an upper cylinder head portion, the lower cylinder head portion receiving fluid from the cylinder block and directing the fluid to the upper cylinder head portion.

6. The engine assembly of claim 5, wherein the lower cylinder head portion includes at least two lower cylinder head water jackets, each of the at least two lower cylinder head water jackets comprising:

7. The engine assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least two lower cylinder head water jackets are formed from separate sand core castings.

8. The engine assembly of any of claims 1-3 and 5-7, wherein the at least two cylinder block openings comprise six cylinder block openings.

9. The engine assembly of any of claims 1-3 and 5-7, wherein the cylinder head includes a cylinder head coolant manifold configured to transfer the fluid from an exhaust port of a first cylinder to an exhaust port of an adjacent cylinder and to transfer the fluid around the exhaust port of the adjacent cylinder.

10. The engine assembly of claim 6, wherein the first cylinder block outlet, the second cylinder block outlet, and the third cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening create parallel fluid flows between the cylinder block and each lower cylinder head water jacket, wherein the fluid flows are received by the first inlet from the first cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening, the fluid flows are received by the second inlet from the second cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening, and the fluid flows are received by the third inlet from the third cylinder block outlet of the first cylinder block opening or the second cylinder block opening.

11. The engine assembly of any of claims 1-3, wherein the cylinder block inlet is generally equally spaced from each of the at least two cylinder block openings in the cylinder block.

12. A cooling system for an engine, the cooling system comprising:

a cylinder block jacket coupled to a cylinder block, the cylinder block including at least two cylinder block openings, the cylinder block jacket comprising:

at least one cylinder block inlet located on the cylinder block, the at least one cylinder block inlet located between the at least two cylinder block openings;

a first cylinder block outlet comprising a first outlet diameter and located on the cylinder block;

a second cylinder block outlet comprising a second outlet diameter and located on the cylinder block;

a third cylinder block outlet comprising a third outlet diameter and located on the cylinder block, the third outlet diameter being smaller than the first outlet diameter and the second outlet diameter; and

a plurality of cylinder block passages, each cylinder block passage connected between the at least one cylinder block inlet and at least one of the first cylinder block outlet and the second cylinder block outlet;

wherein a first portion of coolant traverses the cylinder block transversely through at least one of the plurality of cylinder block passages and at least one of the first cylinder block outlet or the second cylinder block outlet while a second portion of coolant flows directly upward through one of the plurality of cylinder block passages and the third cylinder block outlet without flowing transversely through the cylinder block such that the second portion of coolant is less than the first portion of coolant.

13. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the at least one cylinder block inlet is located at a first side of the cylinder block, the first cylinder block outlet is located at the first side of the cylinder block, the second cylinder block outlet is located at a second side of the cylinder block opposite the first side of the cylinder block, and the third cylinder block outlet is located at a third side of the cylinder block opposite the second side of the cylinder block.

14. The cooling system of claim 13, wherein the at least one cylinder block inlet is configured to receive coolant from a coolant manifold.

15. The cooling system of claim 14, wherein the coolant manifold includes one or more coolant passages, each of the one or more coolant passages connected to a respective cylinder block inlet.

16. The cooling system of any one of claims 13-15, further comprising a lower cylinder head jacket in fluid communication with the cylinder block jacket.

17. The cooling system of claim 16, wherein the lower cylinder head cover includes at least a first lower cylinder head cover inlet, a second lower cylinder head cover inlet, and a third lower cylinder head cover inlet, the first lower cylinder head cover inlet in communication with the first cylinder block outlet, the second lower cylinder head cover inlet in communication with the second cylinder block outlet, and the third lower cylinder head cover inlet in fluid communication with the third cylinder block outlet.

18. The cooling system of claim 17, wherein the lower cylinder head cover includes one or more sets of lower cylinder head passages, wherein each set of lower cylinder head passages is configured to direct coolant around at least one of an intake valve, an injector, and an exhaust valve seat of a respective cylinder, the one or more sets of lower cylinder head passages including:

19. The cooling system of claim 18, wherein the first, second, and third passages are configured to direct coolant to a single lower cylinder head outlet for a respective lower cylinder head cover.

20. The cooling system of claim 19, further comprising an upper cylinder head jacket in fluid communication with the lower cylinder head jacket, wherein the single lower cylinder head outlet allows the coolant to flow from the lower cylinder head jacket to the upper cylinder head jacket.

21. The cooling system of claim 20, wherein the upper cylinder head cover comprises one or more upper cylinder head inlets, each upper cylinder head inlet connected to a respective lower cylinder head outlet, wherein the cooling system comprises a plurality of cylinder head covers.

22. The cooling system of any one of claims 17-21, wherein the first cylinder block outlet, the second cylinder block outlet, and the third cylinder block outlet create parallel fluid flow between the cylinder block and the lower cylinder head cover, wherein the fluid flow is received from the first cylinder block outlet by the first lower cylinder head cover inlet, the fluid flow is received from the second cylinder block outlet by the second lower cylinder head cover inlet, and the fluid flow is received from the third cylinder block outlet by the third lower cylinder head cover inlet.

23. The cooling system of any one of claims 12-15 and 17-21, wherein the cylinder block includes six cylinder block openings.

24. The cooling system of claim 23, wherein each of the six cylinder block openings has a respective cylinder block jacket and a respective lower cylinder head jacket.