The present disclosure relates generally to a method of manufacturing an engine block. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to remanufacturing an engine block by removing material from the top deck surrounding a plurality of openings and positioning inserts in the recessed areas.
Many components of an internal combustion engine are subject to high loads and wear during operation of the engine. One such component, for example, is the engine block, which may experience loads from combustion events occurring within combustion chambers formed by the cylinder head, pistons, and cylinder bores of the engine block. These events may subject the engine block to high loads and stresses, including thermal stresses and mechanical stresses, which may be transmitted to the engine block at, among other locations, the cylinder head, which is mounted to a top deck of the engine block, and the cylinder bores. As a result of these stresses, small cracks may form, or general wear may occur, within the engine block, particularly within or near the cylinder bores at the top deck of the engine block. In addition, wear and erosion may occur along edges of fluid passages surrounding the cylinder bores and opening through the top deck.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,295 teaches a method for repairing diesel engine cylinder blocks. Specifically, the cited reference teaches a method for removing selected portions along the longitudinal axis of a cylinder bore of the engine block, and installing inserts within the cavities formed within the cylinder bore. Although the described method may adequately repair cracks occurring within the cylinder bore, the reference does not contemplate cracks that may radiate from the cylinder bore and across the top deck of the engine block, or that may occur along edges of the surrounding water passages. Additionally, there remains a continuing need for methods of engine block repair and remanufacture that are effective and economically feasible.
In one aspect, a method for manufacturing an engine block includes removing material from the top deck of the engine block surrounding a first opening, such as a fluid passage, cylinder bore, or attachment bore, to create a first recessed area, positioning a first insert within the first recessed area, removing material from the top deck of the engine block surrounding a second opening, such as a fluid passage, cylinder bore, or attachment bore, to create a second recessed area that at least partially overlaps the first recessed area, and positioning a second insert within the second recessed area.
In another aspect, an engine block for an internal combustion engine includes a top deck, a first opening formed within the engine block and opening through the top deck, a second opening formed within the engine block and opening through the top deck, a first recessed area surrounding the first opening, a second recessed area surrounding the second opening, a first insert positioned within the first recessed area, and a second insert positioned within the second recessed area. The second recessed area and the second insert overlap the first recessed area and the first insert.
An exemplary embodiment of an engine block 10, also referred to as a cylinder block, is shown generally in
The engine block 10 may be a one-piece casting and may generally include an upper section 12 and a lower section 14. The upper section 12 of the engine block 10 may include a variety of openings, such as cylinder bores, fluid passages, and attachment bores. In the depicted embodiment, the upper section 12 may include a plurality of cylinder bores 16 formed within the engine block 10 and opening through a top deck 18 of the engine block 10. Although six cylinder bores 16 are shown, it should be appreciated that the engine block 10 may include any number of cylinder bores 16, each of which may or may not include a cylinder liner. A cylinder head (not shown) may be attached to the engine block 10, such as, for example, by using a plurality of attachment bolts that may be threadably received within a corresponding number of attachment bores 20. The cylinder head, as is known in the art, may seal each of the cylinder bores 16, thus creating combustion chambers therein, and may provide a structure for supporting intake and exhaust valves and/or ports, fuel injectors, necessary linkages, and/or other known devices or structures.
The upper section 12 of the engine block 10 may also include a plurality of fluid passages 22, such as water passages, circumferentially spaced about each cylinder bore 16. Although eight fluid passages 22 are shown, it should be appreciated that any number of fluid passages 22 may be provided throughout the engine block 10. Each fluid passage 22 may be formed within the engine block 10 and may open through the top deck 18, as shown. It should be appreciated that the fluid passages 22, and additional fluid passages and/or chambers within the engine block 10, may form a water jacket or other similar cooling system for controlling circulation of a coolant and providing proper cooling of the engine block 10. It should also be appreciated that the fluid passages 22, which may include ferrule type coolant directors, and/or the water jacket may be configured to provide cooling of the cylinder head, or components thereof, attached to the engine block 10. Furthermore, while the diameters of the fluid passages 22 shown in
The lower section 14 of the engine block 10 may also include and/or define a portion of the water jacket described above. The lower section 14 may be of conventional form, and may include a crankcase, in which a crankshaft rotates. The lower section 14 of the engine block 10, as well as the cylinder head and the internal combustion engine, in general, are not within the scope of the present disclosure and, therefore, will not be described herein in greater detail. It should be appreciated, however, that the engine block 10, including features described herein, is contemplated for use with any type and/or configuration of internal combustion engine.
Turning now to
During a manufacturing process 40 (
As used herein, “manufacturing” may refer broadly to the original manufacture, remanufacture, repair, or other similar process associated with the engine block 10. Specifically, engine block material, which may include one or more of the cracks 30, 34, 36, and 38 shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, the first recessed area 46 has a diameter D1 of about 20 mm to about 24 mm and a depth X1 of about 10 mm to about 14 mm. In another embodiment, the first recessed area 46 has a diameter D1 of about 22 mm and a depth X1 of about 12 mm. In yet another embodiment, the first recessed area 46 has a diameter D1 of about 30 mm to about 34 mm and a depth X1 of about 10 mm to about 14 mm. In yet a further embodiment, the first recessed area 46 has a diameter D1 of about 32 mm and a depth X1 of about 12 mm. In another embodiment, the engine block 10 has a plurality of first recessed areas 46 with some of the first recessed areas having diameter D1 of about 20 mm to about 24 mm while other of the first recessed areas having a diameter D1 of about 30 mm to about 34 mm. For example, the engine block 10 of
Turning now to
The first insert 50 has a thickness T1 and an outer diameter D2. The thickness T1 of the first insert 50 is configured to be equal to or greater than the depth X1 of the first recessed area 46. For example, in one embodiment, the first insert 50 has a thickness T1 of about 12 mm to 12.7 mm. In another embodiment, the first insert 50 has a thickness T1 of about 12.35 mm. The diameter D2 of the first insert 50 is configured to allow the first insert 50 to fit securely within the first recessed area 46. Thus, the diameter of the first insert 50 is matched to the corresponding first recessed area. For example, where an interference fit is used to secure the first insert 50 in the first recessed area 46, the diameter D2 of the first insert 50 is configured to be slightly larger than the diameter D1 of the first recessed area 46. In one embodiment, the first insert 50 has a diameter D2 about 0.02 mm to about 0.05 mm greater than the diameter D1 of the first recessed area 46, and preferably about 0.035 mm greater. As indicated above, a plurality of first recessed areas 46 may be made in the engine block 10 and some of the plurality of first recessed areas may be sized different than some of the other first recessed areas. Likewise, first inserts 50 with different diameters may be used on the same engine block 10 to match up with corresponding first recessed areas. In one embodiment, an engine block 10 includes a plurality of first inserts 50, some of which have a diameter that is about 40% or more greater than the diameter of the remaining plurality of first inserts.
As shown in
The first recessed area 46 has a depth X1 that is greater than the depth X2 of the second recessed area 70. In some embodiments, for example, the depth of the first recessed area may be 50% or more greater that the depth of the second recessed area. As a result, a lens-shaped shoulder 72 is formed on the first insert 50. In some embodiments, however, it may be possible to form the first insert 50 with the shoulder 72 as opposed to machining the shoulder when forming the second recessed area 70. When the first insert 50 is installed, the shoulder may be positioned toward the bore. Thus, the second recessed area 70 may be formed without removing material from the first insert 50.
It will be understood that engine block material may be removed from the top deck 18 surrounding each of the plurality of cylinder bores 16, resulting in a corresponding number of second recessed areas 70. Furthermore, it will be understood that the diameter D4 and depth X2 of the second recessed area 70 may vary for different engine sizes and types and may vary on a single engine block if desired. In one embodiment, the second recessed area 70 has a diameter D4 of about 211 mm to about 215 mm and a depth X2 of about 5.5 mm to about 9.7 mm. In another embodiment, the first recessed area 46 has a diameter D4 of about 213 mm and a depth X1 of about 7.6 mm.
As shown in
The second insert 78 has a thickness T2 and an outer diameter D5 (see
The outer diameter D5 of the second insert 78 is configured to allow the second insert 78 to fit securely within the second recessed area 70 and overlap the first insert 50 the radial distance DR. Thus, the outer diameter D5 of the second insert 78 is matched to the second recessed area 70. For example, where an interference fit is used to secure the second insert 78 in the second recessed area 70, the diameter D5 of the second insert 78 is configured to be slightly larger than the diameter D4 of the second recessed area 70. In one embodiment, the second insert 78 has a diameter D5 about 0.044 mm to about 0.084 mm greater than the diameter D4 of the second recessed area 70, and preferably about 0.064 mm greater.
The first insert 50 and the second insert 78 may be made from stainless steel, or any other useful material, and may include a substantially uniform thickness. In the depicted embodiment, while not illustrated, it will be understood that after positioning the first insert 50 and the second insert 78 within the first and second recessed areas 46, 70, respectively, a machining tool may be used to plane the surface of the top deck 18, thus removing any excess portions of the first insert 50 and second insert 78. Such a procedure may ensure a substantially planar surface of the top deck 18 after the first insert 50 and the second insert 78 have been positioned within the first and second recessed areas 46, 70, respectively.
The present disclosure finds potential applicability to any engine block that may be subject to operational loads causing cracks and/or wear. Further, the disclosure may be specifically applicable to engine blocks having cracks radiating from cylinder bores and extending across a top deck of the engine block. Yet further, the present disclosure may be applicable to fluid passages surrounding such cylinder bores that may be subject to general wear and/or erosion. Although the disclosure describes the remanufacture, or repair, of such engine blocks, the method described herein may also be used during manufacture to reduce the occurrence of such cracks and/or wear during operation.
During remanufacture, or repair, the engine block 10 may be inspected for cracks, such as by visual inspection or using a magneflux check or other known means. Cracks, such as cracks 30, 34, 36, and 38, may be discovered during the inspection. Additionally, one or more of the fluid passages 22 may exhibit wear and/or erosion around the openings thereof, along the top deck 18 of the engine block 10. To repair the engine block 10, as shown in
It will be understood that the engine block 10 may include multiple top decks (such as with a Vee-style engine), multiple cylinder bores 16, and multiple fluid passages 22. Thus, the manufacturing method 40 may include creating multiple first recessed areas 46 and second recessed areas 70 and using multiple first inserts 50 and second inserts 78 in corresponding recessed areas. A plurality of first and second inserts 50, 78 may be packaged together as a repair kit for a predetermined engine.
It should be appreciated that cracks, such as cracks formed within or radiating from the first and second recessed areas 46, 70, may occur after repair. The presently disclosed method 40, as described herein, may be repeated to repair such cracks. Specifically, the first and second inserts 50, 78 may be removed, such as by creating one or more threaded bores within the inserts 50, 78 to attach a removal tool, and the additional cracks and/or wear occurring near the cylinder bore 16 and fluid passages 22 may be machined out. However, the recessed areas 46, 70 may be enlarged only an amount sufficient to remove most of the cracks and/or wear, without interfering with other structures or components of the engine block 10. As such, the engine block 10 may be limited to a finite number of repairs. After the additional engine block material has been removed, an appropriately dimensioned inserts 50, 78 may be press fit within the corresponding recessed areas 46, 70.
The presently disclosed method may provide an effective means for repairing cracks and/or wear occurring within an engine block, particularly at or near a cylinder bore and surrounding water passages. Alternatively, the present disclosure may be implemented during manufacture of an engine block to reduce the occurrence of such cracks and/or wear.
It should be appreciated that the disclosed method may be used on other openings in the engine block.
It should be understood that the above description is intended for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the disclosure can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20130081589 A1 | Apr 2013 | US |