Valve seat insert for high power density and marine engines
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsAshwin A. Hattiangadi, Abram M. Ingold, Rong Qu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve seat insert of an engine has a valve seating surface including an outer curved segment forming a first wear crown for contacting the valve at an early wear state, an inner curved segment forming a second wear crown for contacting the valve at a later wear state, and a linear segment extending between the outer and the inner curved segments. A sloping segment is oriented at an acute angle relative to the valve seat center axis, forming a venturi or a diffuser for gases entering or exiting the cylinder.
Claims20
An engine head assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- an engine head having a fluid conduit formed therein;
- a valve;
- a valve seat insert positioned at least partially within the engine head and defining a valve seat center axis extending between a first axial end surface structured to face a cylinder in the internal combustion engine, and a second axial end surface;
- the valve seat insert further having an inner peripheral surface forming a throat, an outer peripheral surface, and a valve seating surface;
- the valve seating surface including, in profile, an outer curved segment forming a first wear crown for contacting the valve at an early wear state, an inner curved segment forming a second wear crown for contacting the valve at a later wear state, and a linear segment extending between the outer curved segment and the inner curved segment;
- the inner peripheral surface including, in profile, a sloping segment;
- and
- the sloping segment is oriented at an acute angle relative to the valve seat center axis, such that the inner peripheral surface either forms a venturi to accelerate an incoming flow of gases to the cylinder or a diffuser to decelerate an outgoing flow of gases from the cylinder.
A valve seat insert for an intake valve in an internal combustion engine comprising:
- an annular insert body defining a valve seat center axis extending between a first axial end surface structured for facing the cylinder in the internal combustion engine, and a second axial end surface;
- the annular insert body further having an inner peripheral surface defining a throat structured to fluidly connect the cylinder to an intake conduit in an engine head, an outer peripheral surface, and a valve seating surface for contacting an intake valve extending between the first axial end surface and the inner peripheral surface;
- the valve seating surface including, in profile, an outer curved segment forming a first wear crown for contacting the intake valve at an early wear state, an inner curved segment forming a second wear crown for contacting the intake valve at a later wear state, and a linear segment extending between the outer curved segment and the inner curved segment;
- the inner peripheral surface including, in profile, a sloping segment extending between the second axial end surface and the inner curved segment;
- and
- the sloping segment extending radially inward from the second axial end surface at an acute angle, of about 20° or greater, relative to the valve seat center axis, such that the inner peripheral surface forms a venturi to accelerate an incoming flow of gases to the cylinder.
A valve seat insert for an exhaust valve in an internal combustion engine comprising:
- an annular insert body defining a valve seat center axis extending between a first axial end surface structured for facing the cylinder in the internal combustion engine, and a second axial end surface;
- the annular insert body further having an inner peripheral surface defining a throat structured to fluidly connect the cylinder to an exhaust conduit in an engine head, an outer peripheral surface, and a valve seating surface for contacting an exhaust valve extending between the first axial end surface and the inner peripheral surface;
- the valve seating surface including, in profile, an outer curved segment forming a first wear crown for contacting the exhaust valve at an early wear state, an inner curved segment forming a second wear crown for contacting the exhaust valve at a later wear state, and a linear segment extending between the outer curved segment and the inner curved segment;
- the inner peripheral surface including, in profile, an upper curved segment forming a top flow crown, and a sloping segment extending between the upper curved segment and the inner curved segment;
- and
- the upper curved segment transitioning with the second axial end surface, and the sloping segment extending radially inward from the upper curved segment at an acute angle, of about 15° or greater, relative to the valve seat center axis, such that the inner peripheral surface forms a diffuser to decelerate an outgoing flow of gases from the cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.