Reciprocating engine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJason Joseph Bellardi, Andrew Jean Desrosiers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reciprocating engine includes a crankshaft and a connecting rod rotatably coupled to the crankshaft. The connecting rod defines a fluid passage extending along a length thereof. The reciprocating engine also includes a piston dome coupled to the connecting rod, the piston dome defining an inlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage of the connecting rod for receiving a fluid from the fluid passage of the connecting rod, a cooling passage in fluid communication with the inlet for circulating the fluid through the piston dome, and an exit in fluid communication with the cooling passage.
Claims15
A reciprocating engine comprising:
- a cylinder comprising a cylinder wall;
- a crankshaft;
- a connecting rod rotatably coupled to the crankshaft, the connecting rod defining a connecting rod fluid passage extending along a length thereof;
- and
- a piston dome comprising a hot side and a cold side, the piston dome coupled to the connecting rod and positioned within the cylinder, the piston dome defining an inlet in fluid communication with the connecting rod fluid passage and configured to receive a fluid from the connecting rod fluid passage, a piston dome cooling passage in the form of a duct enclosed by the piston dome and configured to circulate the fluid in a set directional flow through the piston dome, such that the piston dome cooling passage extends through the piston dome from the inlet, toward the hot side, proximate the hot side, and from proximate the hot side toward at least one branch point at which the piston dome cooling passage divides so as to direct the fluid toward a plurality of exits defined by a plurality of nozzles disposed on the cold side of the piston dome, the plurality of nozzles configured to spray the fluid directly onto the cylinder wall.
A piston assembly for a reciprocating engine including a crankshaft and a cylinder having a cylinder wall, the piston assembly comprising:
- a connecting rod extending between a first end and a second end, the connecting rod defining a connecting rod fluid passage extending from the first end to the second end;
- and
- a piston dome comprising a hot side and a cold side, the piston dome defining an inlet in fluid communication with the connecting rod fluid passage for receiving a fluid from the connecting rod fluid passage, a piston dome cooling passage in the form of a duct enclosed by the piston dome and configured to circulate the fluid in a set directional flow through the piston dome, such that the piston dome cooling passage extends through the piston dome from the inlet, toward the hot side, along the hot side, and from along the hot side toward at least one branch point at which the piston dome cooling passage divides so as to direct the fluid toward a plurality of exits disposed on the cold side of the piston dome, the plurality of exits configured to spray the fluid directly onto the cylinder wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.