Steel piston with filled gallery
AssigneeFederal-Mogul Corporation
InventorMichael Weinenger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steel piston for an internal combustion including a cooling gallery containing a solid coolant, such as an aluminum-based material, is provided. The solid coolant has a thermal conductivity which is greater than the thermal conductivity of the steel material and fills at least 15 volume percent (vol. %) of the cooling gallery. The solid coolant provides for exceptional cooling along a crown of the piston, reduces corrosion and erosion along the crown, and avoids the problem of oil coking.
Claims22
A piston for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a body formed of a steel material having a thermal conductivity;
- said body including a crown and a cooling gallery extending along at least a portion of said crown;
- a coolant filling at least 15 volume percent (vol. %) of said cooling gallery;
- said coolant having a thermal conductivity greater than said thermal conductivity of said steel material of said body;
- and
- said coolant being a solid material.
A method of manufacturing a piston for an internal combustion engine, comprising the step;
- providing a body formed of a steel material having a thermal conductivity, the body including a crown with a cooling gallery extending along at least a portion of the crown;
- and
- filling at least 15 volume percent (vol. %) of the cooling gallery with a coolant, the coolant having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of the steel material of the body, and the coolant being a solid material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.