Cylinder head assembly having cooled valve insert

A method of cooling a cylinder head assembly, comprising:

• directing coolant into a cylinder head via at least one inlet passage;
• and
• circulating coolant from the at least one inlet passage through a plurality of cooling passages at least partially surrounding and formed by a plurality of pre-machined valve inserts;
• directing coolant from the plurality of cooling passages in a direction away from a cooling passage at least partially surrounding a fuel injector opening located at the center of the cylinder head;
• and
• directing coolant out of the cylinder head via at least one outlet passage located in between an adjacent pair of the plurality of inserts away from a center of the cylinder head.

An engine, comprising:

• an engine block at least partially defining a plurality of cylinders;
• and
• a plurality of cylinder head assemblies associated with the plurality of cylinders, each cylinder head assembly including:
• a cylinder head at least partially defining:
• a pair of intake valve openings;
• a pair of exhaust valve openings;
• a fuel injector opening centrally-located between the intake and exhaust valve openings;
• and
• a plurality of stepped bores associated with the intake and exhaust valve openings;
• a plurality of valve seat inserts, each valve seat insert being pressed into a respective one of the plurality of stepped bores;
• a plurality of cooling passages at least partially formed by the plurality of valve seat inserts and the plurality of stepped bores;
• at least one inlet passage disposed in the cylinder head and configured to:
• direct coolant towards the plurality of cooling passages, and
• direct coolant from the plurality of cooling passages in a direction away from a cooling passage at least partially surrounding a fuel injector opening at the center of the cylinder head;
• and
• at least one outlet passage disposed in the cylinder head at a location in between an adjacent pair of the plurality of valve openings away from the fuel injector opening and configured to direct coolant away from the plurality of cooling passages,
• wherein:
• each valve seat insert includes a first pre-machined recess forming a first side of one of the plurality of cooling passages;
• and
• each stepped bore includes a second pre-machined recess forming a second side of the one of the plurality of cooling passages.