[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling heat transfer by placement
in a groove-like flow passage provided between an inner wall and an outer wall of
the cylinder block of an internal combustion engine in which a plurality of cylinders
are disposed and controls heat transfer between the cooling heat medium flowing through
the flow passage and the inner wall.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is generally known that the temperature in the upper portion of a cylinder block
in an internal combustion engine, which is near the combustion chamber, becomes higher
than the temperature in the lower portion of the cylinder block.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 2000-345838 describes a cooling structure for an internal combustion engine that partitions a
groove-like flow passage in the cylinder block of an internal combustion engine in
the axial direction of cylinders to reduce the difference in temperature in the vertical
direction or the axial direction of cylinder bores in a cylinder block. The cooling
structure decreases the difference in temperature in the up-and-down direction of
each cylinder bore by providing a difference in flow volume between an upper portion
and a lower portion of the groove-like flow passage.
[0003] In the above structure, the difference in temperature in the up-and-down direction
of one cylinder bore may be reduced. However, the difference in temperature in the
direction of arrangement of a plurality of cylinders cannot be reduced because the
temperature of cooling water is increased while it is flowing through the cylinders.
[0005] Since cooling water is partitioned among the individual cylinders, it is necessary
to control flow volume of the cooling water that rises in each cylinder so that a
cooling condition of the upper side of the bores in the respective cylinders is the
same. Although the flow volume of the cooling water is controlled with a partition
panel, high-accuracy control with the panel is quite difficult. Therefore, the difference
in temperature in the direction of arrangement of the cylinders cannot be sufficiently
reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for
controlling heat transfer with a heat medium for cooling an internal combustion engine
that reduces not only a difference in temperature in the up-and-down direction of
each cylinder bore but also a difference in temperature among the plurality of cylinders,
without partitioning the heat medium among the cylinders.
[0007] In order to achieve the foregoing object and in accordance with a first aspect of
the present invention, an apparatus (2) for controlling heat transfer between a cooling
heat medium for cooling an internal combustion engine in which the medium flows through
a groove-like flow passage and an inner wall(18, 118, 218, 318) of a cylinder block(14)
of the internal combustion engine is provided. The apparatus (2) is disposed in the
groove-like flow passage. The groove-like flow passage is provided between the inner
wall (18, 118, 218, and 318) and an outer wall (20) of the cylinder block (14) housing
a plurality of cylinders (#1-#4). The apparatus (2) comprises includes a lower side
cover (4, 104, 204, 304, 404) and a guiding member (6, 8, 106, 108, 206, 208, 306,
308, 406-409). The lower side cover (4, 104, 204, 304, 404) covers a lower side of
the inner wall (18, 118, 218, 318) and exposes the upper side of the inner wall (18,
118, 218, 318) to the cooling heat medium that flows from outside of the outer wall
(20) through the groove-like flow passage in the direction of arrangement of the cylinders
(#1-#4). The guiding member (6, 8, 106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308, 406-409) is disposed
in the groove-like flow passage for upwardly guiding the cooling heat medium that
flows on the outer surface of the lower side cover (4, 104, 204, 304, 404) onto the
upper side of the inner wall(18, 118, 218, 318).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood
by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1A is a plan view; Fig. 1B, a left side view; Fig. 1C, a front view; Fig. 1D,
a right side view; and Fig. 1E, a bottom view; illustrating a heat transfer controlling
apparatus of a first embodiment;
Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the first
embodiment of Figs. 1A-E; Fig. 2B is a rear view of the first embodiment of the heat
transfer controlling apparatus; and Fig. 2C is a perspective view of the heat transfer
controlling apparatus of the first embodiment viewed from a different direction from
that of Fig. 2A;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the heat transfer
controlling apparatus;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating mounting of the heat transfer controlling
apparatus of the first embodiment in a 4-cylinder internal combustion engine for vehicles;
Fig. 5 is a partial cut-away view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the
first embodiment mounted in the internal combustion engine with a part of the cylinder
block being removed for clarity;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the first embodiment
after the apparatus was mounted in the internal combustion engine;
Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of first embodiment
taken along the line X-X of Fig. 6 illustrating the arrangement of the apparatus;
Fig. 8A is a plan view; Fig. 8B, a left side view; Fig. 8C, a front view; Fig. 8D,
a right side view; and Fig. 8E, a bottom view; illustrating a heat transfer controlling
apparatus of a second embodiment;
Fig. 9A is a perspective view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the second
embodiment of Figs. 8A-E; Fig. 9B is a rear view of the second embodiment of the heat
transfer controlling apparatus; and Fig. 9C is a perspective view of the heat transfer
controlling apparatus of the second embodiment viewed from a different direction from
that of Fig. 9A;
Fig. 10 is a partial cut-away view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the
second embodiment mounted in the internal combustion engine with a part of the cylinder
block being removed for clarity;
Fig. 11 is a schematic view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of second embodiment
taken along the line Y-Y of Fig. 10 illustrating the arrangement of the apparatus;
Fig. 12A is a plan view; Fig. 12B, a left side view; Fig. 12C, a front view; Fig.
12D, a right side view; and Fig. 12E, a bottom view; illustrating a heat transfer
controlling apparatus of a third embodiment;
Fig. 13A is a perspective view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the third
embodiment of Figs. 12A-E; Fig. 13B is a rear view of the third embodiment of the
heat transfer controlling apparatus; and Fig. 13C is a perspective view of the heat
transfer controlling apparatus of the third embodiment viewed from a different direction
from that of Fig. 13A;
Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the third embodiment of the heat transfer
controlling apparatus;
Fig. 15 is a partial cut-away view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the
third embodiment mounted in the internal combustion engine with a part of the cylinder
block being removed for clarity;
Fig. 16 is a schematic view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of third embodiment
taken along the line Z-Z of Fig. 15 illustrating the arrangement of the apparatus;
Fig. 17 is a partial enlarged view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the
third embodiment;
Fig. 18A is a plan view; Fig. 18B, a left side view; Fig. 18C, a front view; Fig.
18D, a right side view; and Fig. 18E, a bottom view; illustrating a heat transfer
controlling apparatus of a fourth embodiment;
Fig. 19A is a perspective view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the fourth
embodiment of Figs. 18A-E; and Fig. 19B is a rear view of the fourth embodiment of
the heat transfer controlling apparatus;
Fig. 20 is a partial cut-away view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the
fourth embodiment mounted in the internal combustion engine with a part of the cylinder
block being removed for clarity;
Fig. 21 is a schematic view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of fourth embodiment
taken along the line S-S of Fig. 20 illustrating the arrangement of the apparatus;
Fig. 22A is a plan view; Fig. 22B, a left side view; Fig. 22C, a front view; Fig.
22D, a right side view; and Fig. 22E, a bottom view; illustrating a heat transfer
controlling apparatus of a further embodiment;
Fig. 23A is a perspective view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the further
embodiment of Figs. 22A-E; Fig. 23B is a rear view of the further embodiment of the
heat transfer controlling apparatus; and Fig. 23C is a perspective view of the heat
transfer controlling apparatus of the further embodiment viewed from a different direction
from that of Fig. 23A; and
Fig. 24A is a perspective view of the heat transfer controlling apparatus of the further
embodiment of Fig. 22 with which guide panels are provided; and Fig. 24B is a front
view of the apparatus of Fig. 24A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] An apparatus for controlling heat transfer with a heat medium for cooling an internal
combustion engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described
hereinafter.
[0010] Referring to Figs. 1A-3, a heat transfer controlling apparatus 2 includes a lower
side cover 4, guiding members 6 and 8 and partitions 10 and 12. The lower side cover
4 is a part that supports the entire structure of the apparatus 2 and is made of material
more rigid than those of the guiding members 6 and 8 and the partitions 10 and 12.
In this embodiment, the lower side cover 4 is made of olefin resin. The lower side
cover 4 is shaped such that, when inserted into a water jacket 16 provided in an open
deck-type cylinder block 14 of an internal combustion engine, the cover 4 is disposed
in close contact with a lower portion of an inner wall 18 of cylinder block 14 while
an upper portion of the inner wall 18 is left uncovered. The water jacket 16 corresponds
to a groove-like flow passage through which the cooling heat medium flows. Specifically,
the length of the lower side cover 4 is shorter than the depth of the water jacket
16 and the width of the lower side cover 4 is smaller than that of the water jacket
16. The lower side cover 4 is in a shape corresponding to where circles interface
so as to conform to the water jacket 16. Thus, the number of circles is the same as
that of the cylinders (in the first embodiment, four, i.e., #1 to #4 cylinders) and
the inner peripheral surface 4a of the cover 4 is substantially the same as the outer
peripheral surface 18e of the inner wall 18.
[0011] Then, as illustrated in Fig. 4, when the heat transfer controlling apparatus 2, in
which the lower side cover 4, the guiding members 6 and 8 and the partitions 10 and
12 are integrally formed, and is placed in the water jacket 16, the lower side cover
4 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface 18e of the inner wall
18, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Thus, a flow passage for the cooling water (cooling
heat medium) is formed between the lower side cover 4 and the outer wall 20 at the
lower side of the inner wall 18. This decreases heat transfer from the inner wall
18 in which bores 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d reside at the lower side of the inner wall 18.
The lower side of the inner wall 18 is hard to cool and the temperature of cooling
water flowing there is hard to increase. In contrast, the upper side of the inner
wall 18 which is not covered with the lower side cover 4 is easy to cool and the temperature
of cooling water flowing there is easily increased, since heat transfer from the inner
wall 18 is greater at the upper side than the lower side.
[0012] The guiding members 6 and 8 and the partitions 10 and 12 are formed of olefinic elastomer.
The partitions 10 and 12 is provided at the upper end of the lower side cover 4 and
have a width slight greater than that of the water jacket 16. Thus, when the apparatus
2 is pressed into the water jacket 16 as illustrated in Fig. 4, the apparatus 2 gets
into close contact with the inner wall 18 and the outer wall 20 as illustrated Figs.
5 and 7 to vertically divide the water jacket 16 at the level of the partitions 10
and 12.
[0013] The guiding members 6 and 8 extend diagonally from one end of the partitions 10 and
12, respectively, between the outer peripheral surface 4b of the lower side cover
4 and the outer wall 20. Cooling water flows from an inlet 22 formed in the outer
wall 20 into the water jacket 16. The shorter guiding member 6 is positioned at upstream
end of the partition 10 located on the upstream side of the cooling water. The longer
guiding member 8 is positioned at upstream end of the partition 12 located on the
downstream side of the cooling water.
[0014] Accordingly, the cooling water flows from the inlet 22 as illustrated by the dashed
line in Fig.5 and about the upper half of the cooling water, which flows on the lower
side of the inner wall 18 that is covered with the lower side cover 4, is guided onto
the upper side of the inner wall 18 that is uncovered with the lower side cover 4
by an inclined face 6a of the shorter guiding member 6. The guided cooling water at
a lower temperature reaches the cooling water at high temperature flowing on the upper
side of the inner wall 18 directly from the inlet 22 to merge so that a high volume
flow of merged water, the temperature rise of which is suppressed, advances downstream
rapidly.
[0015] After the merged water flow passes through the most downstream side of the partition
10, where an opening 24 exists as a gap between the partition 10 and the partition
12. The longer guiding member 8 extends diagonally from the end of the partition 12
toward the opening 24 to the bottom of the water jacket 16.
[0016] The cooling water flow that was not guided onto the upper side of inner wall 18 by
the shorter guiding member 6 at the upstream side of the partition 10 is now guided
onto the upper side of the inner wall 18 by an inclined face 8a of the longer guiding
member 8 to merge with the cooling water flow that flows on the upper side of the
inner wall 18 from #1 to #4 cylinders.
[0017] This merger suppresses the temperature rise or decreases the temperature of the cooling
water that has flowed over the upper side of the inner wall 18. The merged cooling
water flow in high volume rapidly flows on the upper side of the inner wall 18 at
the back of the figure from the cylinders #4 to #1 as illustrated in Fig. 5. Then
the water flow rises at the cylinder #1 toward the water flow passage on the side
of the cylinder head.
[0018] The first embodiment as described has the following advantages.
[0019] First, the heat transfer controlling apparatus 2 does not perform a division among
the cylinders about either the upper side or lower side of the inner wall 18 in which
there are bores 18a-18d in the cylinder block 14. The cooling water flows in the direction
of arrangement of the cylinders without being divided per cylinder.
[0020] The lower side cover 4 covers the lower side of the inner wall 18 such that the lower
side of the inner wall 18 is not exposed directly to the cooling water that flows
from the outside of the outer wall 20 into the water jacket 16. Meanwhile, the upper
side of the inner wall 18, in which combustion is conducted, is exposed directly to
the cooling water and cooled easier than the lower side of the inner wall 18. Thus,
difference in temperature in the vertical direction of each of the bores 18a-18d can
be reduced.
[0021] The guiding members 6 and 8 are provided on the outer surface of the lower side cover
4. The guiding members 6 and 8 include the inclined faces 6a and 8a, respectively,
that extend longer from bottom to top as the guiding members 6 and 8 are located further
downstream of the cooling water. By virtue of the guiding members 6 and 8, cooling
water at a lower temperature is guided from the lower side to the upper side of the
inner wall 18 at a plurality of points (here, two points).
[0022] Specifically, the cooling water flowing from outside of the outer wall 20 is first
guided onto the upper side of the inner wall 18 at one point by the upstream shorter
guiding member 6. This suppresses the temperature rise or decreases the temperature
of the cooling water on the upper portion of the inner wall 18. The flow volume of
the cooling water on the upper portion of the inner wall 18 is also increased. Thus,
the cooling at the upper side of the inner wall 18 is effectively conducted so that
the difference in temperature in the up-and-down direction of each of the cylinder
bores 18a-18d as well as the differences in temperature among the cylinders are reduced.
[0023] Then, there is another guiding member (i.e., the downstream longer guiding member
8 in this embodiment) in the arranging direction of the cylinders. Again, the cooling
water at a lower temperature is guided from the lower side to the upper side of the
inner wall 18. The cooling water having an increased temperature that has flowed on
the upper side of the inner wall 18 is merged with the guided cooling water having
a relatively low temperature to suppress the temperature rise or decrease the temperature
of the cooling water that has flowed on the upper side of thinner wall 18. The upper
portion of the bores 18a-18d can be sufficiently cooled even at the downstream of
the water jacket 16 and difference in temperature among the bores 18-18d of the cylinders
#1-4 can be reduced.
[0024] Thus, not only a difference in temperature in the up-and-down direction of each of
the cylinder bores 18a-18d but also a difference in temperatures among the cylinders
#1-4 can be reduced without partitioning the cooling water among the cylinders #1-4.
[0025] Second, the partitions 10 and 12 that divide the water jacket 16 in the vertical
direction are provided at the upper end of the lower side cover 4. Further, the opening
24 is formed between the partitions 10 and 12. The opening 24 introduces the cooling
water, which is guided onto the upper side of the inner wall 18 by the guiding member
8, to the portion of water jacket 16 above the partitions 10 and 12.
[0026] Accordingly, the cooling water guided upward by the guiding member 8 can be easily
moved to the space above the partitions 10 and 12, and, again, the cooling water at
a lower temperature is introduced to the upper side of the inner wall 18 in the water
jacket 16 to suppress the temperature rise or decrease the temperature of the cooling
water that has flowed on the upper side of the inner wall 18.
[0027] In particular, the partitions 10 and 12 can reliably divide the cooling water flow
into the lower side of the inner wall 18 that is covered with the lower side cover
4 and the upper side of the inner wall 18 that is uncovered with the lower side cover
4. This ensures the control of difference in temperature in the vertical direction
of the bores 18a-18d.
[0028] A heat transfer controlling apparatus 102 according to a second embodiment is described
as follows.
[0029] As illustrated in Figs. 8A-11, the apparatus 102 of the second embodiment is different
from that of the first embodiment in that the upper end of the lower side cover 104
is made lower at the downstream side or back side of the water jacket 116. In other
words, the upper end of the lower side cover 104 becomes shorter in the direction
of arrangement of the cylinders as the cooling heat medium flows further downstream
at every point where the guiding members 106 and 108 are located. In particular, the
downstream partition 112 is disposed lower than the upstream partition 110 in the
axial direction of the bores 118a-118d. Thus, the length of the downstream guiding
member 108 is shorter than that of the guiding member 8 of the first embodiment. Other
structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.
[0030] Accordingly, the cooling water flows from the inlet 122 as illustrated by the dashed
line in Fig. 10 and about half of the cooling water, which flows on the lower side
of the inner wall 118 that is covered with the lower side cover 104, is guided onto
the upper side of the inner wall 118 that is uncovered with the lower side cover 104
by the shorter guiding member 106. Similarly to the first embodiment, the guided cooling
water reaches the cooling water flowing on the upper side of the inner wall 118 directly
from the inlet 122 to merge so that the merged water advances downstream rapidly.
[0031] After the merged water flow passes through the most down side part of the partition
110, where an opening 124 is provided as a gap between the partition 110 and the partition
112. The guiding member 108 extends diagonally from the end of the partition 112 toward
the opening 124 to the bottom of the water jacket 116. The guiding member 108 guides
the cooling water that has flowed over the lower side of the inner wall 118 to the
upper side of the inner wall 118 and allows the cooling water to merge with the cooling
water having a high temperature that has flowed on the upper side of the inner wall
18 from the cylinder #1 to the cylinder #4.
[0032] This merger suppresses the temperature rise or decreases the temperature of the cooling
water. The merged cooling water in high volume rapidly flows on the upper side of
the inner wall 118 at the back of the figure, which is wider than the upper side of
the inner wall 118 at the front of the figure, above the partition 112 from the cylinder
#4 to #1, as illustrated in Fig. 10. Then the water flow rises at the cylinder #1
toward the water flow passage on the side of the cylinder head.
[0033] The second embodiment as described has the following advantage.
[0034] As illustrated in Fig. 11, on the downstream side of the opening 124, flow passage
of the cooling water is wider on the upper side of the inner wall 118 or above the
partition 112. In other words, cross section of the low passage is increased. Thus,
in addition to the two advantages of the first embodiment, flow resistance of the
heat medium, which plays an important role in cooling the bores, on the upper side
of the inner wall 118 is suppressed. Pressure loss is not increased greatly and smooth
flow of the medium is maintained.
[0035] Referring to Figs. 12A-17, a heat transfer controlling apparatus 202 according to
a third embodiment is described below.
[0036] The apparatus 202 is different from that of the first embodiment in that gaps 250
and 252 are provided between the lower side cover 204 and the inner wall 218, as illustrated
in Fig. 16. In the intermediate part of the lower side cover 204, at the location
of the cylinder #4 herein, a step 254 extends in a radial direction of the cover 204.
Accordingly, the gap 252 on the downstream side is greater than the gap 250 on the
upstream side.
[0037] Upstream of the step 254, a flow-resistant panel 256 protrudes upwardly from the
upper end of the lower side cover 204. The upper end of the flow-resistant panel 256
is at the same level as the upper end of the inner wall 218.
[0038] In the intermediate portion of the upstream partition 210 near the upstream end,
a shorter guiding member 206 is connected to the partition 210. The partition 210
is made narrower upstream of the guiding member 206. A notch 210a is formed in the
downstream end of the partition 210. As illustrated in Fig. 15, the apparatus 202
is mounted in the cylinder block 214 so that the inner side of the partition 210 contacts
the outer peripheral surface of the inner wall 218. Then the notch 210a forms a communication
port 258 that connects the upper side of the partition 210 with the gap 250 on the
upstream side of the flow-resistant panel 256.
[0039] In the intermediate portion of the downstream partition 212 near the upstream end,
a longer guiding member 208 is connected to the partition 212. The partition 212 is
made narrower upstream of the guiding member 208. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 17,
cooling water flowing on the lower side of the inner wall 218, which has been guided
by the guiding member 208, can flow into the upper space of the downstream partition
212 without being disturbed by the flow-resistant panel 256 and the partition 212.
[0040] Accordingly, cooling water, which has been guided to the upper side of the inner
wall 218 or above the upstream partition 210 by the shorter guiding member 206, reaches
the cylinder #4 as illustrated in Fig. 17. Then, the flow-resistant panel 256 allows
the cooling water to flow through the communication port 258 into the gaps 250 and
252. In turn, the flow-resistant panel 256 also allows the cooling water that has
flowed over the lower side of the inner wall 218 outside the lower side cover 204
to the cylinder #4 to rise and flow on the upper side of the inner wall 218 or above
the down stream partition 212.
[0041] The third embodiment as described has the following advantage.
[0042] By exchanging the cooling water having an elevated temperature with the cooling water
having a lower temperature in mid-flow, the same advantage as the two advantages described
in the first embodiment can be achieved. Since the cooling water flows are exchanged,
not merged, pressure loss is suppressed and smooth flow is maintained, although the
flow cross-section above the upstream partition 210 and the flow cross-section above
the downstream 212 are the same.
[0043] Referring to Figs. 18A-21, a heat transfer controlling apparatus 302 according to
a fourth embodiment is described next.
[0044] The apparatus 302 of the fourth embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment
in that no partitions exist. Other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.
[0045] Accordingly, the cooling water flows from the inlet 322 as illustrated in by dashed
line in Fig. 20 and about half of the cooling water, which flows on the lower side
of the inner wall 318 that is covered with the lower side cover 304, is guided onto
the upper side of the inner wall 318 that is uncovered with the lower side cover 304
by the upstream guiding member 306. The guided cooling water reaches the cooling water
flowing on the upper side of the inner wall 318 directly from the inlet 322 to merge
so that the merged water advances downstream while heat is transferred from the inner
wall 318. Then, at the location of the cylinder #4, the guiding member 308 that extends
the bottom of the water jacket 316 guides the cooling water that has flowed on the
lower side of the inner wall 318 to the upper side of the inner wall 318. The cooling
water flowing on the upper side of the inner wall 318 from the cylinder #1 to #4 having
a high temperature is merged with the cooling water having a lower temperature.
[0046] This merger suppresses the temperature rise or decreases the temperature of the cooling
water that directly contacts the outer peripheral surface of the inner wall 318. The
merged cooling water then flows in the direction of arrangement of cylinders at the
back of the figure from the cylinders #4 to #1 as illustrated in Fig. 20. Then the
water flow rises at the cylinder #1 toward the water flow passage on the side of the
cylinder head.
[0047] The fourth embodiment as described has the following advantage.
[0048] There are no partitions. However, since the density of the cooling water is decreased
due to the increase in temperature, the cooling water that directly contacts the outer
peripheral surface of the inner wall 318 on the upper side thereof tends to remain
in a flowing path on the upper side. The cooling water flowing on the upper side of
the inner wall 318 is difficult to mix with the cooling water flowing on the lower
side of inner wall 318. However, it is possible to guide the cooling water having
a lower temperature on the lower side of the inner wall 318 upwardly to merge the
cooling water on the upper side of the inner wall 318 in mid-flow so that the temperature
rise of the cooling water is suppressed or the temperature of the cooling water is
decreased. The fourth embodiment provides similar advantages to those of the first
embodiment with a simple structure.
[0049] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may
be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope
of the invention. Particularly, it should be understood that the invention may be
embodied in the following forms.
[0050] In the above embodiments, the guiding members are provided at two points in the flow
direction of the cooling water. However, more than two guiding members may be provided.
For example, the first embodiment may be modified according to a further embodiment
as illustrated in Fig. 22A-23C. The four guiding members 406, 407, 408 and 409 are
disposed over the lower side cover 404 from the upper end of the four partitions 410,
411, 412 and 413, respectively. In this case, the guiding members 406-409 are longer
as they are located further downstream.
[0051] By guiding cooling water having a lower temperature upwardly at three points in mid-flow,
the temperature among the cylinders becomes more uniform and the difference in temperature
is reduced. The quantity of guiding members may be three or more than four. This is
applicable to the second to fourth embodiments.
[0052] To divide the cooling water having a lower temperature more uniformly and to merge,
it is preferred that the cooling water be divided in the water jacket at as far upstream
as possible. For example, with respect to the structure of Figs. 22 and 23, guide
panels 452 and 454 may be provided at the distal end of the middle guiding members
407 and 408 along the arranging direction of the cylinders, as illustrated in Fig.
24.
[0053] Other than olefinic resin, the lower side cover may be formed of any material that
holds its shape when the temperature in the water jacket is elevated during the operation
of the internal combustion engine. For example, the lower side cover may be formed
of relatively rigid resin such as polyamide thermoplastic resin (PA66 and PPA), olefinic
thermoplastic resin (PP), and polyphenylene sulfide thermoplastic resin (PPS). To
enhance the rigidity, the material may be reinforced with glass fiber. Further, the
lower side cover may be made of the same material as the guiding members and the partitions,
as described below.
[0054] Other than olefinic elastomer, it is preferred that the guiding members and the partitions
be made of a rubber elastic body or other flexible resin. For example, the rubber
elastic body includes, but is not limited to, crosslinked rubber such as EPDM, silicone,
and olefinic thermoplastic elastomer. Particularly, the material which is resistant
to the cooling water is selected for the guiding members and the partitions. The guiding
members and the partitions may be made of the same material as the lower side cover,
as described above.
[0055] The attachment of the guiding members and the partitions to the lower side cover
is achieved by adhesion, thermal caulking, fitting, welding, integral molding by injection
molding, mechanical fixation with a grommet or a clip, and a combination thereof.
Thus, an integral apparatus is produced. However, the apparatus is not necessary integrally
formed and it is sufficient if the apparatus as a whole plays its role in the water
jacket 16.
[0056] In the above embodiments, the guiding member is attached to the outer peripheral
surface of the lower side cover along the entire length of the guiding member. However,
by providing one or more inclined faces in the form of a step with the lower side
cover, the lower side cover may serve as the guiding member.
1. An apparatus (2) for controlling heat transfer between a cooling heat medium for cooling
an internal combustion engine in which the medium flows through a groove-like flow
passage and an inner wall(18, 118, 218, 318) of a cylinder block(14) of the internal
combustion engine, the apparatus (2) is disposed in the groove-like flow passage,
the groove-like flow passage being provided between the inner wall(18, 118, 218, 318)
and an outer wall(20) of the cylinder block(14) housing a plurality of cylinders (#1-#4),
characterized in that the apparatus (2) comprises
a lower side cover (4, 104, 204, 304, 404) for covering a lower side of the inner
wall (18, 118, 218, 318) and exposing the upper side of the inner wall (18, 118, 218,
318) to the cooling heat medium that flows from outside of the outer wall (20) through
the groove-like flow passage in the direction of arrangement of the cylinders (#1-#4);
and
a guiding member (6, 8, 106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308, 406-409) disposed in the groove-like
flow passage for upwardly guiding the cooling heat medium that flows on the outer
surface of the lower side cover (4, 104, 204, 304, 404) onto the upper side of the
inner wall(18, 118, 218, 318).
2. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the guiding member (6, 8, 106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308, 406-409) is provided at a
plurality of points in the direction of arrangement of the cylinders (#1-#4).
3. The apparatus of claim 2, characterized in that a partition (10, 12, 110, 112, 210, 212) for dividing the groove-like flow passage
in the vertical direction is provided at the upper end of the lower side cover (4,
104, 204) and an opening (24, 124) for introducing the cooling heat medium that has
been guided onto the upper side of the inner wall (18, 118, 218) by the guiding member
(8, 108, 208) to the portion of groove-like flow passage above the partitions (10,
12, 110, 112, 210, 212).
4. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3 characterized in that the upper end of the lower side cover (104) becomes lower in the direction of arrangement
of the cylinders(#1-#4) as the cooling heat medium flows further downstream at each
point where the guiding member (106, 108) is located.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 characterized in that the lower side cover (204) covers the lower side of the inner wall(218) via a gap
(250), a flow-resistant panel (256) is disposed more upstream of the cooling heat
medium than the opening (24, 124) above the partition (210) in the groove-like flow
passage, and a communication port(258) for communicating the upper side of the partition
(210) with the gap (250) is formed in the partition (210) more upstream of the cooling
heat medium than the flow-resistant panel (256).
6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the guiding member (6, 8, 106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308, 406-409) includes an inclined
face(6a, 8a) provided on the outer surface of the lower side cover (4, 104, 204, 304,
404), the inclined face(6a, 8a) extending longer from bottom to top as the guiding
members (6, 8, 106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308, 406-409) are located more downstream
of the cooling heat medium.
7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the guiding member (6, 8, 106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308, 406-409) is longer as the
guiding members (6, 8, 106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308, 406-409) are located more downstream
of the cooling heat medium.
8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that guide panel(452, 454) extends from the distal end of the guiding member (407, 408)
along the direction of arrangement of the cylinders (#1-4).