US 12,215,651 B1
Cylinder head configured for improved cooling performance and manufacturability
Viorel Petrariu, Lafayette, IN (US); Jonathan R. Chittenden, West Lafayette, IN (US); and Michael D. Gough, Lafayette, IN (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/543,195.
Int. Cl. F02F 1/40 (2006.01); F01P 3/16 (2006.01); F02F 1/24 (2006.01)
CPC F02F 1/40 (2013.01) [F01P 3/16 (2013.01); F02F 1/242 (2013.01); F02F 2200/06 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cylinder head comprising:
a cylinder head casting formed of a cast material and including a top deck having a top deck upper surface and a top deck cavity surface, a bottom deck having a bottom deck combustion surface and a bottom deck cavity surface, a coolant cavity formed between the top deck cavity surface and the bottom deck cavity surface, and a plurality of gas exchange conduits extending through the coolant cavity to the bottom deck;
an igniter column defining a center axis, and including an upper section extending downwardly from the top deck, and a necked-down lower section formed of the cast material and extending upwardly from the bottom deck;
the igniter column further including an inner surface forming an igniter bore extending upwardly from an igniter seat, and an outer heat-dissipation surface formed on the upper section and the necked-down lower section;
the outer heat-dissipation surface is exposed, in circumferential uniformity, to the coolant cavity from the top deck cavity surface to the bottom deck cavity surface, and extends radially inward of the inner surface at locations axially between the igniter seat and the bottom deck cavity surface;
the cylinder head casting further including a concave transition surface connecting between the necked-down lower section and the bottom deck cavity surface and defining a uniform profile of rotation around the center axis; and
wherein the igniter column is formed of the cast material throughout and is continuous with the top deck and the bottom deck, and at least a portion of the outer heat-dissipation surface is as-cast.