Engine cooling system and method for making same

Abstract

Engine cooling system and method for making same wherein an engine, engine casing, or component thereof or a component related thereto has at least one cooling fin ( 18 ) having at least a portion of an edge surface ( 32 ) including an engraved, or intagliated portion ( 40 ). Preferably the surface edge includes a plurality of itagliated portions ( 40 ) with each portion including at least two elongated concavities being in preselected orientation and relationship to each other to improve the cooling efficiency of the fin and thus allow the engine to operate in wider, more extreme range of temperatures and environments. The present invention is particularly well suited, but not limited to air-cooled engines and related components such as component covers, inspection/access covers, and oil coolers and is therefore readily adaptable to engines used to propel motor vehicles such as, but not limited to, motorcycles.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An engine component comprising: 
 at least one thermally conductive cooling fin structure, the cooling fin structure including a first surface, an oppositely facing second surface, and an edge surface in communication with the first surface and the second surface; and    at least a portion of the edge surface of the fin structure including at least one intagliated region comprising at least two concavities of a preselected configuration therein.    
     
     
         2 . The engine component of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the concavities is an elongated concavity.  
     
     
         3 . The engine component of  claim 1 , wherein at least one intagliated region comprises at least one first, upper elongated concavity and at least one second, lower elongated concavity.  
     
     
         4 . The engine component of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said concavities defines a central region and at least one end region, said central region having a depth, as determined from said edge surface, which is dimensionally larger than a depth defined by said end region as determined from said edge surface.  
     
     
         5 . The engine component of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a majority of the edge surface of the fin structure defines concavities therein.    
     
     
         6 . The engine component of  claim 1 , wherein the engine component is selected from the group consisting of a engine casing, a cylinder, a cylinder head, an engine component cover, a rocker arm cover, a cam cover, an inspection cover, an access cover, an oil cooler, a tube and shell heat exchanger.  
     
     
         7 . The engine component of  claim 1 , wherein said edge surface defines a longitudinal axis and one of said concavities defines a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis of said one of said concavities being oriented at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis of said edge surface.  
     
     
         8 . The engine component of  claim 1  wherein said engine component is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum based alloy, iron, titanium, tungsten and steel.  
     
     
         9 . A method of producing an intaglio on an edge surface of a cooling fin of an engine component comprising: 
 providing an engine component having a least one exposed component;    providing a plurality of fins on said engine component; and    engraving a portion of an edge of said fin on said engine component with an engraving tool to produce at least one concavity within the surface of said edge of said fin.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said component is selected from the following group consisting of a cylinder, cover, cooler, plate and head  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said engine component is selected from the following group consisting of aluminum, aluminum based alloy, iron, titanium, tungsten or steel.  
     
     
         12 . An engine component comprising: 
 at least one thermally conductive cooling fin structure, the cooling fin structure including a first surface, an oppositely facing second surface, and an edge surface in communication with the first surface and the second surface; and    at least a portion of the edge surface of the fin structure including at least one intagliated region.    
     
     
         13 . The engine component of  claim 12  wherein said component is selected from the following group consisting of a cylinder, cover, cooler, plate and head.  
     
     
         14 . The engine component of  claim 12  wherein said component is selected from the following group consisting of aluminum, aluminum based alloy, iron, titanium, tungsten or steel.  
     
     
         15 . The engine component of  claim 12  wherein said an intersection of said first surface and said edge defines a scalloped configuration.  
     
     
         16 . A method of producing an irregular surface on a engine component comprising: 
 providing a vehicle engine having a least one exposed component;    providing a plurality of fins on said engine component; and    engraving a portion of an edge of said fin on said engine component with an engraving tool to define a plurality of elongate concavities within a surface of said edge, wherein each said concavity defines a longitudinal axis and said longitudinal axes are oriented parallel to one another.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said component is selected from the following group consisting of a cylinder, cover, cooler, plate and head.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said engine component is selected from the following group consisting of aluminum, aluminum based alloy, iron, titanium, tungsten or steel.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said irregular surface is sculpted surface, multi-faceted surface, scalloped surface, concave surface, overlapping structural relief, relieved surface, cut surface, rounded surface, fluted surface, pattern of inequalities or a textured surface.  
     
     
         20 . A method of producing an irregular surface on a engine component comprising: 
 providing a vehicle engine having a least one exposed component;    providing a plurality of fins on said engine component; and    casting said component to create irregular edges of the exposed components of said vehicle engine.    
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein said multi-faceted surface is polished.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein said engine component is selected from the following group consisting of a cylinder, cover, cooler, plate and head.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein said engine component is selected from the following group consisting of aluminum, aluminum based alloy, iron, titanium, tungsten or steel.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein said irregular surface is sculpted surface, multi-faceted surface, scalloped surface, concave surface, overlapping structural relief, relieved surface, cut surface, rounded surface, fluted surface, pattern of inequalities or a textured surface.  
     
     
         25 . A method for increasing the cooling efficiency of an engine component comprising: 
 providing an engine component with a plurality of fins, each of said fins defining an edge; and    forming cavities in said edges of said fins.    
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said engine component is selected from the following group consisting of a cylinder, cover, cooler, plate and head.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said engine component is selected from the following group consisting of aluminum, aluminum based alloy, iron, titanium, tungsten or steel.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said concavities are a sculpted surface, multi-faceted surface, scalloped surface, concave surface, overlapping structural relief, relieved surface, cut surface, rounded surface, fluted surface, pattern of inequalities or a textured surface.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said forming comprises molding an engine component.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said forming comprises engraving the edge of an engine component.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said forming comprises etching the edge of an engine component.