Description:Complete Specification

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention is related to a connecting rod of an internal combustion engine with at least one integrated heat pipe that is defined in the connecting rod.

Background of the invention
[0002] Cooling in connecting rods is crucial for maintaining optimal engine performance. By dissipating excess heat effectively, cooling the connecting rods prevent overheating and reduces the risk of engine damage. Efficient cooling of connecting rods also improves lubrication, minimizes wear and tear, and enhances overall engine longevity, making it an essential component for reliable and efficient operation.

[0003] IN Patent Application 202341058317 describes a piston 10 positioned within an internal combustion engine. The piston 10 comprises a top end portion 15 and a bottom end portion 12. At least one heat pipe 14 is secured to the bottom end portion 12 of the piston 10, the at least one heat pipe 14 comprises a hollow tube 15. One end of the at least one heat pipe 14 is secured to a hot portion of the bottom end portion 12 of the piston 10 and the opposite end is positioned away from the bottom end portion 12 of the piston 10 and located opposite to an interface of the at least one heat pipe 14 and the piston 10.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a connecting rod with at least one heat pipe integrated therein in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a connecting rod 10 with at least one heat pipe 14 defined therein, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The connecting rod 10 comprises a top end portion 15 and a bottom end portion 12. The connecting rod 10 comprises at least one heat pipe 14 defined within a body portion 17 of the connecting rod 10 and located between the top end portion 15 and the bottom end portion 12. The at least one heat pipe 14 comprises a hollow tube 16 filled with a working material that melts at a predefined temperature.

[0006] Further, the components of the connecting rod 10 and working of the connecting rod 10 with the at least one heat pipe 14 defined therein is explained in detail. According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting rod 10 comprises an integrated at least one heat pipe 14 spread across the body and extending around a circumference of the connecting rod 10. The dimensions (size and shape) of the at least one heat pipe 14 is made to encompass a maximum surface area of the body portion 17 defined in the connecting rod 10. One end 14(b)/top end portion of at least one heat pipe 14 is defined proximate to a hot portion at the top end portion 15 of the connecting rod 10 and an opposite end 14(a)/bottom end portion is positioned away from the top end portion 15 of the connecting rod 10.

[0007] The at least one heat pipe 14 is closed at both ends (i.e. at its top end portion 14(b) and at its opposite end portion 14(a)) before defining the at least one heat pipe 14 in the connecting rod 10. Each heat pipe 14 comprises a hollow tube 16 having a working material that changes its state on getting exposed to heat. The at least one heat pipe 14 can transfer much higher heat for a given temperature gradient than the conventional metallic conductors. The at least one heat pipe material has a low melting point and is chosen from a group of materials comprising sodium, potassium, cesium and the like. However, the at least one heat pipe material can be any other material, but is not limited to the above materials, which changes its state from a solid state to a vapor state when exposed to heat and returns back to its original solid state when cooled down below its phase transition temperature.

[0008] The quantity and type of material filled in the at least one heat pipe 14 is chosen based on at least one parameter, wherein the parameter is chosen from any one of the following comprising a wick volume, porosity, an evaporator volume, and a density variation during a phase change. The material converts into a vapor state on receiving heat and dissipates the heat through a wick at the bottom end portion 14(a) of the at least one heat pipe 14 . The at least one heat pipe material has a high thermal resistance up to the melting point and the heat is dissipated to the atmosphere after the melting point of the material is attained. More specifically, the heat pipe material absorbs heat from the top end portion 14(b) of the heat pipe 14 and converts into a gaseous state. The heat pipe material in the gaseous state flow to the bottom end portion 14(a) of the heat pipe 14 where the heat is therein dissipated to the atmosphere before converting back to the solid state.

[0009] A working methodology of the at least one heat pipe 14 is explained in detail. During the assembling process, the at least one heat pipe 14 is defined within a cut-section that encompasses a maximum surface area of the body portion 17 of the connecting rod 10. The at least one heat pipe 14 dissipates heat from the connecting rod 10 into the atmosphere. The heat pipe material that is present in the hollow tube 16 of the corresponding at least one heat pipe 14 absorbs the heat from the top end portion 15 of the connecting rod 10 and gets converts into a vapor state.

[0010] The converted vapor moves downward towards the bottom portion 12 of the connecting rod 10, away from the top end portion 15 of the connecting rod 10 carrying the heat. At this position, the heat carried through the vaporized heat pipe material is dissipated into the atmospheric air and the heat pipe material is converted back to the original solid state, after cooling down at the bottom end portion 14(a) and subsequently moving back to the top end portion 14(b) due to capillary action in the at least one heat pipe 14.

[0011] For instance, the at least one heat pipe 14 has low melting point metallic fillers like sodium which helps with high thermal capacity and higher thermal resistance until it (sodium) melts and rapidly reduces the thermal resistance and helps to dissipate heat transfer once it (sodium) converts into the gaseous state. The vapors dissipate the heat from the wick of a bottom end portion 14(a) at an end that is opposite to the top end portion 15 of the connecting rod 10.
[0012] With the above disclosed connecting rod 10 and the at least one heat pipe 14, we can have a low-cost effective solution in dissipating heat from the bottom end portion 12 of the connecting rod 10 to the atmosphere due to the heat pipe 14 that is defined in the connecting rod 17. The at least one heat pipe 14 can be used as a retrofit solution to the existing at least one heat pipe 14, as no additional component or any modification in the design of the connecting rod 10 is needed.

[0013] The embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiments explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A connecting rod (10) positioned within an internal combustion engine, said connecting rod (10) comprising ;
- a top end portion (15) and a bottom end portion (12);
characterized in that :
- at least one heat pipe (14) defined within a body portion (17) of said connecting rod (10) and located between the top end portion (15) and the bottom end portion (12) of said connecting rod (10), said at least one heat pipe (14) comprises a hollow tube (16).

2. The connecting rod (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of said at least one heat pipe (14) is secured to a hot portion located proximate to said top end portion (15) of said connecting rod (10) and the opposite end is positioned away from said top end portion (15) of said connecting rod (10) and proximate to said bottom end portion (12) of said connecting rod (10).

3. The connecting rod (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one heat pipe (14) is integrated and spreading around a circumference of said body portion (17) of said connecting rod (10).

4. The connecting rod (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one heat pipe (14) is closed at its top end portion 14(b) and at its bottom end portion 14(a) before positioning said at least one heat pipe (14) within the body portion (17) of said connecting rod (10).

5. The connecting rod (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a quantity and type of material filled in said hollow tube (16) is chosen based on at least one parameter, wherein the parameter is chosen from one of wick volume, porosity, an evaporator volume, and a density variation during a phase change of the material.

6. The connecting rod (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a working material of said heat pipe (14) has a low melting point and is chosen from a group of materials comprising sodium, potassium, and cesium.

7. The connecting rod (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the working material at the top end portion 14(b) of said heat pipe 14 converts to a vapor state on receiving heat and dissipates the heat through a wick defined at a bottom end portion 14(a) of said heat pipe (14) .

8. The connecting rod (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat pipe (14) encompasses a maximum surface area of said body portion (17) of said connecting rod (10).

9. The connecting rod (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein working material positioned within said heat pipe (14) has high thermal resistance up to said melting point and heat is dissipated at the bottom end portion 14(a) of said heat pipe (14) after the melting point of the material is attained.