Michigan State University

Michael A Zampaloni

Farhang Pourboghrat

David Gerard Genise

Andrew Paul Harman

Suzanne M Zampaloni

Andre Benard

A cylinder head () for an internal combustion engine has hydroformed port liners () positioned within selected ports, either exhaust and/or intake ports (). The hydroformed port liner () includes an air gap () for an insulation layer within the selected port () between an outer surface () of the hydroformed port liner () and the wall of the port (). A cylinder head () with a predetermined port configuration has selected ports () cast with protrusions (). The selected ports () have a larger diameter than a standard size port diameter for that cylinder head to provide a predetermined port configuration by a preset amount based on the thickness of the hydroformed port liner () and a desired air gap (). Protrusions () in the wall of the selected ports () or on the insert sleeves () facilitate formation of the air gap during the hydroforming process.

Hydroformed port liner

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method which use hydroforming to shape complex structures from materials such as sheet metal or composites. In particular, an apparatus and a method for shaping complex structures using composites such as continuous-fiber or woven fiber composites with limited wrinkling or rupture of the composite during the shaping process.

Growing community of inventors

Marshall, MI, United States of America

Michael A Zampaloni