A cylinder head is a three-piece assembly that contains a lower member consisting of the gas passages, serves as a mounting for the injector valves and the ignition plug, and forms part of the combustion chamber.
The function of a cylinder head in an engine is to seal the combustion chamber and cylinder block. The cylinder head also helps to form the shape of the combustion chamber. Well, in this reading, I’ll be explaining what a cylinder head is, its functions, parts, construction, diagram, types, and how it works.
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Contents
What Is a Cylinder Head?
A cylinder head is a three-piece assembly that contains a lower member consisting of the gas passages, serves as a mounting for the injector valves and the ignition plug, and forms part of the combustion chamber. A cylinder head sits atop an engine block and covers its cylinders, creating the combustion chamber. The cylinder head, which is held in place by the head gasket, makes room for the tubes that provide fuel and air to the cylinders.
The head must be strong enough to withstand the stresses placed on it without cracking or fracturing due to the high pressure and frequently fluctuating temperatures. It is a complex and essential component of the engine and the car as a whole, therefore any issue that can arise needs to be fixed as soon as feasible.
Functions
The cylinder head is the key to controlling air flow in and out of the cylinders and fuel deployment. The cylinder head also holds the injectors and valves – and contains more moving parts than any other part of the engine. Although largely unnoticed, the cylinder head plays a key role in your engine such as:
- Sealing the combustion chamber and cylinder block together.
- Forming the shape of the combustion chamber.
- Dissipating the heat from the combustion process.
Parts and construction
The cylinder has only one part casted to incooperated different engine components. It is usually made from aluminum alloy or cast iron due to their strength, manufacturability, and heat resistance.
The aluminum is lightweigh and has good heat conductivity. Cylinder heads made of these material are prevalent in modern engines because of their ability to dissipate heat efficiently.
Cast iron materials are used in older engines, but they are durable and also offers excellent heat retention. This is why cylinder head made of cast iron are suitable for high performance and heavy-duty vehicles.
Different engine components mounted to the cylinder head include: inlet and exhaust valve, head gaskets, spark plugs, camshaft, fuel injector, valve seats, and coolant passage.
There are one or more-cylinder heads on every engine. Two-cylinder heads are present in engines with a “V” or flat configuration, whereas one is present in engines with an inline or straight configuration. The tops of the cylinders inside the engine block are sealed by the cylinder head.
Diagram of a Cylinder Head
How Does the Cylinder Head works?
The cylinder head connects to the intake and exhaust manifolds to enable the fast combustion of fuel and air that propels the engine’s pistons, allowing the engine to operate at optimal efficiency.
Additionally, the engine’s head houses the valves (and occasionally the camshafts) that permit the entry of the air/fuel mixture and the escape of exhaust gases. An engine head gasket serves as a seal between the cylinder head and engine block.
Air is introduced into the head through the intake manifold, where it is combined with gasoline and burned to create exhaust gases that are released through the exhaust manifold.
To keep the engine operating smoothly, it’s critical that the intake and exhaust valves, which let the admission and escape of pertinent gases, open and close at the proper periods. Watch the video below to see how cylinder head works:
Types of Cylinder Head
The various types of cylinder heads are noticed from their design and valve placeement. The followings are the common types of cylinder heads:
Flathead Cylinder Heads: these types of cylinder head simply protect the cylinder block and have no moving parts. They do not allow for an efficient air flow, and thereby provide a poor engine performance. These were the first type of cylinder heads.
Overhead Valve Cylinder Heads: These cylinders heads are superior to flathead cylinder heads. They have the camshafts above them and they have their pushrods and valves connected to provide a smooth airflow.
Overhead Camshaft Cylinder Heads: These are the most advanced types of cylinder heads. They have the camshafts inside the cylinder head, eliminating the need of pushrods. This provides a better airflow, and in turn, increases the efficiency of the engine.
That is all for this article, where i explained what is a cylinder head is, its functions, diagram, construction, diagram & how it works. I hope it was helpful, if so, kindly share with others. Thanks for reading, see you around!