Engine cylinder sleeve heater and method

Abstract

A method for installing a heated piston into a cylinder sleeve that is initially smaller than the piston includes: receiving the engine block at a heating station, heating the engine cylinder sleeve with heated air for a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature of the cylinder sleeve is equal to or greater than a temperature of the piston, and inserting the piston into the heated cylinder sleeve.

1 . A method for heating an engine block cylinder sleeve comprising the steps of:
 regulating a flow of air into a heating apparatus;   heating the air flow to a predetermined exhaust air temperature in the heating apparatus;   directing the heated air flow to the cylinder sleeve for a predetermined period of time, wherein the predetermined period of time is based upon a time required to heat the cylinder sleeve to a predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature; and   stopping the flow of heated air to the cylinder sleeve following the predetermined time period;   wherein the engine block cylinder sleeve is adapted to receive a heated piston and wherein the piston is at a temperature that is less than or equal to the predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heating apparatus includes an electric resistance heating element and a control unit, comprising the further steps of:
 measuring an outlet air temperature of the heated air flow downstream the heating element;   comparing the measured outlet air temperature to the predetermined exhaust air temperature; and   adjusting a current supplied to the electric resistance heating element from the control unit, wherein a decrease in the current decreases the outlet air temperature and an increase in the current increases the outlet air temperature, so as to have the outlet air temperature track the predetermined exhaust air temperature.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including the steps of:
 measuring an inlet air temperature of the air flowing into the heating apparatus;   comparing the measured outlet air temperature to the predetermined exhaust air temperature; and   adjusting a current supplied to the electric resistance heating element from the control unit based upon measured inlet air temperature and measured outlet air temperature so that the outlet air temperature tracks on the predetermined exhaust air temperature.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heating apparatus includes an electric resistance heating element, and comprising the further steps of:
 measuring an inlet air temperature of air flowing into the heating apparatus and an outlet air temperature of air flowing out of the heating apparatus;   comparing the measured outlet air temperature to the predetermined exhaust air temperature; and   adjusting a current supplied to the electric resistance heating element based upon measured inlet air temperature and measured outlet air temperature so that the outlet air temperature tracks on the predetermined exhaust air temperature.   
   
   
       5 . A method for assembling a piston into an engine cylinder sleeve, comprising the steps of:
 heating the piston to a predetermined heated piston temperature;   heating the engine cylinder sleeve to a predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature, wherein the predetermined cylinder sleeve temperature is equal to or greater than the predetermined heated piston temperature;   slidably inserting the piston into the engine cylinder sleeve.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the engine cylinder sleeve heating step comprising the steps of:
 positioning a heating nozzle of a heating apparatus adjacent the cylinder sleeve;   directing a flow of air into the heating apparatus;   heating the air flow and exhausting a heated air flow from the heating nozzle of the heating apparatus;   directing the heated air flow to the cylinder sleeve for a predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined time period is equal to or greater than a time required to heat the cylinder sleeve to the predetermined heated cylinder sleeve temperature; and   following said predetermined time period, discontinuing heating of the cylinder sleeve with the heated air flow.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the heating apparatus includes an electric resistance heating element, and comprising the further steps of:
 measuring a temperature of the heated air;   comparing the measured heated air temperature to a predetermined exhaust air temperature; and   adjusting a current supplied to the electric resistance heating element so that the measured heated air temperature tracks the predetermined exhaust air temperature.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , comprising the further steps of:
 measuring a temperature of air incoming to the heating apparatus;   adjusting the current supplied to the electric resistance heating element based upon the measured incoming air temperature and the measured heated air temperature.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the heating apparatus includes an electric resistance heating element, and comprising the further steps of:
 measuring a temperature of air incoming to the heating apparatus and a temperature of heated air outgoing from the heating apparatus;   adjusting the current supplied to the electric resistance heating element based upon the measured incoming air temperature and the measured heated air temperature so that the measured heated air temperature tracks the predetermined exhaust air temperature.   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for the heating an engine cylinder sleeve, comprising:
 an air intake and regulation assembly, the air intake and regulation assembly comprising a main air supply in fluid communication with a main air valve and a main air regulator, wherein the main air supply receives an air flow and directs the air flow to the main air valve which is selectively opened to transmit the air flow to the main gas regulator, the main air regulator regulating the air flow;   a heating and focusing assembly receiving a regulated flow of air from the air intake and regulation assembly, the heating and focusing assembly comprising a forced air heater and a heating nozzle, the forced air heater comprising an electric resistance heating element and an air temperature sensor and wherein the heating nozzle is adapted to engage the engine block cylinder sleeve and direct a flow of heated air thereto; and   a controller comprising a heating control unit and a programmable logic controller, wherein the heating control unit is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the electric resistance heating element, and the programmable logic controller is electrically connected to the main gas supply valve, wherein the programmable logic controller selectively opens and closes the main gas supply valve and said heating control unit supplies current to the heating element such that a temperature of air flow through the heating nozzle is equal to a predetermined exhaust air temperature.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the intake and regulation assembly further comprises an idle state intake and regulation assembly, the idle state intake and regulation assembly comprising an idle state air valve that is selectively opened by the controller so as to communicate incoming air to an idle state regulator, wherein the idle state air valve and the idle state regulator are adapted to direct an air flow of a volume less than the air flow associated with the main air supply valve and the main air regulator, and the idle air valve is electrically connected to the programmable logic controller, the programmable logic controller selectively opening the idle state air valve such that the idle state air valve is only open when the main air valve is closed, and the idle state air valve is closed when the main air valve is open. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the heating nozzle is adapted to engage the engine block cylinder sleeve by being slidably inserted within the engine block cylinder sleeve. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the heating nozzle is adapted to engage the engine block cylinder sleeve by forming a seal over an opening of the engine block cylinder sleeve.