KUMASI POLYTECHNIC

Cylinder
Head
FRIMPONG, J. ALEX
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CYLINDER HEAD
The cylinder head seals the working end of the cylinder. On some engines, the
top of the piston is recessed to form the combustion chamber, but on others a
recess is made in the face of the head. The inlet and exhaust ports, together with
the inlet and exhaust valves, are located in the head.
MATERIALS: Cylinder heads are cast from cast iron or aluminium alloy.

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Contd
The region around the combustion chambers reaches a high temperature when
the engine is operating and the waterways play an important part in
preventing overheating.
The valve guides and the valve seats are contained in the cylinder head. In
aluminium alloy cylinder heads valve inserts are used to provide a hardwearing, heat-resistant valve seat that can be replaced if they become worn or
damaged.
Valve-seat inserts are an interference t and they are normally shrunk by
cooling them in liquid oxygen before being inserted in the cylinder head.

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The cylinder head is connected to the cylinder block by means of

the cylinder head studs, or bolts. The joint between the cylinder
head and the cylinder block is sealed by the cylinder head
gasket,

which

is

made

from

heat-

and

pressure-resistant

materials because it is in a high-temperature and high-pressure

area of the engine.
When a cylinder head is removed for any purpose the gasket
should be replaced and when the head bolts are being tightened
it is important that the correct tightening sequence and torque
setting are used.
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A water jacket is provided around the combustion

chamber to take away excess heat. On air-cooled
engines large ns form part of the cylinder so that the
excess heat can be quickly taken away.
The head is sometimes made of similar material to that
of the cylinder block. This it to overcome the problems
associated with differing expansion rates.
Aluminium alloy use are on the increase to lower
engine weight and improve heat dissipation.

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The Head Gasket

The purpose of the cylinder head gasket is to form a gas-tight,
water-tight and oil-tight seal between the cylinder head and the
block.
Materials: It is made from solid, annealed copper or a thin
sandwich of asbestos between copper. It may be thin sheet of
stainless steel.

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Torque Wrench

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