Basic Components of Internal Combustion Engine(ICE), Inventor, Diagram, Definition

 Basic Components of Internal Combustion Engine

The cross-section of a single-cylinder spark-ignition engine with its basic components. Some of its main components are discussed below --

                                     Fig. - Basic Components of Internal Combustion Engine

i). Cylinder - It is a cylindrical vessel in which the piston slides. It contains gases under pressure and guides the piston. The cylinder is usually made of hard-grade cast iron, cast in one piece.

ii) Piston - A piston is also a cylindrical component fitted to each cylinder as a face to receive gas pressure and transmit the thrust to the connecting rod. Pistons are made of cast iron or aluminum alloy.

iii) Connecting Rod - Connecting rod is made up of steel and it interconnects the piston and the crankshaft and transmits the forces from the piston to the crankshaft.

 (iv) Crank - Crank along with connecting rod converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into useful rotary motion of the output shaft. 

(v) Crankshaft- The crank is a part of the crankshaft. Crankshaft receives the efforts supplied by the pistons to the connecting rods. All the engine auxiliary mechanisms are connected with the crankshaft in one or another way. It is usually a steel forging but can also be made from spheroidal graphitic or nickel alloy.

 (vi) Gudgeon Pin- These are hardened steel parallel spindles fitted through the piston bosses and the small eye of the connecting rod. 

(vii) Valves- Valves used in engines can be inlet and exhaust valves. Inlet valves are used for taking the charge in the cylinder and exhaust valves are used for discharging the products of combustion. Valves are fitted either on the cylinder head or on the sides of the cylinder.