CYLINDER HEAD

A cylinder head is a critical component of an internal combustion engine. It serves multiple functions:

1. Sealing the Combustion Chamber: It forms the top of the combustion chamber, sealing in the combustion process. The cylinder head is fitted onto the engine block, with a head gasket in between to prevent leakage of coolant or oil into the cylinders.

2. Housing Spark Plugs: In gasoline engines, the cylinder head contains one or more spark plugs. The spark plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber.

3. Housing Valves: The cylinder head also houses the intake and exhaust valves. The intake valves allow the air-fuel mixture to enter the combustion chamber, while the exhaust valves let the combustion gases out.

4. Cooling and Lubrication: Coolant passages are routed through the cylinder head to remove heat from around the combustion chamber. The head also has oil passages for lubrication.

5. Housing the Camshaft: In overhead camshaft (OHC) designs, one or more camshafts are located in the cylinder head. The camshaft opens and closes the valves at the right times during the engine cycle.

In terms of applications, cylinder heads are used in virtually all types of internal combustion engines, including those found in cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, generators, and certain types of heavy machinery.

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