ENGINE COVER WITH COOLING FINS
An automotive engine cover is provided that at least partly covers an automotive engine in an automotive engine compartment. The engine cover, includes, but is not limited to cooling fins that are made of a metallic or ceramic material. The automotive engine cover is provided with improved cooling effect as compared to known automotive engine covers. The improved cooling effect prolongs the life-time of the automotive engine cover. The improved cooling effect also help to increase the life-time of other components in the engine compartment, which otherwise may degrade, deform or even melt due to heat transfer from heat-generating components in the engine. In turn, this paves the way for the design of engines which may generate even more heat than today.
1 . A cover for an automotive engine, comprising:
a body structure that at least partly covers the automotive engine; and
a plurality of cooling fins.
2 . The cover according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cooling fins comprise a metallic material.
3 . The cover according to claim 2 , wherein said metallic material is a light-weight metallic material.
4 . The cover according to claim 3 , wherein said light-weight metallic material is at least one of an Mg-based material or an Al-based material.
5 . The cover according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cooling fins at least partly comprise a ceramic material.
6 . The cover according to claim 1 , wherein the body structure is at least partly made of a metallic material.
7 . The cover according to claim 6 , wherein the body structure is at least partly made of a light-weight metallic material.
8 . The cover according to claim 1 , wherein the body structure is at least partly made of a polymeric material.
9 . The cover according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cooling fins have a substantially straight shape.
10 . The cover according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cooling fins have at least one of a curved shape or an arced shape.
11 . The cover according to claim 1 , wherein the body structure and the plurality of cooling fins are integrally formed as a single component.
12 . The cover according to claim 1 , wherein the body structure and the plurality of cooling fins are formed as separate parts and assembled with a connector adapted to fix the plurality of cooling fins onto the body structure.