What Does Cylinder Stroke Refer To?
2 Answers
Cylinder stroke refers to the reciprocating travel distance of the piston within the cylinder. It is the distance from the top dead center (TDC) to the bottom dead center (BDC) of the piston movement, which is one of the factors determining an engine's performance. Below is an introduction to automotive cylinders: Introduction to Cylinders: A cylinder is a cylindrical metal component that guides the piston in linear reciprocating motion inside the cylinder. In an engine, air expands within the cylinder to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy. In a compressor, gas is compressed by the piston to increase pressure. The cylinder in an internal combustion engine is the cavity where the piston moves, serving as the piston's track. Combustion and expansion of fuel occur here, and the cylinder walls help dissipate some of the residual heat from combustion, maintaining the engine's normal operating temperature. Cylinders come in two main types: integral and single-cast. Single-cast cylinders are further divided into dry and wet types. When the cylinder and engine block are cast as one unit, it is called an integral cylinder. When cast separately, the single-cast cylinder is referred to as a cylinder liner. A cylinder liner that directly contacts the cooling water is called a wet liner, while one that does not is called a dry liner. Cylinder Structure: A cylinder consists of a cylinder barrel, end covers, piston, piston rod, and seals. Types of Cylinders: In pneumatic transmission, cylinders are actuators that convert the pressure energy of compressed gas into mechanical energy. Cylinders performing linear reciprocating motion can be further categorized into single-acting cylinders, double-acting cylinders, diaphragm cylinders, and impact cylinders.
The cylinder stroke refers to the maximum distance the piston moves up and down inside the engine. The length from the topmost to the bottommost point of the piston's movement in the cylinder is called the stroke. This parameter may seem insignificant but is actually crucial, as it directly affects the engine displacement. For example, a longer piston stroke allows more air-fuel mixture to be drawn in, resulting in greater explosive power. Some off-road vehicles are specifically designed with long-stroke engines to provide more torque at low RPMs, making hill climbing much easier. From my personal experience, when piston rings wear out and sealing performance deteriorates, stroke efficiency decreases, making the car feel like it's struggling for breath and acceleration becomes particularly sluggish.
