Oil sump with an integrated separating plate separating the oil in the sump from the pinion gear

Abstract

Disclosed is an oil sump (1) of an internal combustion engine, in particular an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, the oil sump being configured to receive an oil pump (2), wherein the oil pump (2) is driven by a pinion (3), wherein, in a position of installation of the internal combustion engine in the motor vehicle that meets usage requirements, the pinion is at least partially arranged below an oil surface (4) of an oil sump volume (5) within a pinion volume (6), the pinion volume being separated from the oil sump volume (5) by a partition wall (7), so that engine oil lifted up by the pinion (3) does not lead to foaming of the engine oil in the oil sump volume (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an oil sump. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an oil sump having an integrated separation plate that separates the oil in the oil sump from an oil pump or a movable element of the oil pump. Background Art

[0002] U.S. Patent No. 9,376,942 B2 relates to a baffle structure in an oil pan. The baffle is used to separate the internal space of the oil pan into a crankshaft housing side and an oil chamber side. In addition, an oil guide element is provided. The oil guide element includes an inlet section and a parallel section. The inlet section extends to the bottom plate surface of the oil pan. The inlet section has an inlet opening for lubricant in the lower part of the inlet section. The parallel section extends from the inlet section in a direction substantially parallel to the baffle so as to guide the lubricant from the inlet section to the oil pump. The baffle has an opening corresponding to the parallel section of the screen. The parallel section of the oil guide element is arranged so that it closes the opening in the baffle. Summary of the invention

[0003] At least one disadvantage of existing oil pans is that the oil can foam up due to the drive pinion of the oil pump. Foaming oil can lead to malfunctions of individual components of the internal combustion engine.

[0004] This disadvantage is eliminated by the technical solution of the present invention. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in a technically meaningful manner. The description, in particular the description associated with the drawings, additionally describes the features of the present disclosure and explains the present disclosure in detail.

[0005] According to this, an oil sump of an internal combustion engine, in particular an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, is provided, the oil sump being configured to receive an oil pump, wherein the oil pump is driven by a pinion, wherein, in an installation position of the internal combustion engine in the motor vehicle that meets usage requirements, the pinion is arranged at least partially below the oil surface of the oil sump volume within the pinion volume, the pinion volume being separated from the oil sump volume by a partition wall, so that engine oil lifted up by the pinion does not lead to foaming of the engine oil in the oil sump volume.

[0006] The engine oil accumulates in the oil sump. The engine oil is used for lubrication and for heat conduction inside the internal combustion engine and is pumped by the oil pump through the components of the internal combustion engine. These components include coolers, heaters, filters, camshafts, camshaft adjustment units (camphasers), crankshafts and the like. The pinion is usually driven by a chain. The pinion generates entropy in the engine oil due to its rotation. The pinion volume refers to the space in which the pinion can rotate freely. The pinion foams due to the impact of its teeth on the oil surface. The foaming oil does not reach the oil sump volume due to the partition wall. Therefore, for example, it is also possible to use an oil that has at least a reduced proportion of additives that may be harmful to the environment and are used to avoid foaming.

[0007] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the partition wall is integrally molded onto the oil sump.

[0008] This provides a cost-effective partition wall. No additional components may be necessary.

[0009] In one embodiment, the partition wall continues in a separating plate arranged on the oil pump.

[0010] In this configuration, the partition wall thus extends to the separating plate which is connected or connectable to the oil pump.

[0011] According to one embodiment, at least the separating plate is of pot-shaped design and has a flange region on the outer circumference, by means of which the separating plate can be connected to the oil pump.

[0012] The pinion is therefore separated to a large extent from the oil sump volume.

[0013] In one embodiment, the partition wall, in its installed position together with the oil pump, has two openings through which two lines of the drive of the pinion can be guided.

[0014] As mentioned, the pinion is usually driven by a chain drive or the like. The line of the drive runs through the above-mentioned opening. As a result, the necessary connection between the oil sump volume and the pinion volume can be limited to a minimum, mainly because, in the ready-to-operate installation position, with a specified oil filling amount, the opening is located above the oil surface.

[0015] In one embodiment, the partition wall extends from a geodesically lower bottom surface of the oil sump.

[0016] As a result, the pinion volume is separated from the other oil volume of the oil sump at least in regions on the bottom. The partition wall can be produced in one piece with the oil sump using a prototyping process (die casting or sand casting).

[0017] In a further embodiment, the pinion is accommodated in a partition wall which ends flush with an inner wall arranged around the bottom surface.

[0018] As a result, the pinion volume is separated from the other oil volume of the oil sump at least in places laterally on the outside.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the partition wall has a recess in the region of an oil drain opening arranged in the oil sump.

[0020] The engine oil can pass from the pinion volume into the oil pan volume and vice versa via the groove. The groove ensures that the pinion volume can be completely emptied when the engine oil is drained during an oil change.

[0021] In one embodiment, the recess is located centrally above the oil drain opening, as viewed on the vertical axis Z of the vehicle.

[0022] As a result, the drain plug introduced into the oil drain opening can enter the groove and close it to the greatest extent possible. A certain amount of fluid exchange between the pinion volume and the oil sump volume is ideal so that the oil in the pinion volume ages to the same extent as the engine oil that is otherwise located in the internal combustion engine and is therefore regularly filtered and cooled. Furthermore, when changing the oil, the oil should flow completely out of the oil sump and the pinion volume. Due to the arrangement of the drain plug below the partition wall, both volumes are emptied when the drain plug is opened.

[0023] An oil pump is provided for being arranged in such an oil sump, the oil pump having a drive pinion which drives a delivery unit arranged in the oil pump, wherein the pinion is designed to receive a pinion volume which is partially enclosed by the partition wall. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and should not limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. They show:

[0025] Figure 1 : An oil sump having an oil pump, wherein the oil pump is installed in the housing;

[0026] Figure 2 : Oil pan without oil pump;

[0027] Figure 3 : an oil sump with an incorporated oil pump and a partition wall on the drive side, and

[0028] Figure 4 : An oil pump without an oil sump, the oil sump having a partition wall which is connected to the housing of the oil pump on the drive side.

[0029] The following description is merely illustrative in nature. For clarity, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to mark similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Figure 1 The oil pan 1 of an internal combustion engine (not shown) is shown, which is used in particular for a motor vehicle (not shown). The oil pan 1 is designed to receive an oil pump 2. The oil pump 2 is driven by a pinion 3 (which is only shown). In the installation position of the internal combustion engine in the motor vehicle, which meets the requirements of use, the pinion 3 is at least partially located below the oil surface 4 of the oil pan volume 5. In this case, the pinion 3 is located within the pinion volume 6 at least in the area below the oil surface 4. The pinion volume 6 is spatially separated from the oil pan volume 5 by a partition wall 7. The pinion 3 can be driven by a chain drive (not shown). In this case, the pinion raises the engine oil. Due to the partition wall 7, the engine oil raised by the pinion 3 and foaming cannot reach the other oil pan volume 5. In the absence of the partition wall 7, foaming of the engine oil located in the oil pan volume 5 would occur.

[0031] Figure 2 Shown with Figure 1 The oil pan 1 is a corresponding oil pan 1 without an oil pump. It can be seen that at least a part of the partition wall 7 is integrally molded on the oil pan 1. The oil pan 1 is a component manufactured by a casting process, which should be manufactured as much as possible without a modified casting core. The oil pan 1 should be demoulded from the casting tool. Demolding means that after the casting process, the oil pan 1 can be removed from the casting core (not shown). Correspondingly, the partition wall 7 extends orthogonally from the bottom surface 11 of the oil pan 1 with a rounded bevel 14. The bevel 14 conforms to the permissible casting radius. The partition wall 7 has a correspondingly rounded bevel 12 and a slightly inclined wall 13 that can be easily demoulded. In addition, after the casting process, only the most necessary functional surfaces should be processed. This is currently the sealing surface 8 and the oil outlet opening 9. The partition wall 7 extends integrally from the inner side 10 of the outer wall 17 of the oil pan 1. The chamfer 14 between the partition wall 7 and the inner side 10 is provided with a radius which can be cast or demolded.

[0032] In addition, Figure 2 It can be seen in the figure that the partition wall 7 has a groove 15 in the region of the oil drain opening 9 arranged in the oil pan 1 for draining and changing the engine oil. The groove 15 is located centrally just above the oil drain opening 9, as seen on the vehicle vertical axis Z. As a result, when the oil drain opening 9 is opened during a change of the engine oil, the engine oil flows out of both the oil pan volume 5 and the pinion volume 6.

[0033] exist Figure 3It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the partition wall continues in the partition plate 16 arranged on the oil pump 2. Accordingly, the partition plate 16 has an edge 22 on its side facing the partition wall 7, which ends flush with the partition wall 7.

[0034] Apart from the edge 22 and two lateral openings for driving the pinion 3 , the separating plate 16 is of pot-shaped design. The separating plate 16 has a flange region 18 on the outer circumference, by means of which the separating plate 16 can be connected to the oil pump 2 .

[0035] As mentioned, the separating plate 16 has two openings in its installed position with the oil pump 2, through which the two lines of the drive of the pinion 3 can be guided. The drive is usually formed by a chain.

[0036] Although at least one embodiment has been presented in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it should be appreciated that there are numerous variations. In addition, it should be appreciated that the embodiment or embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection, applicability or exact configuration in any way. More specifically, the description and accompanying drawings provide a useful guide for those skilled in the art to implement at least one embodiment, and it should be clear that various changes can be made in the form and function of the features described without departing from the scope of protection of the technical solution and equivalent objects of the present invention.

[0037] Reference numerals list

[0038] 1 Oil sump

[0039] 2 Oil pump

[0040] 3 small gears

[0041] 4. Oil surface

[0042] 5 Oil pan capacity

[0043] 6 pinion capacity

[0044] 7 Partition wall

[0045] 8 Sealing surface

[0046] 9 Oil drain port

[0047] 10Inside

[0048] 11 Bottom

[0049] 12 Radius

[0050] 13 walls

[0051] 14 Transition

[0052] 15 grooves

[0053] 16 Isolation Board

[0054] 17 outer wall

[0055] 18 Flange area

[0056] 20 conveyor units

[0057] 22 Edge

Claims

1. An oil sump (1) of an internal combustion engine, the oil sump being configured to receive an oil pump (2), wherein: The oil pump (2) is driven by a pinion (3), wherein, in the installation position of the internal combustion engine in the motor vehicle in accordance with the requirements of use, the pinion (3) is arranged at least partially below the oil surface (4) of the oil sump volume (5) within the pinion volume (6), the pinion volume being separated from the oil sump volume (5) by a partition wall (7), so that the engine oil lifted up by the pinion (3) does not cause the engine oil in the oil sump volume (5) to foam, characterized in that the partition wall (7) extends integrally from a geodesically lower bottom surface (11) of the oil sump (1), the partition wall (7) being molded onto the oil sump (1) having a recess (15) in the region of an oil drain opening (9) arranged in the oil sump (1).

2. The oil sump (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The partition wall (7) continues in a separating plate (16) arranged on the oil pump (2).

3. The oil sump (1) according to claim 2, wherein: The separating plate (16) is of pot-shaped design and has a flange region (18) on the outer circumference, by means of which the separating plate (16) can be connected to the oil pump (2).

4. The oil sump (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein: In its installed position together with the oil pump (2), the separating plate (16) has two openings through which two lines of the drive of the pinion (3) can be guided.

5. The oil sump (1) according to claim 2, wherein: The pinion (3) is received in the separating plate (16), which terminates flush with a separating wall (7) molded around the oil sump (1).

6. The oil sump (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The groove (15) is located centrally above the oil drain opening (9) as viewed on the vertical axis (Z) of the vehicle.

7. An oil pump (2) having a drive pinion (3) which drives a delivery unit (20) arranged in the oil pump (2), wherein: The pinion (3) is designed to receive a pinion volume (6) partially enclosed by a partition wall (7) in an oil sump (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images