Oil pan with integrated cooling function for vehicle engines

Abstract

Oil pan for a vehicle internal combustion engine, including - a housing made of thermally conductive metal, - internal rib structures which increase the convection surface area to the engine oil and are arranged in a spiral pattern to increase residence time, - outer cooling fins, which are arranged in a flow-optimized manner and are thermally connected to the inner fins, - where the oil pan is compatible in shape and mounting with a standard oil pan of a vehicle.

Description

1. Title of the invention: Oil pan with integrated cooling function for vehicle engines. 2. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to an oil pan for vehicle internal combustion engines, for improving oil cooling and reducing engine temperatures through a special design of the oil pan, without changing the installation situation or requiring additional external coolers. 3. State of the art

[0002] Oil pans are known from the prior art as primarily serving as a reservoir for engine oil. However, in high-performance vehicles, high operating temperatures lead to thermal stress on the oil, which may necessitate separate oil coolers or complex modifications. Passive cooling fins on oil pans are also known, but usually without targeted flow guidance or integration into the vehicle's underbody airflow.

[0003] Additionally, it can be observed that modern engines, due to environmental and emissions regulations (e.g., Euro standards), operate with significantly higher thermal efficiency, which manifests itself, among other things, in smaller injection timing overlaps, higher boost pressures, and narrower thermal windows. These optimizations for emission reduction lead to a generally increased thermal load on the engine oil. Start-stop systems and downsizing concepts also mean that the oil, with its reduced volume, must withstand higher temperature peaks in shorter periods.

[0004] The passive cooling systems known in the prior art are usually limited to the attachment of external cooling fins to increase the surface area. Task 4 (Problem Statement)

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an oil pan that exhibits improved passive cooling performance compared to the prior art. In a preferred embodiment, this is also possible in combination with active cooling systems according to the prior art. 5. Solution

[0006] The problem is solved by using a targeted combination of external and internal rib structures. The internal ribs are arranged in a spiral, which increases the oil's residence time on the heat-conducting surfaces and, at the same time, enables more efficient heat transfer from the inside to the outside due to their larger contact surface. This internal structure thus functions like a heat exchanger and contributes significantly to the improvement of engine oil cooling. Through these targeted internal and external structures, effective improvement of engine oil cooling is achieved without external coolers, while remaining interchangeable with the standard oil pan.

[0007] The solution according to the invention is characterized in particular by: • Made from a thermally conductive material such as aluminum. • Internal rib structures that significantly increase the convection surface area to the engine oil and are simultaneously thermally actively connected to external cooling fins, so that a heat exchanger principle can be created. • Internal rib geometry, which reduces the flow rate of the engine oil in certain areas, thus increasing the residence time for effective heat transfer. • External cooling fins or louvers that are arranged in a flow-optimized manner to effectively use the airflow under the vehicle for cooling during driving. • Compatibility with the mounting points and geometric specifications of the standard oil pan. 6. Detailed description of the invention

[0008] The housing of the oil pan (1) features flow-optimized guide rib structures (2) on its inner wall, which is in constant contact with the engine oil. These ribs guide, swirl, and slow the engine oil (6) on its way to the oil pump's intake point (3). This passively extends the contact time between the oil (6) and the housing wall (1), significantly increasing heat transfer efficiency and the amount of heat energy dissipated. The volume, height, and arrangement of the inner ribs (2) are designed to maximize the contact surface area for heat transfer within reasonable limits. Bends, spirals, and dead ends further influence the uniform heat dissipation caused by varying flow velocities in different oil temperature zones.

[0009] The outer surface of the housing (1) features external cooling fins (4) which are arranged in a flow-optimized manner to utilize the airflow (8A) below the vehicle. Various convection zones (5) can influence the heat transfer in these areas by selectively deflecting / decelerating the airflow, with the aim of achieving the most uniform possible heat dissipation from areas with varying heat loads and preventing so-called hot spots.

[0010] The ribs on the inside and outside are designed in terms of geometry and cross-sections in such a way that an ideal heat flow through the material from the inside to the outside can be created, resulting in a passive heat exchanger principle.

[0011] Preferred embodiments: 1. Controllable airflow: In a further preferred embodiment, a mechanically or electronically controlled air guide device (7) is provided, with the aid of which the airflow (8A) can be directed onto the cooling fins (4) or, if necessary, shielded. This airflow (7) is temperature-dependent and controllable in order to enable faster oil temperature attainment during the warm-up phase. 2. Active cooling by means of a fan: An alternative embodiment comprises a temperature-controlled electric fan (9) which directs the airflow (8A / 8C) over the cooling fins (4) even at low driving speeds or when stationary. The fan (9) is preferably integrated into the oil pan housing (1) and is controlled by the engine management system or a separate control unit. The orientation of the fan (9) is preferably selected such that no airflow (8A) can penetrate due to the driving airflow alone, but is only directed onto the cooling fins (4) after the fan (9) has been activated. Thus, even in this embodiment, a warm-up phase without an applied airflow (8A) is possible. 3. Active cooling via coolant circuit: An alternative design comprises a temperature-controlled coolant circuit through the oil pan (1) with a downstream, conventional radiator, which replaces the cooling medium of the airflow (8A) with a closed coolant circuit, thus transforming the oil pan into an actively cooled component in the engine. In this design, the air fins (4) are replaced by coolant channels that transfer the heat energy to the flowing coolant. 8. Summary (Abstract)

[0012] The invention relates to an oil pan for vehicle combustion engines, particularly for high-performance or thermally stressed engines. The oil pan features internal rib structures that slow the oil flow and, through enlarged contact surfaces, enable improved heat transfer. Flow-optimized cooling fins are provided on the outside, which, together with the internal ribs, form a heat exchanger-like system. The invention allows for targeted control of the cooling effect depending on the operating temperature through additional air guide elements, fans, or integrated coolant channels. The design remains compatible with standard oil pans and allows for easy retrofitting. 9. Drawings / Figures 1. Fig. 1 (Top view of the oil pan, inside with oil contact): ◯ Shows an overview of the inside of the oil pan housing (1) with the central intake area (3) of the oil pump from which the engine oil is pumped back into the circuit. The arrangement and orientation of the internal ribs (2) are clearly shown and illustrate how the oil flow is guided in an arc to achieve a longer contact time with the outer wall. 2. Fig. 2 (Top view of the oil pan, outside exposed to the wind): ◯ Shows an overview of the outside of the housing of the oil pan (1) with ribs in the direction of the airflow (4) and other, flow-optimized areas (5) which achieve a slowing of the airflow (8A) via the rib geometry. 3. Fig. 3 (Sectional view through the oil pan bottom): ◯ Shows a cross-sectional view through the oil pan (1) which clearly shows how the hot engine oil (6) can transfer its temperature to the outer fins (4) in the airflow (8A) via the inner fins (2) through the heat-conducting material of the housing (1). 4. Fig. 4 (Outside of the embodiment with adjustable airflow - open): ◯ Shows a schematic representation with adjustable air guide elements (7) which direct the incoming driving airflow (8A) in the open position over the cooling fins (4) so ​​that it can exit behind the oil pan in a heated form as a hot airflow (8B). 5. Fig. 5 (Outside of the embodiment with adjustable airflow - closed): ◯ Shows a schematic representation with adjustable air guide elements (7) which, in the closed position, block the airflow (8A) on its way to the cooling fins (4), so that no significant cooling effect is achieved (warm-up phase). 6. Fig. 6 (Exterior of the embodiment with active fan cooling): ◯ Shows a schematic diagram with blower motor (9) which directs the actively drawn-in airflow (8C) as cooling air (8A) to the cooling fins (4) so ​​that it can exit behind the oil pan in a heated form as hot airflow (8B). ◯ The arrangement of the blower motor (9) prevents unwanted ingress of airflow, so that cooling only occurs when the blower (9) is active (outside the warm-up phase).

Claims

[1] Oil pan for a vehicle internal combustion engine, comprising - a housing made of thermally conductive metal, - internal rib structures which increase the convection surface area to the engine oil and are arranged in a spiral pattern to increase residence time, - outer cooling fins, which are arranged in a flow-optimized manner and are thermally connected to the inner fins, - where the oil pan is compatible in shape and mounting with a standard oil pan of a vehicle. [2] Oil pan for a vehicle internal combustion engine, comprising - a housing made of thermally conductive metal, - internal rib structures which increase the convection surface area to the engine oil and are arranged in a spiral pattern to increase residence time, - outer cooling fins, which are arranged in a flow-optimized manner and are thermally connected to the inner fins [3] Oil pan for a vehicle internal combustion engine, comprising - a housing made of thermally conductive metal, - internal rib structures which increase the convection surface area to the engine oil and are arranged in a spiral pattern to increase residence time, - outer cooling fins, which are arranged in a flow-optimized manner and are thermally connected to the inner fins, - where the oil pan and mounting are compatible with a standard oil pan of a vehicle. [4] Oil pan for a vehicle internal combustion engine, comprising - a housing made of thermally conductive metal, - internal rib structures which increase the convection surface area to the engine oil and are arranged in a spiral pattern to increase residence time, - outer cooling fins, which are arranged in a flow-optimized manner and are thermally connected to the inner fins, -whereby the oil pan is compatible with the mounting of a standard oil pan of a vehicle. -whereby the oil pan is shape-compatible with a standard oil pan of a vehicle [5] Oil pan according to claim 1, characterized by , that the outer cooling fins are selectively exposed to or shielded from ambient air by a temperature-dependent controlled air guidance system. [6] Oil pan according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that an electrically operated blower is provided which directs cooling air over the outer cooling fins as needed, regardless of the driving wind. [7] Oil pan according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the outer cooling fins are replaced by coolant channels which are integrated into a closed coolant circuit. [8] Oil pan according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the geometry and thermal coupling of the inner and outer fins is designed in such a way as to ensure continuous heat transfer from the oil inside to the air or coolant side.

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