Media duct arrangement for an internal combustion engine, internal combustion engine with a media duct arrangement, motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and method for manufacturing a media duct arrangement

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a media channel arrangement for an internal combustion engine, comprising at least one distribution channel for distributing a medium to various components of the internal combustion engine and at least one inlet channel which is coupled to the distribution channel via at least one media passage opening. Further aspects of the invention relate to an internal combustion engine with a media channel arrangement and to a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine.

[0002] From EP 0 484 312 A1, a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is known, with at least one intake port per cylinder arranged in the cylinder head, which is connected to an intake housing common to several cylinders. At the sharp-edged inlet of the intake ports into the cylinder head, a flow-optimized, rounded component is provided as a running-in aid, which can be placed in front of the cylinder head, and the intake housing is sealed against the cylinder head by means of a circumferential gasket.The flow-optimized rounded component forming the inlet aid and the circumferential seal are formed in one piece, with a common retaining plate being provided which, with its circumferential area, forms the circumferential seal and, moreover, the inlet aid by having openings corresponding to the intake ports of the cylinder head, and consists of an annular, strongly curved bead that can be connected to the sharp-edged entrance of the intake ports with a sharp edge, and which has an inlet cross-section that is considerably larger than the inlet cross-section of the intake port of the cylinder head.

[0003] WO 2004 / 048765 A1 describes a cast component for an internal combustion engine. This component is a cylinder crankcase with at least one guide channel that directs a fluid medium to a point of use. This channel is in the form of a tube and is cast into the component during the casting process. The fluid medium is oil, and the at least one guide channel is an oil supply line to a crankshaft bearing and / or camshaft bearing requiring lubrication.

[0004] From FR 2 905 141 A1, a system for introducing gas, for example air, into an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, with several cylinders, a cylinder head, and a gas distributor on the cylinder head is known. The system includes a device for reducing the spread of swirling motions, called vortices, from one cylinder to another.

[0005] To achieve the highest possible efficiency when operating an internal combustion engine, various approaches are pursued. These include, for example, measures to reduce frictional power generated during the operation of the internal combustion engine, as well as adjusting auxiliary components, such as an oil pump, to meet demand, to name just a few examples.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to create a media channel arrangement, an internal combustion engine and a motor vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, which can be operated with improved efficiency.

[0007] These problems are solved by a media channel arrangement with the features of claim 1, by an internal combustion engine with the features of claim 6, and by a motor vehicle with the features of claim 7. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention relates to a media channel arrangement for an internal combustion engine, comprising at least one distribution channel for distributing a medium to various components of the internal combustion engine and at least one inlet channel which is coupled to the distribution channel via at least one media passage opening. The various components can be, for example, respective crankshaft bearings or a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, to name just a few examples.

[0009] Furthermore, it is stipulated that at least one wall section of the distribution channel opposite the media passage opening is curved, at least partially, towards the media passage opening. In other words, the wall section opposite the media passage opening is curved in the direction of the media passage opening. This is advantageous because such a curvature of the wall section towards the media passage opening effectively prevents the medium flowing from the inlet channel into the distribution channel from striking the wall section almost perpendicularly. This would otherwise lead to increased pressure losses and flow resistance when the medium flows from the inlet channel into the distribution channel.Instead, the curved wall area in the direction of the media passage opening allows for a particularly flow-friendly and therefore low-pressure-loss deflection of the medium within the distribution channel, ultimately resulting in an improvement in efficiency compared to conventional channel arrangements.

[0010] According to the invention, at least one second wall section adjacent to the wall section and opposite the media passage opening is curved in the opposite direction to the media passage opening. In other words, the second wall section is curved in the opposite direction to the media passage opening, i.e., curved away from the media passage opening. The second wall section can therefore have a second curvature, which can be curved in the opposite direction to the media passage opening. This is advantageous because the wall section and the second wall section can thus together form a wave-shaped wall section of the distribution channel, whereby the wave-shaped wall section can ensure particularly efficient flow of the medium.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the distribution channel has a tapered section with an opening cross-section that narrows towards a channel end spaced away from the wall area. This is advantageous because the tapered opening cross-section allows for improved pressure distribution of the medium flowing within the tapered section.

[0012] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the media channel arrangement comprises a plurality of media flow channels, which are spaced apart from one another and distributed along the tapered section and can be supplied with the medium via the distribution channel. This is advantageous because, due to the tapered opening cross-section and the media flow channels distributed along the tapered section, at least approximately equal pressures of the medium can be set in the respective media flow channels.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the media channel arrangement is formed at least partially from plastic. This is advantageous because the media channel arrangement formed at least partially, and preferably entirely, from plastic offers particularly good thermal insulation – in contrast to a possible embodiment of the media channel arrangement made of metal – so that a significant temperature change of the medium during its flow through the media channel arrangement can be avoided. Furthermore, plastic has a particularly low weight.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the media channel arrangement is designed as an oil gallery. This is advantageous because, although oil as a medium flowing through the media channel arrangement designed as an oil gallery has a particularly temperature-dependent viscosity, the curved wall section of the distribution channel allows for comparatively low-resistance transport of the medium within the media channel arrangement even at high viscosity and correspondingly low temperatures of the oil-based medium, due to the curved wall section of the distribution channel. Therefore, the media channel arrangement is particularly suitable for use as an oil gallery.

[0015] A second aspect of the invention relates to an internal combustion engine with a media channel arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention. The media channel arrangement contributes to the internal combustion engine being operated with improved efficiency.

[0016] A third aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine according to the second aspect of the invention. Such a motor vehicle, which comprises an internal combustion engine with a media channel arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention, can be operated with improved efficiency.

[0017] In a process for manufacturing a media channel assembly, a liquid plastic is filled into a cavity that forms the shape of the media channel assembly. Subsequently, a liquid is injected into the cavity, forcing some of the liquid plastic out, thus separating it from the plastic remaining in the cavity that forms the media channel assembly. This process allows the media channel assembly to be given a particularly streamlined contour. By forcing the liquid plastic out of the cavity with the help of the liquid, streamlined radii, especially edge rounding, can be created.

[0018] As a result of the liquid being injected, the plastic remaining in the cavity can cool down and thus solidify. The liquid can therefore fulfill a dual function: on the one hand, it forces the liquid plastic out of the cavity, and on the other hand, it cools the remaining plastic to such an extent that it solidifies and, in particular, hardens.

[0019] The preferred embodiments and their advantages presented with respect to one of the aspects apply accordingly to the other aspects of the invention and vice versa.

[0020] The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the invention.

[0021] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments and the drawings.

[0022] The invention is explained below again using a specific embodiment. This is illustrated by: Fig. 1 is a highly abstract representation of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, which has a media channel arrangement shown in a schematic side view; Fig. 2 is an enlarged representation of a Fig. 1 outlined area A of the media channel arrangement; and Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of the media channel arrangement.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a highly abstract representation of a motor vehicle K with an internal combustion engine 100.

[0024] The internal combustion engine comprises a media channel arrangement 10, in this case designed as an oil gallery. The media channel arrangement 10 thus serves to guide a medium 12, which is indicated by the respective arrows and which in this case is oil, in particular engine oil.

[0025] The media channel arrangement 10 comprises a distribution channel 20 through which the medium 12 can be guided to various components, such as crankshaft bearings of the internal combustion engine 100. For this purpose, the media channel arrangement 10 includes a plurality of spaced-apart media outlet channels 60, each of which serves to guide the medium 12 (here: oil) to one of the components.

[0026] The media channel arrangement 10 further comprises an inlet channel 70 which is coupled to the distribution channel 20 via a media passage opening 72. The medium 12 can therefore be introduced into the distribution channel 20 through the inlet channel 70 and via the media passage opening 72. The media passage opening 72 is in Fig. 1 indicated by a dashed line.

[0027] A wall area 30 of the distribution channel 20 opposite the media passage opening 72 is curved towards the media passage opening 72, as is particularly evident from the Fig. 2 , which is an enlarged representation of a in Fig. 1 The area A, outlined with a dashed line, shows that the distribution channel 20 has a bulge associated with the wall area 30 and facing the media passage opening 72, which can also be referred to as the first bulge.

[0028] A second wall area 50, adjacent to wall area 30 and opposite the media passage opening 72, is curved in the opposite direction to the media passage opening 72, unlike the (first) wall area 30. In other words, the distribution channel 20 has a curve associated with the second wall area 50 and facing away from the media passage opening 72, which can also be referred to as the second curve.

[0029] The distribution channel 20 also includes a tapered section 40 with an opening cross-section 72 that tapers towards the direction 22 of a channel end spaced away from the wall section 30. The direction 22 is indicated by a further arrow. The respective media drainage channels 60 are arranged along the tapered section 40 and can be supplied with the medium 12 via the distribution channel 20.

[0030] The media channel arrangement 10 is in this case formed entirely from plastic 14, wherein the respective wall thicknesses of a wall formed from the plastic of the media channel arrangement 10 are determined by Fig. 3 are recognizable. In addition, it can be seen from Fig. 3It can be seen that the media channel arrangement 10 includes a rising channel 62, which can be supplied with the medium 12 via the distribution channel 20. The medium 12 can be conveyed via the rising channel 62 to a cylinder head (not shown) as a further component of the internal combustion engine 100.

[0031] In a method for manufacturing the media channel arrangement 10, liquid plastic is first filled into a cavity (not shown here) that forms the shape of the media channel arrangement 10. The cavity can, for example, be a cast component. Subsequently, a liquid, in particular water, is forced into the cavity, effectively injecting it. This displaces and expels some of the liquid plastic from the cavity, separating it from the plastic 14 that remains in the cavity and forms the media channel arrangement 10. The remaining plastic 14 forms a thermally insulating wall of the media channel arrangement 10.

[0032] In summary, the present media channel arrangement 10 enables a particularly low-resistance and thus pressure-loss-optimized guidance of the medium 12 (here: oil), especially since the media channel arrangement 10 is not only provided with the correspondingly curved wall sections 30, 50, but also has radii and the tapered section 40. The cavity can, for example, be designed and provided as a cast component into which the liquid plastic can be poured. By pressing the liquid into the cavity, the excess liquid plastic is displaced from the cavity, with the plastic 14 remaining in the cavity acting as thermal insulation. Reference symbol list

[0033] 10Medienkanalanordnung 12Medium 14Kunststoff 20Verteilerkanal 22Richtung 30Wandbereich 40Verjüngungsbereich 42Öffnungsquerschnitt 50zweiter Wandbereich 60Medienablaufkanal 62Steigkanal 70Zulaufkanal 72Mediendurchgangsöffnung 100Verbrennungskraftmaschine KKraftfahrzeug

Claims

1. Media channel arrangement (10) for an internal combustion engine (100), having at least one distributor channel (20), which serves for distributing a medium (12) to various components of the internal combustion engine (100), and having at least one inflow channel (70), which is coupled to the distributor channel (20) via at least one media passage opening (72), wherein at least one wall region (30), situated opposite the media passage opening (72), of the distributor channel (20) is, at least regionally, curved towards the media passage opening (72), characterized in that at least one second wall region (50), which adjoins the wall region (30) and is situated opposite the media passage opening (72), is curved oppositely in relation to the media passage opening (72).

2. Media channel arrangement (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the distributor channel (20) has a narrowing region (40) with an opening cross section (42) which narrows in the direction (22) of a channel end which is spaced apart from the wall region (30).

3. Media channel arrangement (10) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the media channel arrangement (10) comprises a plurality of media outflow channels (60) which are spaced apart from one another, are distributed along the narrowing region (40) and are able to be supplied with the medium (12) via the distributor channel (20).

4. Media channel arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the media channel arrangement (10) is, at least regionally, formed from plastic (14).

5. Media channel arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the media channel arrangement (10) is in the form of an oil gallery.

6. Internal combustion engine (100) having a media channel arrangement (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 5.

7. Motor vehicle (K) having an internal combustion engine (100) according to Claim 6.