Oil return structure of supercharger

Abstract

To provide an oil return structure of a supercharger capable of preventing an oil from adhering to an oil level gauge when the oil discharged from the supercharger is returned into an oil level gauge insertion hole, as well as, capable of improving workability of inspection work for the oil level.SOLUTION: The oil return structure of the supercharger includes: an oil level gauge insertion hole 8 which is provided in an engine body, into which an oil level gauge 7 is inserted for detecting an amount of oil stored in an oil pan 5, and which communicates with the oil pan 5; and an oil return pipe 10 causes the supercharger and the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 to communicate with each other, so as to return oil which is discharged from the supercharger 6 after lubricating the supercharger 6, into the oil level gauge 7. The oil return pipe 10 has a discharge part 13 for discharging the oil into the oil level gauge insertion hole 8. The oil level gauge 7 is arranged at a position with which the oil discharged from the discharge part 13 into the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 does not contact.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil return structure for a turbocharger. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In an internal combustion engine, a lubricant oil return device for a turbocharger is known that lubricates the turbocharger and returns oil discharged from the turbocharger to an oil pan (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The lubricating oil return device for a turbocharger described in Patent Document 1 has an oil level gauge guide, into which an oil level gauge is inserted, embedded in the engine, and a lubricating oil return pipe from the turbocharger is connected to the oil level gauge guide, returning oil from the turbocharger to the oil level gauge guide. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-65325 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional lubricant oil return device for the turbocharger, there is a risk that the oil discharged from the turbocharger will adhere to the oil level gauge, and it is necessary to wipe off the oil adhered to the oil level gauge when checking the oil level. As a result, there is a risk that the workability of the oil level inspection work will deteriorate.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide an oil return structure for a turbocharger that can prevent oil from adhering to an oil level gauge when oil discharged from the turbocharger is returned to an oil level gauge insertion hole, thereby improving the operability of oil level inspection work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides an oil return structure for a turbocharger, the oil return structure having an oil level gauge insertion hole that is provided on an engine body, into which an oil level gauge is inserted for detecting an amount of oil stored in an oil pan, and which communicates with the oil pan, and an oil return piping that connects a turbocharger to the oil level gauge insertion hole and returns oil that has lubricated the turbocharger and is discharged from the turbocharger to the oil pan through the oil level gauge insertion hole, the oil return piping having a discharge portion that discharges oil into the oil level gauge insertion hole, and the oil level gauge being positioned so as not to come into contact with oil discharged from the discharge portion into the oil level gauge insertion hole. Effect of the Invention

[0008] As described above, according to the present invention, when the oil discharged from the turbocharger is returned to the oil level gauge insertion hole, the oil can be prevented from adhering to the oil level gauge, thereby improving the operability of the oil level inspection work. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of an engine equipped with an oil return structure for a turbocharger according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An oil return structure for a turbocharger according to one embodiment of the present invention is an oil return structure for a turbocharger that is provided on an engine body, has an oil level gauge inserted therein for detecting an amount of oil stored in an oil pan, and has an oil level gauge insertion hole communicating with the oil pan, and an oil return piping that connects the turbocharger with the oil level gauge insertion hole and returns oil that has lubricated the turbocharger and is discharged from the turbocharger to the oil pan through the oil level gauge insertion hole, the oil return piping having a discharge portion that discharges oil into the oil level gauge insertion hole, and the oil level gauge is positioned so that it does not come into contact with the oil discharged from the discharge portion into the oil level gauge insertion hole.

[0011] As a result, the oil return structure for a turbocharger according to one embodiment of the present invention can prevent oil from adhering to the oil level gauge when returning oil discharged from the turbocharger to the oil level gauge insertion hole, thereby improving the operability of oil level inspection work. EXAMPLES

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an oil return structure for a turbocharger according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are diagrams showing an oil return structure for a turbocharger according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1 to 4, the up-down, front-rear, left-right directions are based on the engine installed in a vehicle, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is the front-rear direction, the left-right direction of the vehicle (vehicle width direction) is the left-right direction, and the up-down direction of the vehicle (vehicle height direction) is the up-down direction.

[0013] First, the configuration will be described. In FIG. 1, engine 1 as an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block 2, a cylinder head 3 provided on the upper part of the cylinder block 2, a cylinder head cover 4 provided on the upper part of the cylinder head 3, and an oil pan 5 provided on the lower part of the cylinder block 2 in which oil is stored.

[0014] In this embodiment, the cylinder block 2, the cylinder head 3 and the cylinder head cover 4 constitute an engine body.

[0015] A plurality of cylinders (not shown) are provided in the cylinder block 2, and the cylinders are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. A piston (not shown) is accommodated in each cylinder so as to be movable up and down.

[0016] A crankshaft (not shown) is housed in the cylinder block 2, and the crankshaft converts the up and down movement of the pistons into rotational movement.

[0017] The number of cylinders is not particularly limited, and the direction in which the cylinders are arranged (left and right direction) in this embodiment will be referred to as a cylinder row direction C hereinafter.

[0018] A turbocharger 6 is attached to the engine 1. The turbocharger 6 has a turbine housing 6A through which exhaust gas passes, a compressor housing 6B through which intake air of the engine 1 passes, and a bearing housing 6C connected to the turbine housing 6A and the compressor housing 6B.

[0019] A turbine wheel (not shown) is provided in the turbine housing 6A, and a compressor wheel (not shown) is provided in the compressor housing 6B. The turbine wheel and the compressor wheel are connected by a common rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing housing 6C via a bearing (not shown).

[0020] The turbocharger 6 rotates a turbine wheel using the energy of exhaust gas introduced into a turbine housing 6A, and compresses intake air with a compressor wheel that rotates integrally with the turbine wheel.

[0021] 1 and 2, an oil level gauge 7 is disposed in the engine 1. The oil level gauge 7 has, for example, a gauge portion 7A formed in a linear shape from a flexible material, and an operation portion 7B provided at the upper end of the gauge portion 7A.

[0022] 2 and 3, a cylindrical oil level gauge insertion hole 8 is formed in the engine 1. The oil level gauge insertion hole 8 extends linearly in the vertical direction from the cylinder head cover 4 through the cylinder head 3 and the cylinder block 2.

[0023] 1 and 3, a cylindrical oil level gauge insertion portion 4A is provided on the cylinder head cover 4. The gauge portion 7A of the oil level gauge 7 is inserted into the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 through the oil level gauge insertion portion 4A, and the lower end portion is accommodated in the oil pan 5.

[0024] When the gauge section 7A is inserted into the oil level gauge insertion section 4A, the operating section 7B is positioned above the oil level gauge insertion section 4A, and an operator can access the operating section 7B from outside the engine 1.

[0025] The oil level gauge 7 detects the height position of the oil surface when inserted into the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 so that the gauge portion 7A is immersed in the oil stored in the oil pan 5.

[0026] Specifically, the oil level gauge 7 is capable of measuring the height of the oil surface of the oil stored in the oil pan 5 from the position of the oil adhering to the lower end of the gauge portion 7A.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 1, a cooling water inlet pipe 9A and a cooling water outlet pipe 9B are connected to a bearing housing 6C of a turbocharger 6. The cooling water inlet pipe 9A introduces cooling water into the bearing housing 6C to cool the bearing. The cooling water that has cooled the bearing is discharged from the cooling water outlet pipe 9B.

[0028] An oil inlet pipe and an oil return pipe 10 (not shown) are connected to a bearing housing 6C of the turbocharger 6. The oil inlet pipe is adapted to introduce oil into the bearing housing 6C, and the bearings accommodated in the bearing housing 6C are lubricated by the oil.

[0029] The oil that has lubricated the bearings is discharged from the bearing housing 6C to the oil return pipe 10. The oil return pipe 10 is connected to the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, which returns the oil introduced from the oil return pipe 10 to the oil pan 5 by its own weight.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 is disposed on the front end side and on the right side of the cylinder block 2, the cylinder head 3 and the cylinder head cover 4.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a hole 2A is formed in the cylinder block 2, and the hole 2A communicates with an oil level gauge insertion hole 8.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the hole 2A has a central axis 2a in the extension direction that is inclined at a predetermined angle in the left-right direction with respect to the front-to-rear direction perpendicular to the cylinder row direction C, and the downstream 2b side in the oil flow direction is located closer to the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in the cylinder row direction C than the upstream 2c side.

[0033] The oil return piping 10 has an oil return hose 11 and an oil return pipe 12. One end of the oil return hose 11 is connected to the bearing housing 6C, and the other end of the oil return hose 11 is connected to the oil return pipe 12. The oil return pipe 12 is fitted liquid-tightly into the hole 2A. The oil return pipe 12 in this embodiment forms a piping section that fits into the hole 2A.

[0034] The oil return pipe 10 has a discharge portion 13. The discharge portion 13 is configured by a gap 14 formed between the inner wall 2d of the hole portion 2A and the tip of the oil return pipe 12, and the discharge portion 13 is in communication with the oil level gauge insertion hole 8.

[0035] In other words, the space surrounded by the inner wall 2d of the hole 2A communicates with the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 when the oil return pipe 12 is not fitted in the hole 2A.

[0036] On the other hand, when the oil return pipe 12 is fitted into the hole portion 2A, the gap formed between the tip of the oil return pipe 12 and the inner wall 2d of the hole portion 2A, excluding the inner wall 2d with which the oil return pipe 12 contacts, communicates with the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, and this gap forms a discharge portion 13 that discharges oil from the oil return pipe 12 to the oil level gauge insertion hole 8.

[0037] The oil level gauge insertion hole 8 has a first inner wall portion 8A, a second inner wall portion 8B, a third inner wall portion 8C and a fourth inner wall portion 8D.

[0038] The first inner wall portion 8A is located on the left side (one side) of the center 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in the cylinder row direction C, and the second inner wall portion 8B is located on the right side (the other side) opposite the first inner wall portion 8A with respect to the center 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in the cylinder row direction C.

[0039] The third inner wall portion 8C is located on the rear side (one side) of the center 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 that intersects with the cylinder row direction C in the horizontal plane, and the fourth inner wall portion 8D is located on the front side (the other side) opposite the third inner wall portion 8C with respect to the center 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in a direction that intersects with the cylinder row direction C in the horizontal plane.

[0040] The first inner wall portion 8A, the second inner wall portion 8B, the third inner wall portion 8C and the fourth inner wall portion 8D are inner wall surfaces of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 that are continuous in the circumferential direction of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, and the center portion 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 is the central axis in the direction in which the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 extends.

[0041] The oil level gauge 7 is located on the first inner wall portion 8A side with respect to the center portion 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, and on the fourth inner wall portion 8D side with respect to the center portion 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8. In other words, the oil level gauge 7 is biased toward the first inner wall portion 8A side and the fourth inner wall portion 8D side.

[0042] Since the oil level gauge insertion portion 4A is positioned on the first inner wall portion 8A side and the fourth inner wall portion 8D side of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, the oil level gauge 7 can be positioned biased toward the first inner wall portion 8A side and the fourth inner wall portion 8D side, and the oil level gauge insertion portion 4A can be maintained in a position biased toward the first inner wall portion 8A side and the fourth inner wall portion 8D side.

[0043] The discharge portion 13 is located on the first inner wall portion 8A side relative to the center portion 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 and on the third inner wall portion 8C side relative to the oil level gauge 7, and the discharge portion 13 discharges oil toward the third inner wall portion 8C.

[0044] As a result, the oil level gauge 7 is disposed at a position where it does not come into contact with the oil discharged from the discharge portion 13 into the oil level gauge insertion hole 8.

[0045] The oil return pipe 12 has a hole side portion 12A and an opposite hole side portion 12B. The hole side portion 12A is located on the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 side, and the opposite hole side portion 12B is located on the opposite side of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in the cylinder row direction C with respect to the hole side portion 12A.

[0046] The tip of the oil return pipe 12 is cut obliquely with respect to the cylinder row direction C so that the tip 12a of the hole side portion 12A extends further back (rear) of the hole portion 2A than the tip 12b of the anti-hole side portion 12B. The tip 12a of the hole side portion 12A and the tip 12b of the anti-hole side portion 12B are part of the tip of the oil return pipe 12 and form the tip of the piping portion.

[0047] Next, the function and effect of the oil return structure of the turbocharger 6 of this embodiment will be described. The oil return structure of the turbocharger 6 in this embodiment is provided in the cylinder block 2, the cylinder head 3 and the cylinder head cover 4, and has an oil level gauge 7 inserted therein to detect the amount of oil stored in the oil pan 5, an oil level gauge insertion hole 8 communicating with the oil pan 5, and an oil return piping 10 connecting the turbocharger 6 and the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, and returning the oil discharged from the turbocharger 6, which has lubricated the turbocharger 6, to the oil pan 5 through the oil level gauge insertion hole 8.

[0048] The oil return pipe 10 has a discharge section 13 that discharges oil into the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, and the oil level gauge 7 is positioned so as not to come into contact with the oil discharged from the discharge section 13 into the oil level gauge insertion hole 8.

[0049] This makes it possible to prevent the oil from adhering to the oil level gauge 7 when the oil discharged from the turbocharger 6 is returned to the oil level gauge insertion hole 8. This makes it unnecessary to wipe off the oil adhering to the oil level gauge 7 when checking the oil level, thereby improving the efficiency of the oil level inspection work.

[0050] Furthermore, according to the oil return structure of the turbocharger 6 of this embodiment, the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 has a first inner wall portion 8A located on the left side of the center portion 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in the cylinder row direction C of the engine 1, and a second inner wall portion 8B located on the opposite right side of the first inner wall portion 8A with respect to the center portion 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in the cylinder row direction C.

[0051] In addition, the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 has a third inner wall portion 8C located rearward of the center 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in a direction intersecting the cylinder row direction C in the horizontal plane, and a fourth inner wall portion 8D located forward, opposite the third inner wall portion 8C, with respect to the center 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in a direction intersecting the cylinder row direction C in the horizontal plane.

[0052] The oil level gauge 7 is located on the first inner wall portion 8A side of the center portion 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 and on the fourth inner wall portion 8D side of the center portion 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8.

[0053] The discharge portion 13 is located on the first inner wall portion 8A side with respect to the center portion 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 and on the third inner wall portion 8C side with respect to the oil level gauge 7, and discharges oil toward the third inner wall portion 8C.

[0054] As a result, when the oil discharged from the turbocharger 6 is returned to the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, the oil can be returned to the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 while avoiding the oil level gauge 7.

[0055] This makes it possible to more effectively prevent oil from adhering to the oil level gauge 7, and makes it unnecessary to wipe off oil adhering to the oil level gauge 7 when checking the oil level. As a result, the workability of the oil level check operation is more effectively improved.

[0056] Moreover, according to the oil return structure of the turbocharger 6 of this embodiment, the cylinder block 2 has a hole portion 2A that communicates with the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, and the oil return piping 10 has an oil return pipe 12 that is fitted into the hole portion 2A.

[0057] In addition, the discharge portion 13 is constituted by a gap 14 formed between the inner wall 2d of the hole portion 2A and the tip of the oil return pipe 12.

[0058] In this way, by appropriately selecting the orientation of hole portion 2A relative to the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, the depth of hole portion 2A, and the shape of the tip of oil return pipe 12, oil can be discharged in a direction away from the oil level gauge 7, and oil can be more effectively prevented from adhering to the oil level gauge 7.

[0059] According to the oil return structure of the turbocharger 6 of this embodiment, the central axis 2a of the hole 2A in the extending direction is inclined with respect to the cylinder row direction C so that the downstream 2b side in the oil flow direction is located closer to the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in the cylinder row direction C than the upstream 2c side.

[0060] This makes it possible to prevent the oil passage from the oil return pipe 12 of the oil return piping 10 to the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 from bending at a right angle at the discharge portion 13.

[0061] Therefore, the oil level gauge 7 can be positioned on the first inner wall portion 8A side relative to the center 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 and on the fourth inner wall portion 8D side relative to the center 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8, and the discharge portion 13 can be positioned on the first inner wall portion 8A side relative to the center 8a of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 and on the third inner wall portion 8C side relative to the oil level gauge 7.

[0062] As a result, the oil can be smoothly guided in a direction away from the oil level gauge 7, and the oil can be more effectively prevented from adhering to the oil level gauge 7.

[0063] Moreover, according to the oil return structure of the turbocharger 6 of this embodiment, the oil return pipe 12 has a hole side portion 12A located on the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 side, and an anti-hole side portion 12B located on the opposite side of the oil level gauge insertion hole 8 in the cylinder row direction C with respect to the hole side portion 12A.

[0064] In addition, the tip of the oil return pipe 12 is cut obliquely with respect to the cylinder row direction C so that the tip 12a of the hole side portion 12A extends deeper into the hole portion 2A than the tip 12b of the opposite hole side portion 12B.

[0065] In this way, by cutting the tip of the oil return pipe 12 at an angle so that the tip 12a of the hole side portion 12A extends further into the hole portion 2A than the tip 12b of the anti-hole side portion 12B, the oil level gauge 7 can be covered by the hole side portion 12A in the direction of oil flow.

[0066] Therefore, the oil can be reliably discharged in a direction away from the oil level gauge 7, and the oil can be more effectively prevented from adhering to the oil level gauge 7.

[0067] Although an embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications and equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] Reference Signs List 2...cylinder block (engine body), 2A...hole, 2a...central axis (central axis of hole), 2b...downstream (downstream of hole), 2c...upstream (upstream of hole), 2d...inner wall (inner wall of hole), 3...cylinder head (engine body), 4...cylinder head cover (engine body), 5...oil pan, 6...supercharger, 7...oil level gauge, 8...oil level gauge insertion hole, 8A...first inner wall portion, 8a...center of oil level insertion hole, 8B...second inner wall portion, 8C...third inner wall portion, 8D...fourth inner wall portion, 10...oil return piping, 12...oil return pipe (piping portion), 12A...hole side portion, 12a...tip (tip of hole side portion, tip of piping portion), 12B...opposite hole side portion, 12b...(tip of opposite hole side portion, tip of piping portion), 13...discharge portion, C...cylinder row direction

Claims

1. an oil level gauge insertion hole provided in the engine body, into which an oil level gauge for detecting an amount of oil stored in the oil pan is inserted and which communicates with the oil pan; an oil return pipe that connects a turbocharger to the oil level gauge insertion hole and returns oil that lubricates the turbocharger and is discharged from the turbocharger to the oil pan through the oil level gauge insertion hole, the oil return pipe has a discharge portion that discharges oil into the oil level gauge insertion hole, 13. An oil return structure for a turbocharger, comprising: an oil level gauge disposed in a position where it does not come into contact with oil discharged from the discharge portion into the oil level gauge insertion hole.

2. The oil level gauge insertion hole is a first inner wall portion located on one side of a center portion of the oil level gauge insertion hole in a cylinder row direction of the engine body; a second inner wall portion located on the other side opposite to the first inner wall portion with respect to a center portion of the oil level gauge insertion hole in the cylinder row direction; a third inner wall portion located on one side intersecting the cylinder row direction with respect to a center portion of the oil level gauge insertion hole; a fourth inner wall portion located on the other side opposite to the third inner wall portion with respect to a center portion of the oil level gauge insertion hole in a direction intersecting the cylinder row direction, the oil level gauge is located on the first inner wall portion side with respect to a center portion of the oil level gauge insertion hole and on the fourth inner wall portion side with respect to the center portion of the oil level gauge insertion hole, the discharge portion is located on the first inner wall portion side with respect to a center portion of the oil level gauge insertion hole and on the third inner wall portion side with respect to the oil level gauge, 2. The oil return structure for a turbocharger according to claim 1, wherein the discharge portion discharges the oil toward the third inner wall portion.

3. the engine body has a hole portion communicating with the oil level gauge insertion hole, the oil return pipe has a pipe portion that is fitted into the hole, 3. The oil return structure for a turbocharger according to claim 2, wherein the discharge portion is configured by a gap formed between an inner wall of the hole portion and a tip end of the piping portion.

4. 4. The oil return structure for a turbocharger according to claim 3, wherein a central axis of the hole in an extending direction is inclined with respect to the cylinder row direction so that a downstream side in a direction of oil flow is located closer to the oil level gauge insertion hole in the cylinder row direction than an upstream side.

5. the piping portion has a hole side portion located on the side of the oil level gauge insertion hole and an anti-hole side portion located on the opposite side of the oil level gauge insertion hole in the cylinder row direction with respect to the hole side portion, 5. The oil return structure for a turbocharger according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a tip of the piping portion is cut obliquely with respect to the cylinder row direction so that a tip of the hole side portion extends deeper into the hole than a tip of the anti-hole side portion.

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