Internal combustion engine

Abstract

To provide a space-saving internal combustion engine capable of suppressing sagging down of a hose.SOLUTION: An internal combustion engine includes an internal combustion engine body, a hose extending in an almost horizontal direction along a side surface of the internal combustion engine body, and a heat insulator provided on the side surface and shielding the hose from heat of an exhaust system component. The heat insulator has a support portion for supporting the hose from a lower side in an almost vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine.

Background Art

[0002] In an internal combustion engine such as an engine, various hoses such as fuel hoses are routed along the side surface of the internal combustion engine body such as a cylinder block (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Since high-temperature exhaust system components are arranged around the cylinder block, the hoses are shielded from the heat of the exhaust system components by heat insulators.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the hose is formed of a flexible material such as synthetic resin, it may bend and sag due to its own weight. In this case, for example, there is a risk that the hose may be pinched when assembling a transmission to the internal combustion engine body. On the other hand, if the hose is fixed to the internal combustion engine body with a clip, the sagging of the hose can be suppressed, but an installation space for the clip is required on the internal combustion engine body.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a space-saving internal combustion engine capable of suppressing the sagging of a hose.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The internal combustion engine of the present invention includes an internal combustion engine main body, a hose extending substantially horizontally along the side surface of the internal combustion engine main body, and a heat insulator provided on the side surface for shielding the hose from the heat of exhaust system components. The heat insulator has a support portion that supports the hose from the lower side in a substantially vertical direction.

[0007] In the above internal combustion engine, the heat insulator may have a side portion that covers the hose from the side of the internal combustion engine main body, and the support portion and the side portion may be an integrally formed plate-like member.

[0008] In the above internal combustion engine, the heat insulator may have a cut between the support portion and the side portion.

[0009] In the above internal combustion engine, the heat insulator may have a fastening portion fastened to the side surface.

[0010] In the above internal combustion engine, the heat insulator may have ribs along the direction in which the hose extends.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, the internal combustion engine can be made more space-saving, and the sagging of the hose can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] (Engine) FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing side surfaces 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B of engine 9. In FIG. 1, engine 9 is shown as viewed from two directions.

[0014] Engine 9 is an example of an internal combustion engine and is mounted on a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle. Engine 9 includes an engine body 1 including a cylinder head 10, a cylinder block 11, and a crankcase 12, a hose H, and a heat insulator 2. In FIG. 1, an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction that are orthogonal to each other are shown. The X direction and the Y direction coincide with substantially horizontal directions, and the Z direction coincides with a substantially vertical direction.

[0015] In FIG. 1, the cylinder head 10, the cylinder block 11, and the crankcase 12 are each shown as a rectangular parallelepiped shape having six substantially flat surfaces. However, in reality, various mechanical parts such as pumps and unevenness such as ribs are provided on the surface. The cylinder head 10, the cylinder block 11, and the crankcase 12 are stacked on top of each other in a substantially vertical direction. Also, the two side surfaces 10A and 10B of the cylinder head are adjacent to each other, the two side surfaces 11A and 11B of the cylinder block 11 are adjacent to each other, and the two side surfaces 12A and 12B of the crankcase 12 are adjacent to each other. Side surfaces 10A, 11A, and 12A are orthogonal to the Y direction, and side surfaces 10B, 11B, and 12B are orthogonal to the X direction.

[0016] The cylinder block 11 houses a piston (not shown) and a crankshaft 120 connected to the piston. The end of the crankshaft 120 is exposed on the side surface 11B of the cylinder block 11 and is connected to the flywheel 30 of the transmission 31 shown by a dotted line. Thereby, power is transmitted from the engine body 1 to the transmission 31.

[0017] The hose H extends substantially horizontally along the two side surfaces 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B of the cylinder head 10 and the cylinder block 11. The hose H is connected, for example, to a vacuum pump (not shown) for controlling the negative pressure of the vehicle's damping. The hose H is formed of, for example, synthetic resin and is bent substantially at a right angle between the side surfaces 10A, 11A and the side surfaces 10B, 11B. Note that in FIG. 1, only a part of the hose H on the side surfaces 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B is shown.

[0018] A catalytic device 3 for purifying the exhaust gas of the engine 9 with a three-way catalyst is provided in front of the side surfaces 10A, 11A. The catalytic device 3 is an example of an exhaust system component of an internal combustion engine. The catalytic device 3 is heated when the high-temperature exhaust gas discharged from the engine body 1 flows through it. Since the catalytic device 3 is located in the vicinity of the hose H on the side surfaces 10A, 11A, the hose H is covered by the heat insulator 2.

[0019] The heat insulator 2 is provided on the side surfaces 10A, 11A and shields the hose H from the heat of the catalytic device 3. The portion of the hose H shielded by the heat insulator 2 is indicated by a dotted line. The heat insulator 2 is formed of a metal such as iron or aluminum. Thereby, the deterioration of the hose H due to heat is suppressed.

[0020] For example, the heat insulator 2 is fastened to the fastening portion 110 provided on the side surface 10A by bolts or the like. Thereby, the heat insulator 2 is fixed to the engine body 1. Note that the fastening portion 110 is provided with a bolt hole for attaching, for example, a hook (not shown) for transporting the engine body 1. After removing the hook, the bolt hole is used for fastening the heat insulator 2.

[0021] Further, the heat insulator 2 supports the hose H from the lower side in the substantially vertical direction. Thereby, the sagging of the hose H downward in the substantially vertical direction is suppressed.

[0022] If the heat insulator 2 is not provided, the hanging hose Hc overlaps, for example, the upper part of the side surface 12A of the crankcase 12 in a front view. For this reason, in the vehicle assembly process, when assembling the transmission 31 to the engine body 1 on the side surfaces 11B and 12B of the cylinder block 11 and the crankcase 12, there is a risk of sandwiching the hanging hose Hc between the side surfaces 11B and 12B and the transmission 31. On the other hand, if the hose Hc is fixed to the engine body 1 by a clip, the sagging of the hose Hc can be suppressed, but an installation space for the clip is required on the engine body 1.

[0023] Since the heat insulator 2 can suppress the sagging of the hose H by supporting it, the space of the engine body 1 can be saved.

[0024] (Heat insulator) FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the heat insulator 2. In FIG. 2, the heat insulator 2 is shown in a top view (viewpoint in the negative direction of the Z axis), a side view (viewpoint in the negative direction of the Y axis), and a front view (viewpoint in the positive direction of the X axis), respectively.

[0025] The heat insulator 2 has a side portion 20 and a support portion 21. The side portion 20 is a plate-like member whose plate surface faces the side surfaces 10A and 11A of the engine body 1, and covers the hose H from the side of the engine body 1. The support portion 21 is a plate-like member whose plate surface faces upward in the vertical direction, and covers and supports the hose H from below in the vertical direction. The plate surface of the support portion 21 is bent downward in the vertical direction along the path of the hose H.

[0026] The support portion 21 and the side portion 20 are integrally formed by, for example, sheet metal. For this reason, the heat insulator 2 has higher strength than the case where the side portion 20 and the support portion 21 are formed separately and joined to each other.

[0027] The side portion 20 and the support portion 21 are bent so that their plate surfaces are substantially orthogonal to each other, and the side portion 20 is longer than the support portion 21. Both end portions 20a and 20b in the length direction of the side portion 20 protrude outside the support portion 21 and are bent toward the engine body 1 side (the positive direction of the Y axis). On the end portion 20a side, a notch 23 is provided along the length direction between the side portion 20 and the support portion 21. Therefore, the bending process of the side portion 20 is easier than when there is no notch 23.

[0028] Further, a fastening portion 203 fastened to the cylinder head 10 is provided at the upper portion of the substantially center of the side portion 20. The fastening portion 203 has a through hole 203a for inserting a bolt opened toward the side surface 10A. Thereby, the heat insulator 2 is easily fixed to the fastening portion 110 on the side surface 10A.

[0029] A rotation stopper 202 is further provided at the upper portion of the substantially center of the side portion 20 so as to be adjacent to the fastening portion 203 in the length direction. The rotation stopper 202 bends from the upper portion of the side portion 20 toward the side surface 10A side, and when the heat insulator 2 is fastened to the fastening portion 110 on the side surface 10A, the rotation of the heat insulator 2 itself accompanying the rotation of the bolt is suppressed by abutting against other bolts.

[0030] In addition, a rib 201 is provided on the side portion 20 along the extending direction of the hose H. The rib 201 is a region formed in a convex shape on the side surface 11A side on the plate surface of the side portion 20. The strength of the heat insulator 2 is improved by the rib 201. Note that the rib 201 may be provided on the support portion 21.

[0031] Next, the function of the heat insulator 2 will be specifically described.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the heat insulator 2 and the catalyst device 3 on the cylinder block 11. FIG. 3 shows the heat insulator 2 viewed from the upper side in the Z direction.

[0033] The heat insulator 2 is disposed between the side surface 11A and the catalyst device 3. The side portion 20 of the heat insulator 2 is substantially parallel to the side surface 11A, and covers the hose H from the side of the cylinder block 11 so as to separate the hose H on the support portion 21 from the catalyst device 3. The hose H is provided so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction along the side surfaces 11A and 11B, and bends at a substantially right angle at the corner portion 111 of the side surfaces 11A and 11B. The bent portion Hb of the hose H is covered from the side by the end portion 20a of the side portion 20. In this way, the side portion 20 is disposed on the side of the cylinder block 11 along the path of the hose H to shield the hose H from the heat of the catalyst device 3.

[0034] Further, the support portion 21 supports the hose H from the lower side in a substantially vertical direction and shields the hose H from the heat of the catalyst device 3. In this way, the hose H is effectively heat-insulated from the side and the lower side by the heat insulator 2.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the heat insulator 2 when the side surfaces 10A and 11A of the cylinder head 10 and the cylinder block 11 are viewed from the front. FIG. 4 shows the heat insulator 2 viewed from the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0036] The support portion 21 supports the hose H from the lower side in a substantially vertical direction to suppress the sagging of the hose H due to its own weight. The support portion 21 is disposed substantially orthogonally to the side surface 11A.

[0037] The fastening portion 203 of the heat insulator 2 is fastened to the fastening portion 110 of the cylinder head 10 by a bolt Ta. Two bolt holes (not shown) are provided in the fastening portion 110 so as to be adjacent to each other. The bolt Ta is inserted through the through hole 203a of the heat insulator 2 and the bolt hole of the fastening portion 110. Another bolt Tb is inserted through the other bolt hole of the fastening portion 110. The rotation stopper 202 of the heat insulator 2 abuts against the bolt Tb, thereby suppressing the rotation of the heat insulator 2 itself accompanying the rotation of the bolt Ta.

[0038] As described above, according to the engine 9 in this example, since the heat insulator 2 is provided with the support portion 21 for supporting the hose H, it is possible to suppress the sagging of the hose H without using a clip or the like. Therefore, the space of the engine body 1 can be reduced, and the assembly work such as the assembly of the transmission 31 to the engine body 1 becomes easy, for example.

[0039] In addition, in this example, the hose H is exemplified as the hose of the vacuum pump, but it is not limited thereto, and it may be a fuel hose or a hose used for a turbocharger. Further, the catalytic device 3 is exemplified as the exhaust system component, but it is not limited thereto, and it may be an exhaust manifold or the like.

[0040] The above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0041] 1 Engine body (internal combustion engine body), 2 Heat insulator, 3 Catalytic device (exhaust system component), 10 Cylinder head, 11 Cylinder block, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B Side surfaces, 20 Side portion, 21 Support portion, 23 Notch, 201 Rib, 203 Fastening portion

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine main body, a hose extending substantially horizontally along a side surface of the internal combustion engine main body, and a heat insulator provided on the side surface for shielding the hose from heat of exhaust system components, wherein the heat insulator has a support portion that supports the hose from below in a substantially vertical direction, an internal combustion engine.

2. The heat insulator has a side portion that covers the hose from the side of the internal combustion engine main body, wherein the support portion and the side portion are an integrally formed plate-like member, The internal combustion engine according to Claim 1.

3. The heat insulator has a notch between the support portion and the side portion, The internal combustion engine according to Claim 2.

4. The heat insulator has a fastening portion fastened to the side surface, The internal combustion engine according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. The heat insulator has ribs along the direction in which the hose extends, The internal combustion engine according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

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