oil tank

Abstract

To provide an oil tank capable of sufficiently removing and circulating a fuel component included in oil.SOLUTION: In an oil tank 10, a cyclone separator 12 for sending oil O sent from an upper side to a lower side while turning the oil is provided within a tank case 11. A baffle plate 31 continuing from a bottom side of the tank case 11 to an upper side of an oil level OL of the oil O stored in the tank case 11 is provided between the cyclone separator 12 and the tank case 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil tank.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an oil tank provided with a separator that separates air mixed in lubricating oil by the centrifugal force generated when the flowing-in lubricating oil swirls inside a tank body formed in a cylindrical shape. In this oil tank, the separator is joined and supported to the tank body above the oil level by a support member.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the oil tank described in Patent Document 1 above, since the fuel component is contained, the lubricating oil with reduced viscosity flows out from the bottom of the separator into the tank body and is returned to each lubricating part of the internal combustion engine, and there is a risk of poor lubrication in the internal combustion engine.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an oil tank capable of sufficiently removing and circulating the fuel component contained in the oil.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] [[ID=四十五]] [[ID=四十六]]To achieve the above object, the oil tank of the present invention is [[ID=四十七]] [[ID=四十八]]An oil tank provided with a cyclone separator that sends out the oil sent in from above while swirling it downward inside a tank case, [[ID=四十九]] A baffle plate is provided between the cyclone separator and the tank case, extending from the bottom of the tank case to above the oil level of the oil stored in the tank case.

[0007] With this oil tank configuration, the oil leaking from the bottom of the cyclone separator is moved along the baffle plate towards the upper oil surface, allowing it to come into active contact with the air. This allows for the efficient release and removal of fuel components contained in the oil. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an oil tank that can sufficiently remove fuel components contained in the oil and circulate it. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the oil tank according to this embodiment, along the vertical direction. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cyclone separator and baffle members arranged inside the tank case. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a side view of the cyclone separator and baffle members arranged inside the tank case. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a rear view of the baffle component placed inside the tank case. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an oil tank according to another embodiment, along the vertical direction. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the horizontal direction of an oil tank according to another embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a side view of the baffle plate. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows a side view of a baffle plate of a different shape. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the horizontal direction showing a modified example of an oil tank according to another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the oil tank 10 according to this embodiment, along the vertical direction.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the oil tank 10 according to this embodiment has a tank case 11 and a cyclone separator 12. Furthermore, the oil tank 10 is equipped with a baffle member 13. This oil tank 10 is installed alongside a dry-sump type engine (internal combustion engine) and circulates oil O between the engine and the tank.

[0012] The tank case 11 has a case body 21 formed in a cylindrical shape at the top, and a discharge section 22 formed in a cylindrical shape at the bottom of the case body 21, which is narrower than the case body 21. Oil O is stored in the tank case 11 having the case body 21 and the discharge section 22.

[0013] The tank case 11 has a cyclone separator 12 positioned inside the case body 21. The tank case 11 has an oil inlet 23 near the top of the case body 21. This oil inlet 23 is connected to an intake pipe 26, which will be described later, provided in the cyclone separator 12. The tank case 11 also has an oil outlet 24 at the lower end of the outlet 22. Furthermore, the tank case 11 has a gas exhaust 25 at the top of the case body 21.

[0014] The tank case 11 has an oil inlet 23 connected to the engine via a discharge pipeline (not shown), and an oil outlet 24 connected to the engine via a delivery pipeline (not shown). Oil O from the engine is supplied to the tank case 11 from the oil inlet 23 through the discharge pipeline by a discharge pump (not shown). The oil O in the tank case 11 is then pumped under pressure from the oil outlet 24 to various parts of the engine by a delivery pump (not shown).

[0015] Further, in the tank case 11, the gas exhaust portion 25 is connected to the intake pipe of the engine via an exhaust pipe (not shown), and the gas above the oil level OL in the tank case 11 is exhausted through the exhaust pipe.

[0016] The cyclone separator 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The upper part of the cyclone separator 12 is fixed to the upper surface plate portion 21a that constitutes the upper part of the case body 21 of the tank case 11. Thereby, the cyclone separator 12 is supported by the tank case 11 while being housed inside the case body 21. In the state of being supported in this way, the cyclone separator 12 is arranged with a gap from the peripheral surface plate portion 21b that constitutes the periphery of the case body 21.

[0017] The cyclone separator 12 is provided with an intake pipe portion 26 at a part of the periphery of its upper part. This intake pipe portion 26 protrudes in the tangential direction of the cyclone separator 12, and the oil O sent to the oil inflow portion 23 of the oil tank 10 flows into the cyclone separator 12 from the intake pipe portion 26. Further, the bottom of the cyclone separator 12 is open, and this open bottom is used as the outlet 27. In this cyclone separator 12, the oil O flowing into the inside from the intake pipe portion 26 flows downward while swirling, and flows out from the outlet 27 into the case body 21 of the tank case 11.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cyclone separator 12 and the baffle member 13 arranged in the tank case 11. FIG. 3 is a side view of the cyclone separator 12 and the baffle member 13 arranged in the tank case 11. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the baffle member 13 arranged in the tank case 11. [[ID=ID=16]]

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the baffle member 13 has a plurality of baffle plates 31. The baffle member 13 is supported by the peripheral surface plate portion 21b of the case body 21 of the tank case 11. <ID=

[0020] The baffle plate 31 of the baffle member 13 is positioned between the cyclone separator 12 and the tank case 11. Specifically, the baffle plate 31 is positioned at equally spaced positions in the circumferential direction in the gap between the circumferential surface 12a of the cyclone separator 12 and the circumferential plate portion 21b of the case body 21 of the tank case 11.

[0021] These baffle plates 31 are formed in a flat shape, and each is positioned so that its front and back surfaces are aligned with the radial direction of the cyclone separator 12. Furthermore, these baffle plates 31 extend continuously from the bottom side of the case body 21 of the tank case 11 to above the oil level OL of the oil O stored in the tank case 11.

[0022] The baffle member 13 also has a bottom plate 32 and an upper plate 33. The bottom plate 32 is formed in a disc shape. The bottom plate 32 is positioned below the cyclone separator 12, with a gap between it and the outlet 27 at the bottom of the cyclone separator 12. The ends of the lower edges of each baffle plate 31 on the cyclone separator 12 side are joined to the periphery of this bottom plate 32.

[0023] The upper plate 33 has through holes 34 through which the cyclone separator 12 passes. The upper edges of each baffle plate 31 are joined to the upper plate 33. The upper plate 33 is positioned above the oil level OL of the oil O stored in the tank case 11. The upper plate 33 also has multiple ventilation holes 35 formed therein.

[0024] In the oil tank 10 configured as described above, oil O from the engine is pumped under pressure to the oil inlet 23 of the tank case 11, passes through the cyclone separator 12, and flows out into the tank body 21 of the tank case 11. In addition, the oil O in the oil tank 10 is pumped under pressure to various parts of the engine from the oil outlet 24 of the outlet 22 of the tank case 11. As a result, the oil O circulates between the engine and the oil tank 10.

[0025] Here, in the oil tank 10, when oil O mixed with gas containing blow-by gas is pumped from the engine to the oil inlet 23, this oil O flows into the cyclone separator 12 from the intake pipe 26. Then, this oil O flows downward while swirling due to centrifugal force within the cyclone separator 12, separating the gas and liquid, and flows out into the case body 21 of the tank case 11 from the outlet 27 at the bottom of the cyclone separator 12. Because the oil O flowing out into the case body 21 from the outlet 27 had been swirling within the cyclone separator 12, it flows out radially with velocity diagonally downward in the direction of rotation from the outlet 27.

[0026] The oil O that flows out of the outlet 27 into the case body 21 then hits the baffle plate 31 of the baffle member 13, creating an upward flow that is guided to the oil level OL. At this time, the oil O that flows out of the outlet 27 into the case body 21 is smoothly guided to the baffle plate 31 by the bottom plate 32 of the baffle member 13, and is created as an upward flow by the baffle plate 31.

[0027] The oil O, which is in an upward flow, is agitated near the oil level OL, promoting exchange with other oil O stored in the tank case 11, and increasing the contact area with the air above. This promotes the volatilization of fuel components contained in the oil O.

[0028] Thus, according to the oil tank 10 of this embodiment, the oil O flowing out from the bottom of the cyclone separator 12 can be moved along the baffle plate 31 towards the upper oil level OL and brought into active contact with the air. This allows for the efficient release and removal of fuel components contained in the oil O. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of lubrication problems in the engine caused by oil O with reduced viscosity due to the mixing of fuel components being sent to the engine.

[0029] Next, an oil tank according to another embodiment will be described. Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the oil tank 10A along the vertical direction according to another embodiment. Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the oil tank 10A along the horizontal direction according to another embodiment. Figure 7 is a side view of the baffle plate 41.

[0030] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the oil tank 10A according to another embodiment is equipped with four baffle plates 41. These baffle plates 41 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the gap between the circumferential surface 12a of the cyclone separator 12 and the circumferential plate portion 21b of the case body 21 of the tank case 11.

[0031] These baffle plates 41 are supported by the circumferential plate portion 21b of the case body 21 of the tank case 11. These baffle plates 41 have a bottom plate portion 41a that protrudes laterally at their lower end. The bottom plate portion 41a protrudes in the opposite direction to the swirling direction of the oil O inside the cyclone separator 12 (direction of the arrow in Figure 6). The baffle plates 41 also extend from the bottom side of the case body 21 of the tank case 11 so as to extend continuously above the oil level OL of the oil O stored inside the tank case 11.

[0032] In the oil tank 10A according to this other embodiment, the oil O that flows out into the case body 21 from the outlet 27 of the cyclone separator 12 hits the baffle plate 41 and becomes an upward flow, which is guided to the oil level OL. At this time, as shown in Figure 7, the oil O that flows out into the case body 21 from the outlet 27 is smoothly guided to the baffle plate 41 by the bottom plate portion 41a, and is made into an upward flow by this baffle plate 41.

[0033] The oil O, which is in an upward flow, is agitated near the oil level OL, promoting exchange with other oil O, and increasing the contact area with the air above. This promotes the volatilization of fuel components contained in the oil O.

[0034] In addition, a baffle plate 41 without a bottom plate portion 41a may be provided in the oil tank 10A. In this case, as shown in Figure 8, it is preferable to position the baffle plate 41 at an angle so that its upper end tilts in the direction of the oil O's swirling. By tilting the baffle plate 41 in this way, the oil O flowing out from the outlet 27 can be smoothly guided upward along the slope of the baffle plate 41, creating an upward flow.

[0035] Furthermore, the number of baffle plates 41 is not limited to four. For example, as shown in Figure 9, eight baffle plates 41 may be arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the gap between the circumferential surface 12a of the cyclone separator 12 and the circumferential plate portion 21b of the case body 21 of the tank case 11. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 10 Oil Tanks 11 Tank Case 12 Cyclone Separator 31,41 Baffle Plate O Oil OL oil level

Claims

[Claim 1] An oil tank in which a cyclone separator is installed inside the tank case to send oil that is supplied from above downwards while swirling it, A baffle member is provided between the cyclone separator and the tank case. The aforementioned baffle member is It has multiple baffle plates, a bottom plate, and a top plate, The multiple baffle plates are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cyclone separator between the cyclone separator and the tank case, and extend continuously from the bottom of the tank case upwards above the oil level of the oil stored in the tank case. The bottom plate is joined to the end on the cyclone separator side at the lower edge of the baffle plate. An oil tank in which the upper plate is provided with an insertion hole into which the cyclone separator is inserted, and the upper edge of the baffle plate is joined to form a plurality of ventilation holes.

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