Pipe support flange

Abstract

In a pipe support flange (1) according to the present invention, an inclined surface (16) is formed at the lower section of a pipe holding part (12), said inclined surface (16) being such that the thickness (Wx) of the pipe holding section (12) gradually increases toward a boss section (11) side, and a counterbore section (18) is provided at the lower end section of a pipe insertion hole (14) in the pipe holding part (12) such that, in a state in which a pipe (2) is joined to the pipe insertion hole (14), a radial gap (C2) is formed between the pipe (2) and the counterbore section (18). As a result, the dripping positions of an oil (F) are concentrated on the boss section (11), and it is possible to suppress a defect in which the oil (F) drips onto a high temperature section H.

Description

Pipe Support Flange

[0001] The present invention relates to a pipe support flange for supporting pipes in an engine compartment of an automobile.

[0002] For example, in a turbocharged engine, as described in Patent Document 1 below, oil is supplied to an upper portion of a turbocharger bearing to lubricate the bearing, and the oil used to lubricate the bearing is returned to the cylinder block via piping. In this case, the piping is inserted into a piping insertion hole of a piping support flange fixed to the bottom of the turbocharger, for example, and is connected to the piping insertion hole by brazing or the like, thereby being supported via the piping support flange.

[0003] Generally, the pipe support flange has a pipe support portion that supports the pipe and has parallel upper and lower end faces, so if oil splashes from the turbocharger, the oil will flow from the upper surface of the pipe support flange along the outer surface of the pipe support flange to the lower surface of the pipe support flange, and then drip from the lower surface of the pipe support flange, or run down the pipe from the lower surface of the pipe support flange and drip from somewhere along the pipe.

[0004] However, in the engine compartment, high-temperature parts such as exhaust pipes and catalysts are located below the turbocharger, and as described above, with a normal pipe support flange, it is not possible to identify the dripping position of the scattered oil, which may result in the oil dripping onto the high-temperature parts and causing smoke or an unpleasant odor, so there is still room for improvement.

[0005] JP 2011-140909 A

[0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a pipe support flange that is arranged in an engine compartment of an automobile to extend generally horizontally and support pipes that extend in the vertical direction, the pipe support flange comprising: a boss portion arranged at one longitudinal end side and having a screw insertion hole through which a screw for fixing the pipe support flange is inserted; a pipe holding portion arranged at the other longitudinal end side and having a pipe insertion hole through which the pipe is inserted, the pipe being joined to the pipe insertion hole when the pipe is inserted into the pipe insertion hole, thereby holding the pipe; an inclined surface arranged at a lower part of the pipe holding portion that gradually increases in thickness toward the boss portion; and a countersunk portion arranged at a lower end of the pipe insertion hole, having an inner diameter larger than the pipe insertion hole, and forming a predetermined radial gap between the pipe and the boss.

[0007] In this way, the lower part of the pipe holder has an inclined surface that gradually increases in thickness toward the boss, which allows the fluid scattered from the source of the fluid to flow down the inclined surface to the boss and drip from the boss. This makes it possible to prevent the fluid from dripping into the high-temperature part by providing a guide member such as a gutter below the boss for draining the fluid.

[0008] Furthermore, since a countersunk portion is provided at the lower end of the pipe insertion hole and a radial gap is formed between the pipe and the countersunk portion when the pipe is joined to the pipe insertion hole, even if the fluid flowing along the inclined surface reaches the pipe insertion hole (countersunk portion), there is no risk of the fluid reaching the pipe insertion hole (countersunk portion) being directly transmitted to the pipe. This makes it possible to prevent the problem of the fluid reaching the pipe insertion hole (countersunk portion) running down the pipe and dripping from midway along the pipe.

[0009] It is a front view showing the attached state of the pipe support flange according to the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 1. It is a perspective view of the pipe support flange shown in Figure 1 as seen from below.

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a pipe support flange according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, the pipe support flange according to the present invention will be described as being applied to a pipe for returning bearing lubricating oil of a turbocharger, as in the conventional case.

[0011] (Configuration of Pipe Support Flange) FIG. 1 shows a front view illustrating an attached state of the pipe support flange according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pipe support flange shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from below. In the following description, the upstream side of the pipe 2, which corresponds to the upper side in each drawing, is defined as "upper," and the downstream side of the pipe 2, which corresponds to the lower side in each drawing, is defined as "lower." In addition, in each drawing, one longitudinal end of the pipe support flange 1 is defined as "first end 1A," and the other longitudinal end is defined as "second end 1B."

[0012] For example, as shown in Figure 1, in the engine compartment of an automobile, a pipe 2 for returning oil for lubricating the bearings of a turbocharger 3 is supported by a pipe support flange 1 fixed to the bottom of the turbocharger 3. With this oil return structure, oil is circulated through the turbocharger 3, thereby lubricating the bearings of the turbocharger 3.

[0013] 1 and 2 , the pipe 2 is formed into a generally cylindrical shape from a predetermined metal material. A straight section 21 of the pipe 2, which extends linearly in the up-down direction at one longitudinal end, is inserted into a pipe insertion hole 14 (described later) of the pipe support flange 1 and is joined without any gaps to the inner circumferential surface of the pipe insertion hole 14 via a predetermined joining means such as brazing. One end of the pipe 2, upstream of the straight section 21, is connected to an oil discharge port (not shown) of the turbocharger 3. On the other hand, the other end of the pipe 2, downstream of the straight section 21, passes through a bent section 22 and is connected to a destination of the oil return, such as a cylinder block (not shown).

[0014] The pipe support flange 1 is provided at a first end 1A, which is one end in the longitudinal direction, and integrally includes a boss portion 11 that is fastened to the underside 30 of the turbocharger 3, which is the fixed surface, by a screw 4, which is a fastening means, and a pipe holding portion 12 that is provided at a second end 1B, which is the other end in the longitudinal direction, and that holds the pipe 2.

[0015] The boss portion 11 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with a relatively thick wall, and has a first end face 111 and a second end face 112 at the upper and lower axial ends, which are parallel flat bearing surfaces. In addition, a screw insertion hole 13, through which the shank 42 of the screw 4 can be inserted, is formed in the boss portion 11 in an axial direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the first end face 111 and the second end face 112.

[0016] The screw 4 is inserted into the screw insertion hole 13 from below the boss portion 11, and the head 41 of the screw 4 is seated on the second end face 112, and the male thread portion formed on the shank portion 42 of the screw 4 is screwed into the female thread hole 300 provided in the underside 30 of the turbocharger 3. In this way, the pipe support flange 1 is fastened to the underside 30 of the turbocharger 3 by the screw 4 inserted into the boss portion 11 from below.

[0017] The pipe holding portion 12 extends from the side of the boss portion 11 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis Z1 of the screw insertion hole 13, and has a thickness smaller than the axial length W1 of the boss portion 11. A pipe insertion hole 14, through which the straight portion 21 of the pipe 2 can be inserted, is formed in the pipe holding portion 12 in a penetrating state along the up-down direction parallel to the screw insertion hole 13.

[0018] Furthermore, a generally flat step portion 15 is formed on the upper portion of the pipe holding portion 12, offset downward (toward the second end surface 112) with respect to the first end surface 111 of the boss portion 11. In other words, due to the formation of the step portion 15, when the pipe support flange 1 is attached to the turbocharger 3, a certain gap C1 is formed between the step portion 15, which is the upper surface of the pipe support flange 1, and the lower surface 30 of the turbocharger 3.

[0019] In this embodiment, the boss portion 11 extends in the vertical direction and the pipe support flange 1 is attached to the underside 30 of the turbocharger 3, and therefore a step portion 15 is provided to form a gap C1 between the boss portion 11 and the underside 30 of the turbocharger 3, which is the fixed surface. In other words, in a configuration in which the pipe holding portion 12 does not face the underside 30 of the turbocharger 3, which is the fixed surface, for example, in a configuration in which the central axis Z1 of the boss portion 11 is set parallel to the pipe holding portion 12, the step portion 15 that forms the gap C1 between the boss portion 11 and the pipe holding portion 12 is not necessary.

[0020] A flat inclined surface 16 is formed on the lower portion of the pipe holding portion 12, gradually increasing the thickness Wx of the pipe holding portion 12 toward the boss portion 11. That is, the pipe holding portion 12 is formed so that the thickness W2 at the second end 1B is smallest, the thickness Wx gradually increases toward the boss portion 11, and the thickness W3 at the connection portion with the boss portion 11 is greatest. The connection portion of the inclined surface 16 with the boss portion 11 is connected to a position slightly above the second end surface 112 of the boss portion 11. In other words, a step 17 is formed between the inclined surface 16 and the second end surface 112. In this way, the inclined surface 16 is provided over the entire lower portion of the pipe holding portion 12, and the entire outer surface 120 of the pipe holding portion 12 is configured to be continuous with the inclined surface 16.

[0021] Furthermore, a counterbore 18 that enlarges the diameter of the pipe insertion hole 14 is provided at the lower end of the pipe insertion hole 14 in the pipe holder 12. The counterbore 18 has an inner diameter D2 larger than the inner diameter D1 of the pipe insertion hole 14, and forms a constant radial gap C2 between the pipe 2 and the counterbore 18 along the central axis Z2 of the pipe insertion hole 14. In this way, the counterbore 18 is provided on the lower surface of the pipe holder 12, i.e., the inclined surface 16, so that the edge between the pipe 2 inserted in the pipe insertion hole 14 and the inclined surface 16 is cut, and the inclined surface 16 is not connected to the pipe 2.

[0022] (Effects of the Present Embodiment) In the conventional pipe support flange, the upper and lower surfaces of the flange are formed generally parallel to each other, and therefore, oil scattered from the turbocharger 3 may travel from the outer surface of the pipe holding portion 12 to the lower surface of the pipe holding portion 12 and drip from various positions on the lower surface of the pipe holding portion 12. Furthermore, the oil that flows to the lower surface of the pipe support flange may travel to the pipe 2 inserted through the pipe insertion hole 14 and drip from various positions on the pipe 2 after the bent portion 22 that is provided downstream of the straight portion 21. As described above, in the conventional pipe support flange, oil scattered from the turbocharger 3 drips from various positions, and the oil adheres to high-temperature parts H, such as the exhaust pipe and catalyst, located below the turbocharger 3, causing smoke and odors, and therefore there is still room for improvement.

[0023] In contrast, in the pipe support flange 1 according to this embodiment, a sloped surface 16 is formed at the bottom of the pipe holder 12, gradually increasing the thickness Wx of the pipe holder 12 toward the boss 11. Therefore, as shown by arrow F in FIG. 2 , oil scattered from the turbocharger 3 flows from the outer peripheral surface of the boss 11 toward the second end face 112, or flows from the outer surface 120 of the pipe holder 12 along the sloped surface 16 to the second end face 112 of the boss 11, and drips from the head 41 of the screw 4 seated on the second end face 112 of the boss 11. The provision of the sloped surface 16 thus allows the oil to drip only from the boss 11. Therefore, by providing a guide member, such as a gutter for oil discharge, below the boss 11, the problem of oil dripping into the high-temperature portion H can be prevented.

[0024] In this embodiment, a counterbore portion 18 is provided at the lower end of the pipe insertion hole 14 in the pipe holder 12, so that a radial gap C2 is formed between the pipe 2 and the counterbore portion 18 when the pipe 2 is joined to the pipe insertion hole 14. In this manner, the pipe support flange 1 and the pipe 2 are spaced apart via the radial gap C2 formed by the counterbore portion 18. Therefore, even if oil flowing along the inclined surface 16 reaches the pipe insertion hole 14 (counterbore portion 18), the oil that has reached the pipe insertion hole 14 (counterbore portion 18) is guided to the boss portion 11 through the radial gap C2 that is inclined toward the boss portion 11. In other words, the radial gap C2 formed by the counterbore portion 18 between the pipe 2 and the counterbore portion 18 prevents oil that has reached the pipe insertion hole 14 (counterbore portion 18) from directly transferring to the pipe 2, thereby preventing the oil that has reached the pipe insertion hole 14 (counterbore portion 18) from dripping down the pipe 2.

[0025] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a step portion 15 offset downward with respect to a first end face 111, which is an upper end face of the boss portion 11, is provided in an upper portion of the pipe holding portion 12 facing the lower face 30 of the turbocharger 3, which is a fixed face, so that a predetermined gap C1 is formed between the boss portion 11 and the lower face 30 of the turbocharger 3 when the boss portion 11 is fixed to the lower face 30 of the turbocharger 3 via the screw 4. This makes it possible to suppress a problem in which oil scattered from the turbocharger 3 is transferred from the pipe support flange 1 to the lower face 30 of the turbocharger 3 and drips from the lower face 30 of the turbocharger 3. In other words, by separating the upper face of the pipe holding portion 12 from the lower face 30 of the turbocharger 3, which is a fixed face, oil that would otherwise be scattered from the turbocharger 3 is guided to the step portion 15, and can be reliably guided from the step portion 15 to the lower part (inclined face 16) of the pipe holding portion 12 via the outer face 120 of the pipe holding portion 12. This makes it possible to more reliably cause oil scattered from the turbocharger 3 to drip from the head 41 of the screw 4 inserted into the boss portion 11.

[0026] Furthermore, although the present embodiment illustrates an example in which the step portion 15 is generally horizontal, it is desirable that the step portion 15 be formed to slope downward toward the second end 1B of the pipe support flange 1 or toward the peripheral edge of the pipe retaining portion 12. For example, as shown by the imaginary line SL in FIG. 2 , if the step portion 15 is formed to slope downward toward the second end 1B of the pipe support flange 1, oil scattered from the turbocharger 3 flows along the slope of the step portion 15 toward the second end 1B of the pipe support flange 1 and is more likely to flow from the second end 1B of the pipe support flange 1 to the sloped surface 16 via the outer surface 120 of the pipe retaining portion 12. This makes it possible to efficiently guide the oil scattered from the turbocharger 3 from the step portion 15 to the sloped surface 16, and the oil can be more reliably dripped from the head 41 of the screw 4 inserted into the boss portion 11.

[0027] Furthermore, although the present embodiment illustrates an example in which the inner peripheral surface 180 of the counterbore portion 18 is parallel to the central axis Z2 of the pipe insertion hole 14, the counterbore portion 18 may be formed as a conical tapered portion 19 in which the inner diameter D2 gradually increases downward, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 2 . By forming the counterbore portion 18 in a conical tapered shape that increases in diameter downward, it is possible to increase the volume of the radial gap C2 formed between the counterbore portion 18 and the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 2. This increases the amount of oil that can flow into the radial gap C2, and even if the flow rate of scattered oil increases, the oil can be effectively guided toward the boss portion 11 via the radial gap C2 of the counterbore portion 18.

[0028] The present invention is not limited to the configurations exemplified in the above-described embodiments, and can be freely modified depending on, for example, the support mode of the piping to which the present invention is applied.

[0029] In particular, in the above embodiment, the pipe support flange 1 according to the present invention is applied to a flange supporting a pipe 2 used to return bearing lubricating oil for a turbocharger 3, but it may also be applied to a flange supporting a pipe used to return engine cooling water, for example, in addition to the turbocharger 3. Even when applied to a pipe that returns engine cooling water, the same effects as when applied to a pipe that returns bearing lubricating oil for the turbocharger 3 can be achieved.

[0030] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the boss portion 11 extends in the vertical direction, and thus the pipe support flange 1 is attached to the underside 30 of the turbocharger 3 located above it. However, the fixing direction of the pipe support flange 1 can be changed as desired depending on the arrangement of the fixing surface. That is, the boss portion 11 of the pipe support flange 1 may be attached in a manner such that the pipe holding portion 12 does not face the fixing surface, for example, by setting the central axis Z1 parallel to the pipe holding portion 12 and fixing the boss portion 11 to a fixing surface other than the turbocharger 3 arranged to the side of the pipe support flange 1.

Claims

1. A pipe support flange provided in an engine room of an automobile so as to extend generally along a horizontal direction and support a pipe extending in a vertical direction, the pipe support flange including: a boss portion provided at one end side in a longitudinal direction and having a screw insertion hole through which a screw for fixing the pipe support flange is inserted; a pipe holding portion provided at the other end side in the longitudinal direction and having a pipe insertion hole through which the pipe is inserted, the pipe being held by being joined to the pipe insertion hole in a state where the pipe is inserted through the pipe insertion hole; an inclined surface provided at a lower portion of the pipe holding portion and gradually increasing the thickness of the pipe holding portion toward the boss portion side; and a counterbore portion provided at a lower end portion of the pipe insertion hole, having an inner diameter larger than that of the pipe insertion hole, and forming a predetermined radial gap with the pipe.

2. The pipe support flange according to claim 1, wherein the screw insertion hole opens along the vertical direction of the pipe support flange, the screw is inserted through the screw insertion hole from below, the boss portion is fixed to a fixed surface facing upward by the screw inserted from below, the pipe holding portion is offset downward with respect to an upper end surface of the boss portion facing the fixed surface, and has a stepped portion that forms a gap with the fixed surface in a state where the boss portion is fixed to the fixed surface via the screw.

3. The pipe support flange according to claim 2, wherein the stepped portion is formed in an inclined shape that gradually decreases the thickness of the pipe holding portion toward the one end side in the longitudinal direction.

4. The pipe support flange according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the counterbore portion is formed in a conical taper shape in which the inner diameter gradually increases downward.

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