Oil Pan Baffle Plate Curved Design for Aeration Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional baffle plates in internal combustion engines fail to promptly expel lubricating oil to the oil reservoir while avoiding aeration, with existing solutions either causing aeration or being inefficient in oil expulsion.
Innovation Solution
A baffle plate design featuring a curved part with a bottom portion, upstream and downstream inclined portions, and strategically placed through holes, including a first downstream hole with a side wall and multiple second downstream holes, which utilizes air flow to expel oil without aeration by directing air flow at a shallow angle and enhancing oil flow paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a through hole is provided in the baffle plate to expel oil to the oil reservoir, then oil expulsion speed is improved, but air flow directly impinges on the oil surface causing aeration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a downstream inclined portion that extends in the axial direction of the crankshaft, creating a three-dimensional structure. The first downstream through hole is formed in this inclined portion, allowing oil to be expelled while the inclined geometry directs air flow away from the oil surface, preventing direct impingement and aeration.
Solution Approach 2:
The downstream side wall extending from the first downstream through hole acts as an intermediary structure. It guides the air flow that passes through the hole, directing it away from the oil surface in the oil reservoir, thereby preventing direct contact between air and oil that would cause aeration.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the through hole is positioned to avoid aeration, then oil aeration is prevented, but oil cannot be expelled promptly to the oil reservoir
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the through hole structure into multiple components: bottom through holes in the bottom portion, first downstream through holes in the downstream inclined portion, and second downstream through holes further downstream. This segmentation allows different regions to handle different aspects of oil expulsion, achieving both prompt expulsion and aeration prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the baffle plate are given different functions: the bottom portion with bottom through holes handles initial oil drainage, the downstream inclined portion with first downstream through holes and side wall handles prompt oil expulsion while preventing aeration, and the second downstream through holes provide additional expulsion paths. This local differentiation optimizes both expulsion speed and aeration prevention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively prevents aeration and promptly expels lubricating oil to the oil reservoir, minimizing oil surface disturbance and ensuring efficient oil flow while maintaining engine size and stiffness.
Implementation Method 1
allows the lubricating oil that is deposited on the upper surface of the baffle plate to be expelled to the oil reservoir in the oil pan via the through hole of the baffle plate by using the air flow created by the rotation of the crankshaft
Implementation Method 2
the air flow that has passed through the first downstream hole impinges upon the surface of the oil in the oil pan at a shallow angle so that the air flow is prevented from penetrating the oil, and the oil is prevented from being aerated
Data Source
AI summary
A baffle plate includes a curved part which in turn includes a bottom portion (40), an upstream inclined portion (41), and a downstream inclined portion (42). A part of the downstream inclined portion adjacent to the bottom portion is provided with a first downstream through hole (49) elongated in the axial direction of the crankshaft, and a downstream side wall (50) extending from a downstream edge of the first downstream through hole in an upstream direction with respect to the rotational direction of the crankshaft, and a part of the downstream inclined portion remote from the bottom portion is provided with a plurality of second downstream through holes (52).