Temperature-Responsive Baffle Plate for Low-Temperature Oil Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
When the oil temperature in a driving force transmission device becomes low, the viscosity of the oil increases, leading to decreased fluidity and slow oil return to the oil reservoir, which can cause operational issues and potential air suction into the oil system.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a baffle plate portion with a pair of baffle plates and a seal member, where at least one of the baffle plates or the seal member is made of a material that shrinks with decreasing oil temperature. This configuration ensures that the region between the baffle plates is sealed at higher oil temperatures and forms an aperture at lower temperatures, promoting oil return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the region between the pair of baffle plates is sealed to suppress oil entry and reduce stirring resistance, then fuel consumption is improved, but oil return to the oil reservoir becomes slow when oil temperature is low
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed to dynamically change its sealing state based on oil temperature. At normal operating temperatures, the seal member maintains a sealed state to reduce stirring resistance and improve fuel consumption. When oil temperature drops below a threshold, the seal member automatically opens to allow oil return, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and oil circulation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member utilizes temperature as a controlling parameter to change its physical state. The material properties of the seal member are selected such that it transitions from a sealed configuration at high temperature to an open configuration at low temperature, enabling automatic adaptation to operating conditions without external control systems.
2Reliability
If the seal member maintains a sealed state to prevent oil leakage, then lubrication efficiency is improved, but oil circulation and return to the oil pan are hindered at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member transitions between sealed and open states dynamically in response to temperature changes. During normal operation, it maintains a sealed state to ensure reliable lubrication. When temperature drops, it automatically opens to restore oil circulation, balancing lubrication reliability with circulation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is designed to automatically respond to temperature changes without external intervention. The material properties enable it to self-adjust its sealing function based on oil temperature, opening itself when cold and sealing when warm, thereby maintaining both lubrication efficiency and circulation efficiency under different conditions.
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 solution effectively enhances oil return to the reservoir at low oil temperatures, preventing operational delays and ensuring consistent lubrication, thereby improving fuel efficiency and reducing the risk of air suction into the oil system.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of, one of the pair baffle plates, the other one of the pair of baffle plates and the seal member is formed by including a material that shrinks as an oil temperature decreases
Data Source
AI summary
A baffle plate including a body portion, a cover portion and a seal member, a final gear and a driven sprocket disposed in an accommodating chamber of the baffle plate, an oil pump serving as a source of oil for lubrication, and an oil pan are provided. At least one of the body portion, the cover portions and the seal members includes a material that shrinks as the temperature of the oil decreases. The baffle plate is dimensioned such that a gap is sealed by the seal member when the temperature of the oil is equal to or higher than a predetermined oil temperature and an aperture is formed when the temperature of the oil is less than the predetermined oil temperature. The gap is the gap between an inner circumference of an outer wall portion of the body portion and each of a base portion of the cover portion and a base portion of the cover portion.