Temperature-Responsive Baffle Plate Sealing for Cold Oil Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
In driving force transmission devices, low oil temperatures lead to increased oil viscosity and reduced fluidity, causing slow oil return to the oil reservoir, which can result in insufficient lubrication and potential air suction by the oil pump, affecting transmission performance and fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The baffle plate portion is designed with materials that shrink at low temperatures, forming apertures to enhance oil return by canceling the sealing between baffle plates and using seal members, allowing low-fluidity oil to discharge back to the oil pan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the baffle plate seals the region between the pair of baffle plates, then the stirring resistance of the rotating member is reduced and fuel consumption is improved, but when the oil temperature becomes low, the oil return to the oil reservoir becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed to dynamically change its sealing state based on temperature conditions. At normal temperatures, it maintains sealing to reduce stirring resistance. At low temperatures, the material shrinkage automatically opens apertures to accelerate oil return, creating a dynamic adaptation to operating conditions without manual intervention or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes temperature as a parameter change to control the sealing state. The seal member material is selected to shrink at low temperatures, automatically changing the aperture state in response to temperature variations. This parameter-based control eliminates the need for additional sensors or actuators while achieving adaptive oil flow management.
2Reliability
If the seal member seals the region between the pair of baffle plates, then the lubrication efficiency is improved, but when the oil temperature becomes low, the fluidity of the oil decreases and oil return becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of low temperature (increased viscosity, slow oil return) into a beneficial automatic response. The temperature-induced shrinkage of the seal member material automatically opens apertures to accelerate oil return when needed most, transforming the harmful temperature effect into a self-correcting mechanism that maintains lubrication reliability under adverse conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member performs self-service by automatically adjusting its sealing function in response to temperature changes. The material shrinkage at low temperatures autonomously opens apertures to promote oil return, eliminating the need for external control systems, sensors, or actuators. The system self-regulates based on the physical properties of the seal member material.
3Loss of energy
If the baffle plate surrounds the rotating member, then the oil entry into the rotating member chamber is suppressed, but when the oil temperature becomes low, the oil pump may suck air due to slow oil return
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system dynamically adapts to temperature conditions through material shrinkage. At normal temperatures, the seal member maintains closure to minimize oil entry and stirring resistance. At low temperatures, the automatic opening of apertures ensures adequate oil return to the oil reservoir, preventing air suction by the oil pump and maintaining reliable operation across varying thermal 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
This configuration promotes oil return to the oil pan at low temperatures, ensuring adequate lubrication and reducing fuel consumption by preventing air suction and maintaining transmission efficiency.
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 (4) including a body portion (5), a cover portion (8, 9) and a seal member (88, 98), a final gear (25) and a driven sprocket (DS) disposed in an accommodating chamber (Sa, Sb) of the baffle plate (4), an oil pump (OP) serving as a source of oil (OL) for lubrication, and an oil pan (16) are provided. At least one of the body portion (5), the cover portions (8, 9) and the seal members (88, 98) includes a material that shrinks as the temperature of the oil (OL) decreases. The baffle plate (4) is dimensioned such that a gap (CL1, CL2) is sealed by the seal member (88, 89) when the temperature of the oil (OL) is equal to or higher than a predetermined oil temperature and an aperture (CL′) is formed when the temperature of the oil (OL) is less than the predetermined oil temperature.The gap (CL1, CL2) is the gap between an inner circumference of an outer wall portion (62, 72) of the body portion (5) and each of a base portion (80) of the cover portion (8) and a base (90) portion of the cover portion (9).