Balancer Oil Pump Housing Layout for Simplified Engine Oil Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing balancer apparatus equipped with an oil pump has a complex layout where the discharge oil passage connection, feedback oil passage connection, and bearing lubrication oil passage connection are located at different positions, making it difficult to connect them to the oil passages in an internal combustion engine.
Innovation Solution
The balancer apparatus includes a pump housing with a pump forming member and a control oil chamber for pressure adjustment, and a balancer housing with a bearing retainer portion that supports a balancer shaft, featuring oil passage opening portions on one side surface for connections to the internal combustion engine's main oil gallery, facilitating the formation of short passages and reducing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the discharge oil passage connection portion, feedback oil passage connection portion, and bearing lubrication oil passage connection portion are located at different positions, then each passage can be independently designed, but the layout becomes complicated and difficult to connect to the internal combustion engine oil passages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple oil passage connection portions (discharge oil passage, feedback oil passage, and bearing lubrication oil passage) into a single integrated balancer housing structure. All three connection portions are formed together on one side surface of the balancer housing, allowing them to be connected to the internal combustion engine's main oil gallery from a single location, thereby simplifying the overall layout while maintaining independent passage design capabilities
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple oil passage connection portions are located at different positions, then each passage can be independently routed, but the number of components and connection points increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balancer housing is designed as a multi-functional component that integrates multiple oil passage connection functions into a single structure. The housing simultaneously provides connection points for the discharge oil passage, feedback oil passage, and bearing lubrication oil passage, all accessible from one side surface. This universal design reduces the number of separate components and connection points required while maintaining the ability to independently route each passage
3Adaptability or versatility
If oil passage connection portions are distributed at different positions, then passage routing flexibility is improved, but positioning accuracy and connection reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By consolidating all oil passage connection portions onto a single side surface of the balancer housing, the patent improves positioning accuracy. The connected structure ensures that all connection points are precisely located relative to each other and to the internal combustion engine's main oil gallery, eliminating positioning errors that would arise from distributing connections across multiple locations
4Ease of repair
If multiple separate connection portions are used, then each passage can be independently maintained, but the overall system cost and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The balancer housing serves as a universal component that performs multiple functions: it houses the balancer shaft, provides bearing support, and integrates all oil passage connection points. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining the ability to independently access and maintain each oil passage through the integrated connection structure
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 simplifies the connection to the internal combustion engine's oil passages, reduces oil leaks and pressure loss, and allows for direct mounting, thereby reducing costs and component count while improving positioning accuracy and controllability of the discharge pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a control oil chamber provided between the pump containing chamber and the pump forming member in a radial direction with respect to a rotational axis of the pump forming member and configured to change a hydraulic pressure of the oil to be discharged from the pump forming member with the aid of the oil introduced therein after being discharged from the discharge portion, passing through an oil passage of the internal combustion engine, and being subjected to a pressure adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
A balancer apparatus equipped with an oil pump includes a pump housing including a pump containing chamber provided therein, a pump forming member contained in the pump containing chamber and configured to discharge oil introduced from an intake portion from a discharge portion to an oil passage of the internal combustion engine when a rotational force is transmitted thereto, a control oil chamber provided between the pump containing chamber and the pump forming member in a radial direction with respect to a rotational axis of the pump forming member and configured to change a hydraulic pressure of the oil to be discharged from the pump forming member with the aid of the oil introduced therein after being discharged from the discharge portion, passing through an oil passage of the internal combustion engine, and being subjected to a pressure adjustment, and a balancer housing including a bearing retainer portion configured to transmit the rotational force from the internal combustion engine to the pump forming member. The bearing retainer portion supports a balancer shaft disposed along the rotational axis of the pump forming member. The balancer housing is attached to the pump housing in a direction of the rotational axis of the pump forming member. The balancer apparatus equipped with the oil pump further includes a plurality of oil passage opening portions formed together on one side surface of the balancer housing and each connected to an oil passage connected to a main oil gallery of the internal combustion engine. The plurality of oil passage opening portions includes a discharge oil passage opening portion of a discharge oil passage connecting the discharge portion and the main oil gallery of the internal combustion engine to each other, a feedback oil passage opening portion of a feedback oil passage connecting the main oil gallery of the internal combustion engine and the control oil chamber to each other, and a bearing oil passage opening portion of a bearing oil passage connecting the main oil gallery of the internal combustion engine and the bearing retainer portion to each other.