Balancing Shaft Oil Pump Integration for Engine Space Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for balancing forces and moments in internal combustion engines require significant installation space due to separate components and oversized oil pumps to accommodate varying engine speeds.

Innovation Solution

A device combining a rotating balancing shaft, an oil pump, and a gear in a common housing, where the balancing shaft and oil pump are driven directly or indirectly via the crankshaft, allowing for speed adjustment and reduced space requirements through a shared housing with distinct chambers for each component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If separate components are used for balancing shafts and oil pump, then each component can be optimized independently, but the installation space increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent component optimizationVSAvoidInstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the balancing shaft assembly and oil pump into a single integrated unit with a common drive mechanism. The oil pump is mounted on the balancing shaft, and both are driven by a single gear system connected to the crankshaft, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing installation space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The balancing shaft serves dual functions: it performs the balancing function by counteracting engine vibrations while simultaneously serving as the drive shaft for the oil pump. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate drive mechanism for the oil pump, reducing overall space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If oil pump is oversized to ensure delivery capacity at low engine speeds, then delivery capacity is maintained, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDelivery capacity at low speedsVSAvoidOversized pump design
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The oil pump is driven by the balancing shaft, which rotates at a different speed than the crankshaft due to the gear ratio. This dynamic speed relationship allows the oil pump to receive optimized rotational speed for adequate oil delivery without requiring an oversized pump design, as the speed adjustment is achieved through the mechanical linkage rather than pump size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If balancing shafts are connected to crankshaft via gears, then speed adjustment is possible, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveBalancer shaft speed adjustmentVSAvoidGear transmission system
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gear system serves dual purposes: it adjusts the speed of the balancing shaft relative to the crankshaft while simultaneously providing the drive mechanism for the oil pump. This merging of functions reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate speed adjustment and drive systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP1989465B1Device for compensating forces and/or torques for internal combustion engines
Publication Date: 2011.01.12 PIERBURG GMBH
  • EP1989465B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1989465B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1989465B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A device for compensating forces and/or torques for internal combustion engines has at least one rotating differential gear shaft (20, 22) for compensating the forces and/or torques. In addition, the device has an expeller device (42) for supplying the internal combustion engine with oil. A transmission (36, 38) is arranged between the at least one differential gear shaft (20, 22) and the expeller device (42). In order to reduce the necessary installation space, the at least one differential gear shaft (20, 22), the expeller device (42) and the transmission (36, 38) are arranged in a common housing (10).